Chapter One: The Brothers Join the Team

Logan and Victor walked with Stryker through what was to be their new home. "There are a few ground rules I would like to go over before you meet the team. First, everyone takes turns with the major cooking and chores, but essentially it's clean up after yourselves. Second, there is one woman on this team, under no circumstances are you allowed into the hallway with her room and bathroom. And lastly, Lara has a couple animals hanging around. If I hear that any of them have gone missing you'll be punished," Stryker explained.

"Just because of some animals?" Victor asked as they stopped in front of a door.

"Yes, part of Lara's powers involve being able to control any animal. Also, she is my second in command and has earned some privileges." Stryker replied before opening the door only to step back as a large bird flew past him.

"Lara! Tiki is out again!" a man yelled from the couch he sat on as he sharpened a pair of swords.

"She's in the shower Wade" a dark-skinned man said.

"and she didn't tell me?" the first one complained.

"she didn't tell you on purpose. Besides, Tiki always comes back after flying around the base a couple times" the second man replied before they finally seemed to notice Stryker.

"Men, this is James Logan and Victor Creed. Logan, Victor, this is Wade Wilson and John Wraith" just as he finished saying that two more men walked in. "also this is Agent Zero and Fred Dukes. Gentlemen, I expect you to help the new recruits get settled and learn the rules around here. For now please excuse me, I have many things that need to be done." And with that he walked out of the room.

The two brothers had just sat down on the couch next to Wade when a door on the right side of the room opened and a woman walked through. At first glance she looked like any other woman, tall, tan, slight muscles. She had long golden brown hair that hung down to her lower back in layers, amber eyes, and wore a light blue colored tank top with a pair of grey exercise shorts. But what caught the boys off guard were the two small horns sticking out of the center of her forehead, the top one slightly longer that the other.

"I assume you two are the latest in our group of misfits?" she asked as she walked over to a chair next to the couch.

"yes ma'am" Logan replied.

"none of that ma'am stuff, my name is Lara and that is what you'll call me. Understand?"

The two nodded and she smiled, "good" she then stood up and walked over to Zero who was sitting at a table reading a book. When she reached him she placed her hands on his shoulders and gently started kneading out the knots. Zero looked up at her and smiled slightly which caused her to lean down and place a soft kiss on his lips.

"so what's the deal between those two?" Victor asked and nodded at Lara who was now sitting in Zero's lap reading the book with him.

"They've been together since before I got here," John answered, "Lara was the first one to take the job out of all of us. Then, from what I've been told, Zero, Fred shortly after him, Wade and myself after him, and then Chris Bradley who you two haven't met, and lastly, you two. They aren't too open about it but it's fairly obvious that he sleeps in her room most nights."

"I am just waiting for Lara to realize what she's missing" Wade said with a smirk.

"Keep dreaming Wade" Fred replied with a smile and laugh.

"Where's Tiki?" Lara called from across the room as she looked around to discover the location of her falcon.

"he got out when Stryker opened the door," Zero said as he closed his book.

"oh well, he'll come back. So what are your abilities? If you don't mind me asking" Lara asked as she looked expectantly at the brothers.

"we both have heightened senses as well as a healing factor and I have bone claws while Victor's claws grow from his normal nails" Logan explained and both demonstrated their claws.

"cool, now we have two animal men, a teleporter," she motioned to John, "a man who is generally indestructible," Fred looked up with a protein bar halfway to his mouth, "a technopath who you haven't met yet, a boy who loves to play with swords and never shuts his mouth, and a man who can hit any target with any gun no matter what" Lara said as she wrapped an arm around Zero's neck.

"and what about you?" Victor asked.

"I can communicate with animals and generally control them along with being a slight telepath and a mid-level copy cat."

"what's with the horns then?" the larger feral asked shamelessly.

Zero looked slightly angry at his question and tightened his hold around Lara's waist. "they're just a manifestation of my mutation involving animals" she answered with a forced smile before she stood up, "if you'll excuse me, I'm not feeling well." She then stood up and walked back out the door she has entered through a few moments before, Zero quickly following after her.

After the two had made it safely into her room Zero started pacing angrily. "he had no right to ask you that question."

"calm down" Lara whispered and placed a hand on his arm as she sat on the bed, "he had no way of knowing that the horns caused me a little trouble when I was younger."

"I wouldn't call your father constantly sawing them off a 'little trouble' Lara! No one has any right to talk about your body if you don't want them to."

Lara smiled gently and kissed him, "thank you for wanting to defend me, it makes me feel loved."

"good because I do love you."

"I love you too, now come here, I'm tired," she said and Zero quickly complied, crawling into the bed and wrapping his arms around her as she fell asleep.

Okiday! I have finally gotten around to posting my Agent Zero story. There is more to come soon, hopefully if I can keep writing ahead I can post a chapter a week, but it depends on how much school work all my teachers give me. Everyone keep this in mind, COLLEGE IS EVIL! Anyway! Thanks for supporting my new story and don't be afraid to tell me what you think.

~NightStalker