Xavier institute for higher learning
The next day
"What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled as I walked into the mansion and saw the last people I wanted to see. I pulled my gun and aimed it at the man I knew to be the leader. In that moment I had six more assault rifles pointed at me.
"Bullet please relax, I asked them here." Charles said as he turned to face me.
"Yes bullet Relax we are here to help. We heard about the situation here." The man said as he walked toward me until the barrel of my pistol was buried in his chest.
"We do not need your help Fury." I said before clicking off the safety.
"Bullet, put the weapon away. I will not ask again." Charles said sternly.
"I do not take orders Charles." I said refusing to holster my weapon. "This man had the hulk kidnap me because he wanted me to work for him.
"I would like to apologize for that. I would have sent Stark but he was preoccupied with a pair of blondes. Steve was chasing down Baron Zemo, Natasha was in Moscow and Clint was with her, Thor was back on asguard, Hulk was the only one capable of bringing you in." He explained.
"You could have called, I would have told you no and we could have avoided the whole situation. Stark wouldn't have needed to upgrade his suit and everyone could have gone on with their lives." I said lowering my pistol.
"We now know that for future references. While we are here why don't you tell us about William Stryker." He said and I took a seat on the leather sofa.
"Something tells me you know more than I do about what he is up to these days. There is very little you don't know." I replied.
"Yes that's right, you are not working for the man anymore." He said and I thought about putting a bullet in him for giving up that info.
"You used to work for the man that did this?" Charles asked.
"You didn't tell him?" Fury asked although he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Remember yesterday when I said there was something I needed to talk to you about." I said and he nodded. "We will get into that more after the pirate leaves." I said gesturing towards Fury.
"So bullet is there any reason that Stryker would have attacked here?" Fury asked.
"Don't be Stupid you know why he would attack here. He knew me and Logan were out of the mansion and it would be his best time to strike. He is a psychopath. While you are here what do you plan to do about it?" I asked knowing Shield would be a hell of an ally.
"Unfortunately shield will not be able to interfere officially-" Fury began.
"Shield does nothing officially. Stop talking spy and let me know what you are planning to do." I said angrily.
"You are right, Stryker is unstable and he is gaining too much power. We will keep an eye on him and inform you when we plan to strike. As far as the damage goes we will get some teams to update your security and keep this mess out of the public eye." He explained and Charles shook his hand.
"Thank you Nick. Everything is much appreciated." Charles said and Fury began to walk out.
"Bullet, if you should change your mind about working for shield the offer is open." Fury said before extending his hand to me. I stood up and gave him a glare before leaving him hanging and walking out.
"Fury." Logan growled as I passed him in the hallway.
"He is leaving Logan, let it go." I said passing him and heading back to my house.
I made it back to my house and walked inside. I locked the door behind me and double checked to make sure my security system was online and armed. I am a little on edge with shield hanging around. I walked into my secret room and removed the floor panel I switched clips in my gun to ones with my adamantium rounds before I opened the blast door. I jumped down with my pistol drawn and the girl leapt directly for me with her claws extended. I fired a round that ripped through her side. She hit the ground and I trained my pistol on her. She jumped back to her feet and the wound healed. I fired another round and hit her right claw on her left hand. She shook her hand in pain and looked at her claw and then the bullet on the ground.
"Adamantium bullets, I suggest you calm down I don't want to hurt you. You know my capabilities and that I will not hesitate to put you down" I replied and she sat down on the floor. "I just want to talk. What number are you?" I asked keeping my pistol aimed at her.
"23." She answered.
"And you are a clone?" I asked.
"How do you know that?" She asked.
"You remind me too much of Weapon X to be a different mutant entirely. Also I remember seeing overhearing some scientists when I was there discussing the possibilities of gene manipulation." I answered and she growled at the mention of Wolverine.
"Why is he still alive, you should have carried out your mission, you are a failure. I will kill you I will not fail." She said and I shook my head.
"That is where you are wrong. I have not failed. I succeeded by breaking Stryker's control on me and you will as well." I said and X-23 charged me. I fired a round and she rolled to the side and closed the distance between us. She swung her left hand toward my ribs in an attempt to imbed her claws in them, I side stepped her and grabbed her wrist. I held her wrist and delivered a kick to her stomach that sent her flying back across the cell. "You know how my mutation works, I have already registered your fighting style and I can predict your moves." Your best bet would be to sit back and answer my questions."
"I am not saying anything." She said and I shrugged my shoulders.
"Suit yourself, I hope you like it down here." I said before climbing back out of the cell. I secured the room and went back to the rest of my day.
