Welcome everyone to Volume 2 of RWBFV! In this volume i will keep my focus on certain characters other than Hartmann, i want them to feel more alive in this world than being a cardboard copy or some shit.
Like i said in the previous volume, JNPR will have their deserved screentime in this volume because i never really focused on them other than RWBY and CFVY. But since CFVY will be away on a mission - like in the canon, this gives me an opportunity to flesh them (JNPR) out a bit, being part of the story aswell. Also, returning minor characters such as the boys from CRDL and Richard Marlowe will make their appearance here too.
Though this means that Hartmann won't be around that much, the whole story isn't just about him. Yes he is the main character and all, but it feels wrong if i only follow his perspective all the time and not the other characters.
But anyways, Enjoy the chapter.
It was another beautiful day in Vale.
People all around were doing their usual daily lives. Pedestrians walking around, Cars driving at the roads, and the shopkeepers opening their stores to start the day. One shop in particular had been doing it's decent work.
That shop is named "Tukson's Book Trade"
Known for its catchphrase 'Home for every book under the sun', the book store received various customers that came to the shop for a book they like. Like the catchphrase says, the book store has every book available in every type. Whether it can be Romance, history, poetry, nonfiction, etc. Tukson's book trade has them all. That is the reason why it received different customers during its time.
Inside the store, there was already a customer that was buying a book for themselves, said book titled "The art of war". That customer is Richard Marlowe. He waited to the counter as the cashier checks out the price of the book.
The cashier is a man with a clean cut hair along with noticeable sideburns. He wore a short-sleeved quarter-zip burgundy and a black shirt with a visible white undershirt. The cashier is actually the owner of the book store. Like the name of the store, his name is Tukson.
"Okay, that will be 50 lien." said Tukson after he checked the price of the book.
Richard took out his wallet and gave him the amount of lien. "Here you go, my good man." Tukson happily accepted the lien and put it in the register. Richard then continued. "So Tuk, how's business?"
Richard and Tukson knew eachother and have been friends for about a while. Both grew a stronger bond together, almost like they are brothers.
Tukson replied. "It's doing good, lately. Lots of costumers come here occasionally, looking for the books they want, all the same crap."
"I'm surprised you've been working alone all this time. How long has it been? A year, two years?"
Tukson chuckled. "I told you man, i can do fine on my own. Besides, if i have employees, i don't think they can handle stacking all these amount of books." Both of them share a laugh together. When things calmed down, Richard decide to change the topic.
"So, are you really sure you could handle yourself against the white fang on your own?" He asked in a serious matter. Tukson's smile faded when he mentioned the organization. Richard knew about the book store owner's former occupation, which was acting as a member of the white fang.
Tukson abandoned the organization after learning of how their way is wrong for him. That was three years ago. Now he is pursuing his career as a book store owner here in his own shop.
Though the problem here is that his shop is based on his name, and due to it being known throughout the city, it means intel for the white fang. So far there had been two attempted assassinations from the white fang. Luckily, Tukson was a trained fighter when he was in the organization, that meant he can deal with the assassins with ease, before calling the police.
Tukson then let out a sigh. "To tell you the truth, i don't know. I can still beat them up and be done with it. But over the times, i don't feel like it's safe here, not anymore. That's why i'm saving money to go to Vacuo. Atleast is sorta safe there from any white fang activity."
"You could join the VDF with me. There's room for many more, just like you." Richard offered.
Tukson held his hand out. "I know you've offered me this a few times, Richard. But like i have said before, i will decline it. I just don't want to fight anymore. I'm going to Vacuo with my books and that's that."
"Alright, Tuk. I won't stop you. Though this means we won't get to see eachother face to face that much."
"Don't feel down. We have scrolls, y'know? We can still interact even if we're far." Tukson reassured with a smile. Richard smiled back and nodded.
"Yeah, you're right. Well time for me to go. Take care, friend." Richard offered a handshake to him.
"You too." Tukson accepts as they both shook hands. They said their goodbyes and parted ways.
Richard walked out of the store, to see the nice environment of the city. He breathe a sigh of relief before walking down the sidewalk. He greeted everyone he pass by as they happily greeted back, even doing it to an old shopkeeper as he was hanging down a sign that says the shop is re-opening.
Being a VDF lieutenant, Richard was respected by almost everyone he encountered, because he and his trusted comrades had defended the nation and this city from the Grimm with their sweat and blood.
He made sure no Grimm would touch this city.
He stopped for a moment to read a page of the book he bought. When he was reading it, he heard a voice calling out to him. "Um, excuse me?"
He put the book down to see a young mint-haired woman infront of him. She wore an intricate white top and an olive-colored crop top, while also sporting white shorts, decorated with what appears to be a gold coin-plated belt with four gold chains draping around her back and a green loincloth.
Hearing what she said, Richard replied. "Yes, citizen?"
