A/N: I am so so sorry! I have been having a hell of a week and have not found the time nor energy to upload chapters. School really does kill. This chapter makes multiple references to other characters that were supposedly (according to whatever sources I could find) in the cages on Stryker's island from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Like last time, you will not need to know them since they basically only appear for a bit and don't really play anything largely important. On a more important note, I have discovered that I may have credited a reviewer wrongly back in Chapter 7. I keep track of followers and reviewers through the notifications sent by FF to my email. But I found out that it messed up or something and gave me the wrong reviewer name O.O So sorry to Charlie McManus and Rorschach in Blue Jeans for the mix-up! I will take better care to cross-reference every now and then more frequently. On a side note, slight warning, this chapter turned out kind of dark O.O Anyways,

Thanks to my two reviewers: BatGirl619 and fandelivres! :D Thanks for the reviews! :D They really made my day. The support is really very appreciated!~ ^^

Thanks also to Joker's Lover for following this story! :)

Thanks to all who have been reading/following this story! :D The support is very much appreciated and loved :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men or any of the characters. All copyright and ownership goes to Marvel and the creators. I make no profit from this little adventure of mine and this is purely for entertainment purposes.

Chapter 9: The Mansion

The doctor walked over to the hostage, watching her sleeping form with a clinical gaze. The contraption was indeed brilliant, and the doctor wondered why his superior would appoint him such a task. He would make things far more complicated than they needed to be but orders were orders and he was obligated to follow them. Swiftly entering the code into the system, a loud hissing sound emanated from the machine before the glass lid covering the wiring opened and the syringe extracted itself with the help of a mechanical arm. The doctor emptied its contents before filling it with his own and resetting the system.

The moment Wade had kicked the door open with all the stealth of an angry bull, a thousand alarms went off and he could not help his reflex reaction to cover his ears. Brandishing his gun once more, he swiftly fired a shot to each surveillance camera and alarm that he could see. As the sound dimmed down, he stalked up the main stairway, heading to the room of his target. He could hear the various habitants of the mansion waking up now as he turned the corner. He had never seen the actual hallway so he could not teleport straight to it. Even then, with a house full of potentially dangerous mutants, Wade remained the very picture of nonchalance as he walked around as if he owned the place. He turned yet another corner, attempting to find the right hallway. That was when he heard shouting coming from the floor below. Ignoring the intrusion, he turned back to the hallway and was met with a student. He recognised her from the training session he had watched the day before and knew that she came from the list of people he did not want to meet. The girl had snow-white hair and a dark complexion. Based on her height, Wade would guess she was 14 or 15 years old. She was staring at him with wide, clear blue eyes that as he watched, were slowly turning white.

"Crap."

Wade had spun out of the way before the bolt of lightning hit the spot where he had been standing on, charring the wood.

"Who are you?"

Wade ignored the question and dodged yet another bolt and rolled on the ground, the gears of his mind turning to figure out a way to get out of his situation. The running downstairs was getting louder and he could hear someone ascending the steps to join them. They must have heard the commotion. Wade knew he was good but he was not going to take on two mutants at a time, especially if the new addition also came from the list of people he was starting to dislike. Dodging another lightning strike, Wade focused on the spot behind the girl and teleported, appearing behind her and kicking the girl at the back of the knee. The knee gave way and the girl fell forward, catching herself at the last moment with her hands and ending up on all-fours. Before the girl could even understand what was happening, Wade wrapped an arm over her jugular and pulled upwards, forcing her back on her knees and cutting off her oxygen supply. The girl struggled but eventually passed out and Wade released her before he did anything permanent. The girl crumbled to the ground and another rose to take her place as a boy that looked to be about 22 with brown hair appeared, sparing a glance at the fallen girl before moving towards Wade. The latter moved backwards further into the hallway as his new adversary moved forward to stand over the fallen girl, leaning down to check her pulse all while keeping his eyes glued to Wade who was finding his actions peculiar. The boy abruptly pulled the girl up and covered her ears with one arm before ducking his head.

A shrill scream emanated from behind Wade as he immediately fell forward, shock and frustration fighting for his attention. He was really starting to hate this place, damn Stryker and all his stupid projects. He was never going to work for him again, he would move to Antarctica or something. Covering his ears with his hands, he watched the red head move closer, continuing to scream as even more people started to get attracted to the commotion. Wade teleported and the moment he did, the screaming stopped and the red head turned around and the shrill screaming started again. They had obviously seen him take down their comrade as Wade found himself getting flung out of the mansion – through a window at the end of the hall - by some guy screaming. The world really was coming to an end. For a guy that had no idea what just happened, Wade thought he stuck the landing quite well, rolling to prevent any injury – though those would have healed quickly anyway – and rising to his feet in one swift movement. Looking up at his two adversaries, he swung a fist at them, enraged.

