Happy Belated Thanksgiving! A little late posting as I didn't do much writing yesterday and then spent a good chunk of today celebrating my friend's final day of work at her horrible job. She finally gets to start her new career, so it was only fitting we goof off and play games with friends today to celebrate. Call of Duty is even more sweaty than I remember, but we still had fun getting absolutely bodied by people online.

Unfortunately, found out that Mina (my 6yo German Shepherd) has hip dysplasia and arthritis in her back legs. She's doing okay and we're giving her the basic treatment while I look into things like physical therapy, but hate hearing any bad news about my pup. She's getting plenty of extra attention right now, but other than not being able to jump as much and being a little stiff when she gets up, she's still doing just fine. Might have to get some doggy stairs so she can climb into bed though. Gotta have the snuggles.

Blake didn't leave until well after midnight. He'd thought about offering to let her stay, but it wasn't like she had far to go, not to mention how people would talk. The two of them sharing a room overnight? Nothing like what they'd suspect would happen, of course. Making out and snuggling - fully clothed and with the lights on, before anyone got any ideas - was the most they'd ever done, and not just because she was still fifteen.

It was hard to see Blake as a teenager most of the time. The pesky child that hounded his every step back in Menagerie was long gone. Blake Belladonna had risen to the second in command of Alpha Squad, earning herself the respect of her peers as both one of the strongest fighters in the White Fang and even training others twice her age in things like aura control and manipulation. Hardly something a mere teenager could claim to have accomplished. Atlas and Mistral certainly wouldn't see her as a child given her involvement in White Fang operations. She didn't look like a child anymore, either. If anything, she and Indie looked closer in age, even though one of them was actually older than him. Then again, maybe that had as much to do with Indie's looks as Blake's.

The point was, Adam didn't see her as a child anymore. How could he? She'd specifically told him not to, and he'd given his word. More than that, she didn't really act the part.

After all, children didn't fall in love.

Adam lay awake most of the night, those three words still ringing in his ears. He'd given up on love after Katai, only for it to come and hunt him down in the unlikeliest of places. He still wished he could've said it back, but something like love shouldn't be given out so easily. Would Blake be disappointed he didn't return his feelings? Probably, but he'd rather be sure than throw around such words recklessly. Besides, he wasn't saying he couldn't love her someday, just that he wasn't there yet. Maybe it would never happen, but maybe it would. Few things in life were more worth waiting for, or so he'd heard.

That didn't stop him from beating himself up for leaving her hanging like that. Blake had put herself out there, and he'd had nothing in return. She acted like it was fine, but deep inside, she must have been wondering if she'd made a mistake. He would've been in her place. He wished he could've honestly answered he felt the same, just to make her happy. Could him wanting to be in love be a sign he actually was? Or maybe the fact he felt so much pain at disappointing her could point toward deeper feelings.

Answers eluded him through the night. At some point, he must have dozed off, only to be awoken by the morning sunlight pouring through his window. Even so, he felt more tired than before, dragging himself out of bed and trudging to the cafeteria for breakfast. Thankfully, he didn't have anything planned for the day for once, so he took his time, picking at his eggs as his mind wandered.

Not to Blake and her feelings for him - he'd already spent the entire night thinking about that. Instead, his thoughts drifted to what Lil' Miss had told him. The base in Atlas obviously needed to be dealt with. Most Kingdoms wouldn't even consider such barbaric, indiscriminate tactics, but Atlas had always been a place where the ends justified the means. Even if they claimed it was just for fighting the White Fang, how long would it be until they turned their weapons on innocent faunus. Preventative measures, they'd claim. The SDC would love to have anti-faunus failsafes at their camps. Of course, a deterrent only worked if your enemy knew it existed, so they'd find excuses to demonstrate their power, whether it was needed or not.

Taking out the research facility wouldn't stop Atlas, though it might set them back a bit. Years, if they were lucky. It sounded like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things, it really wasn't. The White Fang needed more than just a stay of execution. They'd expose Atlas' dirty little secret to all of Remnant, and while it probably wouldn't be enough to change the minds of those in power, it might just make people wonder if they were actually the good guys for once. Chip away at their resolve to support such tyrants. They'd find it harder and harder to fight back when their own people started demanding answers. As public opinion drifted, the politicians would do what they did best - protect their own interests. If they didn't follow the shift, then someone else would come in and replace them. Every time they shined a light on the evils of Atlas and the SDC, they came one step closer to forcing lasting change.

