NOTE: Thank you so very, very, very much Ravenclaw2 and Villainbabe for
your reviews, but I was certain you wouldn't abandon me. Thanks again.
Blues Goddess, thank you very much as well for being my new faithful reader and reviewer. Katya was just a one-chapter character, so you didn't have to like her. I'm very glad you liked Bullseye, though. Writing him well is my biggest concern. I have a question for you. In your story you said that Angelica is a drag queen. Now, I'm not native English and I wasn't certain what that meant so I checked the dictionary and there it said that a drag queen is a man who likes to dress like a woman. So, in your story, Angelica is a man?
PART 12: "Past and Present"
When Bullseye proudly entered Fisk's office, holding a beautifully carved, medium size, copper box in one hand, he was somehow surprised to see his employer having a relatively private meeting with Lara and Wesley.
"Back so soon?" Fisk asked when he noticed him come in.
Wesley turned top have a good look at the Kingpin's best assassin ever, while Lara barely glanced at him as he passed by her. Bullseye glanced back at her with his usual mocking smile on his lips, then turned to the Kingpin and placed the box on the desk, in front of him.
"Here're yer stones. I'll be expecting me pay now."
"I've already transferred the sum to your account, as we agreed upon," Fisk spoke while examining the box, then raised his eyes to look back at Bullseye "I knew this assignment would be quite easy for a man like you."
Bullseye sneered delighted at Fisk's compliment and then turned his gaze to Lara when the other two were concentrated on the box he had stolen. She raised an eyebrow questioningly and he just gave her a long look as if to brag with the new praise he had just received, taking into consideration the lack of interest she had shown towards his abilities -a thing that was beginning to annoy him more and more every day.
"Absolutely superb," Fisk exclaimed after finally opening the box and taking out one of the strongly gleaming green diamonds inside. It looked like cone, which had a head in shape of a quite large diamond that continued with a few inches long tail with a sharp end.
Lara seemed to be more intrigued than Fisk, Wesley, or Bullseye, who was standing there with his arms folded, looking at them with a bored expression, probably wondering for what reason he was still hanging around.
"These are without doubt no ordinary diamonds, but they look kind of familiar to me. May I have a closer look?"
"Certainly," agreed Fisk with a smile, handing the diamond he was holding to Lara.
She took it and began to analyze it closely, especially the long, pointy tale that had some small carvings on it. Wesley, who was sitting next to Lara on one of the two white chairs in front of Fisk's desk, bent slightly towards her to have a closer look at the fascinating green stones.
"Found something interesting?" Bullseye decided to break in their conversation. He placed one hand on the desk and the other one on the back of the chair Lara was sitting in, and bent very closely towards her. He tried to give the impression of being indeed interested but she easily noticed the mockery in his voice and eyes. She stared at him seriously for a few moments and then responded:
"The diamonds appear to be some sort of keys."
"Keys?" Fisk asked a bit confused.
"Yes; or at least they're meant to fit somewhere. Look at the long pointed end and the carvings on it," Lara informed him, giving him back the diamond.
Fisk studied it for a short while, then placed it back in the box.
"Nevertheless, I intend to sell them. NI have someone who is willing to pay almost 1 billion dollars for them."
Lara became more and more interested in the matter.
"Where exactly are the diamonds from?"
"They were discovered quite recently by some archeologists in Mongolia and they were taken to a history museum in Rome .. until I had them stolen, of course," Fisk ended the phrase with a satisfactory smile and reached for a cigar. Hi lighted it, took a few smokes, then continued. " .. I had a few problems because the diamonds had been stolen by two professional thieves shortly after they were brought into the US, but Bullseye took care to bring them back to me and see that those who dared to steel from we would never do it again."
Bullseye looked directly into Fisk's eyes as he spoke, receiving his second praise with great delight and a wider smile. And afterwards, when Fisk concentrated his attention on arranging the diamonds inside the box and closing the top, he gave Lara another ironical look, just like before and she responded once more with the same indifference and cold stare.
"Wesley .. ," Fisk spoke all of a sudden, startling both Lara and Bullseye, who were exchanging uncomfortably long stares, and Wesley, who was intrigued by the way the former two acted around each other. Fisk's voice made all three of them direct their attention towards him and Wesley took hold of the box containing the diamonds, that Fisk was handing out to him. " .. Take this box and lock it in the safe."
