Chapter 9 Picture Shows a Thousand Words
Qrow never thought that he'd be back in Vale so soon. He was on a lead to see where his last quarry was off to when Ozpin decided to call him to return to Vale for another important mission. He's been gone from Vale for quite some time that he had to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't drinking too much for him to hallucinate.
What the heck is all this stuff?
Once he boarded to the fastest bullhead to go straight back to the Kingdom of Vale the pro Huntsman was welcomed by merchants brandishing small figures of a red and blue suited hero with several other merchandises. The Huntsmen denied their advances and began walking to Beacon academy where he was once again being talked into buying the same person now on a T-shirt or hat.
Again, he just ignored the people trying to sell him things so he can go back and report to Ozpin. But when he was getting closer to the academy he saw more and more streets crowded with people in long lines entering shops selling anything related to the guy with the spider symbol.
Ozpin wanted me to come back for this guy?
Qrow may not have been in Vale for long, but thanks to his nieces sending him letters or calling him he remembered that his youngest niece, Ruby, told him all about an actual super hero staying in the kingdom. At first, he thought he saw some crazy guy trying to play hero, but she told him that he's been all around Vale stopping small crimes, making him well known in Vale.
He thought that this spider guy would be caught, or die, trying to stop something he couldn't handle. Instead, he's been seeing the so-called superhero all over the place from stalls, stores, news, and people wearing clothes to show their support to the wall crawler.
Oz better have a reason why this guy is so much more important than my original mission.
Passing the numerous people screaming and talking about the hero the black-haired Huntsman finally arrived at Beacon.
After I speak to Ozpin I should probably visit Ruby and Yang.
The headmaster told him about what happened at the docks, so it was only natural to be worried about Ruby and Yang. With what went down followed by a kid getting killed, he can only imagine what the two are doing right now to cope with it. He couldn't visit them when they returned home to Patch, so it'd be a good opportunity for him to surprise them while in their 2nd semester of school.
Passing through Beacon's hallways the Huntsman saw that there are less things spider here then it was outside. He even saw a group of boys crumpling up a newspaper with a picture of the spider hero on the front showing their distaste for him.
Now that I think about it, not a lot of these brats seem to like this guy.
The citizens of Vale seem to love the spider. With so many buying and talking about him Qrow thought he'd expect the same thing when he entered the academy, but he guessed wrong. Most of the students he passed seemed to talk about the hero like he was a nuisance more than being helpful.
"Guess I'm not the only one thinking the same." Qrow whispered as he pulled a flask out to drink. Just as he was about to take a swig Qrow's hip flask was enveloped in a purple glow and flew out of his hands.
"Drinking any forms of alcohol is not allowed on school grounds." Glynda Goodwitch said coldly while placing the cap back on the alcohol container.
"Sorry." Qrow told the deputy while walking casually to her. "Thought that only applies to students." Lifting his arm out in front of Glynda, he gave her his best smile. "I won't drink near students. Promise."
Glynda snorted at Qrow's pleasantries and walked passed him, leaving Qrow to himself with his hand still in the air, empty.
"This way, Qrow." The deputy told him in her usual cold tone.
Shrugging his shoulders for trying to get his flask back the Huntsman followed behind the deputy of the school to the nearest staff members elevator leading straight to the headmaster's office. With the elevator raising higher and higher the two Huntsmen had a full view through the glass window showing the kingdom of Vale's many tall structures. Particularly one tall building that was facing the Academy.
"You got to be kidding me." Was what Qrow said while hearing a tired sigh coming from Glynda next to him. While they were just a few more floors below the headmaster's office they saw one tall building have a large poster showing a larger image of Spider-Man with bold captions underneath him.
'SPIDER-MAN: HERO OR MENANCE?'
"Let me guess, the Bugle?" The semi-drunk Huntsman asked, gaining a nod from the blonde Huntress.
"Mr. Jonah has shown his dislike of this masked vigilante far more openly then most of the people here in the academy."
"Yeah, I've seen it. Some of the kids here don't seem to like Spider-Guy either."
"Some of them believe that Spider-Man is starting to get too popular to the masses. Making some of the students feel less important in the eyes of the people." Glynda explained.
