Chapter 14

Crouched on the wall no one saw him. Whenever a guard came walking past they swept their flashlight in every direction but up where the intruder lay. Eyes narrowed, the intruder watched as the man walked past counting in his head the time it took for the man to sweep around the compound again. Once the man had disappeared around a corner the thief dropped down silently to the ground in a crouch before making his way quickly across the open ground. He then quickly slipped into the shadow of another building to avoid detection.

Right behind him he heard the slight rustle of cloth as Daken followed after him. It had taken the better part of two days for Remy to convince the young feral to allow him to do the job. At first Daken had been adamant against his Cajun going. Yet it had been Tyger who had supported Remy stating the man had expertise sneaking into places where no one should be able to go. He also possessed a vast knowledge of disabling security systems in order to cover any tracks he might make along the way.

Daken joining him had been a last minute decision. At the last moment Daken had declared his intentions to come with his lover to keep any eye on him. In the event they failed, the man claimed he would be able to easily get them out of harm's way and back to Madripoor. Despite his misgivings, Remy agreed, deciding it was better to have his lover covering him.

As they drew deeper into the fortress, Remy could not help but feel his heart pound. A sense of excitement invaded his senses as he was within mere feet of sentries posted around every corner. So close he could smell the sour stench of their unwashed bodies or hear them complaining about next week's shifts. Behind him Daken stayed alert for anyone who might notice them.

The only qualms Remy had about the entire affair had been Daken's choice of attire for the mission. As usual Remy had gone with his customary trench coat, black shirt and pants, as well as military boots with steel in the toes should he get into a fight. Daken had gone with a crazy get up in which he wore black spandex almost head to foot. A black mask with white eye slits covered his face with the nose part yellow. Around his midsection were wrapped what appeared to be bandages and slashes of red along the sleeves.

At first Remy had laughed at the ridiculousness of the costume. Only to realize when his lover scowled at him Daken truly meant to wear it. So a couple hours later the Cajun found himself trying not to stare too long at Daken. Wondering what in the world had entered his lover's head when he had had the outfit made.

It was easy enough slipping beneath the radar of the men. Coming up to a panel, Remy took out a small chip and opened the box. All he had to do was slip the chip inside and it would begin to disable the traps for that area. There were four boxes in total he had to get to and then turn off the main power. Next they would go into the basement to turn off the generators. That would be the signal for Tyger's men to storm the place. Not when the light went out the first time, but the second time. That would allow him and Daken to walk out unmolested once Tyger had the perimeter secured. Easy enough, in theory. Provided neither of them messed up.

"How is it lookin' right now cher?" Remy whispered to his lover, his lips barely moving. Daken smirked, coming up behind the Cajun. Remy had to resist laughing each time he saw the outfit. As if sensing his humor, Daken shot him a glare even as he pressed himself against the wall to peer around the corner.

"No one has noticed us. If we linger they'll find us soon enough." Daken whispered back. Grabbing the Cajun's hand he led him away from the box, slipping easily through a screen door that had been left open to let in the cool night air.

Once inside Remy shook his lover off, stepping softly as a cat as he slid along the wall. Following close behind, Remy kept an eye out for any wandering guards. A flicker of movement atop the wall across the compound caught his eye for an instant. When he stopped to gaze at the spot, Daken hissed at him to keep going. Shaking his head the Cajun began to walk again wary of delusions. Perhaps he had more brain damage then Daken had been willing to admit to him.

As they came to the second box without hassle, Remy saw a flicker of movement again. The figure was crouched but moved quickly across the wall. He watched with a growing sense of unease, spotting what seemed to be the glint of a sword in the pale light before it seemingly vanished again. Daken didn't appear to notice any difference, working the panel off with his claws and being careful not to make a sound.

"Daken, hey, cher." Remy whispered, his eyes sweeping the compound now as he searched for the figure.

"What?" Daken snapped, irritated. Ignoring his lover's annoyance, Remy gestured up towards the wall.

"I think we're being-"

"HEEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO? ANYONE HOME?! Anybody? Come ON! I was on a boat for twelve fucking hours and you guys can't even open the damn door? ASSHOLES!"

"…followed." Remy finished. The voice had come over the speakers of the compound which had confused the guards. His ears rang as the Cajun tried to place the voice. It sounded familiar. Who did he know had the audacity to announce themselves in such a heavily guarded place?

