Chapter 2: Fateful Meetings

Sebastian continued his walk towards Beacon Academy, taking in the sights of Vale at night. Glad I got away from those guys. They just HAD to interrupt my pleasant walk through the woods didn't they? And man, they are persistent. How did they track me all the way to Vale, anyway? He shook his head. Not important right now. Let's just hope that as soon as I'm in Beacon I'll be safe. He sighed, closing his eyes as he walked, trying to picture a more peaceful life.

"It's been a rough time for you, Sebastian," he said aloud, his echoes falling off in the night, "but keep your head up, kid. I'm sure you'll get through this."

"Well, well... look at what I caught for myself," A voice unfamiliar to him growled menacingly. He stopped on a dime, spinning around immediately.

"Who the hell are you?" He reached into this left pocket and tightly gripped the weapon stored within; a steel ball he'd had since childhood that he called Siberia. It hadn't let him down before, and he was sure it wouldn't start now.

"Nobody special," the man said. "Just a bounty hunter of sorts. And it seems like the White Fang has placed one on you, Cat Boy." He grinned, gesturing at Sebastian's ears.

"Tch. So they had backup plans after all. Whatever. It doesn't matter. They're never getting their hands on me again. And I'm not just a cat boy, you creepo!"

"It doesn't matter what you are; to me, you're just money waiting to be made." The man gave a toothy grin and pulled out a switchblade, tossing it from hand to hand.

Sebastian cracked his knuckles in excitement.

"So, are we gonna do this or what? I can let you off with a warning of course, seeing as there is a bountyon me. I'll be honest when I say a fight isn't what I'm looking for at this moment," he lowered his stance, readying himself, "but if you insist on pursuing me, I'm going to have to stop you."

"Oh, you aren't getting away as long as you're in my sights kid."

"Might as well get this over with then," Sebastian sighed.

Sebastian charged at the man, bashing into him with his right shoulder. The man reeled back for a second, but retaliated by going for a grab with his left hand. Sebastian smacked to the side, following up with a punch with his free hand. The man staggered back, wheezing.

"Gurghhh." He took a moment to get his breath, but Sebastian wasted no time in taking the steel ball from his pocket and hurling it at the man's face. It connected with his cheek, and sent him crashing to the ground. Then, as if by magic, the ball floated back to Sebastian's hand, which he deftly put back into his pocket.

"Talk about a let down. You could have at least swung your knife or something," he sighed, disappointed. "Oh well. not like it matters." Turning back towards his destination, Sebastian continued forward leaving the bounty hunter crumpled on the ground.

"This ain't just a knife ya know." The hunter growled as he shakily rose to his feet, his switchblade's handle extending downwards turning the small blade into a simple spear. After giving it a quick flourish, he focused the tip on Sebastian.

"Well, I didn't expect that," the boy said with a smirk, "then again, I expect to not expect these things, so that doesn't really count." The assailant swung his spear at Sebastian, which he dodged by jumping onto the shaft of the polearm and countered by leaping and spin-kicking him in the face. Sebastian gracefully landed on his feet while the attacker once again hit the pavement, groaning in pain. "Stand down, buddy. I don't want this to get out of hand."

"No way, punk. I'm turning you in and getting that bounty. Even if I don't, the White fang will know you're here. I'm sure they'll appreciate being given your direction." He says with an arrogant laugh.

"The hell?!" Sebastian gasped. "You would help the White Fang, despite what they've done, especially to humans?"

"Does it look like I care? I'm not gonna get in their way, unless I want to deal with the consequences. Although, you already know what the consequences feel like, don't you?"

