Author's Notes: YES! Finally, an early update! And best of all, the last chapter of Black Rebellion's Volume 1! Note to self, remind me to thank Daemon of Wrath for helping me out with this fic and many others so far! Really guys, give him a thanks, since he contributed to this story, as well as a significant number of my works, as well! Of course, we worked on a few other fics as well, but that's a story for another them!
Now...simply because this is the last chapter doesn't mean it is THE last chapter! There will be an epilogue, which will end this story! And believe you me...its a fucking doozy! However, I do apologize in advance if the end of the chapter seems kind of weak, or if Blake and Weiss are somewhat OOC. I literally got back into town when I started to write that piece with my co-writer. Hopefully the finale will leave you wanting more~
With that in mind...let us begin the beginning of the end!
"Have no fear of perfection, and you'll never reach it." -Salvador Dali
RWBY: Black Rebellion
The coffee had been as exquisite as it had been last time he had come here.
Morning had already come, the sun hanging above their heads while Rouge sat with the two Faunus, holding a cup of coffee in his hand. "Not bad," Sun said, holding his own cup with his tail. "Where'd you find this place?"
"A friend recommended it to me," he shrugged, taking another sip. "I was supposed to meet him here, but it seems that will have to wait." He then looked at the black-haired girl that had been apart of his sister's team, who sat in silence. "You alright, Blake?"
At first, she didn't answer. She stared back at the reflection in her own cup before she took a deep breath. "I'm fine, Rouge," she told him. "Just...preparing myself for something is all." She then looked back up to the two. "So...you two want to know about me. Why I keep my ears hidden?"
"Was curious," Sun said. "I mean, not the first time I've seen a Faunus hide who they are, though not exactly common. Not a lot of Faunus hide who they are in Vacuo."
"Because if you can survive there, you're welcome?" Rouge asked.
"Bingo~"
It was the unspoken rule of the Desert Kingdom. If you could survive the harsh, arid heat of the desert and crime rate there, then you were treated as an equal and welcome there. It didn't matter whether or not you were human or Faunus. In a way, it was a simple rule of Darwinism, yet nothing so extreme as a kingdom that advocated it. Blake then gave a heavy sigh, setting down her cup after a small drink before she spoke up, "What do you two know...about the White Fang and the Black Fang?"
"Well, the White Fang is just a bunch of extremists..." Sun stated. "They are terrorists that target groups suppressing Faunus. Stupid, holier-than-thou creeps that use force to get whatever they want. Bunch of freaks, if you ask me!" He paused a bit before answering the second part. "As for the Black Fang...I don't know. I mean, yeah they're a hell of a lot better than the White Fang in general, but nobody knows what the heck those guys are after. They target scumbags and pieces of crap, so I guess they're alright."
The monkey turned to Rouge. "How about you?"
"I think the same in regards to the White Fang. But in regards to the Black Fang...I believe that they are what the world needs right now."
"What makes you say that?" The Monkey Faunus raised a brow at the statement.
"Let me ask you this, Sun...when you look at this city, what do you see?" He gestured to the streets of Vale. "When you look at the surface, you see people living average day lives, uncaring about the plight that's just a few feet away from them...but when you look past that, do you know what you see?" His eyes hardened, and his grip on the cup tightened. "A cesspool of deceit, lies, and filth. Crime rings, drug cartels, mafias, gang wars, greedy companies, dirty politicians, corrupt police officers...they pull people down into the muck without a care in the world all for their own sake. Just look at the Schnee Dust Corporation. They treat Faunus workers like slaves, and for what? Personal vendettas? They were the ones who started it and made the White Fang into monsters by attacking them openly with words when all they wanted was co-existence."
For a while, the two Faunus stared at the boy, who sighed and reclined in his chair. "When you think about it...humans are worse monsters than the Grimm."
"...damn, dude," Sun said, staring at him in awe. "That was...effin' deep. Though you sorta lost me about the whole corruption thing, I kinda sorta get where you're comin' from."
"I don't blame you." Rouge shook his head. "The general populace is either unaware of such corruption or prefer to ignore it to continue with their lives until they become affected by it."
Blake gave the boy a curious glance. Since her time in Team RWBY began, she showed a slight interest in him, if only because of his apparent closed-off nature. He was the type of person who hid well in the background, unnoticed yet when he wanted attention, it was garnered without effort like a master entertainer able to gather it without any trouble whatsoever. His scathing and baneful words to the Schnee Heiress had only further increased that interest, and his words regarding the Black Fang, and corruption as a whole, only increased. Soon, though, she found their attention on her. "Why do you ask?" Rouge inquired curiously.
'Now or never,' she thought, bracing herself as she took a deep breath. "The truth is...I used to be a member of the White Fang."
Sun, who was busy drinking his tea, did a spit take from the startling news, nearly drowning from his own beverage. Rouge on the other hand only had a pair of widened eyes before returning to their original width.
"Wait, YOU were a member of the White Fang?!" Sun gawked. "Seriously?!"
"Yeah." Blake nodded. "I have been my whole life...you could say I was born into it. Back then, things were different. In the ashes of war, the White Fang was meant to be a symbol of peace and unity between Humans and the Faunus. Of course, despite being promised equality, the Faunus were subjected to discrimination and hate. Humanity still thought of us as lesser beings. And so, the White Fang rose up as the voice of our people. And I was there. I was at the front of every rally. I took part in every boycott. I actually thought we were making a difference. But I was just a youthful optimist."
As she thought back, she remembered how, on the day everything had changed for them, how the blue banner they once stood for was taken down...replaced by one colored in blood.
"Then, five years ago, our leader stepped down, and a new one took his place. A new leader, with a new way of thinking."
Rouge immediately understood, then and there, what she was referring to. "...Sienna Khan," he said. "He took over the White Fang, and turned it into a terrorist cell. Protests turned into violent attacks, and rallies became raids on anything and everything involving Faunus oppression. The effects were more profound than what the White Fang could ever hope, except the acceptance and respect people showed Faunus after the attacks were anything but that. They feared Faunus, because they knew that maybe, just maybe...they would be at their throats." He took a moment to collect his thoughts, and then focused his gaze on her. "If I recall, the original leader's name was Ghira Belladonna. By any chance, Blake, are you..."
"Yes," she nodded without hesitation. "He was my father, and the true founder of the original White Fang." She took a deep breath, and continued. "Even when he stepped down, I still followed the White Fang, but after a while...I started to see how distorted we became. Even worse, someone I cared about was turning into a monster. The last job I took on for them was a Schnee Dust freighter train. My partner wanted to detonate charges that would have hurt the passengers, or worse...so I left. Of course, I still kept tabs on what they were doing...and eventually, around a year ago, things changed...for both Faunus, and humans."
Sun's eyes widened. "The Black Fang..."
"Yes." Blake nodded again. "They were an organization formed not too long ago, populated by both Faunus and Humans alike. They intervened on attacks perpetrated by the White a Fang and other criminals. They even went as far as to raid White Fang bases across Remnant. No one knows their true motives, or even seen their Leaders face."
"Even though they were formed a year ago, they earned a lot of attention," Rouge supplied. "They didn't just attack the White Fang, but other groups as well. Publicly criticizing the Schnee Dust Company and other corrupt businesses, wiping out mafias and gangs, exposing corporate wrongdoings, eliminating drug cartels and crime rings...they made their statement clear: it doesn't matter if you are Faunus or Human, if you are making the world warped and twisted, then you are our mark."
"Daaaamn..." Sun whistled lowly. "Those guys are pretty hardcore..."
"And they make a difference," Blake added. "In some parts of Remnant, a few communities have started to accept Faunus, though many of the more extremists condone them for their actions. Some call them worse than the White Fang, others...you get the picture."
"Yeesh..." Sun shook his head, taking another drink of his coffee before looking at her. "So, this whole you secretly being a Faunus thing...do any of your friends know?"
"No..." She shook her head. "I never told them...Rouge here is the only one."
"ROUGE! ROUGE! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Ruby hollered out as she scanned the streets for any sign of her twin brother. Yang and Weiss trailed behind her. They were in Vale searching for their missing team member and heterochromatic teen. They have been missing for hours and made no contact with them whatsoever. When morning had arrived, the girls had only grown even more worried, especially since Blake had also not returned either. This made the sisters decide to go into town, hoping to find them, or at least one of them. They asked for help from JNPR in case they came back to the school while they went into town, asking if anyone had seen them recently. However, they had no such luck.
"They've been gone all weekend," she whimpered. "I hope they're okay..."