I walked back into my den and sat down on the sofa. I kicked my combat boots off and my doorbell rang. I pulled up my security camera footage and saw Marie standing outside my front door.
"Marie, how are you?" I asked opening the door and allowing her to come in.
"There are men in black all over the mansion its a little unsettling." She said.
"I agree what do you say we get out of here?" I asked and she smiled in excitement.
We walked out of the door and headed toward the mansion when I saw the one person I wanted to see even less than Fury, especially right now. "Bullet, long time no see." Natasha smiled as she approached me. "Oh and aren't you cute, who are you?" She asked eyeing Rogue.
"Names Rogue. Nice ta meet yah." Rogue said extending her hand but she seemed a little uncomfortable.
Natasha shook her hand and then turned her attention back to me. "I hate to be rude but would it be possible for me to speak to you alone Bullet?" She asked.
"You have no qualms about being rude, cut the act Natasha. Head to the garage Rogue, I will be there in a few minutes." I said and Rogue looked to me and then back to Natasha before standing on her toes and giving me a kiss before walking away.
"She seems a little young for you Bullet." Natasha smirked.
"Well you were a little old for me but that didn't stop us." I said knowing she would get pissed about the age comment.
"And that didn't work out, what makes you think things with the child will work out?" She asked angrily.
"Because she is not a bitch." I remarked and she smirked again.
"We were never good together were we?" She asked.
"In the beginning we were but once we got to know each other things changed, we changed." I replied and she shook her head.
"We were always good in the bedroom and the bathhouse in Prague, and on the ship off the coast of Italy. What do you say we relive some of those memories." She offered and I shook my head.
"I don't think so Natasha, besides how would Clint feel about that."
"His feelings have never stopped you before." She countered.
"As I said we have changed Natasha I think it would be for the best if we severed our ties." I said and she looked more than a little pissed.
"Does she know?" She asked and I grabbed her and pulled her In close.
"No and if she somehow finds out you will find out what a bullet tastes like." I whispered into her ear. She leaned her weight into me and swung her foot up behind her. I grabbed her ankle and swept her other foot out from underneath her planting her on the ground before kneeling down on her throat.
"You have gotten better." She choked.
"No you just haven't learned." I said before standing up and walking away.
Central Park
Two hours later.
"So who was the red head in the dominatrix get up." Rogue asked as we walked through the park.
"Remember when I told you I had one real relationship that ended badly?" I asked and she nodded her head. "That was her."
"Wow that makes meh feel a little insecure. She was really pretty." She said and I grabbed her bare hand in mine.
"You have nothing to be insecure about. Trust me you have so much more to offer." I replied eying her up and down causing her to blush.
"So yah said it ended badly?" She asked.
"Why are you so interested Marie? As I said that is the past." I said as we sat on a bench and watched people as they walked by.
"Exactly, that is yah past, ah want to know about yah past." She argued.
"Ok, well when I say it ended bad I mean it ended in gunfire." I said and her jaw dropped.
"Yah got to be kidding meh." She said.
"No towards the end we fought a lot. I mean physically, she was always keeping tabs on me and I had to lose her to get any privacy. When I would lose her she would get suspicious and start accusing me of sleeping with other women. Her idea of confronting me about it usually ended in her attacking me. I usually ended up subduing her which pissed her off even more. On one such occasion she pulled a pistol and took a few shots at me. I threw her across the room and drew my own pistol. Needless to say we did not get our security deposit back on that apartment." I explained and she looked on in disbelief.
"Yah didn't did yah?" She asked and I turned my head to look at her.
"Did I what?" I asked confused.
"Cheat on her?" She asked.
"No, when I lost her I did it so that I could have some time to myself. Some time to meditate and clear my head, she was not an easy person to be around. Still isn't." I explained.
"Ah can imagine that, she seemed cold and calculating." She said.
"She is, it got old and fast." I said and suddenly seemed lost but desperately wanted to change the subject.
"Hey what do yah think their story is?" She asked gesturing towards a well dressed good looking couple walking along the path we were sitting by.
"I can find out." I said getting up from my seat and began jogging toward the couple. Once I got within range I tripped and bumped into the man. "Sorry about that." I apologized to him.
"Don't worry about it, just be more careful next time." He said annoyed. They continued their walk and once they passed Rogue I jogged back to her and pulled the mans wallet from my pocket.
"He is a broker on wall street. They are married have two kids, live in upstate New York, and he drives a Mercedes." I said noticing his I.D., business card wedding photo, picture of the kids and Mercedes roadside assistance card.