"Immature reason, but understandable. I'm sure they're gonna get over it when they graduate. Being a Huntsmen was never really about being famous." The red eyed man stopped talking when the elevator reached their destination.
When the doors opened the two adults entered the large clock gear interior of headmaster Ozpin's office with the man himself sitting behind his large desk holding a salmonella folder. Taking his eyes off whatever he was looking at the headmaster gave a nod to thank Qrow for arriving and started to speak.
"Mr. Brawnwen, I'm glad you arrived. Were there any problems at your previous location?" The grey-haired adult asked.
"Nothing that I can't handle. Just a few skirmishes here and there, but that's about it." Qrow's eyes narrowed at the headmaster. "How's our little guest I gave you? Any changes to her condition?"
"Regretfully, no. She's still in the same state when you dropped her off in our care. So long as she's away from our enemies I'm more then contempt to call it a small victory."
"Yeah, well the enemy might be as close as we think." Qrow pulled out another hip flask and started to drink.
"Yes, with so many shops being ransacked for only their Dust and the appearance of the White Fang doing the same, all signs point out that what they're planning has something to do with Dust. Heavy amounts of Dust."
Removing the flask from his lips the black-haired Huntsman let out a small burp before talking again.
"So, the queen could already be here in Vale. Does that mean you want me to go and investigate the crimes?"
"No, thanks to out mystery friend there seems to be less crime in Vale." Placing the folder down Ozpin slides the papers forward for Qrow to take.
Taking the folder in his hand, Qrow flipped it open to see several pictures of the hero web swing from building to building with eye witness accounts.
"After the initial heists of Dust was increasing this masked vigilante started to pop up to stop them. Not only did he stop Dust robberies, he also stopped other crimes and averted many natural accidents." Ozpin pressed a button on his Scroll.
Hearing a beep from inside his pocket, Qrow grabbed his Scroll he saw that Oz sent a video for him to watch. Pressing the play button, he watched an amateur recording showing a large speeding van about to hit a bus holding several citizens. Qrow was about to ask why he would show this to him when a red and blue blur came into view to stop the fast vehicle dead in its tracks, and left the scene before anyone could even get a good look at who saved them.
"Not bad." Qrow put his scroll back in his pocket.
"Indeed. Not many could react that fast and stop a 3000-pound heavy object moving 40 miles per hour then leave just as quick." Ozpin said in a completely normal tone while leaving Qrow speechless.
"Seriously?! I know Yang has a strong semblance, but even she'd have a hard time stopping something going that fast if her semblance didn't activate. Is he a graduate from Beacon? Maybe some student deciding to do his own thing?"
"I combed through several years' worth of students who graduated, but none showed any semblance or other abilities relating to this man. We even screened the current students we have with the same results. Whoever he is, he was not or ever was enrolled into Beacon." The only female Huntress in the room answered.
"A civilian maybe? That explains why he decided to dress in a costume and play hero. I know Huntsmen would never be caught dead wearing a silly get up like that. It'd paint a huge target sign for someone to take a pot shot at them from miles away."
"If he was a civilian then they would've been caught by the authorities or killed. For months he's stopped crimes with some people reporting he'd never been hit once." Oz informed the Huntsman.
"So? Pretty sure every student here can stop a normal thug." Qrow said unimpressed.
"Then what if I tell you that he was able to stop a dozen armed thugs using automatic firearms without letting a single bullet graze him." The headmaster said with the same neutral tone.
This made Qrow surprised once more at what his boss said. Most Huntsmen have Aura that can shield them from most small caliber bullets, but when it came to fast velocity rounds that was another problem all on its own. Sure, in time Huntsmen can get back in the fight but it'll take time and with a dozen or so hot on your heels it'll be hard not to leave without a view wounds. To know that a guy like him was able to dodge automatic fire from so many armed thugs with little to no effort made Qrow wonder if this guy was a professional.
"Does he have a speed semblance like Ruby?" The only one who was able to dodge firepower like that was his youngest niece, so it was understandable Qrow would think this Spider-Man was the same as Ruby.
