No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor) - Part 2
Chapter 73: Battleworld (Part 3)

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What an interesting little hiding place.

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Doctor Doom held that thought as he continued to look around Ezekiel's pearl white void. Doom noticed that the void behaved like something called a Black Hole, and he took a moment to study the parts of it that were meant to act as walls.

Nerd alert: Doom was looking at something called the filament, or the non-baryonic matter Ezekiel apparently had complete control of. His ability to hold that structure with obvious ease was impressive as well, but the ruler of Latveria kept that praise to himself.

His eyes stopped at Zephyr once again, and with one small gesture he managed to push it all away. Doom sent the void and that suit out of their conversation entirely, and Ezekiel gasped as he looked down at his hands.

Zephyr was cast aside like he was nothing, and the baby Jackal felt vulnerable and exposed immediately.

His thinking place was cast off as well, and Ezekiel could see the space where Doom planned to have their conversation. His bedroom in Latveria took shape and the Jackal's eyes stopped at that familiar chess table that formed toward his left. Are we going to play a little game? Hmm…

Ezekiel wasn't sure if he wanted to, so he took a small step toward his right. Putting some distance between him and Doom seemed like a good idea, but deep down… Ezekiel held a sense that he had nothing to fear. Doom was just Doom, and chess was just a game… right?

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"Before we begin this conversation, I'd like to know who I will be speaking to today…"

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Doom decided to start things off on that note, then he approached the chess table and made himself at home in front of the historic game.

Ezekiel just about rolled his eyes right from the start. He crossed up his arms as well, because the question struck a nerve pretty quickly.

Victor Von Doom had that effect on people, and Ezekiel Stane was smart enough to know that the man did it on purpose.

There wasn't a word that left his mouth that wasn't intentional and thought out. Oh, how to turn the tides. The baby Jackal gave a small smile… because he decided to match that sarcasm with a hint of his own.

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"I'll be speaking to you today as Briseis. You can call yourself Agamemnon if you want… I don't mind."

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Hah. Ezekiel was actually proud of his own response, because he knew that Wade W. Wilson got on Doom's last nerve like you wouldn't believe.

Labeling himself as Deadpool's concubine or "war prize" seemed like the best move at this point, but Doom's focus didn't budge from setting up their game.

He chose the white chess pieces, and he intentionally waited for "Briseis" to take a seat. Doom had a feeling it wouldn't take long.

He thought over what it meant for Ezekiel Stane to intentionally label himself Briseis as well. Doom would never subjugate himself in such a manner, so a hint of disappointment carried through as he spoke.

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"Now, what does that accomplish? Are you here to defend your brave Achilles?"

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Wade Wilson was a fool. Doom couldn't possibly think any lower of the madman, and he also couldn't wait to break his face. Those thoughts of his were an internal matter, and Doom wasn't going to vocalize anything further than that. He watched Ezekiel as he finally took his seat across the table.

The baby Jackal looked over the black chess pieces, and he thought over how to answer. Yes, he was there to defend his brave and noble warrior.

Wade fought hard for him, and he'd already helped him in ways most people couldn't possibly imagine. Ezekiel loved him more than anything, but… he was smart enough to know that sentiments like that would fall on deaf ears.

Doom wouldn't hear any of it, but the young man had to try…

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"I wish you could see him how I do, because I've never felt so free. Wade's shown me so much more, and it's only simple things…"

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"Did you know gutter rats behave in the same exact manner? They are free to amuse themselves, roam the streets, eat scraps, and do as they please. Your fearless brute is on that level of freedom alone, and for him… there's no ascending that feat."

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Wow. Ezekiel closed his eyes after that vicious snap back. Doom spoke with some force as well, because he meant what he said with every ounce of energy that was housed in his soul.

He didn't like Wade W. Wilson one bit, and as a self-declared member of Ezekiel's "Surveillant Council"… Doom decided to make that notion very known.

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"So, I'll ask you again… what does calling yourself Briseis actually accomplish?"

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Doom's brutal and stone cold approach didn't let up. He also moved a chess piece on the board, and he expected Ezekiel to follow suit. The baby Jackal kept his eyes closed for a short while, and he thought over the notion of NOT participating in the game that was set in front of him.

He had goals of his own that he needed to get to, and he didn't believe being in a relationship with Wade hindered that at all.

That's the point Doom was trying to make, right? Wade was keeping him down on some lower level in life, or whatever… He was supposed to "ascend" and become something that Wade Wilson could never touch.

Damn. That was…harsh. Ezekiel rubbed his right eye before he glanced down at the chess pieces. Doom made his move, but Ezekiel took his time with it. Countering that remark and contemplating what it all meant really took some… time.

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Chapter: END

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