No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor)

Chapter 4: Quiet Coyote (Part 4)

Ezekiel kept staring up at a light fixture that was above his head. The motel room he shared with Victor Strange had a unique theme to it, but that's not what was on his mind at all.

His technology alerted him that someone was on the roof. It alarmed him for only a moment, because the person above him no longer posed a threat.

"Deadpool" was up there working, so Ezekiel turned his focus in Victor's direction. The baby Strange was asleep, and the Jackal gently turned so he could look him over a bit more.

Victor was a light sleeper, and he was also a bed hog. His arms were sprawled out in a crazy direction, and Ezekiel was amused with what was in front of him.

A small smile remained on his face as he looked at Victor. He just started thinking about, stuff… They'd built up quite a history, and Ezekiel felt like reflecting on it.

Those thoughts eventually subsided, because his technology sent him another alert. Wade Wilson was walking across the roof, so Ezekiel's eyes wandered back upward.

He needed to tell Wade something, and it seemed like a good time to accomplish that.

Victor wanted to see conversations happen between them, or moments that took place when no one was looking. Ezekiel wasn't opposed to showing Victor that side of him, because his behavior around Wade was…

…

Different?

…

The Jackal wasn't sure. Either way, he removed himself from the bed and he glanced down at his hands. Things had to operate differently going forward, because Ezekiel was granted his own S.H.I.E.L.D. division.

He got what he asked for, and then some, so that meant the persona of the "White Jackal" would become more of a dominant thing.

There already was a separation between his identity as Ezekiel Stane and the White Jackal. S.H.I.E.L.D. kept his actual identity as classified as it could get, so he had to cover up his body once again to maintain something that amounted to a double life.

His white armor, "Zephyr", slowly covered his skin, then he transported himself up onto the roof.

Wade Wilson was all dressed up too. He was wearing his Deadpool suit and mask once again. Ezekiel inspected the condition of his suit with his tech, then his eyes focused on the face of his mask.

Wade obviously smiled beneath the red and black material, then he made his way across the roof. He stopped several steps away from that white suit.

…

"Hey there. I couldn't sleep.."

…

"Same here."

…

It was a simple greeting, but Ezekiel was surprised he was able to respond. He caught onto something while they explored Nebraska, and Ezekiel was studying that "something" throughout the rest of the evening.

The Jackal was borderline silent the entire time because of what he discovered, and he hated that.

Wade was OKAY with all the silence, but not happy about it at all. It took him months to pull Ezekiel out of some sort of mental crisis back when he crashed at his place, and now it felt like he was reverting back into his shell.

That wasn't a good sign for Wade, so he was thinking about having a friendly chat with Charles Xavier.

…

"I have to tell you something, and it's probably going to piss you off."

…

Wade finally heard Ezekiel complete a full sentence, but his eyes were looking at the White Jackal. Whoa.

That "Jackal" finally spoke out some actual words too, and that was, great. The mercenary wasn't sure what he was about to hear, but he hoped it didn't have to do his services no longer being needed.

He thought maybe the "ten wives" thing was a dealbreaker with someone that clean cut. Ezekiel was very clean cut, and the notion of that wouldn't leave Wade's busy mind.

…

"Fire away. I'm here for it.."

…

Bring it on. Wade still held onto a playful smile, regardless if something would piss him off. His mind wandered of course, and speculation about what Ezekiel had to say quickly settled in.

Things were revealed during the "Surveillant Council" meeting, and Wade had convinced himself that Ezekiel didn't want him to know what was said.

Maybe? The merc shrugged at the thought. His eyes wandered the white suit as Ezekiel carved up what he had to say. The frame of the suit had changed again, and it seemed like the weird metal had been thinned out.

"Zephyr" looked more "human" in that moment, and Wade started contemplating the change.

…

"I believe Xavier, or someone on the Council is filtering my thoughts. It's a bit hard to explain, but I can tell that a hold… or some sort of block has been placed on my mind."

…

Ah. Wade heard the information that was delivered, and the mercenary pondered on it for a bit. To his knowledge, the "Surveillant Council" was created in order to keep Ezekiel StaneSAFE.

He wasn't thrilled to hear that keeping him safe had transformed into altering his mind. THAT was a dealbreaker, and YES.. Wade was pretty pissed off.

…

"Annnnndddd WHY is that a thing now? I thought the Stalker-Council was designed to keep you safe from freaks like me."

…

"It is designed to keep me safe from freaks, like you."

…

Ezekiel tried to respond with a joke. He laughed a little beneath his suit as well, because Wade's pissed off demeanor immediately amused him.

Wade didn't hear the laugh that followed his comment, of course, because Ezekiel kept that hidden within his armor.

The mercenary DID see him shift around within his suit tho, so he could tell that the conversation was doing something beneath the surface.

He wondered what Ezekiel's face looked like in that moment, but with all the White Jackal stuff, Wade knew that he'd only be able to see it behind closed doors.

That shit sucked, but the mercenary was bound and determined to roll with the punches.