Fisk's assistant and right-hand man grabbed the box and went to execute his boss' order, disappearing into a narrow corridor, between the big glass wall behind Wilson Fisk's desk and the left wall.
As soon as Wesley left his sit, Bullseye hurried to occupy it, as he had really hated standing there like some ordinary employee, quietly awaiting his new orders. However, the chair he had sat on didn't satisfy him. It was a bit uncomfortable to sit in, not to mention it was non-movable and from the position it was in, Bullseye could not put his feet up the desk or at least stretch out his legs comfortably.
He preferred the Kngpin's chair, because it was twice as big, quite relaxing and what's more, on that side of the desk he would have so much space to move around or sit in any position he wanted. Yeah, he definitely loved that, especially because it made him feel like he was the one in charge, the one everyone must fear and obey.
These sort of thoughts went through Bullseye's mind at the moment. But, snapping back to reality, he moved around in the small space that made him feel as if he was trapped somewhere and finally found a relaxing pose to sit in. He placed one leg over the handle of the chair, that was now simply hanging above the floor, and stretched the other leg out, lying comfortably on his back, facing more Lara than Fisk.
Once settled comfortably and his mood ameliorating, he began starring at Lara once more, not because he didn't have anything better to do, but because he enjoyed irritating her and making her feel uncomfortable. He started roaming his eyes over her body, with a lustful glance and a wicked smile.
She was wearing a not too short skirt and a matching coat, under which she had a tight blouse that didn't have a very large cleavage but it was enough to give a sample of what was behind it.
Lara soon noticed what he was doing and as a response, she changed for a few seconds her black eyes into those glowing, yellow feline eyes, just as she had done on that roof a week ago, when she saved his life.
But this time he wasn't impressed at all. The mocking sneer never left his face, and to conclude, he twisted his lips as if preparing for a kiss. Lara tried to look indifferent at the so-called distant kiss he gave her, but deep inside she knew that there was nothing she wanted more at that moment than to throw herself into his arms and give in completely.
Fisk, who had too busy the past several minutes looking after Wesley to make sure the diamonds were put in a safe place, and didn't even notice when Bullseye sat down, finally noticed the way his top assassin was staring at Lara and quit frankly he wasn't too pleased.
"Well then .. ," Fisk spoke out loudly while standing up, distracting Lara and Bullseye's attention from each other; " .. now that the diamonds are back in my possession, we can finally get back to our regular business, .. isn't that right, Bullseye?"
Fisk pronounced loud and clear the assassin's name, in order to draw his attention when he saw that he was still busy starring at Lara.
"Just tell me whom I have to kill," Bullseye turned his head slowly towards Fisk, with a bored expression on his face, to show that he wasn't pleased with his boss's interruptions.
"I will contact you as soon as I have anew job for you. And like I said before, you've already received the money for bringing the diamonds so, you're free to go."
Bullseye didn't pay too much attention to what Fisk had said, but instead looked more at Lara, who was glancing back at him from time to time. Finally, he turned to Fisk again.
"Why d'ye want me to go? D'you two have something secret to discuss?"
"Even if we did, that wouldn't concern you," Fisk's tone and expression suddenly changed to a more serious one. Bullseye's attitude was beginning to irritate him.
"Oh, just let him stay if he wants to, or else we will spend the rest of the day arguing about it," Lara's patience was also beginning to run thin, and she looked at Bullseye while she spoke, hopping to make him understand that he was being a real pain.
But Bullseye didn't care what others thought; he liked being a pain to everyone else because he knew that everyone had their reasons to let him act as he pleased -either they feared him or needed him, and few would dare upset a man like Bullseye.
"All right then. So, Colonel .. or do you prefer to be called Lady Croft more?" Fisk asked while heading to his small bar, hidden in the right wall.
"You can simply call me Lara. There's no need to be formal at the moment."
Bullseye threw hi head backwards and made a face as if he was going to puke if he'd listen further to that ridiculous conversation; but neither of them paid attention to him.
"So, Lara, would you care for a drink?"
"Yes. Why not?"
"Hey boss, aren't ya gonna ask yer best assassin if he wants a drink?"
Fisk turned to Bullseye slightly annoyed, but with a smile on his face.
"Would you like a drink, Bullseye?'
Bullseye bent a bit forward and scanned the bar quickly.