"Don't worry, Rubes." Yang reassured her. "This is Rouge and Blake were talking about here. They can take care of themselves...I'm sure they're fine..."
Weiss remained silent, walking a few steps behind the sisters. After Rouge spoke his piece...she had a lot to think about the previous night and in the morning.
As much as she hated to admit, he had brought up quite a few points that had utterly left her without an argument. Her whole history revolved around a house that was terrorized by people her father considered animals, and that fact had been burned into her very philosophy. She didn't hate Faunus, per say, but she certainly held no love for those that broke the law, who could be a White Fang member without anyone realizing it. Perhaps she was biased in this regard, but could one not call her justified with how difficult her life at home was, with the White Fang out for her. And, yet, Rouge had utterly destroyed this fact so easily, and with so much disdain, it was hard to imagine him as the sibling to her dunce of a leader.
Was he right, though? Was it because of her family that the White Fang became monsters? She had been aware that they were once a peaceful protest group, but after the old leader stepped down, became the group it was today.
She knew of her father's implementation of...less than savory labor laws in the Dust Mines, whose workers happened to be entirely composed of Faunus.
However, it was of the White Fang's constant aggravations and assaults and attacks on their family that caused it...yet after hearing Rouge talk to her, she couldn't help but wonder if things would be better if they had become more accepting of the Faunus? Or was that bridge already burned down?
She gave a frustrated sigh, palming her forehead. A thought crossed her mind, and looked at the two sisters. "I need to use the bathroom real quick," she lied to her leader and friend. "Be right back." The two gave her a strange look, but nodded. She then went into the nearest store, asking if she could use their restroom. After finding it, she locked the door behind her and opened up her scroll, dialing up a number.
After a few seconds, the call picked up a line. "This is a surprise," the voice on the other end remarked. It was feminine and mature, bearing a similar haughty tone like that of Weiss, only far more reserved with a stricter tone. "The last time you called, it was because you wanted to ask my permission to go to Beacon."
"You're never going to live that down, are you?" Weiss rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. "I told you, I meant to call father...but its good to hear your voice again, Winter. How are things in Atlas?"
"Fairly well, all things considered," Winter answered. "General Ironwood is currently making preparations for the Atlas Academy's students' trip to Vale. I was honestly surprised when he informed me that he was going as well."
Weiss' eyes widened a bit. The general himself was coming to visit Vale? That was odd. She didn't think too much of it, however, as she believed it was most likely related to the matters about the Vytal Festival. "And how are you doing over there, Weiss?"
"...can I be honest?"
"I'd expect nothing less."
"...I got into a fight with my leader's brother about the White Fang and the Schnee Dust Company."
Her sister paused momentarily as she let the information sink in. "...I see. And I take it that is the reason why you called?"
"...Yes..." She said meekly.
"Tell me what happened."
She sighed. Where to begin? She started with her trip to Vale the other day alongside her friends, and where they found a Dust store that had been robbed. Then the White Fang came up in conversation, bringing her into an argument with her teammate Blake, and soon Rouge. She recounted the details of the argument, and then the continuation with Blake that lasted all the way to dorm room...and then Rouge's verbal lashout at her. When she was finished, she found herself gasping for breath, practically explaining it in one breath. She took a moment to catch some air, wiping off some sweat.
"...well, as much as I hate to say it, the boy isn't entirely wrong," Winter said after a pregnant pause of silence. "When our father took over after grandfather retired from the business, he did a number of things that were questionable. So perhaps he is right in that the White Fang became monsters..."
Weiss' eyes widened. Her sister was...agreeing with Rouge?! She opened her mouth to speak her mind-
"...but he is wrong in judging you for something as trivial as that," she continued, stopping her younger sibling. "Yes, we are daughters of a man who hates Faunus for whatever reasons there may be, but we are our own individuals. Not only that, simply because we are Schnees does not make us automatically the same as Jacques Schnee. However, I have to say, I am a bit disappointed in you," Weiss could only shudder, feeling Winter's cold glare stare through the Scroll. "Simply hiding away on a ship is wrong, but that does not automatically make him the same as the White Fang, Weiss, nor any other Faunus. Nowadays, because of the White Fang's actions, it is harder and harder for them to go about their daily life without suffering from some form of prejudice. While this Rouge was wrong for judging you, you were wrong for judging that Faunus. It is poor behavior to make assumptions without truly knowing their individual circumstances." She added.
Weiss drooped her head down. "R-right...sorry."
"It's fine," Winter waved a hand. "Still, from the sound of it, this Rouge boy certainly has quite the skewed view. And he's the brother of your team leader?"
"That's right," she nodded before giving a sigh. "How in the world that guy is related to Ruby Rose all of people, I'll never know."
"...Rose?"
"Sorry, Winter, I have to go. Talk to you later?"
"...of course."
Weiss smiled, and ended the call, leaving the bathroom and heading back to Ruby and Yang...all the while unaware of the troubled look that lasted on Winter's face as she ended the call.
"So...what exactly do you plan to do?" Sun asked as he, Rouge and Blake walked down the streets, the blonde with his hands behind his head. "I mean, you gotta have some idea to prove that the White Fang is innocent, right?"
"I'm just not sure. The White Fang never needed that much Dust before." Blake shook her head.
"Agreed." Rouge nodded. "While their prior attacks have been to steal cargo from companies that implement Faunus Labor...the amount was never to this extreme."
"But what if they did...?" Sun asked, as an idea struck him. The two gave him a look. "I mean, the only way to prove that they didn't do it, is to go to the place where they would most likely go to if they were to do it, and not find them there...right?"
Rouge and Blake stared at him for several seconds before conceding to the point. "...that actually would make sense," the heterochromatic teen said. "Go to the place the White Fang would most likely head to, and catch them in the act."
"Exactly what I just said, dude."
"The way you said it was disturbing, Sun."
Blake frowned, folding her arms. "But where would that be?"
"Well, while I was on the ship, I overheard some guys talking about offloading a HUGE shipment of Dust coming in from Atlas." Sun offered.
"How huge?" Blake asked him.
"HUGE. Big Schnee Company freighter." Sun spread his arms wide around him for emphasis.
"You're sure?"
THe monkey Faunus nodded. "Positive."
"Well, I guess that answers the question," Rouge said as he looked at Blake. "Still...you think you're okay for this?"
The girl frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're going to be up against your former friends and comrades. It's pretty much going to be one nasty family reunion that will end up with us at each other's throats," he pointed out with an example. "That, and they won't take too well to you working with a human."
For a moment, the Cat Faunus was silent. She knew the boy was right. The White Fang would most likely condemn her for working with a human. "...maybe," she said after a moment, amber eyes steely with determination. "But I can't ignore this. The Fang...if they are behind this...then I need to stop them. They've done far too much to be left alone anymore. Maybe the Black Fang will beat them one day...but until then, I..." She took a moment, taking a deep breath, and exhaling. "...I need to this. If not for myself, then for someone I care about."
Both males of the group glanced at one another before turning to face Blake once more, their expressions varying. For Sun, it was bright, sunny grin showing his complete support in her decision. Whether it was due to the exciting prospect of stopping the White Fang or out of genuine concern for her, it was more so the latter than the former.
For Rouge on the other hand...was a small grin of determination and...from what Blake could try to discern...approval. "Well, if we're doing this, we're gonna need more than three people," he said. "I have a few friends who can back us up."
"Are you sure?" Blake asked, concerned. "I don't want to drag anyone else into this."
"Well, they have a bit of history with the White Fang, so its a moot point. They'll find out anyway," he told her before he walked away. He felt the two Faunus stare at him before they promised to meet up at the cargo bay. Once he was sure they were out of sight, he looked to the side, finding a figure hidden in the darkness, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, and a hood over his head. "So, what do you think, Flaemis?" he asked. "Think she's material?"
"Oh most definitely..." The figure grinned beneath his hood. "Her determination is iron-clad. And from what you informed me before, he combat skill is pretty top notch. She'd fit right in with our merry band of progressive misfits."
"That's good to hear." Rouge nodded.
"Plus, PIECE already said it himself, didn't he? Now, we wait and see for leader to take to the field." Flaemis chuckled. "You know, this might be his first debut since he formed the Black Fang."
Rouge chuckled. "Perhaps," he said. "But...I doubt it can be called a debut. If at all anything, it is more of a rehearsal."
"Planning for a grander stage?" the hooded figure shook his head in amusement. "What is it with you and theatrics?"
"Like my mother said; if you're gonna do it, make it as flashy as possible."
