Chapter Text

Chapter 18: Aftermath

Dawn broke over Belladonna Manor, the rising sun illuminating bloodstains that the night had partially concealed. Six Menagerian Guards moved methodically through the house, photographing and tagging bodies before zipping them into black bags. The sweet, coppery scent of blood hung in the air, mingling with the acrid smell of spent Dust.

Captain Sarus, a tall iguana Faunus with jade scales covering half his face, oversaw the operation with clinical detachment. He made notes on a scroll as his team worked, occasionally pausing to question Ghira about the sequence of events.

Outside, two more guards secured Ilia Amitola in specialized restraints designed to counter her chameleon abilities. Her skin had settled into a dull gray, her eyes vacant as she was led toward an armored transport vehicle.

"Those restraints won't hold her if she decides to escape," Sable said, falling into step behind the guards. Her rabbit ears were alert, her hand resting casually on her weapon. "We'll be accompanying you to the detention center."

The guard began to protest, but Jade silenced him with a cold stare. "This isn't a request," the lizard Faunus said, her scales still faintly glowing from her semblance's recent use. "Those are Adam Taurus's elite. You have no idea what they're capable of."

Inside, Kali was directing the cleaning staff to begin addressing the destruction while keeping them away from areas the guards were still processing. Despite the night's violence, she maintained an air of dignified composure, though her ears betrayed her tension, flicking at every sudden noise.

Blake stood in the center of the main hall, watching as the body of Corsac Albain was lifted into a bag. His blood had soaked into the ornate carpet beneath him, creating a stain that would never truly come out.

"Twenty-three minutes," said a low, deep voice behind her.

Blake turned to find Gauss sheathing Red Requiem on his back. He'd donned his full Ranger attire now, the crimson cloak of House Thorn Rose settling around his shoulders. In the morning light, she could clearly see his wolf tail and the exhaustion in his green eyes.

"What?" she asked.

"Twenty-three minutes from first breach to last kill," he clarified.

Blake studied him, taking in the Ranger insignia and the professional way he carried himself despite his youth. "Who are you?" she asked directly. "And why are Rangers operating in Menagerie without my father's knowledge?"

Gauss inclined his head slightly. "Gauss Thorn, Ranger of House Thorn Rose. As for why we're here..." He glanced toward the bodies being carried out. "I believe the evidence speaks for itself."

"That's not an answer," Blake pressed, her eyes narrowing. "Rangers don't typically deploy without coordinating with local authorities. And three of you just happened to be outside our home when an attack occurred?"

A ghost of a smile crossed Gauss's face. "You're perceptive. Your reputation is deserved."

"My reputation?"

"The Belladonna name carries weight in certain circles." He adjusted his cloak, revealing the symbol of House Thorn Rose emblazoned on his armor beneath. "Your family has history with the Rangers. Did your parents never mention it?"

Before Blake could respond, Captain Sarus approached, his tail swinging in agitation. "We have a problem," he said, lowering his voice. "These bodies—the Albain brothers in particular—their deaths will cause significant political complications. They had legitimate diplomatic standing in Menagerie."

"They led an armed assault on the Chieftain's home," Gauss countered sharply.

"I'm aware," Sarus hissed. "But there will be questions. The manner of their deaths..." He glanced meaningfully at Red Requiem.

"The manner of their deaths was appropriate to their crimes," Gauss said coldly.

Blake stepped between them. "Captain Sarus, I witnessed everything. The Albains explicitly stated their intention to kidnap my family on Adam Taurus's orders. They came armed and with force. Our defense was justified."

Sarus nodded reluctantly. "Of course, but the council will require formal statements. From all parties." He looked pointedly at Gauss. "Including explanations of why foreign operatives are conducting missions on Menagerian soil."

"We're not foreign operatives," Gauss said. "Rangers have standing in all kingdoms."

"Menagerie isn't a kingdom," Sarus reminded him. "Different rules apply here."

"The rules regarding self-defense seem universal enough," Gauss replied evenly.