"Ah ... naw!"
Fisk shook his head sighing and turned away from the assassin's amused expression. After filling two glasses, one of which he handed to Lara, the crime boss sat back at his desk.
"So, what's new?"
Lara took out a folder from her black leather briefcase and placed it on the desk, in front of Fisk. He opened it and browsed through the files while Lara began telling him about different operations the WLA organization had had in the previous months, about new weapons they acquired or new suppliers they had come in contact with lately and many other such problems, concerning the kind of business both of them were in.
Bullseye listened to their discussion for what seemed like a couple of long, boring hours, flipping constantly between his fingers a pencil he took from Fisk'' desk, or just tapping it against the table when his patience finally reached the limit and he decide to leave.
Before doing that, however, his eyes roamed over the office, trying to find any kind of target towards which he could throw the pencil he had wanted so much to impale somewhere, from the first time he saw it. Unfortunately for him, there were no available targets, not even one of Fisk's incompetent guards. He growled irritated, and with a swift movement he sneaked the pencil into his left pocked while he stood up.
"This is too damn boring. I'm outa here. Call me when you have a new job fer me," Bullseye told Fisk then turned to Lara " .. with yer permission, my Lady," he smirked and bowed mockingly.
Lara mimed a polite smile in response, trying to avoid looking into his eyes, knowing that she would be too captivated by them and would loose all contacts with the real world. And acting like a lovesick teenage girl wouldn't be the most appropriate thing to do when Fisk had his eyes on both of them.
When Bullseye finally left the room, Fisk turned to Lara with a half smile on his face and a kind of questioning expression.
"I don't mean to sound intermeddling or anything, but it seemed to me that you and Bullseye have a relatively close relationship. Or is it just me?"
Lara leaned back in the chair, tilted her head a little backwards and giggled softly.
" ... Oh, yeah, .. Bullseye and me, however strange it may seem, are quite good friends .. well, sort of; you know how he is. I first met him about ... 10 years ago, I think .. yes, 10 years ago, .. in Dublin; but I don't want to bore you with all the minor details."
"On the contrary, I would like to know more, if that is all right with you, of course."
"Fine then, but this means that I should have to start with the story of my life first."
"Please do, now that you've made me curious. And maybe this way I'll understand more about this supernatural phenomenon with vampires and everything, that simply crashed onto my head all of a sudden," Fisk gestured with his hands while speaking, to emphasize his bewilderment regarding this new odd priority added to his agenda.
Lara spent almost an hour telling Fisk all that he wanted to know about vampires and the supernatural but also about the two organizations: The Lin Kuei - who trained her to be a true warrior - and the WLA - who recruited her to protect the world against the dark forces.
She told him how some Lin Kuei assassins had killed her parents and kidnapped her when she was only a couple of weeks old, taking her to the organization's headquarters, somewhere in Eastern China. She told him about the way she was raised and trained, but also about how she had managed to escape with the help of a man named Abraham Whistler.
Her present assistant and best friend, Leah Lail, was also raised in the same military compound, only that she was spared of the physical training at which she wasn't too good at either, because of her extraordinary intelligence.
Once, Leah had managed to access some secret files and learn the truth about their origins, so, after she escaped, Lara went to live with her mother's family, in Egypt. Unfortunately, she couldn't take Leah with her.
In Egypt, she had the luck to meet the man to whom her father (a British nobleman) had given his fortune before dying. Therefore, soon afterwards, she went to live with this man, William Tavington, in her father's manor, in England, sharing the fortune as brother and sister, just like her father had requested in his will.
Then she told him how she had met Bullseye in a trip to Dublin, but she always refrained from giving too specific details, because she didn't like to share her, or someone's else's private life with someone whom such things wouldn't concern.
Thus, out of respect for Bullseye's privacy, she didn't tell Fisk his real name, his former occupations or the fact that the two of them had had a very close relationship. She simply told him that she noticed his potential and abilities when she met him and advised him to become an assassin. And, in order not to arouse suspicions, Lara was careful to mention that the friendship she has with Bullseye is of a rather professional nature.
Further on, she told him how the Lin Kuei found her and took her back, how they gave her the adamantium skeleton and the 10, one foot long adamantium claws that come out of her fingers, and finally, how she discovered her mutant abilities. She concluded her "story" with her working for the WLA and moving to New York.