"So...Rouge is your brother?" Asked a young girl a couple years older than Ruby. She had short, curly orange hair that came down to her chin with a pink bow in her hair. Her eyes were open wide and bright green. Her complexion was light with freckles dotted across her nose. She was garbed in a rather old-fashioned beige blouse with short, feminine overalls colored gray with bright green highlights. She wore a green and black collar with a matching pair of stockings.
She was Penny Polendina, a girl that Ruby and the other ran into the other day after chasing after Sun. After an initial introduction and few other words exchanged, she and Ruby became friends. Currently, they were both walking through the streets of Vale after Weiss and Yang decided to split up with them and search on the far end of town and away from the girl they deemed...unusual. Penny asked Ruby about Blake and Rouge wanting to know more about them.
The silver-eyed girl sighed. "Yes, Penny."
"But you're mad at him?"
"W-well, I wouldn't say I'm mad, just worried."
"Why are you worried?" She asked with a tilt of her head.
"It's because he's my brother. Plus...he said some pretty mean things to Weiss the other night...I just want them to make up..."
Penny tilted her head. "Mean?" she said before she gassped. "Wait...did he break up with her?!"
"W-what?!" Ruby said, aghast. She wasn't sure why, but the thought of Weiss and Rouge DATING horrified her. "N-no! Nothing like that!"
"Then why would they need to make up? Isn't that the procedure couples go through when they want to get back together?" She asked in confusion.
"N-no, Penny...it's...ugh..." Ruby sighed. She didn't know how the conversation turn out this way. "Weiss and Blake had an argument, and Rouge stepped in and said some really mean things to Weiss before storming off...I've never seen him that angry before..." It was like Rouge was completely disgusted by Weiss.
She gave another tired sigh. "He really has changed..."
Penny tilted her head. "Changed?"
"W-well, you wouldn't have guessed it, looking at him now, but when mom was alive, he was such a cry-baby," Ruby said, recalling the much more fond and joyful memories they once shared. "When someone was bullying me, he'd stand up to the bullies, even though his knees were shaking. In the end, Yang had to rescue us both. Whenever Yang would tease him, he'd go running to mom." She giggled a bit. "He was such a momma's boy...but I really wasn't any better. If I were any of those situations, I would have done the same. Mom was awesome, she was like a superhero, you know? Fighting monsters to save the day, spending time with her family, baking awesome-sauce cookies...and back then, Rouge was almost always smiling, like there wasn't a care in the world."
"He sounds like a wonderful young man," Penny said.
"Yeah," the girl nodded in agreement before her face fell flat, wrought with sadness. "But...he changed after mom's funeral. He stopped smiling after that."
She knew that their mother's death impacted them greatly...but it seemed to have left many more scars on Rouge. "...he then went to my Uncle Qrow to learn how to fight, despite being young. Eventually, my uncle gave in and trained him in combat."
"Before I knew it, we were both kicking butts with scythes...but even though he still spent time with us, he still didn't smile."
"...I see," Penny said after a period of silence. There was an odd tone in her voice, perhaps envy or bitterness, but there was also sadness in her voice as well. "I'm afraid I don't know what that's like. I don't have any siblings. But," she then regained her otherwise bright and cheerful smile. "I'm sure your brother is still that cry-baby you described him as."
Ruby quirked an eyebrow. "How do you figure?"
"Well, if he wasn't then would he have run off after saying mean things to Weiss?" She asked. "He probably is still a cry-baby...just showing it a different way."
Ruby was even more confused. Was Penny suggesting he was actually crying after saying something that horrible to Weiss? She tried to picture the sight, him hiding away in some corner bawling his eyes out...but she couldn't. If anything, the imaginary sight made her laugh, trying her best to keep her balance. She wiped a tear from her eye before looking at the ginger-haired girl. "Thanks, Penny," she said. "I think...I really needed that."
"Anytime, Friend Ruby!"
Night had descended upon Remnant, with its shattered moon hanging overhead in the night sky. Blake sat flat on her stomach, amber eyes trained on the vast many shipments of Dust cargo, all branded with the insignia of the SDC. In truth, she was slightly nervous, wondering if the Fang was actually behind this. It was a small piece of doubt in her mind that she tried to push away, but she reminded herself why she was doing this. If the White Fang...if her family...if Adam...was behind this, she needed to stop them. She couldn't stand this any longer, watching the group her father made turn into something warped and twisted. Thinking back on it now, what she did to Ghira was horrible, calling him a coward. Gods, she was starting to think she was insane back then. She should have seen the signs that the Fang was taking a turn for the worst...but it was too late. The damage was done.
And now she had to fix it."
"Did I miss anything?" Sun called, landing behind her.
She turned, finding him walking up to her and staring at the empty sight. "Not really," she confessed. "They've offloaded the crates from the boat. Now they're just sitting there."
"Cool," he remarked before holding out an apple, much to her confusion. He grinned. "I stole you some food?"
"...do you always break the law without a second thought?"
"Hey, weren't you in a cult or something?" Blake narrowed her eyes, ears twitching in indignation while a growl escaped her throat. Sun immediately blanched, recoiling. "Okay, too soon." He then noticed something was off, and looked around. "Hey, where's purple and silver?"
"Don't know," Blake answered, turning her attention back to the Dust crates. "He hasn't called. To be honest...I'm hoping he decided to back out. The less people involved, the better."
"Maybe...but if the White Fang really is planning on a robbery, we're going to need backup. I'm not dissing your combat skills, but even I know the consequences of being outnumbered and outgunned." Sun said as he took a bite out of a pilfered apple.
Blake would retort to that, but she knew he had a point. If Adam was there...they were definitely going to need backup. She didn't know how strong he had become, though if she were honest...in a one on one fight to the death, he would be the victor. His skill far outclassed hers. True, she could wear him down, but he would inevitably end her. He was that powerful. As she thought of a way to deal with the situation, she heard the sound of an engine roaring above them. Looking up, a Bulkhead was flying over them, headlights flashing. Immediately, the two Faunus ducked to hide themselves as it descended, and the cargo doors opening.
Her heart sank when she saw familiar individuals, dressed in white armor with silver masks over their faces. It soon sank to the very depths when the last to exit was a man garbed entirely in black with a sheathed katana in hand, hair dark red, and his mask accented with red markings.
"Holy shit," Sun said, recognizing the man, whispering in awe and horror. "That's...that's Adam Taurus."
There was no way he would NOT know the man. He was one of the executives of the White Fang. He's led quite a few of his own raids and attacks, some of which making the news. One of the main reasons being was that he left no survivors in his wake. They were all killed, either by his blade or by a gunshot wound. Needless to say, his strength was undeniable.
For a moment, Sun was hoping it was just an imposter, but just looking at the man made him feel as if he was walking on a tight rope, and the slightest slip would end him. Blake, for her part, felt her heart ache. "...it's them," she whispered, looking down in despair. "It's really them."
"...you were hoping it wasn't them, were you?"
"Yeah...but somehow, deep down...I knew."
Suddenly, a new voice spoke up, one that made both Faunus look up and stare in shock as its owner stepped into view. "What's the hold up, Taurus?" the owner of the voice, one Roman Torchwick, asked with distaste. "We're not exactly the most inconspicious thieves at the moment, so would you try and make your friends pick up the pace?!"
"Don't get smart with me, Roman," Adam warned threateningly. "Don't forget...this arrangement is temporary."
Sun quirked an eyebrow. "Not exactly a five-star partnership," he remarked before looking at Blake, finding her shell-shocked and stunned. "You okay?"
"...this isn't right," she said in disbelief. What she saw...didn't make any sense. Adam HATED humans with a passion. And Roman Torchwick was, by far, one of the worst human beings she knew of, thus the idea of the two working together made absolutely no sense at all. "The White Fang...ADAM would never work with a human," she frowned as she stood up, unsheathing Gambal Shroud from her back. "Especially not one like that."
Sun's eyes widened. "Wait, what're you-?!"
Blake didn't listen as she jumped down, landing in a crouch. She quickly hid behind one of the many dust crates, peering out around the corner, seeing Roman bicker with one of the grunts. "No, you idiot, this isn't a leash!" he berated. As the grunt left in displeasure, an opening was made, and she took it. Swiftly, she closed the distance between herself and her target, moving in with one hand snapping at his wrist, twisting his arm and putting it to his back before aiming her blade at his neck, causing his eyes to widen. "What the...?! Oh, for f-"
"NOBODY MOVE!" She demanded, catching the attention of all the grunts. They all brandished their rifles and sabers and aimed at her direction. Adam simply turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
"Woah! Take it easy there, little lady..." Roman snarked, despite the blade held at neck point. The White Fang grunts surrounded her, with Adam standing behind in the shadows.
