Anna, weaponsmith of the White Fang chapter in Menagerie, knocks on the door of the Albain brothers' shrine. Something makes her shudder.
Too damn cold out here...she thinks, rubbing her arms.
She instinctively steps back one step when she hears movement inside. A firm hand pushes the door outwards and almost hits her in the antler.
The red-hooded Fennec Albain has his hands clasped together as soon as they see each other. His small smile is soft enough to ease her a bit, but it borders on that uncanny valley feeling of creepiness.
"Oh, um, hi, I was told that I was needed here?" Anna forces her own smile and her hands lock behind her back.
"Why yes, Anna, come in." Like his smile, Fennec's voice is calm, soft and quiet. She would have had trouble hearing him if it weren't deadly silent at the camp. "We've invited you to discuss the White Fang's next actions on Menagerie."
"Do you mean the attack on the Belladonna household? I've already said that I would hang back and prep more weapons." Her posture tenses and her hand grips the back of her jeans. She widens her smile and bites on her lower lip. "Unless there's…"
"We request that you take a more…proactive role in contributing to this operation. We require your aid with a..." Corsac takes over, stepping in front of his brother. "Saint-Fourteen, who is certain to…interfere, if you understand us."
"…Are you asking me to kill him?" Her throat dries. "And are you only coming to me because I'm friends with him?"
The brothers pause at her suggestion.
"No…we only need you to distract him," Fennec says.
"We understand that you would be no match for someone like him," Corsac says. "But your previous relations with him will allow him to provide a…leniency, towards you."
"Do you understand what we need you to do for us?" Fennec finishes off, an evil glint in his eye as the brothers both stare at her.
She wants to reject the proposition, she's desperate to find a way to tell them. "I-" Her voice can't pronounce the words required.
"Well?" She sees Corsac draw a small dagger from the side of his waist. The unsheathing of metal is slow, prolonged; he wants her to know. The fox-Faunus tilts his head downwards and his eyes take a dark appearance. "We could repeat ourselves if it wasn't clear enough." There is a hint of something, underneath the positive tone. Something she doesn't like.
"Do you understand how vital it would for Saint-Fourteen to be out of the picture?" Fennec himself draws a blade too. "The plan will most certainly fall apart without your input."
Anna takes a step back, and stammers, unable to pronounce her thoughts.
"I-I'll…do it." Anna exhales and looks to the floor with shame. "I'll contact him tonight."
"Perfect…we need him gone for only a few hours."
She blinks a few times. The brothers' devious smiles return to their faces as they both do a simultaneous and short bow to her. Anna starts backing away to the door, her own expression stiff, unnatural. Relief comes over her when she feels the cool, evening air on her back.
"Thank you, Anna, you will prove to be crucial in our plans," Fennec says before the door shuts behind her.
She takes out her Scroll, going down her short list of contacts, most of which are her dead family. Her thumb hovers over the name "Saint-14." She takes a deep breath and looks around. She stops a moment to watch the troops that have started running back-and-forth.
Anna shuts her eyes and taps on the name. Her Scroll speed-dials the now well-known vigilante.
"Anna?" Saint's voice nearly pierces her ear because of how loud he's talking. "Do you need anything? Where have you been for the past few days?"
"Yeah, Saint…" she pauses, her breath hitching inside her throat. "I need to talk to you, meet me at the…edge of…town. In about an hour, yeah."
"Um…" She flinches at his response, and crosses her fingers, hoping that he will agree. The hesitation in his voice doesn't sound very convincing, though. "Of course, I will be on the east side, far down the road from the Belladonna household."
"…Yeah, that'll…be fine, I guess."
"Is something wrong, Anna? You don't sound too good." Hearing him be so caring when she's about to betray him like this…it's wrong. She feels wrong. "Anna?"
"Just meet me there, okay?"
"…Okay."
. . .
Nighttime has fallen. The shattered moon shines high above Kuo Kuana. A bird is chirping somewhere, and the wind blows down the sandstone road. Anna keeps one hand hovering over the hand cannon at her waist. The bullet in it should be enough to bring anything down, right? She would only have one shot so it'll have to count.
She squints and sees the faint silhouette of the hulking Saint-14 in the distance. The line that glows lavender going down the center of his helmet is the first thing she sees. The shadow covering him is cast away by the wind blowing from a different angle.