"You stole his wallet?" Rogue asked shocked.
"No I intend to return it." I said getting up and running to catch up with the couple.
"Excuse me sir, I think you dropped this when I bumped into you." I said handing him his wallet back.
"Thank you, its not very often you come across people in New York who would return someone's wallet." He said gratefully.
"No problem, you two have a great day." I said and ran back to Rogue.
"Ah cant believe yah did that." She scolded.
"Your the one who wanted to know their story." I replied confused as to why she was angry.
"No its a game bullet, yah make up a story for them, not steal their belongings ta get personal information." She said and I was even more confused now.
"Why would you make up a story when you can get the real thing?" I asked.
"Jeez yah need to learn ta have fun. Come on try again." She said gesturing towards and elderly couple feeding birds on the grass roughly 25 meters away.
"Ok lets see, They met in high school. They fell in love immediately, they got married just out of high school before he joined the military. He is a decorated war vet and she wrote to him every week as he bravely fought for his country. He returned home and took a job as a diesel mechanic. He worked hard his whole life 10 hours a day 6 days a week and in his spare time he fixed cars at home for extra cash to help support their family. Two boys and a young girl who will one day happily take care of them once they are no longer able to take care of themselves." I said and Rogue looked up at me with an amazed look on her face.
"That was beautiful Bullet." She said and took my hand.
"Your turn." I said gesturing towards a couple walking their Yorkshire terrier.
"They don't have much in common as far as their hobbies go but they get along perfectly at home. They have been married for four years and are trying to have kids now that they are getting older. He makes a comfortable living and she is a bit of a diva, the dog is her baby. He wanted a big dog, the kind that slobbers all of the time but she wasn't having any of it. They argued about it a few times and they came to a compromise and got the little one. She has him wrapped around her finger and he would do anything for her. He is extremely loyal and devoted although she can be a bit of a bitch. She doesn't appreciate everything he does but he doesn't mind." She said and I smirked at how she was able to look at the girl and break her down. Judging by the woman I am certain Rogue was pretty close.
We continued to people watch and enjoy each others company away from the mansion, away from everything. The sun began to go down and the moon began to climb into the sky. It can be difficult to see stars in New York but they seemed brighter than usual tonight. We sat there and I explained the meanings behind many of the constellations and I drew them out for her with my finger, she leaned into my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her feeling more comfortable than I can ever remember feeling. As the night progressed we decided to call it a night and I let Rogue drive my car back to the mansion she has been improving greatly and has been becoming less and less nervous.
When we arrived back at the mansion shield agents were still hanging around and checked to make sure we were who we said we were before they would lets us in the gate or until I pulled my knife too quick for them to react and threatened to sever ones brachial artery. They stepped aside after that and let us in. Pretty bad job on their part and they may get fired but that's not my problem. It is a late night and while I am not in a bad mood I am in no mood to put up with their shit. I am pretty sure it was fury who told them to give me a hard time as it is. We walked inside the mansion and as it turns out my night is not over yet.
"Bullet, just the man I wanted to see. Would you accompany me to my office please?" Charles asked as soon as we walked in from the garage.
"Sure thing Charles, I will see you tomorrow Marie." I said to Rogue as I began to follow Charles towards his office.
"Ah will wait for yah if that's ok." Rogue said and I smiled before continuing to follow Charles.
...
"So you said we would talk more about your past and your work with Stryker." Charles said and I nodded as I walked to his side of the desk.
"And we will Charles, as soon as I get rid of this." I said reaching under is desk and removing a bug Fury planted there.
"How did you know that was there? And why would Fury plant it?" Charles asked shocked.
"Because Fury is the worst type of person to walk the earth. The type to smile in your face offering help and safety while the whole time he is using you to get information. As a spy Fury thrives off of information." I explained speaking directly into the bug before destroying it. "Now about my past with Stryker. I was an experiment. I grew up being trained to be the perfect weapon, being trained to kill, Just as Logan was created to do. Once my training was completed Stryker manipulated and brainwashed me into doing his dirty work. I was a murderer I killed countless people in his pursuit of power. The stronger my mutation became the more I began to resist his hold over me. Once I broke free completely I escaped and ended the lives of 20 of his soldiers. After that I vowed to only kill those who lived their lives using, manipulating and hurting others. I made a lot of money doing so and that's is where my wealth has come from. Then I met you and didn't think much of it but you offered me a chance to do the right thing for the first time in my life. I spent months mulling your offer over before coming here." I explained and he looked on completely calm for the story I just explained to him.
