Blake sat quietly, her hands wrapped around the warm cup of tea that Yang had brought her. A collection of pastries and baked goods rested on the center console between them as if this was some sort of picnic rather than the two of them camped out in a dark, nondescript sedan parked across from a bank.
Vale Valley Credit sat amidst older, more historical buildings at the edge of downtown - another one of those 'new' establishments that people protested for ruining Vale's rustic charm. Sliding glass doors led into the bank, which stood dark and empty at this hour. Two security cameras watched the entrance, their ever-present eyes unblinking in the night. The side entrance - a gray door that faded into the stone facade - had its own camera along with an electronic lock.
When Yang subtly adjusted the rearview mirror, Blake slowly exhaled and tried not to mask her anxiety. She didn't expect the White Fang to show. At least, she didn't think that she did, but the way her body tensed and her breathing stopped at every car rolling past suggested that she harbored some concern.
What if the White Fang did show up and the cops arrested them? Her help would no longer be needed. She would have no reason to be here with Yang or even in Vale. As much as she wanted Adam to pay for what he did, she also didn't want this to end so soon. She needed more time.
"Things are pretty dead," Yang commented several hours into their endeavor. "What time did you usually target?"
"Between one and three."
Yang glanced at the time and nodded.
"Still got a little bit then."
As Yang settled back in, seemingly undisturbed by the stillness, Blake clutched her cup closer to her chest.
"I doubt they'll do anything for a while though," she admitted, drawing Yang's curious gaze. "They just robbed First National. It takes time to pick a new target, come up with a strategy, and get any equipment. Plus, they're probably taking a break to launder the money."
"How'd you launder the money?"
Blake opened her mouth but then paused and frowned.
"I…I don't know. Mercury was in charge of that."
While Yang bobbed her head and tilted the mirror again, Blake frowned at the cup in her hands. Her lack of knowledge only highlighted how out of the loop she had been. With her focus so heavily trained on strategy - that was the part she most enjoyed, after all - she let Adam take care of the rest. And so he cut her out of some fairly critical operations.
A heavy sigh slipped through her lips, filling the space with regret. Silence returned. Minutes ticked by. A few cars passed, but none slowed down. The same occurred with a solo pedestrian hurrying across the street before ducking into a lonely apartment building.
"Remember when we went to the art museum?"
Blake's heart came to life at the soft question. She swallowed before answering.
"Of course I do."
Yang nodded once, her eyes glued forward while Blake struggled to read her emotions in the darkness. For a moment, it felt like she would leave the question as nothing more than a random glimpse into the past. Then she added, "Did you actually enjoy it or were you just pretending to?"
Blake sucked in a breath, wincing against her heart's sharp and sudden protest.
"I really enjoyed it," she answered softly. "But it never mattered what we did. I just loved being with you."
Yang blew a breath through her lips and stared down at her hands. Eventually, she shook her head.
"It's really hard to hear that."
"I'm sorry. I just…want you to know the truth."
The car fell silent while all the things Blake wanted to say rushed through her head. How she'd fallen for Yang hard and fast. How she'd wished that she could be the person that Yang thought she was. How she wanted to erase the White Fang from her life so that she could start a real life with Yang. How she spent the last year missing Yang so much that it practically hurt to breathe. Instead, she watched Yang grapple with the fallout alone, sitting within reach yet somehow miles away.
"I wish I could change it," Blake sighed, leaning her head back against the headrest and closing her eyes. "I wish I could undo all of it."
The car remained quiet, but eventually Yang chuckled to herself, drawing Blake's gaze.
"I can't believe I took you to the gym thinking I'd teach you self-defense." The tension lifted when Yang smiled. "You almost kicked my ass."
"Almost." Blake playfully huffed and flipped a hand through her hair. "I think things would be different this time."
"Oh, do you?" When Blake nodded, Yang laughed and Blake's heart soared. "You're not the only one in better shape, you know."
When Yang subtly flexed her biceps, Blake lifted her cup to her lips and did the same. A smile slipped onto her lips when Yang's eyes widened.
"Damn, Blake." Without a second thought, Yang reached over and wrapped her hand around Blake's upper arm. "Do that again."
Blake obliged, if only to keep Yang smiling like that, and to make Yang's eyes sparkle in the dim streetlights.
"You weren't joking about hitting the weights, huh."
"I really, really wasn't."