Fisk listened attentive the whole time, asking some questions here and there. He wasn't really the man who enjoyed long boring talks such as this one, but he always liked to know the persons he was dealing with. He was running a risky business, after all.
But Lara's story impressed him and he admired her for the way she had handled herself in the past, for the professional and experienced assassins but also great leader she had become.
Furthermore, he was impressed by the fact that, if she could start her life from the beginning she would gladly endure once more all the tortures and almost inhuman training she had gone through, if they turn her in the strong and self-confident person she is today.
Meanwhile, in the big conference room at the WLA organization, General Stryker was having a monthly meeting with his officers -all mutants, each possessing a unique ability and some of them having a more or less human aspect. The priority of this particular meeting was a new vampire in town, but an old enemy of the WLA.
"Linus Dayo," Stryker spoke while Leah, who was operating the computer, making a hologram of the vampire appear above the projector in the middle of the table. "I suppose you're all familiar with him by now. He managed to escape us several times in the past, but now that he's back in New York, I hope you'll finish with him once and for all," the General addressed the officers on an accusative tone, thinking of their past failures.
At the General's sign, Leah changed the image and it now showed the image of a building.
"This is the boxing arena from Hell's Kitchen, the neighborhood I believe you know very well. He bought it recently, but this is probably just a cover for the real purpose he's back in town. You know he's dangerous and he might have something plot against us so take extra care. Smoke, I want you, Shade and Mystique to go there this evening and investigate further this matter."
"Yes sir," the captain nodded.
It was about a quarter to six when Lara left Fisk's office to pay a short visit to the New York headquarters of the international concern she was running. She had to have a social life to cover her real one, just like Fisk had so, when moving from England to America she managed to take the lead of a world renowned concern that had numerous architecture and design firms under it's coordination.
As the supreme manager of the entire concern she has to do almost nothing as she has many other employees running all the smaller firms. She just cashes her monthly profit and attends the annual meeting at which all the other directors take part.
Now, after almost seven months since she had last set foot in the concern's building in New York, Lara decided to make a short visit, in order to have a look at some new projects.
So, there she was, in the manager's office, sitting behind the desk, browsing attentively through some files, too concentrated to pay attention to what was happening around her, when suddenly she saw the shape of someone standing in front of the desk.
Blues Goddess, thank you very much as well for being my new faithful reader and reviewer. Katya was just a one-chapter character, so you didn't have to like her. I'm very glad you liked Bullseye, though. Writing him well is my biggest concern. I have a question for you. In your story you said that Angelica is a drag queen. Now, I'm not native English and I wasn't certain what that meant so I checked the dictionary and there it said that a drag queen is a man who likes to dress like a woman. So, in your story, Angelica is a man?
PART 12: "Past and Present"
When Bullseye proudly entered Fisk's office, holding a beautifully carved, medium size, copper box in one hand, he was somehow surprised to see his employer having a relatively private meeting with Lara and Wesley.
"Back so soon?" Fisk asked when he noticed him come in.
Wesley turned top have a good look at the Kingpin's best assassin ever, while Lara barely glanced at him as he passed by her. Bullseye glanced back at her with his usual mocking smile on his lips, then turned to the Kingpin and placed the box on the desk, in front of him.
"Here're yer stones. I'll be expecting me pay now."
"I've already transferred the sum to your account, as we agreed upon," Fisk spoke while examining the box, then raised his eyes to look back at Bullseye "I knew this assignment would be quite easy for a man like you."
Bullseye sneered delighted at Fisk's compliment and then turned his gaze to Lara when the other two were concentrated on the box he had stolen. She raised an eyebrow questioningly and he just gave her a long look as if to brag with the new praise he had just received, taking into consideration the lack of interest she had shown towards his abilities -a thing that was beginning to annoy him more and more every day.
"Absolutely superb," Fisk exclaimed after finally opening the box and taking out one of the strongly gleaming green diamonds inside. It looked like cone, which had a head in shape of a quite large diamond that continued with a few inches long tail with a sharp end.
Lara seemed to be more intrigued than Fisk, Wesley, or Bullseye, who was standing there with his arms folded, looking at them with a bored expression, probably wondering for what reason he was still hanging around.
"These are without doubt no ordinary diamonds, but they look kind of familiar to me. May I have a closer look?"
"Certainly," agreed Fisk with a smile, handing the diamond he was holding to Lara.