"Heeeellllllooooooooo?! Okay, I'll just start blasting shit up until someone comes out. Or everyone is dead. Either or snore, core, more, hard core, Morris, Chorus…"

Grabbing Daken, Remy shoved him back inside just as he heard the spatter of automatic gunfire going off. All over the compound the shouts of guards came back to them as the men ran about. Yelling into their radios to nullify the intruder who had just crashed in. Not too far off, Remy heard explosions going off; no doubt from whomever had broken in. At his side, Daken bristled as he took out his own radio and was talking urgently into it.

"Chimichanga! Taco! Chimichanga! TACO! Really? You don't get the joke? I do!"

Despite the gunfire, Remy recognized the voice. He turned his head still searching for the source. Over the intercom now he heard the mob boss shouting orders to his men. Still, it had been close. Then to his astonishment, or perhaps he should have expected it, he saw Deadpool come into view. Seemingly unscathed, Deadpool expertly walked along in the floodlights of the compound as if he were strolling through a park; only pausing in his slaughter to reload one of his guns before continuing to shoot.

Gambit stepped back, meaning to slip away in the wake of Deadpool's carnage to escape his notice. He was no fool. He remembered distantly he had paid the mercenary to leave him alone rather than fight him. To take him on would be suicide. Deadpool had accepted eagerly, declaring he now had enough to cover his guinea pig budget. Deciding not to question the man, Remy had hurried him along.

Catching sight of the Cajun, Deadpool stopped altogether. Withdrawing his staff grimly, Remy wondered how best to drive the mercenary off. His memories of having last met the mercenary were vague at best. The only reason he recalled him now was because he had such a… Distinctive personality.

"Gambit! Hey buddy, how you doin? Ready to rock and roll?" Deadpool barked happily, using one of his guns to motion the other man over. Turning suddenly, he shot another guard in the head in a spray of blood and brains. Staring, Remy wondered if he had not also gone insane.

"Deadpool, you ruined my job, cher. You mind?" Remy said. He remained within the safety of the building. He would rather keep his distance from the crazy man rather than risk coming over to him. If he kept the mercenary talking he would not shoot him. At least Gambit hoped it would be the case.

"I did? Well, you see, funny thing is I have a contract. Sorry I ruined it for you. But I gotta eat too, man. Come on. Mr. Snookums hasn't had nothing to lick but his balls for the past three days!" Deadpool declared, shaking his head. Not too far off several of the guards had gathered to together to charge the crazy man. Not even looking behind him, Deadpool held a gun behind his back and shot them all dead in a manner of seconds.

"Ah, mon ami, if you were hungry all you had to do was say so. Dere's a Taco Bell not far from here you know." Remy replied as he stepped back further into the house. Behind him he heard Daken shift, ready to either attack or flee he did not know.

"Have you tried deir new Doritos tacos? Remy heard dose were good. Nacho Cheese an' Cool Ranch flavor."

"Nacho cheese! HA! Good one, Gambit, I like that. No, I haven't. ANY tacos are good but I dunno about these new ones. I mean, I've had a serious relationship with the classic tacos for so long, I dunno if I should trade them in for these new ones. Then again I like Doritos too." Deadpool rambled on all the while striding closer to the Cajun. Occasionally he would stop to send a warning shot at a few men who beat a hasty retreat. All around the compound were littered dead bodies in spreading pools of blood. The efficiency with which the other man had so easily killed the men left the Cajun feeling sick even if he did not show it on his face.

"Since you're on de job, cher, don't let me stop you. Go get yo' target so Remy can retrieve his item. Don't kill de police officers outside of de walls though. They're friends of mine." Gambit told him. He had no doubt in his mind Deadpool already knew about the officers, but had not engaged them in favor of killing the men inside. To his relief, Deadpool shrugged his shoulders in agreement.

"Alright, fair enough. Except for one minor miscalculation on your part."

"What would dat be, cher?" Remy asked him. This time Deadpool put away his gun, reaching back to unsheathe his two katana blades. The deadly metal caught the light as he twirled them expertly in his hands.

"You're my target." Deadpool answered, advancing closer. Just as Gambit raised his staff prepared to meet him ,Daken stepped out from behind him. With a roar he flew at Deadpool who, despite the mask, yelped in surprise upon seeing the young feral. He parried the first couple of blows before he began to receive his own hits.

Gambit withdrew two cards but did not charge them as he held his staff lightly in his hand, watching as the two spun and stabbed. Deadpool had the greater reach with his katanas, but whenever he cut Daken, the feral only healed. The opposite was true for the mercenary whenever he was cut. Not only would his skin heal, but so would his suit. Circling around behind them, Remy saw his opening when Daken had managed to get Deadpool's attention fully on him.