The man readied himself again, pulling himself to his feet once more. "First things first, I need to catch me a kitty cat!" He lunged forward, going for several pokes and prods against Sebastian, but his cat-like reflexes allowed him to evade the attacks. Gripping the polearm tightly, his attacker pressed a button on the side and a second blade sprang out from the other end. Now with a double-edged weapon he changed tactics and started spinning it around wildly, swinging furiously at Sebastian who reacted quickly using his steel ball to block the onslaught. While Sebastian was focused on blocking, the man grinned and attempted to strike him with his knee. Noticing this at the last second, Sebastian jumped backwards to evade, grunting in frustration. He'd had just about enough of this guy. He flicked his arm forward, sending the bounty hunter hurtling backwards into several trash cans nearby.

"I think we're done here." Sebastian said, menacingly approaching the man. "Now, I want you to tell me who the hell gave you information about me and who put up the bounty exactly. Was it the girl? Or maybe somebody else?" His eyes grew tense and the air around them cold.

He spat in Sebastian's face and gave a crude smile.

"Like hell I'll tell you."

"First of all: gross," Sebastian replied, wiping the spit from his cheek. "Second of all: that wasn't the answer I was looking for." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his steel ball. "I mean if you're not willing to tell me what I want, then I have a few places my little friend here hasn't touched yet." Sebastian's eyes lit up in glee and his mouth curled into a wicked smile.

"H-h-hold on a moment! We can talk this out!" The man began to stutter as Sebastian tossed the ball in his hand.

"Actually, this one is mine." A new voice rang out from the distance, a figure appearing in the street light after it. "If you don't mind." It was a boy about Sebastian's age sporting a black leather jacket, a bright red hoodie, blue jeans, and black canvas shoes with white laces. He carried a red and black broadsword with a strap around his upper body. He took a few steps closer and away from the light of the street lamp.

"And you are?" Sebastian questioned the mysterious teenager.

"None of your business. What you're doing with him, however, is my business."

"He came after me, so he's mine to deal with. Besides, I need to find out how he knows so much about me and who exactly in the White Fang put a damn bounty on my head." Sebastian barked, getting right up in the boy's face. "So I say you back off, punk."

"Look, as important as it may be to you, I don't care for your problems at the moment. I need him for questioning. I want to know what he and the others were doing at the store they robbed."

"As if I care about what you want, edgelord." Sebastian scoffed, taking notice of the leather jacket the kid wore.

The two got up in one another's faces, practically breathing down each other's necks. A kind of burning passion for a fight could be felt between the two. The man, who was still on the ground, tried crawling away inch by inch, desperately trying to get away from the ticking time bombs in front of him.

"Stop right there, buddy," Sebastian uttered, not pulling away.

"Yeah," the other boy agreed, "Nobody said you could move." The man stopped immediately, putting his hands up into the air.

They gestured for him to stay put then turned to face each other again.

"Now I'm gonna ask you one more time. Who are you, and what are you doing with the white fang?" the boy asked.

Sebastian made a derpy face.

"None of your business," he mocked.

"I'm warning you-"

"Oh my gods, do you ever shut up?"

"THAT'S IT!" the stranger shouted as he lashed out with a right jab, which Sebastian easily blocked and countered with a swift kick to the gut, knocking him back.

"A punch that sloppy is something even a novice could dodge," he boasted.

"Why you little piece of-"

Sebastian took this chance to run at the stunned attacker, jumping and throwing a flying knee strike at his face, but the boy recovered just in time to dodge. Sebastian continued his assault, finishing with a straight punch at the boy's chest. The kid swiftly dodged each and every one of Sebastian's strikes and attempted to counter with a sweep using his leg. Sebastian noticed in an instant, and jumped over the kick following up with an aerial axe kick at his opponent's head. However the boy wasn't fazed, grabbing Sebastian's leg in midair. Then using all his power, he flung him towards the ground. But just before impact Sebastian nimbly rotated and landed on all fours, sliding across the pavement.

Thank the gods that cats land on their feet. Sebastian thought to himself as he stood up to examine his hands, which had been scraped from the ground. "Alright pal, it seems you aren't a novice after all. Just who are you?" Sebastian asked, tilting his head.

"Name's Damien. That's all you need to know."

"Alright Damien. I'm Sebastian. No last name will be given because you didn't give me yours."