At least, that's what he'd tell the more optimistic members of the White Fang that still believed this would be solved through peace someday. In reality, taking out this lab would send a message - a message that they wouldn't stand idly by when their enemies sought to destroy them. They'd upped the ante, unaware that the White Fang was ready and willing to go all in. If they were so eager for war, then he'd bring it right to their doorstep. Perhaps once they saw their secretive base crumble and burn, they'd think twice before pushing him further.

Sienna was right - they needed something big. And not just big in terms of the twins' work, though he'd make sure they came prepared to convert the labs into a crater. This wouldn't just be a warning to Atlas, but to the rest of the world as well. The White Fang had tried protesting peacefully, but that got them nowhere. Only once they were willing to fight back did anything change. Their enemies could no longer pretend to listen, pat them on the head, then carry on like nothing happened. Atlas and Mistral took them seriously now, but in their rush to stamp out the sudden resistance to their rule, they'd only proven how little they cared about the faunus. All their talk of wanting equality couldn't hold up when they were actively researching how to get rid of faunus everywhere. Then again, what better way to ensure equality than to get rid of anyone deemed lesser. In a sick, twisted way, it made sense. Why solve a problem when it was easier to remove it? Humanity would call it tragic and someone would likely be punished, but it would all be a show. Those in power would offer up a scapegoat to shield themselves, distracting the mob long enough for them to forget. In time, though, humanity would move on, free from the burden of having to ever think about the suffering of the faunus ever again.

Adam refused to let his people be a footnote in history.

He'd needed to know what Sienna was planning. Even now, it felt like an itch in the back of his mind. Atlas - no, the world - needed to see that the faunus would not be turned into a cautionary tale on the dangers of nonconformity. Everything they'd done since putting Sienna in control had forced the world to notice them, but they needed more. They needed to make sure humanity could no longer look away. Fighting Atlas and Mistral in Anima was a good start, but he'd become complacent. Since Euryale, they'd mostly just been hitting SDC camps and supply caravans. Paulownia had been the exception to the rule, and only because he'd gotten desperate. They'd become reactive rather than proactive, giving their enemies power to control the battlefield and force the White Fang to fight on their terms. That wasn't a fight the White Fang could win, and Nag had paid the price for it. If there was any hope of victory, then Adam needed to wrest control back to their side and keep it there. He needed to force them into a corner and keep swinging until the other side fell.

Ditching the remnants of breakfast, Adam made his way to the comms room, head already swirling with ideas. Hitting two targets would be risky, since the first would almost certainly put Atlas on high alert and make the second more difficult. The research facility was well outside the city, hidden in the barren wastelands to rely on anonymity rather than security, which made sense in a way. Not only were they hiding their research from the White Fang, but Atlas wouldn't want word getting out on the nature of their research. Better to keep it hidden away where no one would see and be able to object. People would eventually notice faunus disappearing into a military facility and never coming out. Tucking it away in the inhospitable tundra of Solitas covered it up quite nicely.

Ideally, they'd hit two targets at once to divide Atlas' attention, but that would be too risky. Adam and his entire team would need to be involved in the attack on the research base, which would leave the other team horribly underequipped. Felicia and her team weren't anywhere near the level of Alpha Squad, so they'd need him if they hoped to survive anything significant. That meant he needed to have two plans carried out at different times, with the first one being more covert. Maybe they could set up charges somewhere and detonate before the main mission to make it look like a multi-pronged attack. Multiple spots in Mantle might work - quantity over quality with the proximity to Atlas hopefully stalling their response. It would be risky, though. Even one of their bombs being found early might tip Atlas off that something was coming, and there were only so many places in Mantle that wouldn't incur faunus casualties.

Then again, he could always just wait and hear what Sienna had planned instead.

"What do you need, Adam?"

Oh, right. He called her, so presumably he had a reason. Now if only said reason didn't make him sound like an impatient child. Faced with actually admitting that, he instead jumped at the first copout he could come up with - throwing everyone else under the bus. "The team wants to know the plan for Atlas."

"It's been less than twelve hours." And? She'd said they were working on a plan, which meant they had to have the basics. Otherwise, she wouldn't have promised anything. "I haven't even finished reviewing the intel yet. Can't they wait a few days?"

He couldn't. Rather than admit that, he stuck to his lie. "Not the research base. The other part." The big part, or so she'd claimed. He hoped it was better than his ideas thus far.

