Blake had managed to spend the last two weeks sequestered inside the private room the White Fang had so generously provided for her while Jaune had been taken below deck. She would only emerge in the dead of night, stealing away to the kitchens to grab herself some food before returning to her quarters, her stony expression enough to keep the few people she came across from doing more than whispering insults under their breath as she passed. More than once, she had wanted to visit him, but she knew how the Fang treated its prisoners, and the idea of seeing him beaten and broken was enough to scare her into staying where she was. Even if she did visit him, she had no idea what she would say. She was still reeling from what he had done outside Ma'Ula. She had seen that he had changed since the Fall of Beacon - hardened from the pain of loss - and that whatever trials he had faced since he started traveling by himself had furthered these changes, but to so ruthlessly slaughter people like he did just didn't make sense to her.
The boat arrived not long after noon, and Blake allowed some of her feelings to show, marching onto the small port on the Eastern coast of Anima with a her bag slung over her shoulder, Gambol Shroud strapped to her back, and a fierce scowl on her face that ensured she was given a wide berth.
"We should arrive at Lake Matsu by early evening," Fennec informed her as the two of them walked toward a nearby bullhead. "High Leader Khan will want to meet with you right away."
"Good," Blake replied. The sooner she got to Sienna Khan, the sooner she could get away from Fennec and Corsec and this entire mess completely. "My parents had much they wished for me to discuss with her."
"In due time, Sister Blake," Fennec's quiet voice made her clench her jaw. "There is the matter of the Human to be dealt with first."
"Oh? Are you guys talking about me?" Jaune asked as he was pushed forward by a pair of masked White Fang operatives, led by Corsac. "I'm touched."
Blake had a hard time keeping an even expression amidst the maelstrom of conflicted emotions she felt upon seeing his battered form. His shirt was torn, hanging from his arms which were bound together at the wrist in front of him. Everywhere she could see, his skin had become a mottled collection of blues, blacks, greens, and yellows, with numerous cuts and minor burns littering whatever space remained. Despite the ridiculous amount of damage he had taken, though, Jaune still stood tall, walking on his own two feet, his eyes gleeming dangerously.
"Silence, Human," Corsac ordered as he grabbed Jaune by the scruff of the neck and shoved him into the bullhead. Blake and Fennec followed him while the two operatives walked around to the cockpit.
"But I just feel so safe with you guys," Jaune sneered. "Like I can open up and tell you anything."
"Please," Fennec quipped. "Feel free to divulge any secrets you may have. It will save our interrogators the effort."
"By all means," Jaune accepted, "why go to all that trouble when I'm more than happy to share how good of a lay your mother was?"
Both brothers scowled, and one of Fennec's dog-ears started to twitch.
"Shut up," Blake hissed. Jaune turned to her and smirked ruthlessly.
"Hey, they asked."
"Our mother is dead," Corsac growled, his fists clenching in his lap.
Jaune scoffed. "Give me, like, twenty seconds - thirty, tops - and I can send you to see her if you'd like."
Anger blazed through Blake, and, before she knew it, the loud crack of her hand slapping him across the face rang above the dull roar of the bullhead's engines. The arrogant facade Jaune wore fell as he turned his head back and looked into her eyes. His expression was neutral as he looked at her, still, no trace of remorse for what he had done, but, as Blake glared deeper into those deep, blue eyes, she did see the faintest hint of an apology, glimmering in their depths.
"Stop. Talking," she hissed.
Jaune took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. Blinking slowly, he turned his head to look straight forward. For the remainder of the flight, Jaune simply stood there, without making a sound. Regardless of how the bullhead moved, or any turbulence they went through, he remained steadfastly fixed in that one spot. If not for the minute flexing of his legs, Blake would have thought he had somehow fastened himself to the floor. Hours later, the bullhead made its final ascent before landing and opening its doors. Grabbing her bag and hopping out, Blake looked around, taking in the view from their position amongst one of the many islands floating in the air above Lake Matsu.
"Come, Sister Blake," Corsac said, pushing a still-silent Jaune out of the bullhead. "We must meet with the High Leader."
Blake nodded and followed the brothers. The island they had landed on was one of several that the White Fang had hollowed out and occupied. While she had never been to this base in particular, Blake could already estimate most of its layout as the brothers escorted her and Jaune through a small gathering of trees, towards a little cave near the center of the island. Not far into the cave was an elevator that would serve as the primary means of entry and exit for the entire population of the base - any other ways in or out were to be known only by upper brass so they might lead an evacuation should the main entrance be compromised.
