A Stranger (Wade Winston Wilson)

[Starlight]

"I can't believe this! I just cannot believe this!"

The voice entered the room just a second before its owner, one very pissed Jasmine Reynolds, practically exploded into the room. There was hatred and anger, fierce and pure and true, burning in her dark eyes. For once, she actually looked like the mercenary she was at heart, instead of the buisness woman she masqueraded as during the day.

Without even glancing over, for she knew perfectly well where Deadpool would be, Jasmine tossed the newpaper at his chair. "Can you believe that shit? They want us to sign up. To "register" like we're they're fucking lapdogs. We already get branded 'freak' and 'monster' enough as it is! And now that want us to just put ourselves out there?"

With a twist of her ankle, Jasmine slammed her back into the wall and slid down. Her arms rested over her bent knees, and the young woman tilted her head back. Her eyes stared up at the ceiling.

"Why don't we just go ahead and shoot ourselves? It would make it even easier for the Friends of Humanity to get rid of us."

Jasmine's gaze fell from the ceiling to Deadpool's hidden face, and the young woman sighed. In just the two months that she and Deadpool had known each other, Jazz had proven herself to be a stable - albeit slightly insecure - young woman. But now... This latest blow by the government had completely caught her off guard.

Still, she managed a smile, "But, knowing you, you have no idea what I'm talking about. Do you?"

[Deadpool]

"Haha, look, guys! He has to use his feet to power the car!"

Deadpool clapped his hands, grinning. Boomerang had been running a Flintstones marathon all morning, and he, of course, had been watching it like a hawk. Yeah, he'd heard something big was going on in the news... but he didn't really care. Flintstones.

Of course, then Jazz stormed in and began yelling.

Boy, she seems angry.

Yeah, I wonder what happened?

...was it us? It wasn't us, was it?

Maaaaaaybe we should be listening...

Oh god I hope it wasn't us...

". . . But, knowing you, you have no idea what I'm talking about. Do you?"

Deadpool gave her a sort of blank look, somewhat glad now that he'd kicked Weasel out a couple weeks ago. Of course, the arms dealer would be back eventually. He just didn't want him around for a little now that he knew he was beginning to feel... that for someone. That wasn't a good feeling... at least, not for him. It only led to trouble.

"Did... did I do something?"

[Starlight]

Did... Did I do something?"

For some reason, Deadpool's lack of concentration was enough to make her laugh. Jasmine tilted her head back and chuckled softly, warmly. God... Who knew someone that paid such little attention could actually brighten her up? Normally, those kind of people just pissed her off.

Of course, it could have been because she was starting to feel...

"No," she murmured, back over at him. Her lips curved into into a lovely smile, and she forced herself to stand, "No, Wade. For once in your life, you actually didn't do anything this time."

Feeling slightly better, Jasmine headed over to Deadpool's recliner. She leaned against it, crossing her arms over her chest. "The humans have, actually. They signed a new law saying that, and I quote 'all superhumans must register with the government and receive a licence.' End quote."

She halfway sat on the armrest of his recliner, "Bull to the shit."

[Deadpool]

"No, Wade. For once in your life, you actually didn't do anything this time."

"Oh, that's good! 'Cause... Flintstones." Deadpool gave her a small smile, somewhat glad his Attention Deficit Ooo Shiny had cheered her up, rather then made her angrier.

Then she started explaining about the law, and he frowned. He'd never been much for laws anyway, even though lately he'd been trying to be a better person. Let's face it, he just wasn't a nice guy. This didn't sound like his kind of thing, and anyway he could just run slash hide from it.

What were they gonna do, shoot him?

"Oh," he said, tentatively placing a hand on her arm. The merc bit his lip, somewhat thoughtful. "Y'know, I hear Toronto's nice this time of year... Well, actually, I know it is. I used to live there. Actually, I think legally I'm still a Canadian citizen, I never did want to bother with the immigration paperwork..."

[Starlight]

Deadpool placed a hesitant hand on her arm, and Jasmine gave him a gentle smile. She placed her hand over his, gently brushing her thumb over the top of his gloved hand, "Toronto, huh? So what are we gunna do, flee the country? I got a buisness to take care of, you know." She gave him a gentle smile.