A grin slipped onto Blake's lips the longer Yang smiled at her. Yang's cool fingers eventually released her arm, but the air between them had cleared like a calm breeze blowing away a muggy day. There was a lightness to it, tinged with familiarity and comfort, followed by a surge of energy when Yang's gaze dipped to Blake's mouth. Her heart lurched into her throat when Yang's tongue flicked across her lips.
Blake's world suddenly narrowed to encompass the small space between them. A gap that could only be bridged when certain sparks - when these sparks - reappeared.
Before she decided whether to lean in or wait, voices erupted over the police scanner. Yang's attention flew that way as she swiftly turned up the volume.
" - Westside Boulevard. Repeat - all units, 10-90 reported at Vale Valley Credit at 478 Westside Boulevard. Suspects believed to be armed and in the area. Use caution."
"Holy shit," Yang breathed out, already turning on the car and speeding away from their hiding spot. "The Westside branch just got robbed."
"What?" Yang nodded while Blake grappled for words. "Was it them?"
"Won't know until we get there."
Yang's fingers tightened around the steering wheel, her expression grim, as they raced to the other side of town. Even with minimal traffic, it felt like it took too long to reach the Westside and even longer to arrive at the bank. Blake's knee, which had bounced up and down nonstop, stilled as memories hit her like a tidal wave.
The front of the bank had been roped off. Police cruisers blocked the entrance, lights flashing in the dark of night. Officers rushed in and out of the building while others monitored the perimeter, where a smattering of night owls or early risers watched the scene. The ambulance parked outside the entrance had its back doors open, but no paramedics were in sight.
A fist tightened around Blake's heart, and she felt vaguely nauseous as Yang parked as close to the perimeter as space allowed. "Come on," was all she said before jumping out, only leaving Blake time for a deep breath before following.
"Jaune," Yang called out to a tall, blonde officer standing at the edge of the police tape. "Did we get anyone?"
"They were gone before we got here." His gaze flitted to Blake, but he said nothing as Yang ducked under the police tape and held it up for Blake to follow. "Evidence is already inside."
"Good."
Blake's steps wanted to slow, but Yang's strides lengthened, quickly leading them into the building. As chaotic as the entrance appeared, inside was somehow worse. A half dozen officers milled around, some taking pictures or dropping pieces of evidence into clear plastic bags. A man, who appeared to be the manager, stood near the doors, still in his pajamas, hair sticking up, as he nodded to questions posed by another officer. Two paramedics crouched near a security guard slouched against the wall with an ice pack pressed to his forehead. His eyes darted to every passing figure as the medics checked for injuries. Further into the lobby, a pool of blood turned Blake's heart cold. Bloody footprints tracked in and out of it, smearing it across the floor.
"Some vigilantes, huh," Yang muttered, shaking her head at the blood before heading towards the vault.
Blake wanted to say that this wasn't what she stood for but arguing seemed pointless. She might have formed the White Fang under the fierce belief in helping others, but this scene revealed the depths of the pain inflicted by her crimes. Even those who avoided physical harm were hurting.
Swallowing thickly, she trailed Yang to the vault, which had been ransacked like a department store running a holiday sale. An officer was collecting evidence while another dusted several surfaces for fingerprints.
"What do you have?" Yang asked the officer dusting for prints, her no-nonsense tone demanding his respect and attention.
"They tried the safe but went after the security boxes. Bank's already working on a list of what's missing."
"Did we get any video?"
"Manager's working on it, but I doubt it. Cameras were off when we got here."
When Yang sighed and shook her head, Blake picked her way over to the safe and inspected the lock. The Diamond Guard had done its job in keeping the would-be robbers out despite being an older model lacking several key updates.
"What do you think?"
Blake glanced over her shoulder as Yang stood behind her, arms crossed and expression serious.
"They ran out of time," she explained, pointing at the twisted metal along the door's ridge. "Looks like they couldn't crack the combination so tried to pry the door open. That didn't work either, so they went after the boxes."
"Basically, whoever replaced you isn't as good as you."
Blake glanced at Yang but, finding no resentment, nodded and said, "Basically."
"Any idea who it is?"
"There isn't a club," she shot back before sighing. "It could be anyone. Former locksmith, hobbyist, or just a kid bored enough to spend hours clicking away at their parents' safe."
"Is that how you started?"