"No, I asked her that after the docks and she told me he was able to dodge automatic fire with no sign of super speed. She said that it was as if he was able to know when they would try to attack even before they had the idea. The same could be said with him stopping crimes before anyone could alert the police."
"Because he was able to stop many Dust robberies before the police arrived most of the people living in the kingdom are starting to think that he's just playing the part of hero to gain Vale's trust while secretly plotting his nefarious plans. Though that doesn't explain why he would still decide to help people with mundane tasks such as helping old people cross the street or get pets down from trees." Glynda spoke her thoughts on the matter.
"That explains why the Bugle keeps publishing articles about whether or not Spider-Man's an actual hero or just some criminal hiding his true intentions about helping people. Then again, the guy running the Bugle doesn't seem to like Spider-Man to begin with." Qrow took another swig from his flask.
"Regardless of what the Bugle says, the Council thinks that this masked man needs to be put on trial, and with the police not able to catch him they sent skilled Huntsmen to capture him." Ozpin pushed another file with names of Huntsmen with notable credentials and several recommendations under their belts.
"And let me guess, they can't seem to get the guy either? Jeez Oz, who the heck is this guy?" The black-haired swordsman asked while wondering how a skilled man like this was under the radar for so long.
"That's what people in the kingdom are wondering. The Council are more worried about how this paints the Huntsmen community." Qrow raised his eye brow at what Ozpin's implying as the headmaster kept talking. "People get forgetful at what Huntsmen do, especially those living in the kingdom. The Council worries that with Spider-Man gaining so many followers people will question how a man wearing a bug suit is able to stop so much crime by himself, making the Huntsmen look incompetent and apathetic to innocents. Parents who have their kids enroll in our school also worry if their children will do the same thing as Spider-Man and decide to do things without the Council's approval. Huntsmen are getting a bit edgy at how this might threaten their financial stability since the citizens of Vale no longer see them as useful."
Taking a steady breath from talking for so long, Ozpin leaned over his desk and interlocked his fingers in front of his face.
"We have a person who's doing things without the jurisdiction of the Council. He's stopped many crimes by himself and escaped both cops and well-trained Huntsmen. What truly interests me is that he's stopping whatever plan the Queen has in store for such large amounts of Dust, making him allied to Vale and her people."
Leaning back in his chair, Ozpin sent another message to Qrow's scroll and turned his gaze over to the Kingdom beneath his office.
"With your skills I'm sure you'll be able to find him easily, Qrow. Make sure you don't confront him with the intent to harm. He may be dressed as a fool, but looks can be deceiving when it comes to this man. This Spider-Man is well trained, so be sure to speak to him rather than detain him. You may be skilled, but I'm not sure even you could put a hand on him."
"WEDGIE!" Flash Thompson shouted as he grabbed his quarry's undergarments and forcibly pulled upward.
"EEEEEEEEEEEeee!" Jaune squealed in a high pitch scream while his underwear started to get higher over his head making Jaune's vision turn white. Just as he thought his humiliation would end he felt a strong shove force him inside his open locker. As soon as Jaune was able to remove his ruined undies off his head his bully closed the locker door, leaving him trapped.
"Geez, Flash, you're so bad!" Flash's girlfriend, Liz Allen, said while hooking her arms around the star quarter back's neck then gave him a peck on his cheek. Liz unwrapped her arms and grabbed her boyfriend's jacket to drag him away from his usual mischief. "Come on! We gotta get to practice. Stop wasting your time with Jauney and let's go!" She said to him playfully.
"Relax, Liz, I'm coming." The blonde football player gave her a quick kiss then looked through the locker to see Jaune trying to get out. "Same time tomorrow, Jauney boy. Later!" He walked away while laughing.
Jaune was hoping that since he only had one more class before school ended he'd be free from being bullied, but after his spider sense warned him of someone approaching the hero knew that he'd never escape Flash and his incessant bullying.
At least I wore fresh underwear today.
"Hello? Anyone out there? I need some help." Jaune asked while trying to get himself in a better position in his cramped locker.
