"Pizzas here!" Yang shouted into the less-than-busy cafeteria, getting a few heads turning her way as she dropped the boxes onto the table where their small group was sitting.
Blake Belladonna leaned over to look at the toppings chosen by the blonde, while her… partner Weiss Schnee was discussing payment for the dinner alongside Pyrrha Nikos. She had to give credit where credit was due. She had not expected Weiss of all people to be among the first to offer to pay for their meal.
"Pepperoni and onion, vegetarian, meat lovers, pineapple and ham, ah! Anchovies and mushrooms," Blake listed through the options before settling on her favourite of the bunch, immediately going in for two slices.
As she took the first glorious bite, she hadn't realized how absolutely starving she was post Initiation. The majority of the day had been a boring and tedious affair, but that ending was quite the shock. Deadly and dangerous and oh so exhausting. Her aura had yet to fully recover from the battle. The need for a full night's rest, along with missing lunch during the day probably did not help in her aura's regeneration. That and the dehydration.
Luckily, there were water fountains all around the cafeteria, along with disposable cups to use. A sign nearby read that the cups were for newly Initiated students only, and that they would be removed by the end of the week, so it was imperative to remember to bring refillable water bottles.
Their group of eight was chatting with each other lightly, with most attention being placed on the food in front of them. As Blake looked around, she could see the only two that had fallen into a regular discussion, regardless of the pizza, was Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, who were talking away as if they had done so for years. Jaune was sitting nearby them, trying to get a word in over Nora every once in a while, while Yang, Pyrrha and Weiss were all talking amongst themselves. Pizza taking priority over any half-hearted questions Blake could hear over that distance.
And that just left Ilia. Ilia Amitola. A chameleon faunus who was sitting alone with what looked like half a box to herself, marvelling over the amount of food in front of her. Blake's eyes narrowed. If she remembered correctly, which she knew she did, then Ilia was a member of the White Fang and would have been for some time. There was no way that she had been underfed for that long. Not enough for her to look so plainly skinny. Even her hair lacked any sort of shine to it, tied up in a tight ponytail, a few longer hairs touching the small of her back.
It was an act. It had to be. How could it have been anything else? And Blake was going to be the one to find out.
"Ilia." Blake walked over to the girl, causing her to flinch, curling her body around her heaping plate.
"Y-yes?" Ilia whimpered with a full mouth.
"What are you doing here," there was no questioning in her words. This was serious. And serious conversations had no room for light-hearted questions, nor easy-going answers. "Were you tasked to follow me?"
"N-no-"
"Assassinate me?"
"N-no! Honest. I had no idea you were here, really," Ilia begged, standing up to back away from Blake.
"Then what are you even doing here? There is no way that the White Fang allowed you to attend a huntsman academy. There is only one reason you'd be here. Let alone here and already so close to me."
Blake glared at Ilia, backing her up to a wall. Ilia's eyes were wide with fear. All Blake could think was, "good." It would make things easier if Ilia was scared. It would be a shame for Ilia's partner when Ilia would be forced to retreat from the academy, but it would be better for everyone when she did. Blake was not going to give up her chance at fully escaping from the White Fang, as well as a future of political activeness, just to keep this girl's cover.
Just to be sure she had Ilia where she wanted to, she slammed the wall behind the girl, causing her to stutter, blood rushing to her face, no doubt in terror.
"H-harder," she heard Ilia whimper.
Blake back off a step, "what?"
"Nothing! You were saying something about me being in the White Fang? Right?" Ilia redirected, "I-I'm not in the White Fang. I left, I promised."
"Likely story. Nobody leaves the White Fang."
"Well, I did."
"Keep lying to me. I know the truth. And I promise you that I will get to the bottom of it if it's the last thing I do. Count on that." Blake turned to leave, barely listening as Ilia continued to spout out her lies.
"It's not true Blake! I don't know what else to tell you! But… Butt…" Ilia's words faded away as Blake left.
Whatever that girl said, Blake knew the truth of the matter. She had been a part of that organization since the day she was born. She knew how it worked, how it behaved. Most importantly, she knew how it changed, and not for the better. Blake was confident that she was in a great deal of danger from the Fang coming to kill her, especially now that they had someone on the inside and so close.
She'd keep her guard up. At least she was surrounded by the best and brightest huntsmen in the world. For that she would be eternally grateful for Beacon. And to whoever had sent her those Initiation letters. She would have to find out to thank them. But one thing at a time.
Time to grab another slice of pizza.
Hello! I'm back with a short one. Ya, sorry about that. It's a bit of a backtrack as we once again return to the party to see what Blake and Ilia were discussing. I probably will return to it again a few more times, but it'll be out of order. For now, Blake seems to be putting off remembering that she was made leader. Next one, I'm thinking of being from Glynda's perspective.
Mango Marbles - Thank you for that. I'm hoping it stays that way.
Therecklessone - I'd say it should make you happy! Because only a speed demon would be able to understand a speed demon.
merendinoemelliano - Thanks!
Zapper Frost - Ooh, that is so going to come back up. You can count on that.
Kivuntappaja - I get it. And I'm quite excited to get to see Blake's leadership style. Especially since she's often so quiet. As for Ren understanding Oobleck, that'd be pretty funny.
Jack Fortune - Thank you.
RayD2Kill - You never know where Sun Wukong may be in this fic! :P
FEV Grim - That seems a little too nice for Weiss. But who knows? Maybe she's feeling a little repentant.
therandompers - DOCTOR Oobleck! He worked super hard for that PhD! Lol, but he tries his best.