Blake watched the exchange with growing impatience. "Captain, surely cataloging the bodies and securing the prisoner take priority over jurisdictional debates?"

Sarus straightened. "Of course, Miss Belladonna. We'll continue this discussion at headquarters." He turned sharply and walked back to his team.

When he was out of earshot, Blake turned back to Gauss. "You still haven't answered my question. Why are Rangers in Menagerie?"

Gauss's expression grew serious. "I'm tracking Adam Taurus."

Blake's ears flattened. "Why? What's your connection to him?"

"It's personal," Gauss said, his hand unconsciously touching the hilt of his sword.

"Adam made things personal for a lot of people," Blake said quietly. "But that doesn't explain—"

"Blake." Her father's deep voice interrupted as Ghira approached, his massive frame still imposing despite his obvious fatigue. "I didn't know Rangers were in Menagerie, but I'm not surprised they're here."

Blake's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Ghira studied Gauss with a measuring look. "After what you told us about Adam and the White Fang's involvement at Beacon, I suspected various groups would take an interest. The Rangers have always monitored threats that cross kingdom boundaries."

"You never mentioned knowing about the Rangers," Blake said, confused.

"There are many things I haven't told you about my past," Ghira replied. "Some for your protection, others because the time wasn't right." He looked at Gauss. "Though I am curious why House Thorn Rose has taken such a direct interest in Menagerie's affairs."

Gauss squared his shoulders. "House Thorn Rose has its own interest in Adam Taurus. I've been tracking him since the Fall of Beacon."

"And your companions?" Ghira asked.

"Arrived two days ago from our southern outpost," Gauss said. "We've been monitoring White Fang movements throughout Menagerie since the communications from Vale went dark."

Outside, the armored vehicle carrying Ilia roared to life. Jade and Sable had positioned themselves on either side of it, their message clear: the prisoner was now under Ranger supervision.

"They're taking her to the detention center," Blake said, watching through the window.

"Where she'll be questioned," Gauss added, his tone leaving little doubt about the nature of that questioning.

Blake turned back to him sharply. "Ilia was my friend once. She's misguided, not evil."

"She led a kill team into your home," Gauss reminded her. "Friends don't typically try to kidnap or murder each other."

"You don't know her story."

"I know enough." Gauss's eyes hardened. "I know Adam's influence when I see it."

Something in his tone made Blake study him more closely. "You speak about him like you know him personally."

A shadow crossed Gauss's face. "I do."

Before Blake could press further, a guard called for Ghira's attention. As her father moved away, Blake stepped closer to Gauss, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Whatever your history with Adam, whatever you're planning—my family was just targeted because of our connection to him. I deserve to know what we're caught in the middle of."

Gauss held her gaze for a long moment. "You're right," he finally said. "But this isn't the place." He glanced meaningfully at the guards still processing the scene. "Once your family is secure and the immediate crisis is handled, we'll talk."

"Promise?" Blake pressed.

Gauss nodded, his hand again drifting to the hilt of Red Requiem. "After all, we both want the same thing."

"Which is?"

"To stop Adam Taurus," he said simply. "Before he destroys everything and everyone in his path."

The Interrogation

The detention center's interrogation room was deliberately uncomfortable—too cold, too bright, with a metal chair bolted to the floor. Ilia sat rigidly, her wrists secured to the table, her skin a defiant red.

Gauss circled her like a predator, Red Requiem propped against the wall as a silent reminder of what he'd done to her companions. For three hours, he'd alternated between threats and cold logic, between rage and calculated silence.

"Twenty White Fang dead," he said, his voice dangerously low. "You're the only one walking away from this, Ilia. That can change."

Ilia's spots flashed yellow before returning to angry red. "Do what you want, Ranger. I have nothing to say to you."

Gauss slammed his hands on the table, making her flinch despite her defiance. "Adam Taurus is using you! He sent you on a suicide mission—did you really think you'd succeed? Did you think he cared whether you lived or died?"