Even if that sentence hadn't actually "invited" her with him, she still wasn't going to let him go anywhere without her. Because, frankly, he was the only friend she had, and she wsn't about to let him leave her.

"So," she licked her lips, "you're from Canada, huh? Never knew that little bit about'cha. But I guess we learn something new every day." Jasmine leaned against him slightly, just so her shoulder touched his, and thanked God that his weight was more than enough to keep hers from flipping the chair over.

[Deadpool]

Deadpool gave her an "innocent" look. "Miss Reynolds, have you never heard of a vacation?" he asked. "Besiiiiides, how are they gonna find out you got powers anyway? All you do is that... twisty thingy, right? Which, may I remind you, is awesome. They might not even count it as a power." The mercenary grinned at her.

"So, you're from Canada, huh? Never knew that little bit about'cha. But I guess we learn something new every day."

He nodded. "Born and raised! Served my military career there, too, but that was a looooonnnng time ago. Still..." Deadpool put on his best "sexy" voice, closing his eyes in mock ecstasy. "Oh, Canada~"

[Starlight]

Jasmine reached up, rubbing the back of her neck. "I don't take vacations, and... Well, okay, yeah, I have some rather useless powers. But still." She nodded over to the pen sticking out of her purse on the table. It seemed to float over, and began to write it's the principle of the matter on her palm. She grinned at Deadpool.

And then smacked him upside the back of the head, "And don't ever insult my abilities again. I already know I'm a disgrace to the mutant race as it is. I don't need you telling me that as well." But then she gave him a smile.

"Oh, Canada~"

And that was when Jazz lost it in a fit of giggles. Reaching over, she gave his head a light push, as if trying to knock that tone out of his voice, "You are absolutely horrible, Wade." She chuckled, then leaned so she could touch her head to the top of his, "But God knows that I wouldn't trade you for anything on this planet."

Surprisingly, she meant it, too.

[Deadpool]

"GASP!" he cried. "No vacations?!?! Okay, that settles it, missy. Pack your bags 'cause we're leaving next week. It'll be fun! I can drag you around the city and show you all the cool things that I forgot what they were... Ohmygod you can write with your mind." Deadpool let out a little squeal of delight.

"And don't ever insult my abilities again. I already know I'm a disgrace to the mutant race as it is. I don't need you telling me that as well."

"Owwwww!" He clutched the back of his head, sniffling. "But... but I said it was awesome."

Deadpool couldn't help but give her a grin and a wink, chuckling warmly. "I know I'm horrible. It's part of the job description." He wrapped an arm around her and hugged her lightly.

[Starlight]

Jasmine smiled lightly, reaching over to squeeze his hand warmly, "Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse? I'll take two weeks off, put Mitz in charge. You and me can go see Canada... Man, I've never even been out of New York." She let out a light chuckle, as if the idea now was ridiculous. How could she own a buisness and yet never been out of her own state?

He warpped his arm around her, squeezing her close, and the female mercenary smiled. "Yeah, you're horrible, all right. Absolutely, one-hundred percent horrible, but I don't think I really care. So long as those guns aren't pointed at me, we're cool." Subconsciously, she scooted a little closer to him, though she couldn't go far without ending up in his lap.

"So, aside from watching cartoons, what all have you been doing around here?"

[Deadpool]

It took Deadpool a moment to realize he actually had an arm wrapped around her.

Well, that was... something. And she wasn't backing away or pulling away or running away screaming and that was something else. The mercenary grinned happily, somewhat proud with himself.

Even if he felt very, very unsure inside.

"So, aside from watching cartoons, what all have you been doing around here?"

"You mean there's stuff for me to do other then watch cartoons?" Deadpool asked in a mock-confused manner. "Oh my god, a whole new world of not-cartoons has been opened up to me! Maybe I could watch the show with that dreamy Dennis Leary..." He laughed, then shrugged. "Ah, well, other then the occasional job I haven't had much TO do. I mean, I kicked Weasel out finally. But he'll be back."

[Starlight]

Jasmine laughed at his words, grinning over him. "You are such a smart-ass. God, I'm surprised you're not dead - Oh wait! Never mind." Reaching over, she placed her elbow on his head and rested her chin in her fist; she was using his head for support. "You've probably been killed because of that mouth a few times by now, huh?"

Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she glanced down at him. Normally she would have brushed her fingers through his hair, but he had none - and his mask was on. So she just moved her arm from his head and rested her cheek against the top of his head.

"I swear, I don't care how pissed off I am, you and smart-assy-ness always seem to brighten my day. God, I must be going crazy. I have to be, to be hanging out with you, in this warehouse and-- Wait, you kicked Weasel out?" She perked up, though she didn't move from her spot, "Well, that's good. Because I'm not responsible for what happens the next time I notice him checking me out."

She frowned slightly.

[Deadpool]

"Let's see..." Deadpool held up a hand and began counting off fingers. "There was that time in China, and that one time Cable blew my brains out just to shut me up, and who could forget that ItsJustSomeRandomGuy video where Rorschach shot me because of the song I was singing?" The merc grinned. "Your answer is yes, yes I have.

"And yeah, I kicked Weasel out. I got all the arms I need for right now, and damnit he has his own home, he doesn't need to be hanging around mine."

---

His eyes locked on the Target, the man in red. His blood practically boiled at the look on his face. This was the man that had killed his Charge, and he was not happy about it. He'd failed in his duty, and that meant only one thing...

Kill the Target.

He shifted forward, eyes opened wide. Waiting for the right moment. He could practically imagine his hands wrapped around this man's throat, making the woman beside him watch... for she had been the reason the man had killed his Charge.

They were both going to pay. And he was going to laugh... even if he couldn't laugh

---

Deadpool stiffened, eyes moving to the window. He could feel it, that... violation of something deep inside him. The feeling he got when he knew someone who wasn't supposed to be near his home was near his home. He raised a finger to his lips and turned to Jazz, hoping she got the message.

[Starlight]

Jasmine couldn't help the grin that formed on her face, and the giggles that escaped, as he went off, randomly listing off times his mouth had gotten him killed. A part of her - actually, every single part of her - was glad that he had that whole "curse of life" thing because, without it, she knew he would have long since died, and she would have been all alone.

But when Deadpool turned, placing a finger over his lips, Jasmine stiffened. Her eyes immediately went to a window, then another. She got the message. Someone was out there; someone was watching the pair of them. It wasn't Weasel, because Deadpool wouldn't have acted like this. It wasn't her Aunt Carol - thank God - because her entrance wouldn't be so...quiet.

Carefully, Jasmine slid off of the chair, her body twisting easily out of his grip. As much as she hated to dislodge herself from the man she was truly starting to care about, someone was out there. "I got a buisness meeting to take care of. Reggie's stocks are getting divided, and guess who got a huge share?" Her eyes darted to another window, though a cheeky grin played on her face.

[Deadpool]

Deadpool laughed, but it was hollow. He couldn't shake the feeling of a terrible, terrible wrongness. Even his eyes, normally just filled with his insanity, showed how... violated he felt. "You have fun, girl!" he said. "And save me some of the--"

He was interrupted when the window shattered.

He crashed through the glass, the shards lacerating his arms and torso but the wounds healing almost immediately afterwords. He glared at the both of them. The Woman and the Target; and the Woman was trying to get away. He couldn't have that; no, no he couldn't. Letting out a muffled growl, he charged for her, two long blades beginning to slide out of his arms.

"JAZZ!" Deadpool yelled, lunging for the attacker. He whipped out a pistol, firing at the other's arms and legs. But, to his shock and dismay, the wounds healed right in front of his eyes. "What the... GOD DAMNIT!"

[Starlight]

Jasmine saw how utterly violated the intruder made Deadpool feel, and it made her sick. One's home was their sanctuary, where you were supposed to feel safe. And whoever was out there wasn't following that one little rule...

So when he leapt through the window, she automatically went for her purse, where her guns were located. However, when swords seemed to grow from his arms, Jasmine froze up. Oh, that wasn't good. Oh, that certainly wasn't natural. Add in the fact that Deadpool had just shot him - and he had just healed right up - and Jazz had a feeling they were screwed. 

But still she whipped out her pistol and fired off several shots at his torso and head, struggling to scramble out of the way, nearer to Deadpool. 

"Now is when you need to be all mercenary-ish!" She called over to him.