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Wolf
When Wolf had finally been let out of the Lunar's science labs all those years ago, he'd hoped that was the last time he'd ever have to be poked and prodded by doctors and scientists. But the universe apparently hated him, because here he was, in a lab, being poked and prodded by scientists.
"What were the results from the X-ray?" A short old scientist called out.
Another scientist pulled up a distorted image of Wolf's skeleton on her computer. "Bone structure seems normal. All of his teeth seem to bear resemblance to a carnivore rather than just the canines. Judging from this image, they are all implants."
The older scientist nodded and made a note on a clipboard. "That explains the scars on his gums. What were the results of the DNA analysis?"
"Identical to the results from the last subject." His colleague replied. "The DNA bears some definite resemblance to that of canis lupus arctos."
"What about the MRI?"
"Advanced sensory input and heightened response time."
"The CT scan?"
"Abnormally high muscle strength and flexibility."
"You do realise I could have just told you all of this, right?"
The scientists stared at Wolf as though they'd forgotten he was there, which they probably had.
"The Lunars told me about my new abilities when they finished "improving" me." Wolf explained, "You didn't need to do an X-ray, or an MRI, or any of that if you'd just asked."
"But this way we can find out the exact details of your capabilities." The older scientist pointed out, "I doubt that the Lunars would have provided you with that information."
"But do you actually need to know that?"
"Yes. What were the results from the blood sample?"
Wolf groaned and rested his head against the wall. As soon as The Council had finished grilling him for information, they'd sent him down here to be studied like some sort of interesting new species of bug. He'd hated this place as soon as he smelled the pheromones and bitter medicines. He hated it even more when he heard the humming and beeping of life-support machines. He hated it most when he saw the operating table and the scalpels and needles arranged neatly by the sink. Especially when he saw the needles.
As the scientists conducted their tests, Wolf couldn't stop moving. His fingers twitched, his feet tapped, his legs jogged. The only moment of the entire procedure where he was absolutely still was when they took his blood sample. He had been so tense, Wolf doubted he could have moved if he tried. Just one look at that needle made him freeze. The scientists had to forcibly move his arm in place so they could take the blood since Wolf wouldn't move. Couldn't move. Nightmares that had followed him for years played in his mind of the wretched things burrowing into his skin, filling his veins with whatever mixture of chemicals they contained.
The older scientist made another note on his clipboard before turning to Wolf. "Alright then, I think we're done here. I'll call your chaperone down here to pick you up."
Wolf shifted his weight uncomfortably. Right, The Council's proposition. Today he would officially meet his chaperone and get shown around the Rampions' base. Of course Wolf was gratefully that he wasn't going to be sent to rot in a prison cell in Placen, but he doubted that the Rampions would be happy to have someone they've been told was an unstable murderous Lunar walking around their base. He could just imagine the glares and disgusted looks that would follow him with every step. They might even attack him. The skies know he wouldn't be surprised.
But, despite the distrust he knew would surround him like a fog, there was a part of him, and it wasn't a small part of him either, that was looking forward to it. The reason? Scarlet. Scarlet was going to be his guardian. She was probably annoyed that she got saddled with the job of essentially being his babysitter, but she was going to be there, walking beside him, talking to him, probably glaring at him… the idea was enough to sow a shimmering silver lining into the otherwise black cloud that followed his thoughts of the tour.
Wolf's first encounter of Rampion distrust was in Scarlet's teammates.
"They insisted on tagging along for the tour of HQ." she explained, "Because apparently I wouldn't be able to handle it if you suddenly decided to murder everyone."
"Your power is flight, and that's it." A boy with long blond hair and ice blue eyes drawled, "This guy has enhanced strength and literal fangs. Doesn't seem very evenly matched."
"Oh, and someone who's power is shielding their emotions would do so much better?" Scarlet retorted.
Wolf wasn't really listening to their argument. He was too busy wishing the ground would just swallow him up then and there. Nearly all of Scarlet's teammates were looking at him with open hostility and fear. The short blonde one looked like she was going to faint! Really, the only ones that didn't seem to hate and/or fear him were the weird scarred girl, who seemed to be in a world of her own, and Scarlet herself. At least, Wolf hoped she wasn't afraid of him. The very thought of her running away at the sight of him felt like a rusty spike being driven into his heart.
Scarlet clapped her hands together. "Well, let's get this tour started then. So, you obviously already know about the labs since we're standing in them. I get the feeling you'll be spending almost as much time down here as Cinder."
"Lucky me." The cyborg girl muttered under her breath. Wolf couldn't help agreeing with her.
Scarlet turned on her heel and strode for the elevator, calling out over her shoulder, "I'll show you the cafeteria next, since The Council told me you eat a lot."
"I'm starting to question whether you even have a proper plan for this tour." The blond boy said.
"Shut up Jacin."
Throughout the tour, Wolf did his best to focus on Scarlet and only Scarlet, not just because she was telling him where to find everything in a ridiculously huge building, but because she was seemingly the only one making an effort to be friendly to him. Every other Rampion they passed in the building made it very, very clear just how much they hated Wolf. One prodigy whose entire lower body resembled a snake used her tail to trip him up in the hallway. Another froze his feet to the floor and Cinder had to use her metal fist to break the ice. By the time they finished the first floor, Wolf was twitching and jumping at the slightest thing for fear of getting hit by more supernatural powers. At least Scarlet's teammates seemed a bit less hostile towards him, after he got attacked with by a prodigy with wicked talons and the worst he did was hold her clawed hands away from his face. She still managed to tear several long, bloody scratches along his cheek though.
