#ruben.

For the most part, it seemed to have work. Ruben didn’t die and did not have any abnormalities, much like Macie. As far as Christopher was concerned he was a success. With him being his only son, Christopher has very high hopes for him. As soon as he was able too, Ruben was put through the exact same experiments and thorough training Macie was. He wasn’t aware he has a Sister until they met for training purposes. Christopher refused to let them spend any time together unless he instructed otherwise. 

Ruben was intended to be Macie’s partner, both to serve as his bodyguards and so that he didn’t have to get his hands ‘dirty’. He wasn’t nearly as fast as Macie, or agile but he served well in the area she struggled with and that was strength. He has the strength of a Pizzly. Together they should have been an unstoppable force, in the eyes of Christopher. 

Ruben quickly learned the ropes from Macie, he knew what had to be done, how to act appropriately and perform accordingly. Most importantly, he learnt that the only affection he’d ever recieve from his Father was praise. This became Ruben’s entire driving force as an individual. If he did what his Dad wanted, then he will be loved. 

 As Ruben grew, Ruben’s right arm changed. Finger nails, curled into claws and a thick layer of fur coated his arm. Of course anyone would be discouraged if that happened and the person he looked up to the most seemed to be repulsed by it. In attempt ease the disappointment, he started covering his arm in bandages so no one could look at the ugly sight. That was the beginning of a series of unfortunate events for him.

It seems Ruben’s stability wasn’t the best as it seemed to be. His body wasn’t able to handle the strain caused by his abnormal strength. He suffered from stress factures, in his right leg and both arms. Watching his Father’s attention gravitate towards his older sibling Macie, killed him for some reason. Made him bitter & angry. He could never wait until his injuries healed fully before getting back to work. Not if Macie was going to get all the love he deserved. 

Until the day he broke his right tibia, during a mission, that required Macie to save him from a life or death situation. This injury wouldn’t heal by itself, it required surgery and left him with a limp. To Christopher he was nothing but a wounded animal now, perpetually and he has no time for such things. 

Macie concerned for Ruben’s health and didn’t want him to go through more than he already did, just like she had done convinced Christopher to let her handle things alone.  However Ruben overheard a conversation between them after the accident and the only words he heard  ‘ he would only drag me down.’ 

Ever since that day Christopher never called him for work or talked to him. He only heard of her achievements from the staff. He spent most days nuturing his unfathomable hatred for Macie. The girl who took away the only thing he wanted. Why did he value someone who was so unstable? He could do everything she could, so why? 

Until that one night, he heard Christopher thrashing around in his office. Books thrown to the ground, glasses smashed. The word of Macie’s escape finally reached him. This was the moment, this was his chance to earn his Father’s love once again. He promised he would bring Macie back.That was the first time, his Father looked at him in what seemed to be years. Although he wasn’t sure if he would be able to bring her back alive like instructed, either way, he was going to make her pay for taking the thing he wanted most and taking it for granted.