Blake froze, realizing she'd given away the information without intending to. "Yes," she admitted, staring at the safe so that she wouldn't see Yang's reaction. "My dad started hiding candy inside when he found out. He thought it was the coolest thing…"
Shoulders slumping, she stood up and turned away from the steel box. She expected nonchalance or a tightly clenched jaw but was instead met with Yang's tender, understanding gaze.
"You miss him?"
"Every day," Blake whispered, smiling sadly as she wrapped her arms around herself. "The worst part is knowing how disappointed he'd be."
"You'll make him proud." When Blake sighed and shook her head, Yang stepped closer and touched her elbow. "You will. Because you're going to bring down the White Fang. You're going to put Adam Taurus behind bars. And you're going to protect a lot of people in the process. That's something to be proud of."
Yang sounded so certain that Blake wanted to believe her. Wanted to believe that she could make up for past mistakes. That she could still help in some way.
"Thanks, Yang."
Yang nodded but then turned away, reminding Blake of the hole left in her heart. Sighing again, this time from heartbreak, she looked around the vault one last time. She could imagine the adrenaline. Adam's restless pacing. The lookouts calling out times and information. The pressure mounting while struggling to hear the clicks and feel the pins.
Whoever tried to crack this safe had novice-level skills at best. They shouldn't have attempted a safe of this level, but Adam probably forced them into it. The work showed their hesitation. Their fear. Their lack of experience.
"No…" she whispered, blinking once to shake the thought out of her mind. It stuck firmer, so she turned around. "Yang, I know who it is."
"You do?"
Blake nodded as despair settled into the pit of her stomach. "Ilia Amitola. She's new - or was new. She has no business on a job like this."
"She made her own decisions, Blake."
"Because of me, Yang. She wanted to crack safes because of me. She's not a bad person - she's just…naive. She doesn't have the skill, and if she messes up like this again…what if he hurts her?"
As despair laced Blake's tone, Yang studied her, reading her concern, and then nodded.
"Then let's find her and make sure he doesn't get the chance."
Yang waited for Blake to take a deep, shaky breath and nod before pulling out her radio and partially turning away. "Dispatch, can you run an address check for me?"
"Go ahead, Officer," a voice on the other end replied.
"I need the last known address for Ilia Amitola."
"Copy that."
Blake shook her head when Yang lowered the radio, waiting for a response. "You won't find her that way. We always used aliases. I gave the police all of the ones I knew, but I'm sure they've made new ones by now."
"I have an address for Ilia Amitola," the dispatcher replied. "But it's from four years ago."
Staring at Blake, Yang raised the radio to her mouth and said, "Copy that. We'll figure something else out." Yang put the radio down and turned to Blake. "Then any idea where she might be?"
Blake pursed her lips and dredged up everything she knew about Ilia. Shy, kind, with a desperate need to belong.
"No, I…" Blake paused as a long-lost conversation came to mind. "Actually, maybe? She always wanted to live in those new apartments near the river. Maybe she moved there?"
"Sounds like as good a guess as any." Yang glanced around the vault, keen eyes dissecting the work taking place, before leading Blake out of the bank. More officers had arrived to process the disarray, but the paramedics and injured security guard had disappeared. Out front, a more organized version of chaos occupied this corner of the street, and the crowd of onlookers had grown as the brightening sky stirred Vale's earliest risers out of bed.
The scene took the backseat to Blake's growing worry as she imagined Ilia taking part in something like this. Unless Ilia's skills had massively improved over the past year, she wasn't ready. Adam should have known that. Or Blake should have been there to tell him to back off.
"How will we find her?" she asked as they returned to the car.
"The old fashioned way: asking people."
While Blake made a face at what sounded like an arduous task, Yang remained undaunted. Not even as they drove to the residential areas surrounding the river, where far more apartment buildings than Blake remembered towered into the sky, did Yang's aura suggest that this was a doomed endeavor. Instead, she parked the car, fiddled with her phone for a few moments, then gestured Blake out after her.
"We'll start here and work our way up the street," Yang explained as they approached a building that was at least ten stories tall with sleek glass windows reflecting the first rays of sunshine.
When Yang said that they would ask people about Ilia's whereabouts, she apparently meant literally asking every person they found. Accompanied by a photograph pulled up on her phone, they traipsed from building to building and flagged down passersby both young and old, on their way to school or getting ready for work. Yang would then calmly ask if they recognized Ilia - they all shook their heads or said 'no,' some even apologizing for the perceived inconvenience, but none questioned why Yang was asking - of course, Blake wouldn't question anyone either if they had a gun holstered at their side. Yang thanked them and moved on undeterred.