"Is that all you got?! You're going to scream at me?!"

The red head turned to his companion who then turned to look at the angry Wade and shot plasma blasts - that did not look too far-off from blades - at him. Wade cursed and teleported back into the ground floor of the mansion, knocking out two kids who happened to run into him before heading upstairs with a vengeance. Any rational person would have altered their course to avoid those two residents but Wade liked the challenge – and was honestly rather put-out – and he did not have a choice; he had to go that way to get to Jean anytime soon. When he reached the second floor, the two companions turned to look at him as the red head made to scream again. Wade pulled out his tranquilizer-loaded gun and fired two shots straight at the guy's neck as he fell to the ground. Mr Plasma-Shooter then fired at him as Wade drew his blades from where they were sheathed on his back. Forming a cross, he timed himself perfectly as he cut out just as the plasma hit the metal, effectively deflecting the blast and creating a gaping hole in the neighbouring wall. The smoke from the explosion bought him time as he dashed forward before teleporting above his adversary and dropping right on top of him, teleporting again. They ended up 50 feet above mansion, falling. The brown-haired man attempted to aim while falling but failed as Wade worked well with the new environment. When they were just about to hit the ground, Wade turned his blade around and hit the man's head hard using the hilt of his sword. He then grabbed him and teleported again, higher off the ground and kicked his passenger straight into the front yard, where he landed with a loud thud and a trail of upset grass and mud. Before he could fall, Wade teleported back to the front door of the mansion, feeling fairly pleased with his handiwork and sparing one final glance at the fallen Havok before heading back inside.

Walking towards the stairs, what felt like a strong gust of wind hit him hard. Before he could regain his bearings, he was hit again causing him to stumble. Looking up, he spotted a young boy with white hair standing not too far away from him. Wade rose and the boy disappeared into a streak of silver and white, slamming into him hard. Wade tightened his grip on his two blades as he rose again. The boy dashed and Wade fell into a spin, his blades pointing outwards as they cut the approaching boy. The boy fell, hitting the ground hard. Sighing, Wade made for the stairs and climbed up, mumbling to himself. He was growing tired of this game. If there was anyone he really wanted to mince, it was Stryker. As he reached the second floor, he was hit by a strong blast on his back, burning the skin slightly. Wade felt the wound heal as he whipped around to see yet another boy, this time with a head full of brown hair and wearing shades with red lenses. Recognition hit Wade as a random memory popped into his mind.

"Hey… I know you! And not because I've been watching this place for the last eternity! You were on the island right? Wait… how do I know that? I thought I was strapped to an operating table and then unleashed on Wolverine after they were done poking me with pointy things…"

The boy ignored the statement and shot him again. Wade teleported out of the way and to the mouth of the hallway. Here he was greeted by a teenage girl who watched him before the skin on her body was covered in thick, shiny diamonds.

"Hey… I know you too! You were on the island like that guy! You were someone's sister right?"

Wade teleported out of the way as another blast was thrown at him from the boy.

"So you guys are two-teaming me?"

Wade teleported down the hallway, prompting the boy to follow before returning to his previous spot at the mouth.

"Gotcha!"

The boy whipped his head around as Wade fired at him with his tranquilizer-loaded gun. But before any of the projectiles could reach their target, the girl came in the way, defending her friend as the darts hit her and fell right off almost comically. Wade heaved a sigh as the duo worked against him, eventually forcing him further out the hallway. They had fallen into a comfortable pattern of shoot-and-block and Wade was growing irritated fairly quickly. Then a random revelation occurred to him. Wade withdrew his blades and formed a cross in front of himself as he waited for the boy to shoot him again. When said boy did shoot him, he tilted the swords slightly towards diamond-girl as the blast hit and he cut out. The blast effectively went hurtling towards the girl as it hit her back into the wall and knocked her out. Wade then swiftly swapped his blades for his gun and shot two darts into the boy's neck.

"There, problem solved."

Wade continued on his way down the hall, taking out whomever else that happened to emerge from their rooms. Then, he finally arrived at the final room at the end of the hall and paused. Taking a deep breath, he walked forward pensively and reached for the knob. Before his skin came in contact with the metal, he was held back. A voice rang in his head, calming and smooth.

"This is not who you are Wade."

Wade paused as he turned to look around him. A man rolled up in a wheelchair and Wade recognised him immediately as the Professor. His voice continued to ring in his mind even though his lips were not moving.