"Remind me to never go on one of these tours again." A brown-haired man named Thorne said, "That cryogenic prodigy almost hit me with his freaky ice powers."
"Trust me, there was no way Snowstorm would have hit you." A girl with blue hair and bright yellow eyes named Iko assured him, "He's got really good aim, and good control of his abilities."
Cinder smirked. "Like when he froze the fuel tank in the Rampion Parade."
"You don't know it was him!" the mind-reader, Kai, reminded her.
"Oh yeah? Just how many cryogenics do you have here?"
"Okay fine, he's the only one, but it might have been a non-Rampion!"
"You keep telling yourself that."
Wolf stomped his still-numb feet, trying to block out their friendly banter, and the jealousy that came with it. He knew that they would never talk to him that way, no matter how many times he kept his instincts in check. They had decided where he fit in their world, and that wasn't going to change. They couldn't just forget about the time he nearly killed Hunter, or what The Council's been telling them about him. Still, the knowledge hurt.
Fingers wrapped around the inside of his elbow, shocking him out of his thoughts.
"I'd better start on the city tour with this guy." Scarlet said, "And since half the prodigies here just tried to attack him and he hasn't gone into a murderous rage, can you guys actually let me do my job without getting out of any of yours?"
"I don't know if that's such a good idea Scarlet." Cress, the short one, said, eyeing Wolf nervously, "He might snap at any minute."
"If he didn't snap when Vulcan set his jacket on fire he won't snap out in the city." Scarlet said firmly, "Besides, one Rampion by themselves already attracts way too much attention. Can you imagine what a crowd a whole group of them would make? We wouldn't be able to make it a foot away from base!"
"Rampions are pretty much reporter magnets." Kai admitted.
"Thank you!"
"But what if he's just one small pinch away from snapping right now?" Jacin protested.
The scarred girl named Winter rested one hand gently on Jacin's shoulder. "He isn't. The most negative emotion I've felt from him was a significant amount of misery. After all, nearly everyone he's met has hated him on sight."
Thorne whistled. "Aces that's depressing."
"Anyway," Scarlet interjected loudly, "now that Winter's confirmed that he's totally safe to be around, will you let me give him a tour by myself?"
They didn't like the idea. That was obvious in their reluctant exchanged looks and screwed-up mouths. But, finally, they nodded.
Out in the city, the people seemed torn between running away from Wolf or flocking towards Scarlet. Their eyes gleamed in admiration at the sight of her dark blue uniform and widened with fear at the sight of Wolf's face. Scarlet didn't look at them, instead just keeping her head held high and proud against the people staring awkwardly staring at them.
Wolf wasn't very sure where she was literally dragging him to, since she didn't say a single word throughout the walk. He just hoped that it was somewhere the stares and fear wouldn't follow.
Eventually, when the crowds finally started to thin and disperse, Scarlet's pace slowed and her fingers slipped away from his arm. Wolf couldn't suppress the stab of disappointment as her hand fell down to her side.
"How're you feeling?" She asked him softly.
He shrugged. "My feet are still a bit numb, but other than that I'm fine."
Scarlet smiled a little. "As reassuring as that is, you know I didn't mean physically. Winter said you were miserable all day."
Wolf sighed. "I guess I'm still not fully immune to people hating me. I don't know why it still upsets me when I know it's going to happen but it just does. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually."
"You shouldn't have to though." Scarlet said, "Anyone who's had at least one conversation with you knows you wouldn't hurt a fly if you could help it."
Wolf tilted his head dubiously. "But there were times when I could help it, and I still hurt people."
Scarlet rolled her eyes. "What, like Roland? Pretty sure he had that one coming."
"Still, I'm not exactly stable, even without the wolf stuff affecting my head."
"That's not your fault, and you know it." Scarlet said fiercely, "You told me you were trained and conditioned to fight and kill since you were twelve. That kind of stuff doesn't just go away."
"But I should at least try a little harder to keep myself in check."
"You can't possibly try any harder than you already do!" Scarlet protested, "Ugh, this right here is the worst thing the Lunars did to you. Not the mutations, not the training, this-this idea that it's your fault whenever you do something wrong! That you deserve all the hate you get!"
Wolf opened his mouth to speak, but his voice died in his throat as Scarlet took both his hands in hers. "It's not your fault Wolf." She told him, "None of it is your fault. You said yourself, you were just some kid they plucked off the streets! You didn't do anything to deserve what they did to you. Your instincts, your anger, your violence, they did all of that. None of it is your fault. So please, just stop blaming yourself for it. Please!"
Wolf was having a very hard time processing what Scarlet was saying. His brain seemed to be working at a snail's pace as he looked down at her large brown eyes, her freckled cheeks, and her full lips. Her lips. Why were her lips so distracting?
Finally, he managed to nod. "Okay. I'll try."
"Don't try. Do." She ordered.
She started to pull her hands away, and Wolf instinctively gripped them tighter. Scarlet froze, staring up at him with wide eyes.
Wolf swallowed and forced himself to let go. His hands felt empty as he did. "Sorry."
Scarlet didn't answer. She was staring at her hands, still frozen in place. She gently flexed her fingers, one by one, as if feeling them for the first time.
Finally she smiled up at Wolf. "Don't be."
And then she was leaning forward, her pale cheeks flushed red, and pressing her warm mouth to his.
A/N: Well it's about time I made one of these couples happen!
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