"We're still working on that, too," Sienna promised, though her words didn't really help. He'd kind of hoped for more than just proof of life. "Nothing's set in stone yet. Felicia's meeting with her contact to see what we can work out."

A contact meant something a little more involved than indiscriminate bombings. Color him intrigued. Actually, color him more intrigued. "What's the target?"

"Just remember, nothing's set in stone yet. It might not work out."

He'd make it work if it was half as impressive as she was building it up to be. "Where?"

"It's been in the works for a while now, but I agree with Lil' Miss. We need to target the people responsible." That didn't narrow it down. Practically everyone in Atlas shared some of the blame, though he had to assume she meant something related to the government or even the military. After all, it was a Specialist and her troops that captured his team and sent them to Kesseki in the first place, just as they were the ones to hunt them tirelessly across Anima.

Did Sienna have intel on another base? No, something like that would be too much for Felicia and her men. Maybe an outpost outside the city or some sort of depot. A small target that would be quick to overrun if they had the numbers. "Won't hitting an outpost just put them on high alert?" Which was the last thing they needed, even if it initially put them into a panic.

"You're not thinking of the bigger picture." More big picture nonsense. What could be bigger than challenging Atlas to a shooting match? "Ask yourself, Adam. Who's responsible for everything we've been through? Who's the real enemy?" A few answers came to mind almost immediately, some more ambitious than others and not all of them realistic.

Adam's eyes widened as Sienna gave him the basics.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

Three days came and went with little to do but train and wait. The team knew a plan was in the works, but at Sienna's insistence, he kept the details to a minimum. Her claims of caution in case of another spy were overshadowed by her not wanting to get their hopes up if things didn't work out. He couldn't even blame her. Ambitious didn't even begin to describe what she was after, though it would certainly send a message if they pulled it off.

Down time normally would've been nice except for one thing.

Blake.

After their talk and her…confession, things started to feel a little awkward. Their quiet, comfortable relationship struggled under the weight of her words, and while neither of them would admit it, he couldn't exactly deny that something felt off. She would get all nervous around him, which would've been cute if he didn't feel like she was waiting. Maybe pushing was a better word. He knew it was a big a deal for her, but the sudden pressure only highlighted how one sided things were growing. Where he was happy just to carry on as normal, she wanted more. Not anything huge, but little things. Sitting closer during meals so their knees touched. Snuggling purposefully into his side when they read together. Stuff that he probably would've enjoyed if he didn't feel the weight behind it.

Blake claimed she was fine with it, not just that night but later on when he asked, just to be certain. Her feelings weren't contingent on his, she claimed, and while he believed her, he could practically feel her disappointment when he couldn't say it back. Worse, saying those words once seemed to have been a liberating experience for her as not a day went by without her saying it at least a few times. Nothing big and grand, of course. Mostly just a final, parting statement that still had her a little red in the face but that he couldn't honestly echo. Did she think saying it enough might will his feelings into existence, or would they just wear him down and force him to love her?

If only it was that easy. He'd been tempted once or twice to try it, just to see if the words felt right. Okay, so more because he wanted to have an answer, but the point remained. It always died on the tip of his tongue, as if his body refused to let him utter such hallowed words so flippantly. As silly as it sounded, he even tried it in the mirror, only to find it off putting and tasteless. He still cared for her deeply, and in time, he could easily see himself growing to love her in return, but the path from like to love was a treacherous one that could as easily end in regret as fulfillment. He wouldn't risk ruining everything just so she could hear her words echoed back flippantly. So Adam did the only thing he could think to do.

He started avoiding Blake.

Not in obvious ways. No one would spot him hiding behind a desk or diving out a window when he heard her coming. More that he just found ways to keep them both busy so he had time to think. Extra lessons for the team to tie her up. Meeting with Sienna more often, especially when Blake wasn't busy. It sounded cruel, but he couldn't sort out his feelings if she was constantly hanging around. He needed time to think and get her an answer, which meant he needed a little room to work. They still spent time together, just…not as much.

Put that way, he sounded cruel, but everyone kept telling him to think about the bigger picture. They normally meant about the White Fang and their fight for equality, but maybe he could apply it to his personal life as well. If a little less time now meant he could get her an honest answer, then wasn't it better he focus on that? What mattered more: fooling around a bit early in their relationship or focusing on something lasting?