"You don't know him," Ilia shot back.

"I know him better than you ever will," Gauss growled, leaning in close. "I know what he does to people who follow him blindly. I know what he'll do to the Faunus cause."

"The cause?" Ilia laughed bitterly. "What would a Ranger know about our cause? Playing peacekeeper while Faunus suffer?"

Gauss's eyes flashed dangerously. "I know Adam Taurus doesn't care about equality or justice. He cares about power and vengeance. And he's willing to sacrifice every Faunus who follows him to get it."

Ilia's gaze didn't waver. "Are we done?"

Behind the one-way glass, Blake watched the exchange, her arms wrapped around herself. Beside her, Jade monitored recording equipment while Sable stood guard at the door.

"She won't break," Jade said matter-of-factly. "Not for him."

"She's been trained to resist interrogation," Sable added. "And she's loyal to a fault."

Blake continued watching as Gauss made another attempt, his frustration becoming more evident with each passing minute.

"He's running out of patience," she observed quietly.

"Good," Sable replied. "Now he can stop playing nice."

Blake turned to the Ranger. "There are other approaches."

"We've tried reasoning with her," Jade said. "We've tried intimidation."

"No," Blake said. "You haven't tried the right approach." She took a deep breath. "Let me talk to her."

Both Rangers looked at her skeptically.

"She and I have history," Blake explained. "I might be able to reach her."

The door to the observation room opened as Gauss entered, barely containing his anger. "She's not giving us anything," he said to his fellow Rangers, before noticing Blake's expression. "What?"

"I want to talk to her," Blake said firmly.

Gauss shook his head. "Absolutely not. She just tried to kidnap you and your family."

"She's not talking to you," Blake pointed out. "And we need to know what Adam is planning."

"It's too dangerous—"

"I won't be alone," Blake cut him off. "You'll be there too."

Gauss studied her for a long moment. "What makes you think she'll talk to you? You're the one she considers the ultimate traitor."

Blake met his gaze steadily. "Trust me. I know Ilia better than any of you."

After a tense silence, Gauss reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But I stay in the room, and at the first sign of trouble—"

"I understand," Blake said, already moving toward the door.

When Blake entered the interrogation room, Ilia's skin involuntarily shifted to a shocked blue before she could control it. She quickly forced herself back to red, but not before Blake caught the reaction.

"What is this?" Ilia demanded, looking between Blake and Gauss, who took up position by the door, arms crossed.

"Just a conversation," Blake said, taking the seat across from Ilia. "Between old friends."

Ilia scoffed. "We stopped being friends when you abandoned the White Fang. When you abandoned us."

"Is that what Adam told you?" Blake asked quietly.

"He didn't have to tell me anything. I saw you leave."

Blake leaned forward slightly. "Then you saw what the White Fang was becoming. What Adam was turning it into."

"A force that gets results," Ilia said defiantly. "Not just empty promises and peaceful protests that humans laugh at."

"Results?" Blake's voice hardened. "Twenty dead Faunus in my parents' home is a result? The Fall of Beacon is a result? Humans and Faunus dead by the hundreds—that's getting results?"

Ilia looked away.

"What happened to you, Ilia?" Blake asked, her tone softening. "You used to talk about changing minds, not ending lives."

"The world happened," Ilia muttered. "Reality happened. You can't change a human's mind about Faunus. They'll always see us as animals."

"That's not true," Blake insisted. "I've seen it. I've lived it. My team at Beacon—"

"Your team?" Ilia's spots flashed an angry orange. "Is that why you left us? For them?"

Blake caught the jealousy in Ilia's tone, the hurt beneath the anger. Her old approach wasn't working. Time to try something different.

"I missed you, you know," Blake said softly, her voice taking on a more intimate tone. "Even after I left."

Ilia's skin flickered to surprised blue. "Don't."

"Don't what?" Blake asked, leaning forward and letting her voice drop to barely above a whisper. "Don't tell you the truth? That I thought about you?"