Narrowing her eyes, she then removed her bow with her free hand, leaving her Faunus heritage visible to all of the world. "Brothers of the White Fang. Why are you aiding this scum?!"
The grunts, in surprise, lowered their arms, looking at one another, unsure of what to do. Adam then stepped out, the subordinates immediately parting. "...well, this is a surprise," the red-haired Bull Faunus said, giving a faint grin. "Its been so long, my love."
"Adam..." Blake glared, her eyes narrowing with as much steel as she could muster.
Meanwhile, Roman's eyes widened. "W-wait, this kid is your girl?" he asked before grinning. "Oh, that is just rich! Its like a soap-OW!" he cried when Blake stepped on his foot. "Watch it, brat! These boots are brand new!"
"...why are you working with Torchwick, Adam?" she questioned, her tone laced with anger. "I know you. You would rather die than work with a human."
"Oh, so NOW you care," Adam scoffed, his lips curling into a snarl. "I'm touched."
"I always cared..." She rebutted.
"Really? Then did you care about me back on that train back in Forever Fall?" He hissed back venomously.
Blake said nothing, which only seemed to anger Adam even more. "Of course you didn't," he spat. "After all, you abandoned your only family, for...what? A hand at a simpler life? Try to make things right? I wonder, how well has that been working out?"
"...that's not important!" she snapped. She couldn't let herself become distracted or easily duped by Adam's taunts. She had to remain firm. "Answer me, Adam! Why are you working with scum like this?!"
Roman chuckled, shaking his head. "What, you didn't get the memo, kid?" he jeered, earning her attention. "The White Fang and I are going on a joint business venture together!"
"Tell me what it is, or I'll put an end to your little operation." Blake threatened as she pressed her blade closer to Torchwik's neck.
Then the unmistakable sound of whirring airship engines roared from above. A turbulent gale picked up as well, blowing Blake's hair into her face. All the while, the mobster chuckled.
"I wouldn't exactly call it...a little operation..."
Blake looked up, and to her horror, found two more Bulkheads flying ahead. Roman saw this distraction, and grinned, twirling his cane and aiming at his feet. When the Cat Faunus realized this, it was too late, and he pulled the trigger.
From a distance, a loud explosion was heard, following by a building pile of black smoke. Ahead, the yet-revealed leader of the Black Fang, with his right-hand man, Edan standing next to him, hood lowered and a naked blade resting on his shoulder. Behind them were many officers of the Black Fang, all wearing black jackets with hoods drawn over their heads, and their masks set over their faces. As opposed to the masks of the White Fang, these were ebony, with dark purple markings drawn over them.
"The operation has begun," the leader of the Black Fang announced. "Take down all White Fang officers...but leave Taurus alone. Edan will deal with him personally."
"Yes sir!" The Black Fang troops cried out in unison. They then advanced towards the soon-to-be battleground, leaving the Leader and Edan behind. The Blue Devil had a grin on his face.
"Oh, Leader...this is going to be a festival." He shook his head in anticipation.
The Leader chuckled. "I prefer to think of it as...a rehearsal."
When Blake regained her senses, she quickly rolled out of the way, avoiding another shot from Roman's cane. Each shot destroyed some of the cargo, but he seemed relatively unconcerned. When he fired off a shot, she took cover behind one of the cargo crates. "Here, kitty kitty," the mafiaso said tauntingly, approaching the cargo she hid behind. However, just as he was about to aim and fire, a banana peel struck him in the face. "What the-?!"
"Leave her alone!"
Roman removed the peel from his face and was greeted by the sight of Sun leaping in and planting his feet on his face. The mobster was knocked to the ground as the Faunus descended rolling on the ground before springing back up on his feet. He then turned around and glared fiercely at the human.
As this occurred, the hatches of the newly landed airships opened up, revealing more White Fang grunts.
"You know," Roman said, hissing as he stood up, dusting his coat before he glared at Sun. "You're really not the brightest banana, are you, monkey boy?"
With that said, the White Fang charged at him. Sun evades the attacks, weaving around them while delivering punches and kicks to get some breathing room, pulling out a collapsible red staff. He quickly used it to beat down each opponent that got even so much as an in close to him, taking down each grunt with a single flaming blow as he spun around, even creating a scorching shockwave to knock away the last of the White Fang cannon fodder.
Blake peered around the corner of the container watching Sun jump around and beat on more White Fang soldiers, causing one to fly over Roman's head. The crime boss growled in annoyance and aims his cane at Sun, firing off a shot. Sun swung his staff to defend himself. At this moment, Blake decided to intervene. "He's mine!" However, Gambal Shroud was deflected, barred entry by a red blade, and its owner glaring at her. "Out of the way, Adam!"
"That just hurts, my love."
Adam raised his weaponized sheath, Blush, and pulled the trigger by the opening, firing a bullet from the end. Blake evaded the projectile by leaving a shadow clone in her place. She used to opportunity to try and flank her opponent, but his stance left no room for openings. "Ah, your semblance...a reflection of your own cowardice."
"Shut it!"
She crouched down before leaping forward, his blade raised in mid swing. He intercepted the strike with his sword, Wilt. He parried the blow and kicked her away. He then raised Blush, firing off a round. Blake deflected it with Gambol Shroud, and then charged at him again, her blacck sword dragging along the ground, creating sparks before she swung at her former partner. Rather than blocking the strike, he leaned back and let the tip of the blade barely pass over his face. He reoriented himself and aimed Blush once more the moment Blake was wide open. He pulled the trigger and the bullet fired. Unfortunately, all it did was hit and disperse another shadow clone.
She ducked down, performing a leg sweep and catching him off guard. At the last moment, however, he slammed his palm into the ground, bouncing him up back to his feet before charging at his fellow Faunus. He spun around, slipping Wilt into Blush before swinging it out again in an arch. Blake barely had enough time to defend, raising her sword to block it. Sparks flew close to her face as she was sent flying back before skidding to a stop. She looked up just in time to see her former partner in the air, his sword raised to impale her.
"Shit!"
Acting quickly, she used her Semblance again, this time incorporating Dust. As the black inky clone manifested, grabbing her and tossing her away, its form began to solidify, becoming rock. However, when the Bull Faunus came crashing down, he destroyed it with ease, his blade buried into the ground. He gave a grunt as he stood, giving his sword a few swipes before turning back to Blake. "How much longer do you intend to hurt me, darling?" he asked as they circled around one another. "Can't you see this hurts me more than it does you?"
"I think you're the one who doesn't get it," Blake retorted, glaring. "Take a look, Adam! All you're doing is making things worse!"
"No, we're making a difference!"
"By working with Torchwick?!"
Adam scowled, his hand tightening around his blade. "You think I'm happy about this?!" he shouted. "If I had it my way, I would have that man's head on a platter!" Memories of the dead corpses of his comrades flashed in his mind, causing him to grit his teeth, scowling fiercely. "When you left, that woman came back to our camp! Do you know what she did, Blake? She made a statement: if we didn't side with her, we would be nothing but charcoal! And do you know what happened next?" He paused, letting the silence speak for itself. When it came to her, Blake's eyes widened, her face draining of color. "She killed so many of us...so many of our brothers, turned into nothing but ash! So tell me, Blake, tell me, how am I making things worse, when its the humans who antagonize us?! We tried making peace, and each and every time, they spit on us!"
Without warning, he charged at her again. Blake raised her sword in time to block it, and found herself struggling to keep Wilt away from her, knees quivering.
"Y-you're...wrong!" she said through gritted teeth. "There's someone...who wants to help Faunus!"
"Really now?" He scoffed in disdain. "If they truly wanted to help us...then where were they when things all spiraled down to Hell?!"
Blake's strength was starting to give in. She wouldn't be able to keep this up. Sooner or later, he would overpower her. She fell to her knee, and Wilt came ever closer. Her amber eyes glanced over to Sun, who was busy dealing with Roman and the White Fang. The blonde monkey Faunus was in a bind from what she saw; flanked by White Fang grunts all around him, and one dangerous mobster trying to kill him. The numbers were proving to be taxing to him, but he was able to knock them back somewhat while avoiding Roman's gunfire. Unfortunately, her mistake of looking away cost her, as Adam shrugged off Blake's last defense and struck her across the face with Blush, knocking her to the ground. Her head slammed against the concrete, causing it to ache and disorient her. She groaned, holding her head as she looked up and saw Adam's blade overhead.
