Jericho Exterior Wall of El Milagro Bakery
"So this wall is the one you have to cover with a mural. It's quite large, so it will take you quite some time." (William)
"Weems, will you give me special permission to be in Jericho during the week after afternoon classes?" (Xavier)
"For now, finish the base and the initial sketch." (Xavier)
"Do you want help?" (William)
"For the special permission? Sure, just ask Weems." (Xavier)
William and Xavier were talking about Xavier's punishment, a large mural that would be presented at the farmers' market in two weeks. It would be something simple.
"I'm surprised you can eat so much sugar." (Xavier)
"He burned calories with every shape change. If he didn't consume a lot of calories every day, he would start losing weight in a few days" (William).
William continued eating a cream-filled doughnut. Of course, that wouldn't be a problem if he didn't change shape all the time. They both rested, sitting on the edge of the second floor of the scaffolding for the mural.
"If a girl heard you, she'd be green with envy" (Xavier)
"Enid didn't seem to be envious of this racial trait" (William)
"Werewolves are different. Bianca would kill to lose weight in just a few days" (Xavier)
"I'm going to get some coffee" (William)
"Bring me one too" (Xavier)
William jumped from above and landed without any problems. The power of the Red Hat Goblin's medal, plus his strong physique as an Outcast and Skin Changer, made him quite powerful physically.
El Veleta Café
William entered the café with its red seats and coffee machines. The place looked clean and quite pleasant to be in.
"Two cups of coffee to go."
"Right away."
The pretty barista smiled flirtatiously at William before proceeding to prepare the coffee. A few minutes later, she handed him both cups along with a napkin with numbers written on it.
"Call me if you have time to go for a walk with me."
"Thanks, here you go, keep the change."
William smiled at her and left El Veleta.
"Now where did Xavier go?"
Alley behind a building.
"Now, freak, it looks like you have no escape."
"Running into an alley, how stupid can you be?"
Five teenagers surrounded Xavier, only one of them had a baseball bat in his hands.
"We just want to talk."
"And maybe teach you not to paint our walls."
"Come on, hit him a few times, see if that stops him smiling?"
The one holding the bat seemed to be the leader, he ordered one of his lackeys to approach Xavier.
(As Will said, take a step back without rushing) (Xavier)
The fat teenager's swing missed by a hair, only grazing the air near Xavier's face.
(Now hit him back) (Xavier)
The fat boy in the group was hit in the face, his chubby cheeks turning red as he held them in pain.
"Son of a bitch."
Just as the rest were about to advance at once, a voice made them all stop in their tracks.
"That was a good punch, just try to tilt your body next time, use the strength of your waist and not just your arms." (William)
"How did you know they would come to bother us?" (Xavier)
"It was just a hunch. Are you new to the group?" (William)
William fixed his gaze on the curly-haired boy, Tyler Galpin, Sheriff Galpin's son, a new addition to the group of brats who tried to bother William on his first day in Jericho.
Tyler swallowed hard as he felt William's gaze on him. He was nervous.
"I wondered why they took so long to show up. They were waiting for Xavier to be alone."
"Stop acting like you're better than us!"
One of them couldn't stand William's attitude and moved towards him menacingly, throwing a punch at William's face.
"Clack!"
William caught his fist with ease. They seemed slow and clumsy to William, and the young man was thrown to the ground with a slap from his left hand.
(I have to be careful with my rings, I don't want to accidentally knock out one of my teeth). (William)
"Ah!!"
The rest backed away in fear after seeing their friend lying on the floor with broken lips and a mouth full of blood.
"Damn you...argh"
William gently stepped on the boy's ankle until he heard a nice crack.
"Shut your mouth." (William)
"Who's next?" (William)
Of the four remaining, including Tyler, only three ran towards William, trying to win with quantity rather than quality.
"I'll break a bone, you damn show-off."
"Arghhhh!!!"
The first to arrive was the baseball bat leader. William held the bat in his right hand and gently kicked the boy's knee, the second crack of the day. He fell like a sack of potatoes, hugging his leg and screaming in pain.
"Don't worry, I didn't break anything... I think" (William)
The next teenager tried to attack from behind. William stepped two steps to the left, and his fist hit him right in the ribs, the third crack of the day. At least one rib was broken by the blow.
"Arghhhh!!!"
The black boy, Lucas, the mayor's son, hugged William's waist in an attempt to knock him down, but he couldn't even move William an inch.
"The mayor's son, right?" (William)
"Yes, and so what?!" (Lucas)
Lucas pushed with all his might. He had experience in the school's fight club. William didn't look like the muscular type, so he thought that with a little effort he could knock him down and take care of him on the ground.
"I have to be careful not to leave a mark in a visible place" (William)
"...!!!"
It was a direct blow to the back muscles with William's elbow. The pain was so intense that it prevented Lucas from making a sound before he fell to the ground and writhed like a worm in the mud.
"I didn't do anything. I wasn't even with them when it happened in the square."
The third one backed away in fear, even dropping the packet of coins he was holding in his hands, a makeshift knuckle duster.
"But you would have done it if you could" (William)
The last young man who tried to surrender was hit right in the stomach, vomiting all his breakfast along with gastric juices and saliva all over the floor.
William grimaced with disgust and revulsion. Ever since crossing over to the other side, he had become more sensitive to dirt than in his previous life, perhaps a trait he had inherited from the previous owner of the body.
"If anyone asks what happened here, Tyler, tell them they fought over a girl or a video game." (William)
"Let's get out of here before someone comes, Will." (Xavier)
Xavier didn't seem surprised. He knew William was a bit intense when it came to responding to anyone who got in his way, but they were just a bunch of bratty Normies.
"Sigh."
"Now I really need your help." (Xavier)
The young bullies had thrown a can of black paint on Xavier's mural. All the work of several days had been ruined, and Xavier's mural would not be finished in the two weeks remaining.
"Maybe I'll change my mind... hey, it's okay, you'll have my help." (William)
A tap on Xavier's shoulder made William change his mind.
30 Minutes Pastelería El Milagro
"Is something wrong, Sheriff?" (William)
William climbed down from the scaffolding, without his blue blazer and wearing a brown apron stained with paint courtesy of Xavier.
"Those boys may not want to say anything about what happened, but I'll be watching you, Stone." (Galpin)
"I think you should watch those boys too, Sheriff. I saw them going into an alley with a bat on their shoulders. I don't think they can play baseball in a place like that." (William)
"Of course, they didn't leave before ruining our mural with black paint." (Xavier)
"Or do you have something against Nevermore students? Because that wouldn't be appropriate for someone who protects the law, right?" (William)
William wiped the paint off his fingers with a handkerchief. He didn't want to have paint under his fingernails at the end of the day.
"Children, if you're finished for today, you can come and have some hot chocolate and choose something from the menu as a thank you" (Mrs Duvall)
Mrs. Duvall's pleasant voice, attractive and plump in all the right places, interrupted William and Galpin. She was Jane's mother and the head chef at the restaurant. She was grateful to William for bringing her daughter Jane back safely. Jane was what she loved most in the world; without her, her world would be grey and meaningless.
"Is something wrong with the boys, Sheriff?" (Mrs. Duvall)
Mrs. Duvall sensed something strange between the three of them.
"I have some work to do. I'll stop by your restaurant another day. I've heard a lot about it recently" (Galpin)
"I hope it's good things" (Mrs. Duvall)
"Have a nice day." (Galpin)