She took it and began to analyze it closely, especially the long, pointy tale that had some small carvings on it. Wesley, who was sitting next to Lara on one of the two white chairs in front of Fisk's desk, bent slightly towards her to have a closer look at the fascinating green stones.
"Found something interesting?" Bullseye decided to break in their conversation. He placed one hand on the desk and the other one on the back of the chair Lara was sitting in, and bent very closely towards her. He tried to give the impression of being indeed interested but she easily noticed the mockery in his voice and eyes. She stared at him seriously for a few moments and then responded:
"The diamonds appear to be some sort of keys."
"Keys?" Fisk asked a bit confused.
"Yes; or at least they're meant to fit somewhere. Look at the long pointed end and the carvings on it," Lara informed him, giving him back the diamond.
Fisk studied it for a short while, then placed it back in the box.
"Nevertheless, I intend to sell them. NI have someone who is willing to pay almost 1 billion dollars for them."
Lara became more and more interested in the matter.
"Where exactly are the diamonds from?"
"They were discovered quite recently by some archeologists in Mongolia and they were taken to a history museum in Rome .. until I had them stolen, of course," Fisk ended the phrase with a satisfactory smile and reached for a cigar. Hi lighted it, took a few smokes, then continued. " .. I had a few problems because the diamonds had been stolen by two professional thieves shortly after they were brought into the US, but Bullseye took care to bring them back to me and see that those who dared to steel from we would never do it again."
Bullseye looked directly into Fisk's eyes as he spoke, receiving his second praise with great delight and a wider smile. And afterwards, when Fisk concentrated his attention on arranging the diamonds inside the box and closing the top, he gave Lara another ironical look, just like before and she responded once more with the same indifference and cold stare.
"Wesley .. ," Fisk spoke all of a sudden, startling both Lara and Bullseye, who were exchanging uncomfortably long stares, and Wesley, who was intrigued by the way the former two acted around each other. Fisk's voice made all three of them direct their attention towards him and Wesley took hold of the box containing the diamonds, that Fisk was handing out to him. " .. Take this box and lock it in the safe."
Fisk's assistant and right-hand man grabbed the box and went to execute his boss' order, disappearing into a narrow corridor, between the big glass wall behind Wilson Fisk's desk and the left wall.
As soon as Wesley left his sit, Bullseye hurried to occupy it, as he had really hated standing there like some ordinary employee, quietly awaiting his new orders. However, the chair he had sat on didn't satisfy him. It was a bit uncomfortable to sit in, not to mention it was non-movable and from the position it was in, Bullseye could not put his feet up the desk or at least stretch out his legs comfortably.
He preferred the Kngpin's chair, because it was twice as big, quite relaxing and what's more, on that side of the desk he would have so much space to move around or sit in any position he wanted. Yeah, he definitely loved that, especially because it made him feel like he was the one in charge, the one everyone must fear and obey.
These sort of thoughts went through Bullseye's mind at the moment. But, snapping back to reality, he moved around in the small space that made him feel as if he was trapped somewhere and finally found a relaxing pose to sit in. He placed one leg over the handle of the chair, that was now simply hanging above the floor, and stretched the other leg out, lying comfortably on his back, facing more Lara than Fisk.
Once settled comfortably and his mood ameliorating, he began starring at Lara once more, not because he didn't have anything better to do, but because he enjoyed irritating her and making her feel uncomfortable. He started roaming his eyes over her body, with a lustful glance and a wicked smile.
She was wearing a not too short skirt and a matching coat, under which she had a tight blouse that didn't have a very large cleavage but it was enough to give a sample of what was behind it.
Lara soon noticed what he was doing and as a response, she changed for a few seconds her black eyes into those glowing, yellow feline eyes, just as she had done on that roof a week ago, when she saved his life.
But this time he wasn't impressed at all. The mocking sneer never left his face, and to conclude, he twisted his lips as if preparing for a kiss. Lara tried to look indifferent at the so-called distant kiss he gave her, but deep inside she knew that there was nothing she wanted more at that moment than to throw herself into his arms and give in completely.
Fisk, who had too busy the past several minutes looking after Wesley to make sure the diamonds were put in a safe place, and didn't even notice when Bullseye sat down, finally noticed the way his top assassin was staring at Lara and quit frankly he wasn't too pleased.
