X-Men 1. Chapter 1

This is an alternate ending/continuation of my story **Love and a bullet**, If you have not read it I highly recommend reading it first or much of this story may not make much sense to you. Please Review and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: As with Love and a bullet I will not be adding a disclaimer to each chapter. I don't not own the X-men or any other marvel characters contained in my writing. If you forget that then revert to chapter 1 and start all over again.

* * *

**Stryker's holding cell**  
**Location unknown**

"19 it has been far too long you don't call you don't write." Stryker said smugly as bullet made his way to a sitting position.

"What's a girl to think right." Bullet joked as his senses began returning.

"You are a lot funnier than I remember." Stryker said as he walked around Bullet slowly making sure he was still restrained.

"I must not have gotten the concept of humor before, after growing up around a bunch of soldiers with sticks up their asses. Let me ask you something is that standard military procedure or is it that you enjoy it so much that you make everyone that works for you get one shoved up there." Bullet smirked and his opposition's smile faded.

"We will see how you feel about joking once I am done with you." Stryker remarked before he walked back to the door he came in. He opened the door and signaled for someone else to come in. A large man walked into the cell and bullet had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen.

"Tell me 19, what are your mutant pals planning?" Stryker asked calmly.

"What makes you think I would ever tell you anything? And I swear if you say something cliché like you have ways of making me talk I will spit in your face." Bullet answered just before a large fist crashed into his jaw sending him falling onto his side once again.

"This can go on all night 19." Stryker said just as calm as before as Bullet slowly made his way back to a sitting position.

"That's fine by me, seriously is that all you got princess? Try spreading your feet a little further apart giving yourself a wider base and lean into your punches, those sissy jabs are definitely not going to get the job done." Bullet corrected the stance of the large soldier proceeding over his interrogation. Another punch and he fell once again. Bullet got back up again and smirked at the large soldier. "You know a chair for me to sit in would make this a lot easier, I wouldn't have to keep getting back up, we could cut this whole process in half."

"Seriously 19 what are they planning?" Stryker asked again before he jerked his head to the side as bullet spit blood right in his face. Another punch and he hit the ground again.

"Sorry I have been wanting to do that for a long time." Bullet smirked through a bloody smile as he got up once again.

Bullet continued getting asked and continued getting hit for another hour, he had blood leaking from his mouth, nose, a cut just below his left eye and one above his right, he was getting tired from continuing to get back up just so they could knock him back down.

"Make this easier on both of us 19 and tell me what I want to know." Stryker said as bullet leaned his head down to wipe the running blood from his mouth off on his shirt.

"Alright, alright, just don't hit me again. Ill tell you." Bullet said he blew air out of my nose blowing blood onto the ground.

"We are planning a bake sale in order to raise money to fund an army." Bullet said before getting punched again. He got back up and flexed his jaw until he heard a sickening pop signaling that his jaw was back into place. "Seriously cookies, cupcakes, and rice krispy treats for everyone." He said and smirked but stryker seemed unamused. "Ok its not a bake sale, its a car wash." He said and was punched once again. "Would you believe a raffle?" He asked from the ground and was kicked in the ribs. "Seriously you could win a new TV." He continued pushing his luck even while struggling for air.

"I am growing tired of these games." Stryker asked angrily now.

"I am surprised you thought this would work. Did you forget that I have proceeded over interrogations? You are doing it all wrong. You have not tried bamboo chutes under my fingernails, or waterboarding I always wondered what that was like. Maybe you should take the pistol from your hip and put one in my knee, it really does not matter what you do I wont tell you anything." Bullet ground out through all of the pain he was experiencing and Stryker pulled his gun from his holster and put it to bullet's forehead.

"Maybe I should just kill you now then." He said as his finger slowly began applying pressure on the trigger.

"Do it." Bullet gritted through clenched teeth angrily. Stryker's hand began shaking unsurely and Bullet smirked. "You wont, your too much of a coward, look at your fingernails, they are too clean you use other people to do your dirty work. How about your girl here, let her do it." Bullet then remarked looking to the man that has been punching him for over an hour.

"You are still to valuable and unafraid to die it seems. By the time I am done you will wish I had. There are things worse than death. We will see how cooperative you are after food and light depravation." Stryker said and turned to walk out of Bullet's cell.

"Good, not that I don't love the company but I could use a nap, see you tomorrow, oh before you go would it be possible for me to get a pillow?" Bullet joked eliciting a grunt from Stryker before he walked out and slammed Bullet's cell door behind him angrily and the satisfaction hit him knowing that he was getting under Stryker's skin.

* * *

**Mutantville**

Rogue woke up cold and alone this morning something she is not used to and doesn't wish to get used to. She shrugs off the alone feeling and decides to get her day started She is unsure if Bullet is just running a little late but that is what she is going to tell herself anyway. She got up from the bed prepared to go wake up Robby and that's when She noticed the paper with Jason's perfect handwriting scrawled on it.

My dearest Marie

Last night will be the last time I will ever lie or hide anything from you. I had no intention of retrieving the adamantium meteorite. If everything goes according to plan I am being held prisoner by William Stryker as you read this. I recently discovered he has been keeping an extra close eye on mutantville and our family in particular. I knew that if I exited the barriers alone he would come for me. I will get a message to you soon, try not to worry about me. Keep a close eye on Robby as I don't know yet what Stryker is planning but we cannot continue to wait we must act now. I am sorry that I lied but it is for the greater good.

You and Robby are the best things to ever happen to me. Despite all of our arguing I am as in love with you today as I ever have been and in the event that this is the last time you ever hear from me I have something I need to get off my chest, something I should have told you a long time ago but couldn't bring myself to say. Marie I don't think you will ever be able to forgive me and I cant blame you if you don't, but your father is dead, has been for a long time. I know because I pulled the trigger. After you were discovered to be a mutant he became very involved in the anti mutant movement in Mississippi. He began speaking out often and gaining many followers. I received an offer from a wealthy mutant to put a stop to it. The moment I met you I knew immediately that you were his daughter from research I had done. I did not tell you sooner for the simple fact that when I first came to the X-mansion I did not want to ruffle any feathers and then we began to grow close and I couldn't bring myself to tell you for fear that you would hate me. I never cared much what others thought of me but you, you were different. Something about you brought out a side of me that I have never experienced. It was new and exciting and for the first time in my life I felt happiness I was no longer empty and cold. I know it was selfish of me but I couldn't let that go, so in the event that I don't survive this I want you to know that I moved on at peace with myself and who I am. Please let Robby know that I am very proud of him and that I love him. When he asks about me when he is older tell him the truth. I want him to know who his father really is. There is so much more that I want to say unfortunately I do not have the time. I must cut this letter short so In closing I would like to say that I am sorry for everything.

Love, Bullet

Rogue dropped the tear stained letter in Fear and Anger and a bunch of other emotions she couldn't quite make out. Her father did disown her but before she was a mutant he was a good man and she never even got to say goodbye. She never got to go to the funeral. She never got to help her mother through the grief. And now to find out she has a child with the man behind all of it, the fact that he has been hiding all of it from her, she feels hurt, she feels betrayed but honestly the way she feels about him had she been in his shoes she cant honestly say she woud have told her.

"Mommy don't cry." Robby said as he walked into the bedroom. "Daddy will be home soon. He is a hero he is going to save the world just like Iron man." He said and Rogue couldn't help but smile.

"Your right Robby he is a hero." Rogue smiled and grabbed his hand as she pulled him into a hug. Its strange that as confused as she is that a child is able to hit the nail right on the head. Jason is a hero and as much wrong as he has done he also does a lot of right, and now he is making a potential sacrifice play to save plenty of mutants many that he doesn't even know. "What do you say we go see uncle Charles?" Rogue asked and Robby smiled up at her.

"Yeah uncle chuck can help daddy." Robby said excitedly. Rogue got him a bowl of lucky charms and cleaned the house to try to get her mind off of the situation at hand. Once Robby finished eating breakfast they left for Charles' house.

* * *

**Holding cell**  
**Location unknown  
**  
Bullet awoke to the sound of a voice in his ear and he smiled that his plan is beginning to take shape.

"Bullet, oh my god are you ok? You look terrible what did they do to you?" The voice asked worriedly.

"Wasp, damn am I glad to hear your voice. How's Hank?" Bullet asked quietly.

"Is that really what you want to talk about right now? What have you gotten yourself into?" Wasp asked still right in his ear.

"Stryker is planning an attack on Mutantville." Bullet responded gruffly.

"Fury thinks so too." She said which threw him off guard.

"Then why hasn't he done anything?" Bullet asked angrily but still managing to keep his voice down so that he didn't rouse any suspicions.

"He has to be careful about how to go about it and he has no proof. Do you have any idea where you are at right now?" She asked him.

"I was unconscious when I was brought here." He answered.

"Your are underneath of the white house as we speak. Thankfully you snuck that tracker in. Speaking of which how did you get that in here without it being found?" She inquired.

"Wow the white house, this should be fun. I surgically implanted the tracker two weeks ago, long enough to remove the sutures and let the wound heal." Bullet said and could audibly hear her cringe.

"So what am I supposed to do? Why did you send me a message to find you today?" She asked before putting the pieces together. "Oh my god you planned this, even you cant kill the president." She said shocked and so loud that had she not been so small the whole white house would have heard her.

"I have no choice, Mutants are planning an all out war as we speak. If we can draw it here and away from the rest of the country then that is what I have to do. Stryker has to die or millions of others will. I need you to go to mutantville and fill Charles in on whats going on here, he has a flash drive for you with the proof fury needs. Tell them we need a full scale assault in two days. Only the Strongest most indestructible are to come here. Wolverine Sabretooth Juggernaut Colossus and any others who are up to it. We need a defensive team back at mutantville protecting the civilians, manipulators and telekinetics, anyone who can fend off a sentinel attack. Now did you bring what I asked?" Bullet asked her and she flew from his ear to his hand behind his back.

"You know that if a full scale war breaks out that The Avengers will have to step in." She said after flying back to his ear.

"Even the avengers wouldn't stand a chance against all of mutant kind. You heard about the damage I did to the helicarrier alone" Bullet informed her.

"Your right, I will talk to the avengers see if we cant lend a hand but I doubt Fury will go for it." She offered.

"I appreciate it. Go now before Stryker comes and deliver my message to Charles." Bullet said as he began formulating his plan of escape. "Oh and Wasp, Thanks."

"Be careful Bullet." She said before flying back into the vent making her exit.

* * *

**Washington DC**  
**Two days later**

"How are you feeling 19?" Stryker asked as he walked into Bullet's cell and flipped on a light which hurt his eyes after being locked in the dark for two days without any light or food.

"Apart from having to listen to that smug voice of yours pretty well all things considered." Bullet answered trying to keep some pep in his voice although he can hear himself, and his voice is incredibly hoarse.

"I am very glad to hear that. As much as we have been through I hate that it has come to this." Stryker said as he placed a bag on the small table in the corner of the cell.

"I can tell you are real broken up." Bullet coughingly responded as he sat up against the cold metal wall while his eyes adjusted.

"I see you still have that fire. That's one thing I always admired about you. That and as complex as you are you have a certain simplicity about you. However, it seems in this case that was your downfall. You may have been able to take down the men I sent to capture you had you only packed a larger arsenal." He said as he began unloading the bag and pulling Bullet's weapons out of it.

"I don't need a bunch of fancy gadgets, its the tried and true weapons that I always found to get the job done." Bullet responded and smiled knowing that he just helped him to escape.

"I am surprised that you kept this of all things. If memory serves this is the very first weapon I gave to you. Kind of touching, the life I led you on, the one you hate so much, all started with this blade and you kept it to remind yourself of me. I knew you always saw me as a father figure but I had no idea I meant that much to you." He said brandishing a combat knife he pulled from bullet's bag.

"Your right, I tried many times but just couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. Not yet anyway." Bullet said and grinned evilly at the man.

"I am a bit disappointed that you lost a step along the way however." Stryker said as he sat the blade back down on the table.

"Ive lost nothing." Bullet replied as he was almost out of the rope binding his wrists behind his back. "Do you honestly believe I had no idea you would come for me. You know me better than that, I had every little detail planned since the Area 51 invasion this has been a decade in the making. You must be stupider than you look if you think I didn't anticipate every last detail you miserable sack of shit. You see I knew I would never be able to draw you out in the open you are too much of a coward for that. I needed to make you think you had the upper hand. I am 5 steps ahead of you on this one. Any minute now my mutants pals as you called them-" I began before another guard came to the cell door.

"Mr. President we need to get you out of here. Marine one is prepped and ready to go as we speak." The guard said and bullet smirked. "Right on schedule."

"I am going nowhere, let them come." Stryker growled angrily.

"But Mr. President, protocol states-" The guard began.

"I am the President damn the protocol. Keep an eye on weapon 19 here. I have a few preparations I need to make." Stryker said to the man before exiting the cell.

"I have heard all about you, if you make one wrong move I wont hesitate to kill you." The guard said to bullet with a hitch in his voice.

"You drew the short stick you know that right?" Bullet asked the young recruit noticing he is a stickler for the rules which shows bullet just how green he is when it comes to dealing with Stryker.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked with his hand next to his holstered sidearm.

"You are going to be the first to die." Bullet said and lifted his head to look the man in the eye.

"I'm serious if you try anything I will put a bullet in you." He said shakily, Bullet could practically hear the fear in his voice. The man wasn't lying he had heard of bullet and that name carries fear with it.

"I will make you a deal, cut my restraints and turn your head and I will let you live." Bullet said and the young recruit readied to draw his weapon.

"I cant do that." He responded and Bullet shook his head.

"Well then I'm sorry." Bullet told him as he swung his right arm out catching the recruits before he could even unsnap his holster. In one swift move Bullet snapped his wrist and jumped to his feet putting his other hand over the man's mouth muffling his scream of pain. "Ill make this quick." Bullet said before turning the man's body around so his back was to him. Bullet grabbed both sides of his head and quickly snapped his neck. He lowered him the ground to avoid the loud thud that would follow a body dropping. He walked to the table and quickly strapped on his pistol holsters. He strapped the sheathe to the combat knife Stryker held moments ago to his right thigh and sheathed the blade. He grabbed his MP5 and slid a magazine in and grabbed the keys to the cell from the fallen guard. He unlocked the cell and made his exit.

Bullet rounded a corner and saw two men at the end of the hall facing away from him prepared for any threat to come their way. He whistled loudly and as they turned around he fired two quick bursts dropping both guards. It has been quite a while since he has ended a life. Hell he hadn't done it since Robby was learning to crawl and then it was only by absolute necessity. His aim is a little off due to his weakened physical and mental state but not enough to severely alter his chances. He is too far off to be making any thousand yard precision shots with a scoped weapon but he is not in that situation at the moment. He made his way past the cellar taking out four more secret service agents on his way. He came to an elevator and He knew it was a bad idea but also the only way to get to the next floor. He boarded the elevator and it begans to ascend to the ground floor.

The door began to open and Bullet quickly tossed out a flashbang before hitting the door close button. He gave it a second and opened the door once again. He fired the remaining three bullets in his MP5 before tossing it aside and pulling out his pistols. He walked past the stunned agents calmly ending one life after another. As he was preparing to fight his way past the lobby a red flash blew the door open sending agents flying and wooden shrapnel all over the place. Logan and Sabretooth rushed in the front doors quickly incapacitating guard after guard. More and more agents began flooding in and Bullet could hear the sound of military helicopters outside of the building. He used Wolverine and Sabretooth as a distraction and ran across the lobby to the hallway leading to the oval office. It is the most fortified room outside of the bunker in the basement itself. Six guards rounded the corner at the end of the hallway and Bullet emptied the last of his ammunition taking them out. He ripped off his blood stained shirt as the dried blood made it stiff and uncomfortable to move in.

"End of the road Stryker." Bullet said as he kicked open the door to see Stryker leaning against his desk. "You know not only was this the first weapon you gave me but also the first weapon I ever took a life with. It is kind of ironic." Bullet said as he pulled the blade from the sheathe on his thigh.

"How so?" Stryker asked calm in the face of certain death.

"The first blade you ever gave me is also the one that is going to end your life and this sick reign of yours, its almost poetic really." Bullet smirked as Stryker stood to his feet and we began circling each other. Bullet tossed the knife and the blade dug into the wood floor in the middle of them. "It is your only chance, pick it up."

"Bad move." Stryker said and Bullet began kicking chairs out of the way creating a makeshift arena for them to meet in a final conflict.

Bullet took a fighting stance nearly two feet from him and Stryker swung the blade at bullet with a slashing motion which he dodged. Stryker quickly twisted his wrist and swung back hand which Bullet also avoided. "Your getting slow old man." Bullet said and Stryker swung the blade again. Bullet kicked the hilt of the knife knocking it from Stryker's hands. He shook the pain of Bullet's kick off and began circling him again. Stryker took a muy thai stance and launched a front kick at Bullet. He caught his foot and lifted it knocking Stryker to his back.

"Get up." Bullet yelled and he began scrambling for the knife. Bullet walked over and kicked the older man in his stomach expelling the air from his lungs. He coughed up blood and still tried reaching for the knife. Bullet walked walked towards it and kicked it closer to Stryker. He struggled but after a few seconds got to his feet. "Do us both a favor and end it. Cut your own throat, you cant beat me." Bullet said and Stryker lunged like an amateur in an attempting to stab him. Bullet sidestepped and grabbed his arm. He held it outstretched and kicked in his elbow breaking his arm outward. The knife fell to the ground and Bullet smirked as he picked it up. He walked behind Stryker and wrapped one arm around his throat and placed the tip of the blade in his back just behind his left rib.

"I have been waiting for this moment a long time. See you in hell Stryker." Bullet said and began slowly pushing the blade in.

"Go ahead make me a martyr. Prove that mutants are as bad as I have been telling everyone." Stryker ground out through the pain of the knife tip digging into his flesh.

Stryker is right and as much as bullet doesn't want to admit it he knows he is right. He cant kill him not now. If it was just him Bullet would cut his heart out and walk outside with it in hand allowing the soldiers outside to take him down but what kind of future would that create for Marie, for Robby? He pulled Stryker to him and walked him to the entrance of the building.

Bullet walked out onto the white house lawn using the president as a human shield. Speaking of shield, Fury's helicopter landed and bullet has never been more excited to see him.

"Everybody stand down. This man is wanted on nearly every continent on the planet that makes him my property. Bullet release the president and put your hands above your head." Fury yelled into a megaphone before giving bullet a wink with his good eye.

Bullet did as he was told. He released stryker and placed his hands above his head. Hawkeye placed his bow away and approached bullet with handcuffs he moved bullet's hands behind his back and allowed hawkeye to cuff him. "You think you won weapon 19, you already lost you just don't know it yet." Stryker smirked as More shield agents took him onto a separate chopper. Bullet smiled as he knew what Stryker was referring to and that he had a contingency plan set into motion.

"What is the plan here Fury?" Bullet asked as they were off back toward Mutantville. Just as Fury was about to answer a loud explosion could be heard coming from the direction of mutantville.

"Director fury there was an explosion at your current destination." A voice came over the chopper radio.

"It was expected and is taken care of." Fury responded.

"No you don't understand, bodies are dropping like flies, the explosion wasn't nuclear. Chemical readings we are getting seem like it is some type of airborne pathogen. It is dissipating as quickly as it is spreading.

Bullet sat forward in his seat scared for the first time in his life and he wasn't alone. Scott, Logan, Sabretooth, Laura, Colossus, and Storm all sat stunned at what they were hearing.

"Speed it up Fury." Bullet yelled fearfully knowing that his contingency plan failed.

"It may be Dangerous Bullet we cant risk it." Fury replied.

Bullet grabbed the gun from the holster of the shield agent next to him and put the barrel against Fury's good eye.

"Step on it or director fury dies." Bullet yelled to the pilot as Hawkeye pulled his bow in tight quartes and it was cut in half by a set of adamantium claws.

"Who's next?" Wolverine asked menacingly. "You heard him go." He then said to the pilot.

The helicopter picked up the pace and soon began to descend in what was left of mutantville. Bullet jumped from the helicopter before it landed completely. He ran home kicked his door in and ran from room to room looking for some glimmer of hope. After a search turned up no results he ran back outside to hear his name being called from a distance. He took off at a breakneck pace jumping over lifeless bodies that lay in the street until he saw Logan on one knee on the sidewalk outside of the school. Bullet noticed the body of a small child and a woman with two white streaks in her hair. If at all possible he picked up the pace until he reached Logan's side and he dropped to his knees. He scooped Robby into one arm and propped Rogues head up on his leg. He couldn't protect them, he couldn't save them, after everything he put himself through after all of his careful planning he got too full of himself and thought he couldn't be beaten and it cost him his family. He laid Rogues head back down and stood up with his lifeless son in his arms. He turned in a circle looking at all of the limp dead bodies scattered all over the school's front lawn and the surrounding sidewalk's and streets.

"Stryker! You will burn for this do you hear me!" Bullet yelled to the sky in a tone that would have scared the angels from the clouds they perched upon.

"We need to start clearing these mutants out." Fury said to one of the shield agents.

"Clearing them out these are people Fury." Bullet said angrily.

"There is no one to claim the majority of them." Fury said. "Not to sound like a complete ass but America could use the space."

"The space?" Bullet questioned getting angrier by the second. "They will not get this space. The space will become a cemetery, a monument for all of the lives lost here do you have a problem with that?"

"Yeah actually-" He began before hawkeye cut him off.

"No we have no problem with that." Hawkeye said before pulling Fury aside to talk to him out of earshot.

Bullet walked back and sat on the ground by Rogues side holding his son. Tears streamed down his face and Logan and the others left him to grieve in piece looking for other friendly faces. Bullet laid his son down next to Rogue and walked back to their house solemnly. He opened the garage and walked in where he grabbed a shovel. He walked back solemnly and broke ground on the School's lawn.

"Bullet we can get crews in here to do this." Logan said placing his hand on Bullet's shoulder.