Blake hung back and watched Yang work, appreciating her steady, methodical process. Whereas nerves and anxiety jittered through Blake's chest, Yang persevered in a calm demeanor that Blake had once prided herself on. Panic solved nothing - the best path forward was slow, incremental progress.
As the morning got underway, more and more people joined the ranks of the awake. They even found several apartment managers, whose answers held enough certainty about having never seen Ilia that Yang accepted their 'no's and moved on to the next building.
Even as Blake's feet and legs tired, Yang pressed on. Blake's hope of a miracle had long since faded when one of the building managers frowned at Yang's phone.
"That looks like Samantha…" he mused as Blake perked up.
"Can you tell us which apartment is hers?" Yang asked and, before he protested, showed him her badge. "It's important."
His eyes widened, flitting from Yang to the badge and back again.
"She lives in 908." He frowned again. "She's not into something bad, is she?"
"We just need to talk to her about an investigation. Don't worry."
Yang gave him a reassuring smile before leading Blake to the elevator. Once inside, Yang put her phone away and took a deep breath.
"What're you going to do?" Blake asked, her nerves spiking with every floor that passed.
"Exactly what I told him - ask her some questions."
There was so much more wrapped up in the situation, but Blake could only gulp and nod as Yang led her off of the elevator on the ninth floor. Several numbered doors later, they stopped in front of Apartment 908. As soon as Yang raised an arm to knock, however, Blake grabbed her hand.
"Let me do it."
Yang's brow furrowed, but she lowered her arm and nodded. She then moved off to the side, hugging the wall, while Blake knocked twice.
No sound came from the apartment - Yang's frown deepened - so Blake swallowed and tried again. "Ilia?" she called out this time. "Can you open up? It's…it's Blake."
The ensuing silence prompted a sigh from her lips, but then footsteps reached her ears. Yang stiffened as the sound approached, but Blake's gaze remained glued to the door as it unlatched and swung in. Soft blue eyes locked onto her before flashing to Yang and widening.
Ilia backed up and tried to shut the door. "Nuh uh," Yang said, sticking her right hand in the gap as the door slammed on it. "God damn it…" she muttered, drawing her weapon and kicking the door open in one fluid motion, leaving Blake stumbling after her.
"Hands where I can see them!" Yang shouted before Blake had even scanned the apartment. Ilia froze on the other side of the room, her back to them. "I said hands where I can see them!" Yang repeated while stepping closer.
"Is that really necess-" Blake began only for her heart to stop when Ilia held her arms above her head, revealing a gun clasped in one hand.
"Turn around slowly," Yang ordered. "Slowly!" she repeated, flinching forward when Ilia spun too quickly. Ilia slowed to a sluggish pace as she turned around, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Now put the gun on the table." Yang motioned with her own weapon to the coffee table. Ilia dropped the gun so fast that Yang tensed and surged forward before the action fully registered.
"Jesus you don't know what slowly means…" Yang breathed out before making her way across the room, keeping her gun trained on Ilia the entire time. Once she reached the table, she grabbed Ilia's weapon and slid it into the back of her waistband.
"Hold still," she ordered, holstering her weapon before patting down Ilia's sides and legs. Ilia didn't move a muscle besides her quivering lip, staring at Blake as tears welled in her eyes.
"Ok," Yang said before the dam broke and Ilia raced into Blake's arms. A sob broke free the moment she buried her face into Blake's shoulder, holding on for dear life.
"I'm s-so s-sorry!" she wailed. Blake glanced at Yang, who watched with a frown, before looking down and rubbing Ilia's back. She didn't say anything until Ilia's sobs slowed, eventually replaced by sniffles and little hiccups.
"What're you doing with a gun, Ilia?"
"Adam said we should all have one." Ilia pulled away and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. "In case the cops show up. To defend ourselves."
"That's the last thing you should do if the cops show up," Yang pointed out but threw her hands in the air when Blake shot her a pointed look.
"Where have you been, Blake?" Ilia asked, sniffling as she finally let go of Blake's arms. "No one's seen or heard from you in forever, and Emerald said -" Ilia's lip quivered. "Emerald said Adam shot you."
