…
Against all logic, Ilia decided to stay at Beacon.
Attending classes quickly grew from boring to interesting… to enthralling. Even outside of Goodwitch's tutoring sessions, Ilia soon discovered an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Something had awoken in her that would not be settled easily. Of course, those tutoring sessions were a big part of it – she'd formed an attachment to the blonde Professor that took over her mind almost every day – but she was learning, dammit.
Against all reason, Ilia started to talk to other humans.
The curriculum at Beacon demanded that students who started late, like Ilia, be put through a probationary period before joining a team (as opposed to a proper Initiation event in the Emerald Forest). As such, Ilia soon realized there was a handful of other 'transfer' students like herself that were also waiting out this period and… without even realizing it… she started getting along with them. Unlike the times she tried to infiltrate other Academies in the past, there was nothing to hide here. She was free to be open.
Vernal turned out to be a human not unlike herself – she was orphaned at a young age, then raised by a gang of bandits before striking out on her own. There were others, like a large and scary young man called Yatsu-something-or-other, but Ilia found a kindred spirit in the soft-spoken Velvet Scarlatina – the fact that Velvet was a Faunus was secondary to her wonderful personality. The two of them hit it off so well, in fact, that Ilia soon found herself lost in friendly banter for hours on end. She woke up each morning with optimism for the day ahead.
And against all common sense, Ilia was falling in love. With a human.
Glynda Goodwitch agreed to continue their time together by way of tutoring sessions. Private tutoring sessions. The blonde woman seemed happy to help anytime Ilia had a question about anything, whether academic or otherwise. They had long conversations into the evenings, holding nothing back from each other. The two weeks following her detention were very eye-opening for the young chameleon Faunus.
Aside from being an impossibly perfect human, the older woman was also positively stunning to look at. Long portions of Ilia's study time were taken up by simply watching the woman's chest rise and fall with her breathing; letting her gaze fall a bit too low when the woman turned around to write out a problem on the whiteboard; staring at those pouty lips.
Oh, she had it bad.
Still, Ilia couldn't remember the last time she was this happy with her life. This… content. It was approaching the end of her probationary period, and soon she'd get the chance to join a real Huntress team. In all honesty, she was trembling with excitement.
…
…
Nighttime.
Ilia was giddy at the idea that tomorrow was her last day as just a 'transfer' student – as of Friday, if nothing went wrong, she'd be on her way to earning her license as a proper Huntress. If she managed to sleep for more than one hour before that time came, it would be a miracle.
TAP TAP
She blinked as she realized that noise came from her window. Odd… her room was on the third floor.
TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!
Upon turning to look, all of Ilia's good mood and positive energy crashed right back down to ground level.
It was Blake. In full battle attire, with her mask on. A bloodstained student ID dangling from her belt.
Without waiting for an invitation, the cat Faunus unlocked the window in a moment and let herself in, not even pausing for breath before tearing into Ilia with barely controlled fury, "Mind telling me what the hell you think you're doing? An entire month – no contact – and I find you in here dancing around like an idiot?! Have you lost your damn mind?!"
By now Ilia was backed into the far wall, lip trembling. An angry Blake was not to be argued with.
"At least tell me you got the job done. You didn't screw up something that simple, did you?"
Ilia couldn't see what color she turned just then, but it had to be something obvious.
Blake scoffed, "Oh. I get it. They got to you, didn't they? What did they promise? Freedom? A full pardon? Or maybe they're keeping you on blackmail? Threats? Tell me who to kill to get you back!"
"I CHOSE TO STAY!" Ilia's half-shouted before she could stop herself. Her hand clapped over mouth a moment too late, but she still added, "I chose… to stay… on my own. No one is holding me hostage."
Blake's mask hid her amber eyes, but Ilia could imagine the rage burning within them as the cat Faunus slowly drew her weapon from her back and leveled it at Ilia's face. Her next words came out laced with menace, "Choose your next words carefully, Amitola… or I will have to execute you, here and now, as a traitor to your kind."
Ilia barely had time to think before acting on the first thing that came to her mind: "I'm… g-g-getting in close to Goodwitch. I have… p-private lessons with her… every day. She t-trusts me now."
The black blade lowered, and Blake said, "I'm listening."
"I can get in… into her office. Keep her distracted."
Blake sheathed her blade, then hissed, "One way or another, this ends tonight. Walk. Now."