"Well then .. ," Fisk spoke out loudly while standing up, distracting Lara and Bullseye's attention from each other; " .. now that the diamonds are back in my possession, we can finally get back to our regular business, .. isn't that right, Bullseye?"
Fisk pronounced loud and clear the assassin's name, in order to draw his attention when he saw that he was still busy starring at Lara.
"Just tell me whom I have to kill," Bullseye turned his head slowly towards Fisk, with a bored expression on his face, to show that he wasn't pleased with his boss's interruptions.
"I will contact you as soon as I have anew job for you. And like I said before, you've already received the money for bringing the diamonds so, you're free to go."
Bullseye didn't pay too much attention to what Fisk had said, but instead looked more at Lara, who was glancing back at him from time to time. Finally, he turned to Fisk again.
"Why d'ye want me to go? D'you two have something secret to discuss?"
"Even if we did, that wouldn't concern you," Fisk's tone and expression suddenly changed to a more serious one. Bullseye's attitude was beginning to irritate him.
"Oh, just let him stay if he wants to, or else we will spend the rest of the day arguing about it," Lara's patience was also beginning to run thin, and she looked at Bullseye while she spoke, hopping to make him understand that he was being a real pain.
But Bullseye didn't care what others thought; he liked being a pain to everyone else because he knew that everyone had their reasons to let him act as he pleased -either they feared him or needed him, and few would dare upset a man like Bullseye.
"All right then. So, Colonel .. or do you prefer to be called Lady Croft more?" Fisk asked while heading to his small bar, hidden in the right wall.
"You can simply call me Lara. There's no need to be formal at the moment."
Bullseye threw hi head backwards and made a face as if he was going to puke if he'd listen further to that ridiculous conversation; but neither of them paid attention to him.
"So, Lara, would you care for a drink?"
"Yes. Why not?"
"Hey boss, aren't ya gonna ask yer best assassin if he wants a drink?"
Fisk turned to Bullseye slightly annoyed, but with a smile on his face.
"Would you like a drink, Bullseye?'
Bullseye bent a bit forward and scanned the bar quickly.
"Ah ... naw!"
Fisk shook his head sighing and turned away from the assassin's amused expression. After filling two glasses, one of which he handed to Lara, the crime boss sat back at his desk.
"So, what's new?"
Lara took out a folder from her black leather briefcase and placed it on the desk, in front of Fisk. He opened it and browsed through the files while Lara began telling him about different operations the WLA organization had had in the previous months, about new weapons they acquired or new suppliers they had come in contact with lately and many other such problems, concerning the kind of business both of them were in.
Bullseye listened to their discussion for what seemed like a couple of long, boring hours, flipping constantly between his fingers a pencil he took from Fisk'' desk, or just tapping it against the table when his patience finally reached the limit and he decide to leave.
Before doing that, however, his eyes roamed over the office, trying to find any kind of target towards which he could throw the pencil he had wanted so much to impale somewhere, from the first time he saw it. Unfortunately for him, there were no available targets, not even one of Fisk's incompetent guards. He growled irritated, and with a swift movement he sneaked the pencil into his left pocked while he stood up.
"This is too damn boring. I'm outa here. Call me when you have a new job fer me," Bullseye told Fisk then turned to Lara " .. with yer permission, my Lady," he smirked and bowed mockingly.
Lara mimed a polite smile in response, trying to avoid looking into his eyes, knowing that she would be too captivated by them and would loose all contacts with the real world. And acting like a lovesick teenage girl wouldn't be the most appropriate thing to do when Fisk had his eyes on both of them.
When Bullseye finally left the room, Fisk turned to Lara with a half smile on his face and a kind of questioning expression.
"I don't mean to sound intermeddling or anything, but it seemed to me that you and Bullseye have a relatively close relationship. Or is it just me?"
Lara leaned back in the chair, tilted her head a little backwards and giggled softly.
" ... Oh, yeah, .. Bullseye and me, however strange it may seem, are quite good friends .. well, sort of; you know how he is. I first met him about ... 10 years ago, I think .. yes, 10 years ago, .. in Dublin; but I don't want to bore you with all the minor details."
"On the contrary, I would like to know more, if that is all right with you, of course."
"Fine then, but this means that I should have to start with the story of my life first."