"Stop now. You don't have to live like this."

"What do you know?"

Wade snapped back, slightly frustrated.

"I've been watching you Wade, ever since you came here. I know how you feel, what you think about yourself and the things you have done. Stop before you sink any deeper. Let me help you."

Wade snickered at the man as he reached his hands up, easily finding the hilt of his twin swords and drawing them.

"And you're all about helping people right?"

The Professor frowned, as Wade pulled up memories in his head of the conversation with Stryker that he had had on the roof. Was that really just 3 days ago?

"Your friend was in trouble. She was being controlled by a force even she could not understand. I helped her best that I could."

"And look where we are now."

Wade stated, his tone growing icy.

"Wade—"

"You can't help me. No one can."

With that, Wade turned back to the door, reaching for the metal knob.

"I cannot let you do that."

The Professor stated as Wade was once again met with a force that held him back.

"I don't want to hurt you but I will if you make me."

Wade announced as he whipped back around, his blade held forward. It swung just inches from the older man's neck when he turned, solidifying the warning.

"You don't want to kill anymore. Stop tormenting yourself."

"I'm tired of this conversation. Let me through."

"I will not let you hurt my student."

"Fine then."

Wade turned back to the door as he swiftly fished out one of the fancy grenades Stryker had given him. Holding the button down, it flashed red as Wade casually threw it behind him, teleporting to buy himself a few seconds of safety. The crimson flames rose, licking up the wood it came into contact with. As they reached out to the wheelchair-bound man, they wrapped around him, forming a ball of flame as they bent to his will. Wade reappeared into existence and kicked the door now, having had successfully distracted the bodyguard.

The room was fairly average in size, with a single bed lined against the wall on his right. Right in front of him was an expansive window, the view of which was blocked by a thick, red curtain. Leaning against the wall on Wade's left was a study table, the lamp of which was still on, illuminating the room in a dull glow that dimmed as it got further from the table. Wade could see books – opened and closed – littering the surface of the wood that most probably originated from a bookshelf tucked neatly in between the wall and the table. The floor was the same as it was out on the hallway – wooden boarding – but a large part of it was covered by a bushy carpet that gave the room a cosy feel. Wade spotted her the moment he entered, cowered in the corner between the bed and the furthest wall. She had flaming red hair and was dressed in her pyjamas, looking for all the world, terrified. The girl spoke first.

"You're here to catch me."

The words formed a statement more than a question. A gifted telepath even at this age… Wade thought to himself as he shrugged lightly.

"Yep."

"Why?"

The girl asked, moving to rise from her hiding place.

"I was told to."

"And you do everything you are told to?"

Wade paused as something bubbled inside him. Rage? Irritation? He was not really sure.

"I'm sorry."

With the statement out, Wade drew both his guns, and rapidly fired the one loaded with bullets. As he had expected, they were stopped in mid-air and flew harmlessly onto the bed that separated the two. He then fired off shots from his tranquilizer-loaded gun, achieving his goal. The girl had been focused on removing the immediate threat and for all her abilities at this age, simply could not stop that many projectiles coming at her so quickly. The darts buried themselves in her neck as the girl doubled over slightly, glaring at Wade. Something in her eyes flashed, turning them a bright and fiery red before she fell to the ground. Returning both his guns to their holsters on his sides, Wade moved forward, going around the bed before bending down and picking up the girl, throwing her petite form over his shoulder fireman style.

After getting a good grip on his new captive, Wade withdrew a blade with his free hand and hit the butt of it into the window, shattering the glass and revealing the cool night before him. Taking in a deep breath, he stepped up to the windowsill, his feet protected by the heavy-duty boots he was wearing, and jumped.

He stuck the landing well, as he rose and turned back to the mansion. Retrieving the pouch that stored his arsenal of grenades, Wade pushed down the central control as every one of the bombs lit up into life. Tossing the bag behind him, Wade continued to move forward, adjusting his grip on his new baggage. The grenades exploded in a flurry of flame and sparks as it moved to engulf the building. Wade did not turn back, did not bother to look at the fire bend to form a sphere around the mansion, did not bother to see the inferno part and dissipate into the air, and did not bother to watch the rain that abruptly descended upon the plot of land that the mansion stood on. As Wade walked away, one final thought unburied itself in his mind, a foreign thought that had a calming and smooth voice, one that he guessed he could now recognise in his sleep.

"You're better than this Wade. All you have to do is forgive yourself."

Before he knew what he was doing, Wade found himself replying, thinking his response instead of speaking it.

"I can't."

And with that, Wade teleported, disappearing into a cloud of red smoke and dust with Jean Grey slung over his shoulder.

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