White Fang Hideout, Menagerie
"Come in."
The succint response was all Ilia needed for her knock to be answered. She entered the ominous looking room and shut the door behind her with a soft click.
Ilia knew that a sizable portion of their enemies viewed the White Fang as nothing but radical terrorists who want to overthrow the kingdoms and enslave humanity. Likewise, she knew that their fervor was often mistaken as reverence and something almost cult-like. Unfortunately, the Albain brothers' own demeanor did nothing to quell such rumors. And of course, the room they decorated reflected the vibe they gave off.
Ilia never questioned the Albains' devotion to the cause but she did wonder why they were by definition devout about it. The closest indication of any answer was the painting hanging on the back wall. A Faunus with vulpine looking ears wearing the same attire as Corsac and Fennec, but whose face was hidden by shadow. Maybe it was some Faunus religion that had joined forces with the White Fang at some point?
Speaking of, the two brothers informed her that Adam was successful in taking control of the White Fang and now sits on the High Leader's throne.
"Good...and Sienna?"
"Buried...with honor. The other branches of the Fang have been given the story that was agreed upon."
So...Adam had really done it. She had known for a long time that eliminating Sienna would've been a last resort if she refused to comply, but still...the fact that her friend had killed the former High Leader, someone so important to him...Ilia felt something sick brewing in her stomach. She could only sigh to bury the nausea.
"A necessary sacrifice. We won't forget everything she did for us."
"Indeed."
Fennec and his twin bowed in recognition of Ilia's commitment. Both spoke in continuation of the other , "Your maturity and understanding in regards to this matter is appreciated, and it is why we've summoned you here this evening."
"The White Fang is experiencing... a transitional period."
"Growth requires change."
"And change can be painful."
She inquired as to the next step to ensure their goals. She received her answer as the Albains explained that in order to guarantee that the Haven assault not be undermined, they will have to silence the only people on Menagerie who could pose a threat: the Belladonnas.
The disgusting feeling in Ilia's stomach grew even more sickening, as if it threatened to plague her for years to come if they were successful.
Corsac explained, "Like Sienna. They stand in the way of true progress for our people."
Fennec resumed, "We would never put such a burden on you alone, of course. Your brothers and sisters will be at your side, but your relationship with their daughter makes you an intrical part of this operation."
"...Blake?"
The Albains turned to each other at her visible apprehension. They had foreseen this reaction from the young Amitola. Her devotion the the White Fang's cause was undeniable so they needn't fret. Fortunately, they were ordered to wait for someone else to elaborate.
As if on cue, a new call had been signaled.
"Ah, here he is now."
With a click on the screen, the device projected a hologram of the caller in a shimmering blue hue. Immediately, he barked out his orders.
"I will not allow them to ruin this! The Belladonna name has caused me enough grief!" Adam rattled off that last word with a rarely heard pained tone. That was made more evident with him bringing his hand to his mask to compose himself. "Burn down the manor. But whatever you do, bring Blake to me alive. I have a promise to keep."
"Yes, High Leader."
Ilia remained silent. She must have caught something because the feeling of sickness failed to cease. She of course didn't let it show owing to her years learning to go undetected from the Grimm.
"Leave us," the newly made High Leader ordered to the twins. "I wish to have a word with our loyal scout."
Corsac and Fennec looked to one another before obliging. The two wordlessly made their exit, leaving her alone to communicate with Adam.
"I have no doubt you have been made aware of your coming mission. The time is approaching that the Faunus will finally be able to turn the tables on humanity. A time that requires your devotion and skill in order to be achieved. Do you understand?"
A quiet portion of moments persisted once he was done expressing his rank and commands. Most of the White Fang would've immediately complied as if he was a drill sergeant. She didn't experience such urgency and instead, Ilia's features flattened, "Adam, it's just me."
From anyone else, such a response would've warranted a reprimanding. Instead, it just caused Adam to heave a deep breath and heavily sigh as he let his shoulders and posture relax. "I suppose you're right. I'm...sorry, Ilia. It's been a while since I've conversed with someone who I wasn't barking orders at or vice-versa."
Mirroring his no longer tense stature, Adam's tone was far less authoritative and somewhat more laidback. Quieter too now that a louder volume for subordinates wasn't currently required. It honestly sounded unnatural, but it was familiar to someone like Ilia, who had known him since childhood.
"Yeah, I imagine the new High Leader position doesn't entail more people to just hang out with than being a branch leader does."
"You have no idea. I swear, even some of the higher ranking members are in stasis until I give them something to do. It's like individually managing an army of androids. How Sienna dealt with this for years is beyond me."
She snickered. "Oh, I'm suuure you'll manage. So long as you keep using that big boss voice of yours." That was finally enough for Adam to crack a smile.
Seeing him a tad happy brought a surge of guilt before Ilia decided to put a damper on the mood. "...Are we actually going to attack the Chieftain's family?"
"...It has to be done, Ilia. Chief Belladonna once rallied the Faunus to protest for equality in the face of oppression. If anyone could organize an assault that threatens our plans, it would be him."
