AN: No idea if anyone will be interested in reading this after so long but it is finally over! Thank you to everyone that has read this and reviewed or left kudos over time.
When Brock and Jack got back to AIM, Brock appeared pretty excited and it made Jack happy but he was also pretty damn confused. Brock hadn't given anything away and quickly lead him through the AIM base. They reached one of the labs and they were quickly met with an array of familiar faces, namely Dr. Dubois.
"You said it was all ready?" asked Brock as he shifted from foot to foot.
"Yes. Let me take you through them."
Jack followed behind curiously as he finally saw they were talking about a new set of gear and equipment. They had an extremely average, simple look to them, yet Dr. Dubois quickly proved that they were anything but.
When Jack actually started laughing at one point, Brock had to ask why and the other said, "You look like a damn kid at Christmas."
"I'm sorry if I think all this stuff is fucking cool," Brock replied with a roll of his eyes. "I mean boots that allow us to bend gravity and walk along walls, heated blades like all that Star Wars shit you dragged me into, hidden guns? This fucking rocks!"
Jack just snorted in response though Brock's excitement was a present in itself. Though Jack did like getting things like new weapons and better equipment, he always remembered that the day Hydra scientists introduced something new Brock was always the first one to check it out.
As they went over different weapons and they way the array of objects best fit of the body, Dr. Dubois added, "We've looked up another mission will need you for but we've been looking for other work as well. If you have any sort of political or religious preferences we can narrow the list but as of now, it's simply a list of people wanting a target neutralized, mainly for personal reasons, and who will pay a heavy price."
"As long as the price is high enough, it all sounds good to me," Brock replied. "Got any preferences Jack?"
"Not at all."
"Good, then how about we try some of these bad babies out on one of these extra cases."
"That would be fine with me. They've all been sent to your computer at your place," responded Dr. Dubois.
"Perfect. Will be in touch soon," said Brock as he gave a sloppy salute towards the man, not meant as rude but more so meant as a casual movement of acknowledgement like a shrug or wave. "Come on Jack. Let's have some downtime and figure out which one sounds the most fun."
Once again being amused by Brock's gleeful looks, Jack simply shook his head as he gave an exasperated sigh and followed the man. As they made their way out, Brock added, "All this gear is great but we still need something if we're doing this whole mercenaries thing and we're not just working for AIM."
"Like what?"
"I've been thinking up aliases. Not like simple names or something but like how Rogers' is Captain America," Brock commented. "I mean, it's easier getting around with a name, people get to know who you are and it can be easier to get clients, lets you have a reputation, but we sure as hell don't want to just give people our own damn names."
"Makes since but what did you have in mind?" asked Jack.
"Well there was that one time I had the codename Crossbones. Probably one of my favorite ones and I sure as hell could never make up one as interesting," replied Brock.
Jack snorted. "Goes with that damn harness you always wear."
"Fuck off! It does not," growled Brock. "Besides, you think it's stupid you can come up with a better one!"
"Crossbones is a fine name," Jack responded with a shake of his head. "But what would my name be? What goes good with Crossbones?"
Giving him a way over exaggerated look of shock Brock asked, "Seriously? What are the most natural three words that roll off the fucking tongue when you think Crossbones?"
"Skull and Cross-oh." Stopping midsentence, Jack thought it through in his head before saying it out loud. "Skull and Crossbones. Separately they're alright, I suppose you got the better one, but together…"
"Hey! You want Crossbones? You don't like it? Take it! I'll be Skull god damn it," Brock growled.
"I could care less and Crossbones fits you anyways. No, it's fine. Besides, since we're going to be together forever, Skull and Crossbones works," Jack responded with a light smirk.
"Don't be such a fucking sap," muttered Brock even though he was grinning wildly. They walked through the streets of Moldova to their place where they began going through the possible missions.
"This one could be interesting," Jack commented. "It's not an assassination but information retrieval. They need a code for this safe retrieved from this guy. Probably won't be to hard, the man looks like a wimp anyways, but it could allow us to practice most of the new equipment."
"Hmm…not a bad idea. This one here looks to fucking easy which either means the person asking for it is an idiot or there's a catch somehow. I'll have AIM look into it."
"Why?" asked Jack.
"Well if there is a catch, it could make it a very interesting mission. You know, let us have some fun, probably will be more action packed to," Brock replied.
Jack only snorted in response. "Hey, whatever you want. Nice and simple, fine. Blood and guts and shoot outs, that's fine too. You get the last call."
"Don't be like that. What would you prefer?"
"Personally, probably a swift entry, bust the door down and shoot all occupants inside but I know you enjoy a bit more fight," Jack replied as he nudged Brock with his hip, a smirk clear on his face.
"You offering one?" asked Brock, his tone suggestive.