"If I can't have you," he said. "Then no one can!"
He swung. Blake closed her eyes, waiting for the end. She felt her Aura practically on its last straw, and that one cut would end it. She had been reckless. Even though she hadn't fought for long, she had been using her Semblance in strong bursts, especially against Adam. That put a dent in the reserves. However, to her surprise, she heard a metal clang. She opened her eyes, and found a shocking sight.
A naked silver sword barred Wilt of its prize.
[Play: "This Is Gonna Hurt" - Sixx AM]
Both combating figures turned their heads to face the owner of the intercepting sword, greeted by the sight of a teenage boy clad in a pair of dark pants, black fingerless gloves with metal knuckles, combat boots, and a dark hoodie that obscured his face. The most prominent features of the figure were the strands of electric blue hair peeking out from the hood, the black mask on his face, and the toothy grin he carried.
"Mind if I cut in?"
Adam's face twisted into rage. "YOU!"
"He~y, bullhead," the black-masked teen said as he forced Adam back, sending him a few meters away. "Long time no see. Did you miss me?"
"You bastard!" The red haired Faunus snarled, raising Wilt in a furious grip. "How dare you appear before me?!"
"Why wouldn't I? I couldn't just let you intentionally maim such a lovely lady." He glanced back at Blake next to him. "It just wouldn't be becoming of a gentleman, now would it?"
"Gentleman?," Adam scoffed. "HA, you're no gentleman! You're the one who cut down and incinerated so many of my comrades! Isn't that right? Blue Devil?!"
Edan smirked. "Oh, those guys? To be honest, it kind of left a bad taste in the mouth. I heard some feminine screams in there somewhere. Such a shame, I would have really liked to know them better. Now, don't get me wrong, I like girls be them human or Faunus, but something about bad girls..whoo!" The infamous Blue Devil of the Black Fang grinned in joy, seeing the livid look on Adam's face grow. "Still, I have to say, you really are an idiot. I mean, come on...what kind of idiot does shit like this to such a cute girl? Pretty sure that counts as abusive, bullhead. Then again, I've heard Bull Faunus are rough around the edges...oh, wait, I got it! You're pissed because your fishing hook isn't as big as your-"
"DIE!"
Cutting the boy off from any further slander, Adam dashed forward with Wilt raised high, positioned for an overhead swing. Still smiling, Edan advanced in kind and raised his own sword, parrying the strike. From there, it was like a sword dance of death, sparks flying. It was then that Blake finally registered what was happening, and found that the whole cargo bay area of the warehouse district had suddenly turned into a warzone. Sun was no longer fighting Roman, as she found him knocked out, his back against a cargo crate of Dust, head lopsided somewhat with a bruise on his forehead, indicating his Aura had run dry. However, Roman and the White Fang were now dealing with a force she had only heard, but never seen in action.
Black jackets with hoods, coupled with black masks over their faces, in opposition to the Grimm masks worn by the White Fang. She knew of only one group with either items.
"The Black Fang...!"
When Ruby and Penny reached the warehouse district, she found herself taking cover, avoiding the massive amounts of gunfire and explosions that were being tossed around like Christmas joy. She had heard the explosion, and naturally, her instincts told her to come running. What she found was Roman Torchwick and the White Fang, a combination that both worried and stumped her at the same time, but to her confusion, she found another group, all wearing black and fighting against Torchwick and the Fang.
"Who the heck are these guys?" she wondered. "I've never seen them before."
Penny, however, did. Her green eyes were trained on the symbols painted on the back of the jackets: a red wolf, bearing fangs with an avian sigil behind it, a sword run through it. "That is the Black Fang," she said, causing Ruby to look at her in surprise. "A private-armed force that was formed a little over a year ago. They are considered to be the anti-thesis to the White Fang, as their numbers compose of both Faunus and humans alike. They are well-known for their vigilante actions, stopping drug dealers, crime rings, underground mafia, and the likes."
"What?!" Ruby gaped in shock. Just what was a group like that doing here of all places? This wasn't just a battle...it was a flipping war zone!
This was bad. As much as she wanted to stop all three instigators, she knew that this many was like asking to be sent to the front line of her dad's special training without any Aura to back you up. She needed to call the authorities. However, her eyes caught sight of something that made her heart nearly stop cold.
"Blake?!"
Sure enough, it was her black-haired teammate, currently tending to the monkey Faunus that Weiss had been chasing after the day before. What on Earth was she doing here?! Without further thinking, she used her Semblance at full blast, darting through the battlefield and avoiding gunfire and explosions caused by both groups. Penny was quick to follow behind her and chose a more quick approach, running along the tops of the cargo crates of Dust. The red-hooded reaper soon skidded to a stop, the dancing rose petals created by her Semblance catching Blake's attention. She looked at her leader in shock. "R-Ruby?!" she gawked. "What are you doing here?!"
"I should be asking you that!" she cried. "You've been gone all day! And so has Rouge!"
Her amber-eyes widened. "Wait...he wasn't with you?"
"No, w-"
The two were cut short when one of the White Fang members, a red-haired Bull Faunus wielding a katana, was slammed against the side of the container, creating a dent. Ruby yelped, startled while Blake, realizing just how dangerous it was now, grabbed the unconscious Monkey Faunus before hightailing it out of there. Ruby was quick to follow. If they stayed here any further, they would end up caught in the crossfire. This was one can of worms that was too dangerous to dive into.
As the left, Adam gritted his teeth, pushing himself out of the dent his body made before glaring at Edan, who tapped his sword against his shoulder. "Come on, bullhead," he said teasingly. "Don't tell me that's all you got. I'm just getting warmed up!"
"...I'll show you true terror you bastard..." Adam growled in disdain. He sheathed Wilt into Blush and fell into an Iaido stance. He channeled his aura into the concealed sword for a single strike. He'd finish this in one go.
Edan, on the other hand, was not about to let him have his way. "Fine...if that's how you wanna play..."
He twirled his sword around before stabbing it into the ground, twisting the handle as if he would the handle of a motorcycle. When he did, azure flames danced around the sword, cloaking it in a swirling mass of flame. Beneath the mask, his eyes glowed bright azure.
Then the two clashed for one final bout.
Roman Torchwick was cursed. He knew it. What else could explain the series of unfortunate events that happened to him over these course of these couple months?
First it was being dragged into a partnership with Cinder Fall and her posse, with the offer of either helping her or dying. Next it was his Dust Robbery getting busted by a little girl in a red hood. And now it was this heist getting busted by a kitty cat, a monkey boy, and several officers of the Black Fang, with the Blue Devil himself present. Seriously, it was like fate had it out for him or something? Did he piss off one of the brother gods that Cinder talked about once or something? For now, the mobster was more concerned with getting out of here. He called for evac, though going by how things were going, it was not going to get here fast enough. He spun around on his heel, smacking one Black Fang grunt with his cane before side-stepping another, slamming his foot into their back and smacking them into a container. He fired off one round straight at them, which sent them plowing straight into it. He then fired off two more rounds at a gathering crowd, forcing them to evade and disperse.
"Where's my favorite ice cream assistant when you need her?" Roman muttered. Things would be a hell of a lot smoother if his partner-in-crime since day 1 had been here with him. That, and he was sure she would have a field day, given that the Blue Devil was here. He wasn't sure if she would be happy to see him just so she could kill him herself, or make mad love to him. He hoped it was not the latter. Any poor bastard who earned the attention of that little cunning minx was bound to find themselves in a whole heap of trouble. After all, she was working with one of the best criminals in Remnant, wasn't she? "You sure picked a hell of a day to take a vacation, Neo."
As he turned, he suddenly found himself blocking a blade. At first, he thought it was a random sword, though upon closer inspection, it was custom-made. It was jet black, with red markings engraved along the flat edge, rolling down to the hilt, which resembled a chamber of some sort, albeit customized with metal rings wrapped tightly around it, almost like vines while seemingly attached to the blade. He noticed a long, thin barrel attached to the flat edge of the blade, solidifying the idea of it being a gun-sword of some kind.
When he saw its owner, he was stunned. "The hell are you supposed to be? A clown?"
"I prefer puppet master," the individual responded before tilting the sword, aiming the barrel directly to Roman's face, making him curse. "Among other things."
