No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor)
Chapter 39: Head in the Clouds (Part 9)
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Ready folks?
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Ezekiel Stane stood before his Surveillant Council, Wade Wilson, and the people who were either on the fence or off when it came down to joining his team.
He stood there as Rae-Ann, a young woman with a stolen name, body and face. The controversy of his sudden gender-swap was interesting for Ezekiel when he thought about it, but deep down… he felt ready to move on and get to work.
Not everyone agreed with that notion, so the son of Obadiah Stane had to listen to someone else speak out against what he was trying to do.
Steve Rogers was first, of course, because Captain America was bound and determined to keep him on a short leash. Ezekiel understood why that was happening, and he also knew how he behaved in other dimensions.
He knew a lot more about himself than before, and he was always working on NOT going insane….
The White Jackal was cautious too, and he was protecting his mind and emotions at every angle.
Only a handful of people acknowledged that, and Ezekiel was grateful for it. Wade Wilson, Victor Strange, Charles Xavier, Tony Stark and Nick Fury were on his side in theory. But, the rest of them….
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"I have something to say, and some things to bring up before you start your recruitment pitch…"
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Say what? That low-level field agent stood up from his seat. Clint Barton was just like Steve Rogers. Ezekiel watched Victor's friendly ex with a bit of disinterest at first..
He didn't say anything to "Hawkeye", but the Jackal welcomed his input, and questions. Clint was standing off to the side, so he migrated in a little more toward the center of the room.
He actually approached Ezekiel, or "Rae-Ann." TCH, whatever. The archer could feel Wade Wilson's eyes watching his every move as he walked up. He looked at Ezekiel's psycho fuck boyfriend/pet for a sec, then he took over the room and spoke up..
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"I had a chat with my brother, and he told me that the person he received orders from wasn't your father. Your father always communicated with someone named Zeke before he barked his orders…"
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Now, why did that matter? Well, Clint Barton was getting to his point. The information that his older brother shared with him was pretty enlightening. He studied "Rae-Ann's" smug looking face for a second more, then he glanced over at Natasha, Yelena, and Bucky Barnes.
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"My brother told me you were like a shadow on the wall, always giving your father advice, information, and guidance. It wasn't the other way around at all, so I question S.H.A.D.O.W. and your Milwaukee bloodbath."
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Questioning Ezekiel Stane was a must, and mandatory for the archer as he considered his involvement going forward. The Jackal heard what was said, but he waited for more. There's always more, and Ezekiel welcomed the doubt, mistrust, and scrutiny.
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"So, are you using your psycho fuck boyfriend to kill everyone involved in your past? Are you trying to clear your tracks? I think you are, and I think the STAIN from all that blood is gunna be hard to wipe off…"
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Barton wasn't going to hear some friggen pitch for another S.H.A.D.O.W. mission until Ezekiel's true behavior was brought out into the light. He thought interacting with "Saint" Ezekiel was dangerous, stupid, and reckless. Since the beginning, the baby archer always felt that way…
And don't even get him started on all the bullshit surrounding him, Ezekiel, and Victor Strange. Fuuuuuckkkk that. The archer's expression became sharp and lethal. A bit too lethal, so the infamous Deadpool made a small move.
He took two steps toward Rae-Ann, and shit got realllll quiet.
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"Oooh, psycho fuck boyfriend? That's got a nice ring to it, don't you think Shiny?"
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Wade smiled beneath his mask. He was talking to Rae-Ann in a playful manner, but his hands were placed a little too close to his guns as he spoke. The vibe started going haywire, but Ezekiel ignored it. He continued staring at Victor's friendly ex-lover, then he glanced in Wade's direction.
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"That's interesting information, and an interesting speculation Agent Barton, but according to Stephen Strange's deciding vote… the numbers for S.H.A.D.O.W. are in my favor."
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Ezekiel always spoke in a calm manner, and for some people it was unnerving as fuhhhk. Clint Barton found it annoying, so he rolled his eyes as soon as he processed what was said.
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"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
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"It means you weren't present when S.H.A.D.O.W. was voted on and established. You also didn't read the file on S.H.A.D.O.W. at all, because Stephen Strange had the deciding vote. I have this division because of his vote, and because of how many lives it's going to save in the long run."
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The Surveillant Council observed the interaction with interest. Ezekiel knew that they were monitoring every detail of his response, but that changed nothing about what he said to "Agent" Barton.
They clearly didn't like one another, but the Jackal thought nothing of it. It wasn't personal at all for the quiet coyote, so he took a step toward the archer and pressed all of his weight forward.
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"I will say that the interesting information you shared today was correct, but your speculation is dead wrong, misguided, and it doesn't counteract the facts."
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His "psycho fuck" boyfriend was there to help him fulfill a reckoning, but Ezekiel's mindset was never pointed toward clearing his tracks. Every move he made was forward thinking, because there was no way to reverse what was done in the past.
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"I did advise, inform, and guide Obadiah Stane when I was known as Zeke, and now I'm advising, informing and guiding everyone here today. I have a plan to take down something called the Church of Human Potential with or without your help, Agent Barton."
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Ezekiel was willing to face the scrutiny in folds, but the time for his plan was ticking. He had specific tasks for everyone there, but delegating all of that needed to happen hours ago.
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"So, shall we begin?"
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The room was way too quiet after all that, so "Rae-Ann" looked over at Wade Wilson. Deadpool knew the plan already, and then some, so Rae-Ann's attention relocated toward the members of the Surveillant Council.
Chapter: END
Thanks for reading.