No-One But You (The Zephyr Endeavor) - Part 2
Chapter 80: Battleworld (Part 10)
…
Well well well… it seemed like the good Doctor-wizard-pizza-supreme was a natural entertainer. Stephen Strange was down in what appeared to be a fighting pit, where he introduced himself and his baby brother Victor with confidence and ease.
ACK. Stephen introduced Victor as the incoming Sorcerer Supreme, and OMG he looked so cute, flustered, and shy.
Tony Stark was watching them both from a distance, and, of course, Steve Rogers was right by his side. They weren't there to participate in Doom's ego-fest, but they were on the same page as their Vishanti brother.
The two of them made their way toward Clea and Sofia as soon as the Strange brothers migrated down to the bottom level.
…
Tony and Steve were there to keep an eye on them, AND to keep an eye on Victor Von Doom. His vibe was more or less easy going, but still… you never friggen know what's gunna happen when he's around.
Doom aligned himself with people only when it suited him, so, in the scheme of things, he was very unpredictable.
Stark eavesdropped on that random conversation Clea Strange had with the Scarlet Witch. Wanda Maximoff was known to have a connection with Victor Von Doom on some level, so Tony considered her actions as SUS.
That means Wanda's behavior was suspicious as fuhhhk, so Steve and Tony were on red alert.
The brunette glanced down at the youngest member of their pack. Sofia Strange was getting taller, and Tony couldn't help but stare at her snow-colored hair. She had hints of purple going on as well, and her style definitely resembled her mother.
Actually, on some level, Tony could see that she was also a child that belonged in the Realm of Light.
Agamotto had a hand in her genetic makeup as well, and who knew what that actually meant.
Hmm…perhaps that was a story for a different day. Tony's focus returned to Sofia's father down below. Stephen was explaining why "Battleworld" was suddenly a thing, and he was telling everyone a story about how he and Victor Von Doom put it all together…
…
"Doom and I had a conversation about how to open up this event to everyone, and we kept looping back to the importance of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. Without truly mastering and understanding that skillset, any magic you have or tech you create kinda falls flat…"
…
Aweeee. Stephen truly was a confident and well-spoken man. He wasn't always that way, in fact, Tony listened to him speak in that moment and he remembered how he used to be when they first met.
He seemed like a different person in that moment. Stephen Strange was all grown up, talking about how combat skills connected directly to being mentally prepared.
He said hand-to-hand combat was all about discipline, quick thinking, having decisive actions, and even having mental clarity.
The point to what he was saying was just about to be revealed, because apparently Victor Von Doom had chosen someone specific to help him "properly display" everything Stephen Strange was saying in that moment.
Wait, what? Tony Stark's sharp eyes glanced toward his left, then he started looking up toward the upper level. Doom's chosen "opponent" was listening, but he was also responding to a delicate message. You see, Wade Wilson was up there, hearing all that shit being said about hand-to-hand combat.
That was definitely his jam, for sure, and he liked where the subject was going. Stephen Strange was speaking his language for sure, but Wade's eyes were currently on Ezekiel's pearly white suit.
Zephyr sent him a discreet message about the two of them talking "alone" later, and OF COURSE Wade was dead set on paying attention to that and giving Ezekiel a response. YES. Of course they could talk alone, later. You bet.
…
Ezekiel received that message, and his baby heart was still processing seeing Wade.
Shit got crazy, like always, and now Ezekiel started tuning into what was actually happening in that moment. He heard what Stephen Strange was saying, what he was implying, and what was about to happen…
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"Now, with all that being said… Victor Von Doom has chosen someone here to duel with him, right now, and open up Battleworld to everyone in the cosmos. He said he views this person as the perfect opponent, so…"
…
Stephen's eyes did some hunting around, and he spotted someone's striking red and black costume after some time.
The infamous Deadpool was waaaayyyy up at the top of the crowd, and the former Sorcerer Supreme could tell that the mercenary was listening and deeply paying attention.
Doom was on the opposite side of his colosseum. He clenched his fists and imagined inflicting pain for only a moment, then he started walking toward the steps that led down to the pit.
Oh, he couldn't wait to break that loudmouth's face. The moment was close… oh so close.
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"So, Wade Wilson… codename, Deadpool, do you accept Doom's invitation? I'll go over the ground rules, if you accept…"
…
Deadpool's name carried over the giant crowd, and Wade's soul just about fucking burst. Shit got suuuupppperrrr quiet all of a sudden.
All souls were silent. Not a creature was stirring, but the merc didn't give a flyin fuck. OHHHH, his fuckin focus was dead set on heading down there. Wade's eyes MEGA locked onto that chrome-dome CUNT, and best believe the gloves were coming off for sure.
Ground rules? Did the caped crusader say some shit about ground rules down there? Fuck that…
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"You bet your sexy ass I ACCEPT."
…
Wade Wilson humbly accepted Victor Von Fuck-Face's invitation to duel, and the man in red was only interested in making it a duel to the death.
He took two steps to the right before he suddenly stopped, because another discreet message hit him right in the gut.
Ezekiel Stane was standing right there beside him, remember? He heard Doom's clever invitation too, and he was processing what it meant in his own way.
The quiet coyote had gone mute for sure, and Wade was convinced they were definitely back to square one.
Square one was fine, and Wade planned to work with it. The mercenary took a small glance behind him. He had to look back at his cute lil fiancé, just for a sec. He only saw Zephyr tho, and Wade wanted to do something crazy.
…
No regrets, Coyote. Joni Mitchell.
…
Wade thought of that weird song again, so he sent Zephyr that message…then he gave that white armor a random kiss on the cheek. They both were there in full "costume" too, damaged as fuck…hiding shit.
After that? Yeah, Wade fixed his swords against his back, then he started making his way down to the pit.
Ezekiel watched him head down in Doom's direction, but he remained totally silent beneath his armor. The baby Jackal closed his eyes for the millionth time, then he tried to process what was happening…
Chapter: END
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