"The men you attempted to kill when we first met, were they people you were hired to assassinate?" He asked.
"No, actually they were the ones to hire me. They were bad people who killed a man and his wife and destroyed the family of a young mutant who is now a student here." I said and he folded his hands across his desk.
"Jubilee." He said and I shook my head. "You also said that Stryker created Logan?" He then asked.
"Yes Logan was the tenth and first successful mutant in a line of experiments to bond adamantium to the human skeleton. He survived due to his healing and then he was brainwashed to do Stryker's bidding. After Logan escaped Stryker began his experiments again trying to create the perfect weapon. Stryker discovered me soon after but not before killing 8 more experiments. Logan was known as Weapon X and I am Weapon 19. The girl I have locked up is Weapon 23." I explained.
"I see and what do you plan to do with her?" He asked.
"Keep her here until I can find info on Stryker or until I can break her of his control. She seems mostly obedient due to the fact that he is all she has ever known but Stryker is not an idiot he is more than likely using some type of chemical to keep her on a leash." I informed him.
"With everything you have just told me why should I allow you to remain here at the institute and as a member of the X-men?" He asked inquisitively.
"You shouldn't. I am far from a good person and I understand that you have students to protect and I am an unknown. There are too many variables for you to consider. If you ask me to leave I will not object. I will pack up my essentials thank you for allowing me this opportunity and exit the institute and your lives, you will never hear from me again." I answered.
"Very well." He said.
"So, would you like me to leave?" I questioned.
"No, you have done nothing in your time here to lead me to believe that you would endanger anyone here, In fact I believe now with everything going on you will prove to be a most valuable ally." He said.
"I have already endangered you all just by being here." I said gesturing to the damage to the front lawn out of the window.
"From everything you have just said all mutant kind is in danger if Stryker remains in power. No one knows as much about him as you and if we are to remove him from his position we will need your assistance." Charles then said and I reached my hand out to him.
"You will have my assistance. For now it is getting late Charles. If you have any more questions we will have to continue this another time." I said after he shook my hand.
"Ah yes we wouldn't want to keep young Rogue waiting. She seems quite taken with you." Charles warmly smiled.
"And I with her. She is an amazing woman." I said.
"Treat her right David. She deserves it." He stated.
"She certainly does. Can I ask you something Charles?" I asked.
"Anything Bullet."
"Do you think she deserves better than me? I have been mulling this over and for the life of me, apart from helping her with her mutation I don't get what she sees in me." I asked.
"A wealthy man that has devoted his live to helping others and has the strongest attention span I have ever seen, a man that will never forget birthdays anniversaries other important dates and small details that mean a lot to her. I would think as far as what women want Rogue has hit the jackpot." He warmly stated.
"Thank you Charles." I said before walking out of his office.
...
"So what do yah do here?" Rogue asked walking around my cottage looking a little bored.
"This is not your first time here Marie." I reminded her. She has been here plenty of times in the past 5 months.
"Yea but every time we are here we are meditating or yah are gathering weapons for training." She explained.
"Right well I don't have a Television as T.V. is too watered down for the masses these days. I cant stand to watch it." I said and began thinking of what we could do that she may enjoy.
"What do yah do for fun?" She asked.
"Clean my guns, work out, spend time trying to locate Stryker." I said and she sighed.
"Ah said fun, all of that is work. Yah really need to get out more. Nobody likes a shut in." She said and I was a little taken aback by the comment.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"Yah have been here for what 7 months or so and yah haven't said more than two words ta most of the people at the institute. Yah spend all of yah time here and when yah are not here yah hold yourself up in the danger room. No one knows what ta think of yah, they see you as the neighborhood old man that yells at people when their ball lands on his lawn." She said and I couldn't help but laugh at that comment.
"What do you recommend?" I asked.
"This weekend a lot of the students are going to the dinosaur exhibit at the museum. Yah should come." She said and I thought about it for a second.
"Alright I will go. What would you like to do for now?" I asked feeling a little uncomfortable as to how to entertain. My last relationship was with a woman who was into keeping her guns in precise working order and working to keep her body in top physical condition so at least we had that in common if nothing else.
"Lets just talk. The more ah think about it the more ah realize that ah don't know much about yah." She said.
"What would you like to know?" I asked wondering what I had to offer.
"Well ah know what yah did for a living. Ah know what yah life was like when yah were young. Have you eva traveled?" She asked as she sat on my sofa and stretched her arms out before crossing them behind her head.
