Blood and Steel, Part 1

-Blood and Steel, Part 1-

A young redhead, no older than 13, sits against a wall, reading a ragged and torn book. Her shabby clothes indicate a rough life on the street, the book is a rare luxury, and she'd already read it five times. The late summer sun beat down on her, and she cursed James for being late, as always. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday, and if James didn't get back soon, she'd have to scrounge for her own food.

"Kept you waiting, huh?" Came a familiar voice from in front of her. She squinted up at the figure whose face was obscured by the sun, and who had just dropped half a loaf of bread squarely in her lap.

"So, what was her name this time?" She replied sarcastically, standing up and putting her book into a shabby canvas shoulder bag, tearing off a chunk of the tough bread. Burnt. Again. He said he was going to steal a fresh loaf this time.

"You know," James said playfully, "It's not always a girl making me late."

"Yeah, OK. So what was it, if it wasn't a girl?"

"It was... Alright, it was a girl. I didn't catch her name, though. I don't think she went for the rugged, exotic Faunus routine." James waved his black, prehensile tail around to make a point. "Anyway, when was the last time you met a cute boy you liked?"

The redhead punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You know I don't do that. Besides, it's kind of hard to meet people when you're dirty and smelling like a trash heap."

James chuckled and the two started walking. To where, she didn't know. She just mostly tagged along with him wherever his crazy schemes led him. "Then we just need to fix that! We'll just charm our way into some rich couple's house. The kind of people who always wanted kids but never had the time. We'll have them adopt you, and then you'll have access to their vast inheritance! I can see it now: Lyssa Fairhaven inherits millions as adopted parents die tragically under mysterious circumstances! Brother, James Wukong, unavailable for comment! See, it makes me more mysterious that way."

Lyssa giggled, "We're not gonna kill anybody."

"We won't have to!" James replied, turning a corner. "We'll hire someone to kill them with your fabulous riches!"

The girl scratched her head, "But how are we going to get the money before I've inherited it?"

The dark haired Faunus scratched at his scraggly stubble. He had just turned 19 and his facial hair was starting to grow in. He wasn't really that proud of it, but shaving was a luxury he couldn't afford. "I haven't figured that part out yet..." He put his hand back down and smiled. "It'll come to me at some point, don't worry."

Lyssa smiled up at him. He wasn't really her brother, of course. They had met on the street. He taught her how to survive, how to con, how to tug on people's heartstrings so they give you exactly what you want. Hell, he even taught her how to read, and he had saved her from having to go back to that horrible orphanage she had escaped from. James was the closest thing to family she'd ever had, so she called him her brother, and he went along with it.

"You know what I need?" James asked, rhetorically, "I could really use a good fight right now! Give ol' Steel a little workout!" He was, of course, referring to the forearm blade he hid beneath his right sleeve. Lyssa wasn't sure why he even hid it at all; He loved to show it off to everyone he met, including police officers. He was so proud that he'd restored it to such mint condition, after he'd found it in a dumpster a couple years back. Lyssa kept telling him to give up on it, that they could find better weapons in a junkyard, but he never gave up on it. Just like he never gave up on her.

"You know, we really shouldn't be drawing so much attention to ourselves." She said, "Need I remind you of why we can't go near the docks anymore?"

James let out an exasperated sigh, "Ugh. No need. I can still feel the lump on the back of my head. Those Atlesian Knights sure pack a surprising punch."

Lyssa smirked, "That's what you get for trying to sneak onto an Atlesian Carrier. What were you expecting?"

James stretched and held his hands behind his head, licking his lips. "Crates upon crates of military rations..."

Lyssa playfully punched him in the ribs, causing him to double over in surprise. "You should try using your head for thinking some time. Your other body parts aren't very good at it."

James chuckled and punched her back in the shoulder. "Hey, I can't help it! I'm a growing boy! I have needs!"