His shotgun is on his back. His arms are crossed.
She'll have the advantage of the draw.
"Saint," Anna says, her mouth dry. "It's been a while." She tries to sound confident but it comes out as a pathetic mixture of anguish and nervousness.
"Only a few days," Saint muses, stepping forward. "What do you need that is so important that you need to talk to me in person?"
"…I just…" Anna struggles to hold back tears. Not at the thought of threatening her only friend, but about what he would do to her afterward. She knows that she won't survive an encounter versus him in any realm of possibility.
"I'm…I'm sorry."
/
It has been a while since Saint-14 had been surprised by someone drawing a weapon. Usually, he would put a shell in them or incapacitate before they could do anything with it. Seeing Anna whip out a hand cannon from her waist and nearly dropping it was quite unexpected.
"Anna?" Saint says. "Did the White Fang tell you to kill me?" He isn't fazed by the weapon, but he doesn't understand why she would point a weapon at him in the first place. Even if she does shoot, does she know the bullet will even pierce his shields? She knows of his power, so this move makes no sense to him.
"They didn't. They know you'll end me in a second." Her arm falters a bit, getting a bit tired. The barrel is still pointing at around his chest though.
"So, what is the meaning of this?"
An explosion erupts somewhere from the Belladonna household, followed by gunfire.
"…Cowards." He sighs and steps forward. His Sentinel Shield materializes on his forearm and his entire body glows purple. "Drop the pistol, please." He reaches his palm out at her.
Anna sighs and scoffs to herself. "They told me to fucking distract you. Distract you." She snarls and waves the gun around in the air. "Do you honestly believe that they said that?"
"…Not exactly. A weapon of that size is meant to kill." Saint's head leans forward, expecting her to hand it over.
"I know it is, which is why I brought it. But look at you, you're not even reacting to it." She snarls and points the hand cannon to the air, then lets it fall. It clinks onto the ground pathetically, and the hammer falls out. "It's actually pointless. Save the Belladonnas, go." Her tone indicates that she stopped caring.
Saint steps in front of her and pats her on the shoulder. "This is your chance to break free, okay? Take off the mask, or I will do it for you." His thumb smooths over the flimsy plastic face mask that covers half of her face. There are cuts in it to accommodate her elk antlers.
She nods once, giving him affirmation. He fiddles the mask around a bit and manages to separate her face from it.
Her dull, grey eyes are the first things he notices.
"Just punch me or something, please." Anna snorts and smirks. "When I was planning this entire encounter on the way, I thought you would be trying to beg me to put the gun down."'
"You know me well enough to know that I would have taken the weapon whether you would have shot or not." Saint chuckles, and he brings her close for a hug. "I don't have any qualms with you. You were only doing what you were told, correct? You had no other choice."
"Now, if you will excuse me." He lets her go. "I have unfinished business to settle."
"With Ilia?"
"Primarily her, yes. The brothers may be involved too. Stay in the village, I can protect you."
"…I'll be hiding out in the camp."
"Suit yourself."
. . .
Now Saint's rage has piqued in a way he hadn't felt since the battle of Twilight Gap. His vision is somewhat tinted red, perhaps an Exo setting he can change, or perhaps it's built-in. His boot is the first contact with the front doors of the Belladonna household, sending them wide-open. Two White Fang insurgents are tossed to the sides, breaking through windows.
The Albain brothers are pointing daggers with glowing swirls at Ghira Belladonna, who had gone shirtless. The mayor now bares claws from his fingertips and has revealed fangs in his teeth.
Saint materializes his shield and steps between the two parties. "I take it you do not need my help?" He asks Ghira, who nods in reply. "Good, handle these fools for me." He can hear them make offended remarks and blocks a charged shot of white aimed straight at his neck. He glares at the hooded Corsac.
"Pathetic," he grumbles, earning a growl from the Faunus. He scoffs once and walks through the doorway that leads to the inside of the house.
If Ilia were to be anywhere, it would be further inside the house.
He turns towards a hallway. The candles are unlit, leaving the corridor dark, save for the moon's soft light shining through the rooftop windows. A White Fang insurgent rushes him with their spear, having been hiding behind a pillar. He grabs them by the face and throws them into a wall. The body slumps to the floor, a dark smear following it. Saint's boots stomp against the wooden floor, making a thumping sound with every step. He wants Ilia to know he is coming for her.