"Motherf-"
The trigger was pulled as a loud gunshot resounded. The round exploded right in Romans face, temporarily blinding him and draining a large amount of his Aura. The crime boss tumbled to the ground, trying to reorient himself despite the ringing in his ears. The owner of the sword/gun hybrid casually walked over to the downed mobster, unconcerned by the battles taking place around him.
"Ow..." Roman groaned as he shook his head, getting back to his feet. "That was a cheap shot."
"That would be the pot calling the kettle black," the individual remarked before looking around. "A shame...it seems you're assistant isn't here."
"Yeah, well...she chose now of all times to take a vacation..."
Then Roman trailed off in realization. Just how did he know that he had an assistant?
The individual chuckled, seeing the stunned look on his face. "I know quite a few things, Torchwick," he said. "Some more than others. For example, how I knew the White Fang just couldn't resist cargo full of Schnee property. Though I suppose them stealing Dust would align with this mysterious employer of yours...Cinder, I believe her name was?"
"Not bad," Roman applauded. "Though let me tell you, that woman is a menace. Bad for my business!" He had to admit, the guy was certainly shrewd. Then it struck him. He stood out among the Black Fang troops moving about, taking down the animals he was forced to work with. His presence was unlike them, who's appearance was meant to strike intimidation and fear. His appearance was meant to invoke the image of something else. As flashy as the clown outfit looked, one could not deny what it brought to the table. Intimidation, fear, awe, charisma...if there was one thing Roman knew, it was that the boss of any organization had to look the part. He then whistled. "Let me guess...you're the boss of this operation."
The individual smiled beneath the mask. "I'll leave that to your imagination."
By the time the sparks had faded, and the chaos had settled down, the warehouse district was left in shambles. Only a handful of cargo from the Schnee Dust Company was left behind, slightly damaged but its contents safe. The police and press were having a field day, and for once, Ruby was wondering if she should have just stayed at Beacon or at least ignored everything that was happening. The police were interrogating her and Penny, giving their testimony. By the time Yang and Weiss had arrived, the Vale Police Department had closed off the entire district, and the press already asking for information. She let out a tired sigh as she crouched down into the fetal position. "What a night..."
"...I'm sorry," Blake said suddenly, causing the Leader of Team RWBY to look up in confusion. She saw the worried and anxious look on her face, rubbing her arm nervously. "For...worrying you guys."
"You could have at least given us a call or something," Ruby said, giving a pout. "Seriously...you're just like Rouge. Actually, isn't he with you? I mean, you two were gone all day yesterday."
The girl sighed. "I don't know, but I'm hoping he's okay," she said before she noticed Sun walking over. "Sun! Are you alright?"
"Eh, as fine as a banana," the Monkey Faunus grinned, though he winced a bit as he tended to his ribs. Other than a minor head injury, he ended up getting a couple ribs busted, courtesy of Roman Torchwick blasting him into a container. Twice, he might add. He had hoped to get a scar or two, recalling what his partner said about scars and girls. "Though if I'm honest, if this what constitutes as a date, I would hate to see what a casual day out is like."
"If your okay enough to joke, then you'll be alright." Blake shook her head, yet her lips were slightly curled in a twinge of a smile.
"I'm just glad everything worked out...except for Rouge. Just where did he go?" Yang asked, her eyes scanning the surrounding area for any sign of him.
"I don't know. We split up a few hours ago. He said something about bringing in a friend for back up, but they never showed. I assumed he regrouped with you all." The Faunus answered.
The blonde frowned, folding her arms. "Stupid idiot, making us worry," she muttered under her breath before she found Weiss approaching. "What took you so long, Ice Queen?"
"Don't call me that!" came the verbal tic when being called by that name. Weiss glowered at her teammate, feeling quite annoyed. Seriously, why did she feel the need to refer to her by such a degrading nickname?! It was utterly idiotic! She then noticed Blake and Sun, and felt a slight pang of guilt in her heart, recalling Winter's lecture. She took a deep sigh, palming her face. "Blake..."
The cat Faunus was a bit off-put. There was always the beginnings of an awkward silence and tension. She bit her lip in frustration. She wanted to tell everyone who she really was, deciding it was time to get rid of the secrecy. After her conversation with Rouge and Sun back at the cafe, she wanted to try and put her trust in them like she should have days ago. But...would Weiss even accept her? Sun gave her a tap on the shoulder, smiling. "Relax," he told her. "You'll be fine."
She still looked unsure, but nodded. She turned to Weiss. Blake took a deep breath. "Weiss, I-"
"I'm sorry."
...
...
...
...what?
Did she...did she hear that right? Both Ruby and Yang turned to their white haired team mate as well. "...Excuse me?"
"I said I am sorry, for yelling at you, for treating all Faunus like criminals like the White Fang...everything..."
Again, what? For a moment, Blake wondered if both of her ears were working properly, otherwise she could have sworn Weiss Schnee, the heiress of a company who had it out for Faunus as if they were a plague, had just apologized.
"I...was hasty in judgement," she said, exhaling a deep breath. "I was being irrational, and...perhaps a bit harsh. My family's personal feelings on Faunus got the better of me, I judged you for siding with the White Fang and the...gentleman..." You could practically tell she was having a hard time saying that about the monkey Faunus in question, who blinked and pointed a finger at himself, asking if she was talking about him. "...so, I'm sorry."
There was a small moment of silence. Everyone was quiet. Of course, Penny, who had been relatively silent, broke the silence...in by far the most awkwardest way possible. "Aha, so THIS is what they call mending a break up!" she said, causing everyone to go stiff as if frozen, and stare at her in utter ludicrously and shock. However, the girl was oblivious as she frowned, cocking her head to the side. "But I thought she was dating Rouge."
"P-Penny!" Ruby's face burned atomic red, flailing her arms comically. "T-that is not what I meant! They aren't dating, a-and I'm sure that B-Blake and W-Weiss are into boys like Yang is!"
"Truly? Oh, my apologies." Penny bowed apologetically. The group of teens looked at the green eyed girl with gobsmacked expressions. Just what was she even talking about?
However, before anyone could say anything, they saw a man in a sharp black suit with black sunglasses approach. His face was stern, and given his attire, he seemed to be someone professional, so they naturally stood up straighter out of reflex. Penny, on the other hand, seemed to recognize him, and her face fell a bit. "There you are," the man said in a neutral tone. "You know you aren't supposed to run off on your own, Ms. Polendina."
"I'm sorry for causing trouble for the Professor," Penny said, genuinely apologetic. She hadn't meant to run off, she was just so excited to see Vale for the first time, and it got worse when she made friends with Ruby Rose. "I..."
The man shook his head. "It's fine," he said. "The car is this way."
"Of course," the ginger-haired girl gave a nod before she turned to the group, bowing. "Thank you, everyone. This was a wonderful experience." She then gave a sad smile to Ruby. "Goodbye, Friend Ruby."
For some reason, the silver-eyed girl felt saddened, seeing that pitiful look on Penny's face as she left. For some reason, it reminded her of...
"...wait, hold up a sec!" Ruby shouted, blitzing straight over to Penny. The girl seemed surprised that her friend would stop her, and was even more so when she took out her Scroll. "W-what's your Scroll ID? We can talk sometime!"
"R-Really? You truly mean that?" Her eyes were wide in shock. She never exchanged Scroll IDs with anyone before.
"Of course. We are friends, aren't we?"
The smile that formed on her face would have snapped her in half. Without realizing it, her arms wrapped around Ruby's small frame, lifting her up into the air. "Ohthankyouthankthankyou~!" she said with joy. "Thank you so much, Friend Ruby!"
"P-Penny!" Ruby wheezed, feeling her ribs being crushed, aura be damned. "Too tight! Too tight!"
Team RWBY, plus Sun, let out a small laugh at the sight. Yang, however, felt proud for Ruby taking the initiative. It had taken a lot for her t come out of her shell, and yet here she was, practically socializing. Needless to say, she had hoped her brother was here to see this. He would have felt equally as proud. Eventually Penny let Ruby go, waving her goodbye as she entered the black car. The black-clad man took to the driver seat, and then drove off.
"Well, I guess we should get back to Beacon," Weiss said before she gave a groan. "I just know Professor Goodwitch is going to have a field day." She gave a small stink-eye to Ruby, who looked at her innocently. "You know, if we get in trouble because of your hero tendency, I will blame you forever."
"What?! B-but I didn't even do anything!"
Blake smiled softly, enjoying the time and peace as the girls walked away. She was about to join them when she forgot about Sun, turning to see him standing behind her, holding out a Scroll. "Well, since your Leader exchanged numbers with someone," he said with a wink, coupled with a smirk. "Wanna do the same?"