He wouldn't cut her off entirely, though. Even he knew that would create far more problems than it would solve. With Indie's going away party that night, there'd be no escaping anyway. On top of that, Sienna finally had good news that afternoon. The mission was a go - both parts. With the party so close, he'd fill the team in later. Maybe once Indie left for Menagerie tomorrow. No reason to have her hear what they were planning. She'd only feel bad for leaving them right before a big mission like that, and he'd rather send her off on a happy note. As much as he wished she'd stay, he'd never forgive himself if she stayed out of obligation.

By the time he finished reviewing everything with Sienna, the party was only a couple hours away. They'd have a larger send-off tomorrow morning for the whole camp, but tonight was just for Alpha Squad. With nothing to do, Adam headed for their conference room - as fitting a place for the team to celebrate as any.

He hardly recognized the room. Marcus and Bane were busy putting up decorations under the watchful eye - and critical words - of Trifa. Apparently Yuma had offered to help, but a few flaps of his wings to reach the ceiling had earned him a fist in the ribs for sending napkins, plates, and more flying across the room. Instead, he could only grumble as the girls forced him to clean up his mess. Blake and Ilia focused on directing a few cooks from the kitchen staff who had prepared a pretty impressive buffet of finger foods for the group. A sheet cake with "We'll Miss You" written above the White Fang logo stood proudly in the corner. He'd never seen such fancy script done in icing before. Azul smacked her brother's hand away before he could spike the punch bowl, only to pull out a larger bottle and begin pouring what could only be called an overly generous portion. Adam made a mental note to go easy on the drinks tonight.

"Adam, you're here!" Blake hurried over, slamming into him with a hug. "We're almost ready."

"Looks like it." They had everything: food, drink, decorations. Now all they needed was the guest of honor. "When's Indie coming?"

"When you go get her." Apparently, he'd get the honor of escorting Indie to her party. Better that than decorating. Compared to pinning up paper balls, streamers, and banners, a simple fetch quest sounded simple enough. "I told her to wait in her room while we get set up."

A surprise party usually worked better if the target didn't know it was coming, but who was he to judge? With all the activity, not to mention him showing up early, it seemed like he had some time to kill. "When should I head out?"

"Now," Blake answered, hurrying over to help Ilia with an ominous looking box.

"You sure?" The room was coming together, but surely they could use some more time to finish up. It wouldn't take him long to get to the women's barracks and back.

"Mmhm," Blake hummed as she rifled through the box.

"We'll be ready by the time you get back," Trifa echoed, only to wince as something crashed behind her. Marcus had leaned a little too far to reach the next hook and fell off the chair he'd been balancing on. "We'd be done already if you all stopped goofing around." Marcus mumbled an apology facedown on the floor.

Laurence leaned over from his seat nearby, a slideshow coming to life on the screen before him. "Maybe take your time on the way back."

Uh huh. He didn't need to be told twice. Seeing the chance to escape before anything else went wrong, Adam hurried through Reyno toward his goal, nodding to a greeting shouted by a few of the men he passed. He didn't bother checking if they were off duty for the night, trusting they wouldn't be out drinking in the middle of camp if they had guard duty coming up. If they did, a hangover would be the least of their concerns come morning.

The few women he spotted in and around the barracks looked less surprised to see him walking in than before. Becoming a regular of the women's dorms hadn't been on his list for the year, but here he was. The door to Indie's room was open, but just to be safe, he knocked on the frame and waited around the corner lest he see something he shouldn't.

"Ah, my escort has finally arrived." Adam didn't find the insinuation as amusing as she did. "A little pouty, but ten out of ten in the looks department."

Adam could only shake his head, reminding himself that this was supposed to be a happy occasion. "Everybody's waiting for you."

"Everyone? Trifa didn't kill any of the boys yet?" She knew them all too well, another reminder of how close they'd all grown since setting up Alpha Squad. They were a family.

A family that kept getting smaller.

"Whatever you're thinking, stop it. This is a drama free night. Got it?"

Good point. "Sorry." Adam shook off the sadder thoughts, refusing to ruin her night. Tonight was for partying. He could sulk and complain after she left. "You ready?"

"Are they?" Maybe? He'd left the place in chaos, but Trifa promised they'd be ready when he got back. He'd never had cause to doubt her until tonight. "They're not," Indie correctly guessed.

"They were close," he tried. Most of the decorations and food were ready, so it shouldn't take too long. At least he hoped it wouldn't. Indie didn't share his confidence. "You think we should give them some time? We could wait around here for a bit."

