No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 1
Chapter Thirteen: The Meddler (Part 3)
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"Did you hear me?"
...
Stephen asked Ezekiel Stane a question. Bucky was excited about it, because he was able to tag along. He stood quietly beside Tony, and he just observed.
Ezekiel's new suit was, bizarre. It looked like it had become a living mass, but then it would retract back inward. They couldn't see his actual body, and he didn't answer Stephen's question.
The Sorcerer Supreme asked him how long he intended to be a "free loader", but the Jackal didn't take the bait. He was very careful with his words, so he didn't respond.
He studied Stephen, and he waited for something more to be said. Ezekiel was the one being approached, so he returned the gesture minimally.
"I want to talk to you, about Victor."
Stephen's force emerged again. His voice was quiet, but very stern. Ezekiel heard what was said, and he finally opened his eyes beneath the suit. Victor was clearly a weak spot. They all saw a shift.
He looked over the guests as he contemplated. The Jackal knew that Victor was alive, and safe. He had all the potential in the world to move on and have some sort of decent life.
Ezekiel made a mistake when he checked in on him. It felt like he screwed up. Ezekiel's entire self suddenly filled with a bit of sorrow in that moment. Regret.
"What about him?..."
His voice carried through the machine, and everyone there listened in. Stephen's presence softened up after Ezekiel spoke, because deep down he knew that the person in front of him cared about his brother.
"I'm picking up on a darkness. It's a sadness around Victor that has an actual form. You leaving has added to that so, I want to know your plan."
When the fuck was Ezekiel planning on leaving Oshtur's realm? Stephen was annoyed with it months ago, but there he was. The sorcerer waited for a response. Ezekiel processed what he said, but he wasn't sure how to take the information.
"You've added to that sadness as well. I shouldn't get all the blame."
Victor was catching onto the actual darkness of Stephen Strange. Ezekiel heard about it every now and then. All of that "Mystic Consulting" was leading Victor down a dark well. His righteous brother was at the bottom, Ezekiel could tell.
As for his plan?
"I could leave a bit quicker, if you hand over Wade Wilson."
Victor had his own riddles to solve. Ezekiel wasn't too concerned about what was left of their failed relationship. What he wanted, was Deadpool's head.
Stephen actually rolled his eyes. He had no intention of indulging Ezekiel's need for revenge. Deadpool was to remain out of his reach, and he was put to task elsewhere. No bargaining.
Ezekiel could sense that their little chat was ending. It seemed like Stephen and Ezekiel were setting up a little game of chess between them. They both were just fishing around for the smallest details.
The Jackal decided to throw him a bone. It was a big one...
"Before I left Victor, he told me that you're the one that survived it all. His sadness is growing because of you, so come up with your own plan."
That was that. Ezekiel didn't want to talk to him any longer, so he logged out of their little chat. Stephen, Tony, Bucky, and Steve all watched Ezekiel's tech disperse.
He just, vanished. Evaporated.
Stephen crossed his arms. He could tell that the damn Jackal just popped off somewhere else within the realm. He wasn't in the mood to pursue him, or in the mood to think about it any longer.
The noisy sports bar returned around Stephen and his friends. Steve brought them back, and they all adjusted to the change of scenery.
Hmmm... Tony took in a slow breath. His interest became directed toward Ezekiel's tech as soon as he saw it.
It looked like it was mutating. Apparently, Obadiah's baby boy was still struggling to shake off what was done to him by that Deadpool freak. Tony thought it all over, then he scratched the side of his head.
He wanted to order another drink, then think it all over with a hot blonde back in Brooklyn.
Chapter: END
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