His pleas were ignored by the waves of students going to their final class with some running in the hallway and kicking his school supplies without noticing or caring. The bullied blond thought that he'd have to 'accidentally' break his locker like last time when suddenly his locker was opened to show two familiar faces.
"Told ya he'd be here." Harry said to Gwen as he helped his friend from the locker.
"Glad I remember where your locker is, or else you'd be late for class." Gwen shifted her bag over her shoulder.
"Yeah, wouldn't want to ruin my perfect attendance." Jaune told Gwen while picking up his scattered books and writing material. "Still, thanks you guys."
"No problem. What are friends for?" Harry bumped fists with the blonde teen.
"If you guys can stop talking and look at the time we only have a few minutes before we're late."
Picking up his belongings, the three classmates walked to their final class for the day. Since Gwen only shared one class with the two of them, they usually walk together whenever they get the chance. She never really hanged out with the two boys since she keeps herself busy trying to get a better job, so it was a rare sight to see all three conversing with each other.
"So, Gwen, how's the restaurant? I haven't worked there for a while since I needed to recover some lost time working for Mr. Macarren." The blonde spider asked while holding the door for his friends to enter chemistry class.
"Got fired." She said bluntly.
"What? How? You worked at that place for such a short time, how did you get fired?" Jaune asked while sitting down at an empty chemistry table.
"Apparently they caught me ease dropping on some of the customer's problems." The tanned skinned girl shook her head and looked at the two boys. "Is it so wrong of me to ease drop on other people's drama then talk about it to our co-workers and online too?" Gwen sounded offended as if she was the one wronged.
"Yes!" Both Jaune and Harry said at the same time.
"I know!" She said while putting both of her hands to cover her face. "I keep getting fired with every job I try to work at! If this goes on I'll be stuck being a camp counselor till I graduate!" Gwen sobbed.
Gwen keeps complaining about working at a camp that, by her words, is a complete disaster. She works with the man who's in charge who never really stays there to help and an even older man with a hook for a hand as the quartermaster. After hearing so many problems working at that camp Jaune was rather glad he works three jobs then work at a place like that.
"Well, I'm sure you'll get a better job somewhere. For now, though, let's get this class out of the way and go home." Harry said, getting both of his friends to agree.
"Now you apply this one into the hole and you'll get a chemical reaction." The teacher showed her bored students the rising foam coming out of the small volcano display.
Chemistry class never really interested Jaune much, he never thought that he'd ever really apply it in real life. But after fighting that sand dude that notion made him eat his words, and sand, at how useful chemistry can be.
While everyone looked at the display Jaune only paid half attention on class and focused on his side experiment. After the fight he had with Marko, Jaune decided that if his regular webbing can't touch him, then he needs to make a concoction that can entrap his sandy adversary. Long enough so he can hand him over to the police without worrying about the guy turning into sand and escaping. Which is why he was trying his best to recreate his organic webbing by using the school's chemistry class to help his endeavors.
Ok, if looking at my organic webs back at home, I should be able to make something close to the original. I just need to use this compound to strengthen its elasticity...
Pouring and mixing different concoctions in a jar hidden inside the table drawer the hidden beaker soon turned a pasty white foam that started overflowing and sticking over everything it touched. Seeing the dilemma, Jaune placed a heavy book over it and quickly shut the drawer before anyone could see what he did.
"Hey." His back went rigid from someone talking behind him, making him worry that they saw him make his prototype web fluid. Turning his head over his shoulder, Jaune sighed in relief when the person behind him didn't notice and was just talking to her friend.
"Did you see that video about Spider-Man stopping that car from hitting that bus? That was so awesome!" The Midtown student said to her friend sitting next to her.
"I know! He seems so more well liked then those Huntsmen. They always seemed like they're better than normal people. Like everyone should get out of their way because they're some kinda bigshots. My best friend from algebra class told me she had her cat stuck on a high-power line a few days ago." Her friend said.
"Oh my gosh! What did she do?"
"Well, she knows that a Huntsman lived a few houses down and asked if he could help. She told me that he didn't want to waste his time and blew her off. She was worried that her cat might be stuck there and was about to call the fire department."
"And then?"