"Ill take care of it." Bullet said coldly.

"You have been through a lot, let me-" Logan began.

"I said ill take care of it." Bullet remarked getting angry with his friend.

Graves were dug and soon more bodies joined and more holes began being dug. Holes dug by Scott, Logan, Colossus, Laura, and Storm. Holes for Charles Xavier, Jean grey, Hank McCoy and countless other X-men. Once the holes were dug Bullet Lowered Rogue and Robby into their graves and climbed back out. He tearfully threw shovel after shovel of dirt into the graves and once they were filled back in before anyone could say anything or give any type of service bullet turned and walked away. Anyone who knew him knew in that moment not to say a word. Just let him grieve in his own way. The only problem now is they have no way of contacting him. What they don't know is that this is the last time they will see him for quite some time.


	2. Chapter 2

**Xavier's Institute for higher learning**  
**Salem New York**

"Never thought I would see you here." Logan said as he entered the X-jet hangar. "You have been M.I.A. for a while."

"I didn't see much of a point in sticking around." Bullet said as he climbed out of the jet grabbed the wrench he needed and headed back into the cockpit. "How did you find me?" He then asked.

"Smelled you while heading north. Followed you here." He grunted. "So is that why you are fixing the Jet, because you don't see a point in it?"

"Not that its any of your business but I am going after Stryker, in case you forget I don't fly and Stryker destroyed the whole mansion, jet included." Bullet remarked.

"You know you will never get to him right?" Logan asked not necessarily shocked.

"I'll get to him." Bullet stated coldly.

"The helicarrier would be stupid to attempt. Fury is no push over apart from that you have the other clowns to deal with." Logan said leaning against the wall.

"I don't care about Fury, I have been wanting to put a bullet in him for a long time as it is. As far as the others anyone who gets in my way will die slow." Bullet said hoarsely.

"That definitely wont help your wanted status." Logan said as he lit a cigar.

"I don't care. Hand me the 9/16." Bullet said and Logan grabbed the wrench and handed it to him.

"I knew you were taking it rough but I never pegged you to be suicidal." Logan said climbing into the jet.

"Im not suicidal Logan but I need to avenge them." Bullet remarked not being able to bring himself to even say their names.

"You look like shit bullet, you need some sleep." Logan said seeing the cold tired look in Bullet's eyes.

"I cant, every time I close my eyes I see them lying there on the sidewalk. You should go Logan." Bullet said as he could feel the pain and loss building within him.

"Sure, just take care of yourself bub." Logan said as he climbed out of the cockpit and walked back out of the hangar. He began making his way back out of the mansion when his hearing picked up on the sound of a full clip of pistol ammunition unloading into the steel wall of the hangar. "Still in the anger phase, it hasn't fully hit him yet."

* * *

**Shield Helicarrier base**  
**30'000 feet above New York**

"Director Fury we have an incoming aircraft approaching fast. Our hangar bay is opening and we are locked out. The pilot has been warned that he will be shot down but our weapon systems are offline." Maria Hill radioed Fury.

"Then we take them down manually. Grab the stinger missiles and blow him out of the sky." Fury replied.

Shield agents readied in the hangar and began locking on as soon as the jet came into view, 30mm rounds began firing from the jet causing the agents to scatter and the jet flew into the Hanger.

"Deboard the Jet and place your hands behind your head." Fury yelled as the steps to the Jet lowered.

"I hope you don't honestly believe that will work. Shoot if you want but then we are all in trouble." Bullet said as he stepped into view with a grenade held in one hand and a pistol in his other. "The pin has been pulled so go ahead and shoot."

"Bullet, what the hell do you think your doing?" Fury asked with his pistol trained on Bullet.

"I came to have a chat with prisoner 51848." Bullet stated with a chilling dangerous tone of voice that made several highly trained shield agents flinch, especially those who knew what happened and the man he was there for.

"I'm afraid that's not possible. He is being held until his trial. He will face justice." Fury said refusing to lower his pistol. "Steve, Clint I need you in the detention wing now."

"It wont do any good." Bullet said determined to get what he came for.

Bullet continued walking and shield agents cleared a path for fear that he may drop the grenade. One agent stepped in front of the door to the helicarrier interior.

"I cant let you go any further." The agent said and placed his hand on Bullet's chest.

"Going for a promotion are you? Now is not the time to be brave. Fury." Bullet said getting agitated.

"Let him go. Let the ones who can safely handle him do so." Fury said and the agent stepped aside.

Bullet walked in with a dozen shield agents following him and a few dozen more in the control room looking at him shocked. He walked down a set of stairs to the crew quarters he passed them and agents shut their door as he passed through the hall he passed the med bay and came to the final door in his path. The door opened and once he passed through it shut behind him. Bullet smiled as he looked down the row of cells to see captain America and Hawkeye in full gear waiting for him.

"Stand down soldier, replace the pin in the grenade and lets talk about this." Captain said and bullet just smiled.

"This isn't the way Bullet." Hawkeye said aiming an arrow directly at Bullet.

"I don't want to hurt you Captain but I cant stand down." Bullet said as he dropped the grenade by his feet.

Captain America pulled hakeye behind him and ducked covering them with his shield for the explosion but it never came.

"The grenade is a fake, it was just to get me in. Give up hawk, captain, I am not asking again." Bullet said as he holstered his pistol.

"Bad move bullet." Hawkeye said as he fired an arrow that caught bullets holster and tore it from his waist.

Bullet took off running at the duo and Captain threw his shield at chest height. Bullet dropped to his knees and slid under the shield he jumped back up and drove his forearm into hawkeyes bow making it hit him the face. He juped over a sweep from captain and grabbed hawkeye. Bullet threw him into the direct path of the returning shield and it the force of it knocked him unconscious. Bullet ducked under a punch from Captain and brought a knee up to hit him in the gut. Captain stopped his knee with his forearms and head butted bullet sending him reeling. Bullet hit a cell door and bounced back with a roundhouse which captain dodged he then back kicked with the same foot and hit captain in the jaw. Bullet rushed in grabbed captains legs picking him up off the ground. He rushed him into a wall and then slammed him onto the ground. He grabbed his shield and placed it on Captain America's throat. He removed the shield and tossed it aside, he stood up and walked to the cell he had come for in the first place. He punched in an authorization code and the door slid open.

"Weapon 19 cant say I didn't expect to see you. Did I hear everything right, you just beat Captain America and birdboy, nice work." Stryker said as he got up from the cot he had been sleeping in.

"Do you have any idea what you have done Stryker?" Bullet asked as he pulled up his pant leg and pulled out a knife they were both all to familiar with. "I told you that you would die by this blade, it will happen but I have a few questions, your answers determine how much pain is inflicted upon you before I end it."

The sound of pained screams soon filled the whole detention area and Captain tried and tried but was unable to get into the cell. Bullet tortured Stryker slowly cutting in places that cause the most pain and bleed the least. He couldn't help but think that he should not be enjoying this as much as he is.

Twenty painstakingly long minutes of horrible screams later and the cell opened. Bullet walked out wiping blood from his hands onto his pants. Captain America glanced in the room noticing the countless wounds and the blade sticking completely through Strykers neck and grabbed Bullets shoulders.

"I cant let you just walk out of here." Captain said and was shocked that bullet put up no fight this time.

"He was always a fan of yours. I didn't want to hurt you Cap." Bullet said and dropped to a sitting position on the floor.

"Who is he?" Captain asked.

"My son." Bullet replied. He should be feeling better after ending stryker but after everything Stryker told him before his end, he couldn't feel any relief.

"One of the victims?" Captain asked taking a sitting position next to Bullet.

"Yeah one of the hundreds of thousands if not millions." Bullet replied.

"I was a soldier. I have seen genocide at work, this wasn't the way to go." Captain said.

"You have your way, I have mine." Bullet said as he got back to his feet and walked back out of the detention holding bay only to run into Nick Fury.

"Judging by the blood I can only hope you killed the prisoner and not hawkeye." Fury said refusing to move from the door.

"He's just unconscious." Bullet said.

"Good, you are under arrest." Fury said and Tony Stark stepped up behind him in the Iron man mark VII suit, the version he settled on after his last encounter with Bullet he knew he needed to upgrade.

"There are much bigger problems than me Fury. Unless you want to see what happened in mutantville happen worldwide then I suggest you get out of my way. Things are going to get messy unless you want it to start here then fuck off." Bullet said and Fury stepped aside but Tony didn't.

"I am not in the mood now Stark so unless you want to upgrade your suit again get out of my way." Bullet said angrily staring into the face of the metal hero.

"Let him go." Fury said.

"Nick?" Tony questioned stepping aside and Bullet walked out casually back toward the hangar.

"If he is right about what he said then lets let him clean up the shit storm that's coming."

* * *

**Two months later**

Logan walked into the base he had been sent to scout after he smelled death surrounding the place upon arrival. He walked in cautiously and one look around told him exactly what happened and who did it. Perfect headshots and bodies dropped with extreme precision the ones that weren't shot had slash marks along arteries and veins causing massive blood loss these men didn't stand a chance. They never could have prepared for what greeted them, Whatever happened, happened yesterday if the smell has anything to say about it.

Logan tried tracking the scent but the smell of blood, gunpowder and decaying bodies was too overwhelming to pick up anything else. He left the building and walked back to his bike to head back to his motel room.

Logan arrived back at the motel and put the key into the lock. He turned the key and walked in picking up a familiar scent.

"Been a while." Logan said as he saw Bullet sitting in a chair cleaning his pistol.

"I've been busy." Bullet replied without even looking up from his work.

"I saw that. Seems we are working toward the same goal." Logan said as he sat on the edge of his bed.

"You don't know what you are working toward." Bullet said beginning to put his pistol back together.

"How did you find me?" Logan asked.

"Never lost you. This is more than just purifiers Logan." Bullet replied and Logan raised an eyebrow.

"Figured that much, how deep does this go?" Logan asked.

"Miles, the organization is spread country wide, its well funded, they are organized, and dangerous, does the name Selene Gallio ring a bell?" Bullet inquired.

"It does, if she's involved your right this goes deep. That's not all I just killed a man named Graydon Creed." And there are plenty of other heavy hitters involved. I am going to kill each and every last one of them, I could use your help." Bullet said placing his pistol in his holster.

"Its not like you to ask for help this is bad." Logan stated.

"I'm not asking, I just thought it would be better to have you with me rather than getting in my way." Bullet remarked as he prepared to leave.

"Colorado we have a base there." Logan said.

"I know, Archangels place. Two days." Bullet said before shutting the door behind him.

* * *

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado  
**  
"Where is he Logan?" Scott asked with his arms crossed leaning against the balcony.

"He said he will be here that means he will be here." Logan shrugged.

"You are terrible at this cyclops, If I was the enemy you would be dead already. What happened to your instincts?" Bullet asked after leaping onto the balcony catching Scott off guard and causing Logan to smirk.

"I'm done with the X-men so if that's what you are here for your wasting your time. Your lack of commitment, your conscience makes you too weak and cost the lives of millions of us. You lack the ability to do what's necessary, especially with what we are facing now, I am assuming Logan filled you in." Bullet stated as he stood there motionless a blank look upon his face.

"Your right, that is why I called you here. We need a team of mutants who are willing to do what is necessary. In fact some are on the way as we speak." Scott replied.

"Logan and I choose the team. No offense Scott but I need a team I will be able to rely on. Ones I know that will be able to handle the tasks that may be asked of them both physically and mentally. Apart from that we will not be taking orders from you. If you have any outside input it will be taken into perspective but ultimately the decisions, where we go, what we do will be up to me and Logan. Is that ok with you?" Bullet asked as he walked up to Scott to look him in the eye for any sign of uncomfortability or waiver in his face.

"Yeah that's fine by me. You are not the only one who lost someone. They took Jean from me, Charles, and countless others they must be stopped by any means necessary and I believe you have the means to do it. Your steering the ship captain." Scott said.

"I guess that makes you my first mate." Bullet said turning to Logan.

"Was that a joke?" Logan asked with no hint of amusement. "Try co-captain."

"Got it." Bullet said before turning his head when he heard an S.U.V. pull up to the new base of operations.

He looked upon as the occupants began getting out of the vehicle. He nodded his head as Colossus climbed out of the driver passenger seat, then Laura climbed out of the back seat followed by three other mutants that Bullet didn't recognize. They made their way inside and Bullet, Logan, and Cyclops walked inside.

"I believe you already know Laura and Piotr." Scott said as they walked up the stairs.

"Jason, oh my god where have you been?" Laura yelled as she ran up to bullet and threw her arms around his neck.

"Jason, died along with Rogue and Robby." Bullet said without returning the hug.

"Bullet, you look terrible, when is the last time you shaved comrade?" Piotr asked.

"Pete good to see you." Was all Bullet responded.

"This is Rahne Sinclair." Scott said as a petite woman with short red hair walked up the stairs.

"I have heard a lot about you." She said as she approached and extended her hand to Bullet.

"Take a seat." Bullet responded earning a glare from the girl.

"Ok that's rude all I was trying to do-" She began.

"We will have time to get to know each other later. Take a seat." Bullet cut her off.

"This is James Proudstar." Cyclops said as an extremely tall dark skinned man with long hair approached next. He got the hint and didn't even bother introducing himself.

"And last but not least is Domino." Cyclops said and this one peaked Bullets interest. The holsters and matching 9mm pistols on her waist and the all black tactical gear seems like she has some sort of experience, if not with murder at least she may be proficient with her weapons.

"Stand and form a line. You all know why you are here I am here to test your worth. Your first challenge will be answering a series of questions." Bullet addressed the group.

"That's it questions?" Rahne asked.

"I didn't ask you a question yet you may speak when I tell you to do you understand that?" Bullet asked annoyed.

"Yes boss." Rahne said sarcastically.

"My first question doesn't pertain to Laura or Piotr as I already know the answer. James, where were you during the attack on Mutantville?" Bullet asked the giant Native American man.

"On the reservation with my tribe." He answered.

"You were hiding behind Americas refusal to take you from the reservation?" Bullet asked.

"My tribe and my family needed me after my brother's death." He answered and that struck a nerve that Bullet couldn't ignore.

"Rhane, same question." Bullet said.

"I was with a group of mutants in Maine until we were discovered and attacked." Rahne answered.

"And instead of fighting you cut tail and ran." Bullet responded.

"Its not like-" She began before bullet put his hand up to stop her.

"Domino same question." Bullet said and Logan sat there with an amused look on his face.

"I was taking part in a raid on a hydra base." She answered quickly and confidently.

"Same order, What is your mutation?" Bullet asked.

"Enhanced strength, speed and senses." James answered.

"I transform into a wolf like creature. When I do my senses and strength increase. Sometimes my animal's instincts take over." Rahne explained.

"My mutations increases luck and probability in my favor." Domino answered.

"What are your qualifications to be part of this team." Bullet asked.

"I was cloned and raised to be the perfect weapon. I am an expert martial artist and a trained killer." Laura answered.

"Piotr?" Bullet asked.

"I am bulletproof and was tactically trained as a member of the X-men until that day." Piotr replied.

"I am a trained fighter and have defended my tribe for years." James answered.

"When I transform the wolf is ferocious and unafraid of anything." Rahne said.

"I am highly trained and an expert marksman with luck on my side need I say more." Domino said.

After a few more questions bullet felt he had an accurate measurement of their willingness to do what may be asked and their emotional ability to handle the situation.

"Alright next challenge everyone follow me to the basement." Bullet said and began walking toward the steps that everyone had come up not long before. They reached the bare empty basement and Bullet directed them to form their line again.

"Piotr step forward." Bullet said as he stepped into the middle of the room. Piotr stepped forward and stood in front of him. "Hit me." Bullet said. And Piotr stood there for a second before backing up.

"What are you doing Piotr, I said hit me." Bullet demanded.

"I was too close, with your skill my reach puts me at a disadvantage." He said and bullet smirked but otherwise stood there emotionless.

"Piotr swung a long right hand which bullet easily dodged he grabbed piotrs wrist and pivoted his feet hip tossing the much larger mutant causing everyone to gasp at the ease at which he did it. He dropped his knee on piotrs chest and piotr grabbed his knee and easily tossed bullet across the room. Bullet jumped to his feet with a speed most would think impossible after a throw like that. Piotr charged the smaller faster mutant hoping to use his size to his advantage. He reached to grab bullet and grabbed him in a bare hug. He began squeezing and bullet merely smirked before digging his chin into piotrs chest just above his left pec causing Piotr to drop him and clench his chest. Bullet kneed piotr in his left outer thigh six inches above the knee and piotr dropped to his knees. Bullet then pressed in on the inside of his elbow and piotrs legs went out completely he fell to his chest unable to move. He changed into his metal form and Bullet's pressure points no longer had any effect. Piotr got to his knees and then stood upright with Bullet on his back. He reached behind him and grabbed bullet before tossing him over the other mutants in the room. Bullet twisted his body midflight and landed behind Cyclops. Bullet pulled his pistol and put it to Cyclops' head.

"Drop your guard Pete." Bullet said and Piotr reverted to his human form.

"Didn't know they were a part of this comrade." Piotr said.

"When you are dealing with dangerous humans who wouldn't hesitate to take any advantage they can get no matter what it may be civilians are always a part of it. Not only did you toss me right to them but you let me get that close in the first place. Other than that not bad." Bullet stated and gestured for James to step up next.

After sparring with each one of them bullet felt he was ready to make the selections for his team. He got a good feel for each one of them and he was confident with a little training they would make an excellent black ops team.

"Laura, your senses, your mental state your skills and healing factor would make you a valuable asset to the team." Bullet said and Laura stepped forward and just nodded. "Piotr, your strength, invulnerability and tactical thinking would make you a great addition to the team." Bullet said.

"Thank you comrade." Piotr said.

"Domino, I like your attitude towards this but if you think you can dial back the sarcasm you would make an excellent addition to the team. We could always use luck on our side." Bullet said.

"What am I the nerd getting picked last in dodgeball?" Warpath asked.

"I am still on the fence about you James. You don't seem ok with taking a life and your hand to hand skills are sub par. We already have strength and heightened senses. How do you feel about it Logan?" Bullet asked.

"The intimidation factor alone would give us an advantage. Him an tinman leading a charge would be frightening to many. tactically it would give us an edge. He has the raw skill, with a little training we could use him." Logan answered.

"You have a point James you are in." Bullet said and Warpath nodded.

"Rahne, you resist becoming a wolf because the instincts taking over scare you, that fear will get you killed, I have enough blood on my hands, I don't need anymore. Apart from that you don't take orders very well, I don't think you can handle this." Bullet said and an angry expression appeared on Rahne's face.

"Well I think you are wrong, I can-" Rahne began before bullet cut her off.

"Let me finish, you are the only one of you to question me and I don't want a bunch of robots following me blindly. You are in as well on a trial basis, but you need to push your fear aside. I was not planning on taking on a team this large so if you do not perform to my standards you will be removed that goes for all of you do I make myself clear?" Bullet asked the group.

"James' and rahne get some rest, we begin training tomorrow. Our first mission will be in three days and we need to get you prepared. Everyone else go on about your day." Bullet said and everyone began going their separate ways.

Bullet wen out to his truck and grabbed his bags before walking back to the house. He found the master bedroom and began unloading his things. He unloaded his guns and began putting most of his clothes away.

"You know this is Warren's bedroom right?" Scott asked from the doorway.

"He's never here, he doesn't need it." Bullet responded as he continued to unpack.

"Not sure he will feel the same." Scott said.

"I don't care." Bullet remarked.

"Right, so was it necessary to use me to prove a point? I am not particularly fond of guns pressed to my temple." Scott asked and Bullet shrugged.

"I just happened to land next to you. It would have been the same with anyone." Bullet responded.

"Ok, well I forgive you." Scott said.

"I am not sorry." Bullet said coldly.

"Are you ok Jason?" Scott asked.

"Lets get one thing straight right now. I appreciate your concern but if you ever call me that again I will kill you." Bullet responded angrily.

"Ok I understand, but you still didn't answer my question." Scott said.

"No I am not ok. Is that what you want to hear? You want to hear that I don't get a full eight hours of sleep a night? Hell I barely get eight full hours a week. Do you want to hear that when driving anywhere I take longer routes to avoid schools with young children and parks because they remind me of Robby? You want to hear that the only things I took from mutantville when I left was Rogue's pillow and I lay next to it awake every night because it smells like her, and a stuffed dinosaur that I stole one night when I was out on a supply run. He slept with it every night and I keep it on the nightstand of wherever I stay. No I am not ok Scott, but I have no choice but to go on every day living with this and I get by and I will continue to get by. You should go now Scott." Bullet said as he grabbed some clothes and was preparing to get a shower.

"If and when you want to talk, I will-" Scott began.

"You don't know when to quit do ya goggles." Logan interrupted him. "Give the man some space."

"Yea I should get back to Emma anyway, I will dig into the purifiers and let you know what I come up with." Scott said before walking out of the room.

"Thanks Logan." Bullet said to the man who may have just saved Scott's life.

"No problem bub." Logan said as he left as well.

Bullet headed into the bathroom and took the hottest shower possible without burning his skin. He shaved and exited the shower before laying down next to Rogues pillow. He looked to the nightstand at the stuffed dinosaur and fought back tears as memories of his family flooded his head. Memories that he will never forget as long as he lives. When he reached the breaking point and couldn't take it anymore he got out of bed and made his way downstairs to Warren's fully stocked bar to find Logan and Domino with an open bottle of whiskey.

"Well don't you clean up nice. The beard made you look homeless." Domino said after seeing Bullet out of the corner of her eye.

"Help yourself." Logan said sliding the bottle and a shot glass to Bullet after he sat down on the other side of Domino.

"If you don't mind me asking-" Domino began to say.

"I don't mean to be a prick but I actually do mind." Bullet replied and domino grabbed the bottle and poured him a shot.

"Here is to the ones lost and to one day finding them again." Domino said and bullet thought for a second before smiling the first smile he had smiled in months. He raised his glass and threw back the shot allowing the warm liquid to slide down his throat.