Yang winced, drawing Blake's gaze before it returned to Ilia.
"It's…a long story."
"But what about her?" Ilia pointed at Yang, who set her hands on her hips. "You brought her here to…arrest me?"
"No." Blake shook her head and ignored Yang's frown. "We're here because I know what happened at Vale Valley." When Ilia's gaze fell to the floor, Blake touched her arm. "I'm worried about you, Ilia. And about Adam…whatever he's trying to do. If you want out of the White Fang, you need to tell me."
Ilia bit her lip and held her elbow close to herself.
"Everything changed…especially when you disappeared..."
Ilia's tone wasn't accusatory, but Blake still grimaced.
"But I'm back now. And I want to stop Adam before he hurts anyone else." She squeezed Ilia's shoulders so that she looked up. "We need to stop him before he hurts anyone else."
"But…how? He's got a whole army now…"
"And we have the police department." When Ilia frowned, Blake nodded. "We do. All you have to do is help us find him - the police will do the rest."
"Is that what you're doing? Helping the police?"
"Yes."
Ilia's eyes widened - it was betrayal in every sense of the word - but Blake nodded again. She didn't look at Yang even though she wanted to. She watched Ilia worry at her bottom lip, mulling over the offer when the only other outcome was prison. Relief spread through Blake's veins when Ilia slowly nodded.
"Then I'll help, too," she said, finally smiling when Blake beamed at her.
"We need to know where he is." Ilia and Blake both turned to Yang, whose gaze remained locked on Ilia. "We need to know where to find him, right now. Where does he live?"
"I - I don't know where he lives -"
"And he moves all the time," Blake added.
"Then where do you meet him?"
Ilia hesitated and looked at Blake. Only after Blake offered an encouraging nod did she let her shoulders droop and softly mumble, "We've been using an office building in the Jade District…"
"Address?" Yang pressed. "Cross streets?"
"It's, uh, it's right across from that old ice cream place. The one with the giant cone hanging off the sign."
Yang arched a brow before reaching for her radio. When Ilia's eyes refilled with tears and she threw her arms around Blake's neck, Yang's hand flew to her holster instead.
"He's going to kill me if he knows I told you…" Ilia sobbed while Blake motioned to Yang that she was fine.
"No, he won't. Because he's going to prison for a long, long time and will never see you again. Ok?"
When Blake held Ilia's shoulders and ducked her head down to meet Ilia's gaze, Ilia sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"Ok," she whispered so meekly that anguish and anger pricked at Blake's heart. Before Blake vented her ire on Adam, however, Yang stepped forward and motioned to Ilia's hands.
"I have to cuff you."
"Yang," Blake protested, but Yang gave her a pained look.
"I'm sorry, Blake. It's procedure.
"It's fine," Ilia said, wiping her nose before turning around and putting her hands behind her back. Yang, however, took one of her wrists and gently spun her back around.
"We can do it in front," Yang explained while gently placing the handcuffs around Ilia's wrists. "You're safe now, ok?" she quietly added as the metal locked into place. "We'll protect you. You don't have to be scared of him anymore."
Yang's sincerity would have won over the most timid of witnesses, and Ilia was no different. Despite the circumstances, Ilia's relieved nod said all Blake needed to know. And, as if Blake's gratitude couldn't get any bigger, Yang snagged a jacket from the coat closet and draped it over Ilia's hands as they walked out. To anyone who didn't know them, they could easily be three friends going out to breakfast rather than three people from opposite worlds heading to the police station.
The unmarked police car saved more of Ilia's dignity, even as Yang opened the door and motioned her into the backseat. Before Yang closed the door, however, Blake set a hand on it to stop her.
"I'll sit with her."
"Blake…"
Considering Blake had already ducked into the backseat, Yang could only sigh and shut the door. She probably grumbled something on her way to the driver's seat, but Blake was more concerned about keeping Ilia company. She knew better than most what it was like to sit in the back of a cop car wondering what her future held.
"What happens now?" Ilia softly asked, her gaze drifting to Yang as the vehicle set in motion.
"We'll take your statement down at the station, then you'll be moved to a secure location with round-the-clock protection until this situation is resolved."
"You won't put her in witness protection?" Blake asked. Yang glanced at her in the rearview mirror and shook her head.
"Not yet. We'll see what happens in the next few days, then she can decide what she wants to do."