The elevator took them down into a series of tunnels that were lit primarily by torchlight so as to preserve electricity for other more essential processes given that all Faunus had exceptional sight in low light. Blake could feel them going down slightly as they headed towards the center of the base, where the most important personel stayed, and where the High Leader, Sienna Khan was likely to be waiting for them. The halls were strangely empty, with only a handful of people roaming around them, watching with morbid fascination as they passed, their expressions anything from disgusted to gleeful when they noticed the prisoner walking between the brothers.
Jaune, for his part, was completely composed. He wasn't just staring into space anymore, and his entire posture seemed to change as his eyes scanned his surroundings. In the time since they had reunited, Blake had seen so many different sides to Jaune, it was almost like there were multiple people living in his body. What she saw now was different from the young man, hurt from the loss of his best friend trying to do a little bit of good in the world, or the career Huntsman, unconcerned with who was on what side so long as he could do his job, or even the man who had walked through the streets of Kuo Kuana, soaked in the blood of those he killed. The way Jaune walked now was not with the smooth, almost predatory grace he had seemed to have adopted during his travels, but with a quiet confidence that reminded her of the few times she had seen General Ironwood from Atlas during the Vytal Festival. His shoulders back, his chin up, and his gaze analytical, Jaune looked every bit the hardened warrior - the soldier - that the general had. The only difference were in their eyes. Where she remembered Ironwood's as sharp, constantly scanning rooms for threats to the point of bordering paranoia, Jaune's were slower, seemingly not as concerned. Above all, though, the biggest difference was that, deep in the almost glowing blue of his eyes, paradoxically, Jaune seemed older - ancient, even.
Eventually, they arrived at a large set of doors carved out of the rock of the island, bearing the familar three-claw-marks of the White Fang. The guards standing sentry outside opened them as Blake, the brothers, and Jaune approached, revealing a long hall carved from the surrounding stone, lined with columns bearing torches that cast soft, warm light. They entered the hall, and a hauntingly familiar voice filled Blake's veins with ice.
"High Leader Khan, I am begging you." Blake almost stumbled as the voice of Adam Taurus brought with it phantom sensations and visions from the last time they saw each other. He was kneeling at the end of the room before a set of stone steps that led up to the throne of the High Leader.
Leaning back in her seat, flanked by a pair of guards wielding spears on either side, was Sienna Khan. The flickering light of the torches cast shadows on her dark skin - covered in striped tattoos - and reflected off the steely gaze of her orange eyes as they narrowed, her tiger ears twitching angrily atop her wild, chin-length bob of black hair.
"High Leader," Corsac announced, bowing next to his brother as they approached to stand next to where Adam stayed kneeling on the ground. Blake hung back, unable to force herself to get too close to the man who had hurt her so. The man who had hurt Yang.
"Corsac, Fennec," Sienna greeted. "I see you have returned from Menagerie with quite the prize."
"We bring you the Human responsible for the Massacre of Ma'Ula, High Leader," Fennec replied. "As well as an emissary from Cheiftain Belladonna."
"G-Greetings," Blake murmured, stepping forward cautiously. "High Leader."
"Blake, please," Sienna said warmly. "You and your parents are like family. There's no need to stand on formality here. I'm just glad to see you have returned to us."
"Blake?" Adam repeated, shooting to his feet. He turned to look at her, and Blake could not contain her flinch when she laid eyes on that damned mask. "My love." His words were flowery, holding none of the contempt or venom with which he spat when she had last seen her. He moved to take a step towards her, and Blake shrunk back, surprised when a shadow passed over her as Jaune stepped between her and Adam.
"Move, Human," Adam sneered. "Before I move you."
Blake watched, awestruck, as Jaune, covered in cuts and bruises, hands bound in front of him, stood unwavering in front of Adam. Even after being starved and tortured for two weeks in a desperate and risky political move by her family, here he stood, still trying to protect his friends.
"Sorry," Jaune growled unapologetically, his voice carrying a strange twang, reminding Blake of some of the inner-city Faunus she had met during White Fang missions in Mistral. "I don't take orders from abusive punks like you."