"So those are some rather expensive toys at your waist, and I have seen the others you carry, pretty extensive arsenal. A hundred g's easy and that's just the firearms. What did you do before the past decade to afford all of that?" Domino asked after a few more shots and she noticed Bullet begin to relax. The tenseness in his shoulders eased and he slouched forward slightly.

"Assassin." Bullet answered.

"I knew it. The way you operate, its surgical, you are a tactician and you react as if you do so because your life depends on it. Wait bullet? You mean like the Bullet?" She asked.

"I'll leave you kids to it." Logan said as he got up from his barstool with the whiskey.

Domino walked around the bar and ducked behind the bar. Bullet could hear the sound of a lockpick pushing the necessary pins to unlock before Domino popped back up with another much more expensive bottle.

"Rich bastard keeps the good stuff locked up." She said and Bullet smirked as he took the bottle and opened it.

"So to answer your question yes I am the Bullet." Bullet said as he poured her a drink.

"I knew it, I don't know why it took me so long to put the pieces together, I cant believe I am drinking with the legend himself." Domino said as he lifted her glass and bullet lifted his before they threw their drinks back. "She must have been one hell of a woman, you were on top of the world and then just vanished into thin air. No more contracts, no more new stories of the man who once killed an African prince, or a powerful shiek. We loved hearing of your exploits, don't get me wrong we loved the money of the contracts that you were no longer taking but it was just spooky, You should hear some of the rumors that went around about what happened to you." Domino said going on and on as Bullet sat there surprised as he hadn't heard her say this much all day.

"She was an incredible woman." Bullet said and looked into his empty glass which domino took and filled once again.

"Our lifestyle usually causes us to live a much shorter lifespan. You will see her again soon enough." Domino said and they raised their glasses one last time.

"I hope so." Bullet responded as he took his final shot and Domino headed off to go to sleep. Bullet felt more at ease in that moment as he had since mutantville. Finally someone he could talk to that he didn't want to kill every time they opened their mouth. But as much as he was feeling better he was now alone again with his drunk thoughts and that is never good.


	3. Chapter 3

**Angel's Aeire**  
**Colorado**

"Get up James." Bullet yelled to the much larger mutant on the ground.

"You are too strong." James said as he got to his feet once again.

"You have superhuman strength, there is no reason I should be able to over power you." Bullet replied angrily.

"I don't understand it, maybe my powers are acting up." James said panting, his hands on his side as he was becoming exhausted after being thrown around for the past hour.

"Your powers are fine, stop making excuses. Your problem is control." Bullet informed Warpath.

"You just said my powers are fine, what do you mean my problem is control?" James asked.

"You have to train your body. The leverage your height offers, you need to learn to use your equilibrium. Your lack of control allows me to use it against you, that's what allows me to overpower you. With as bad as you are Domino could overpower you, its pathetic." Bullet said frustrated that James had learned practically nothing.

"I think you are pushing it a little." James said and Bullet smirked.

"I don't. Now plant your feet, bend your knees and find a new fighting stance in that form that makes you feel comfortable." Bullet said and watched amused as James took a new stance. "Good, now stay like that until your legs give out."

"Wait, are you serious?" Warpath asked confused.

"Do I seem like I am joking to you? Seeing as how you cant take direction we need to burn this into your muscle memory." Bullet said as he walked off.

"Rahne, your turn." Bullet yelled and a few seconds later the red head walked down the stairs seemingly very sore.

"What is it?" She asked.

"How was your training with Logan?" Bullet inquired.

"Horrible, I am sore in places I didn't know I had." She answered with a sigh.

"Good take the stage." Bullet said gesturing to the center of the room.

"Your kidding right?" She asked hopeful that he was.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Bullet asked in return.

"I can barely stand and you want me to fight you? That's insane, Logan just kicked my ass all over the woods outside and I didn't hit him once, now you want me to take on you who is a black belt in basically everything." She said.

"Is there a problem with that?" Bullet asked and Rahne sighed before taking a fighting stance.

"Begin." Bullet said as he stood there unmoving without even taking a stance of his own. "No, wait a second." Bullet said and removed his shirt, he folded it multiple times and tied it around his head blocking his eyesight. "If I sense for a second you are holding back you will wish you were back out there with Logan. Now begin."

Rahne hesitated for a second before shrugging her shoulder and throwing a left jab. Bullet cocked his head to the left easily avoiding her punch. She stopped for a second and then threw a right hook which bullet easily ducked under. Rahne began unloading a flurry of punches one after another and bullet dodged ducked and sidestepped easily. Rahne's punches began slowing and her breathing became heavy she threw one last right when bullet caught her fist she stopped.

"How can you do that?" Rahne asked amazed.

"I watched the beginning of your sparring match with Logan and learned your fighting style. Apart from that you grunt before each throw, By the sound of your foot placement its not hard to tell what you are planning to throw, you are predictable." Bullet answered after taking off the shirt. "Show me the wolf, maybe it can challenge me."

"No, no, no I cant do that. It could really hurt you." She said and bullet smirked.

"We will see about that." Bullet said.

"No we wont, I have trouble controlling it. When the wolf takes over it is dangerous." Rahne responded.

"You could use a little dangerous, you need the wolf's unpredictability, you need to be able to fuse your thoughts with the wolfs actions and you will never learn that without letting the wolf out of its cage." Bullet said.

"You don't know what has happened to me and what the wolf has done because of it. It is not something I want to relive." Rahne replied.

"Rhane Sinclaire born in scottland, child of a prostitute and a man named reverend Craig who raised you for years before you found out he was actually your father." Bullet began.

"Stop, now." Rahne demanded.

"He beat you, tortured you for what you are. What was the word he used for you, demon, was that it?" Bullet asked.

"Bullet stop please." Rahne said.

"All of that was before he formed a mob with intent to kill you. Tell me was it Frankenstein style with torches and pitchforks?" Bullet asked.

"God damn it that is enough!" Rahne growled.

"Is that what made you come to America, the fact that your father was a sick religious nutjob? That he tried to take the life of his own daughter, the one person in your life that biologically is supposed to love you and he wants you dead." Bullet said and Rahne dropped to her knees clutching her head as she lost control from the anger that coursed through her.

Bullet stood there looking on impressed at his work as Rahne's clothes ripped as she took her wolf form. The wolf stood up and looked at bullet snarling and he took a defensive posture. Rhane began circling him slowly and bullet kept turning with her as to not show her his back. This is a first for bullet and that is something that rarely ever happens to him anymore but in all his life he has yet to square off with a wolf creature. He would be lying if he said he wasn't a little excited.

He took in every detail, the muscles in the wolfs hind legs as it moved, the location of its fangs and the length of the claws. The wolf growled at him almost angrily, as if it knew how angry Bullet made Rahne. It lunged at his chest and bullet ducked causing the wolf to fly over his head. It landed on the other side and turned to face him again stalking him as if he was prey. The wolf lunged forward and Bullet grabbed its paws and tried to out wrestle the wolf. The strength of the wolf was very impressive and bullet found it getting the upper hand. The Wolf's instincts were impressive the way it was in complete control of its body, now he just needs to get Rahne in control of its mind. Thankfully the wolf doesn't seem to be interested in James who is still in his stance with a cautious look upon his face. Bullet tossed the wolf to the side and quickly turned to face it.

"Alright Rahne, time to take back control." Bullet said as he continued circling with the wolf as it scanned him looking for a weak point.

The wolf lowered it head and shoulders and growled before launching full force. Bullet side stepped and reached to grab the wolf. It was a little faster than he anticipated and it dug its teeth into his side. The sheer force of it knocked him over and the wolf stood over his chest growling in his face. He tried to move but the wolf had him pinned firmly. Bullet reached down calmly and pulled a knife from his ankle sheathe and he brought it up to place it at the wolf's side.

"Rahne take control, I do not want to hurt you." Bullet said and poked the knife slightly into Rhane's side.

"Calm yourself Rahne, I know you are in there listen to the sound of my voice." The wolf growled angrily and Bullet pressed a little more firmly with the blade.

"Rahne snap out of it." Bullet yelled loudly hoping the sheer volume would break through. The wolf slowly began to back off slightly. "Good Rahne, focus, think about what you are doing, think about where you are at, bring yourself back to reality. The wolf slowly began shrinking and taking back its human form.

"James go get a set of Rhanes clothes." Bullet said and Warpath breathed a sigh of relief before walking toward the stairs.

James walked off and Rhane was almost completely human again. She layed curled up in a ball as she came to her senses. She covered herself up as she looked at bullet who turned his back to giver her some dignity.

"How do you feel?" Bullet asked.

"Like I could kill you." She said angrily.

"You nearly did, good job." Bullet said. "Physically, how do you feel?"

"Better, I am not as sore." Rahne said as the door opened and James began walking back down the stairs.

"Set the clothes on the stairs and go, take the rest of the day off James." Bullet said as he realized that rahne more than likely wouldn't want everyone seeing her nude.

"You gained control of the wolf mentally Rahne, It was going to rip my throat out. Even temporarily you did it and you I think you can keep control but you need to let go of your fear. We will start off with you shifting around myself or Logan. Apart from that we also still need to work on your hand to hand and weapons training in your human form congratulations, you pulled double duty. We will work with the wolf last so his enhanced stamina and healing can ease the fatigue. Bullet said as Rahne began to get dressed.

"I hate you just to let you know." Rahne said.

"I am not here to make friends, I am here to get you into shape, you are supposed to hate me." Bullet responded.

"Is this one of those you hate me now but you will respect me for it later and come to like me down the road?" Rahne asked.

"Probably not, I am pretty sure you will always hate me. You did good Rahne but now that I have seen you take control back I expect better. Take the rest of the day off." Bullet said.

"I know our first mission is tomorrow." Rahne replied.

"No it's not. I thought I would be a better teacher. You or James will not be even remotely ready physically or emotionally for even a small mission like the one I had planned. It will be another week at least. Now we are done for today, go before I decide another training session is in order." Bullet said and Rahne nodded before running off rather quickly.

Bullet picked up his shirt he previously tied around his head and slung it over his shoulder. He made his way to the weapons stash he left in the training room and began removing all of his hidden blades and the derringer he kept strapped to his ankle leaving only the sidearm on his waist. He locked his safe and reset the combination as he does everyday.

"Your not making things easy you know." Domino said as she walked down the stairs.

"I may have been drunk but I know the only way you would have known the value of my collection is if you had been in my safe. Not like it matters, I change my combination every day but you cracked it yesterday." Bullet responded before turning to face her.

"That is a lot of battle wounds." Domino changed the subject as bullet turned to face her shirtless and she noticed the scars.

"In our line of work it tends to happen." Bullet said as he shrugged it off. He thought back on a time when all of the scars made him feel insecure so he hid them, he was ashamed of them and the stories each one held.

"It doesn't happen to someone with your kind of skill. You are an expert in not getting hurt." She responded.

"I wasn't always, apart from that a lot of them didn't come from missions. Roughly seventy percent of them came from the man who made me into what I am, he wont be hurting anyone else." Bullet responded before making his way to the wooden doll he had express delivered.

"You practice Wing Chun?" Domino asked as she leaned against the wall and watched bullet start his training.

"Its not as flashy but its fast, strong, and an incredibly agile form of martial arts." Bullet answered in between short controlled breaths. "The dummy helps to build strength, speed, and endurance. It takes some getting used to but hitting wood helps to strengthen the body, strengthening the body helps to strengthen the mind."

"I have heard you speaking Japanese German and Italian in the past twenty four hours. I have seen you seamlessly throw together 8 or more forms of martial arts into sparring, I have heard stories of you making perfect kill shots from 1,200 yards in windy conditions and that takes some serious trigonometry. I doubt your mind needs strengthening." Domino said as she took a place on the other side of the training doll.

"There is always room for improvement." Bullet said and moved out of the way so that domino could start training on the doll. Domino began hitting the doll but a little unsure of how to go about it.

"No not like that." Bullet said and Domino stopped. "Ok I am going to throw out phrases, don't think, just act. Left hook." Bullet said and Domino threw up a block with her right arm and her forearm hit the post. "Side kick left." Dominos left hand blocked downward and her forearm hit another post. "Backstep counter right hand." Domino back stepped and punched the post. "Kick left foot." Bullet said and Domino kicked the post with her left leg.

Bullet began picking up the speed and throwing out phrase after phrase and Domino followed his instruction to the letter. After nearly ten minutes of continued abuse Domino began wincing at the pain from hitting the wooden figure.

"Enough Domino." Bullet said but she refused to stop.

"There is always room for improvement." Domino Repeated bullets statement and continued hitting the post without his instruction.

"If you continue you are going to do real damage. There is no point in taking a step forward if you are going to take two steps back." Bullet said and grabbed domino's wrist.

"Hmm, Intelligent but still strong, forceful, and demanding, there is something sexy about that, the fact that your shirtless doesn't hurt either." Domino smirked and Bullet let go of her wrist.

"That's all for today." Bullet said and walked off to retire for the evening or so he thought.

Bullet made his way back to his room and private bathroom for a shower. He had been training and sweating all day. His stamina is the best it has ever been but even he can only do so much. He showered and laid in bed and that's when things tend to get darkest for him. The harder he tries not to think about Robby and Rogue the more he cant stop thinking about them. He laid awake for what seemed like hours before sleep overcame him.

Bullet jumped up in a cold sweat at a reoccurring nightmare he had been having. He wiped the sweat from his face as he sat at the edge of his bed. He stood to his feet and began removing the drenched sheets from the mattress. He tossed them to the side of the room and walked out onto the balcony for some fresh air. As he stepped out to feel the crisp air he noticed a bright orange glow lighting up the trees. He looked down over the balcony to see Piotr, Laura, Logan and Domino sitting around a fire. He jumped from the second floor balcony landing on the soft ground beneath him startling Piotr and Domino.

"Geez can you not sneak up on people like that?" Domino asked.

"If you were aware of your surroundings you would have known I was there." Bullet responded.

"Heard you almost got mauled by a wolf today." Logan said tossing bullet a beer which he accepted gratefully.

"I had it under control." Bullet said before popping the cap off with his thumb.

"Where are the other two?" Laura asked.

"Resting for tomorrow, good to see the two of have kept your endurance up." Bullet said looking to Laura and Piotr.

Bullet took a seat next to domino on a log that had been cut in half and used as a bench by the fire. The talking amongst the group lasted for a while but bullet sat there quietly staring into the flames. He tried to avoid talking to too many people from his past anymore as most of them tend to ask how he is feeling or how he is coping with everything since Mutantville and if he were to answer them honestly he would have to tell them that he is not coping at all. He would have to tell them the only reason he has yet to put a bullet in his mouth is because revenge is on the agenda first and only after vengeance has been achieved will he be able to free himself from his own head, the beautiful love filled memories that haunt his every waking and sleeping minute. He knows the only way he will be able to come by mental peace is to put a stop to it permanently.

Bullet tensed tighter and tighter until his beer bottle shattered within his hand, slicing his palm open and causing everyone to stop talking as they turned abruptly to look at him. Logan and Laura were the first to notice the blood but they both already knew why it had happened and didn't want to bring up the sore subject and they had both seen bullet go through worse so they decided to keep it to themselves.

"Is everything ok comrade." Piotr asked concerned.

"Yea im fine Piotr, just a long day im gonna head in." Bullet responded as he got to his feet.

"I think ill go with him." Domino said and began following behind bullet.

"How bad is it?" Domino asked after they were out of earshot from the group.

"Nothing a few stitches wont fix." Bullet responded as he walked in the back door.

"You have a suture kit?" She asked and Bullet shook his head no.

"Got a sewing needle and dental floss, same thing." Bullet answered.

"Then lets get you sewn up." Domino said and grabbed Bullets arm leading him toward his bedroom.

She drug him into his private bathroom and grabbed the dental floss from the counter and opened the middle drawr and grabbed the sewing kit. Bullet looked at her amused as she knew exactly where it was at.

"I'll be right back." Domino said and headed out of the bathroom leaving Bullet to wash his bloody hand in the bathroom sink. She returned a moment later with a bottle of burbon and a smile.

"You seem happy to be stitching me up." Bullet said noticing her grin.

"Na just happy that I get to cause you pain." She said wickedly as she opened the bottle of burbon.

"Do your worst." Bullet remarked as he held his hand out over the sink. Domino poured the bourbon into the open wound and her grin faded after bullet didn't so much as wince at the alcohol.

"Do you have a lack of pain receptors to go along with your mutation as well?" She asked.

"No just have trained my brain to another state of consciousness to avoid the pain. Its a form of meditation." Bullet responded.

"Your no fun." Domino responded before placing the bottle down and she began heating a sewing needle over the flame of a lighter she pulled from her pocket. Once it began to glow she bent it into a U shape for the suturing. After it cooled she thresded a length of dental floss and began sewing up bullets hand.

"Your not bad at this, you have had some practice." Bullet said continuously surprised at the things Domino was capable of.

"Basic field medicine." She shrugged and as she finished she cut the dental floss and bumped her forearm on the edge of the sink causing her to wince at the pain from her training.

"Ok, my turn to play doctor, come with me." Bullet said and walked out of the room.

Domino followed without a word wondering where they could be going. Bullet walked down and out of the front door before pulling the keys to his truck from his pocket. He climbed into the driver seat and waited as Domino climbed into the passenger side.

"And they say chivalry is dead." Domino responded sarcastically as she shut her own door.

Bullet didn't respond to the comment but instead started the truck and backed out down the long driveway. He pullet out onto the main road and headed up the mountain. The temperature began to drop and Bullet turned the heat on.

"Where are we going?" Domino asked breaking the long awkward silence.

"Not much further." Bullet responded and continued driving.

The pair headed further up the mountain until the grass turned to snow and Bullet turned off the road and into the surrounding wilderness. He stopped the truck and got out gesturing for Domino to follow him. They walked for nearly 100 yards when they came to a small clearing. He stopped and began gathering snow. He took off his shirt and began shredding it. He piled the snow into a makeshift sling and packed it in tight.

"Hold out your arm." Bullet said.

"Its just sore, you didn't need to sacrifice your shirt. Its cold out here don't you feel that?" Domino asked.

"Of course but I know how long I have before I start suffering the effects of hypothermia, I will be fine, I need my team in top physical condition." Bullet said and tied the sling around the back of Domino's neck before making a second and making her put her other arm in it. "Stay here." Bullet said before walking off. He gathered all of the dry kindling and small dry sticks he could find. He returned a cleared a spot on the ground for a small fire.

"That's not going to keep you very warm and I look like an idiot with both of my arms like this can we go back?" Domino asked.

"Not yet." Bullet responded before reaching in her pocket and pulling out her lighter. He lit a small fire and walked to a nearby tree gathering the last few things he needed. Bullet pulled a metal canteen from his side pocket and began melting snow into it over the fire. He added a special ingredient into the canteen and began heating it over the fire. Once the concoction was made he placed the canteen in the snow to let it cool off enough before handing it to Domino.

"Your arms should be rather numb by now, drink this." Bullet said handing her the canteen.

"What is it?" Domino asked.

"Pine needle tea, just be careful you definitely don't want to swallow a pine needle." Bullet answered and she took a small drink before nearly choking on it.

"Ugh that's disgusting." She said holding the canteen away from her.

"It will calm the pain, drink it all." Bullet said before kneeling down warming his hands over what was left of the fire.

"Domino drank what was left of the tea as they made their way back to Bullet's truck.

Bullet began driving back down the mountain just as quiet as the drive up the mountain. After arriving back at the base he looked to his right to see Domino fast asleep in the passenger seat. He walked around the truck and opened her door. He picked her up out of the seat and walked her inside the base. He reached her bedroom and laid her in bed before turning and walking out.

"What has got you so screwed up?" Domino asked as Bullet reached the doorway.

"Goodnight Domino." Bullet responded before shutting off the light and exiting the room leaving Domino to sleep off the pain.


	4. Chapter 4

**Angel's Aeire**  
**Colorado  
One week later**

"So what do you think?" Logan asked after waiting for bullet to finish his meditation.

"Regarding?" Bullet asked as he got to his feet.

"The recruits." Logan answered and bullet sighed deeply.

"Well as far as the obvious go, we know Piotr and Laura are ready and willing. In my opinion Domino should have no problem doing what is necessary. I don't see her being willing to sacrifice her life for the greater good she is too selfish but if we are as good as we hope then it wont come to that. As far as James and Rahne go I am still a little unsure." Bullet said and Logan nodded.

"Rahne is beginning to let go of her fear but I don't think she has the capabilities in her head to end a life. The guilt would weigh on her pretty heavily. The Indian would make peace with it and has been improving in training he is not completely terrible now." Logan said.

"So are you thinking test run?" Bullet asked.

"Gotta happen sooner or Later." Logan shrugged.

"Your right, I need to push Rahne, I have a low level mission planned, I will take her and Domino with me. You take the rest, I have a bigger mission for your team." Bullet responded.

"Where are we headed?" Logan asked glad to get out of the Aerie.

"I believe you are familiar with Japan." Bullet said with a smirk.

"It is beautiful this time of year. What about you?" Logan then asked.

"Germany." Bullet responded.

"They are international?" Logan then asked.

"Somewhat, they are setting up operations internationally but haven't gotten their claws dug in very deep yet. We are going to cut them off at the knee before they can get their legs underneath of them." Bullet said and Logan nodded.

"When do we leave?" Logan asked.

"I can have fake passports here by the end of the day and a private plane with a pilot that wont ask questions waiting for you at a hangar tomorrow. Rahne, Domino, and I will be leaving tonight. I will get you all of the information you need before we leave. Any more questions?" Bullet asked.

"Nah I got it." Logan answered as he prepared to leave the room.

"Oh an Logan, thanks." Bullet said which caused Logan to stop in his tracks unaware if he has ever heard bullet use the word or if he even knew what it meant.

"For?" Logan questioned.

"What we are facing, I couldn't do it without you." Bullet said calmly.

"Your right." Logan said and left the room with a smirk.