"She was about to call when suddenly Spider-Man saw her cat stuck on top of the power line, helped her get her pet down, then left before she could thank him."
"No way!"
"Yes way! I was so jealous that she saw him up close. He seems so much better than those arrogant Huntsmen. Especially those jerks at Beacon. It always seems that they can get away with so much because they go to Beacon."
"I know! They always seem to think they deserve so much fr- Hey, is that guy listening in on us?"
Uh-Oh!
Snapping his head to the front the blonde started scribbling notes down to make himself blend in to the background and waited for the school bell to tell him class is over.
Just as class ended with the teacher handing out homework, Jaune, Harry, and Gwen walked through the front exit of the school and parted ways.
"Well, I'll see you guys later." Harry told them when he saw his ride park at the front of the school.
"Leaving already? I thought we could try that new sandwich shop that opened up a few blocks from here." Jaune said sadly that his friend had to leave so soon.
"Sorry, Jaune. My dad needs to talk to me and you know how he hates to wait." Harry said his goodbye then entered his family's limo and drove off, leaving Jaune and Gwen to themselves. Seeing that his friend just left, Jaune decided to ask what Gwen's plans were for today.
"You plan to find another job? I can ask my boss to get you one working at his Dust shop." Jaune said to his fellow workaholic.
"No thanks, I'm actually going to meet with the biology teacher and see if he needs some help working at his lab."
"He has a lab? Biology teacher?" Jaune asked Gwen. "Is he already starting work here?"
"He didn't start yet. I was lucky to meet him when he arrived here to talk to the principle. Hopefully it'll go down well. Hope he doesn't ask me weird questions like most people who interview me." Waving goodbye, Gwen went back inside the school, leaving Jaune all alone.
Seeing that he was the only teen still near the school, the hero pulled out his pictures from his back pack and looked at his hard work.
These pictures are pretty good with me fighting that sand guy. Hopefully I can get a bit more lien with these pics since they're still recent.
Taking the public bus to arrive at his most prominent income for lien. The daily Bugle was by far one of the most well-known and well-respected businesses with its employees always looking for the best news worthy stories. They have to since their boss is the most well-known and influential person: J. Jonah Jameson, A.K.A the number 1 man who hates Spider-Man. If his loud and angry voice describing how he hates Spider-Man doesn't convince you then the giant poster attached to the Bugle will.
Putting his hate aside, at least he's using one of my pictures.
Entering the building, Jaune walked to the reception desk and flashed his staff ID. He then used the company elevator to reach his boss to deliver his daily pictures. Reaching the top floor, the young photographer saw the usual sight of bustling reporters coming in and out of J.J.'s office either giving him something news worthy or getting their daily dose of their boss yelling at them.
"Good to see you here, Jaune. Come to drop off the usual?" A feminine voice said behind him.
Turning to see J.J.'s secretary, Betty Brant, Jaune gave her his usual crooked smile before showing her his new photos for the boss to see.
"Good to see you, Betty. Is he doing something at the moment?" He asked while walking alongside her.
"Mr. Jameson's always busy, and by busy, I mean completely blowing his lid at what's going around the kingdom." The brunet secretary said while reaching her desk. Since she was the secretary of J.J. her desk was in front of his office, making her the first line of defense for everyone's safety if they were foolish enough to barge in on J.J.'s personnel space.
"So does that mean I have to come back later?" Jaune asked hoping that he would be able to get his pay now then later.
"Well, that depends. What do you have to show our fearless leader?" Betty smirked when the young photographer gave her his new photos of J.J.'s hated celebrity.
Taking the photos from Jaune's hand, the brunette looked at each photo with increasing interest at what he was giving to the Bugle. Getting off her chair, Betty walked away from her desk and opened Jonah's door to stick her head in to notify Jaune's arrival. Just as she opened the door the secretary closed it and turned around to give the blonde a wide smile.
"You're in luck," Betty moved away from the door and back at her desk. "He already finished yelling at one of his business partners on the phone, so you can enter."
"Thanks, Betty." He nodded in gratitude and knocked on his boss's door to let him know he's about to enter. "Good morning, J-"
"Shut up and sit down." Jonah said in his usual gruff tone.