"Actually i'm not from around here. I...got a little lost to where i was going." She said.
"Ah, a tourist, then?" Richard closes his book. "Okay, lady. How can i help?"
The mint-haired woman took out a piece of paper. "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of this shop?" Richard looks over to the paper as there was writing in it. It said "Tukson's book store.". The same store that he was in a few minutes ago.
"Ah, i know this shop. It's a few blocks from here. Just take a left and walk a straight path until the end of the sidewalk. The shop will be on your left. Hope that helps."
The woman give him a smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. It's what i'd do." The woman walks away from the soldier before waving goodbye to him. Richard waves back at her for her politeness while also feeling happy for Tukson that he's gonna get another customer.
Wonder what book she would buy?
After waving goodbye, the woman made her way to the book store, not before she passes a grey-haired man, currently leaning by the corner. He wears a slate gray and black two-tone partial-zip jacket that covers his upper body, while also wearing a single notched belt with what appears to be a bandana draped over it.
When he saw the woman passes him, he gave her a smirk. "I knew you were lost. And of course you asked for help." The mint-haired woman huffed before turning to the man while taking out her wallet.
"Mercury, i will seriously pay you to shut up." She took out a few lien, waving it infront of his face, offering it to him.
"You know that's not your money, Emerald?" Mercury reminded since he knows that the lien she was holding was stolen by her from someone before.
"But it can be yours if you can be quiet for 5 minutes." Emerald still offered.
Mercury thought about it, until he shook his head. "No deal."
"Nggh, fine." Emerald gave him an exasperated look before tossing the wallet away but keeping the lien, then walking away to the store.
"Whatever. You want me." Mercury shrugged before catching up to her. As the two were walking to the store, they had the time to look over the city. It was a pretty busy day for sure.
"So, how much further is this shop?" Mercury asked.
"A few blocks away." Emerald replied.
"You know that owner could've picked a better place for their shop, because man this place is so dull." Mercury remarked, looking at all the buildings in this city. Plain and boring, lacks any colour too.
'Eh, i kinda like it." Emerald said. "Tall buildings, diverse culture.."
"And nice dopey people who are easy to pickpocket." Mercury finished.
"Well to me, that's every city." Emerald remarked about her pick-pocketing skills that she used in every city she had visited, which Mercury took notice of it.
"Oh Master thief Emerald, please don't take my money! I barely have enough to get by!" He playfully said, acting like her victim. Though this annoyed the woman, causing her to groan before walking away from him.
"You're no fun, today." He sighed before catching up to her.
After walking a few blocks, they finally reached their destination. Though they had stopped mid-way to see a familiar hooded figure standing infront of the store. It was Andre, and it seems like he'd been waiting for the two for some time.
Andre turned to his right and noticed their presence. "There you are. What took you two so long?" He asked.
"Don't blame me, man. Blame her." Mercury pointed to Emerald.
"Oh don't you even start." Emerald bited.
Andre sighed. "You know what, i do not want to hear it. Let's just go deal with him and be done with it, ok?" He gestured to the shop beside him. Both Emerald and Mercury nodded as the trio went in to the store.
When they entered the store, it was currently empty and only littered with books all over. There was no one in the counter too. Perhaps the owner is taking a break. Andre and Mercury looked around the store while Emerald went to the counter, ringing the service bell upfront.
"Be right there!" Tukson's voice came out from the doors behind the counter, then he walks out carrying stacks of books. ""Welcome to Tukson's book trade, home to every book under the sun!" He said while putting the books down to the side and then turning to the woman. "How may i help you three?"
"We're just browsing." Mercury said as he shuts a book.
"Actually, i was wondering if you have any copies of 'The thief and the butcher' ?" Emerald asked.
"I believe we do." Tukson replied. "Would you like a copy?"
"No, just wondering." She declined. "Oh! What about 'A violet's garden' ? On paperback, maybe?"
"He's got it." Mercury said, holding the book she was talking about. "Hardback too."
"Ooh, options are nice."
"Eh, no pictures." Mercury shuts the book before turning to Tukson. "Hey, do you have any comics?"
"Near the front." Tukson pointed out. Mercury thanked him and went there.
Andre then spoke out. "I heard of this book titled 'My struggle' . Do you perhaps have a copy of them?"
"I...think so. Gonna have to check the back though." He gestured to the doors behind
"It's fine. Not interested about it, anyway."
"Oh wait!" Emerald exclaimed before leaning closer. "What about 'The third crusade' ?"
"Oh, sorry, I don't think we have that one." Tukson said as they then hear Mercury slam another book shut.
"Huh, what a shocker." He said. "Tell me, bud. What's this place called again?"
"Uh, Tukson's book trade."
"And you must be Tukson, right?" Andre asked.
He nodded. "That's right."