…
…
The only thing that kept her from running was the knowledge that Blake would strike her down on the spot if she tried. Ilia swallowed hard as she made the short walk from her dorm to the Professor's office, a path she'd taken quite a lot over the last month.
'Month'? Had it really been that long? Thinking back on the events before she came here, Adam and Blake had given her an entire month to complete her mission – forge Goodwitch's signature on an incriminating letter, then leave said letter with the cops – before they'd come after her. How in the hell did she forget about that?! Gods damn it all.
Before she knew it, she was at the door. She could feel Blake watching her from the shadows. A gentle knock, followed by, "Professor? Are you in?"
Then came the usual response, "Of course, Miss Amitola. Come on in."
From the corner of her vision, Ilia watched the silent cat Faunus disappear around the corner. No doubt to find another way in. She hoped her heart wasn't beating too loudly, or it might wake up half the dorms.
"So, what brings you to my…" Goodwitch paused for a moment when she looked up at Ilia, "…my office at this hour? Having trouble sleeping?"
Well… the woman didn't seem suspicious. Not yet, anyway. "Yeah… something like that."
"I see." Goodwitch bent down to a lower drawer of her desk and retrieved a bottle of something dark. "I was going to share this with you once you were part of a proper team, but I think now's a good time."
"I'm a little young for that…"
"Did I say it was alcoholic?" Those green eyes gleamed with mischief as she grabbed two glasses from a cupboard. "Have a seat. Relax."
Considering who was prowling nearby right then, relaxing was the last thing on her mind… but she had to try. If she gave away the game now, they were both dead. Ilia swallowed again, forced herself to act calm, and sat down to watch Goodwitch pour out some of the mystery drink.
It was hard not to stare – the Professor was in casual mode, and her blouse was undone by an additional two buttons. Goddamn.
Movement, from the ceiling tiles above. The Professor didn't seem to notice.
Ilia grew tense, unsure of what to do next. If she fought, Blake would target her first for being a traitor – and Ilia didn't carry her lash around on campus anymore. If she didn't fight, Goodwitch would either take massive damage or be killed – an ending Ilia had actually wanted once, a long time ago, but found unthinkable now. If she warned her, they could probably escape… and live in fear of retribution for the rest of her life.
The clack of a glass hitting the desk in front of her pulled Ilia's mind back to reality. Goodwitch had hers ready, so Ilia picked it up and gave it a sniff. Hmm… it smelled like plain water.
"I'll confess that you've gone far beyond what I expected, Miss Amitola. I'm honestly very proud of you, and I look forward to what the future holds for you, in every way."
As Ilia allowed those kind words to wash over her, she blinked in surprise as the blonde woman gave her a very deliberate wink. What…?
"Cheers, Miss Amitola." Goodwitch raised her glass. Ilia did the same, and they drank at the same time.
Then everything happened at once.
Ilia felt a surge of power from the drink, as though her Aura had become supercharged, less than a second before gunfire erupted from the ceiling and rained down on both of them… but it didn't penetrate her shield. She didn't even remember putting it up, let alone focusing it enough to withstand a surprise attack.
An angry grunt followed, and Blake dropped down with blade at the ready. She rapidly attacked both of them, but found both of their Aura shields at more than full strength – none of the attacks did any damage. At all. Both Ilia and Blake stared at the scene in awe.
The shock of the sudden boost to her Aura was enough to dull the sting of realizing that Blake had attacked both her and Goodwitch together. She'd never meant to take Ilia back after all.
A moment later, with a flick of her wrist, Goodwitch produced her riding crop and, in a scene out of a daydream, instantly wrapped Blake in no less than three curtains. The cat Faunus yelped in surprise as she fell to the floor, helpless, as part of the curtains wrapped around her mouth as a gag.
"How…? What…?" Ilia had no words.
Goodwitch stepped carefully around the debris, placing her and Ilia's glasses back on her desk. "A little something I whipped up a few years ago. It's a bit too strong for most, but the effect is hard to beat. Good for getting out of ambushes, wouldn't you agree Miss Amitola?"
"What was… I don't… huh?"
"It's an Aura-boosting formula, kind of a 'magic potion' of sorts. It's a bit flat, but the effect is more important than the taste anyway-"
"How did you KNOW?" Ilia cried, her knees threatening to give out from beneath her. "I didn't say anything, so how…?"