"Understood, Mr. Jameson." Jaune immediately sat on the chair across from J.J.
Sitting in silence, the photographer looked anxious at his boss, who was flipping through the pictures of him being Spider-Man. The usual pictures of him stopping robberies or accidents started to lose some interest to his boss, so he hoped these new pictures of him fighting Flint could maybe make J.J. give a few extra lien for his effort.
"Crap," J.J flipped to the next picture. "Crap," He flipped to another photo. "Mega crap." Putting the picture in one neat file the chief-editor looked at the disappointed teen with disinterest.
"300 Lien should be enough like always. You can go now." The man waved his hand to motion Jaune to leave his office. Just as he was about to get up from his chair, J.J.'s office phone rang, making the older man pick it up to answer.
"Hello? Break in? Bullets passed right through him? Ok, got it." Jonah hanged up the phone and looked back at his youngest photographer about to step out of his office. "Sit down."
Seeing that his boss needed to talk to him again, Jaune quickly sat back down and listened to the man.
"I'll give you an extra 200 lien since no one else has caught these two in a picture yet." J.J. told the now smiling blonde before waving his hand in the air. "Partnership gone wrong: Sandman and Spider-Man attack!"
Of course, this would happen. Why did I expect any less from you, J.J.
"Wait. Partnership? Sandman? Spider-Man wasn't trying to make a partnership with the guy, he was trying to stop him." Jaune tried to defend his hero identity, but like always his boss just ignored it.
Fine. Whatever. At least he gave me more lien than usual, that was the main objective after all.
"Also, did you just say 'Sandman'?" Jaune asked why Jonah decided to give the guy Spider-Man was fighting a nickname.
"Yup, Sandman! You like that!?" Jonah sounded pleased with himself. "Made it up myself. These weirdos are all gonna have a name now." Jonah's eyes went wide before he reached for his phone.
"But Mr. Jameson, Spi—"
"Hoffman!" Jonah yelled into the phone.
Jaune was about to talk to his boss again when suddenly a man wearing a striped suit and glasses bursts through the door.
"Yes, sir?" Hoffman asked while both Jaune and Jonah looked surprised at how he appeared seconds after Jonah called his name.
Was he just waiting outside for his name to be called? Creepy.
Seeing that Jonah no longer needed the phone he set it aside and talked to Hoffman in his usual bossy tone.
"Call the Patent office and tell them to copyright the name: Sandman. I want a lien for every time somebody says it." The editor-in-chief pulled out a cigar from his desk to smoke it to congratulate himself on a job well done.
"Yes, sir. But what about we call hi-"
"HOFFMAN!" Jonah booming voice caused both the blonde and the glasses wearing adult to flinch. The cigar smoking boss didn't say anymore words and used his thumb to motion Hoffman away from his office.
"Mr. Jameson?" Jaune spoke up to get his boss's attention again. "Spider-Man didn't try to make a deal with Sandman. He was trying to catch him before he escapes, that's slander."
"It is not." Jonah said matter-of-factly. "I resent that! Slander is spoken and in print it's libel."
"You don't trust anybody, that's your problem." Jaune looked a bit sad that he still can't get his boss to accept that Spider-Man was doing good in the kingdom.
The boss man went silent at what he heard before he turned back to his normal uncaring self. "I trust my barber." Jonah said before quickly narrowing his eyes at his only visitor.
"What are you, his lawyer? Get out of here, let him sue me like a normal person. That's what made this kingdom great after all." With nothing left to say the photographer silently left his office.
If I could then I'd be talking to you behind bars for revealing my secret. Still, at least I have enough to pay any extra bills Aunt May could have.
With his goal reached, Jaune decided to take another detour to visit someone else who can help him with his little project. Just as he was about to leave, Betty noticed his departure and decided to speak to him.
"Taking off already, Arc?" Betty said while she typed up whatever her boss told her to do.
"Yeah." Jaune said with a dejected tone.
"Let me guess, another title portraying Spider-Man as the bad guy?"