He stops at a small set of doors that are barely tall enough to fit him. Nothing about them indicates that she's in here, but a gut feeling is saying so. He takes a small breath and bashes the entrance down with his shield. Dust kicks up all around him, temporarily concealing his form as he steps inside the meeting room.
"COWARD!" He bellows. He looks up to an upper walkway that wraps around the entire room. Ilia is standing over a railing, her face-mask on and lash in hand. She grimaces and looks down at him. "You would attack a girl's family when she isn't even here to defend them!"
"I didn't-" Saint doesn't let her finish talking and throws his shield at her. She jumps over, and down onto the same level as him.
"You have squandered your chance at mercy," Saint rumbles, his shield returning to him. "The time for talking is over." He raises and points it at her. "So, fight."
Ilia scowls, and her lash extends into its whip form. With a yell, she swings at him, aiming for the head. Saint steps to the side and throws his shield again, preparing a Suppression grenade in the other hand.
"Oh no you don't!" She says as her whip hits his palm, forcing him to drop the unready explosive. The Light in it dissipates and it fades away. "I've seen you fight Saint!"
"Then you will know that you are no match!" The shield bounces back from a wall and hits her from behind. She stumbles forward and falls over onto her knees, but quickly gets back up. "Enough useless chit-chat, give me a worthwhile duel!"
Ilia twirls and regains the high-ground up on the high walkway. She seems to be assessing the situation. It's a smart idea, but Saint has an answer to it. He does away with the Sentinel Shield and instead channels his Light into Arc. The energy crackles all around him and pools under his feet, creating some propulsion for him. He raises his arm and points his fist upwards. His boots tremble, ready to launch his body into the air.
Arc energy snaps and pops as he propels himself like a missile that pointed to the center of Ilia's body. She gasps, and jumps away, hanging onto a pole in the corner. The entire walkway crumbles when he lands, sending them both tumbling back down to ground level.
Saint isn't affected, as he punches his way out of the debris and emerges without any injuries.
Ilia, on the other hand, is nowhere to be seen. He scans for her, and all of a sudden, the room is plunged into darkness.
"So, this is what you are!? A fool who can only fight in the shadows!?"
"SHUT UP!" Her voice comes from above as he spots her silhouette in the air over him. Her lash strikes the opening between his helmet and his chest plate, wrapping around his neck. It sends an electric shock that puts his systems into disarray. He seizes for a moment, unable to move his limbs and a searing pain pulsates once through his body. She takes the opportunity to pull him forward, making him stumble to the floor. She beats her knee once against the front of his helmet, then sends a left and right hook to the sides of his head. She earns a single spark from his frame.
She delivers one last roundhouse kick to his head before retreating into darkness. Saint regains control of his body and slams his fist into the ground before standing up.
"I didn't have a choice! This is bigger than us, Saint!" She says. The source of her voice is indeterminable, seemingly coming from everywhere at once.
"You are daring, I admit," he mumbles to himself. A blazing hammer forms in his hand, flames coming out of it from every direction.
"You always had a choice, Ilia!" He yells in reply. His body turns in circles, searching for the camouflaged Faunus. He has to do something; the dark will give her an advantage.
Sorry, Ghira, he thinks as he throws the hammer into one of the desks that are set up in neat rows. It sets the furniture aflame, and by consequence catches on. With a fire burning, visibility improves as shadows become visible. His sensors pick up on Ilia's own, exposing her hiding spot behind a table. He delivers another hammer in her direction, striking the cover. The projectile explodes on impact, splitting up into three smaller fireballs. He hears a cry of pain and a moving trail of embers that dissipates half a second after being spotted.
Ilia reveals herself. Fragments of skin on her left arm are completely black, and her breathing is labored. She's running out of energy, Saint can feel it. She coughs, and blood splatters to the floor.
"Look what you've done. You've destroyed the house more than anyone could have!" She brings her arms out wide, grinning in delirium.
"I will put an end to your violence because you're unable to." Saint closes one hand into a fist and summons his Sentinel Shield once more. "Houses can be rebuilt, not people."