"Yeah I have actually been quite a few places. All of it for jobs but I always stayed and extra week or so for vacation. Traveling is one thing I have always enjoyed immensely. I have been to every continent on the planet apart from Antarctica. Not to many calls for assassinating folks in Antarctica." I said as I sat down next to her. "Asia is beautiful, especially smaller cities outside of china and Japan. The people are full of culture and history. The view from the great wall at sunset is one of the greatest sights you could ever see. The food sucks in Britain but the people are generally calm and relaxed a lot different than they are here in America. Paris is a lot like New York, it is very quick paced although it is a much cleaner place. The people are generally nicer. Australia is gorgeous the beaches are clean and the water is always warm. I have been to Iraq, I wouldn't recommend going there for a vacation." I said and I looked to my right to my right to see Rogue in a deep sleep her head tilted back against the sofa. I guess it is time to call it a night. I got up from my seat and slowly lifted one of her arms and draped it over my shoulder. I slid one arm behind her back and the other underneath her legs. I lifted her from her seat and began walking towards my stairs. I walked up the stairs and into my bedroom. I layed her down on my bed and headed out of the room. I reached for the light switch and flipped the light off. "Goodnight Marie." I said softly.
"Yah don't have ta go." Rogue said sleepily from the bed.
"The couch will be fine get some sleep Marie." I replied.
"Stay." She said.
"Not tonight, lets take things slow." I said before shutting the door and walking down the stair and back to my sofa to call it a night.
I woke up the next morning to a hand rubbing my back slowly. I jumped up quickly and grabbed the wrist thinking Natasha hacked my security.
"Ow Bullet, relax its meh." Rogue said quickly.
I let go in a hurry realizing the mistake I made. "Shit Marie I am so sorry. I didn't know it was you."
"Damn it Bullet you need to realize not everyone is out to hurt you." Rogue said rubbing her already reddening and swelling wrist. "I think yah broke my wrist."
"No it's not broken. Stay here and I will get you something to help." I said and walked to my kitchen. I began gathering the necessary ingredients and preparing the medicine I was making.
"I think I need to go see Hank." Rogue said from the den.
"Just give me another minute." I said and finished preparing everything. I walked back into the den carrying a small cup. "Here drink this." I said handing Rogue the cup.
"What is this?" She asked smelling the liquid and scrunching her nose at the bad smell.
"Its tea made with an herb called Tanacetum parthenium or feverfew. It has been used for centuries to reduce pain and swelling. It smells awful and doesn't taste much better but it works wonders trust me I have used it plenty of times." I explained and she tilted the cup to her lips. She quickly downed the contents and looks as if she wanted to vomit. "Hold it down."
"Dear god that is awful." She said in disgust.
"I know it will help though." I said and began rubbing her back. "I didn't mean to hurt you Marie."
"Ah know Bullet, ah shouldn't have snapped. Ah have seen your past and ah should have known not to surprise yah." She said and that made me feel even worse.
"Stop blaming yourself. I am just too paranoid. You did nothing wrong. How did you sleep?" I asked trying to change the subject.
"Amazingly, Yah bed is soft but still supportive at the same time." She said.
"Custom made. The better you sleep the better you feel, the more confidence you are able to carry yourself with, the more relaxed and fluid you are in your everyday movements. Most people don't realize just how important a good nights sleep is." I explained.
"Then why did yah sleep on yah couch?" She asked.
"You looked like you needed the bed more than I did." I said and she laid her head on my shoulder.
"I said yah could join me." She said and I shook my head.
"Yeah but you see, I am having trouble controlling myself around you. My mind doesn't race around you. You are the first person my mind stays calm around. I haven't figured it out yet. But I feel if we slept in the bed together I may have made a move on you." I explained.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing is it?" Rogue asked turning a little red in her embarrassment.
"This early on yes. You have been so long without anyone that I feel you should take things slow before jumping into something just because you have been denied it for so long." I replied.
"Yah are right. Ah am sorry if ah came off as easy." She then said turning even redder.
"No you are fine Marie. I understand completely I just don't want to be the old me anymore. A year ago I would have taken you to bed and kicked you out of my house the next morning. You mean more to me than that." I explained and she leaned in and kissed me.
"Thank yah Bullet. Yah definitely are not the same man I have in mah head." She said and I smiled knowing that she sees more in me.
"How is your wrist doing?" I asked.
"It actually feels like it did before yah nearly ripped it off." She joked looking at her wrist and noticing the sweeling was going back down as quickly as it swelled up.
"I told you. Stick with me and I will take care of you." I replied with a smirk.
"Promise?"