"Rahne, Domino, report to the training center, you have two minutes." Bullet said into the P.A. system he installed so he wouldn't have to keep searching every time he called a team meeting. Bullet stood at the center of the room staring impatiently at his watch.

"Your seven seconds late Rahne." Bullet said as Rahne entered the room in a rush.

"What's my punishment this time?" She asked without argument.

"We will discuss that later, we have a mission." Bullet informed the pair.

"About time, I have been getting restless." Domino said excitedly.

"What's the mission?" Rahne asked.

"Small operation in Germany we will discuss it once we get there. We leave in six hours, take the time to prepare, physically and mentally." Bullet said.

"Your talking to me right?" Rahne asked. "I know I have been letting you down but I have really been trying."

"Don't start doubting yourself Rahne, I wouldn't bring you along if I didn't think you can handle it. The problem is everything up to this point has been training. Getting into the field will help you to shape who you are as a warrior." Bullet responded.

"Come on wolf girl, I will help to get you prepared." Domino said and left the training center with Rahne close behind.

Time passed quickly as bullet ran into town to meet a contact and get Logan and his team's fake documents and ran a few other errands in preparation for their missions. The time passed quickly and Bullet soon found himself calling his team to his truck parked outside. They loaded their gear into the bed of the truck and climbed into the cab.

"So about this mission?" Rahne asked from the passenger side while domino chose the middle seat with little to no argument between the two.

"Right, A group you may o may not have heard of has been growing within the United States picking off the few mutants left as they are getting larger they are expanding overseas. We are going to a small compound where they are planting roots outside of Frankfurt Germany in a town called Wetzlar. One of the recently appointed leaders has been getting operations up and running there and we are going to put a stop to it. We will spend our first two days doing recon. Once we have as much information as we can we go in and tear the place down. We will do this as smoothly as possible we will leave as little collateral damage as possible. Get in and get out." Bullet said knowing things were never that easy but he could always give more instruction after two days of observation, it is after all a little difficult to put together a fool proof plan going off of satellite imagery alone.

"It could be fun going back to Germany again." Domino said cheerily.

"You have been before?" Bullet asked curiously. "I never saw that when I ran a background check and I am very thorough but then again there were quite a few areas where you seemingly dropped off of the planet.

"I am very good a covering my tracks but yes I was in berlin, A chancellor got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and some people wanted him gone. I would say more but I was never one for asking questions myself. They paid I did my job and I left." Domino stated and Bullet nodded knowing exactly how many corrupt government officials he had dispatched over the years.

"What about you Rhane, have you ever been?" Domino then asked turning her head to face Rhane.

"No, sad to say I haven't traveled much. I was raised in Scottland then came to America when I was a teenager and then the whole Mutants are not people stuff began and I joined up with a group of mutants trying to stay out of the public. Never had much of a chance to travel." Rahne answered with her head facing out of the window trying to quell her growing nerves.

"What about you big guy, I know you must have seen quite a few places." Domino then said turning to Bullet.

"Yeah I have been all over, mostly on jobs though and I never stuck around very long. Enough to try the local food. The most sightseeing I got to do was driving through." Bullet stated quietly as he really wasn't in the mood to talk. He knew he should get to know his team better but honestly once their mission is completed he isn't planning on sticking around, after all he has a family to get to.

The truck became quiet after that and Bullet sat there keeping his eyes on the road with the mission ahead on his mind. He hadn't done much of anything as far as missions go since the last purifier lab he came across when he killed Graydon Creed and ran into Logan. He began mentally playing out different scenarios in his head as he drove until the silence became to much for Domino.

"Hey, can I drive?" She asked snapping Bullet back to reality.

"No." He answered shortly. "You don't even know where we are going.'

"You could just tell me." She responded before leaning into Bullet's ear. "I can handle a stick really well."

"Geez I am right here Dom." Rahne remarked.

"The answer is still no." Bullet said and Domino sighed before leaning back into the seat defeated. "So please tell me we are not going to walk into an airport with an arsenal and hijack a plane." Domino said and Bullet smirked.

"No, I got a jet waiting in New York. Its not exactly first class but it will get us there quickly." Bullet answered.

"New York? You know that's a 30 hour drive right? And you are going to drive the whole way?" She then asked.

"Yes." Bullet responded.

"Ok the strong silent thing is hot but you are not giving me much to work with." Domino then said.

"Ok are the two of you going to let me out first or are you just going to have sex with me in the truck?" Rahne interjected.

"You can watch if you want I don't mind." Domino answered jokingly.

Bullet just shook his head wondering how he was going to get through this mission without having to resort to friendly fire. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and braced himself for a long drive.

"Bullet watch out!" Rahne said just in time for Bullet to snap awake and swerve to avoid an oncoming car.

"Sorry." Bullet responded.

"That's it, pull over." Domino demanded.

"We are in Pennsylvania, there is only a few hours left." Bullet said after trying to shake off the drowsiness he was feeling.

"Exactly, I can drive for a few hours and you can get some rest. You cant stay awake driving, if you don't get some sleep there is no way I will be getting on a jet with you." Domino nearly shouted.

"She's right bullet, what would be the point of us dying before we even get to Germany?" Rahne asked although it really wasn't a question.

"Ok, ok." Bullet said and pulled over to the side of the road. He switched seat with Domino and she prepared to take off again. Instead of placing her right hand on the stick shift she ran her hand up the inside of Bullet's thigh before he grabbed her wrist.

"Ow, shit." Domino hissed as Bullet let go of her wrist.

"Touch me again and lose the hand." Bullet said angrily before shutting his eyes and leaning his head back.

"Sorry I was just going to put it in gear." Domino responded before grabbing the stick shift this time and putting the truck into first gear before pulling back onto the road.

"Just let me know once we cross into New York." Bullet said tiredly.

"Sure thing boss." Domino responded and Rahne looked back and forth between them nervously.

"Bullet we are entering New York." Rahne said shaking Bullet slightly jarring him from his sleep.

"You were right, I needed that, I haven't slept that much all week." Bullet said feeling refreshed.

"You were only asleep for four hours." Rahne responded shocked.

"Not very observant are you? He is always awake when we go to sleep, he is always awake before we wake up. He rarely ever sleeps." Domino said.

"How do you even function, I need at least six hours a night?" Rahne asked.

"I get by." Bullet responded. "In 12 miles take the exit ramp." Bullet then said to Domino.

They pulled up outside of the X-mansion a half hour later and they all exited the truck. They approached the gate which bullet realized had been changed. He tried his old entrance code but got nothing.

"Can I help you." A voice answered from the intercom on the concrete post the gate was mounted to.

"I am Agent Woodbury with the C.I.A. and I am conducting an investigation, open the gate." Bullet responded.

"Certainly as long as you can show me a badge." The voice said and Bullet pulled a wallet out of his back pocket and flashed it to the camera. The gate opened and the trio made their way inside.

"You just carry a fake C.I.A. badge with you?" Rahne asked as they walked the long driveway and approached the front door.

"It's not fake, it just doesn't belong to me. People are usually satisfied when you flash it they don't pay much attention." Bullet answered before they were greeted at the door by a man seeming to be in his sixties.

"I am headmaster Berke, can I help you?" The man asked.

"Yes, how long have you been here?" Bullet asked.

"Roughly two months now, I believe it used to be some sort of Haven for mutants, now that the renovations are done it is merely a private boarding school however."

"Yes that's why I am here. The Mutant that attacked the President months ago was a member here and we have reason to believe he may have come back recently. If it is ok with you we would like to have a look around. Before I forget, this is Agent Thurman and forensic scientist Sinclair." Bullet lied coming up with a story that would explain why Rahne wasn't dressed in the same black tactical gear him and Domino were dressed in.

"Very well." The man said stepping inside and gesturing for the three to come in.

"We will stay out of your way, I am sure you still have much to do before the school opens." Bullet said.

"Yes there is quite a lot, please let yourselves out when you are finished." The headmaster said and the trio began walking away. "Oh that elevator has been locked and no one has been able to get in." The man said as they approached the elevator to the sub basement. Bullet punched his code into the keypad and walked into the elevator.

"What? How?" The man asked.

"C.I.A." Bullet answered as the door closed.

"I wonder how many people he had try to get the door open." Rahne said.

"Locksmiths, security companies, tech experts." Bullet responded. "It would have done them no good, its a seven digit code I created after cross referencing dates and times that would mean something to me and I came up with a list of the 10,000 least likely codes that I would use then came up with a program to select one randomly. Anyone who tried would only have three chances to guess right before the systems goes into a full 24 hour lockdown that can only be over ridden by another code just as advanced. It would take someone a lifetime to get the code right." Bullet said and Rahne looked on shocked.

"Before we were forced to mutantville we had some rather important files that would be dangerous if they fell into the wrong hands not to mention personnel files on mutants all over the world." Bullet explained before Rahne could ask.

The trio walked through the halls past the med lab and the danger room before coming to a stop at a large steel door. Bullet entered another code and they walked inside.

"How many different codes do you have?" Rahne asked.

"137, Bank codes, passwords for phones, laptops, safe houses, safes, different rooms here, and many other things." Bullet explained. "Now enough questions get in the jet and strap yourselves in we will be in Germany before you know it."Bullet said hoping to avoid any more questions.

They boarded the jet and Bullet took the pilot seat where he pushed a button and the steps raised back up. He fired up the thrusters and pushed the throttle forward. The jet lurched forward and at alarming rate and shot through down the runway. Rahne screamed as the jet approached the wall which then slid open and the jet cleared the hangar and took off into the sky.

"Wow this thing is fast." Domino said as the accelerated and climbed high into the sky.

"Mach 4.2 at it's cruising altitude." Bullet explained.

"At that rate-" Domino began.

"We will be in Germany in just over an hour." Bullet finished for her.

"That's just enough time to join the mile high club." Domino then said a disapproving sigh from Rahne.

"Your right it is, why don't the two of you have fun." Bullet replied.

"That's gross bullet." Rahne replied and Domino merely laughed.

Seventy two minutes later and Bullet began to descend into a large field in the countryside. He lowered the landing gear and made as smooth of a landing as he could under the circumstances. The trio deboarded and walked silently to the car bullet had waiting as he engaged the cloaking ability on the jet.

"The country here is beautiful." Rahne said as she watched the sunset from the backseat of The B.M.W.

"A lot like scottland isn't it." Bullet said and Rahne nodded her agreement.

They traveled through the night until morning passing town after town and both Rahne and Domino fell asleep on the way. Bullet pulled up at the Hotel and woke the sleeping pair. They grabbed their bags and Bullet tossed the keys to the valet.

"Wow this place is incredible." Rahne said as the walked into the hotel.

"What were you expecting?" Bullet asked.

"Some dirty fleabag motel." She answered.

"Not secure enough, besides if anyone else were looking for me that's exactly where they would look expecting me to lay low." Bullet answered.

"Makes sense." Rahne said as they approached the desk.

"Hallo, wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?" The man behind the counter asked.  
(Hello, how may I help you?)

"ja, ich möchte die gesamte obere Etage zu mieten." Bullet replied in his flawless german. (Yes I would like to rent a room.)

"Am zweiten dachte, die gesamte oberste Etage." Bullet then added.  
(On second thought the whole top floor.)

After pulling out a few stacks of hundreds the other patrons that were in suites on the top floor had been removed from their rooms and given different accomodations. A bellboy offered to take their bags but bullet refused his services. He did ask the bellboy to follow him and they boarded the elevator to the top floor. After using his key to get into the penthouse suite bullet turned back to the bellboy and gave him a stack of hundred dollar bills. Given the exchange rate the money was clearly more than the kid had seen in a long time.

"Wenn Sie sicherstellen können, dass niemand stört mich dann wird es mehr, wo dieses kam, und ich meine niemand. Wenn ich anfordern, Zimmerservice oder alles, was Sie allein bringen es ist das klar?" Bullet said to the young man.  
(If you can make sure no one disturbs me then there will be more where this came from, and I mean no one. If I request any room service or anything else you alone bring it is that clear?) The man agreed and left happily.

"Your aware you just gave him more than he makes in a month right?" Domino asked.

"Of course but we will be left alone and no one will be allowed on tis whole floor. It keeps us more secure." Bullet answered as he looked around the room approvingly. They got settled into separate rooms before returning to Bullet's suite.

"So when do we get started?" Domino asked as she sat on the sofa in the suite and kicked her feet up on the ottoman.

"Not until tomorrow, relax, adjust to the jet lag and we will begin once you both are operating at full capacity." Bullet answered knowing that had he been doing this alone he would have started four hours ago.

"I am fine I'm used to traveling." Domino stated before glancing at Rahne who was visibly feeling the effects. "Guess we can give it some time." She then said.

"So Bullet, I never expected you to be one to live in the lap of luxury." Domino then said waving around the room.

"I usually don't, I am a firm believer in those that overreach do not last. All of the countries throughout history that once held immense power have fallen apart from say Rome but even they are not the powerful warriors that they once were." Bullet answered knowing all of the money in the world wouldn't bring back what he had lost.

"Where does all that money come from? Knowing what I do about you, you don't exactly seem like a rich kid born into the money and being a hero doesn't normally pay very well?" Rahne asked.

"No I was in a different line of work before I joined the X-men." Bullet answered. "I was a private contractor that took jobs that abilities allowed me to carry out quickly and effectively and they paid very well." Bullet explained.

"He was the best, I was still a rookie starting out the first time I heard his name. They say he was like a ghost, he was never seen but if he got close enough you felt a chill in the air. They say he moved with the spped and agility of an Olympic athlete and fought with the strength of ten men. Of course that's all any one knew of him was the legend. The only people to ever meet him face to face were clients and he left no trace of who his clients were or any evidence leading back to them. I gotta say Bullet you do live up to the reputation." Domino said admiringly.

"Those were only stories." Bullet said and sat on the sofa next to Domino.

"So I know we normally don't talk about past jobs but seeing as how we have both put that past behind us, what was your highest paying contract?" Domino asked.

"Ok you get a question then I get one." Bullet said.

"Deal." Domino said happy to learn some of Bullet's past and find out if the stories were true.

"Ok 2.7" Bullet answered her previous question.

"Million?" Domino nearly choked.

"Yea, granted it was much more than my normal rate but the client was willing to pay it for my expertise. It wasn't a cash payment he paid with a diamond." Bullet answered.

"Is this the African prince hit?" Domino asked.

"Yes, his second in command was looking to overthrow him but wanted it to look like an enemy had dealt the deadly shot. I had spent thirty six hours in the sweltering African heat. I used an AK 47 which is rare for me but a common weapon in that region and I led an all out assault on the prince's kingdom if that's what you want to call that dirtheap he lived in. After taking out 42 other soldiers trying to defend him I grabbed him walked him outside and put him on his knees before executing him. I collected my diamond and made my way back to the states where I found the highest bidder I could on short notice and sold it." Bullet recounted the story. "Now your turn. What contract have you taken that you enjoyed the most?" Bullet then asked.

"I received a contract from a woman, not my normal clientele and she offered less than I usually took and I was about to walk away but decided to hear her out first. As it turned out her husband had been cheating on her and carried a rather large life insurance policy. I had just gotten out of a bad relationship and hated all men anyway so I decided to take the contract. The Policy only paid out if he suffered from accidental death so I couldn't exactly put a bullet in him. One day he was at home and was preparing to grill some food at his wife's request when she had to leave to pick up a few last minute items. He fired up the gas grill but it seems the propane tank had been leaking. He was caught in the explosion and after the insurance was paid out I collected my cut and went on about my way." She explained.

"How do the two of you sleep at night?" Rahne asked disgusted.

"One thing you will learn rahne is that its rare that people worthy of living don't have contracts put out on them. Its more the ones that spend their lives stepping on others, using people and discarding them for their own personal gain." Bullet said and Rahne head back toward the hall to go to her room.

"Seeing as how you two have so much to talk about and I need rest come get me when it is time to leave." Rahne said and left the room.

"So tell me about the one that got away." Domino said.

"What makes you think one ever got away?" Bullet asked.

"One gets away from everybody either because you made a mistake or developed a connection or countless other reasons." Domino said.

"Your right there was one. I was contacted by a senator from seattle but not for a typical contract. He had information that told him there was a hit put out on him and he called me to for protection. I figured my normal rate for counter surveillance seemed too easy. After doing some homework I found out he was right. There was a squad after him and they were planning to make it a public spectacle at a fundraiser. I sat on top of a building three blocks away and scouted the fundraiser until I found four men out of place. I attached my silencer and dropped all four quickly and quietly. Apparently there was a fifth member because once the bodies started dropping chaos ensued and one last shot was fired but not by me. The senator dropped and once I scanned the room I noticed someone running across the rooftop of the building the fundraiser was being held in. I took a shot but man was he fast and he was good I narrowly missed and stayed out of my scope. I traced all phonecalls in a three mile radius until one caught my attention but they were smart and using a voice changer from a burner phone. I was able to trace it but by the time I got there it was in a trash can with no one around. There was no trail to pick up. Needless to say I didn't get paid and that went down as my only loss." Bullet said and turned to face her and she appeared to be stifling laughter.

"Something funny?" Bullet asked.

"Just that the he that got away was actually a she." She said and burst out laughing.

"Wait, you?" Bullet asked and she laughed harder. "That explains why the trail went cold but why were you working with a bunch of amateurs?"

"They were a few local hired guns, I offered them a cut of the pay. They were just to cover my escape." She explained.

"Smart. But what is to stop me from finishing that job now?" Bullet asked but made no move to reach for his weapon.

"Because killing me wasn't your job, you already failed your job, the better person won." She smirked and Bullet couldn't help but smile himself.

"Your not going to let me get away twice are you?" Domino asked as she scooted closer to Bullet.

"Domino I cant I am sorry." Bullet said.

"And why not?" Domino asked scooting back.

"Long story its nothing to do with you but I feel if I were to move forward with you it would only be in an attempt to fill a void and that wouldn't be fair to you." Bullet answered.

"That's funny all I want from you is to fill a void, oh well at least I brought my vibrator for that." She said and bullet choked at the bluntness.

"Don't hold anything back do you?" Bullet more stated than asked.

"Never saw a point, the way I see it let it all hang out and those that don't like it don't have to be around me, seems like you don't like it." She said.

"That's where you are wrong. It's oddly refreshing, as I said its not that I don't like you I am just in a bad place." Bullet stated.

"You wanna talk about it?" Domino asked and Bullet just hung his head. "Maybe later." Domino then added without bullet having to say anything. She placed a kiss on the side of his head and got up from the couch and walked toward the door. "You gotta stop beating yourself up, im sure whatever happened you did all that you could."

"Too bad I don't feel that way." Bullet said t himself after the door closed.

Bullet cleared the furniture from the middle of the room and sat down to meditate, as much as he has on his mind he needs to be clear for the mission ahead.


	5. Chapter 5

Disclaimer: As I mentioned in the first chapter I do not own the X-men or any of the characters involved in the wonderful marvel universe apart from the OC I used a transdimensional gateway to plant there to offer assistance during such dark days.

Speaking of my OC please leave reviews letting me know what you think about Bullet and my story so far this is my 5th chapter and I have yet to get a single review.

* * *

**Wetzal, Germany**

"What's the plan boss?" Rahne asked as Bullet lifted his head from the sight of the rifle he had been looking down.

"You two will stay here and keep an eye out until I give the word. I will secure the windows and back entrance. I will then walk in the front door, I need the two of you to provide cover fire." Bullet answered as he stood up and gestured for Rahne to take position behind the rifle.

"Is it really that simple, I expected a complex set of instructions and plans?" Rahne asked.

"I find coming in the front door is the last thing people expect the see it as a stupid move so that's where they are the least prepared." Bullet said before correcting Rahne's position behind the rifle.

"I have never fired one of these." Rahne said nervously.

"It has already been sighted in, relax take your time and remember to control your breathing, Short slow breaths between shots, just put the center of the cross hair on your target and apply steady even pressure on the trigger with each shot. Can you do that?" Bullet asked.

"I think so yeah, it doesn't seem very difficult." Rahne answered hesitantly.

"Good, remember to wait for my word." Bullet said before he ran off toward the base.

Bullet approached the building slowly and stealthily. He reached the side of it and began planting explosives on each windowsill with light pressure pull switch detonators. He listened to the sound of the various voices inside and from the recon they had done the past two days he could tell there were 50 purifiers inside, along with their leader. Once he made sure all of the exits were booby trapped he made his way back to the front door. He grabbed the semi auto 12 guage saiga shotgun from his back and prepared to breach the door. Before he did he turned his head toward the direction Rahne and Domino had their rifles and he gave the signal. After hearing no shots, no glass breaking from the windows, he turned to look in the direction of where the shots should be coming from.

"What the hell is going on up there open fire." Bullet whispered into his communicator knowing he could be discovered at any minute.

"Rahne, I know you are nervous but this is not training ever time you second guess yourself you are putting Bullets life at risk now grow some balls and open fire." Domino shouted from a few feet away knowing to wait for Rahne to take the first shot so that she didn't start firing and then have to get Rahne in order.

"I have never killed anyone." Rahne responded.

"They have, hundreds of thousands of mutants in one fell swoop. Do you remember the mutants you hid with to avoid mutantville, that could have just as easily been you. If they capture Bullet they wont show the same restraint you are, now push the fear aside, focus your crosshairs and pull the god damn trigger!" Domino yelled and Rahne took a deep breath and her finger slowly tightened on the trigger. A shot rang out and she closed her eye behind the rifle. She began hearing shots firing from a few feet to her left as domino opened fire into another window. She looked back down her sight and watched bullet fire a hole into the door knob before kicking it in and began firing slug after slug at enemies she could not see. She looked back through the window and focused her sight in on one of the purifiers before pulling the trigger once again, taking her second life. Her eye did not close this time, she saw the blood splatter behind her target, she saw the man slump to the floor she cringed at the feeling but knew she couldn't let it overwhelm her now.