"...is that your way of saying you're attracted to me?" Blake asked dryly. Sun choked on air, thrown for a loop. It caused the amber-eyed Faunus to giggle somewhat, but complied with his request. "And, Sun? I'm sorry for getting you involved."
The Monkey shrugged. "Eh, this ain't the first time I got in a street brawl between thugs and gangs and whatnot," he said casually. "Then again, pretty sure fights between gangs back home in Vacuo didn't have flashy explosions and whatnot." He gave another wink as he walked away, waving at her. "See ya~"
Without waiting for another word, he jumped up onto one of the nearby storage crates and leaped away. Blake watched the boy go before she shook his head. She was about to pocket her scroll before she felt it vibrate in her hand. She looked, and saw she had a message, though to her confusion, it was an unknown number. 'Must be spam,' she thought, about to delete it, given that she didn't put much stock into spam mail all that much before she caught sight of the subject of the message.
'ROUGE ROSE'
She stared at the message in shock for a number of reasons. How did this sender know that name? Why send it to her? Moreover, how did they get her Scroll ID?! What was this about? Was Rouge okay? Where did he go? Where was he?! And many more questions plagued her. Seeing as she would receive no answers unless she responded, she opened the message.
[IF YOU WANT ROUGE ROSE, COME TO THE OLD WAREHOUSE AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE DISTRICT. ALONE. REFUSE, AND HE DIES.]
Blake felt her body go numb, a chill ran down her spine. So this was why he never showed up?! He was kidnapped?! She had to tell Ruby and Yang! Wait, she couldn't! If she did, then they would come with her, and he would die! She cursed quietly.
She was torn. This was their brother...but if she told them...
'...god dammit.'
It took a few excuses, but Blake managed to convince the girls that she had some matters to attend to. As she stood outside the warehouse, which appeared to be dilapitated and falling apart, her amber eyes trained on whatever laid inside. Though it was heavily obscured by darkness, being a Faunus allowed for one to see past that black inky darkness that would otherwise invoke fear in those who were terrified of the dark. The inside appeared to be just as broken, with a few pieces of the warehouse itself lying on the floor. The walkways above, leading to the second and third level, were rusted and looked ready to fall. Small holes in the roof allowed moonlight to fall in, giving it a sort of dreary, lonely feel.
Gripping Gambol Shroud tightly, she walked inside.
As soon as she was a few feet inside the room, the door behind her swung shut, a loud screech and clang causing her to jump. She turned behind her and silently cursed. Either that was just the wind, or they had been expecting her. Most likely the latter. Claiming herself, she quietly advanced, even more wary than before.
"If someone's there, come on out," she tried to goad them. "I'm not here to play games. Just tell me what you want, and hand over Rouge."
At first, there was just silence. It unnerved her, and tried to strain her ears. Being a Cat Faunus had some advantages, as it would allow her to hear things more clearly. All she heard was footsteps, meaning someone had taken the bait. It was coming from the far end of the warehouse. She turned, and prepared to strike. When the figure became clear, her heart tightened, as did the grip, and her eyes narrowed.
"...I should have known."
Adam smirked. "And yet you still came," he said tauntingly, a hand on his hip. "You know, you truly are naive, my love."
"So this was all it was? Leading me all into a trap? Rouge was never here to begin with, was he?" She interrogated him, despite the steadily increasing amount of tension.
The red-haired Bull laughed. "Oh, he is," he said, causing her to become alarmed. "Relax, he isn't dead...yet, anyway. Still, to think you would become so comfortable with humans...you've gotten soft."
"No," Blake countered. "I've just woken up. The White Fang are the ones who changed. You honestly think this will achieve anything?! Killing people, stealing, attacking anyone who discriminates against us?! All that will do is just make people fear us more!"
Without any warning whatsoever, Adam lunged at her, sword drawn. Blake, however, was more prepared now that she didn't have the possibility of having to deal with several attackers at once. Gambol Shroud denied Wilt's attempts to attack her, sparks flying and a small shockwave shuddering through the air. The young man gave a menacing glare beneath his mask as he pushed against his former partner and lover's defenses. "...just as they should!"
[Play: This Will Be The Day - Jeff Williams, feat. Casey Lee Williams]
"This won't bring about equality, Adam!" Blake argued as she tried to force her opponent back. "All the White Fang is doing is making it harder for other Faunus to live peacefully. With each attack, humans scorn the Faunus more and more because of your actions!"
"Then is is the fault of humanity's idiocy, for blaming perceiving the actions of a few to be the responsibilities of an entire race!" Adam snapped back, breaking out of the blade lock and kicking her back.
Blake grunted as she skidded back. Adam took aim with Blush and opened fire. Acting quickly, Blake switched Gambol Shroud's form into a longer, more slim state. The katana form lacked the strength of its default, wider state, but it had longer range and allowed her to strike more swiftly. With her speed, she was able to deflect the bullets the Bull Faunus sent her way before switching forms again, this time its gun form and returning fire.
The red swordsman easily intercepted each shot with Wilt in a series of fluid motions. Once the bullets stopped, he aimed Blush and returned fire.
Using her Semblance again, a black clone took her place, though Adam did not lose sight of her as she began to run around, avoiding the gunfire. As soon as Adam stopped to reload, she swung her weapon, wrapping the hilt with the black band around her arm to grant her an extension, making Gambol Shroud's gun form a makeshift kusarigama. She then proceeded to toss it, striking at Blush just as Adam had finished reloading it. The sheathe/rifle was knocked out of his hands, sliding across the floor and away from him. Scowling the Bull Faunus fell into a combat stance once Blake pulled her weapon back, shifting it back to its default blade form.
'I don't have much Aura left,' she thought as she watched for any openings in his form, yet she knew she would find none. He had trained himself to leave not a single flaw in his technique, and if there were any holes, they were far and few between. 'From the look of it, Adam doesn't have much either. If I can do enough damage, I can end this quickly.' Of course, it was wishful thinking at best. Given her current state, she knew that she wouldn't be able to do much...but if there was a chance of stopping Adam, she'd take it. With that in mind, she fell into her own combat stance. Feet spaced apart, blade held diagonally in front of her, and her other hand at the flat of the blade.
Seeing her stance, Adam smiled darkly. "...I haven't seen you use that stance since the last time we sparred," he remarked. "Seems you still think fondly of me, my love..."
"Hard to forget someone who became a monster."
"I had no choice in the matter..." He shook his head. "It's a world where those with power oppress those without it. If humanity treated us as monsters like the Grimm...then we should give them what they want, and make them tremble in fear and regret their actions! Let them be the miserable ones for a change!"
Blake gritted her teeth. "But people can change!" she shouted. "Look at the Black Fang! They accept humans into their ranks, and unlike the White Fang now, they're making a difference! People are accepting the Faunus! And it isn't out of fear! Rouge accepts Faunus, even respects them for how much pain and suffering we go through because of the prejudice, and yet we still keep fighting!" Her grip on Gambol Shroud tightened, and her eyes regained their steely nature, remembering what the White Fang...the true White Fang...once stood for. "Don't you remember what my father once preached?! Power without direction and guided by malice will lead to nothing but misery! Yes, Sienna Khan gave the White Fang power...but all he's done is made people terrified!"
She then acted. Her emotions guided her blade, and clashed with Adam once more.
"I may have left, but that's because I know what my brothers and sisters became!" she growled, her pupils developing cat-like slits. "The White Fang that Sienna Khan made...is not the one that I considered home and family!"
Adam was silent for a moment as if letting the words sink in, his grip on his blade never once wavering. Finally, he spoke. "...So that's the true extent of your resolve, huh?"
Blake met his gaze, head on. "It is," she stated as clear as she possibly could. "I won't allow Sienna Khan...or you!" With a push, both parted, leaping back while readying their blades for another attack. "To ruin the White Fang's name anymore!"
The silence from there on was tense, as was the wait. Both were waiting on baited breath, anticipating each other's movements. The slightest muscle movement would be enough to spur them into action. Adam looked into Blake's eyes, and found nothing but an iron-clad resolve. A will to continue forward. She truly meant every word. Rouge Rose, and the Black Fang, had somehow lit a fire in her. A fire he had not seen since the White Fang's purpose had been tarnished. It was impressive. Yes, there was hardly any doubt. Earlier, her strikes were fierce, but lacked that edge she once had. Now, however, seeing the burning resolve, he was sure.
This was his partner, the daughter of the Chieftan, Ghira Belladonna...Blake Belladonna.