"But silencing your parents?! Burning your home to the ground is too-"
"That's not my home anymore, Ilia."
She flinched.
"And those aren't my parents either. Ghira made that very clear."
She winced and internally chastised herself for even mentioning the White Fang's cofounders. She knew the two spouses were a sensitive topic for Adam, one that they hadn't discussed in years. She had thought that perhaps time had tempered his volatile feelings's concerning his adoptive family. Evidently, not so.
"They're like Sienna," said Adam, his voice returning to his less authoritative tone. "Made great strides for the Faunus in the past but are unable to adapt to the shifting tide. Our generation can finally finish what they started."
"...And what about Blake? She'll hate you forever if we succeed."
An immediate response was nonexistent. Adam said nothing, but Ilia could tell from his body language and years of knowing him that he was probably squinting his eyes beneath the mask.
"I highly doubt Blake genuinely wants what's best for the White Fang anymore. Probably too busy sucking up to those humans."
"But what if-"
"Would you like to hear about her new team?"
Where did that come from? Ilia wasn't all that concerned with the topic, the furthest extent she was aware was that Blake's Beacon teammates were all human and one of them was Weiss Schnee. Adam took her silence as a sign to continue.
"Thanks to the benefactor I met in Vale, I had received copies of Beacon's data records. It was a stroke of luck. I was able to easily sift through the files to find any information about the Schnee heiress. From her weapon, to her semblance, to her specialties and areas of needed improvement,...and to her teammates. I was shocked to find Blake was one of them."
So thats how Adam was able find out that tidbit of information. Ilia could never imagine what it would be like to be in the same room as Jacques Schnee's daughter...and Winter Schnee's sister. She'd probably have a hard time controlling herself.
"It doesn't end there. Blake's new teammates were very peculiar...and familiar."
He raised a hand to his chest. "A quick red-and-black clad fighter sporting a rose emblem."
He splayed his hand out to Ilia. "A short, pony-tailed girl from Atlas who wields a rapier."
She watched him clench his fist, his voice dripping with more venom. "A tall girl with long, blonde hair and dual wielding weapons..."
The description of the third teammate sent chills down Ilia's spine. It was obvious why that one's traits would be especially maddening for Adam. This blonde girl would've seemed like a mockery of their former leader.
Ilia understood what Adam was getting at.
He lowered his fist to look straight at her. "She replaced us, Ilia. Replaced Team LBAI with a bunch of humans, with a Schnee of all people!" Adam snarled. "You should've seen the battle footage from the Vytal Festival. It was like a spit in the face of all those years the four of us spent together paving the way to a brighter future!"
She shifted uncomfortably in her stance. Blake wouldn't do that to them, right? To just replace them? Replace her? With a...Schnee?
"Her new human teammates weren't even the worst part," he said slowly. "Ilia...she was hiding her ears with a bow."
...What?
"You're lying."
"I saw it with my own eyes. A piece of black cloth to make her look hum-"
"NO, you're lying!" Ilia cried out. "You have to be! It's not possible! Blake would never do that! Blake wouldn't..."
She wouldn't. Adam could see how distraught she was with no difficulty. It wasn't hard to understand why. All those years she had been forced to hide who she was in Atlas, all those times she mocked the Faunus alongside her own classmates whilst making no mention of her own chameleon traits up until the day she lost her parents and was disgusted with herself.
All those times Blake said how admirable it was that Ilia chose to be true to herself rather than easily living a lie.
"...Why? Did she ever explain herself?" She knew for a fact that was no longer the case. Her encounter with Blake and that blonde boy had no instance of any bow.
"Isn't it obvious? She's ashamed."
"Of what?"
"Everything. She's ashamed of the White Fang. Ashamed of Team LBAI. Ashamed of her own people...Ashamed of us." When Adam told his sister at the Fall of Beacon that she had betrayed the Faunus, he meant it. She had obviously threw away everything about her past life in favor of a new one. "She replaced me. Replaced you. Replaced Lily...She even replaced her own identity as a Faunus."
Was that really it? Ilia wanted to give her former friend the benefit of the doubt. That her eerily similar human teammates were just a coincidence. That maybe the bow was part of some human alter ego. Anything to avoid the possibility that she just threw all their memories together in favor of new ones. Memories where she herself had been reeling from loss as a child.
"This has to be done, Ilia. Blake has already spent too long being a thorn in the White Fang's side. She certainly had no qualms fighting her former brothers and sisters in Vale...with those humans."
"I...I understand," she bit back a sob.
Her anguish did not escape Adam's eyes. "I know this must be hard for you, to trick Blake like this considering your...past with her."
That seemed to slightly distract Ilia from her fresh sorrow. "Are you really bringing that up again?" She sighed. "It's fine. I'm over it. I know better than to let personal feelings from the past cloud my judgment."
He smiled gratefully at her. "I have full confidence in you, Ilia. We're all that's left of Team LBAI now. It's up to us to become the heroes our people need."
Ilia steeled her nerves at those words.
"For the White Fang."
She pushed the nauseous feeling down even further.
"For the White Fang."