Bullet rushed in quickly and instantly picked up two targets to his right. Before they could realize what was happening bullet pulled the trigger twice unloading two slugs and they dropped to the ground motionless. He swept to the left and unloaded three more slugs. By this point the purifiers inside realized what was going on and began pulling their own weapons. Bullet ran and dove behind a steel support beam in the base just before shots began ringing out in his direction. He looked out of the corner of his eye and smiled at seeing more holes appearing through he windows Rahne was shooting through. He was glad to see that when it came down to it she was able to do what was needed.

Bullet leaned from cover firing the last two slugs from his shotgun. He leapt to his feet and smacked a man with the rifle before grabbing him and spinning him to use the man as a human shield. He used his free hand and pulled a pistol as the shots stopped. He smirked and threw the man into a group of three more purifiers knocking them off balance as he began unloading round after round into purifiers. he pulled his second pistol and killed the shield and the three other men before diving into cover again.

"That is too many gunshots going on in there, I'm going in. Rahne take my rifle here are some extra mags, anyone pops their head up you take it off." Domino said and jumped to her feet.

"Bullet said to stay here and provide cover fire." Rahne protested.

"I think he underestimated his enemy, you cover us." Domino said and took off at a full sprint for the compound.

Domino ran the three hundred yards without slowing for a second and dove in through the front door pistols blazing.

"Bullet, where are you?" Domino shouted as she ducked behind the support Bullet chose when he first ran in.

"Right here." Bullet yelled back before leaning from behind cover at an overturned desk and firing cover shots so that domino could cover the distance between them. "Glad your here. I'm running a little low on ammo." Bullet then added.

"Here take these, your a better shot than me anyway." Domino said offering her pistols.

"No I will not disarm my second in command. But I could use the cover fire." Bullet said as he pulled his combat knife from its sheathe.

"You cant be serious there has to be at least 20 of them left." Domino said.

"Don't worry I will leave half for you." Bullet smirked. "Go!" Bullet shouted and domino looked up over the desk and began firing shots.

Bullet leapt out from behind the desk and took off at a sprint as he noticed a purifier training his rifle, bullet slid to his knees and popped back up to his feet before kneeing the man in the stomach and as the man doubled over he plunged his blade into the man's chest and kicked him back into another purifier who he then ran over and severed an artery in the man's thigh knowing it would incapacitate him and he would bleed out.

Domino expended her clips and watched bullet make short work of the remaining purifiers. She couldn't help but stare in amazement as he worked he truly was an artist with the blade. The way he ducked, dodged, and weaved attacks and countered flawlessly and fluidly. Bullet removed his blade and stood up straight catching his breath.

"What about their leader?" Domino asked.

"She isn't going anywhere." Bullet said remembering letting her get away into the backroom and that even if she tried to escape the blast from the charge at the window would kill her.

"Come on out." Bullet said and was met with silence. "You in the corner, I didn't forget about you."

"Please, I didn't do anything." The man maybe nineteen years old at the most said as he stepped out with his hands above his head.

"Show me your forearm." Bullet said and the man held out his forearm revealing the tattoo that marked him as a purifier. "What makes you any less guilty than any of these people?" Bullet asked him.

"I was born into this, my family has been purifiers as long as I can remember." The man replied.

"What's that saying no man is innocent of the sins of his father." Bullet said and the young kid began shaking. "Where is your family?" Bullet asked and watched the young mans eyes search the compound until his eyes stopped on two bodies lying on the floor twenty yards away. "Your family?" Bullet then asked.

"Yea." The man choked up as his eyes filled with tears.

"I will offer you vengeance." Bullet said before picking up a pistol from the ground and ejecting the clip leaving only the round in the chamber. "I will give you a fair chance to kill me, you see well over a hundred years ago when one person was wronged by another they would duel." Bullet said before picking up another pistol and ejecting the clip from it as well.

"Even if I win, she will kill me." The kid said as his eyes flashed to Domino.

"If the kid wins then my last command is that you let him walk out of here, however if he attempts to cheat in anyway put a bullet in him." Bullet said to Domino. "That goes for you as well Rahne." Bullet then said knowing she was listening in.

"Is this serious?" The man then asked shakily.

"Extremely." Bullet answered.

"Is there any other option?" The kid then asked.

"None that end with you still breathing." Bullet responded before taking his position and waiting for the kid to take position back to back with Bullet.

"One pace for every count down from ten, Domino if you would." Bullet said and closed his eyes.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Domino counted and Bullet turned quickly as a bullet hit the ground by his feet, he raised his pistol slowly and fired his round the kid slumped to the floor and bullet dropped his pistol to the ground before heading to the back room that the leader of this group had gone into.

"I will handle this." Bullet said as he placed his hand on the door handle to find it unlocked. "If anyone comes back through here other than me kill them." He then said as he opened the door and walked in slowly.

"They are all dead then." The leader asked sitting at her desk.

"All but one." Bullet answered as he placed his hand on the handle of his combat knife.

"Fair enough, do you play?" The woman asked gesturing to a chess set she had set up on the desk.

"No but I know the rules." Bullet responded intrigued as he removed his hand from the knife.

"Then let me go out doing something that I have always enjoyed, come match wits with me before you accomplish your task." She said and Bullet took a seat across the desk.

Bullet sat down and took turned the board so the white pieces were on his side. He began strategically moving a few select pawns out onto the board and registered where every enemy piece was placed.

"Do you know why this is referred to as the game of kings? You see Chess has been around long before either of us, It originated from black and white stones being used to map out battle strategies in a time when kings fought alongside their men. It became a game to help hone the strategic capabilities it soon caught on and became increasingly popular, sadly today it is not as popular as it once was." She said as she moved her bishop out onto the board.

Bullet said nothing but moved his king out onto the board earning a surprised look from the woman across from him. "Am I safe in assuming that you are the one referred to as the leper queen?" Bullet asked.

"Moving your king so early is quite a bold move, But to answer your question yes you are correct." She answered.

"As you said Chess is born from a time when kings fought alongside their men." Bullet answered.

The game progressed and bullet soon mapped out a sure fire plan off attack. He began taking piece after piece of his opponents off the board. The leper queen began growing frustrated and began making mistakes.

"Queen to rook 5" She stated and knocked over Bullet's rook.

"Bad move next I go after your Black Queen." Bullet said emphasizing black queen.

"Hmm, so you know of Selene's involvement." She stated.

"I do, and she will fall in time. Knight takes queen, check." Bullet said and she smirked at him.

"You still have the king to worry about and he is much more dangerous." She said and bullet looked on curiously.

"And the king is?" He asked.

"You will discover that in time I am afraid even you will never stand a chance against him." She said before taking her move.

"We will see about that. Bishop to king 4 checkmate." Bullet said before pulling his knife and throwing the blade across the short distance impaling the leper queen's skull, her head slumped back and bullet walked over to retrieve his blade. "Your king will fall with the rest of you." He said as he pulled the blade from her brain and walked out of the room.

"What the hell were you doing coming in here alone, were you trying to get yourself killed?" Domino asked as bullet exited the room wiping blood from his blade off on his pants.

"Not yet, this isn't over." Bullet responded and walked past leaving a stunned Domino speechless behind him.

* * *

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**

"Did yah learn anything?" Logan asked as he met Bullet outside practicing his tai chi.

"There are bigger forces at play than we realized." Bullet responded without turning around.

"Such as?" Logan asked pulling a cigar from his shirt pocket.

"All I was told is that he far outweighs the black queen." Bullet said.

"That's a problem." Logan said and Bullet continued his training.

"Yea, how was japan?" Bullet asked.

"The mission was a success, Hodge is taken care of. That's four down but we still don't have the location where they are manufacturing the virus." Logan responded.

"In time, we will." Bullet said and Logan just shook his head.

"So are we going to debrief the teams?" Logan then asked.

"Debriefings are to inform your superiors of mission progress we have no superiors, no one to answer to unless you feel like reporting to Scott." Bullet said and Logan laughed.

"Let the boy scout remain in the dark. We are planning to have a few drinks to unwind later." Logan then said and walked away leaving the invite hanging.

After finishing his tai chi he felt centered and headed to the training room in the basement. He cleared his mind and sat on the floor. He closed his eyes and centered his breathing before entering a state of unconsciousness.

"Ah was wondering when we would see yah again." Rogue said as she stood on her toes and gave bullet a kiss.

"Daddy!" Robby said as he ran up and hugged bullet's leg before bullet picked him up and hugged him tightly.

Bullet played with Robby chasing him around the park until he began to tire. He left Robby to plat as he walked to a bench and sat next to Rogue.

"I am getting closer." Bullet said as he took her hand.

"Is that really what yah want to talk about?" Rogue asked.

"No." Bullet responded and just sat and watched happily as Robby played.

"Tell meh about how your team is progressing." She then said.

"Laura is a deadly as ever, Pete has developed a cold ruthless side to him ever since that day, Rahne is full of potential and she is learning more and more everyday but she is still unrefined. James is a bit of a slow learner but what he is learning he is excelling at, and with his strength and abilities that could make him deadly but he still needs practice. Domino is incredibly accurate and calculating and as good as she is she has a tendency to want to progress more. She is a little brash and can come on rather strong but it is refreshing. The team is going well so far, but they will need to improve a lot before we take on anything on a large scale." Bullet explained.

"Your a natural leader bullet and an amazing person, no matter what happens I wan you to know that I-" Rogue began to say before Bullet was brought back to consciousness by a hand on his shoulder.

Bullet grabbed the wrist of the culprit with his right hand and pulled them over his shoulder onto the ground, he jumped up and placed his knee in their back placed his left forearm in their elbow pressing outward and hyperextending their arm.

"Fuck bullet its me, get the hell off!" Domino yelled out in pain.

"Why did you interrupt me?" Bullet asked refusing to let up.

"I called your name but you said nothing, I was just checking on you after the mission." Domino responded.

"Well I clearly didn't want to be bothered by you or anyone else." Bullet responded letting go of Domino and walking to the training dummy to work off some of the tension he was harboring.

"Sorry for trying to be a good team member, from now on ill just let you continue until you self destruct." Domino said holding her arm as she headed back up the stairs. "Oh and Bullet, if you ever put your hands on me again I will kill you and you know I am just good enough to do it." She then added before slamming the door behind her.

"Geez what the fuck is wrong with him?" Domino asked of no one in particular as she walked past the living area to get some ice from the kitchen.

"He has had it rough in the past few months, he is taking everything that happened pretty hard. Don't get me wrong that's no excuse for how he has been acting just an explanation." Laura said after walking into the kitchen out of earshot of the rest of the team.

"What happened to him?" Domino asked.

"That is his story to tell, it was hard to get him to open up before everything now it will be next to impossible." Laura answered.

"Not like it matters anyway after this I doubt he will open up to me." Domino shrugged before loading up a bag full of ice.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Laura responded.

"Bullet do this?" Logan asked gruffly after walking in to grab a beer and seeing the damage.

"Yea I broke in on his meditation." Domino answered.

"Ill handle this." Logan growled as he left the room in a hurry.

Logan walked down the stairs to the basement in a huff and approached the training dummy as Bullet worked out.

"We need to talk." Logan grunted.

"Not now." Bullet said without missing a beat.

Logan growled and in one swift motion unsheathed his claws and sliced the dummy into pieces. "What about now?"

"Now I need to order another dummy." Bullet responded before walking away to grab his towel.

"This aint a joke bub. If you wanna get angry and test me that's fine, I'll heal but once you start injuring the others we have a problem, we need her and you could have put her out of commission for weeks or even months. That wouldn't have done anyone any good. I know your hurting and we let that slide but it needs to stop cause if I find out you attacked another team member you got me to deal with yah understand?" Logan asked before walking off.

"Is she alright?" Bullet asked after stopping and taking a long deep breath.

"A little ice and she will be but that aint the point, not once did you ask how rahne was holding up and you nearly broke Dom's arm, get your head on straight and accept the position of leader that you wanted." He said before leaving.

"Guess I have two people to talk to." Bullet said to himself as he wiped some sweat from his forehead.

Later that evening bullet stepped out of the shower and remembered Logan's invitation from earlier. Bullet stepped out onto the balcony and looked down onto the others around the glowing fire they had built once again. He turned and walked back in before heading downstairs and grabbed a bottle of bourbon from the bar before walking out the back door.

"Truce?" Bullet asked after putting his hand on Domino's shoulder and presenting her the bottle.

"Fuck off." Domino said before turning away from him.

"Ok I tried being civil, Domino, Rahne, inside now." Bullet commanded and Rahne got to her feet and Domino huffed before doing the same. Bullet turned and walked back in and to the bar where he pulled three shot glasses and set them on the bar.

"First off, Rahne how are you holding up?" Bullet asked as she took a seat at one of the bar stools.

"I don't think I am cut out for this. I killed people yesterday people with lives and families. How do the two of you do it with such ease?" Rahne asked shakily.

"It is never easy taking a life I wish I could tell you it gets easier but that would be a lie. You do get numb to it after a while." Bullet said before turning to Domino. "Domino this is something I have only done twice in my life but-" He began to say before she cut him off.

"What's that apologize?" Domino asked sarcastically.

"Actually yes." Bullet answered.

"Well blow it out of your ass." Domino countered before looking down at her glass. "If you are forcing me to be here then fill it up." She then filled the three glasses and Domino threw her shot back and Bullet filled it again.

"You need to find a reason to pull the trigger, if you don't feel you are able to handle it then I will understand Rahne but before you make a decision I would like say you did exceptionally well, everyone justifies why they do what they do in different ways, I was trained from an infant to do it so it comes easier to me but it still eats away at you, you just need to believe in what you are fighting for, The reason I continue to do it is the light at the end of the tunnel, and I find that liquor helps." Bullet said to Rahne as he pushed her glass closer to her. She threw her shot back and coughed at the burn it offered. "Your dismissed soldier." Bullet then said.

"What do you want from me?" Domino asked after Rahne headed back outside.

"I just want you to listen." Bullet said.

"If this is going to take long then I am going to need another shot." Domino said after throwing back her second drink and Bullet did the same.

"I lost my family in the attack on Mutantville." Bullet said and threw back another drink.

"You had a family? You seem like more of the loner type." Domino asked surprised.

"A wife and a son." Bullet answered.

"I'm sorry Bullet." Domino said before taking the bottle and filling his glass up again.

"You are right I was always the loner type until I met Marie, she was so afraid and shut down due to her mutation, I helped her to overcome it and she helped me to open up I fell for her hard and fast before long we found out she was pregnant, in came Robby he was roughly a year old when mutantville was put into place and in an attempt to keep him out of the fight Marie and myself agreed to go peacefully. Despite growing up in such a terrible place he was an incredibly happy child he was into superheroes and he looked up to me like one although we kept my past secret from him. I planned for years for a way to put an end to Mutantville, President Stryker was the man that made me who I am and after being unable to find a peaceful resolution I planned the attack on the white house thought I could put and to it by force. I learned of Stryker's plan to drop a nuke on the mutant population and I thought I had a plan in place to minimize damage." Bullet said before stopping and clearing the catch in his throat. He threw back another shot before continuing.

"Stryker must have known I was onto him because the nuke he dropped carried an airborne pathogen that is deadly to mutants. The bomb hit after the attack and I was on my way back to Mutantville and I was sure we were safe until I heard over the helicopter's radio that bodies were dropping. I got back and searched until I found both my wife and my son laying motionless on the ground, their bodies still warm. I vowed vengeance that day and I got it as far as stryker was concerned but before he took his last breath he informed me of the others, the one we took out yesterday, the one Logan and his team took out, and one I took out before we formed this team." Bullet explained.

"I had no idea. The meditation?" She asked.

"I have trained myself to enter a subconscious state inside my mind, I know its just my recreation of them but its almost as if I can still be with my family and when you interrupted me I over reacted and for that I apologize." Bullet answered.

"I wish I would have known that sooner. Its probably not my place but you have to know that's not healthy for your mental state Bullet, you need to let them go." Domino said as she filled his glass again.

"You may be right I just cant bring myself to do it, they are the only good I have done with my life and without them I feel empty again." Bullet answered.

The two stayed inside and continued drinking without the rest of the team. Bullet lost himself to the alcohol and began drinking too much too fast. Domino helped him walk back to his room. She helped him into his bed and placed a trashcan by the side of the bed and listened as he quickly fell into a coma like sleep.

...

Bullet woke up in a daze the next morning with a pounding headache. He smiled as he heard a soft breathing next to him it has been a long time since he has heard that sound. It was then that it hit him why he hadn't heard that sound in so long.

"What the fuck!" Bullet yelled as he jumped out of bed fast enough to make him dizzier than he already was.

"Whoa lower your voice." Domino groaned as she sat up from Bullet's bed slightly hungover herself.

"Domino what the hell are you doing in my bed and where are your clothes, wait where are my clothes, please tell me we didn't." Bullet said suddenly feeling ashamed of himself as he noticed Domino in her underwear and himself in nothing but a pair of boxers.

"I don't know if I should answer that or be offended." Domino said.

"Domino?" Bullet asked agitation in his voice.

"Relax, nothing happened, you were too drunk even if I had tried to take advantage of you I don't think it would have worked. You looked uncomfortable so I removed your clothes and afterwards I stayed to make sure you were ok. I was feeling a little dizzy myself so after I was sure you were ok I just decided to stay here and I sleep in as little as possible its more comfortable." Domino explained and bullet breathed a sigh of relief. Domino got up from the bed and Bullet averted his eyes.

"Geez bullet we are both grown don't act like you haven't seen a woman before." Domino said noticing Bullet's actions. "Get dressed and come downstairs, I'll make you breakfast."

"You cook?" Bullet asked.

"Your surprised?" Domino asked in return.

"I don't mean to be rude but you don't exactly strike me as the domestic type." Bullet answered honestly.

"I have been on my own since I was a teenager, you learn to get by, now get dressed." She said before she left the room leaving bullet to get dressed.

Bullet got dressed and headed downstairs where none of the other team members were awake yet. He smiled as he saw Domino in the kitchen preparing the breakfast she planned to make.

"So how are you feeling?" she asked after leaning back out of the refrigerator with a carton of eggs.

"Been better, you?" Bullet asked as he took a seat at the island in the kitchen.

"Stomach's a little on edge but not too bad, I'll live." She answered and Bullet got back to his feet and walked into the kitchen. He grabbed a few ingredients and began slicing fruit and muddling herbs before dumping it all into the blender. He started the blender and groaned as the sound hurt his head. "What's all this?" Domino asked after he mixed in some apple juice and then blended it all together.

"Hang over medicine, doesn't get rid of it completely but it will help. Packed with vitamins, calcium, potassium and a few secret ingredients good for helping to rehydrate." Bullet answered as he poured a glass for Domino and one for himself.

"We make a pretty good team, you know that?" Domino asked as she raised her glass.

"I suppose we do." Bullet said and cheersed her before taking a drink.

"You always expect these miracle cures to taste horrible but I have to admit this isn't half bad." Domino complimented.

The two continued to make small talk while breakfast was prepared.

"We should wake the others, let them eat before training." Bullet said as he picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite.

"Uh uh, As your second in command and you being indisposed due to dehydration I am making an executive order that-" Domino began.

"Actually Logan is my second in command." Bullet corrected.

"Ok as the your third-" She began again.

"Laura." Bullet said.

"Fourth?" Domino asked.

"Piotr." Bullet responded having fun with this.

"Ok then as your fifth-" She said sure this time.

"Rahne." Bullet said and Domino choked this time.

"You got to be kidding me." Domino said getting slightly angry.

"Ok, ok what's your executive order?" Bullet asked.

"No training today, no one has had a day off since we got here and everyone needs some down time to clear their head, you have to remember not everyone has been doing this as long as we have and they are a little emotional and conflicted you don't want to push them past their breaking point." She answered.

"You make a good point. I accept your order, no training today."


	6. Chapter 6

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**

After breakfast bullet informed the other team members they had a day to get their heads cleared and relax before getting back to training and preparation. They all seemed very relieved and the majority of them went back to catch up on sleep they had been missing. Bullet had other ideas, he thanked Domino for being there for him in his drunken stupor and for breakfast and headed outside. He headed off into the surrounding wooded area, after a mile trek in he came to a clearing he had discovered where rays of sun came through just enough to illuminate the area giving it a rare and peaceful glow at this time of morning as the sun rises. He removed his shoes and weapons, he stood in the middle of the barefoot on the cold ground as he took a deep breath. He took his tai chi stance and began his usual training.

Domino stood near the edge of the clearing watching his slow rhythmic movements, entranced at the flawless form not a muscle out of place, the symmetry was entrancing to her and she froze continuing to watch.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to join me?" Bullet asked without turning to look at her.

"What are you doing?" Domino asked as she stepped into the clearing.

"Remove your shoes." Bullet said and Domnio looked confused before looking at bullet's bare feet. She shrugged her shoulders and removed her own shoes. "The ground is cold." She complained.

"Be aware of your surroundings but do not let them negatively affect you, strike the cold from your mind. Place your hand on my chest clear your mind and match my breathing." Bullet directed and domino nodded before doing as instructed.

"The art of tai chi chuan is used to improve defensive posture, balance, and overall health, mirror my movements." Bullet said and Domino took a stance facing Bullet. Domino matched his movements fluidly for nearly half an hour without any word between the two.

"Good now continue to match my movements." Bullet said placing his wrists against hers. I am going to make three quick movements after I complete my count then you counter my three. This is an internal form of martial arts used to improve leverage, reflex, sensitivity, timing, coordination, and positioning. Its called pushing hands and works to works to undo a person's natural instinct to resist force with force, teaching the body to yield to force and redirect it." He then explained as he began rolling his wrists along her forearms and pushing with a light amount of force making her body lean back slightly. After his three movements she began her movements pushing back with the same light force. Bullet smiled as he could sense her tension easing away from her as they continued.

"Good Domino, I mist say it is nice to have someone to practice with. I am used to solo exercises." He said after they had finished their training.

"That was surprisingly relaxing although I couldn't help but feel like we were dancing." Domino said.