Charging his staff, Gambit began a vicious assault on the mercenary from behind, aiming for vital points. Deadpool grunted under the blows, but did not slow. If anything it only served to fuel the mercenary's fighting prowess as he began to simultaneously block blows from both combatants in a dizzying whirl of his blades.

Then a well-aimed strike sent Gambit's staff flying through the air above his head several yards away. He felt the stinging blow on his hand from the flat of Deadpool's blade even as the mercenary whirled; slamming both swords down with all his might to drive Daken back. Daken raised his claws, blocking the swords just in time, but now locked in place as the mercenary began to push him back and force him away from Remy.

"You know he said… You might… Attack me if… I didn't… Explain myself… First." Deadpool grunted from the effort of keeping Daken's claws locked in place, preventing him from attack. Already Remy had begun to charge his two drawn cards, ready to throw them at the man's feet. It would create enough of a distraction for them to escape. What then, though? Deadpool could be as ruthless as… As….

Logan. The name came unbidden to Remy's mind. Flashing across his mind's eye as he suddenly felt a shoulder brush against his side. He imagined a man shorter than him, with a growling voice and a mean look in his eye. Yet even so Remy felt he could trust the man as the voice spoke to him.

You ever get in a bind and I can't help ya, get Deadpool.

You're kiddin', cher. Remy is goin' nowhere near dat nutcase.

Just listen to me for a sec! I know it sounds counter intuitive, but trust me. Seek him out. You hafta to play your cards right with him, but if you do and get to him to like ya, he'll protect ya.

You be cute when you try t' lie to a master thief.

Dammit, Cajun! I'm SERIOUS! Just do it, alright? Deadpool will answer your questions. Yeah the guy is crazy and runs his mouth, but he's capable. Ain't half as bad as he thinks he is, either. But don't tell him I said that.

Why not?

He'll never shut up about it.

BANG! BANG!

Remy froze, coming back to his senses. He still felt confusion when these waking memories took hold of him. Deadpool and Daken had taken the fight several yards away from him. Having thrown back the feral with relative ease, Remy woke up in time to see the mercenary draw his gun. Without so much as a twitch, Deadpool shot Daken twice in the chest at point blank range. A look of surprise crossed the feral's face as he fell back.

For a moment Remy could see Daken's heart beating within his shattered rib cage. His lungs heaved to draw breath as he staggered back, making a low wheezing sound as he tried to talk. Frowning, Deadpool aimed again and shot twice once more. Once in Daken's still beating hard and another time in the head. The body fell back without so much as a twitch.

Stunned, Remy stared at the corpse of his lover, unsure of what had just happened. Distantly he was aware of Deadpool approaching him. He felt he should run or at least defend himself. Yet he could do nothing but stare at the corpse as if he expected it come back to life. Before he knew it, Deadpool had grabbed his arm, apparently trying to drag him away. Remy yanked his arm away from the mercenary, staring at him with a mixture of horror and shock.

"You didn't have to kill him." Remy said. His voice sounded hollow to his own words. Glancing back at the prostrate form, Deadpool shrugged, seemingly unconcerned for his victim.

"He's gonna live. Junior here inherited Daddy's healing factor. Now, maybe if I planted some C4 around him-"

Gambit walked past Deadpool, bumping his shoulder against the mercenary as he walked by. The movement disguised the thief filching one of the automatic glocks the mercenary had on his belt. Slipping a charged card where the gun had been a moment before, he kept walking. Behind him, he heard Deadpool make an irritated sound at being ignored.

"Buddy, come on! If I don't take you in I don't get paid! Then how will Sheila eat? My poor, darling Sheila! She starves so!" Deadpool exclaimed, putting a hand over his heart. Remy counted in his head as he walked over Daken's body, averting his eyes so he would not have to gaze at him as he turned around to face Deadpool once again.

"Deadpool, what's black and red and goes boom?" Remy asked him. Deadpool gave him a confused look, still unaware he had been robbed.

"I dunno, what? Oh, wait, I bet it's a bunny with C4 right? Or even better, DAKEN on DYNAMITE!" Deadpool said eagerly. Just then the card on his belt exploded, blowing off most the meat on his right side.

Gambit watched as Deadpool fell over, his legs mangled beyond use. One had been blown several feet away from the mercenary in the blast. Still, even then Deadpool moved, struggling to raise himself on his one good arm. Despite the blast, his mask remained intact as he dragged himself forward towards the Cajun, leaving a trail of blood and guts in his wake as he struggled.

"Hey man, that ain't cool. He hired me too… Well fuck me, you're a jerk." Deadpool complained, glaring at the Cajun. Gambit walked closer so he stood over the torso, glaring down at him coldly.