Emerald then join in. "So then i take it that you're the one that came up with the catchphrase?"
"Yes." Tukson felt pressured by the trio.
"And what was it again?" Mercury asked.
"Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun." He recited
"EXCEPT the third crusade."
Tukson let out a sigh. "Look it's just a catchphrase, okay?"
"Well i say that's false advertising!" Mercury said, abruptly.
"You know you really shouldn't make a promise you can't keep, Tukson. It would hurt people's feelings." Emerald said. "Especially if those people are your white fang brothers."
Tukson froze when he heard that word coming from her mouth. Meanwhile Mercury - with a smirk aimed at the man, was currently flipping a light switch off near the entrance, causing the front window to darken. The more important thing is though is how were they able to know he was once part of the white fang even when they're humans, aside from the hooded one.
"How did you-" He was interrupted by Emerald when she continued with an evil smirk.
"Oh yeah, the white fang started to cooperate with Humans like us. Though you should know about it since Roman works with them too, but let's not talk about that now." Mercury switch another light off, darkening the front windows more. Then Andre had his hand on the front pocket of the hoodie, all while Emerald was explaining to him.
"I hear that you're planning on leaving this city. Moving all the way to Vacuo, huh? Your comrades in the white fang won't be too happy to hear that, and given the fact we are working for them, neither do we..." As she finished, Mercury switch off the last light, fully darkening the front windows before walking back to the front.
Tukson narrowed his eyes at the three possible assassins sent by the white fang. He eyed to the hooded one, looking like he was about to pull something out of that pocket. Then to the grey haired one, observing his fingers moving on his knuckles, readying itself. And finally to the mint-haired woman, who she was still leaning infront of him, but he could tell she was gonna take action when he's about to.
Tukson dealt with two assassinations like this. He's not gonna let these ones win.
"You know why we're here, don't you?" Emerald began.
"Yes.." Tukson said, keeping his eyes narrowed.
"And you know what's gonna happen?"
"Yes."
"So...are you going to fight back?"
Tukson briefly closed his eyes, letting out an exhale. "Yes!"
Tukson threw a book at Andre, making him stumble. As Emerald and Mercury backed away a bit, Tukson front flip across the counter as he whipped out his claws. He begin to slash at Emerald before she somehow vanishes as he was then made contact with Mercury's feet.
Mercury send a strong kick at the Faunus, but he stood his ground. He sent another kick, although this time Tukson managed to grab a hold of his leg. Noticing that his feet was infront of his face, Mercury smirked and activated something on his foot. Tukson gasped, quickly throwing the leg away from his face as a shotgun blast came out of it.
Mercury stepped back from the recoil before going in for another kick. Tukson met with a kick to the side, recoiling back on to a set of books. He used the Hardback one and use it to smash Mercury's face. The force then send him to one of the cupboards, making the books to fall over.
Tukson turned to see Andre had recovered as he pulled his Luger P08 with a suppressor on out of his pocket. He then fired a few shots as Tukson evade some of it, but was hit by one of them to the shoulder. He felt a stinging pain as he felt that his Aura got drained pretty quick, but not enough to shatter it all.
He hid behind a cupboard, avoiding more of the shots. He then threw another book to Andre's legs, which he almost fall because of it. Tukson took the chance and rushed to him. As Andre was about to fire, the Faunus grab a hold of his pistol and threw it away.
Without his gun in hand, Andre tried to punch him, but Tukson grabbed his fist before headbutting him and strikes his legs, making him to fall and almost revealing his face from his hoodie.
When he was already dealt with, Tukson turned to the other two assassins. He heard a swirl sound as he was struck to the chest by a green blade with chains attached to it. Tukson stumbled for a moment before he hears Mercury dashing towards him.
The grey-haired male sent out two heavy kicks to the Faunus, the latter swiftly blocking them with his arms. Mercury twirled and sent a roundhouse kick to the right side of his face, followed by a front kick to his chin. The force sent the Faunus spinning to the air for a moment, before Tukson quickly used his reflexes and landed safely to the floor.
Mercury gave the Faunus a grin, then sending a low kick onto his head. However Tukson came in prepared as he grabbed the leg before he even gets to strike. Mercury struggled to free himself since Tukson had a tight grip on it. Tukson used this opportunity as he then flipped him over, before sending a heavy punch to the back of his head, crashing Mercury to the floor.
Two opponents down, one to go.
Tukson searched around the now-littered shop for the girl. He then heard another swirl sound as the chained green blade was coming towards him. He successfully evade it, whilst grabbing the chain. He turned to where Emerald was standing behind the counter, with one of her hand on the chain.
Emerald tried to free her weapon, but like Tukson did with mercury's leg - he held it with a tight grip. Which Tukson then use the chain against her to threw her across the cupboards. Emerald crashed to the cupboards, landing to the floor with a hard thud.