While Ilia took a deep breath and shifted her hands, Blake wondered why the same choice hadn't been offered to her in the aftermath of Sapphire Bank. But her situation had been very different, and Yang's broken heart had made leaving feel like the only option.
Guilt returned as Blake glanced at Yang, who grabbed her radio while they waited at a stoplight.
"Officer Xiao Long to Officer Rose - meet on channel five." Yang toggled the dial on the radio before adding, "Ruby, you there?"
"Hey Yang," Ruby replied. "Did you hear about Vale Valley?"
"I did." Yang's eyes flitted to the rearview mirror. "I'm bringing in some precious cargo. Can you make sure Pyrrha's around?"
"Yeah, she's here. I'll let her know."
"Perfect." Yang paused for a second before adding, "And I need your team today. We can pay a visit to an old friend."
The silence extended so long that Blake found herself leaning forward, preparing for Ruby's response.
"This who I'm thinking it is?"
"It is. I'll send you the address."
"We'll be ready," Ruby replied. "I'll see you when you get here."
Conversation over, Yang set the radio down, typed a message to her sister, and calmly drove on when the light turned green. Blake, however, could hardly sit in her seat any longer.
"You're going today?"
"We need to get him before he learns we scooped up his locksmith."
"Don't you need a plan before you go barging in?"
"That's what SWAT's for. Ruby will come up with a plan."
Blake glanced at Ilia, who watched with wide eyes, before turning back to Yang.
"I'm going with you."
"We're bringing SWAT - it's no place for civilians."
"If I'm just a civilian, why does the department want my help?"
Yang's lack of response - she glanced at her in the rearview mirror but that was all - suggested that there would be no negotiation. Blake clenched her jaw at the staunch refusal, feeling it was her right and responsibility to help apprehend Adam. If that meant possibly coming face-to-face with him again, then so be it.
Setting her argument aside for now, she sat up straighter as they reached the station. Rather than park in the front, Yang drove to the back of the building and stopped near the nondescript employee entrance. The engine hardly cut off before another car parked beside them, and Ruby was hopping out while Yang opened the backdoor and helped Ilia out.
"Hey," Ruby called out to Yang before spotting Ilia and freezing. Ilia took one look at Ruby and then stared at the pavement, her shoulders weighed down by shame. Ruby glanced at the station as Pyrrha walked outside but then, in a moment that left Blake without words, wrapped Ilia in a hug.
"You finally made it," Ruby said quietly, patting Ilia's back as Ilia broke down into more tears.
"I'm s-sorry…" Ilia got out, but Ruby shook her head, set her hands on Ilia's shoulders, and gently held her back to look her in the eyes.
"You're here now, and that's what matters." Ruby waited for Ilia to sniffle and nod before letting go and motioning to Yang that she would be inside. Yang nodded, and Ruby jogged to the door while Pyrrha seamlessly took her place.
"This is Pyrrha," Yang explained. Pyrrha smiled and dipped her chin to Ilia, who wiped fresh tears from her eyes. "She's going to take care of you, ok?"
"Ok…" Ilia whispered, her voice smaller than small. Before Yang left Ilia in Pyrrha's care, however, she set a hand on Ilia's shoulder and offered an encouraging smile.
"Think of this like starting a new relationship - as long as you're open and honest, we'll be together for a long time, ok?" Yang smiled when Ilia did, but Blake winced and stared at the ground.
"Let's get you inside so we can take off those cuffs," Pyrrha added. Her hand replaced Yang's and gently guided Ilia to the door. Ilia glanced over her shoulder at Blake, who did her best to smile before the pair disappeared inside. Only then did her shoulders fall as a discouraged sigh left her lips.
"Another person whose life I ruined…" she whispered, though she clung to hope that Ilia would fare better than herself. Then a warm hand landed on her shoulder, drawing her gaze up to Yang's calm, steady eyes.
"You know the best way to make it up to her?" Yang asked, her lips curling with a smile. "Catching the bastard."
Appreciation, then resolve, surged through Blake's veins. She nodded once and then marched into the station on Yang's heels. The past might be set in stone, but she still had a say over her present and future. As long as she was still breathing, she would do everything she could to end this nightmare - not just for herself, but for Ilia. For Yang. For anyone who Adam had ever hurt or might hurt in the future.
The plan rested in Ruby's hands now - a stark contrast to how Blake used to operate, but she would support in every way she possibly could. Even if that meant staying out of the way.