Making their way trough the lush forest of Mistral was a three-body team of the White Fang. These weren't just any member of the freedom fighting organization. They were the three most recognized youngest operatives by the whole of it.

Adam Taurus—the oldest of the three. The young man was leading this mission with focus, and confidence in their success.

Blake Belladonna—The green one, going to her first dangerous mission for the organization she grew in. Certainly capable and skilled, but inexperienced compared to her two partners. Expectations are high for her—expectations held by the some of her Sisters and Brothers in the Fang, and herself.

And finally, Ilia Amitola—closer in age to the daughter of the former leader now Chieftain, but almost as experienced as the bull faunus. And currently doing her best to keep herself from being overly friendly to her crush for the sake of the mission (and her dignity).

If only she wasn't so friendly and pretty…

Blake was ecstatic about finally going on a mission after being on the camp for so long. Sienna was very adverse about sending Blake to missions so soon after just a few days from joining her White Fang. But Blake got Adam to vouch for her, and between them, they convinced Sienna to consider her ready.

Ilia was quite worried that she just sent them three—she was sure Sienna would've decided to come. If not to supervise, to make sure it would be a success with Blake here.

At least there is back up. Not that they'll do much if we need them...

A bit hypocritical of her, but it was the truth—most didn't have the training or skill to fight like them, and their goals couldn't wait for more prepared fighters sadly.

Their cause required them to take action sooner rather than later.

"Hey Adam!" Blake called, getting right to the bull's right side. Hands behind her and with a smile on her face as she look up to him. "What was the mission again?"

"A very simple mission, so simple that it shouldn't require to be told twice," he said, still looking forward while keeping is stride.

Blake, giggled. "Humor me, please."

Ilia screamed internally at this, stopping herself from cringing. How could such a nice girl be this infatuated with Adam.

The guy kept silent and distant like he ever did when they were dispatched to any mission. And yeah, she hasn't exactly been very conversational on the way here, but she was used to being like that after going to many with Sienna and Adam. They were not the kind to socialize in the middle of enemy territory… neither was she actually.

Adam replied. "It's just a raid on a SDC train. We get in, strike the opposition we'll face, and make our way until we have as many cars taken to cur us off from it with their cargo."

He turned his head to the side. "Me and Ilia have done this plenty of times, so calling in back up will not be necessary as long as you keep close to any us."

The bullheads near their position would make their way to them as soon as they were called—not that they been needed at all to assist with fighting. They were mostly used for transportation of their spoils, be it weapons, Dust, or supplies. These raids just were that easy for her and Adam.

But she hoped Blake would be okay.

"Glad I can count on you," Blake said, to Adam, looking up at him in a way that she should be look at. "I feel so safe."

'With you' was unsaid.

Ilia had to keep her scales from changing colors at this. She was just as reliable and capable—not as strong, but still very much an experienced fighter.

Blake hummed in thought. "… How we will get in?"

"We'll jump from a cliff!" Ilia spoke before he could answer. "Using our own landing strategy."

"…. I guess it's a good thing my ribbon is tough."

She felt a hand on rest on her shoulder, and saw it was Adam's white-gloved right hand. "You'll be fine Blake. I believe in you."

Ilia couldn't believe the actually smiled at her. Not a grin, not a smirk, a genuine and reassuring smile.

What the hell?!

Ilia had a hard time taking the sight before her. Adam Taurus, the abrasive and stoic poster boy of the White Fang was being friendly at all. During a mission!

The worst part was how that was all it took for Blake to blush like a school girl, shyly looking away from Adam. She knew he was not ugly or anything, but his attitude was usually a mood killer, or his radicalism killed any crushes female recruits had.

Not Blake, for some reason Ilia couldn't comprehend.

And then there was Adam's response to Blake. He was nice, or at least as nice as he could be. But it came too naturally with Blake, and he hasn't been this friendly since…

Better to not dwell on that.

Adam might be aloof most of the time, but she knew first-hand some touchy subjects could get his blood boiling fast. And she liked to keep on being on good terms with her partner as long as they had to work together.

"Ilia. Stop daydreaming, we're getting near and you're setting a bad example for our friend here."

She huffed in annoyance. Glad her mask hid her frown from them. Which reminded her.

"Blake, I think you should put your mask on now."

The cat faunus looked at Ilia, then back at the mask she had in her hand. Apprehensively raising her hand to her face, putting the Grimm mask on.

"Be ready girls, it's almost here," Adam declared, getting into position to jump at any time, slightly crouching and with his hands on his weapons.

Ilia made a sound of acknowledgment and went to his left. Elongating her limbs to prepare them for the conflict they would surely face.

"Alright…" Blake took a deep breath, getting ready to face real combat against enemies that won't hold back against them. She grabbed Gambol Shroud, making sure the blade was sharp, and that she had all her ammo in order. Testing her ribbon by pulling it, she confirmed to herself that she was ready, smiling a little.

As the train finally was near their position, Adam gave the order. "Time to jump."

He was the first to leave the green grass, falling down the cliff feet first and arms holding his weapon above his head. Ilia followed soon, rolling in the air and descending head on.

Blake was so impressed by their determination and confidence, that she forgot that she should've doing the same. "Dammit!"

She jumped down, Adam just stabbed the roof of the car to steady his footing. Ilia landed after her weapon in whip form let go from a convenient rock formation to swung herself from, landing with a roll to his side.

Blake took her own weapon out, shifted into it's sickle form and threw it to the cliff's wall. She had to swing herself towards the train, less she was really left behind. Her aim was true, as her ribbon tensed and she swung froward, pulling her weapon free.