Jaune nodded at Betty, making her shake her head at J.J.'s reckless abandon of saying whatever he wants without thinking. "I know that Mr. Jameson's a bit intense on trying to make Spider-Man look like the bad guy, but you can't let just one guy make you think the same as him when almost everyone in Vale thinks Spider-Man is a hero."
Leaning on her desk with her hand under her chin, Betty gave Jaune her usual smirk before speaking again. "Besides, aren't you forgetting something even more important? Something you usually give me whenever you leave Jonah's office?"
"Uh? Oh!" Jaune smacked his forehead for forgetting something so important. "I forgot to get the check Jonah was supposed to give me!"
Chuckling at his forgetfulness, Betty got up from her chair and patted the now down casted teen's back in reassurance.
"Don't worry. I'll get it from Jonah, you go ahead and get home." The older woman reassured the blonde teen.
"Thanks, Betty, you're a life saver."
"Comes with the job when you're working with the most insufferable guy in Remnant. Have a safe trip back home, Jaune." Betty said while nudging him to the elevator.
"Thank you, Betty, bye." The teen was able to get in one last thanks before the elevator doors closed between them.
At lease Betty's the only one in the Bugle that speaks her mind. Everyone else usually sides with J.J. about Spider-Man being a menace, but when you have a boss like Mr. Jameson it's understandable that you don't want to anger him.
As the elevator finally reached the first floor, the blonde teen gave the receptionist a smile goodbye then left through the Bugle's front doors. Stopping at the bottom of the Bugle's stairs, Jaune looked up at the tall building showing the large display of Spider-Man in distaste.
'Hero or Menace, huh? Well, Jameson, the next newspaper you'll publish will be Spider-Man catching the Sandman. Then you'll see how wrong you are.
"I just hope what I'm making will actually help me do that." Jaune said aloud before going to his next stop on his list: Mr. Macarren's Dust shop.
Walking to the direction of his second job, Jaune took a few steps when he heard a very familiar voice call out from behind him.
"Jaune?"
Just as he looked behind him, Jaune's blue eyes met silver once more and his next destination was quickly forgotten.
And here you go! Another job Jaune works at that helps him with his daily life as well has him trying something that could help him solve his little Sandman problem. We also see what Ozpin's plan is for Spider-Man as well as what others thinks of him too. Like most people who has a job they feel threatened when something new could possibly replace them. That is what most Huntsmen think when they hear how the people of Vale talk about Spider-Man making Huntsmen not like the web head. As for the students of Beacon, they just feel jealous that Spider-Man is getting more attention then they are. Some of you might disagree, but you can also understand that some students in Beacon can be a bit arrogant and egotistical at times when they have skills and talents other do not.
I know most of you will think that since he has organic webbing that Jaune doesn't need to make web shooters, but like all Spider-Man enemies, Jaune is using his resources to try and get a leg up on his enemies. Not to mention, with Jaune's webs able to go right through Marko's body he would need to find a better way to keep him in place so Jaune can actually catch him.
Jaune has been dealing with normal crimes making him a bit complacent when dealing with normal criminals. Now that he has a villain that seems untouchable and making him see that not all problems will be easy, Jaune needs to start thinking out side the box if he wants to stop Sandman and other future villains that could be an even greater threat then Flint Marko. That's why he is making special types of web fluid that can do that, but the next chapter will go into further detail.
I also wanted to use Sandman because I wanted Jaune to fail at fighting him making Jaune realize he needs something more then normal webs and also make Jaune see that he can't be over confident when fighting his opponents.
Another thing I read in the comments is how I use the characters in Marvel then RWBY. I'm just showing how Jaune is living in a normal life compared to the characters in RWBY. I just wanted to show how his life is different when he is replacing Peter Parker. Just like how other characters replace Peter as Spider-Man in comics I'm also showing how I retell a 'what if' tale of Jaune not going in to Beacon and Peter coming along with his biological family that perished in a plane crash. But do not worry, the next chapter will have the cast of RWBY show up and also what made Flint Marko turn into the Sandman.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and you all like, Fav, and follow this story. I also hope you check my Beta-Reader's stories and show your support to him too. Thank you.
Beta-Reader: Maestro of Madness