"Inviting yourself into a young lady's room at this hour? The scandal!" Had Indie been pregaming? He didn't see any open bottles in her room. Besides, what did she mean young lady? He was younger than her! "Relax a little, Adam. Sheesh. Don't be such a stick in the mud."

Especially not tonight. He didn't like her leaving, but he'd hate for her last memory with the team to be anything but happy. "Sorry."

"And stop apologizing!" Indie slapped his arm lightly, more a warning than any actual punishment. "C'mon. Let's go for a walk. I could use the fresh air."

A change of scenery would probably help break the awkwardness he'd created. Without waiting for him to agree, she shut off her light and strode past him, heading outside without waiting to see if he'd follow. She didn't really need him at this point. Reyno was hardly a dangerous place and she knew where the party would be. His job was more messenger than bodyguard, but he followed anyway, knowing she'd appreciate the company if nothing else.

Reyno wasn't usually a busy place at night, but with all the extra residents and a decreased workload - both to recover after all the activity and under Cerco's recommendation that the men needed time to settle in - there were quite a few milling about tonight. Most simply hung out in small groups, though there were some stumbling along and a few couples out enjoying the clear night. Which would've made him feel awkward walking alone with Indie, but with her about to leave and Blake making her intentions more than clear, he couldn't really worry too much.

"Nice night." Small talk had never really been his forte.

"You were at the party already, right?" She knew he was, but unlike him, she could actually start a conversation. "Anything I should know?"

"Azul spiked the punch."

"She'd better have. That bottle wasn't just for her." Adam stopped and turned to stare. "What? It's a party, isn't it? Nothing wrong with a little kick in the punch. Don't tell me you've given up the sauce."

"No, it's just-"

"Just didn't think I'd be in on it?" Yes! Had she just been putting on a sweet, innocent act this whole time? "Worried you'll have a little too much and do something stupid?"

"I'm pretty sure you hold the record on that one." Indie stuck out her tongue at the reminder. They'd teased her for weeks after her drunken visit. He remembered it well, given he'd been the other target of all their jokes.

"Don't worry. I won't be doing a repeat performance." Thank the gods for that. "Wouldn't want to get in Blake's way." Adam felt his shoulders tense before he could stop them - something Indie noticed right away. "Things are pretty serious between you two, aren't they?"

"I guess."

"You guess? I think she's made her feelings pretty clear on the matter." With how many times she'd said it, practically everyone had heard. When Adam didn't answer, Indie rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "Alright. What's the problem now?"

"What makes you think there's a problem?"

"Because you're involved." Ouch. She wasn't wrong, but did she have to make it sound so harsh? "So what's up between you and Blake?"

"Nothing." He didn't even try to sound convincing. "Look, it's fine. We should probably get to the party before they eat all the cake."

"Nice try." Drat. "They can wait. This is my last chance to sort out whatever mess you've made for yourself. So spill."

He'd rather not. "It's nothing." She pursed her lips, making it clear she wouldn't let it go so easily. "And even if it was something - which it isn't - shouldn't you let us figure it out?"

"And trust you to actually solve your own problem for once? Like that's ever worked." His track record wasn't that bad, was it? "Look, you can either tell me now, or I'll corner Blake later and drag it out of her instead."

"No!" Blake didn't need to know. He just had to sort out his own feelings. Dragging her into the mess would only have her wondering if it was something she did.

"So it's something on your end." Apparently that was a given. "Something you haven't talked to her about?" He'd kind of mentioned it, but not since that night. "Gods, Adam. Don't tell me you're scared of the L word."

SHe had no idea how easily she'd hit the nail on the head. "Shouldn't I be? I mean, love…it's a big deal, right? Not something you just throw around willy-nilly."

"Yeah, but I think she meant it." That wasn't the part that worried him. "Let me guess. She said it, so now you feel pressured to say it back, but you're not sure if it's true for you or not."

That…

His brain must've shorted out and overheated. That was the only explanation for why his mouth hung open - to vent all the fumes. "How did you-"

"Isn't it obvious?" They obviously had different definitions of the word. "She keeps saying it to you, but I haven't heard you say it back even once. That, and you're out here spilling your guts to the closest thing Blake has to competition."

"You're the one who forced me to talk."

"You barely fought back," she countered, not putting up with his excuses tonight. "Look, it's fine. Natural, even."

"It is?"

"Of course it is. Everyone has their own feelings. Be kinda weird if you both hit the love stage at the same time. Convenient, but weird." He'd be fine with weird if it got him out of his current situation. "Blake will understand."

