Disclaimer: Marvel? Who? Oh those…yeah, these characters belong to them and not me. Why do you ask?
Author's notes: My contribution to the DDFH AU-theme week. Very loosely based on Gulliver's travels (we get there eventually)…and somewhat loosely based on the X-men as well…I've tried to make it possible for the story to be a stand-alone (so I can finish it in time for the theme-week) but with the option of continuing later on. Scratch that. That was just the plan… it turned out to be another WIP…instead of finishing the other one. Just my luck…
Archival rights: DH is automatically allowed to. Everyone else, ask first. London
Logan Wilson was on the dole. He had been that many times before and didn't let that bother him in the least. Something would always show up sooner or later, or he might just do what he had done so many times before - create his own opportunities. Said opportunities had not always been on the legal side of the coin. Another thing that didn't bother him. Much. He had to make a living after all and he also tried to silence his conscience by telling himself that what he did was the work of a mere slacker trying to make ends meat, not the work of a hardened criminal that would do anything for money.
When the days became weeks and the weeks became months he got more and more frustrated though. Nothing whatsoever was showing up and he didn't want to go down the illegal route unless he really was out of options and, more importantly, out of cash. He still had his emergency stash but it was just that, for emergencies. So far it wasn't an emergency.
One evening when he was sitting in his favourite pub he ran into an old acquaintance of his, a guy going under the name of Remy LeBaue. Logan was wondering, and not for the first time, if that was really LeBaue's real name. The name sounded French and he had a thick French accent but considering some of the things LeBaue's been doing, it would be stupid of him going round using it in case the cops ever get on his track. Still, Logan knew better than to ask - especially since Remy's proven to be useful in the past. Logan knows that he's been useful to Remy as well and that's the only thing that bonds them together.
Remy walks up to Logan, ordering a glass of red wine. Logan just rolled his eyes and took another swig of his beer, trying hard not to look into LeBaue's creepy red eyes.
"Hi Logan. Long time, no see."
"Not long enough. Last 'mission' you sent me on almost got me killed."
"Ah, well. Sorry about that. Who could have foreseen that those pieces
of paper were that hot, eh?"
"Hmph."
"Well, let me make it up to you eh, homme? I have a job for you."
"I rather figured that. That's the only times when you and I meet."
"Interested?"
"Depends on what it is."
"Ah, yes. Naturally. Something right up your alley, mon ami. Cage fighting!"
"What's that?"
"What? I don't believe it! A natural fighter like you that hasn't heard of
cage fighting?!?"
"Believe it."
"I still don't but I'll humour you, okay? Picture a big cage okay? Two men
enter the cage and they fight in every way possible until just one's still
standing!"
"What's in it for me?"
"The money! It pays tons of money! You wouldn't believe how much
the audience is betting on the outcome and how much tip the fighters
get, especially from the women. You'd fit right in!"
"Why now then, huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that this is something you must have been doing for some time
the way you say it. Why do you want me for it now?"
"Nothing escapes you, Logan. That's why I always picked you
for those really dangerous jobs!"
"Enough of the flattering, LeBaue."
"Right. To answer your question, let's just say that the money
in it has gone down as of late because our current champion's
been too victorious. Good for him of course but it's no sport
if you always know who's gonna win is it? Too boring!"
"That still doesn't answer the question: why me?"
"Homme, because you're a natural fighter! I won't kid you,
this other guy is too but that's what's gonna make your fights
draw so much crowd once the word is out. The more people
watching, the more money you make. What do you say?"
Logan didn't have to think about it for all that long. No matter what he had said to LeBaue he did trust him. Not completely but as a "business-partner".
"Okay, I'm in."
"Alright! I knew it! I knew it!"
Logan almost had to punch him out to get a word in edge-wise when Remy's excitement just kept on increasing.
"Okay, okay Remy! Calm down!" Logan said while giving Remy a couple of slaps on the cheeks. "Calm down now! I need some details on this."
Eventually Remy calmed down enough to say "No, no.
No details. That would ruin most of the sport for me.
I'm not into this just for the money, you know. I can
only give you one thing now, the rest you get to know
when you need it."
"Alright then. Thank God for small mercies I guess."
"Your opponent's name. It probably won't mean
anything to you though, but take it from me. He's
good!"
"Yeah, you've said that already! Who is he?"
"He goes by the name of Creed."
TBC