"Blake, stop," Ilia said, but her voice wavered, her skin cycling through uncertain colors.

Blake slowly reached up and began unfastening another button on her blouse, her movements deliberate. "You were always so beautiful when you were passionate about something. Even now, angry as you are..."

Ilia's eyes followed the movement involuntarily, her skin flushing a vibrant pink before she jerked her gaze away. "This isn't—you can't just—"

"Can't what?" Blake asked, standing and walking slowly around the table. "Can't remember how close we used to be? How we'd talk for hours about the future we wanted to build?"

From his position by the door, Gauss felt his throat go dry, his own pulse quickening despite himself. He forced himself to remain still, professional, even as Blake's voice seemed to fill the room with an almost hypnotic quality.

"Those weren't just talks, were they, Ilia?" Blake continued, stopping beside Ilia's chair. She placed one hand on the table, leaning down so her lips were near Ilia's ear. "We both knew there was something more."

Ilia's breathing became shallow, her skin now cycling rapidly between pink and purple. "Blake, please..."

"Please what?" Blake whispered, her breath warm against Ilia's ear. "Please stop pretending we didn't have feelings for each other? Please stop acting like you don't still feel something?"

Ilia's composure finally cracked, a soft gasp escaping her lips as her skin blazed bright pink. "I... I can't..."

Blake's fingers gently traced along Ilia's restrained wrist. "You were always so strong, so determined. I admired that about you." Her voice carried the weight of genuine memory mixed with calculated seduction. "I still do."

"He'll kill me," Ilia whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"I won't let that happen," Blake promised, her lips almost brushing Ilia's ear. "But I need you to trust me. Like you used to."

Ilia's defenses finally shattered completely. "Haven," she gasped out, her voice breaking. "He's going to attack Haven Academy."

Blake's hand tightened slightly on Ilia's wrist, both comforting and encouraging. "When?"

"Beginning of next semester," Ilia continued, her words tumbling out now. "When the students return. It'll be worse than Beacon. They have new allies, powerful ones. And someone on the inside."

"Who are the allies?" Blake pressed gently, her thumb stroking across Ilia's pulse point.

Ilia shuddered at the contact, her skin a deep magenta. "I don't know exactly. Adam only said they were different from the humans who helped at Beacon. That Haven would fall easier because of them."

Blake straightened slowly, removing her hand. The loss of contact seemed to break whatever spell had held Ilia.

"Thank you," Blake said softly, her voice returning to normal.

Ilia looked up at her with a mixture of desire, betrayal, and regret. "You played me," she whispered.

"I did what I had to do," Blake replied, though there was genuine remorse in her eyes. "But everything I said about missing you—that was true."

As Blake moved toward the door, Ilia called out desperately, "Blake! He's not the Adam you knew anymore. He'll destroy everything to get to you. Everyone you care about."

Blake paused at the door, looking back one final time. "Then I'll have to stop him first."

In the hallway outside, Gauss cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. When Blake emerged, he studied her with a mixture of professional respect and something he was working hard to suppress.

"That was..." he began, then seemed to search for the right word. "Effective."

Blake's ears flattened against her head. "It was manipulation."

"It was what we needed," Gauss said, though his voice was slightly rougher than usual. He found himself unable to quite meet her eyes. "You got the information."

"At what cost?" Blake asked quietly.

Gauss was quiet for a moment, still processing what he'd witnessed. "Sometimes the mission requires difficult choices," he said finally, his professional training warring with the unexpected effect Blake's performance had on him.

"Haven Academy," Blake said, clearly wanting to change the subject.

"Yes," Gauss agreed, grateful for the redirect. "We need to warn them immediately."

"No," Blake said, her expression hardening. "We need to stop Adam before he ever gets there."

Gauss nodded, though part of his mind was still replaying the scene he'd just witnessed, the way Blake had transformed from friend to temptress with devastating effectiveness. He pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the mission ahead, even as he found himself seeing Blake Belladonna in an entirely new light.