"Its much easier than dancing." Bullet replied earning a shocked look from her.

"You dance?" She asked.

"No but that doesn't mean that I cant, I took some lessons as their are a lot of similarities." Bullet explained.

"You are full of surprises but that still doesn't negate the fact that we agreed to no training today." She then scolded.

"I said I wouldn't force the team into it. I never agreed to halting my own training." Bullet answered.

"Fair enough but I joined you now it is time for you to come with me for another way to relax and clear your mind." Domino said as bullet put his shoes back on and began following Domino.

"So where are we going?" Bullet asked as they made their way back to the Aeire.

"Into town. Keys." She demanded and Bullet pulled them from his pocket before tossing them to her.

"Can you be more specific?" Bullet asked.

"Nope." She said and climbed into the driver seat. Bullet climbed into the passenger seat and sat back letting Domino head to wherever she wanted.

Nearly an hour later and Domino pulled up outside of a martial arts Studio that specialized in Judo. She stopped the truck and bullet lifted his head to see where they were at.

"What are we doing here?" Bullet asked confused.

"No questions, leave your weapons." She demanded and Bullet placed his pistols in the glovebox along with his combat knife and throwing knives. He got out of the truck and opened the door to the building holding it open for Domino.

"Excuse me but I have a class, you will have to come back later." The Instructor informed the pair as they walked in.

"We are sorry to interrupt but that is the reason why we are here. From time to time we travel to studios such as this one and offer our instruction free of charge." Domino said and Bullet smirked as he stood slightly behind her letting her do the talking.

"Is that so? The two of you practice Judo?" The man asked.

"Yes we are well versed in the art." She answered. "If it would be acceptable with you we could offer a demonstration." She said and the man smiled.

"Of course." The man said and instructed the children to clear the center of the room. Domino walked to the center of the room and the man stood opposite her. The two bowed to each other and took their stance.

"Begin." Bullet announced and watched on as the two began circling each other and sizing each other up looking for an opening. He knealt down next to one of the students. "Your sensei's stance is impressive but he gives away his attack what do you think he is going to open with?" He asked the young boy.

"He wont attack first, he never does when sparring with a girl." The boy answered.

"Honorable man, but he knows he has met some as equally versed as he is and he could very well lose if not playing this one smart." Bullet responded.

"He never loses." The boy answered.

"Everyone loses at one time or another its taking a loss and learning from it that teaches real strength, remember that." Bullet said as he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. The instructor lunged forward in an attempt to confuse Domino before sweeping at her legs, she jumped over his sweep and grabbed his wrist in an attempt to apply an arm lock. The instructor grabbed her arm with his free hand placed his left leg between hers and flipped her over his shoulder breaking her hold on his wrist. Domino rolled to her feet with a smile. Domino dove between his legs tripping him and grabbing his ankle. The instructor rolled over and grabbed her arm placing his legs on her chest and knocking her to the ground before climbing back to his feet. Domino lifted her legs and kicked back to her feet as the instructor grabbed her in an attempt to place her in a choke hold. He swung his right arm and Domino ducked quickly placing one of her legs through his and hip tossed him to the mat. She flipped him over twisted his arm behind his back and placed her knee at the back of his neck before releasing him and letting him get to his feet.

"Good show." He said and bowed to Domino which she returned before stepping back off of the mat.

"You are very well versed in your form. It was an honor to spar with you." She said to the instructor.

"The honor is all mine. Now what about you?" He asked turning to Bullet. "Mark, Sarah, would either of you mind sparring with Mr.?" He asked.

"Jason." Bullet answered. "But to be honest sir an one on one sparring match would hardly be fair." He then explained.

"Oh a show off, you know you really should practice modesty." He said slightly annoyed.

"My apologies, I did not mean to be a show off." Bullet explained.

"He is right, he is far superior to me and he would more than likely make short work of either Mark or Sarah. Perhaps matching them both against him would even the playing field and it would be fun for the students." Domino said and the instructor appeared to think about it for a second.

"Very well, Mark, Sarah take the mat your opponent will be Jason." The instructor said and the two took to the mat.

"There is no way you can beat both of them, its impossible." The boy said Jason knelt down next to the boy.

"With the right training and attitude nothing is impossible, you must believe in yourself and your abilities." Jason responded before giving the boy a smile and walking to the center of the mat.

Bullet bowed to his two opponents and they returned the motion. The signal to begin was given and the two charged one going high and the other going low. Bullet dove between them and rolled to his feet on the other end of the mat with his back to them. Once he noticed their feet beginning to move again he did a back handspring and landed behind them grabbing Sarah by her Sholder and sweeping her legs from under her. He grabbed her arm but a front kick from mark made him release Sarah as he jumped back to avoid it. He grabbed Marks foot and pushed backward causing Mark to fall. He advanced on mark but at this point Sarah was back to her feet, a low kick to the back of bullets knee caused him to fall to one knee. Sarah grabbed his arm and wrapped her legs around his neck in an attempt to choke him. She dropped to the ground applying pressure as Bullet was at his knees. Bullet flipped over with her maintaining her grip but reversing the pressure rom his neck to Sarah's back. Mark grabbed Bullets wrist in an attempt to pry his hold on Sarah lose but Bullet used his leg to sweep his legs out and then flipped Sarah over on top of Mark immobilizing them both. Bullet released his hold and got to his feet offering his opponents one hand each as he helped them to their feet before bowing to them. The instructor walked onto the mat with a very impressed look on his face and he took Bullet's hand.

"Wow I don't think I have ever seen a showing like that, very impressive." He said before bowing.

"The two proved to be quite a challenge." Bullet responded.

"We would be honored if you would sit in on the remainder of our class and offer any help you can." The man said.

"We would love to." Domino responded and Bullet had no objections.

The class continued with Bullet and Domino helping the other instructors to split the class up into smaller groups to provide a more personal instruction. The class began to wrap up and the head instructor approached Bullet and Domino.

"Thank your for helping out." The man said and shook their hands.

"If it wouldn't be a problem we would like to come back once a week and lend our services." Bullet said and Domino looked at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled.

"Unfortunately I would be unable to provide payment. Martial arts are not as popular as they once were and I am instructing seven days a week just to keep the doors open, I am afraid without some extra funding we may be forced to close down soon." He responded sadly.

"Thankfully for you then we will help out free of charge." Domino chimed in.

"I couldn't ask that of you." The man said.

"Then its good that you didn't ask." Bullet smiled and the man returned the smile.

"We would be honored to have you. I am sure the students wouldn't mind either. Thank you Mr. and Ms?" He asked.

"Woodbury." Bullet answered.

"Thurman." Domino said and they bowed again before making their exit.

"That was fun thank you Domino. I haven't had fun in a long time." Bullet said as they climbed back into his truck.

"Fun's not over yet." She responded before starting the truck.

Ten minutes later and Domino pulled into a parking lot outside of a local gun range.

"We could have done this in the comfort of the woods outside of the Aeire." Bullet said as he got out of the truck.

"Yes an no." She responded.

Bullet gave her a confused look but asked no other questions as they walked into the gun shop. They approached the front desk after waiting in a line that seemed a little oddly long. Bullet looked around surprised at how busy the place was.

"Neena Thurman and Jason Woodbury for the Colt competition." Domino said to the man at the counter and Bullet placed his hand on his pistol earning a scared look from the man.

"That's a nice tattoo on your forearm a cover-up am I right." Bullet asked knowing a purifier when he saw one.

"That's a bad idea in a place like this. Your right I used to be a member until I realized how sick they were. I'll tell you what, you don't pull that and I will allow you to compete, mutants are after all banned from competing." He said quietly so no one else heard.

"Very well." Domino said placing grabbing Bullet's hand and removing it from the grip of his pistol.

"The competition begins in 10 minutes, your are competitors 7 and 8." The man said giving them small targets with their numbers on them.

Domino pulled bullet away from the counter to the other side of the room. They approached a glass case and looked at the selection of weapons in the cases. Bullet looked down and saw Domino was still holding he hand and he cleared his throat.

"Oh, sorry." Domino said as she let go of his hand.

"Don't be." Bullet smiled before continuing to look over the weapons. "How long have you had this planned, these competitions aren't exactly open for walk ins?" He asked.

"A week, not all of us are as frugal with our money as you are and there is a cash prize." She answered.

"How much?" Bullet asked.

"5,000 for first place, 1,500 for second and 500 for third. And the top 5 places win a free Colt 1911 and 500 rounds of ammunition to go along with it." Domino responded.

"Well looks like I am going to be 5,000$ richer." Bullet smirked.

"You think you can beat me? I do have luck on my side." Domino said.

"Luck will only get you so far." Bullet responded.

"I suppose we will find out. How about a friendly wager?" She asked.

"What are the terms?" Bullet asked.

"Loser buys dinner." She said.

"Your on." Bullet said as he looked at the rifles on the wall.

"Let me look at the AR-10 bullet said and the man on the other side f the counter pulled the rifle down and handed it to him. "Ill take it. Along with the eotech 4x10 power scope night sights the foregrip the underslung rail with the M203 grenade launcher." Bullet said.

"That is only available to people with military clearance." The man said and Bullet handed over his I.D.

"I believe in my background check you will find the clearance needed. All of that should be cleared by the time the competition is over I will be back then." Bullet said and walked away as the competition was about to begin.

Bullet and Domino walked into the range and walked to the lanes marked with their numbers. They placed their targets on the hooks and were instructed to place them at a distance of 10 yards. After everyone had their targets placed they were instructed that they each get one shot. After everyone fired their shots there accuracy was marked and two competitors of the 20 were removed from the competition. They were then given new targets and instructed to move them twenty yards away and they each got two shots this round. 5 more competitors were removed this continued until they reached the max distance of fifty yards and there were only the top 5 remaining contestants, they each got a full clip and they were to be scored based on their total accuracy.

"Contestant 7 take aim." The colt representative presiding over the competition instructed and Domino looked down range at her target. "Fire at will." The rep said and Domino unloaded a full magazine at her target. She brought the target forward and the representative laughed at the perfect smiling face drawn in bullet holes. "Hmm not a very good grouping but it seems that was the idea and it was a very good show of skill. Contestant 8 hopefully you can match the showmanship." He said and bullet placed his target and moved it all the way down range. Bullet unloaded his whole magazine as quickly and brought his target back with one hole in the dead center of it. "Only one hit that's not exactly what I was expecting." The rep said.

"Not quite. Check the high speed cameras." Bullet said and nodded at the cameras mounted. "The rep pulled the video and slowed it down. He turned away from the video as shocked as everyone else was.

"I have heard of robin hood splitting his area but ten times in a row and that distance is incredible. This has to be the toughest competition I have ever judged." He said and Bullet looked to Domino who stuck her tongue out at him. The other three competitors took their shots and received their placements. "We still have to come up with a tie breaker. We will resort to trick shots." The man said and Domino and Bullet smirked.

"Bring forth mirrors." The rep said and two hand held mirrors were brought in two new targets were moved to the back of the range and Domino took her place at her lane. She fired at her target over her shoulder through the mirror and once her magazine was empty he target was brought forward and she showed a half inch grouping. It became Bullets turn and he unloaded his clip looking in the mirror and his target was brought forward. He took a page from Domino's playbook and drew a dollar sign with bullet holes.

"I told you the grand prize would be mine." Bullet smirked.

Before the next round a stand was placed at the end f the range with a quarter placed n a small metal clip holding it off the table. "Your goal is to dislodge the quarter from the clip without damaging the quarter." The rep said and Domino took her place. She fired her shot and the quarter flew into the air and landed without a scratch on it. Bullets turn came and as everyone looked on they realized his quarter was still held firmly in place. "Well it looks like we have a winner." The rep said and presented domino with her prize check of 5,000 dollars and Bullet with his 1,500 dollar check. They were presented with their prize weapons and the ammunition that came along with it.

"You missed?" Domino asked.

"My eyes must have been a little strained from looking down range that long." Bullet shrugged before walking off.

"That's a lie." Domino said angrily.

"Maybe." Bullet responded before going back to pick up the weapon he purchased.

"How did you get military clearance for that, or do I even want to know?" Domino asked as they left the shop.

"With a computer and the know how to use it you can get anything." Bullet said.

"You know hacking is illegal right?" She joked and bullet glanced at her before getting back into the truck.

"So what are you thinking for dinner?" Bullet asked.

"I haven't had seafood in a while." She responded.

"Very well, take a left up here." Bullet said.

"You know this city?" Domino asked.

"I am familiar with all of the cities surrounding the Aerie." Bullet answered. "You should always be aware of your surroundings."

"I will never get used to how overly thorough you are." Domino said.

After a few minutes they pulled up at a restaurant and Bullet told her to park.

"What is this place?" She asked.

"Its not traditional seafood, its Cajun, have you ever tried crawfish?" He asked and she looked disgusted. "They are delicious you will love them." He then said as they walked in.

They got sat at a booth in the back and took some time going over their menu's. Bullet ordered the Mississippi blackened catfish and the crawfish and calamari appetizers and Domino ordered the cedar plank Atlantic salmon. Their food arrived shortly later and Domino looked disgusted at the plate of crawfish.

"I am not touching those." Domino said as Bullet picked one up.

"Quit being a girl, they are exceptional." Bullet said.

"Is that bag they brought to throw up in?" Domino asked and Bullet laughed.

"That's for discarding the shells." He answered and pushed the plate to her. "You are not leaving here until you have at least tried one.

"I don't even know how to eat them." She said as she grabbed one hesitantly.

"Like this." Bullet said as he pulled the head from his crawfish causing Domino to dry heave at the sight but she followed suit and did the same with a sickening expression. Bullet then sucked the juice from the head and that's where he thought she would lose it but she did the same and her face lit up. Bullet then finished off the crawfish and discarded the shells.

"Wow these are good." She said as she discarded hers.

"I told you." He said as he began cutting into his catfish.

The two talked over their meals and disclosed stories of their past sharing laughs. The meal ended and they sat there for nearly an hour before deciding that they should head back to the Aerie. Bullet drove back as Domino had been driving all day and she felt she needed a break. Bullet pulled up to the Aerie and looked to the passenger seat to see Domino asleep. Bullet exited the truck and walked to the passenger side. He opened the door and picked Domino up in his arms. He carried her inside and to her room. He placed her in her bed and she opened her eyes slowly.

"Are you going to stay with me?" She asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I respect you too much to use you to get over her." Bullet answered.

"Still riding that wave huh? Goodnight then Bullet." Domino responded before laying her head down.

"Goodnight Domino." Bullet said softly as he turned her light off and exited the room.

* * *

A month later and a few small missions later to get the team into shape. Tension between some of the team members began to wear thin. Piotr and Warpath have been at each others throats time after time the past week. Rahne began getting more and more comfortable with her wolf side but her tolerance for putting up with X-23 diminished.

"Are we just gong to let them kill each other?" Logan asked as he took a seat next to Bullet and gestured toward Piotr and James face to face yelling at one another.

"I don't believe parenting is in the job description." Bullet answered.

"You know they have been getting sloppier in the field." Logan reminded him.

"Your right." Bullet said before getting to his feet. "James, Piotr, enough." Bullet yelled and the two stopped yelling in an instant.

"Everyone to the training room now." Bullet then yelled loud enough to be heard throughout the whole building.

They made their way down to the room and gathered around Bullet as he stood at the center of the room.

"We already had our training today what is this?" Rahne asked.

"We are going to train again and again until you learn to work together instead of against each other." Bullet said earning protests from them all.

"Its his fault he does nothing but get in my way." James said gesturing towards Piotr.

"We get it your both strong, can it." Domino said.

"Domino I don't need your help." Bullet said to her earning a death glare.

"Well the hell with you then." Domino said.

"All of you grow up. If you want to beat the hell out of each other then you are going to get it out of the way now. James, Piotr step forward everyone else step back." Bullet said and the two giants stepped forward.

"No weapons, anything else goes." Bullet said and the two men squared off.

They both jumped forward grabbing each other shoulders in a show of strength until Piotr got the upper hand and threw james into the concrete wall. He threw a hard right and james ducked as Piotr's fist hit the wall cracking the concrete. James picked him and body slammed him before attempting to stomp on him. Piotr turned into his metal formed as james foot landed. He grabbed his foot and threw him off before getting to his feet. The giants continued pummeling each other until they began to wear down. Their breathing got heavier and sweat began pouring from them both. Piotr got the upper hand and body slammed James making the ground shake. He punched a metal fist but stopped just as it was about to hit James. He pulled his punch and then extended his han to help him up.

"You are good comrade." Piotr said and helped the beaten man to his feet.

Logan gave Bullet a smirk and Bullet nodded before calling Rahne and Laura to take the floor next. The giants faced off and then the two animalistic small girls were next. Laura took the upper hand initially until Rahne shifted and let her wolf take over. Fur teeth and claws were almost all that could be seen as the two fought teeth and nail. Rahne tackled Laura and growled her teeth mere inches from Laura's neck. Lauras claws extended just under the chin of the wolf.

"That's enough." Bullet said and Rahne shifted back as everyone turned and let her change into her extra clothes.

Rahne joined the group again and Bullet was glad to see Laura's scratches heal as she patted Rahne on the back.

"Bullet, Domino, take the floor." Logan commanded and Bullet looked at him curiously. "Hey they aint the only ones been at odds." He said and Bullet nodded knowing that just because he co-leads the group doesn't mean that he doesn't fall prey to the same mounting tensions.

The two took to the floor leaving their weapons set to the side. Domino reacted quickly with a high kick as soon as they were given the go ahead. Bullet ducked and swept for domino's leg, she jumped the sweep. The two matched dodge for dodge and counter for counter until bullet saw an opening. He grabbed Domino's leg as she kicked for his ribs and he rolled to the floor taking her with him. He rolled her onto her back and pinned her shoulders to the floor. Just as he thought he had won Domino leaned her head up and kissed him stunning him, she took the opportunity to raise her leg kneeing bullet in the back of his and in the moment she got her shoulders free and flipped bullet over taking position pinning him. She got to her feet and walked out of the training room and Bullet stayed lying on the floor still confused as to what happened.

"Dismissed." Logan said and the rest of the team walked out with a new respect for each other. Logan approached Bullet on the ground and offered him his hand. "The girl caught you off guard, happens to the best of us." Logan said and helped bullet up.

"Not to me it doesn't." Bullet argued angrily.

"It just did." Logan laughed and walked out of the room leaving a still stunned bullet behind.

Bullet pressed his hand to his lips still feeling Domino's soft lips on his own. He shook off the feeling and left the training room. He stormed off upstairs heading to Domino's room to get some explanation for her underhanded tactic or at least that's what he told himself. Once he realized she wasn't there he began a search covering the Aeire and the grounds surrounding it. He walked back in after not finding her and headed to his room. As he walked in he noticed a black bra and panty set sitting on his bed along with other clothing and he heard the shower running in the adjoining bathroom.

He sat on the edge of the bed waiting for Domino to exit. A few minutes later and he heard the shower shut off. He stood up and turned around knowing Domino would be walking out in a towel at the most.

"Feel better?" He asked as he heard the door open behind him.

"I do actually. Did your little exercise turn out the way you hoped it would?" She answered his question with one of her own.

"For the most part up until then end anyway, what the hell was that about?" Bullet asked still facing the opposite direction.

"Your just upset I beat you." Domino said.

"I am not upset that you beat me. You know how I feel and yet you continue to push those boundaries that is what I am upset about." Bullet said angrily.

"I know exactly how you feel but I don't think you know how you feel. You are too wrapped up in grief to see it, tell me bullet what is the appropriate grieving time?" She asked as she walked around to standing in front of bullet still wrapped in just a towel. Bullet turned away from her again until she grabbed him and spun him back to face her. "I am not trying to take your wife's place, from everything you have told me no one could I would just like to feel a small piece of what she felt when with you." She then said.

"How am I supposed to respond to that?" Bullet asked confused, his heart still felt for Rogue but other parts of him were screaming at him for refusing what was standing in front of him. "I need a shower." He then said and walked off into the bathroom Domino just came from shutting the door behind him. He turned the shower on removed his clothes and stepped inside.

"Geez that water is freezing." Domino said as she stepped into the shower behind Bullet.

"What the fuck are you doing get out of here." Bullet yelled grabbing Domino's arm and throwing her back out of the shower.

"Face it you don't want me out of here or the water wouldn't be cold." Domino said from outside of the shower curtain.

Bullet grunted from the other side getting frustrated with her persistence, she definitely wasn't making him refusing her easy. Domino stepped back in and began adjusting the water. Bullet didn't attempt to push her back out this time but raised his eyes refusing to look down at her.

"Look at me bullet." She demanded and Bullet looked down at her face. She looked up into his eyes before kissing him again only this time much harder than during their sparring match. Bullet responded in kind forcing his tongue into her mouth. Their tongues wrestled for dominance but Bullet won this particular match between the two. Domino broke the kiss and moved from his lips to his chest before dropping to her knee's in front of him.

"Domino what are you?" Bullet began to ask.

"Shh." Domino cut him off before proceeding.

Bullet raised his head and brushed his wet hair back feeling what his body had been screaming for but his mind and heart had been protesting against for nearly two months now. He looked down to see Dominos head moving back and forth and he placed his hand on the top of her head guiding her. She soon stopped and stood back to her feet.

"Are you sure you don't wan to do this?" She asked teasingly.

"Shut up." Bullet said forcefully and turned Domino around. He put his hand on her upper back and bet her over as he ran his hand down her spine. He positioned himself behind her and slowly pushed himself inside of her. She moaned at the force behind bullets actions and he grunted at the warm feeling he had been so long without. He grabbed her hip with one hand pushing her further down onto him and reached around with the other hand grabbing her breast. He moved his hand from her hip to her clit and rubbed her soft lips as he picked up the pace pumping into her harder and harder from behind. The sound of his pelvis ponding against her firm ass along with the splashing water and her moans growing louder and louder filled the air.

"Bullet, I'm close." Domino moaned out.

Bullet said nothing just picked up the pace even more as he was drawing near to his own climax.