She quickly got up, noticing that one of her weapons was freed from her grasp, looking back to Tukson in which he threw it away. Emerald stayed focused, turning to her other weapon, switching it to it's sickle-gun form.
Tukson went on the offense as he charged at her, prompting Emerald to shoot. Two shots did not stop the man as Tukson gotten close to her. He send a punch to the girl, but she evaded it then use her sickle and slash the Faunus to the arm.
His aura managed to protect it as he continued on the offense. Emerald tried to slash him again, but Tukson evaded them or use his books to block it. Emerald then back flipped, switching her weapon to gun form while aiming at the Faunus. She aimed at his legs, shooting a few bullets.
The bullets strucked his leg causing the Faunus to stop, grunting from the stinging pain. This gives Emerald the chance. She dash to the Faunus, quickly switching to sickle form and sent a strong a slash right below his neck.
Because of that, Tukson's aura had shattered. Tukson gasped while Emerald smirked, giving the opportunity to finally kill him. But Tukson's not gonna let that happen. When Emerald was about to deliver the final blow with the tip of her sickle, Tukson grabbed a hardback book and blocked the attack, causing the weapon to stick at the book.
Tukson then use his other hand to grab another book and threw it to her stomach. Emerald clutched her stomach with one arm, giving Tukson a chance to counterattack. He threw the book with her weapon away and send one last punch to the face. After that, he gripped her shoulders and sent her pinned to the wall. Having no way to free herself, Emerald couldn't do anything but to glare at the Faunus.
Tukson panted after that minute of fighting. They were very tough to deal with, but he ended up victorious. Now he has the last assassin pinned against the wall of his own store. All he need to do now is knock her out like the rest and call the police.
"Sorry, ma'am. But this store is now closed." When Tukson was about to knock her out, he let out a scream as he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder. He briefly looked to see it was bleeding and had a hole in it.
Noticing that his grip loosened, Emerald smirked before using her free hand and punched him to the face. Tukson backed away before he was met with a strong kick to the chest, sending him down to the floor.
Tukson clutched the gunshot wound at his shoulder as he desperately tried to get up. However someone then stepped on his hand as he cried out the pain. When he looked up, he was met with the barrel of a suppressor aiming at his forehead. He saw that the person aiming at him was the hooded one - Andre. He must've got up and had the chance to shoot Tukson to the shoulder when the latter was busy with Emerald.
He saw the eyes of the hooded one, looking down at him with no intentions of remorse. He felt the barrel sticking close to his forehead with the gunner's finger on the trigger.
Tukson did not manage to speak his last words as Andre fired his pistol. Killing the Faunus.
After firing his pistol, Andre stared at Tukson's body as he now lay dead on the floor with a bullet wound to the head. He let out pants before looking around at the store. It's a complete mess. He didn't expect the store owner to put up such a fight.
He then turned to his two acquaintances. Emerald searched around the littered store for her weapons, while Mercury was slowly recovering after he crashed to the floor head first. While they were doing that, Andre check the amount of bullets in his gun.
He brought atleast three mags with him and wasted one along with 5 more bullets in the second one. He expected this operation would only take a bullet or two, but he might've underestimated the shop owner.
But now that he's dead, he's not much of a problem anymore.
Emerald, after finding both of her weapons, went to Mercury and help him up. "You good?" She asked.
Mercury slightly nodded. "Yeah. Jeez, didn't expect him to put up a fight like that. I kinda enjoyed it."
Emerald rolled her eyes before turning to the hooded man. "Andre?"
"Good. Now let's get the hell out of here before anyone finds out." He said.
The two agreed, though they had to rest for about a minute after that fight. The Faunus really worn them down good. When that's done, the trio exit the store, leaving it littered with a dead Tukson on the ground.
Mercury had the time to take one of the comics and keep it for himself. Emerald turns to him, puzzled. "What's that for?"
"I like the pictures." He replied before they all walked away from the now ownerless book store.
And that is a wrap for the first chapter of Volume 2!
As you can see, i had change the scenario from the original. I gave Tukson a bit background as i made him to leave the organization for about a while, before they started to work with Cinder and her lackeys'. That is why i changed the scene so that Tukson does not recognize Emerald and Mercury right off the bat. I also made Tukson to be a good friend of Richard, so that the former's death would be an impact to him.
In the show, I was disappointed that the fight scene in the store went nowhere other than Tukson getting one-shotted by Mercury before he gotten the chance to fight back. It ruined the build-up to it.
So in this chapter, I gave Tukson a deserved fight scene against Emerald, Mercury, and Andre. Of course Tukson ended up dead like in the show, but atleast he went down fighting in this version.
Anyways, please tell me your thoughts of the change of pace for this chapter in the reviews. And also leave a follow and a favorite to catch up to more chapters for Volume 2 of RWBFV!
I will see you next time!