"I know." Blake was mature like that, well beyond any other fifteen year old he'd ever met. "But she's so confident about it, and she keeps bringing it up." Over and over. Multiple times a day. Each time felt like a slap to the face when he couldn't respond in kind.

"Do you love her back?"

Adam shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe?"

"Do you like her?" He nodded. "Does she make you happy?" More than he'd felt in a long time. "Could you see yourself with her, say, five years from now?" He couldn't see himself without her. "I'd say you're well on your way then."

But how far along was he? Would he know when he reached it, and how long would that take? Blake might feel hurt if it stretched on too long. He tried to put his thoughts into words, floundering about until Indie seemed to get the gist of it.

"What if I told you I loved you?" A cough caught in his throat and threatened to choke him. "I love you, Adam Taurus. What do you say to that?"

What could he say? Everyone knew she liked him, but love? Was she trying to compete with Blake in some sort of relationship arms race now? "Indie, you know I don't…" Would she really make him say it? "I don't…I'm with Blake."

"And?"

Did that really mean so little to her? He'd made his choice, and up until now, she'd respected it. Was this some sort of last ditch effort to win him before she left? Then what? Would the two of them run back to Menagerie and settle down, leaving everyone else to fight their battles for them. Even if he wanted to, he'd never leave the team stranded like that. Plus, he just couldn't see himself with Indie. It wouldn't work out. "I don't feel that way about you. You know that."

Instead of being disappointed, Indie just grinned and asked, "You ever said something like that to Blake?"

"No." He hadn't said anything to her. He didn't have an answer, so he just didn't respond. Not until he figured out exactly how he felt.

"Then there's your answer!" What answer? Where? "You don't know if you love her, but you don't not love her, right?" That was an…odd way of putting it. "Maybe you're not at full-blown, fairytale, skipping through the meadow sort of love, but you obviously have feelings for her or you would've shut her down like you just did to me."

"I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, Adam. It was just to prove a point." Were all women this confusing or just Indie? "Just tell her how you feel and make sure she knows this won't scare you off."

"I already did." Well, the first part more than the second. "Sort of."

"Maybe there's hope for you yet." Not even the tiniest bit of credit. Really? "I'm sure she understands."

"Yeah, but-"

Indie pressed on. "Would she rather have you say it back? Obviously. Is she gonna go chase after somebody else just because you don't? I doubt it. Maybe if you're still stringing her along in ten years, but by then, I'm pretty sure Azul and I will hunt you down and beat you up for toying with her." They would, too, knowing them. "Just be honest and see where things lead. Things'll probably work out in the end."

"And if they don't?"

"Then they don't." She made it sound so easy. "People get together and break up all the time. It's not the end of the world." It might feel like the end of someone's world, though. "Better to try and fail than never find out."

That was an awfully optimistic way of looking at life, though it shouldn't have surprised him coming from her. "But won't she get upset if she keeps saying it and I never say it back?"

"Cut her some slack. She's excited. It's her first time loving someone, and she's probably still figuring out what that means herself." Was she? She sure didn't sound like it. "So yeah, she's saying it a lot. Why wouldn't she? Only way she'll get it through that thick skull of yours."

"Why do I always take a beating in these conversations?"

"Because you're the guy in this relationship." Har har. "It'll calm down eventually. Not her feelings, just the newness of it," Indie made sure to specify before he could take it the wrong way. "Just keep doing what you've been doing. It's gotten you this far, hasn't it?" Fair point. "Oh, and Adam?"

"Yeah?" He saw the grin too late.

"Just so you know, I don't actually love you like that. Sorry to break your heart."

"I think I'll manage." Indie bounced from serious to joking so easily, it made his head spin. "You ready to go see what they've been working on all evening?"

"Only if you promise to have some fun tonight."

As it turned out, that was an easy promise to keep. Adam hadn't exactly been to a lot of parties, but despite the special punch, it almost felt childish at times. They played pin the mask on the faunus - something Azul had come up with where they took turns trying to stick a paper mask to a picture's face while blindfolded. Unsurprisingly, the targets were all made up of the male portion of the team. He turned out to be pretty good at it, though he couldn't compete with some of them. Azul probably could've won if she hadn't purposefully stuck the pin in the crotch of Azure's picture. He said purposefully because she'd wielded it in a fist and stabbed him repeatedly with her miniature weapon.

