Blood Red Tears
Chapter 6
House Of The Rising Sun
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one
He despised team work.
Fuck, back in the army people were afraid to assign him anywhere. If folks got too damn itimate he tended to forget which side he was on and trash anyone within a five mile radius.
He was a good soldier though. So damn good they overlooked his 'temper'.
'Perfect for suicide missions.'
He was a killing machine.
'Natural born killer.'
A warrior.
"Fuck this."
In a swift, impatient motion he pulled out a cigarette from his tight, faded jeans and
titled his hat forward to protect his face from the heavy rain. He lit up and hid under a canopy .
'Looks more like a bloody strainer than anythin' alse.'
Glaring ahead at the rain he blew out the smoke, ignoring the tall blonde woman passing him.
God, he hated this weather.
Something about 'The Big Easy' made him especially uneasy.
Paying off debts was a bitch.
My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new bluejeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans
' I could be hidin' in any place on the fuckin' globe and of all the places to be I had to end up here!'
He shouldn't be thinking like that. He could be anywhere alright. But if he was anywhere alse, on his own, it was a sure thing they would find him.
And so he was stuck, waiting here, in some surprisingly shady corner of the French Quarter.
' Let 'em try! No matter how posh they wanna be, a rat will always be a rat and you can't get rid of the stench.'
He needed this. He needed them. And that thought alone made his blood boil.
He clenched his fist around the still lit cigarette and took a step into the rain.
" I always knew you had a torture fetish..."
" Fuck off."
He walked past the smirking blonde and turned into a dark alley behind the mansion.
" Tsk, tsk, tsk. Is that any way to talk to your team mate?"
He whirled around suddenly pinning the amused woman to the wall.
" Listen and listen good lil' girl. So far there's only one person onthe face of this god forsaken planet that I might consider ever teamin' up with, but seein' as he's a little cold at the moment, the chances of me bein' a team player again are pretty damn slim. To me yer nothin' more than a little fuckin' inconvenience so shut the hell up and don't fuck with me!"
" Funny... By the position you got me in, I got the vague impression that was just what you wanted me to do."
Unimpressed by her purring voice and flirty attitude , he stepped back and pushed her away forcefully.
Without another glance he continued on, deaf to the blond's protests.
'M'better off without her. Don't need any damn rookie wanderin' round pointlessly! The guild shoulda known she'd jus' slow me down, they all do.'
Clearing his throat uncomfortably he couldn't help the unwelcome feeling of guilt that crept up in the pit of his stomach. He did owe her.
Blaming the sudden apperance of a concience on the apparent lack of booze in his system, which was indeed a first for him since he came here, he pushed forward, pretending not to care.
' Don't need no one.'
A man in hiding couldn't afford attachments.
Just as he was about to push open a door a strong hand gripped his shoulder.
" That is no way to treat a lady. Remember your place."
Deciding not to dignify the owner of the heavily accented voice with an answer he simply grunted and shook off his arm ready to carry on.
" Wait. Today you go alone. We have another mission for her, she needs to-"
" Listen blondie, I don't care who she's assasinatin' just leave me the fuck alone!"
And without another glance he strode through the door, not particulary eager to reach his meeting, but wishing to rid himself of his unfortunate companions as soon as possible.
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk
After crossing two corridors he slowed down his pace, deciding he put enough distance between himself and the blond nuisances. Passing numerous guards he threw them dirty looks, challenging each of them to stop him. It was a futile effort though. As much as he needed to take out all his everpresent frustration on some pathetic thug, he knew they were instructed to stay out of his hair.
'Pity.'
Finally, he reached his destination. Without stopping he kicked the heavy, wooden door open and confidently walked in.
" Ah mon ami, do mind y'r entrance! Replacin' de door after y' every visit is quite costly, non?
The man just snorted crossing his arms over his chest impatiently.
" Eager fo' ano'der assignment I see?"- the pause, not really a wait for an answer, was used to fill the glass the older man was holding.
" Y' did always have a temper... Ah well! As long as y' get de job done, ein?"
He shifted in his seat in order to face his guest completely.
" What I can neva figure out t'ough mon ami, is ...why don' y' value y' life?"
The man snoretd.