"Sure, but an actual fight. After watching you and Winter go at it I realized we hadn't done that in a while. Trained, ran together, practiced our aim with a gun but we haven't really just sparred," Jack replied.
Nodding his head to that, Brock replied, "True, and it would certainly be a nice distraction too. Sure! Why the fuck not?"
Going into a different room, they went at it for a good fifteen minutes before Brock finally got the upper hand and had Jack on the floor. He looked like he might kiss him but before he could Jack did a fairly successful head butt.
His grip not loosening, Brock leaned away so that Jack was out of reach and growled, "Fuck, I was trying to be sweet you little shit."
"Yeah but the head butt was just to tempting to resist," Jack said with a smirk as he forcefully pushed upwards and gave Brock a peck.
"God I hate you."
"Of course you do," replied Jack still grinning as Brock only proceeded to jump back up and they went at it again.
They were on the mission that was more for fun and a bit of cash than for AIM. They'd kidnapped the man fairly quickly and despite his appearance, his resolve was stronger than expected which certainly made it more interesting for both men.
After about an hour of torture, Brock took out his gun and pointed and the man's head. He flinched, looked like he would piss himself if he hadn't already done so, but he still didn't say anything.
With a sigh and roll of his eyes, Brock muttered, "Alright, obviously you're willing to die to not give up this code. However, I would like to bring some interesting points up front." Taking out his phone, he drew up several files of information and continued with, "You don't have any kids which is a shame but you do have a wife and a mistress."
The man perked up at that as Brock gave him a disappointed look.
"That's not very nice of you. Your mother is also still alive. That's useful to," Brock commented. "Now, what's going to happen if you don't give of those codes is this. Your wife will find out you're a cheating scumbag and that your mistress is even pregnant, something that will probably piss her off even more. Then we'll kill you wife, your mistress, your unborn child, and send all that information to your mother along with pictures of your poor mangled body and if that doesn't give her a heart attack then and there…we'll kill her to. Now, please give us the codes. You're starting to make this boring."
"I-I-why would you-you wouldn't do that," sputtered the man. "Those innocent lives, it-you wouldn't be able to."
"First off, you don't know my fucking life. Second, believe me when I say I am purely capable and just to add something to it, I'll blow up your work place as well. That would be…what? Twenty people dead at least? Hundreds injured? Maybe more. It is a very concentrated building."
"But-but-but—"
"Oh, and just as an afterthought, if this ever happens to you again, the only reason somebody will ever give such wide and elaborate threats either means they are completely serious or that they're a newbie. I'd like to imagine that we've proved that we are quite provisional and quite serious so…what will it be?"
Thirty seconds later the man was giving them the code and Brock was sending it to their employer to make sure it was right. It was and about another ten seconds later, the sum agreed upon was transferred to the approved accounts.
"I suppose it's your lucky day. They're fine with letting you go," Brock said with a smirk as he put his phone away. Grabbing his things, he packed but made no move to untie the man.
"But you gotta let me go! You have-have to untie me! You said they-they were fine with letting me go!"
"Yes but all this has been really tiring and I just really don't think I have the energy to lift another finger. What about yourself?" Brock asked as he turned to Jack.
Jack let out a yawn in response. "I'm not sure. I'm pretty damn exhausted right now."
"Sorry, seems you're out of luck. Just remember that if you tell anyone of what happened I'll still kill anyone you cared about. Just as a little insurance."
"But who the hell are you!? What-why me? Why!?"
"You're not special if that's what you're thinking. You're just god damn job," Brock replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "And we're Skull and Crossbones. Nice doing business with you."
With that, Brock left and Jack followed, shaking his head. "You're so cheesy."
"What? I thought it was a nice fucking exit! Let me have my fun," Brock shot back.
Grinning, Jack muttered, "Whatever. Are we really just going to leave him there though?"
"I set an explosive to blow the door. If someone doesn't hear it then someone else will see the smoke and they'll go and get him. Simple as that and we'll be long gone as well."
"How kind of you," Jack snorted. "So, on to that mission AIM wanted done?"
"We're in fucking Japan! Do you realize how cool that is? I'm sure as hell not just leaving without at least seeing part of this island!"
"So a vacation."
"Why not? We're our own bosses. Seems like a good idea to me."
"Then a vacation does seem like a good idea," Jack replied. "Just tell me you're not going to finish all our missions with 'We're Skull and Crossbones'."
"Oh just shut up! It was cool alright!"
"Yeah whatever," Jack said with a shake of his head. "Cheeseball."
"Did you just call me a shitty ass cheeseball!?"
"Maybe."
"Oh just shut the fuck up and enjoy the damn vacation," grumbled Brock.
Jack snorted and gave Brock a quick kiss. "I love when you get riled up."
Letting out a groan response, Brock continued to drive to their hotel. "Believe me. I know."