…

"I have to speak to Xavier about it, but things have changed Wade. So, I think they are making sure I'm not distracted, or corrupted. Oddly, I've noticed the filter only seems to affect what I can and can't say… to you…"

…

That confession seemed harmless, but Ezekiel had to close his eyes a bit after he said it. He felt at ease when he explained what he knew to Wade, but clearly the mercenary was NOT happy to hear what was said at all.

I mean, he remembered catching some serious Karen vibes coming from a few members of the Surveillant Council.

Xavier's comment about confronting his own "corruption" bothered him to no end too, so Ezekiel saying something about corruption made Wade even more pissed off.

…

"NAH. I would like to have a conversation with that mutant freak-shrink first, because I have no interest in corrupting you. They should know that, and they should BACK OFF…"

…

Hooo hoooooo.. Wade was more than heated. He paced around a bit, because he wanted Ezekiel to do well out there in the wild probably more than any of them. Wade didn't understand the KAREN SHIT.

In his mind, the Stalker-Council was suddenly against him, or whatever. His intentions were as pure as the driven snow, so what the fuck?

Because of Wade's anger, he missed part of what Ezekiel said. The Jackal was unable to answer him, or talk to him like he wanted to, so the young man beneath the white armor felt like he dodged a bullet.

He was doing his best to understand how he felt, so in a way, he was glad for the filter. It gave him more time to process.

…

"I know Xavier has his reasons. He obviously knows something we don't, so… maybe it's a good thing, for now."

…

"LOOK, I get the distraction part… but what "corruption" are you being supposedly saved from? They think I'M CORRUPT? That's the bullshit I want to understand, cuz I'm starting to get the feeling that the Stalker-Council isn't on board with what YOU said at the meeting."

…

Remember that interesting confession? Cuz Wade certainly didn't forget. Ezekiel was basically forced to confess and explain how Wade was on his mind.

The mercenary had a SHIT TON of things to say about what was said during that bullshit meeting. He was being as patient as he could possibly be, and he was keeping himself from talking about it…which is something that he'd never usually do.

Ezekiel was reminded of what was revealed during the meeting and he let out a soft sigh beneath his suit.

He didn't want that information to be revealed at all, so he stood there affected by it once again. Wade couldn't see that he was affected by what was said.

Wade also wasn't a fuckinnnnggg psychic, so he was unable to hear what was going on inside that pretty lil head.

All he knew was, Ezekiel was thinking and feeling things about him…and now those things were being put on hold and fucked around with.

It was just…. NOT COOL, you know? Wade wasn't down for it. He was tired as well, cranky, and super annoyed.

The mercenary rubbed at the right side of his mask for a bit, then he just spoke out what was on his mind. That's what he naturally did in the first place, so the words just flew out.

…

"YOU KNOW WHAT... I have to tell you something too. Cuz, I was in that room, and I think what you said was… great. I was happy to hear that I'm in your thoughts. It felt good to hear that, because most people don't want me around."

…

So, whatever. Wade was good with what was said, so he didn't understandWHYEzekiel's thoughts had to be filtered.

He didn't understand WHY the bullshit Council would even consider blocking him, or… blocking, them? What exactly were they blocking? That's another element that added to the confusion.

If things weren't "blocked" then… what would their little "alliance" look like? Uhh.. Wade started thinking that over, and he realized the whole thing was getting pretty fucked up.

Ezekiel hadn't said a word at that point, and he was just taking in what Wade said. The conversation was heading in a direction that Ezekiel was hoping to avoid.

He didn't intend to upset Wade with what was happening, but the Jackal expected it from the start.

He kept his eyes closed beneath his suit, and he thought over what to say. He could tell what he wanted to say in that moment wasn't filtered. Wade wasn't going to like it, but Ezekiel had to be truthful.

The source of "corruption" might not have been Wade Wilson at all, but maybe he had the ability to trigger something. Ezekiel couldn't go against what the Surveillant Council was doing, and he didn't plan on doing that at all.

…

"Wade, I trust them and I need their council. So, starting tomorrow, Victor will return to the Kamar taj, and I'm going to begin planning another mission. You can speak to Charles about this if you want, but I'm not going to have anything change."

…

"BUT YOU letting them alter your thoughts is like… opposing your own free will. Isn't it? How is that any different than the shit you were in before? They are just a bunch of control freaks…"

…

TCH.. Wade didn't get it. He didn't want to get it, and he definitely didn't like it. There was a ton of anger going on around his soul, so the mercenary decided to look away and he just let his final comment stand as it was delivered.

Fuck the Surveillant Control-Freak Council. He wasn't hearing what Ezekiel said about trusting them at all.

He couldn't hear it through his anger, so he decided to step off toward the right side of the roof. Ezekiel watched him distance himself from the conversation, and the Jackal thought over how it felt. Wade was clearly upset, and the notion was understood.

He decided to retreat and distance himself from the conversation as well. The Jackal said nothing to the mercenary, and he quietly returned to the room below Deadpool's feet.

Chapter: END

Thanks for reading.

NOTE: This chapter references a "Surveillant Council" meeting that took place in this chapter:Game Boi (Part 10)