To Blake's surprise, Adam fell out of his combat stance and stabbed his blade into the ground. His hand then went up to his mask, removing it. She was stunned even further when the cold malice and rage she felt earlier, and knew from back then just from the harsh and burning look in those once wonderful eyes of his, had suddenly vanished. All she saw was wonderful pools of bronze yellow, now bearing a calm, yet cold look. He turned his head to the side, and spoke,
"Is this enough, Rouge?"
"Yes, it is. I appreciate your assistance in this, Adam..." Came the familiar voice of Ruby's twin as he stepped out of the shadows. Rather than the face of a kidnapped victim that Blake imagined he would have, Rouge bore an eerily calm expression. A cool smile graced his features as violet and silver eyes bore into Blake's amber ones.
Needless to say, Blake was gaping like a fish. "R-Rouge?!" she gawked, utterly taken aback. "Y-you're okay?!"
"Of course I am," he responded dully, as if he were talking about the weather. "Why wouldn't I be? Although, I do have to say, that was quite the show." He gave a small grin. "That, and now Flaemis owes me 1,000 lien."
Adam sighed, shaking his head. "Idiot," he said in displeasure, giving Rouge the stink eye. "One of these days, that gambling problem will be the death of you."
"If I were to choose between death by gambling or death by violence, I'd much prefer the former."
"Of course YOU would say that. Just so proves how much of an addict you've become."
"Maybe. But unlike most addicts, my gambling actually turns out a lucrative profit. Once you analyze the game and stack the odds in your favor...winning is a simple matter." He shrugged.
Blake watched her former partner and her team leader's twin bicker back and forth, eyebrow twitching.
This...what...how...Just what on Remnant was going on?!
Seeing her look of absolute confusion, Rouge gave a curious glint in his eye. "Something wrong, Blake?"
"...something...wrong?" she said, her shoulders trembling. "Oh...I don't know...how about the fact that you're talking to one of the most violent members of the White Fang?! Or how about the fact that I got a message saying that you were kidnapped?!" Soon, the pent-up confusion became disoriented anger, glaring at the boy. "Since you seem to be fine, how about you explain WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"
The yell left her partially drained. The day had been quite emotionally exhausting in more ways than one, what with learning the White Fang was working with Roman and having a mental debate of anguish whether or not to reveal her fauna heritage to Weiss and the rest of her team...and now this bombshell drops on her.
Rouge, undisturbed by this, chuckled. "I think it's how it looks," he said simply. "Me and Adam are colleagues."
"A-and how does that work?!" she asked, still confused. "Rouge, you know what the Fang is like, and you-" She stopped when a thought crossed her mind. Something that made her blood run cold. "W-wait...R-Rouge...are you...working for the White Fang?!"
For a moment, she thought Rouge's silence was his answer. The idea was ludicrous, yet the way he spoke with Adam, and how calm the young man was with Rouge, spoke volumes. Even though the idea was crazy. After all, in spite of everything she knew, there was no way this could be true. Soon, Rouge's silence shattered and turned into laughter. "Pft...hahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The heterochromatic teen cackled madly, having to lean on Adam for support lest he falls over on the ground. He just laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world, even Adam showed signs of suppressing his own laughter with a few twitches of his lips.
The girl was left baffled by this. He was...laughing?! Did he think she was funny or something?! Eventually, Rouge calmed down. "Hoo boy...that was well needed," he said, his laughter fading before he grinned. "And to answer your question Blake, let me ask a question of my own..."
His grin grew wider.
"...how do you think the Black Fang knew where Torchwick would be?"
The girl's eyes widened as the question registered in her mind. Come to think of it...it did seem a little too convenient for them to appear there of all places to intercept the robbery. "So...that means..."
"Quite surprising, no?" the odd-eyed teen asked as he moved a bit away from the, back facing them but looking over his shoulder, hands in his pockets with an amused smile. "One of the most influential members of the White Fang, as well as pro-Faunus domination on top of that, was actually a mole? Then again, that's what makes him an excellent PIECE."
Adam sighed in annoyance. "Remind me again, who was it that gave me that infuriating name?"
"Take a guess."
"...I'll kill him."
Blake shook her head. "W-wait, stop!" she said, holding up a hand. Her mind was reeling. What...what the hell was she hearing?! She turned to Adam, looking at him in disbelief. "Adam...all of this time...y-you were...?!"
"Not always," he answered, shaking his head. "It was sometime after you left...and when the Fang was forced to cooperate with that woman I told you about earlier. I've been working for the Black Fang for almost half a year now."
If Blake's jaw hadn't dropped to the floor before, it most definitely would've been now. Her former partner...who had been adamant in Sienna Khan's ideals for the White Fang ever since Ghira stepped down...had been working for the Black Fang for almost a year?! But how...why...?
...She's not unconscious right now and perceiving this experience was one vivid, idealistic dream, was she?
"W-why?"
"Because I agreed with Rouge," Adam said, closing his eyes and folding his arms. "At first, I believed humans were the real monsters for everything they did...and I still do. Rouge is the only exception to that, however, because he showed me that there are even worse monsters than the humans who oppress us. Worse monsters than Jacques Schnee."
"Parasites who leech off of the helpless and the weak, regardless of race, gender, or age," Rouge continued, walking further ahead before coming to a stop, lifting his head up. "Corrupt, greedy, malicious people who think of nothing of themselves. That's why me and Adam deal with them. To make this world better. They think of only personal pleasure and bigoted egos and the past, and some even act on the future, but we think of the future. Of what would wait ahead of us at the end of this path. Yes, we've killed people, and we know that blood is on our hands...but we can't stop. For the sake of those who already lost their lives." He turned on his heel, showing a somber, yet serious and cold expression that changed his image completely. What was once a fifteen-year-old boy was now a mature man standing before her, with eyes that showed naught but a cold, harsh fury. "That's why we fight. We don't care how the world sees us, and we're willing to become the enemies of Remnant if need be...for the purpose of creating a new world. One free from the filth of those who taint it."
'Blood on his hands...'
Blake did not miss the meaning of those words. Rouge...had killed someone. Perhaps even more. The mere thought caused her heart to sink. She remembered how Ruby once spoke of how the odd-eyed boy was when he was younger, much more cheerful and vibrant, but changed when their mother had passed away. Was such an event so drastic it caused him to become so...cold? Dark? Whatever the case was, this wasn't just a kid who was trying to be a Huntsman. This was someone who willingly threw his lot in people who took lives for a purpose that was otherwise unsure. A peaceful world built upon the lives of the corrupt? No matter what the cost was? Blake could scarcely imagine what could have went through his mind to make such a decision.
"And...you think you can make a difference?" she asked, saddened. She saw no innocence in those silver and violet eyes. Only something else. Something that did not belong in the eyes of a mere child. "By joining with the Black Fang?"
Rouge's lips curled in amusement. "Now..who said I joined the Black Fang?"
Suddenly, light flooded into her vision, causing her to wince and raise her arm. When her eyes became adjusted, she lowered her arm, and to her utter surprise, she found the upper levels of the warehouse filled with none other than members of the Black Fang. There were several, far more than what she saw back at the cargo bay. Their hoods were down, and their masks gone, revealing the faces of the many men and women, of the many human and Faunus, of the many young and old, who joined the organization. Seeing the staggering number, Blake felt utterly astonished. There were so many, and yet she held the feeling that this was not even all of them. Merely a show or demonstration. She also noticed how all of them looked upon Rouge with admiration, awe, and respect. It was as if the saw something within him. Something powerful to draw themselves toward him. She also noticed the Blue Devil himself by attire alone among their number, only on ground level with her and Rouge and Adam, leaning against the wall with his face exposed, revealing azure blue eyes and a fiery smirk, looking on with anticipation.
"I must say..." Edan chuckled as he pushed off the wall and strode over to them. "...That is one hell of a prelude to the grand performance, Rouge...or should I say...oh Glorious Leader?"
In that moment, Blake's stupor faded, replaced with shock that sent her reeling, staring at Rouge with large eyes that threatened to pop from her sockets. The raven-haired twin of Ruby Rose merely smirked back as he turned to her. "You can't change the world without getting your hands dirty, Blake," he told her before extending a hand. "So then..."
His next words sent a cold shiver down her spine, his smile on par with that of the god of darkness himself, and for the briefest moment, she could have sworn she saw an avian sigil burn in his eye.
"...how far are you willing to go to change the world?"
Rehearsal for Anarchy...END
"If that is to be my fate...so be it." -?