"I'm coming!" Domino screamed.

Bullet felt her tense up around his cock as her screams grew louder. With one loud grunt Bullet felt himself going over the edge and he pulled out and lost his load on the inside of her thigh. He panted heavily and nearly collapsed and had to put his hand on the shower wall as his knees were weak. The two finished washing up and stepped out of the shower. Bullet dried himself off without saying a word and wrapped the towel around his waist. He exited the bathroom and laid down onto his bed.

"That was amazing Bullet." Domino said as she laid down in her towel and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Get off of me." Bullet said and Domino sat up angrily.

"So that's it?" Domino asked.

"That's what you wanted isn't it?" Bullet asked.

"Your such an ass, I cant believe I just did that." Domino said before grabbing her clothes and storming out of the room without getting dressed.

"Damn it!" Bullet yelled feeling bad now. He knew she has been trying to help him whether it was to get him into bed or not she was a good hearted person and she deserved better. He treated her like some two bit bar rat and discarded her just as easily. He knows she is much more than that.

"What the hell happened to Dom?" Logan asked as he walked in without knocking seeing Bullet in a towel and realizing just what happened.

"I fucked up Logan." Bullet said and sat up.

"I'll say, she wouldn't talk to anyone but I could smell saline." He responded.

"She's crying? That just great. I didn't know it was that bad." Bullet said. "I guess I should go talk to her." He then added.

"Be careful, she may shoot you, not that you wouldn't deserve it." He joked.

"I deserve worse." Bullet said and Logan nodded his agreement before leaving the room. Bullet hurriedly put on a pair of pants and left the room to go find Domino.

Bullet knocked on the door to Domino's room and called out but received no reply. He opened the door and walked in to see Domino sitting in her bed red faced and angry.

"Get the hell out!" Domino yelled and puled her pistol.

"Go ahead if that's what you feel you need to do but I am not leaving." Bullet said and put his hands up in surrender as he approached her. She didn't lower the pistol for a second but Bullet refused to stop. Bullet reached her side and slowly placed his hand on the barrel of the pistol and pushed it down away from him before he climbed into Domino's bed next to her.

"I am sorry Domino, I misread the situation, I was confused and didn't know how to deal with the situation in my own head." Bullet said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him.

"Do you have any idea how you just made me feel? Don't answer that I was just mad there was no money exchanged before you kicked me out." She said after pushing herself away.

"Your right." Bullet said before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a stack of hundreds.

"This isn't the time to joke Bullet." She said with a small smirk on her face. She took the stack of hundreds and placed it in a drawer to her nightstand.

"I thought you said this wasn't the time to joke." Bullet responded.

"Im not joking." She countered.

"Fair enough, I deserve that." Bullet responded putting his hands up again in surrender.

"Your damn right you do. You made me feel like a cheap whore that you could just throw away." She said angrily again.

"Well then give me the chance to make it right." Bullet said.

"How are you going to do that?" She asked.

Bullet pulled her back into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I would never cuddle with a cheap whore." He responded and could feel a smile begin against his chest. "I shouldn't have just thrown you out like that whether it was just sex or not, you deserve better." Bullet then told her.

"Was it?" She asked.

"Was it what?" Bullet replied.

"Just sex?" She asked again breathing against his chest slightly hesitant to hear the answer. She knew what she wanted she just hoped he felt the same.

"I don't think it was and that scares me Domino." Bullet answered and she lifted her head.

"I like you bullet but I know you may not be ready. If you don't want anything more I will understand." She said and looked into Bullet's eyes.

"Lets take this one day at a time." Bullet said and kissed her lips before she laid her head back down reveling in the warmth of his body. He tightened his hold on her pulling her in tighter and they laid there together feeling relieved but confused but they both knew they would figure out what was going on between them soon enough.


	7. Chapter 7

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**

Bullet intercepted a phone call from an area he had been monitoring and discovered a small operation that is operating a little close to home for his liking. He called a team meeting and waiting in the training room/briefing room for them to arrive. Once they all got there he decided to get their opinions on the matter to see how they were progressing.

"Glad you are all on time for once." Bullet said glancing to Rahne who for the life of her always ended up being slightly late. "The reason I have called you all here is there is a small purifier organization growing in Aspen. Mostly just a money laundering organization, Aspen's elite who know how to move money silently." Bullet modified an app on his phone to project an image of the city on the wall.

The main building is here, there are only a dozen or purifiers there at any given time. They move the money once it is cleaned once a week by armored truck to feed into their other outfits, thoughts?" Bullet asked as the group.

"Your asking us?" Rahne asked.

"Yes I would like your input." Bullet answered.

"Since it is such a small group of purifiers attacking the base would be a waste, why don't we take the armored truck?" James asked.

"Stealing their money wouldn't do much to an organization like the purifiers." Rahne interjected.

"It would piss them off." Laura added.

"Send a message, good. Any ideas how?" Bullet asked amusement growing as they were working together to formulate a plan.

"Roadblock to stop the truck, after it is stopped they are not designed to keep mutants such as Piotr or Logan out." Rahne said.

"Good Rahne but how do you stop an armored truck once they realize what is going on?" Bullet asked her.

"I don't know." She said and hung her head.

"We need something bigger and heavier that can block the whole road." Piotr said.

"I think I can get my hands on a rig." Bullet said. "What about when they turn to try and run?" He then asked.

"We have a team intercept them and take out the tires." Laura said.

"Sounds good. What about the armed guards?" Bullet asked.

"There will only be the two of them we deal with worse than that every mission we go on." James spoke up.

"That's not what I meant they are most likely working for a security company and are not purifiers themselves they are not to be harmed." Bullet said sternly.

"We disarm them and once we make our exit we leave them." Domino said.

"Ok sounds like a plan. They have a delivery tomorrow everyone take the time to get yourselves ready however that may be. Dismissed." Bullet said and the team left leaving bullet looking at the projected map on the wall devising a strategy of where and when to attack the van.

"Letting them come up with the plan, are you sure that's smart?" Logan asked.

"You heard them, its a solid plan, if it goes wrong they will see where everything went south and learn from it, that's why I started small to minimize risk." Bullet answered.

"I just hope they can pull it off, you have seen how they mess up on our orders." Logan countered.

"And we have made it this far in one piece, have faith." Bullet said and Logan just grunted before walking off as well.

Bullet spent a little more time before deactivating the projection and removing his shirt. He moved to the training dummy and began working on it hitting the extending posts starting slow until he built up a rhythm. Domino walked back into the training room to see why he hadn't come up with the rest of the team and sat on the stairs watching him for a few moments admiring his technique before deciding to join him. She walked to the opposite side of the dummy and began hitting the posts on her side.

"Are you up for more? I remember you hurting yourself pretty bad last time." Bullet smirked.

"It helps to strengthen the body, Strengthening the body helps to strengthen the mind." She reminded him of what he told her when she first used the post.

"Not doing it twice in a month it doesn't." He answered and she just smirked as she picked up her pace and began matching him strike for strike. "You have been practicing without me knowing." He said noticing how much she improved on her own. After they finished they walked together toward Bullet's bedroom.

"Your getting faster." Bullet said as he opened the door and she pushed past him.

"Or maybe your just getting slower." She remarked as she turned and swung a back fist at him.

Bullet reacted and caught her wrist with a smirk, she kicked in at his leg and he lifted his leg to avoid it. She began trying harder and faster to get in a shot and he just smiled at her attempt. He ducked under a right and put his shoulder into her stomach picking her up over his shoulder before slinging her onto the bed and crawling up between her legs.

"Ugh Bullet your all sweaty." She remarked and tried to push him away.

"It turns you on doesn't it." He remarked and kissed her.

"Bullet there is something-" Logan began as he opened the door. "Whoa didn't mean to interrupt." He then said.

"Logan we were just... wrestling." Bullet responded unsure of what else to say.

"Is that what the kids are calling it?" Logan asked with a smirk.

"Yea it is so unless you plan on joining then can we get back to it I was just about to win." Domino remarked and Logan chuckled.

"What is it you wanted Logan?" Bullet asked as he turned over and sat up on the end of the bed.

"Nothing that cant wait, have fun." He smirked before he turned and left.

"Where were we?" Domino then asked.

"Umm I was winning." Bullet countered. "I had you pinned."

"You mean like this?" she asked as she pushed Bullet back onto the bed and climbed on top of him.

"This seems like there is more you could be doing to prepare for tomorrow." Bullet said as she straddled his waist.

"Are you turning me down?" Domino asked.

"Just for now, like you said I need a shower." Bullet responded before sitting up and kissing her. He picked her up off his waist and tossed her to the side of the bed before getting to his feet.

"Your a strange one." Domino said as she rolled onto her back looking up at the ceiling.

"How so?" Bullet asked amused.

"I'm used to getting my way." Domino pouted earning a smirk from Bullet.

"Take the down time to relax for tomorrow." Bullet said taking the shirt from his shoulder and threw it at her covering her face.

Bullet headed to the shower and turned the water on as hot as he could get it in an effort to ease his tension. This was the only time he really got alone. Between training the team and mission briefings and even when they had downtime he was either spending more time with the team or Domino. Bullet had to constantly hide the hurt he was still harboring and he had very little time to let it out.

After his shower he headed to bed glad to see that Domino had gone. He sat in his bed with his back against the headboard and picked up the stuffed dinosaur he had picked up on the supply run and given to Robby. He smiled as the memory flooded back to him of how Robby's eyes lit up when he saw it or the smile on Rogues face and the love in her eyes as she watched him and Robby together. He reflected on how happy he was and as hard as he tried not to, how far he had fallen as a tear rolled down his cheek. He didn't bother to wipe it away, instead he just let it roll down his face and fall off onto the bed sheets.

The time passed and Bullet shed a few more tears and fought to keep the anger at bay as he relived both happy and devastating memories. He placed the Dinosaur on the night stand and got out of bed to turn off the light. Bullet climbed back into bed preparing to call it a night, as time passed he had been forcing himself to get more sleep and it helped him to be refreshed in his training and less prone to making mistakes on his missions, he knew he had to do it for the sake of his team and the overall goal.

"You awake?" Domino asked as she opened the door and poked her head into the room, the light from the moon filtering through the blinds on the windows illuminating her face.

"Come on in." Bullet said as he pulled the comforter back so that Domino could climb in with him. Domino stripped down to her underwear as that's all she ever slept in and climbed into bed. Bullet stretched his arm out so she could cuddle in next to him.

"What have you been up to the past three hours?" Domino asked as she looked up at Bullet.

"Thinking." Bullet responded shortly.

"Anything in particular?" She asked.

"Yea." Bullet responded turning his head to look at the dinosaur.

"Ok as I said the Strong silent type can be sexy but sometimes a real answer would be good its like talking to a brick wall and what is with the dinosaur its a little weird." Domino said.

"It was Robby's." Bullet answered.

"Shit Bullet I'm sorry, I should have realized that." Domino apologized suddenly feeling terrible.

"It's ok I know I don't talk about it much its not easy." Bullet said.

"Maybe I should go." Domino knew Bullet needed his space, she threw the comforter back and prepared to get out of the bed when bullet pulled her closer.

"Stay." Bullet said and kissed her. "I need you here." He then added which caught Domino off guard.

"Ok just know that after this information I am not in the mood so you are really going to have to try hard to get me naked." Domino responded after gaining her composure.

"That's why I need you here." Bullet laughed. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked.

"Not at all." Domino responded in a serious tone now and Bullet turned his head to face her.

"It should be an easy snatch and grab then we split." Bullet said.

"Exactly, its always the simple ones that tend to go horribly wrong." She said and Bullet had to agree.

"We have done pretty good at watching each others backs so far." Bullet said hoping to make her feel a little more at ease.

"I'll make you a deal." She said and peaked Bullet's curiosity.

"I'm listening." Bullet responded.

"Make it back alive tomorrow and I will go down on you." She said and Bullet coughed. He was unsure of why the things that came out of her mouth still surprised him but she definitely has a way of keeping him on his toes.

"And if I don't?" He asked knowing he probably doesn't want to hear it.

"Then ill go down on Piotr." She said and bullet pushed her away in mock disgust knowing that she was joking. She snuggled back in next to him and he gladly accepted her warmth.

"I think your just trying to get a rise out of me." Bullet said.

"If I was trying to get a rise out of you I would do this." Domino smirked as her hand slid down Bullet's chest to and under his boxers. "Hmm nothing." She said giving up after a few strokes knowing that is all it takes to normally get him revved up.

"Sorry my minds not into it." Bullet responded.

"I understand lets get some sleep." Domino said.

"Best idea you have had all week." Bullet joked earning a him a slap on his chest. "Goodnight Domino." Bullet then added.

"Goodnight Bullet."

Bullet awoke the next morning and threw his comforter back. He climbed out of bed as gently as he could knowing Domino has a bad feeling about the mission today and she could use more rest.

"I don't know why you try." Domino said sleepily as she turned over in the bed.

"Damn, just go back to sleep." Bullet replied.

"No I'm up now, what time is it?" She asked knowing that once she is up she can never just return to sleep.

"6:00" Bullet answered her.

"I hate you." Domino responded.

"Sorry, I like to get started early, I have a few last minute plans to make." Bullet said and Domino sighed before sitting up.

"You could at least put on a show to help wake me up, off with the boxers." Domino said and Bullet grabbed a pair of pants.

"Why are you always trying to get me naked?" Bullet asked.

"Hey I am in my prime, just because yours was over a decade ago doesn't mean my needs shouldn't be fulfilled. Maybe I should find a hot 18 year old." Domino responded and Bullet smirked as he put his pants on.

"Go ahead, do you remember how terrible sex was at that age? Awkward unpracticed and rarely did it ever last more than a few minutes if that's what you want you are more than welcome." Bullet said and Domino sighed again.

"I hate how impossible you are." She said as she threw a pillow at his back.

"You love how impossible I am." Bullet remarked as he grabbed his long sleeve black holstered shirt.

"You know one of these days I will break you down." Domino said.

"Maybe but until then its fun watching you try." Bullet replied as Domino got up from the bed.

"I am going to get a shower before breakfast care to join me?" Domino asked as she removed her bra.

"Tempting but maybe later." Bullet smiled before kissing her then walking out of the room.

...

"They are turning off North 8th St. onto Bleeker, Domino step on it." Bullet said over the communicator in his ear as he drove directly towards the armored truck from the opposite direction.

Bullet picked up the pace slightly but still not seeming out of place. The armored truck came into view as bullet approached the intersection. Bullet cringed and held on tight as he turned the wheel hard to the right and the weight of the trailer caused it to tip taking the cab and Bullet with it in the middle of the intersection. The armored truck slammed on its brakes before it was hit in the side by Bullet's truck driven by Domino. Bullet kicked open the cab door and jumped out just in time to see Wolverine, Colossus, X-23, and Warpath jump from the bed of the truck. Wolverine quickly slashed the front and back tires as Laura flipped over the top of the armored truck to slash the tires on the other side.

Bullet watched as the men in the truck reached for their weapons only for Colossus to shift into his metal form and rip the door clear off the hinges. The man in the driver side shot at him only for the bullet to ricochet and hit the window. Colossus grabbed the mans wrist with one hand and ripped the pistol from his other hand. He squeezed his hand and crumpled the pistol like a tin can before tossing it aside. Warpath ripped the other door off and put his hand on the guard on the passengers side.

"Don't try it." He said before reaching and removing the mans pistol from his holster and tossed it to the ground.

"Just sit there calmly and you will not be harmed I promise you. Just remember that your life is not worth doing your job." Bullet said as he jumped down from the cab still a little shaken up.

"What do you want?" The driver asked.

"That's obvious isn't it." Bullet replied. "Logan take care of the door. Rahne find the bags." Bullet directed.

"Logan went to the back and made short work of the hinges on the doors causing them to fall to the ground with a loud thud.

"The police will be here any second." The passenger said.

"Not as soon as you might think." Bullet informed him knowing that all it took was a phone call and a fake bomb threat at a local high school and most of the police were being kept busy.

"All of these bags look the same." Rahne yelled from the back of the truck.

"They have tags claiming where they are from and where they are going." Bullet replied.

"You may have bought some time but it wont last forever, go help her I will keep an eye on these guys." Domino suggested and Bullet nodded before walking to the back.

"They are not here." Rahne said.

"Go help Domino secure the guards, ill take care of this." Bullet told her as he began searching for the bags.

"I cant believe you crashed his truck, he is going to be pissed once this is over." Rahne said to Domino.

"Its just a fender bender, he can replace the bumper." Domino shrugged although she knew that.

"Logan, Colossus, warpath start loading these in the bed of the truck." Bullet said as he began tossing bag after bag out to them before stepping out of the truck himself. As he exited he looked into the rearview mirror on the passenger side and noticed the guard reaching down he then sat back up and bullet noticed the butt of a shotgun. He ran around to the driver side and noticed Domino inspecting the damage done to his truck. He leapt clear over the hood and tackled Domino just as a shot was fired.

...

"We have to get him to a hospital!" Rahne shouted frantically as Bullet came around.

"No." Bullet said weakly attempting to sit up and finding it hard to move.

"Stay still bub." Wolverine said pushing Bullet back down.

"Piotr there is a hospital six blocks from here make a left." Rahne said again.

"No, no hospital." Bullet said again.

"Bullet you have been shot." Rahne informed him incase he wasn't already aware.

"Exactly, when you show up at a hospital with a gunshot wound the hospital has no choice but to get the police involved, how long do you think it would take them to connect the dots after getting the guards story?" Domino asked her.

"Oh so what do we do? We cant let him die." Rahne said.

"We are going to have to remove the buckshot its the only option we have." Logan said as he held Bullet still as he kept trying to sit up.

"Logan let me go." Bullet said hoarsely.

"Your losing a lot of blood calm down or you'll go into shock." Logan said.

"I have been shot before, I know to keep my heart rate low." Bullet responded.

"I ain't taking no chances, if you die I gotta lead this team myself." Logan responded and bullet began laughing causing himself to cough up some blood.

"That ain't good." Bullet struggled as he began having slight pained breathing.

"What is it?" Domino asked fearful.

"Just get me back to the aerie and get a lot of towels." Bullet answered as he laid as still and calm as possible.

The team sped back to the Aerie and Bullet's coughing increased along with the blood that came with it. Piotr picked Bullet up out of the bed of the truck and carried him inside where he layed him on his chest on the table in the kitchen. Rahne ran to get all of the towels she could find where she returned to see Laura cutting Bullet's shirt off of him.

"Please tell me one of you are a surgeon." Bullet said weakly.

"I have basic field medical training." Domino said.

"Gonna have to be good enough, get my medical kit, hidden compartment I cut into my closet." Bullet said and Rahne ran off again. She returned a few minutes later.

"You are going to need a ball point pen." Bullet then said and everyone looked around at each other.

"I have one." Piotr said and ran to his room returning with one.

"Remove the tip and end taking the ink out." Bullet said and waited for Domino to do as he said.

"Good now take my knife and sterilize it." Bullet said and felt his combat knife being removed from its sheathe.

"He heard liquor from the bar being poured over the blade.

"There is a hole between my third and fourth rib, make an incision, it needs to be opened wider." Bullet said.

"What? Why? We can probably get the bullet with the forceps?" Domino said confused.

"Not from inside my lung you wont, its filling with blood and needs to be drained, that's what the pen is for. Anyone with a weak stomach may want to leave." Bullet said.

"Bullet I cant." Domino said.

"If you don't I will die. Domino please I cant die yet." Bullet pleaded.

"You owe me." Domino said as she began cutting into Bullets back.

Bullet gripped the edges of the table white knuckled as he tried to control his breathing. Every few seconds he could feel blood being wiped away from his back. He gave more and more instruction and soon the pen was placed into his lung. He told them to turn him to his side so the blood could drain. After it began draining Domino began working to remove the rest of the buckshot from his back. After all was removed she began scrubbing the wounds removing dead tissue and gunpowder from the wounds before sewing them up and bandaging him. The only left in his back yet to be taken care of is the one with the pen still in it.

"What do I do with this one?" Domino asked.

"Wait for all of the blood to drain and go in an attempt to repair the damage without letting more blood in." Bullet answered.

"What do you mean attempt to repair the damage?" Domino asked.

"I don't think we will be able to save the lung." Bullet answered.

"You cant lose your lung do you have any idea how that will affect your training and skill? Apart from that we aren't exactly equipped to remove it and if its ineffective we cant leave it in you." Domino said.

"Your right, we will have to travel to an out of state hospital and pay extra so they don't ask questions. Onto a brighter note, I made it back alive." Bullet joked and laughed before realizing painfully that laughing was a bad idea.

"If you think I am going to do... that after all of this then your insane." Domino said.

"Yea your right we need to get cleaned up and I need your help." Bullet said as he lifted his head.

"Sponge bath?" She questioned.

"Not gonna do good enough, I am covered I need a shower. I think I can stand on my own but moving to wash certain areas could be a problem." Bullet said and the others looked away.

"What do we do about the pen?" Domino asked.

"Plastic bag sealed water tight around the end of it." Bullet answered.

"Alright let me know when you feel up for it." Domino said.

"Is now a bad time?" Bullet asked.

"Are you sure you should be moving yet bub?" Logan asked.

"I need to get cleaned up and then I need rest I don't heal as quickly as you and getting shot and undergoing surgery takes a lot out of me." Bullet said and began slowly climbing off of the table.

Bullet finished his shower with Domino's help as quickly as he could considering he had to hold the wall to keep himself standing the whole time and Positioned himself in his bed so that any more blood could drain from his lungs. After he was situated Domino decided she needed to talk to the rest of the team.

"How is he?" Rahne asked as Domino walked down the stairs to find the team cleaning the blood from the kitchen.

"Worse than he is letting on. He is holding onto hope but he is going to lose the lung." Domino answered.

"Not necessarily." Logan said knowing there is one thing that could help.

Bullet walked down the stairs struggling to hold himself up on the railing. He coughed every few steps and noticed there was still blood in his cough. Colossus ran to his aide and helped him to walk the rest of the way.