Adam's jaw tightened, and he placed a hand on the sword at his waist as he took a step forward.
"Adam," Sienna called out, stopping him before he could slice Jaune to ribbons. Leaning forward, she examined Jaune as if he were a slab of meat. "So," she purred, "this is the human that has caused so much trouble for my predecessor and his family."
"My parents sent me to escort him to you, so that you might bring him to justice," Blake explained, the words that would condemn her friend bitter on her tongue even now. "As well as to ensure that I deliver this message to you personally, for your eyes only." Reaching into her pocket, Blake pulled out Ilia's scroll, fighting to keep her expression even as she passed Adam while Corsac and Fennec stiffened.
Sienna accepted the scroll, opening it to read the message that Blake's father had written while Blake remained where she was, rooted in place. She knew already what was on there: a complete transcript of the interrogation of Gerard the Farmer Jaune had helped not long after they had arrived on Menagerie. The man had nearly forced his way into her parent's house to confess, and shared everything he knew about the operations of the White Fang within their homeland.
"And your father is certain?" Sienna asked, her gaze fixed upon the words before her.
"He included the original recording for you to verify," Blake answered.
"I see," Sienna growled, lowering the scroll as she glared at the two brothers. "Tell me, Corsac, Fennec... when I sent you to Menagerie to act as emissaries of our organization within our homeland, how long did it take for you to start extorting our own people?"
"High Leader -"
"A week?" Sienna continued. "A month? What is the proper holding period during which one must wait before risking our entire organization in order to seize power in a land the Faunus already rule."
"High Leader Khan," Fennec muttered, his olive skin paling as he and his brother struggled to defend themselves. "We merely wanted to ensure the continued support and recruitment numbers..."
"By blackmailing and extorting our own people?!" Sienna roared. "Not to mention releasing Grimm upon them!"
"We were simply following orders," Corsac muttered, faltering underneath the aura of power that Sienna exuded.
"Who's orders?" Sienna asked, her voice low and dangerous.
There was a moment of silence before Adam rose to his feet and looked up at the High Leader in defiance. "Mine."
Sienna's face twisted into a snarl while Adam smirked, nodding to the guards on either side of the throne, who raised their spears and pointed them at her and Blake.
"You traitor," Sienna hissed. "The White Fang will not stand for this."
"They will when I tell them how the mighty Sienna Khan fell by the hands of a murderous human," Adam replied smugly. He turned to Jaune walked forward, his smile turned vicious as he got right up in his face. "And I just so happen to have the perfect volunteer, right here."
Jaune smiled sardonically, before whipping his head forward with a loud crack! With a cry of pain, Adam fell to the grow, shards of his mask flying everywhere while a small trickle of blood dripped down Jaune's face from his forehead.
"There," Jaune declared, his expression haughty in what looked like a decent impression of Weiss as the guards abandoned her and Sienna to point their spears at his throat. "That should help sell the story."
"Corsac, Fennec," Sienna snarled. "How could you?"
"It is simply the way of things," Fennec replied calmly.
"Like Ghira before you, the time has come for a stronger leader to guide the Faunus to their rightful place above humanity."
"I think that's our cue to leave," Jaune said, the strange accent with which he spoke earlier gone.
"You aren't going anywhere," Adam snarled, climbing to his feet. The scar tissue in the shape of the letters SDC covering his right eye crinkled in his rage as he looked between them. "Kill the human and Khan. I want Blake for myself."
Panic gripped Blake's heart, and she felt herself freeze as she watched Adam approach. Sienna, unencumbered by the same fear that imprisoned Blake, launched out of her seat, Dust-whip at the ready, only for Adam to unsheathe Wilt and slice her along the abdomen, shattering the woman's Aura in a single blow and leaving a long trail of blood across her torso as she tumbled to the ground at Jaune's feet.
"It's so kind of you to return to me, my love," Adam crooned. "You saved me the time of having to look for you."
Blake's retort died in her throat, her will fading with every step he took toward her. In her mind, she watched Yang burst into the room over and over, selfishly wishing she would do so once more, despite what her last attempt to rescue Blake had cost. Unfortunately, there was no fiery blonde here to sacrifice for her safety. She felt completely alone, unable to even draw Gambol Shroud from her back as Adam mounted the last step and now looked down on her.
"You and I have a lot of catching up to do," he murmured, taking another step forward with his arm outstretched.
