The bike ride was nice enough. Because everyone had already gotten to work or back home, the roads were pretty clear, only the odd couple of cars dotting the streets. The rising sun reflected its light off the windows of the towers dominating the skyline, while all the smaller buildings buzzed with business flowing in and out.
"Don't we have to go this way?" Weiss asked into the headset in her helmet.
"I'd rather we went a different way." Eric replied, driving past the long, narrow street.
"Why?"
"That's where we crashed." Yang grimaced, not even looking towards the street. The rest of the drive was in silence, everyone remembering when the two crashed and the painful times afterwards. Eventually, they found the car park, and after they left their bikes, they headed into the main part of town, inaccessible to vehicles due to the lack of roads.
"Alright, where should we go first?" Yang asked.
"I don't know about you guys." Eric announced. "But I need to find a blacksmith, or whatever."
"Down there." Blake pointed towards a small building on a corner of the square.
"Neat. Is there a book store around here? I think it's called Tuskoons?"
"Tukson's?" Blake corrected him.
"That's the one."
"Over there as well." She pointed next to the blacksmith.
"Awesome. I'll see you guys in a bit. Call me if you need me!" Eric jogged towards the blacksmith and pushed the door open. "Hello?" He called.
"One second!" A small voice called from behind a door. As the door swung open, the first thing that caught his eye was the dark blue hair flowing behind the bearer of the small voice. She had pink eyes and a soft complexion, the bangs of her hair framing her face perfectly. Freckles lightly dotted her face, just barely noticeable over her tanned skin. She was dressed in a vest and a apron, the apron only covering her lower half.
"Welcome to Kováři's smithing. How can I help you?" Her voice was gentle and kind, inviting him in while also giving the room a completely different atmosphere. Eric was too captivated by her face to notice her question.
"Sir?" She asked, blushing deeply, her gazing dropping to the floor. Realizing how uncomfortable he made her, he snapped out of his trance.
"Sorry! Sorry." He mumbled, awkwardly rubbing his arm.
"It's fine. How may I help you?" She assured him.
"Ah, yeah. I need armour. Armour and weapons."
"Okay. How much armour are you talking about?"
"A whole suit of it."
"Okay." She looked at him skeptically. "And what about your weapon?"
"Can you make transforming weapons?"
"Of course!" She proudly stated, taking a dramatic pose.
"Even better. I need a longsword and a shield. Have the sword double as some sort of assault rifle."
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying, this'll all be very expensive. Are you sure about this?"
"Yep. As long as you make me some good quality equipment, I'll pay whatever I need to. When can you have it done by?"
"If I don't get any more orders, tomorrow evening I think." She tapped her chin with her index finger.
"Cool. DO that, but don't slave yourself over that fire."
"But that's what blacksmiths do." She sheepishly mumbled.
"Yeah, but generally, blacksmiths don't have pretty looks to ruin." He walked back towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye." He left the blushing blacksmith as he went next door to the bookshop.
"Welcome to Tukson's book trade, home to every book under the sun. How may I help you?" The burly faunus leaned on his counter.
"Are you Tukson?" Eric asked, picking up a book.
"Yes sir." He replied calmly.
"Do you mind if I ask you a sort of personal question?"
"Go for it."
"Are you a faunus?"
"Yes sir." Eric placed the book back where he found it and walked towards the counter.
"You need to get out of here. Now." Eric whispered.
"Why?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Because someone is coming for you." As if it was planned, two people walked through the door, noticeable by the bell ringing.
"Welcome to Tukson's book trade, home to every book under the sun. How may I help you?" He spoke over Eric's shoulder.
"Actually, I was wondering, do you have any copies of "The Thief and The Butcher"?" The girl asked.
"Yes we do." Tukson replied.
"That's great." She said excitedly.
"Would you... like a copy?" Tukson asked hesitantly, only just realizing who they are.
" No, just wondering. Oh, oh! What about "Violet's Garden"? In paperback?"
"He's got it. Hardback too." The boy speculated.
"Ooh, options are nice."
"Eh, no pictures. Hey! Do you have any comics?" The boy shouted to the back of the store, slamming a book shut.
"Near the front." Tukson pointed towards the windows of the shop.
"Oh, no, wait! What... about... "Third Crusade"?" The girl asked, looking around the shop.
"Um... I... ...don't believe we carry that one." He hesitantly murmured.
"Oh." The boy slammed another book shut.
"What was this place called again?" The girl asked.
"Tukson's Book Trade." Tukson replied.
"And you're Tukson?" She asked again.
"That's right." He replied, becoming visibly annoyed.
"So then I take it that you're the one that came up with the catchphrase?" Her voice became more
menacing.
"Yes."
"Keep talking, but listen to me." Eric whispered. "Do you have a back door here?"
"I have the good entrance." Tukson replied.
"Is it open?"
"Yes."
"Hey, you with the blue hair!" The boy shouted. "You look familiar." Ignoring him, Eric carried on talking.
"Ok. If you hear the term Olly Olly Oxen Free, it's someone who will help you. I'm going to make a lot of noise, and you're going to get the hell out of here."
"We are trying to hold a conversation here. Don't be rude." A hand fell to his shoulder, and knocking it off, Eric spun round and landed a punch into the boys gut.
"Go!" Eric shouted. Tukson sprinted out the back door, and as the green haired girl ran after him, Eric kicked a nearby table at her, stopping her in her tracks. Turning towards him, she brandished her weapons and the boy recovered from the blow to his gut.
"That wasn't nice." He dusted himself off before assuming a battle position. "I reckon we should teach him a thing or two, don't you agree Emerald?"
"Yes Mercury." She replied. "I was almost crushed by a table. Let's teach him some manners."
Moments later, Eric shot out of the window and into the fountain in the middle of the square. Emerald and Mercury slowly walked out of the broken window, glass crunching beneath their feet. Some people looked at the duo in horror, some ran away, and a few ran towards Eric, before he told them to stay where they are. He picked himself up, brushing himself down while pulling small bits of glass of various areas of his body. He kicked a few bits of rubble away from him before a familiar voice shouted "Take this!" He looked over to the blacksmith just in time to see a sword flying towards him. He jumped up slightly, grabbing the sword by the handle and using the momentum to bring himself into a battle stance. The duo continued their slow advance, Emerald readying her weapons. Before he could prepare himself, something flew out of the corner of his vision, hitting Mercury square in the side of his face, leaving a red mark.
"Who was that?!" He shouted, visibly angered.
"Screw you!" Someone shouted, a few tomatoes flying towards the duo. One hit Emerald, giving her clothes a new red colour.
"Show yourself." Eric looked around to see multiple people stand up, peering over balconies with angry looks on their face. "What the hell are you doing?!" He shouted at them. A coffee cup flew towards him, splattering at his feet. Eric's view was partially blocked as two burly men stood between him and the duo, raising their fits to them.
"What are you doing?" Eric shouted over the commotion as more everyday objects flew towards Mercury and Emerald.
"We can't stay here Mercury." Emerald mentioned.
"Why not?!" He protested. "We can take them."
"Maybe, but it's not worth the attention." Slowly, they both backed away before sprinting off into a alley. Slowly, the commotion died down as Weiss, Blake, Yang and Ruby ran towards them.
"Hey! Get off of me!" Yang shouted, one of the bigger faunus trying to hold her back.
"It's fine!" Eric yelled, holding out a hand to them. "They're friends." Eric stabbed his sword into the floor as he surveyed all the people around him. He noticed that despite all their differences, they all had something in common.
They were all faunus.