As she flew through the air towards the tail of the train, she realized she wouldn't make it. Using her Semblance to close the distance, she didn't realize she would shot herself towards one of her comrades.

Bodies tangled roll forward. Opening her eyes, Blake's face was as red as the colors of the man below her. "I'm so sorry!"

Adam shook his head. "We're both unharmed, that's what matters Blake."

Both got up, Adam unconcerned and Blake without being able to shake it off.

"Alright, let's get this done," Ilia said walking forward, seemingly in a rush.

"Let's," Adam was quick to be at Ilia's side, ready to take charge.

Blake followed their leads, ready to go down the hatch after them.

"Don't be so nervous, Blake," Adam told her while opening the hatch. "I know you're brave."

Her heartbeat couldn't help going a bit faster, and the blood rushing to her cheeks. Adam jumped down, and Ilia gave her a look before going after him. Shaking it off for now, she went in too.

Inside was dark, but nothing their eyes couldn't handle. It was just the dust. "Let's move to the next car. And be ready, the SDC never leaves what's theirs unguarded."

After going thought two more, they finally found one without Dust. But it was filled with those black and bulky Atlesian Knights, menacingly glowing red thanks to their highlights. They all brandished their blades.

"Tch, useless bucket of bolts," Ilia's weapon was pointed at the incoming machines, shooting at the first wave rushing at them. Blake followed her example, and started to shoot at them to, but her shots weren't as effective as Ilia's.

Adam cut down dozens, including some of those left open by Ilia. "Aim for their heads if you can't hit their weak points!"

Doing as commanded, Blake's shoot were true—now they fell like pieces of junk.

This is too ridiculously easy

She had a hard time thinking this was the best Atlas engineering could offer…. Or maybe that's the difference Aura made.

She couldn't dwell on that thought when Adam shouted. "Don't waste all your ammo on them! Cut them down like butter!"

"R-right!" Blake wasn't used to being shouted at, but she understood that with the conflict he had to make sure his orders were clearly heard. Now dual wielding her sword and cleaver-sheath, she dashed into the AKs, slicing and dicing before they could even attempt to do the same to her.

"You're doing great, Blake!" Ilia complimented, also using her weapon as a sword. "You're a complete natural."

Blake couldn't help the smile that reached her lips, kitty ears standing at the praise. "I had a good mentor," she said, amber eyes obviously on the bull faunus.

"Uh?" the chameleon faunus looked between the two. Clearly, she had no idea about how that happened.

Going on with the mission, they moved into the next car, where the AKs were ready. And some looking a bit different.

"Those look heavy," Blake smiled smugly. "I'll handle them."

"Bla—!" the other faunus didn't get the chance to finish before she rushed at the bots holding large shields.

When her blade made contact with one of them, she was stopped with a clank. "Uh?"

That was enough time for one of them to bash her face, sending her body back. Ilia jumping in before she hit the ground.

"Adam!"

"On it!" the bull charged, shooting Wilt from Blush at the offending shield, making the bot stumble back.

Adam jumped high above the AKs once he had his sword in hand, landing with a stab to it's head. He made to aim to the legs of it's copies, but was also met with resistance from them.

The bull grunted in frustration. He will need to build up Moonslice it seemed.

So he jumped back, giving them distance to start fire on him. Their programming was predictable.

Blake was back to her senses just in time to dodge. "Go around them, both of you!"

Both girls noddedd, jumping out of their spot just as the AKs began firing on Adam, sensing he was the easy target. Just like he wanted them to do so.

He rotated Wilt, then dashing to the sides while blocking every shot with his blade. Slowly, glowing more and more red, darkening the room even more with his power. And while he was doing so, Blake and Ilia were getting into position to handle the few bucket of bolts that will be left once he made the others disappear.

Once he could feel he had more than enough he swung his sword, slilicing at the air, letting out a red energy wave directly at firing squad. Ceasing fire, they all took cover behind their shields. He chuckled at the useless action, but the bucket of bolts couldn't know better.

His Semblance did the job, and their shields vanished alongside their holders at the front of the crowd. A few at the back of the frontline just lost the shields, and the unlucky ones the arms with them. Without their pesky shields, Ilia and Blake attacking from the sides it was easy to annihilate the rest.

He joined them soon enough.

Cutting them from the front cars that had the human personnel, Adam turned to his partners. "Mission accomplished. Your team work was exceptional," he turned to the cat, still stoic. "Blake, you still need to work on being more cautious and quicker into taking action, but being your first mission your perfomance was more than good. Your aura took the blunt of your blow, but they shouldn't be able to even land on you. I know you can be better."

"Y-yes Adam. I'll be better," Blake stammered meekly, a slight blush from embarrasment at his words.

"Ilia," his eye set on the chameleon. Smirking. "What can I say? I'm glad you had our new friend's back, and hope you can perform just as well in future operations. Usually, you're almost a lone unit like me."

"You've got it."

As the machine slowed down, he got ready to call their pick-up. Looking forward to working alongside his new friend.

Hoping to see how brave could Blake as she followed this path she choose.

AN: And the dead shall walk again! I feel very bummed by not updating this whole time—more so with sitting with lots of drafts for this. But they're just not up to standard, and they can be. Also a lot of personal stuff. I can't say I'll start to do this consistently, but I should be more than able to update within the year.

Thankfully I have some good people around me, making things more tolerable.

Regardless, Happy late birthday to Blek. I think she is like, 12 or 13. Adam is like 17 or 18 and is wearing his Short version of the outfit. Ilia is somewhere in between their ages as the middle one. If anyone was curious. Didn't feel like describing them their outfits, since we already know what they look like. Tactical body suit, and two slick looking suits.

Please review, they'll help me improve.