Moments before his gloved hand made contact with her tearstained cheek, a loud rumbling shook the entire throne room, throwing a couple of the guards off their feet. Blake felt a momentary vertigo, not unlike the feeling of an elevator beginning its decent, while Adam, the Albain brothers and the guards struggled to stay standing.
"Funny thing, Gravity Dust," Jaune yelled over the rumbling, his Aura shining around him as he remained planted to the floor. "It can lift an entire island into the air. Without it, though," he shrugged, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Kill him!" Adam shouted, as Blake took the opportunity to run around him to join Jaune, her movements unimpared by the falling island. Shocked back into action, she had no trouble drawing Gambol Shroud and block a strike from the nearest guard.
Jaune's smile faded, and he reached down to his boot, where he pulled out a wicked-looking knife, smirking as Corsac realised belatedly that it was his own. His expression turned stony once more as the nearest guard approached him, and he danced underneath the man's spear, the knife glowing with Jaune's silvery Aura as he swiftly planted it in the man's neck. Grabbing the fallen guard's spear, Jaune whirled around, knocking another one out before hurling it into the gut of another, his Aura making it look like a shooting star.
"STOP!" Adam screamed, unsheathing his blade and rushing at Jaune in what Blake knew to be a killing blow. Jaune dove to the ground, snatching Blake's bag and holding it between himself and Wilt. Adam's attack was halted with a dull thunk, and Jaune quickly reached into the ruin bag with one hand, pulling out his sword and extending it to its full length, while pointing the other one, palm out, at Adam and focusing the power of the Dust beneath their feet, sending him flying across the room.
"We have to go!" Jaune cried, taking a moment to grab his armor and shield and hastily strap it on while Blake fended off the remaining guard and Fennec, who had drawn an identical blade to the one Jaune had stolen from his brother. Another pulse of Aura, and the rest of their opponents were sent flying like Adam had, the velocity of the island crashing to the lake below making them almost float through the air. Grabbing Sienna and tossing her over his shoulder, Jaune nodded to Blake, and the two of them sprinted out of the throne room, into the twisting halls of the White Fang base. Alarms sounded behind them, but Blake easily dispatched anyone who tried to shakily halt them from leaving.
"So, your master plan was to crash an entire island into the ground?" Blake shouted as they ran.
"Oi! I'd like to see do better!" Jaune cried, this time speaking with an accent not dissimilar to the ones heard in the town around Vale. "Besides, that was just a wee bit of improvisation. Your daddy's the one who came up with the idea of usin' me to break in here. If he had wanted me off Menagerie, I'd've taken the first boat outta there."
"You agreed to this!" Blake shouted back. "Mister 'I-Hate-Politics' and 'I-Just-Want-To-Take-Contracts-And-Kill-People'!"
Jaune's face twitched momentarily before resuming its indignant expression. "And now you see why I hate politics and just want to take contracts!"
Blake rolled her eyes as the ground leveled off, and they approached the exit to the base. Running through the woods, they approached the landing pad just in time to watch the bullhead on which they had arrived to the island, shake and tumble its way off the edge of the island, plummeting to the lake below.
"Alright," Jaune admitted, speaking normally once more barely winded from their run, even with Sienna draped over his shoulders. "That was my bad."
"Great," Blake hissed. "What do we do n-AAAAGGHH!" Before she could finish her sentence, something heavy slammed into her, knocking her off the side of the island. Arms wrapped around her, telling Blake that it was Jaune who had just tackled them both off the island to fall, presumably to their deaths, into the waters still hundreds of feet below.
The last thought that Blake had before they slammed into the blue face of Lake Matsu was a solemn promise to skewer Jaune if they somehow survived this.
A/N: And this is what I had really wanted to get to. It had become apparent really quick that I was going to have trouble getting Blake and Jaune off Menagerie without taking forever to handle the issues with the Fang there. Eventually, I decided that, rather than spend an entire arc with them doing that, I can move things along by having them (sort of) lose. Rather than have the human come to their home and set everything right, I decided it would be more interesting if, after everything they've gone through, the people of Menagerie turned their backs on him once he proved, to them at least, that he was just like every other human. Now we have Adam in control of the Fang, Jaune and Blake are in Anima, and Jaune has started acting strange for some reason. Anyways, I hope you guys liked this, and tell me what you think in the reviews.
TTFN :)