"Please do, now that you've made me curious. And maybe this way I'll understand more about this supernatural phenomenon with vampires and everything, that simply crashed onto my head all of a sudden," Fisk gestured with his hands while speaking, to emphasize his bewilderment regarding this new odd priority added to his agenda.
Lara spent almost an hour telling Fisk all that he wanted to know about vampires and the supernatural but also about the two organizations: The Lin Kuei - who trained her to be a true warrior - and the WLA - who recruited her to protect the world against the dark forces.
She told him how some Lin Kuei assassins had killed her parents and kidnapped her when she was only a couple of weeks old, taking her to the organization's headquarters, somewhere in Eastern China. She told him about the way she was raised and trained, but also about how she had managed to escape with the help of a man named Abraham Whistler.
Her present assistant and best friend, Leah Lail, was also raised in the same military compound, only that she was spared of the physical training at which she wasn't too good at either, because of her extraordinary intelligence.
Once, Leah had managed to access some secret files and learn the truth about their origins, so, after she escaped, Lara went to live with her mother's family, in Egypt. Unfortunately, she couldn't take Leah with her.
In Egypt, she had the luck to meet the man to whom her father (a British nobleman) had given his fortune before dying. Therefore, soon afterwards, she went to live with this man, William Tavington, in her father's manor, in England, sharing the fortune as brother and sister, just like her father had requested in his will.
Then she told him how she had met Bullseye in a trip to Dublin, but she always refrained from giving too specific details, because she didn't like to share her, or someone's else's private life with someone whom such things wouldn't concern.
Thus, out of respect for Bullseye's privacy, she didn't tell Fisk his real name, his former occupations or the fact that the two of them had had a very close relationship. She simply told him that she noticed his potential and abilities when she met him and advised him to become an assassin. And, in order not to arouse suspicions, Lara was careful to mention that the friendship she has with Bullseye is of a rather professional nature.
Further on, she told him how the Lin Kuei found her and took her back, how they gave her the adamantium skeleton and the 10, one foot long adamantium claws that come out of her fingers, and finally, how she discovered her mutant abilities. She concluded her "story" with her working for the WLA and moving to New York.
Fisk listened attentive the whole time, asking some questions here and there. He wasn't really the man who enjoyed long boring talks such as this one, but he always liked to know the persons he was dealing with. He was running a risky business, after all.
But Lara's story impressed him and he admired her for the way she had handled herself in the past, for the professional and experienced assassins but also great leader she had become.
Furthermore, he was impressed by the fact that, if she could start her life from the beginning she would gladly endure once more all the tortures and almost inhuman training she had gone through, if they turn her in the strong and self-confident person she is today.
Meanwhile, in the big conference room at the WLA organization, General Stryker was having a monthly meeting with his officers -all mutants, each possessing a unique ability and some of them having a more or less human aspect. The priority of this particular meeting was a new vampire in town, but an old enemy of the WLA.
"Linus Dayo," Stryker spoke while Leah, who was operating the computer, making a hologram of the vampire appear above the projector in the middle of the table. "I suppose you're all familiar with him by now. He managed to escape us several times in the past, but now that he's back in New York, I hope you'll finish with him once and for all," the General addressed the officers on an accusative tone, thinking of their past failures.
At the General's sign, Leah changed the image and it now showed the image of a building.
"This is the boxing arena from Hell's Kitchen, the neighborhood I believe you know very well. He bought it recently, but this is probably just a cover for the real purpose he's back in town. You know he's dangerous and he might have something plot against us so take extra care. Smoke, I want you, Shade and Mystique to go there this evening and investigate further this matter."
"Yes sir," the captain nodded.
It was about a quarter to six when Lara left Fisk's office to pay a short visit to the New York headquarters of the international concern she was running. She had to have a social life to cover her real one, just like Fisk had so, when moving from England to America she managed to take the lead of a world renowned concern that had numerous architecture and design firms under it's coordination.
As the supreme manager of the entire concern she has to do almost nothing as she has many other employees running all the smaller firms. She just cashes her monthly profit and attends the annual meeting at which all the other directors take part.
Now, after almost seven months since she had last set foot in the concern's building in New York, Lara decided to make a short visit, in order to have a look at some new projects.
So, there she was, in the manager's office, sitting behind the desk, browsing attentively through some files, too concentrated to pay attention to what was happening around her, when suddenly she saw the shape of someone standing in front of the desk.