" If I didn't, would I be here, havin' you and yer damn guild keepin' my ass safe?"
" Hmm I guess not... but de way y' live, de way y' work, even de way y' drink! Everyt'in' 'bout y' is like y' enterin' a cassino wit' no will t' win! Like y' wanna bet every las' penny on a losin' number! And even t'ough y' fight I can see it's jus' fo' de sake of fightin', not winnin'."
" Must you reduce everythin' ta gamblin' blood sucker? You're quite a drinker yourself..."
" Ah wit' de name callin'! Please James we're all friends here, non?"
" Non. A friend wouldn't trick me into a contract he knew I despised fufillin'! Yer usin' me for yer bloody guild buisness! I'm not even workin' fer you like you said I would.You threw me to the assasins like a bloody token of appreciation fer not startin' another war between ya!"
The heated glare was completely lost on his concealed in shadow host. He just smiled amicably playing idly with the contents of his glass. Finally, his unnervingly calm demenour was broken by a deep, exagerated sigh.
"Ah, I 'ad 'oped it wouldn't 'ave t' come t' dat-"
A sudden noise from, what he knew to be a concealed wall entrance from a secret corridor, startled the stocky man. Assuming it was his 'friend's' way of disposing of his services he quickly assumed a fighting stance. Had he bothered to look at his companion's own shocked features he'd understand his error. Unfortunately his, primary instincts chose this moment to kick in.
Without missing a beat he lunged forward, kicking open the concealed door. To anyone alse, such a bold move wold prove to be fatal, seeing as whoever was on the other side would most likely be armed. He however, was no ordinary man.
Even before his sight had a chance to adjust to the darkness of the secret passage he had his attacker in a headlock, just a little short of cutting his artery with a sharp blade.
A sudden noise startled him out of his animalistic rage. He glared up sharply at the chucking man still sitting calmly in the shadows.
" Paranoia isn't de best of advisors mon ami... Now if y'd let go of mon fils, s'il vous plait?"
It took a while for the growling man to comprehend the words. Glancing down he felt like smacking himself.
There, chocking in his strong hold, was a terrified little boy, no more than six.
Murmuring gruffly, he let go of the squirming kid who, surprisingly enough , didn't chose that opportunity to seek refugee behind his pere's protective back. Instead he took a small step back and regarded both men wariely.
James instantly knew what was going on.
Oh mother, tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun.
Giving the kid a pitying look he noted how scruffy he looked.
" So ya can't even keep yer dirty paws of the poor street rats?"
The silent smile only fuiled his rage.
" Have you no shame? Goddamn he's just a kid! I thought the busty whores were more yer type but this... You disgusting little-"
His slow advance towards the eeriely calm man was stoped short by an invisible force blocking his path like a brick wall.
' A brick wall I can deal with but not his dirty little tricks.'
He busied himself calculating the distance between his blade and the bastard's throat.
" Now, now James . Do y' wish t' orphan de boy so soon... well, again? He's been t'rough so much already! Y' see when I said he was m' son I meant it..."
He trailed off flashing his fangs at the skinny child who instantly straightened up as if wishing to prove his worthiness .
He looked so serious.
'Like a damn toy soldier. '
The worst part was his eyes, or what they shone with. Already, there was something cold in them. So calculating, so inhumane. Stripped off his childhood. Just like all the street roamers.
" De truth is I saved 'im."
"From what? What could possibly be worse from the fate you bring him?"
' If he laughs at me again I swear I will bathe my blades in his stolen blood!'
" Y' misunderstand. Not long ago, I was out on a... hunt. Walkin' back in de most beau heure o' de night I feel dis petit hand sneaking into m' pocket. De funny t'ing is I neva enven felt 'im sneak behind me! So y' see, in mon possition, I 'ad two choices. Kill de offending streetrat for dishonoring de Guild like dat, or congratulate 'im on gettin' closer dan anyone eva befo!"
Finally he stood up, showing his great height and stepped up to the boy, beaming down at him proudly.
" Kid's got potential, eh?"
James' muscles tenesed again. He tipped his nose impatiently.
" Touchin' story. So what arentcha tellin' me."
" Mais oui, I coul' neva fool y'..."
Laughing bashfully he dismissed the boy who simply walked off to a different part of the huge office, carefully inspecting it's ancient contents.
" Is he the kid ya send for that day? I may not have been here but remember, that was a pretty bold move. Everyone heard 'bout it. Stealing him from a church like that!"
" Less jus' say I 'ad m' reasons, oui?"
" He looks awfully like ya. Skinny and dirty, but still, even moves like that, it ain't normal."
" So? Mebbe de street life payed off in de end.. I arranged fo' a different kind o' education but he turned out alright."
This time the vampire's smirk crossed the line. A powerfull punch connected with his face. Not expecting much of a reaction James crossed his arms over his chest again. The well dressed man just rose an eyebrow at him.
" Y' finished? Den listen. Dis-" he gestured at the boy, who tried too hard to faign disinterest in their conversation"- is our best chance o' finally winnin'! And if worse comes t' worse we can just make a bulletproof tie through les enfants! Don' worry James I am not as heartless as y' t'ink. I won' change him."
" Ya mean not yet! Yer usin' him like yer usin' me! Ya and Sirius are the very same! If only ya had the power ya woulda sold poor Mattie to those damn assasins and made her marry that little boy of his!"
" Marius, is sixteen , which by guild laws makes him a marriable adult. But dat is not de point! All o' dis-"
For a second time that night, the man's self absorbed speach was cut short by an unannounced visitor. Well visitors actually.
This time however James' blades would come in very much handy for it was more than a wandering toddler.
Shifting his weight he delivered a swift kick to one of the masked attackers, simultaneously impayling the next straight through the heart.
'Jus' to be sure.' He smirked to himself.
Turning around to survey the damage and perform a not so discreet body count he noticed his surprised and by now quite infuriated 'fried' back away towards the exit, trying to save his sorry hide, as usual.
What striked him as odd, was his son's complete ignorance to the whole ordeal. The boy stood frozen in place, without fear, simply awaiting his fate.
" Remy! Allez-vous garçon fou!"
A sudden passion overcame him, making his enchanting eyes shine eerily.
" Non, je'm attedre mon destinée! Je suis Le diable Blanc, je ne mérite pas la vie!"
The ingrianed self-hatred almost made James smile in pity, thinking of how little the boy knew of what he truly was, or how close to the truth he'd hit. Still, there was a time, when he himself would've acted just the same, chosing death over a freakish existance. This just showed how speedy one's forced growing up could be.
However, this little show of humanity did not amuse his vampire friend.
Infuriated he grabbed a nearby attacker crushing his skull without a second though.
" Y' little salaud! Y' will come to m' dis instance without diobediance or I will show y' what it is t' dance wit' Le Diable 'imself!"
James itched to slice the offending bloodsucker into insolent little pieces, assuring no futher abuse befall the poor child. Provoked by a cursed prophetic name or not this was no way to treat a kid and even a cold blooded mercenary like him knew it. However all he could do was fend off the next assasins coming at him with ferocious strikes.
He was bound by a contract after all. One that would cost him much more then his life.
He was so close to breaking point though. Abandoning everything, forgetting his debts, disregarding honor and risking everything. Trying to make life his own once more, maybe even bringing the boy and woman along with him if he was feeling sentimental.
But deep down he knew this was nothing more than a heroic fantasy decaying somewhere deep inside what he once might've called his soul. While coldly fending off the ruthless assasins he suddenly realised just how thorn he really was.
Yet despite all his doubts he was still bound to this god forsaken place.
Well, I got one foot on the platform
The other foot on the train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain
His concious told him how very wrong this train of thought was. How hopless the situation. Yet still there he was, fighting for his blood thirsty Master, to save his sorry ass.
Suddenly a movement caught his eye. Blocking another attack he turned to see a lone figure advancing on the boy menancingly. His dear Père nowhere in sight.
Leaping across the room desperetely he landed in front of the terrified demon eyed child swiftly extending his sharp bone claws right in front of the child's face, shredding the darts aimed at him.
The kid, Remy was it? Stared shocked at James' amicably smirking face.
" Why would y' save m' ?"
" Cos' yo' jus' like-"
Before he could finish that sentance James felt a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He was caught.
Suddenly no movement was possible, his hands being tied forcefuly over his head, legs bound together tightly.
Damn him for not paying attention!
Damn him for being soft!
And then it dawned on him.
It wasn't just a usual Assasin attack. No, they wouldn't risk breaking the threaty just for the sake of disposing of Lebau's little boy. Not for a meaningles prophecy. Someone was helping them.
They have found him.
Feeling the soft pings of needles ripping into his flesh he trashed desperately trying to fight off their effect for all he was worth. With an inhumane effort he beat the machine holding him immobile to make sure the little runt was fairing ok. To his relief, in the heat of the ambush he was being pulled away and into the hidden corridors by a desperate Mattie.
James could've smiled. That girl had fire.
A cold laugh brought him out of his thoughts.
"And finally Lebeau's fidèle chien gets what was commin' fo' 'im!"
" I'd be careful what I was sayin' Marius. Ya know full well I tend to come back an' deal with... unfinished buisness."
Despite his predicament James still found it in him to smirk at the spoilt Assasin brat coldly. A promise of things to come.
The boy boiled with rage.
" De Corebeau! Knock 'im out! But be gentle chère ... remember they'll need some flesh t' experiment on!"
Bordeaux's insane laugh didn't chill James' blood as much as the sight of his lover advancing on him with that well known cold expression.
Before he had the time to regret their last encounter and how badly he treated her then, she was right in his face close enough to let him smell her uncertainity and feel her blond tresses brushing up against him.
" Myra..."
" Don't be. I'm sorry for the both of us..."
And true to her words her cold blue sorrowful eyes were the last thing he's seen before the pain from her blow shot through his spine and blackness overcame him.
He had lost and now he'd become the beast they wanted him to be.
Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one
Logan shot up in bed covered in cold sweat. Instinctively his adamantium laced claws extracted from his hands as a means of protection from...
From what?
A reoccuring nightmare?
Or maybe a forgotten past?
Whatever it was he'd have to face it alone, again regaining full conciousness to find himself in a trashed shredded room on foreign territory. But it wasn't so foreign. For years now he's been an on and off employee of the Xavier Institute. Trying to help a just cause and hopefully regain his past while he's at it.
But like always, the dream started fading away quickly after awakening, not to be found even by the greatest telepath.
All he was left to do was clutch at his aching arms, illuminating hot searing pain into the rest of his artificail skeleton before his healing factor started to kicking in. But he wished it wouldn't. He needed that. A painful reminder of his clouded past.
How ironic that his sole memory would be that damn Weapon X process.
Smelling blood he noticed heavy stains of the red liquid all over his bedroom. His concern was washed away when he realized it was his own.
Distractedly he noticed the self indulged wounds healing on his arm.
Before they scared completely he read his unconcious message.
Myra.
But that wasn't her name...was it?
" Looks like I'm due another field trip ."
Feeling another killer headache comming he laughed humorlessly.
AN: Woohoo finally! Again I am extremely sorry for the long wait but we all know what a bitch writer's block can be! In the end I decided not to make any major changes in the story, guess that's the best I CAN do! Pity. Anyway as you can see some things are moving forward, another delicious plot twist to keep, well mostly me up at night ; I hope ya'll liked it and are at least a BIT curious as to what happens next. Because believe me you haven't seen the half of it! Btw anyone guess what 3 'they's I was referring to? All I'll say is that despite what it seems everyone is somehow connected, there are no original ( non marvel) characters except for the ones already introduced, and well it's all easier to figure out than you might think! Btw the Rogue&co. plot will be back next chap, but this flashback will reurtn to claim its victims bwuahahahah.
Again what I feed on : REVIEWS! Pretty please with a bloodied whip on top?
The more I get the faster I update...hopefully -
Now the translations. Sorry if I messed this up too much but I never did pay too much attention at french.. eh:
Remy! Allez-vous garçon fou! – Remy! Come here you crazy boy!
Non, je'm attedre mon destinée! Je suis Le diable Blanc, je ne mérite pas la vie – No, I'm waiting for my destiny! I am the white devil! I don't deserve to live!
Salaud – bastard
fidèle chien – faithful dog
Disclaimer: Don't own XME or that wonderfull ballad that's been performed by all rockers out there and mutaded form a female version some hundred years ago... But still I claim complete ownership to James' torture fetish!