Laurence had music playing as a slideshow kept scrolling periodically on the large screen showing pictures of the team. Adam hadn't even realized they had that many pictures. Some were from training, though usually during more lighthearted moments. Yuma flying above a team wielding foam bats and unable to hit him. A younger Ilia standing triumphantly atop the back of a downed Bane like some sort of miniature conqueror. Blake chasing Jakob with a murderous scowl and drenched from the bucket of water he'd dumped on her unsuspectingly. Beyond that, they had quieter moments like mealtimes or a few of them posing together. The girls of Alpha Squad featured heavily in the lineup.

Later on, Blake and Ilia unveiled what they'd be working on - a bunch of comically horrendous props for them to take pictures with. Hats. Wigs. Glasses. Gloves. Anything and everything, usually in a variety of colors so appalling bright they hurt to look at. Whether it was the spirit of the night or the spirits in the punch, they'd fallen on the goofy display with gusto, fighting over who could take the most ridiculous photo. They forced him into a few, including one with Indie that they all declared the winner. He wasn't sure what convinced them: the long, blonde wig he wore, Indie's fake teeth, or the pink, feathered boa she pretended to pull him close with.

Of course, they all made sure to take some normal ones with Indie along the way, ending with a few group photos that Laurence promised to print off for everyone in the morning. A rare good memory for a team of people who had suffered so much and knew darker days lay ahead. For now, though, that darkness could wait outside. Tonight, they were together and happy.

Eventually, things started to calm down, and not just because Marcus had tripped and fallen into the punch bowl, breaking both it and the table it sat on. He wasn't hurt much beyond his pride, but it seemed to mark the winding down point of the evening. Okay, the morning, since midnight had long come and gone.

"So Adam," Indie practically shouted out as she collapsed into a chair, nearly falling out of it. "What's next for Alpha Squad? Any big plans coming up?"

"We're working on something," he admitted, instantly regretting it.

"What is it?"

"Not tonight." Adam didn't want to ruin the festivities with work talk. "We'll go over everything in a couple days."

"Boo! Tell us now!" A few others echoed Indie's demand in various states of coherence.

"We're here to have fun, and last I checked, you all never had fun at planning meetings."

"And you never had cake at any of them." Not the best counterpoint, but Yuma wasn't wrong. He also wasn't standing, having fallen over a few minutes ago but deciding the floor felt comfortable enough. Adam doubted the cake was to blame for his current condition.

"It's my party," Indie said, refusing to give up. "That means I get to choose what we do, and I choose mission talk. So get to talkin'!"

Fine, if that's what she really wanted. Maybe it was the punch talking, but Adam relented without much of a fight. He tried to turn off the music but couldn't find the button on the speaker. Pulling the plug worked just fine. "We're going back to Atlas."

"Suck it, Atlas!"

"You already knew that part." They'd seen the file about the research facility and knew there'd be a strike organized. Better they knew what came next and had time to prepare. "Anyways, our goal is to recover any information we can, then destroy the facility and all their equipment."

Not exactly a simple task. While the facility wasn't a purely military target like Euryale had been, they still had plenty of security on site. Enough that it would take the entire team and support forces from the Atlas branch to take down. The other issue would be speed. With how close Atlas and their forces would be, they didn't have any time to waste. Recovering data was secondary. Atlas wouldn't hesitate to bring their full might to bear once they got the alert.

"But there's another part you don't know about yet." A part that he felt was almost perfectly fitting given what they'd been through. "We'll be hitting another target first. Somewhere a little more…personal."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Less security. More risk." Far more. Atlas would be on top of them within the hour at the research base. If the first mission went wrong, he'd have minutes at best.

"Where we hitting?"

"Somewhere they'd never expect us to go," Adam promised, his smile taking a much sharper edge. "We're taking the fight to the ones most responsible for our suffering."

/- - - - - - - - - -/

"Winter!"

"Weiss." The stern face on her monitor would've intimidated most people, but Weiss was used to her older sister's seemingly harsh edge. Anyone watching might've thought her uncaring or even mean, but Weiss knew her sister cared, and that was good enough for her. "Is your father around?"

Her father, not Winter's. She hadn't referred to him as her own since their big fight when Winter decided to pursue a military career against his wishes. As much as Weiss hated to see them fight, she had nothing but respect for Winter's bravery and determination. "Not right now."

"Good." Winter seemed to soften a little, the faintest hint of a smile reaching the edge of her lips and no further. "How are things at home?"