"Don't care."

Sebastian gave Damien a frown.

"Jeez. Lighten up, Francis."

"That isn't my name."

"Don't care." Sebastian mocked, making the same derpy face as before.

"I have had it to about HERE with you pal." Damien snapped, flaring up with anger.

"Then bring it." Sebastian goaded, motioning with his hand.

Damien rushed at him, and Sebastian responded in kind. Their strikes found their targets, both hitting one another square in the cheek. They both took a step back to reset but quickly continued, each going in for another punch. As before, both strikes found their marks, hitting each other in the gut. Winded, they staggered away from one another to catch their breath.

"Guhh." Damien grunted, dropping to a knee.

"Gah." Sebastian exhaled in pain as well, leaning over. "Alright buddy," he said, breathing shallowly between each word. "One more round here, yeah? One final all or nothing punch."

Damien smirked, slowly finding his balance and standing back up. "Sure. Why not? I can't wait to put you flat on your ass."

"Unfortunately for you, cats always land on their feet." Sebastian smiled back at Damien.

"Why don't we test that?" Damien said as he barreled toward Sebastian.

As the two were about to collide a mysterious barrier came between them and they crashed head first into it, falling flat on their asses.

"Alright, before either of you start doing a bunch of shit you'll probably regret, can someone point me towards Royal Weaponry? I've got some important business there." a third voice said, coming from a few meters away.

Sebastian was the first to get up, shaking off the dizziness from the blow. "The Royal what now?" He asked, scratching the back of his head in confusion and looking around for the mysterious third voice. "Dude, whoever you are, I just got here. I have no clue what the hell you're talking about."

"And who do you think you are, interrupting our fight like that?" Damien muttered.

A third boy came walking up to the two of them and into the moonlight. It was another boy their age, donning a full suit of Atlesian armor. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Well, I saw you guys fighting this mean-looking dude over here," he said, motioning to the White Fang member that they had previously incapacitated, who was still attempting to crawl away. He stumbled to his feet and started to run off, but ended up smacking into another barrier and knocking himself out.

"Well, thanks," Damien said with a respectful nod. "That should make my job a little easier."

"And so long as you take him somewhere he can't mess with me, my problem is solved as well." Sebastian added with a shrug. "But that doesn't explain what you're doing here."

"Well, I need to deliver something there and I kinda need directions." the boy sighed, his shoulders drooping in disappointment.

Damien finally pulled himself back onto his feet.

"I know the way." He points off in the distance. "You can follow me, uh..." he trailed off, gesturing for an introduction.

"It's Cyrus. Cyrus Platin."

"Damien Pyros." Damien approached the newcomer to shake his hand. "Just follow me, Cyrus." He started walking off, leading his guest a few steps toward their destination before stopping suddenly and thinking for a moment. Something about this newcomer was… off. "By the way," he began, slowly turning back around to face Cyrus. "What's with the Atlesian armor?"

"Well, uh, you see, I was sent here from Atlas for an important delivery, and they needed someone to make sure none of the goods got stolen or anything." Sebastian and Damien looked at each other, questioning the alibi, but both ultimately decided to go with it.

"Alright Cyrus," Sebastian started to say, "we trust you. And, if Damien over here can lead the way then I guess we can take you there."

"Woah, woah. Hold your horses there, dude. Who said you could tag along?" Damien flicked his hand, telling Sebastian to shove off.

"Me, that's who. Also it was that guy who got us to fight in the first place." Sebastian paused for a second. "Speaking of which." He checked to see if the man was still there but he was gone. "Well, shit. Let's hope that that loose end doesn't bite me in the behind."

The sun began to slowly creak over the buildings in Vale, signaling sunrise.

"We better get a move on then," Damien waves over to them. "Lest we get seen by anyone else.

With that, the trio took off toward the outskirts of town, with each member eyeing the others cautiously. Sebastian walked silently behind the rest of the group, deep in thought. This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder...