No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor)
Chapter 1: Quiet Coyote (Part 1)
Victor Strange had a family farm somewhere out in the state of Nebraska. Ezekiel Stane travelled with him to that farm, and the two of them were joined by a man named Wade Wilson.
Wade introduced himself simply as Wade while they were there. There was no sign of his Deadpool costume either, and the mercenary made the comment that he felt like going "commando" in every possible way.
Victor laughed about what he said, but Ezekiel didn't understand the reference. He figured it had something to do with his prior service in the military, so he didn't ask for any sort of clarification.
He did study the look on Wade's face when he spoke with Victor tho, because the mercenary was utilizing a gift that was given to him by Tony Stark.
The inventor gave Wade a piece of Stark tech that corrected what happened to his body, so the man that joined them on the farm looked as if he'd never gone through the events that mangled and disfigured his skin.
Ezekiel had to look away, because he realized a while ago that he was becoming more and more attracted to the person who almost murdered him…
…
There's a ton of history going on between Wade Wilson showing up at the farm and Victor's invitation for him to be there, but the Jackal didn't feel like going down that section of memory lane.
Long story short… the three of them had been exploring and trying out an, alliance. An "alliance" felt like an interesting word to use, and the word was running through Ezekiel's mind in that moment.
The three of them eventually left the family farm and everyone who participated in the family gathering, because Wade Wilson said that he wanted to explore Nebraska.
Victor Strange said he wanted to explore the area as well, because he was fifteen years old when he ditched his parents, so he never had the opportunity to really look around his own state.
Ezekiel didn't have much to add to their conversation, but he was eager to leave with them and be there as they explored.
Wade found a "dive bar" and the Jackal didn't understand the way the establishment was described. He asked Wade about it as they walked in, but it felt stupid and almost humiliating to ask.
…
"Why did you call this place a dive bar?"
…
"Because, uhh.. I think it's dive when it's more low-key. I don't think you can find this place on Yelp."
…
Ezekiel heard every word Wade used in his response, but his mind couldn't calculate everything that was said. I mean, what's Yelp?
And, for him to say "its dive when it's more low-key" was even more confusing, so the Jackal began to think they were speaking another language. He looked to Victor for something that made a little more sense, but Victor was looking all around the walls of the bar.
Victor outwardly announced that he wanted to play "pool" against Wade and that's how the evening at the dive bar began. Victor and Wade set up the game, while Ezekiel quietly observed and ordered himself a few drinks.
…
The vibe in the bar changed tremendously after an old man started talking to Wade. "Deadpool" had a reputation for talking to everyone that was in his presence.
A drunk old man spoke to him about losing his wife, and Ezekiel watched as Wade listened to every word that the old man said. He told Wade he lost his wife to cancer, and that he always wanted to sing Unchained Melody for her to hear up in heaven.
Ezekiel Stane actually glanced upward toward "heaven" as they spoke.
He had no idea what "Unchained Melody" even was, but the conversation was moving something around beneath his skin. His soul was feeling out the conversation, or something, because he started listening in more and more.
Wade told the old man that he'd help him sing Unchained Melody. He said they could do it together, and that he'd help him sing that song all the way up to heaven.
He actually convinced the old man to sing, right there in that moment… and Ezekiel found himself becoming very affected.
…
Woah, my love, my darling… I've hungered for your touch…
A long, lonely time, and time goes by so slowly…
And time can do so much…
…
Are you still mine? I need your love…
I need your love, God speed your love to me…
…
Lonely rivers flow, to the sea, to the sea…
To the open arms of the sea, yeah…
…
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me…
I'll be coming home, wait for me…
…
Now, people, the "White Jackal" had heard music before, but it wasn't something that was part of his life. His father kept him insanely busy building their crime lord empire before he died, and something like music was considered to be a distraction.
Victor Strange introduced him to something called the "Red Hot Chili Peppers" when they met, and Ezekiel felt something when he listened to songs that were created by that band.
But, what he heard and witnessed in that "dive" bar...it truly shook his soul…
It felt like humanity was knocking on his chest in that moment, and demanding to let itself in. He listened to the old man sing to his wife up in heaven.
The words even affected him as he listened to Wade step in and help the man through it. It affected him in a million different ways.
Ezekiel found himself staring at Wade. He stared at his face, his mouth, his arms, his body…. All of it. Hoy shit. He had to look away, cuz there was so much more going on behind the scenes.
Ezekiel Stane knew that his thoughts weren't safe, and his mind wasn't free.
There was so much shit going on…. The Jackal forced himself to stop looking at Wade, because he remembered that his mind, body and soul was heavily monitored.
He had a "Surveillant Council" keeping track of every passing thought, so…
Victor Strange playfully nudged his shoulder, cuz he could see what was happening. The two of them were together once again.
Taking another shot at "dating", living together, and exploring Wade Wilson together in every possible way. Victor wanted Ezekiel to express himself without any restraint.
That's kinda all he wanted, and accomplishing that had its ups and downs, but the baby Strange kept trying.
…
"I'll be back Vic, in a moment. It's hard to breathe in here."
…
Ezekiel felt smothered with everything he was suddenly feeling. More like consumed, dominated, and extremely affected. He had to step out and catch his breath, so Victor only gave him a kind smile.
Wade Wilson watched Ezekiel leave the bar, and the impulse to protect him immediately kicked in. The impulse to follow hit him as well, and the idea to talk to him alone slowly followed his first thought.
The song Unchained Melody eventually came to an end, and Wade studied the look on Victor Strange's face. It seemed like Ezekiel's baby wizard boy toy was motioning for him to go, and follow.
Wade wasn't sure if it was best to do that, because Ezekiel had been avoiding him for quite some time.
Deadpool wasn't into forcing anything, so he gave the impulse to follow a second thought…
Chapter: END
Thanks for reading.
NOTE: This story immediately follows :No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 2