"Who hired you to come after me?" Remy demanded of him. At this Deadpool snorted, muttering a few curses under his breath.

"Who the fuck else, you bully? Logan. HELLO, your boy toy friend thing or whatever the fuck it is you too do. Always up each other's asses? Fuck if I know, I ain't into that shit."

"Logan?" Remy repeated. Again he felt as if those blue eyes were gazing at him, begging him to recall some distant memory he had forgotten.

"Well, yeah, the Wolverine? Duh, he said for me too… What did he say? Huh, I forget…. Wait! Note, he gave me a note to give you! It's um ah..." Deadpool twisted around seemingly patting his chest for something. Remy forced himself to watch the grotesque scene as the man searched, finally coming up with a small slip of paper which he held out for the Cajun.

Remy came forward only enough to snatch the paper from Deadpool's hand, unrolling it to read it. He felt confused now as he continued to watch Deadpool with one eye who seemed annoyed at being made to wait. Did it not occur to the man he could draw his gun and shoot his questioner? Glancing back down at the note, he read it, slowly mouthing the words under his breath so he would not miss anything.

Rims,

I don't gotta tell ya something happened to me. If you're reading this then something happened to both of us. Now just trust me on this one. What I'm about to tell you is the craziest shit I've ever said in my life.

TRUST DEADPOOL. GO WITH HIM.

I know you wanna ask why. You want answers. Hell, if you're reading this now you may not even remember who are. I may not remember who I am. But damn if your life didn't depend on it I wouldn't be makin' ya go with this guy.

Crazy, I know, but still. Go with Deadpool. Tell him to take you to Loki. If you lost your ring tell Wade to take you to Captain America then. He'll help you get your ring back.

I know it's hard to read this Rims and believe me. You're actually sleeping right now in our shared room. I'm writing this about two weeks after I gotcha back. Remember, Sabretooth? Yeah, I know you do.

I realized I never made a backup plan in case something ever happened to either one of us. It's you I'm worried about, not me. I'm expendable, but you Rims? There's only one of you.

Deadpool is bought and paid for. He'll help you for as long as you want or until you find me. So if he asks for money say to him, "Where did you bury the girl?" He'll get it. Trust me. After that he shouldn't give you any trouble.

Hang in there, Rims. I hope nothing bad has happened to you.

With all the love I bear you,

Logan

Gambit read it once, twice, and then a third time. After a few minutes he folded the paper up until it was nothing more than the size of a quarter, reaching down to slide it into the back of his boot. He felt the small bulge there comforting to him even if he could barely believe what he had just read.

"You owe me extra for this, you know that? I didn't sign up for this." Deadpool complained. Remy studied the mercenary for a moment, his mind beginning to work.

"Where did you bury the girl?" Remy asked him. At this Deadpool's eyes narrowed but he fell into a sullen silence, muttering under his breath how unappreciated he was. Remy waited another moment before he raised the gun pointing it at Deadpool's head.

"That's my favorite gun! Give it back!" Deadpool said reaching for it. Gambit didn't hesitate as he pulled the trigger watching as Deadpool's head snapped back from the blast. Then the mercenary's entire body slumped onto the ground leaking blood.

"Bang, you dead." Remy said grimly. He emptied the bullet chamber into the dead man's skull for good measure. Blood spattered on his trench coat and face as he continued to shoot Deadpool's body. When he heard the click of the empty chamber, he retrieved the mercenary's other gun, and both katana swords which had somehow escaped the blast. Just as Remy stepped away from Deadpool's corpse Tyger burst in with her security force, a gun aimed and ready. When she saw the blood slaughter she had only to look at the corpse on the ground and the grim face of the Cajun to know what happened.

"Mercenary?" Tyger asked him as she came over. Remy nodded as behind him Daken stirred with a groan, rolling over as he stood up. Other than the dried blood and weary look on his face, the young feral seemed perfectly fine.

"What happened?" Daken asked groggily as he staggered over to Remy. He stopped when he saw his Cajun was splattered with blood. Glowing red eyes glared at the feral as if he meant to kill him too.

"Nothing, cher. Remy went bang and Deadpool went boom. Simple physics." Daken nodded glancing, astounded at the mercenary and then back at his lover. After a moment he shook his head, going over to throw an arm around Remy's neck kissing him on the cheek.

"Good job, love. Do you want to hang these on the wall as souvenirs?" Daken asked taking one of the katana blades and admiring it. Casting one last glance at the corpse, Remy shook his head uncaring.

"Do whatever de hell you want wit' it."