Chapter 9
Literally the following Monday after that whole ordeal with Cinder. It hasn’t been that long since I became the Scarlet Spider, but I’ve pretty much already gotten use to my new normal. And even though it’s only happened once with Cinder, we have learned to keep a careful eye out for future supervillains. But other than that... pretty much everything has been the same in school. Cardin has stopped picking physical fights but still hasn’t stopped picking on me all together. My grades have remained top of the class. And of course, while I may be a bit more confident than before, having these powers doesn’t do anything for the natural anxieties befitting of a school age teenager. As such, it’s still easy to think about my crush on Weiss. Sometimes I think about whether or not to go for it, but then I just get so nervous whenever I think about it. And then I get all anxious about what could go wrong if I do. I’m not even completely sure if she likes me like that too. And like always, Yang catches onto my troubles after we had just talked with Weiss and Blake at lunch.
Yang: “Everything okay, Sis? You kept glancing over at Weiss the whole time and barely said a word.”
Ruby: “Oh! Um... You know, I uh-”
Yang: “You were crushing on her again, weren’t you?”
Ruby: *sigh*”You know me too well.”
Yang: “Ruby. You need to learn to have more confidence in yourself. And I’m not talking about the confidence you have when you're out there fighting crime. Okay, I’m not talking your confidence as the Scarlet Spider. I’m talking about your confidence as Ruby Rose.”
Ruby: “But what if she-”
Yang: “No. You see, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the same thing that everyone worries too much about. You think and worry about whether or not they’ll like you too but you fail to realize that you won’t know what they actually think if you don’t go for it in the first place.” I guess Yang would know about this sort of thing. She has been in more relationships than I ever have. “Look. All I’m saying is that you’ve already got such a good thing going with her. I have no doubt things between you two will go even better.” Meanwhile, Weiss is with Blake heading the other way.
Blake: “You were doing again, Weiss.’
Weiss: “Huh? Doing what?”
Blake: “Gazing over at Ruby when she wasn’t looking.” This caused Weiss to blush a little.
Weiss: “Y-You must be mistaken!”
Blake: “Weiss.” Saying that a little stern. After what happened after the field trip, Weiss knows she can’t hide from Blake. “I thought we already went over this. When are you going to do something about these lingering feelings of yours?”
Weiss: “You think it’s that easy? You know full well how bad I am at expressing myself. Before you three, I was always pushing people away.”
Blake: “Which I understand wasn’t your fault. The kind of environment you grew up in, it’s understandable you became cold and distant. But then that’s where our friendship came in. Little by little, you learned how to let others in and show them a better side of yourself. A side that people like Ruby are proud to call their friend. And no doubt she’ll love you all the same. You just gotta do something about it.” Weiss just looks contemplative. Clearly going to be thinking about what she said for a while. Meanwhile, back at the SDC, Jacques is addressing the veteran scientists.
Jacques: “Alright, now listen up. After what has happened with Dr. Fall, we are now without a head scientist. That's why I am personally seeing to it that a proper successor is appointed. And after reading through everyone's records, I am personally leaning towards Dr. Grey Merlot and Dr. Arthur Watts as our top candidates.
Merlot: “If that’s so then I must respectfully decline, Mr. Schnee. I’d prefer to be able to focus on my own research.”
Jacques: “And I’m afraid this is non-negotiable! As of now, you two are our best minds around here, and right now we need the best to run the show so we can fix the hit we took from Fall’s little episode. For the next week, you two are going to continue your research and have a successful presentation ready by Friday. I will make my final decision then. Best of luck to you both, gentlemen.” He leaves the room, and everyone gets back to work at their respective stations. And Watts decides to strike up conversation as Merlot is trying to work.
Watts: “As much as I can appreciate the desire to focus on your own research, it’s not going to matter much if the company goes down and you lose your resources in the process. At times like these, we need to throw our pride away and think more about the success of our employer so that we can stay in the job.”
Merlot: “Of course that’s how you would feel about this.”
Watts: “Oh, come now. You know I’m right. If you don’t take this matter seriously, then neither of us are going to be able to fulfill our own research.”
Merlot: “Then why are you still hounding me about it rather than working on your own project?”
Watts: “I just merely wanted to wish you luck.”
Merlot: “Well, I don’t need it! I’ve been working on this project for years.”
Watts: “You mean the pipedream you’ve been working on? I already told you that it’s a waste of time! It’s dangerous to go mixing pure human DNA with pure animal DNA. Even Faunus are a completely different story since, like it or not, they are a semi natural part of this world whose animalistic features came about from some human's evolution having mishaps. Mishaps that eventually just corrected itself into a whole new species. The Faunus may have been proven capable of miraculous things no human can do, but not even the reptilian based ones have shown capable of regenerating limbs.”
