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She has been a part of this long fight for a while, upon stepping into the Vacuo deserts with Oscar and the rest of the raggedy gang that has been trying to thwart the evils Cinder had dragged her into. Emerald wasn’t exactly a happy camper but she had her moments.
Winter still regarded her as suspicious and if it wasn’t for Oscar’s insistence that she would be ‘out of sight’ and harmless she’d think the frosty maiden would have put her at the farthest reach of their camps every night. Emerald had played her part, going into shifts of keeping citizens safe and ensuring another day of moving closer to Shade Academy.
She along with everyone they were travelling was elated the day they made it to the school. And even more so when they saw Mistral, Atlesian, and Valian shuttles entering their air space. Though surprised to see a white fang flag with a pure white emblem fly proudly and a large man steps out with a brilliant purple coat, she was happy to see back up.
Learning he and his large crew of faunus were part of a Menagerie crew that brought down the tainted Whitefang of Haven, it made Emerald cautious of them. But Oscar was helpful in that as well. In the wrong way. But he meant well, telling her she just had to keep out of sight.
It was light holographically grey eyes that followed her and analyzed her though. She never noticed the chameleon faunus’s stare. It was never threatening or accusatory. Simply curious.
Ilia approached Emerald in a friendly context already aware of the illusions she was able to produce. She had seen her use it from afar to avoid Ghira and Sun. There must be reason for that surely but when Ilia leaned in and offered a handshake saying “hi” Emerald was already wary.
She wanted to genuinely befriend such a hurt soul, she recognized the pain behind those scarlet irises. Her prismatic eyes glistened in greyish blue before settling in crystals of every colour within a neutral grey. Their friendship was rocky at first. Emerald was cagey and would easily just avoid but it was after another barrage of Grimm hordes that Ilia dragged Emerald into the building, the other woman’s arm around her as she dropped the illusion hiding five citizens from everything that the mint-haired woman cried. Silent as it was, Ilia was there and she held Emerald closer.
Since then they had longer conversations, more chit-chat, Emerald would seek her out, awkward at first. Stepping up to her with a cautious footing and in an illusory disguise “So,…. How’s the weather?”
“Just by your speech pattern, you are either my minty-haired friend or hitting on me.” Ilia smirks and wiggles her brows Emerald’s way and the woman drops her illusion instantly.
“I don’t think it’s fair you do that, how did you even know?” the other crosses her arms and huffs but she isn’t necessarily mad.
“I see you.”
It’s an odd reply and said as casually as one would point out that the sun is hot, or that water is wet. It makes no sense to Emerald and they move on talking about anything and everything.
It’s become a game now, Emerald tried to hide or be someone else, maybe even lead Ilia to the wrong one of her when she makes five of herself littering the Academy’s library only to have the chameleon faunus curl her whipped sword around Emerald’s physical form guided as the librarian and pulled face to face, so close that the woman’s whispered “found you.” Was clearly heard and read off her lips.
Emerald flustered, realizing she was staring at her lips. She blames Ilia mentally, it’s that damn woman’s fault for flirting with her all the time. “How?” Emerald breathes out, genuinely curious, she made sure the librarian was out before this to avoid having an extra that would have given her away. She was strategizing big plays and yet Ilia was able to break it down.
“I see you.” The chameleon simply replied, as if that answer covers everything.
“You know you can really be grating with the way you keep catching me.”
“Well, maybe you should be much harder to catch.” Ilia unravels her sword from the other and pokes her forehead, you can drop the guise now, it’s a little awkward looking at Mrs. Jennings when I’m flirting with you.” Then she has the audacity to wink as she saunters off.
Emerald was left staring after her. The mental words of ‘holy shit’ echoed as she subtly registered that Ilia said she was purposely flirting with her.
How could she like her though, she was a nobody, a nothing. Ever since Cinder had dropped her faster than a goldfish down the toilet. What does Ilia see in her?
Later, When Ilia was talking with Sun, punching his shoulder as he goofily waved a banana in her face. She sees Emerald’s red eyes glance at her then turn away and run off as a rabbit faunus. Still hiding from Sun even though he knows she switched sides, that she isn’t a threat. The last guy to ever hold a grudge and takes information at face value and Emerald doesn’t trust he would genuinely accept her.
Still, the chameleon excuses herself and waved him goodbye, running off after her.
But she is t the rabbit faunus anymore. She made herself invisible. Ilia in tandem makes herself invisible too, disappearing in broad daylight and so begins their game.
Emerald hid in a tent of a saleswoman her back against the table that held the wares that others were looking at, no one could see her naturally, and those in range like the saleswoman and the individuals that checked her stall couldn’t either. To Emerald, it was an exercise in multiple targets. Something she had been practising for a while.
While there were still lulls in her concentration it was hardly noticeable to someone that wasn’t paying attention. The tent’s back entrance was lifted and scarlet eyes met the holographic ones reflecting back the pinks, reds, and glittering fuschias that were divided from her own. “I see you.” Ilia’s smile was enchanting, and Emerald slipped forward hugging her. Her arms were around the chameleon's shoulders and her face was buried against her neck.
“How do you do that.” She can’t help but ask and this time as Ilia pulls her out of the tent, keeping their embrace for as long as Emerald allows, she answers.
Pulling away just enough to place her fingers on Emerald’s chin and angle her to look into her eyes. “I know a thing or two about staying invisible. I see you, I’ll always see you, Emerald.”
Already enchanted by Ilia, her words make the mint green-haired woman’s eyes water. “But I was so… bad.”
“So was I, and yet here we are. Being good, and fighting for a better tomorrow.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Make me fall in love with you like that, I don’t have any way of stopping.”
“What if I told you I fell for you already.”
Emerald’s brows shot up and she flushed as she stared at a visibly pink-eyed and bright pink-freckled Ilia. “Are you crazy?”
Ilia only leaned forward cautiously for Emerald’s sake. Allowing the woman in her arms any and every chance to dodge or pull away. “A little…I guess.”
It was a relief to feel her lips against hers. Their eyes closed and their kiss was startlingly soft and sweet but lingering.
“I think… I’m a little crazy too.”
The faunus hugs her closer and presses a kiss against her jawline nearest her ear making her blush a little more. "Have dinner with me, as you." Ilia smiles against her cheek as she feels Emerald press closer and nod yes.