"Did you forget how well I can read your skin patterns? It was written all over your face," Goodwitch said with a kind smile as she touched Ilia's forehead with one finger. "Almost literally."
Ilia's entire body grew hot as the pink glow was clearly reflected in the Professor's glasses. The woman laughed lightly as she rustled Ilia's hair.
Blake sighed from the floor.
…
…
As the prison transport flew away, Ilia stood clutching her arms in silence. The commotion had, of course, alerted the security system of the school and the arrest was made less than an hour later. It was all over now, but Blake's final words still echoed through her head: 'I have nothing to say to you, traitor.'
Traitor. Ilia had betrayed the White Fang. Simply abandoning them was bad enough, but she'd just gotten Adam's second-in-command arrested. She was most definitely out.
"Miss Amitola? Are you alright?" Goodwitch put a hand on her shoulder as the last of the security forces left the scene. "I'm sure you're upset, but you'll feel better in the morning-"
"I almost got you killed."
The Professor sighed as she pulled Ilia closer, into an awkward hug, "You are so much like Cherami it's almost frightening. Don't blame yourself too much. This isn't the first time I've been at the wrong end of a gun, you know."
"I turned my back on the people who raised me… who took me in when I had nothing… doesn't that make me-"
"-An incredibly brave young woman? Absolutely."
Ilia pulled away, her guilt and shame no doubt displayed all over her body, "I… I should… I mean, I shouldn't… be here any more… If they hear about what I did, they'll… come after me again…"
"So what?"
Ilia blinked as Goodwitch walked around to face her, hands on her hips and green eyes staring right into her soul.
"You are a student at an Academy designed to train warriors. If they do come after you, they'll be the ones who need to run, not you."
"But…"
"No 'buts' young lady. No student of mine is going to flee from something like this with her tail between her legs, understood?"
"…Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Now…" The Professor sighed as she turned to her window, where the ruins of her office were on display. "I still need to finish my work for the evening, and you look like you need to unwind. Come on, we can relax in the common room." With a casual wave, she bid Ilia to follow and started walking.
"Professor…?"
The woman looked back, her gaze curious.
"Could we… maybe… have a p-proper drink together… sometime?"
There was a pause, then Goodwitch pushed her narrow glasses higher on her face before switching to serious mode, "Miss Amitola, there are clear rules that forbid any sort of romantic relationships between a student and a teacher. As a Professor of Beacon Academy, I must refuse… and warn you not to make such a request again."
Ilia's face fell as she responded with a somber, "…Yes, ma'am."
"However…"
A thin finger suddenly appeared beneath her chin as Ilia's face was lifted back up… and she found herself face to face with Goodwitch. Those green eyes were gorgeous up close, even in the dark. And she was smiling.
"…That rule only applies to students, not full graduates. If you stick around and finish your training, then… … … my answer will be yes." She punctuated her words by pressing her lips to Ilia's forehead, sending waves of goosebumps down her back.
Glynda let out another laugh as Ilia turned the brightest shade of pink she'd ever turned.
…
…
Later…
Ilia stood trembling next to her teammates. Professor Goodwitch stood before them, wearing a warm smile that most of the other students never got to see.
"Even if Headmaster Ozpin were here to do this himself, I don't think I'd let him." Glynda's eyes twinkled as she stated, "Ilia, Vernal, Velvet Scarlatina, Yatsuhashi Daichi… the four of you have passed probationary training and earned your place as proper first-year students of Beacon Academy."
Ilia and her team shared a moment of well-earned celebration before Goodwitch continued.
"I name you team IVVY… led by Ilia Amitola. Congratulations, dear… and I truly look forward to seeing how far you all go."
…
…
…
Author's Note: Hey look, I got one done! :) And was it just me, or was Blake acting exactly like Adam here?
This was a fun ship to write for, but I honestly think any ship can be fun if you just bend reality enough to make it work. If you have a suggestion for a new rare/crack ship you'd like to see me try, feel free to shout it out in the comments (but do us all a favor and leave out both Zwei and the Shopkeep – literally everyone else is fair game, so get CREATIVE).
And by the way… no, I haven't forgotten about my other projects. Writing this was kind of a palette cleanser for me.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Drop a review if you're feeling up to it, I always love getting feedback.
=^..^=