Merlot: “Maybe so, but isn’t that part of the basis for science? To help humanity achieve what we could never do on our own?” Watts just looks annoyed.
Watts: *sigh*”It’s clear to me now that absolutely nothing I say will change your mind. If you really want to play god that bad, then be my guest. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when it blows up in your face!” As he finally heads back to his own station. Merlot’s computer results have shown that his latest test subjects, being various animals who have lost a limb, have shown inconsistent results and some even dying from it. He has made various improvements over the years, but the results haven’t been good enough to warrant human testing. He’s definitely going to need to ponder this one. Back with us after school, Yang and I are on our way out when Weiss and Blake come and stop us.
Weiss: “Hey, Ruby? Would you um... like to come over and study for a bit?”
Ruby: “Hmm... Well, the radar’s been pretty clear for the most part since Cinder... Sure, I’ game.”
Yang: “Another study session, huh?” It didn’t take long for Blake to catch on to what Weiss was trying to do. So she cut in to help a bit.
Blake: “Actually, Yang? I was hoping that you’d come shopping with me. I have a few stops in mind that you might be interested in.”
Yang: “Hmm... I don’t know.” And then she saw Blake wink before she realized what was happening. “Um, you think you’ll be fine on your own, Sis?” And then I became flustered that I would be alone with Weiss once I heard her say that. Still, I kept in mind what Yang said earlier today and decided not to let my anxieties control my reasoning, even if I was still nervous about this.
Ruby: “Y-Yeah, sure. You go on ahead. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Blake: “Ah, I wouldn’t worry too much. I mean, she’s a real superhero for crying out loud. She can handle herself just fine.” She and Yang head out and are on their way to the mall.
Yang: “So the Ice Queen moves first, huh?”
Blake: “That is unless she chickens out and doesn’t go through with it.” Meanwhile, Weiss and I head out and make our way to her place. The whole thing went about as you’d expect. We show up, set up our material, maybe get out some snacks... and we kinda just sat there and sat there quietly, only speaking when we asked each other for help on certain problems. And then we blushed and separated right when we realized how close we were every time. This went one for a few hours before I realized how late it was.
Ruby: “Oh shoot! I should probably get home before they worry. That’s when I hear my stomach rumble. I barely touched my snacks, so I am kind of hungry.
Weiss: “Sounds to me like you should eat something first. Would you stay for dinner at least? I can order takeout.” I was hesitant at first, but then I realized I really didn’t much reason to refuse with Qrow always staying out late, and Yang hasn’t called to say anything either.
Ruby: “Sure, just let me tell Yang first.” So, I tell Yang that I’d be staying for dinner while Weiss places the order, and Yang texts back saying that will be fine since she’s basically having dinner with Blake too and told me to meet her back at home afterwards. It didn’t take that much longer for our food to arrive, but even dinner went mostly in silence. Afterwards, Weiss saw me off to the station before I had to go home. And then I was left alone when my train takes off. It was when I finally sit down did I finally say something. “Oh god, what was that?” And it seems Weiss thought the same thing.
Weiss: “What the hell was that? Why didn’t I say anything? Dammit, Schnee! You're such a coward!” We were both kicking ourselves for not seizing this opportunity. Meanwhile, Merlot was working in his lab in his home basement.
Merlot: “I have no other choice.” His lack of results is leaving him desperate. He feels he needs to move on to human trials, but can’t get it without exemplary results, so he has no choice but to try it out on himself. And so, he removes his lab coat and injects his latest serum into his severed arm nub. It takes a few minutes for the effect to fully kick in, but once it does, it actually works. While the process was a bit painful, a new arm actually grew in its place, and he was finally able to get a good look and test the arm once the pain subsided... but then things start to go bad. An even greater pain occurs through his whole body as his arms starts transforming, his fingers growing claws and the skin turning scaly. “What!? What is happening!? Ragh! I don’t understand!” Eventually, all of his skin becomes all scaly and even starts turning black with green patches and boney looking plating as his body transforms, his clothes ripping up off his body in the process as he grows a bit bigger and even grows a tail. And finally, his head shape changes into that of and reptilian looking head with a white skull mask, his eye glowing a lime green as this new form of his roars, jumps up to the next floor through the ceiling and breaks through the back wall, before disappearing into the night with a final roar echoing through the city. Needless to say... an all new terror had just been released into Vale.