No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor) - Part 2
Chapter 46: Whatta Man (Part 6)
…
Steve Rogers made an interesting observation while he waited for Ezekiel Stane to answer his question.
He was actually reminded of something that he found himself experiencing all the time, so Steve glanced at his Little Red Corvette for just a sec…. then he gave the back and forth between Ezekiel Stane and Wade Wilson an amused smile.
…
"Yes. I want Doctor Doom to have a presence during these meetings, but… I'd also like everyone to know that he's on thin ice with me."
…
Wade's reaction to that statement was beyond hilarious. Steve suppressed a laugh when he witnessed the mercenary more or less die inside, because he knew that Ezekiel and Wade had very different mindsets about what was said.
The somber Jackal was thinking more about strategy, and keeping Doctor Doom around him was yet another method for his survival.
Wade, on the other hand, seemed to always lead from a romantic mindset, so he interpreted Ezekiel's response in a completely different way. The mercenary clearly translated that answer as the baby Jackal "needing" or "wanting" Doctor Doom around him, but that wasn't necessarily the case.
How amusing.
Steve Rogers studied the room after the answer was given, then he chimed back in for a follow up. Someone beat him to the punch tho, and Charles Xavier spoke first. He told Ezekiel that they could discuss how Victor Von Doom was on "thin ice" later on during their private meeting, and the Jackal just gave a slight shrug to the subject.
His body language was more or less neutral when it came down to discussing Doctor Doom, but Steve had definitely seen that poker face before. Ezekiel was an expert at hiding how he was feeling, and clearly he didn't want to upset Wade Wilson any further…
…
Doctor Doom wasn't about to entertain what was being said during that adorable meeting. He was on "thin ice" because Ezekiel Stane was reducing himself to being nothing more than some gutter rat's was disturbing for some of the adults in the room to witness.
Imagine watching a train wreck, because that's what Victor Von Doom predicted Ezekiel's mind, body, and soul to look like in the long run. Wade Wilson was a vile nuisance, and nothing more…
So, the ruler of Latveria turned his attention back out toward the window, and he waited for their meeting to arrive at some sort of point.
It felt more like a mental health check-in, of sorts, and yes for Ezekiel that did sometimes seem necessary. Doom knew firsthand that the young man was very hard on himself, and he was prone to self harm if he didn't get things right the first time.
Ezekiel also had deeply rooted issues with his personality, and that's why Doom pushed him on having twice the amount of names and personas. That didn't happen on his watch, so his ridiculous "council" needed to step up their game and cut the bullshit.
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"All I want to know is, are you ready to begin another mission? I've met with Rae-Ann, but she tells me she's waiting on a signal from you before S.H.A.D.O.W. moves any further."
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The next person to speak was Nick Fury. He wasn't interested in the emotional or personal aspects that came along with serving on the Surveillant Council. His role was more focused on what Ezekiel had to produce, and how he could support that in the long run. Ezekiel's crazy relationship with Deadpool was a piece to the puzzle that Fury wanted no part in…
Noooooo thanks. The man just wanted to know whether he needed to provide field support or not. Ezekiel looked up at the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and hearing his question was yet another blessing and curse. Rae-Ann was going to be waiting a long while, but that was okay because she needed to adapt to her new surroundings in her own time.
She was technically just "born" not too long ago…so…
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"I'm actually not ready to start another mission at all. I've been pretty… distracted."
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Being distracted was an understatement. Ezekiel felt a little more than bashful and nervous after admitting he was distracted.
He started focusing more toward the table that was in front of him, because the person distracting him the most was sitting directly beside him. Planning out S.H.A.D.O.W. missions felt very removed from his mind when he spent time with Wade.
He didn't want to do anything really, except…be… with him.
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"Hey that's okay, distractions are a necessity sometimes. I think we all need some time off after what just happened."
…
Steve Rogers was no dummy. He could see exactly what was going on beneath the surface, and, in his opinion, they didn't need to be asking Ezekiel for anything until he was ready to move forward with S.H.A.D.O.W.
Awww how cute, Tony thought the soldier boy was being so kind, caring, gentle, and sweet. He listened to BLONDIE as he spoke to Ezekiel like he was an injured little baby lamb.
UHM, newsflash Steve… Ezekiel Stane is definetly NOT a helpless little butterfly, finally emerging from his terrible cocoon. That fucking BRAT was playing everyone there like they were a batch of fiddles, and Tony wasn't buying anything that the devil spawn was friggen selling.
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"Soooooo, we're not going to vote on Doctor Doom being present at the meetings now? Or… so, Ezekiel gets to just… do as he pleases? Is that what's happening here? I'm confused…"
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Tony absolutely had to say something, and YES he looked directly at Steve perfect face Rogers as soon as he voiced his thoughts out into the void.
It's funny too, cuz… Steve was sitting right beside him by the beach, and now those two were staring at one another as if a staring contest was about to commence.
Tony always challenged Steve, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week buddy. Let's go. He didn't like giving Obadiah's baby boy a ton of options, and one might say that Tony wasn't particularly interested in stacking the odds in Ezekiel's favor.
Having Doctor Doom around him was a big risk to take, so what are we doing here?
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"Any form of vote from this ridiculous Council is irrelevant, Tony Stark, because I'm not going anywhere. If you intend to remove my presence in some fashion, then… you're welcome to try."
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And you will lose. Doctor Doom heard that noise loud and clear, and he decided to finally speak and shut down the notion of any vote.
There will be no vote, or there will be blood. The ruler of Latveria had a calm demeanor when he responded to Tony, but the people physically in the room with him couldn't deny feeling a silent force…
Even Wade gave the man a second look after he spoke, and he was the one wanting to understand his power more than most.
Ohhh he planned to fucking scrap with Count fucking Dracula for sure, so… for once, Deadpool was all ears. He even turned in Chrome-Dome's direction too, and guess what happened next…
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"I actually agree with Steve Rogers, and I believe taking an extended break is good for Ezekiel's mindset. You all should join me at a place called Latverion… I've reconstructed something there called Battleworld."
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Stephen Strange had all the details, but Doom was intending to host an event that was designed to test skills, and highlight unique minds all across the cosmos.
Think of it as a mental and physical decathlon of sorts, and yes…Doctor Doom planned to participate in the combat portion of the event.
His focus slowly turned to Wade Wilson, his current adversary…that brave modern embodiment of someone named Achilles.
Doom planned to challenge him there and finally face him, once that foolish gutter rat took the bait…
Chapter: END
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