"It's the only thing that works!" She screams. "What are we supposed to do when the humans that attack us aren't stopped!? The only thing we can do is attack back!"
She lashes out again, her weapon extending and sparking violently. She twirls with every strike, fighting with renewed vigor and distinct anger. It's a desperate anger; she's cornered, and like a rat, will fight her hardest. Whether's it's out of desperation or some twisted courage, Saint doesn't know, but it feels like the former. Her weapon pops every time it makes contact with his shield. He smacks the whip upwards, and bashes her body, producing a shockwave that knocks Ilia off balance. This brief stunned period allows him to close the distance between them.
She compresses her weapon back into its blade form and deftly does a flip over his head, landing a few feet behind him. She swings, transforming her weapon into a whip again. The blow hits with a surprising amount of force, making Saint recoil back slightly. She compresses her armament and charges him, swiping sideways against his shield.
He shoves her back and grabs her Lash by the bottom of the blade, just above the handle. His shield disappears. She smirks and lets electricity flow through. Saint's vision goes haywire and multiple colors flash in his view but he keeps enough control of his body to channel the energy into his other fist. He brings it forward and lands a punch straight in the center of her mask, cracking it in two. Ilia cries out in pain while her entire body flinches back, spinning to try and catch herself. The pieces of Grimm bone fall from her face, clattering on the floor. Saint takes the new opening to land another blow across her cheek, dispatching her to the floor. Her body is sprawled out but still moving. She stumbles back up, turns around and raises her fists.
"Come on, fight me!" She yells as she charges him.
He side-steps her attempt at a punch, and she careens forward, almost falling again. Her hand reaches for a weapon but finds nothing other than a broken plank of wood. She throws it at him and it bounces off of his chest piece.
Saint grabs her by the back of her vest. She weakly struggles against the grip, her own hands feebly trying to pry him off. He turns her around, showing her bloodied face, still defiant to him.
A fighter to the end. He will remember her determination.
"This is it, Ilia," Saint says.
"Fuck. You!" She manages to utter out. He reels his head back, charging his Light into one last attack, his finishing move.
There is a resounding crunch as his helmet makes contact with the side of her visage.
Ilia gasps, and her breath hitches. The squelching of flesh as he pulls his helmet away. He readies for another headbutt.
"Saint!" He hears Blake cry out, from the side. "Oh no, no, no, Ilia!"
"Ilia! Let her go!" He doesn't question and lets her body fall to the floor. Blake rushes to it, falling to her knees as her hands apply pressure new gaping hole in Ilia's eye socket. "Saint! What did you do!?"
"What I had to," he replies, lowly. "Let me finish the job, she won't be a problem for-" He steps over her, readying the Perfect Paradox. One shell is all that's needed.
"She's going to die!" She exclaims and pushes him away. "I didn't…no…"
"Blake."
"Get away from her!" Blake draws her own weapon and readies it. She stands over Ilia's body, acting as a barrier between her and Saint. "This isn't right!"
"Blake-"
"Shut up! You didn't even give her a chance!" Tears come from the cat-Faunus' face. "I said, get away!" She pushes him again. He doesn't move.
"Please! She deserves a second chance!"
"You don't understand..." His Void Light boils. "I have given her many, she has refused every time. She is only getting what is-"
A body bursts through a wall, and two daggers clatter to the floor.
"Of course, these two," Saint mutters. An Albain tries to scoop up a dagger but he blasts him once with Perfect Paradox, sending the poor fox-Faunus to a wall. He tackles them down. He can't tell the two apart anymore; only that one doesn't have a red hood and that one does. A simple smash with his elbow into their neck is enough to render them immobile. He's pretty sure this is Corsac.
A crack, and a breath that chokes once before slowly releasing. The person under Saint goes limp.
The other Albain hears it and just seems to know that his brother is dead.
"Brother!" The man picks up both daggers and charges Saint with a loud cry. "You monster!"
Saint punches him straight in the chest and stuffs the Perfect Paradox's barrel into it in the blink of an eye. One blast and Fennec is on the floor.
Dead? Most likely, judging from the body's unresponsive state.
Saint needs air.
More Osiris next chapter.
Edit: Went through this one.
Edit 2: Thanks to some feedback, I made some things a bit less confusing to read.