"Boring," Weiss lamented. "Uncle Reynard came for a visit. Again." He pretty much invited himself over whenever he wanted. As the brother of the wealthiest man on Remnant, Reynard never missed an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the Schnee family's legacy - a legacy that no one in his family had earned. Father had married into the fortune that her grandfather had built, and while he'd arguably improved the wealth and power of the SDC, he hadn't exactly started at the bottom. "He and Father are attending a show tonight."

"And what of Mavis?"

Aunt Mavis, a woman so incredibly out of Uncle Reynard's league that it made no sense. It seemed the men of the Gelé family had something in common, though Weiss would never say so within their hearing. "She's going to help me practice!" Not that her music teachers weren't good enough.

"Ah, yes. Your concert. I trust you are prepared?"

As if she would dare take the stage otherwise. "Of course. Aunt Mavis and I are working on a new song. I'm hoping we can have her play on stage with me."

"As if your Father would let a Schnee share the spotlight." Winter forced the frown from her face, professional as always. "Is that why you called?"

"No, I…uh, that is…"

"Speak your mind, Weiss."

"I'm worried about you." She'd seen the news reports like everyone else. Father had been ranting about the military not doing enough to stamp out the White Fang once and for all, and for once, she agreed with him. Not because of the impact to his profits, though. Winter was tasked with hunting down their leader - a natural decision given her combat ability and prowess. That meant she'd have to face that…monster again. She'd beaten him once and Weiss knew she could again, but that didn't mean she wasn't scared something could happen.

"Worry not. Rest assured I have taken every precaution against Taurus and his forces. If all goes well, this matter will be resolved soon."

It was the if that worried her, but to question that would mean questioning Winter. Weiss had never known her sister to fail, so she'd trust her to succeed here as well. That was part of the reason Weiss idolized her sister so much. Part of the reason she wanted to… "Winter?"

"Yes?"

"I was wondering." Weiss looked around to make sure no one was listening in. Now was as good a time as any. If anyone could help her go against Father's wishes, then it was the one who'd already done it. She'd already been looking at the Academies, even the ones outside Atlas. The corporate world bored her. She wanted to make a name for herself, just as her grandfather once did, not become some trophy wife locked away from the world for another Jacques to rule in her place. "That is, I've been thinking recently, and I was hoping you could tell me…"

"Tell you what?"

How to abandon the future Father wanted for her. How to escape the Manor and pursue her own dreams. How to rise above her name and become her own person.

"When you'll be able to visit?"

Not the words she wanted to say, but it was much easier to think such things than to say them out loud. To do so would be weakness, and Schnees did not show weakness. Just as they never gave up, never let another win, and never settled for less than perfection. Lessons drilled into her longer than she could remember.

"Once this matter is settled, I should be able to return to Atlas." Not home. This place wasn't her home anymore. Still, Weiss knew Winter would arrange a chance for them to spend time together, likely outside the Manor and away from the prying eyes of Father. He'd know, of course, but he never stopped them. Maybe he hoped to one day lure Winter back or find a way to claim her glory as his own. The latter felt more likely. Then again, he probably just enjoyed showing Winter how better off the new heiress of the SDC was. "Perhaps the General and I will be able to attend one of your concerts."

"I would like that." More than anything.

"If that is all, I have work to attend to." Always busy. Always on the move. She was closer to the embodiment of the supposed Schnee values than anyone despite being all but disowned.

"Be safe, Winter."

"I shall."

Winter might not be the only one planning to visit the Manor.

Not a lot to say this week. Indie is leaving. Adam is preparing for Atlas. Winter is guarding Mistral. Blake is probably doodling her and Adam's names in love hearts. Sort of a prep chapter for the next mission, though I enjoyed planning out a party for Indie. Didn't want to spend a lot of time on it, but I'd go to that party (just avoid the punch).

For anyone wondering, Reynard name is a name for a fox, while Mavis means songbird. Liked the idea of a wonderful, talented woman married to another sly member of Jacques' family. Decided to go back and edit the last name of Jacques' brother (would that make it his maiden name?) after I realized we actually know his family name. Originally posted it with the German word for slush (Matsch) but figured a single mention of an erroneously made-up name warranted an edit while I worked on the next chapter. Actual name (Gelé) is French for frozen, which at least makes me happy I was in the ballpark with a similar theme, just in the wrong language.

Next chapter: The White Fang pays Atlas another visit.