"Are you alright comrade?" Piotr asked.

"Can I get you anything?" Rahne asked.

"Good to see you up and moving." James said.

"No thanks Pete, Rahne, James." Bullet said waving them away. "Domino I hope your ready to get bloody again, If we don't repair the damage soon we wont be able to." Bullet said.

"Actually we have another idea." Domino said and walked Bullet back to the table where she pulled out a bag from the local home depot. She pulled out a few lengths of clear plastic tubing and pumps.

"Blood transfusion?" Bullet asked. "I don't see how that will help." Bullet said.

"Your ready to get started?" Logan asked as he approached rolling up his sleeve.

"No I don't think so." Bullet said.

"Its the only way and you know it." Logan responded.

"Damn it alright." Bullet agreed after weighing the options in his head for a few seconds.

"How do you even know you are the same blood type?" Rahne asked.

"Universal donor, comes along with the healing factor." Logan grunted.

The two began placing the needles in their veins and once they were hooked up domino began pumping. Bullet watched as Logan blood flowed through the tube and into his arm. Logan donated nearly two quarts before bullet started to feel anything. Suddenly he could feel the stitches making their way out of his skin, he pulled the pen from his lung and began to feel the little fluid that was left in his lungs leaking down his back. He cringed uneasily as his lung began to knit itself back together and then the muscle and skin tissue that had been ripped open and then cut into began to mend. His energy began to return and after taking a few seconds to get used to it he began to feel good.

"Is this how you always feel?" Bullet asked.

"You get used to the rush." Logan answered with a shrug.

Bullet grabbed his knife from its sheathe and cut a small incision into his forearm and watched a small drop of blood leak out before it healed again. The rest of the team gathered around him. He placed his left hand onto the table and took his combat knife in his right, before anyone could even attempt to stop him he jammed the blade completely through his hand.

"Bullet what the fuck were you thinking?" Domino shouted shocked at seeing the blade impaling Bullet's hand.

"Just testing something. Ahhh!" Bullet screamed as he pulled the blade back out of his hand and felt the wound healing. Bullet looked at his hand and flexed all of his fingers seeing that he still had full use of them.

"We don't know how long this will last can you not continue to test it?" Domino asked.

"I need to know how long this will last, it would be stupid to go into battle thinking I will heal from anything and do something reckless." Bullet said.

"Not being able to heal has never stopped you from doing something before or have you already forgot about the punctured lung?" Domino asked.

"Your right that was stupid I should have let you die." Bullet replied more than a little angry.

"Bullet, that's not what I-" Domino began.

"Save it." Bullet said as he got up and walked out of the Aerie closing the door behind him a little roughly.

Bullet walked out of the front door and inspected the damage onto his truck parked outside. He knelt down and began inspecting the scratches in the steel bumper, nothing but cosmetic damage. Bullet lifted the hood and began inspecting the motor and anything else vital that he may need to fix.

"The truck was stopped you didn't need to run into them." Bullet said as the door opened behind him.

"How did you know it was me?" Domino asked.

"Your personality, you tend to not care what anyone thinks apart from the ones you care about, you are fiercely loyal like a dog." Bullet answered, Domino scrunched her face up behind him.

"I'm not sure how to take that." She said unsure whether to be angry or take the comment as a compliment.

"It's not a bad thing, as humans we are the only ones to cognize our own death, animals fear imminent death but don't react as if they know they are going to die one day, As such many animals would never risk their lives to save a human but dogs often do when it comes to their owners, part of why they are often called man's best friend." Bullet responded and Domino walked up beside him.

"Well thanks I think. Listen, bullet I didn't mean to make you angry with what I said all I meant was-" Domino began.

"Another similarity to a dog, your eagerness to please." Bullet cut her off.

"Can you stop comparing me to a dog, I know you mean well but its a little off-putting?" Domino asked.

"Sure." Bullet responded. "Who was driving my truck on the way back here?" Bullet then asked.

"James." Domino answered as Bullet lifted his head back out from under the hood of his truck. "Is anything messed up?"

"Apart from the bumper, nothing visually, but I remember gears grinding. How much experience does he have driving a manual?" Bullet asked.

"How mad will you be if I say none?" Domino asked nervously.

"Then why was he driving?" Bullet asked.

"Rahne refused, Laura has never driven anything, I needed Logan and Piotr to keep you calm in the back and I refused to let you out of my sight in your condition." She answered truthfully. "How mad are you?"

"I will have to drive it to find out if there is any real damage, and you are coming with, if there is any real damage I'm taking it out of your ass." Bullet said.

"Promises, promises." Domino gave a sexy smirk as she walked to the passenger side of the truck and waited.

"Are you not going to get in?" Bullet asked after climbing into the driver seat.

"One of these days you are going to get the hang of this gentleman thing." Domino responded and got into the truck.

"Probably not." Bullet smirked as he started the truck and drove off into the sunset.


	8. Chapter 8

**Angel's Aerie **  
**Colorado**

"Bullet! Where the hell are you?" Archangel yelled as he walked into the front door of the Aerie.

"He is downstairs, but he is meditating I wouldn't recommend bothering him." Domino answered as she met Warren at the entrance.

"Who are you?" Warren asked.

"Domino, I'm assuming this is your place?" Domino asked.

"Yes, Warren Worthington the third, but you can call me Archangel." Warren greeted her. "I really need to see Bullet, we can continue this later." He said and walked off angrily and a bit rudely.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Domino sneered.

Warren walked down the stairs to the training area and witnessed bullet sitting on the floor so quietly that if one didn't know better they would think he was no longer drawing breath.

"Bullet did you hear me? What the hell happened to my house?" Warren asked and Bullet snapped out of his meditation but remained quiet.

"Damn it would you answer me?" Warren yelled as he placed his hand on Bullet's shoulder.

Bullet grabbed his hand and tossed him clear across the room. Warren rolled through the throw and came back to his feet. He turned to face bullet just in time to shield himself. Warren's metal wings burst out and he shielded himself behind them as bullet fired a round from his pistol at him.

"Good Warren, I thought you might be getting a little rusty." Bullet said and Warren slowly withdrew his wings.

"You think a gunshot is really a proper way to test me?" Warren asked. "I thought your impetuousness would have calmed over the years, no wonder my house is in the condition its in."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Bullet said as he holstered his pistol.

"My sofa has tears in the leather, there are claw marks in the hardwood, my kitchen table was apparently destroyed based on the new one, oh and the holes in the wall." Warren said.

"Right, well the tears in the sofa is Laura's fault she still has some anger issues as I'm sure you remember, the scratches in the hardwood come from a new member named Rahne she is a werewolf in a sense, The table was ruined by blood stains, long story but I think the new California redwood is much better than the maple, and the holes in the wall are from a time I pissed Domino off. I would like to thank you for letting us stay and glad you are here, we are just about to begin training I would like you to sit in if not participate yourself." Bullet said before walking to the P.A. and calling his team members to the backyard.

"Can you at least give me your word that once you have completed your mission and the team disbands that you will fix the place?" Warren asks.

"If I say yes will you participate?" Bullet asked.

"Do I have a choice?" Warren answered.

"No." Bullet smirked as he led warren to the back door and out onto the lawn where a pallet of bricks sat.

"Everyone take your place at a stand." Bullet said and they each took place at a pair of cinderblock pillars.

"Today we are going to practice a technique done in martial arts since nearly the beginning of martial arts itself. We are going to practice point of impact training. Every one place two bricks onto the cinderblock stands." Bullet said and placed five bricks on his own. Bullet took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before punching down onto the bricks earning impressed looks from most of the team.

"Before I forget, everyone this is Archangel and this is one of his homes so thank him." Bullet said and warren waved as he was greeted with thanks from most of the group. "Now I want all of you to break your bricks as I have.

Bullet watched amused as they all attempted to break their bricks. Logan, Piotr, and James succeeded in breaking both, Laura succeeded in breaking one, Rahne held her hand in pain and Domino looked at hers angrily as they didn't break and Warren didn't seem to really care.

"That went pretty much how I expected. This exercise however is not meant to test your pure physical strength although some of you do have and advantage in that regard." Bullet said as he looked at Piotr and Warpath.

"The point of this is to center your energy and focus on the point of impact." Bullet said as he loaded five more bricks onto his stand and took another deep breath before exhaling slowly and breaking all five again with just his index finger earning him both surprised and impressed looks. "Try again." Bullet said and they all attempted again earning pretty much the same results. Domino did break one this time.

"Good Domino. Everyone move up to five bricks." Bullet said and the team all moved to five and attempted it again. Again Piotr and Warpath broke all five, Logan broke four, Laura and Domino broke two, Rahne and Warren succeeded in breaking one.

"Better but your are all doing something wrong, do any of you know what that is?" Bullet asked but earned no response from the group. "You are focusing on the stack of bricks as a hole, you are focusing on how thick they are and defeating yourselves mentally. Focus on only the top brick, control your breathing as we learned last week and aim for the weakest point in the brick." Bullet instructed.

The group continued trying and began slowly improving Rahne began to groan in pain and her fist was red and swollen.

"Rahne try switching your hands." Bullet said hoping she didn't inure herself and was just bruised.

"My left isn't as strong." She said and readied her right hand again.

"Haven't you heard what I have been saying? This is not a strength exercise, this is more mental than physical, instead of saying I cant, try I will, but you have to make yourself believe it." Bullet said and walked behind her. "Let your strength come from here." Bullet said and placed one hand on her chest over her heart earning a death glare from Domino. "Believe in yourself as I believe in you. Take a deep breath to center your mind, exhale slowly and succeed." Bullet instructed and stepped back. "Keep your back straight and your shoulders squared." He then said and placed his palm on her back between her shoulders. "Now focus on only the top brick and the point of impact, you do not need to punch through the bricks just channel the energy through them."

Bullet stepped back and watched as Rahne took a few more deep measured breaths. She took a step forward to her bricks and punched downward onto the top brick and split the whole stack of five in half. Everyone around her clapped and Rahne looked at her stack of bricks with a smile before turning and hugging Bullet earning him another death glare.

After the team witnessed Rahne do what some of the others had not they all began believing more in themselves and heading the instruction Bullet gave to her. By the end of training they had all succeeded in breaking their stack of bricks and Bullet watched them proudly as they walked back into the Aerie proud of themselves.

"This is what has come of your damaged house Warren." Bullet said as he walked inside with the short time but still former fellow X-men member.

"You are creating weapons." Warren said as he remembered back to a time fighting with the X-men for what was right but not necessarily doing everything that was needed to succeed.

"Not weapons Warren but warriors." Bullet responded.

"I don't see much of a difference." Warren countered.

"Because you are short sighted, no offense but you always have been. Weapons are tools designed to kill where as warriors are people who are trained and are willing to kill. As long as they are doing it for the right reason, a reason that they know in their heart is right, one that you know in your heart is right then there is a huge difference." Bullet replied. "Think about it Warren, If there had been a group of warriors like us before Mutantville then Betsy might still be alive."

"Don't you dare bring her into this." Warren said as his wings extended and the group all jumped to their feet.

Bullet put his hand up signaling he team to stand down. "You are not the only one that lost someone in the attack Warren. If there was a team like this before mutantville then Marie might still be alive. All I am saying that as wrong as you may think it is we are doing it for the right reason and doing everything we can to prevent further attacks against mutant kind. Tell me would it be wrong if someone had killed Hitler before he slaughtered as many Jews as he had. Mutantville was Genocide and if we can prevent the same from happening again in the future then we must be more than just weapons." Bullet said and Warren looked down.

"I suppose you have a point. I am going to go unpack, we will talk more later." Warren said as he headed to Bullet's bedroom.

"Uh Warren." Bullet said.

"I said we would talk more later." Warren said and continued up the stairs. "Damn it Bullet!" Warren said as he walked back down the stairs. "You took my room?"

"I tried to tell you. There were only enough rooms for each of us to have our own." Bullet said.

"Is the guest house empty?" Warren asked.

"Hasn't been touched." Bullet answered and Warren picked up his bags and walked back out of the back door.

"Why does he need so many rooms and a guest house?" Domino asked as Warren walked out.

"He likes to live for excess." Bullet answered.

...

"Damn it I am going to kill her!" Bullet yelled as he stepped out of the shower and noticed the keys to his truck missing. He walked downstairs and noticed James sitting in front of the television next to Rahne.

"She left about five minutes ago." James said.

"And you didn't stop her?" Bullet asked angrily.

"In case you didn't know she has a short temper, weapons, and she is highly trained to use them." Rahne answered.

"Your both pathetic." Bullet said and walked out of the front door and pulled his phone. He dialed Domino's number and waited for her to answer. The phone rang once before going to voicemail which pissed Bullet off more knowing that she declined his call.

Bullet sat there for nearly an hour before his truck appeared coming down the dirt road and he got to his feet. The truck pulled up and the engine cut off, the door opened and Domino stepped out with a smile on her face.

"What makes you think its ok for you to commit grand theft auto?" Bullet asked and she just smirked as a dog jumped down from the truck with a muzzle on. The dog took a defensive posture upon seeing bullet and began growling at him.

"Pitbull?" Bullet asked.

"You are the one who kept talking about how much you admire dogs and how loyal they are. I thought it would be a good idea to get you a dog for wrecking your truck." Domino said and reached down to pat the dog on the head as he continued to growl at Bullet.

Bullet approached the dog and it nearly jumped at him. "Sit." Bullet commanded sternly and the dog sat down. Bullet reached to unstrap the muzzle from the dog and it started growling again. "Lay." Bullet commanded and the dog laid down. Bullet removed the muzzle and the dog laid calmly.

"What made you decide on a pitbull?" Bullet asked and Domino looked on amazed at how the Dog took Bullet's command so obediently.

"He reminded me of you. He was a fighting dog, A champion, ruthless and deadly. He was about to be put down when I came across him, He was taken from a fighting ring that was broken up. They were not going to release him to me but a few quick lies later and they thought I was a dog rehabilitator." Domino said and looked on as Bullet began inspecting scars on the dogs face and she was hoping Logan's healing blood was still affecting him as he began lifting it's jowels and inspecting its teeth and jaws.

"How are you able to keep him so calm? It took me forever to get him into the truck and then I drove nervously back here and that was with the muzzle on him." Domino said.

"He can sense that I don't fear him and mean him no harm. Dogs respond more to a dominant tone of voice you have to be stern with them." Bullet said.

"You have experience with them?" Domino asked.

"Saw a documentary once on the united states military training dogs for war to sniff out the enemy and explosives." Bullet said. "It is easy to fear them knowing what they are used for in todays day and age but in all honesty they are less dangerous than most dogs, did you know in the early 1900's pitbulls were used as nanny dogs by England's elite? They used them to keep an eye on their children, even in the time period people were not stupid enough to leave their children alone with dangerous animals."

"So you like him?" Domino asked as Bullet sat down next to the dog and bullet scratched under the dogs chin and it laid its head in his lap. "Ill take that as a yes, so I guess I am off the hook?" Domino then asked.

"For now but we are going to have a talk about boundaries." Bullet said and Domino smirked.

"Ill leave you alone with him to come with a name." Domino said.

"Already have one." Bullet said.

"So what are we going to call the big guy?" Domino asked as she began to kneel down next to him slowly.

"Calm." Bullet said and the dog stopped growling but still looked at Domino cautiously. "He will be called Crixus." Bullet informed her.

"Where did that come from?" She asked as she reached out slowly and began scratching behind Crixus' ear.

"Crixus was a slave and gladiator in ancient Roman times. He broke free alongside Spartacus and led as a general in the slave rebellion army against Rome. He fought fiercely, bravely, and loyally until his last breath. Gladiators were brothers and believed heavily in loyalty and honor they stood beside their brothers gladly risking their lives if it meant an honorable death." Bullet said and Domino looked at Bullet with a smirk.

"Suits him, so if he is Crixus, does that make you Spartacus?" She asked.

"Well I don't think I should invite that comparison but I suppose it does." Bullet grinned.

"Well I suppose we should introduce him to the rest of his team members." Domino said and Bullet got to his feet as did Crixus and they walked toward the door.

Bullet walked inside and Crixus immediately started growling and advancing on Rahne as she sat on the sofa with James.

"Crixus, calm." Bullet commanded to little avail, Crixus continued advancing and Bullet grabbed the back of his neck with a firm grip letting him know who is in charge and Crixus stopped growling.

"What are you doing with a dog?" Rahne asked shakily as she backed up behind James.

"Team mascot, come say hi to Crixus." Bullet said and James stood up and walked toward him without fear. Crixus sat down and looked into James' eyes as he knelt down in front of him.

"Hello, Crixus you will come to know me as Warpath." James said and patted his head.

"Laura approached and Crixus growled at her until she growled back asserting her dominance, it seemed to have a calming affect on him and he sat there as she dropped to her knees and began scratching his chin.

Logan approached and let loose a low growl before Crixus had the chance. Crixus submitted to the more dominant male, and Logan grabbed a bowl from the kitchen and poured what was left of his beer into it before bringing it back. "Thirsty pup?" Logan asked and set the bowl down in front of him. Crixus sniffed the liquid and began drinking.

"Your up Rahne." Bullet said to the terrified girl.

"I don't think so that dog looks at me like he wants to eat me." She said.

"Suit yourself but he is here to stay so you will want to get to know him sooner or later." Bullet answered and walked into the kitchen and grabbed a skillet. He then reached into the freezer and pulled out a rib-eye he set the heat on very low to defrost the steak and once that was done he turned up the heat and began to fry the steak. He cooked it to medium well and tossed it to Crixus who had been sitting at his feet since they walked into the Aerie.

Crixus began eating the steak as if he hadn't eaten in days. Bullet reached down and put his hand near the steak and Crixus growled.

"Crixus, calm!" Bullet snapped and crixus' ears laid back as he stopped eating and looked up at Bullet. Bullet nodded and Crixus went back to eating, Bullet reached down again and grabbed for the steak, Crixus looked at him but nothing this time. "Good." Bullet said and patted the top of his head.

"Crixus, come." Bullet said as he got to his feet and reached into his keys for his pocket. "You too Domino." Bullet then said to her.

"Where are we going now?" Domino asked.

"What do you mean now, I didn't go anywhere before. You stole my truck and left remember? Now we are going shopping, after all you cant get a dog without anything for him." Bullet answered.

"Like what?" Domino asked.

"A bed, food, and a bone, something to chew on to help keep his teeth filed down. Now lets go." Bullet said and domino got to her feet with a huff.

"Shouldn't you put his muzzle on him there will be other dogs in there, what if he reverts back to his fighting days?" Domino asked.

"He will be fine as long as we remain calm he will as well." Bullet said as they walked into a local petsmart.

"Excuse me sir but your dog needs to be on a lead while in the store." A cashier said as they walked in.

"He will be fine." Bullet said.

"Sir it is store policy." The young girl asked.

"He feels restrained on a lead it makes him uncomfortable, look I plan on spending a lot of money here so if that is going to be a problem then I can go somewhere else." Bullet informed her.

"That wont be a problem sir just please keep a close watch on him." A man bullet assumed to be the store manager said.

"Do you always get your way?" Domino asked.

"Most of the time, money talks." Bulleet said as they began walking past aisles containing cat food and toys.

"They reached the dog session and Domino led them into the toy aisle and began picking up toy after toy and loading them into her arms.

"What? You are the one who said you are going to spending a lot of money here." Domino said after noticing the sideways look Bullet was giving her. "What about this one Crixus?" She asked and dangled a knotted rope in front of his face. He sniffed it and grabbed it and began pulling her down the aisle. Bullet looked on amused at the game of tug of war that took place in the middle of the store.

Once Crixus won they continued their shopping. Domino insisted on getting the largest most comfortable looking dog bed she could find and handed it to Bullet along with the toys she piled into his arms. "Go get a cart." Bullet said and Domino laughed at the sight of him with his arms loaded full of toys that would more than likely be destroyed by Crixus within minutes of him playing with them.

Nearly an hour later a cart full of toys the dog bed, a spiked collar that Domino insisted on and two giant bags of dog food later, and the three of them walked to the counter where Domino noticed the engraving dog tags. They rung up all of the products and Bullet pulled 600 dollars from his wallet to pay for everything even the aerosol peanut butter dog treats Domino made him buy that Bullet argued with her about. They walked back to the truck and Bullet was surprised that they got in and out without as much as a growl from Crixus. Bullet loaded the truck bed and they headed to a butcher shop in town to pick up one last item.

"I don't see why we couldn't have gotten him that giant bone at petsmart." Domino said.

"Because those aren't fresh, they are baked and preserved with that artificial flavor added. He is a dog he will much rather prefer a fresh one with the marrow in the center." Bullet answered.

They exited a few minutes later carrying a giant cow leg bone and Bullet tossed it into the bed of the truck with everything else before they got back into the truck with Crixus and headed back to the Aerie.

"Damn it Bullet, I hoped the talks of a dog was a joke." Warren said as Bullet walked in loaded down with bags with Crixus following behind him.

"You have a problem with dogs?" Bullet asked.

"No not with dogs in general but with them being in my house, yes I do." Warren said.

"He is trained, follows command, and hopefully housebroken, and if he isn't then Logan will clean up after him." Bullet said and Logan chuckled from the other side of the room.

"Can you at least keep him off of the furniture?" Warren asked.

"Stop worrying Warren everything will be replaced once our mission is over, I will even let you select the new furnishings unlike with the table you disapprove of." Bullet said.

"I don't disapprove of the table it fits the décor nicely, I just liked the old one." Warren answered.

"So dad can we keep him?" Logan asked Jokingly.

"Fine he can stay." Warren gave in.

"I think you and him are going to become good friend Warren." Bullet said and Crixus growled at Rahne again as she walked past. "Him and Rahne not so much if she doesn't learn to stop fearing him. Now I need to go get his stuff situated." Bullet said and began walking toward his bedroom.

After putting all of the toys and food away Bullet placed the dog bed on the floor in the corner of the bedroom and Crixus walked and laid down on it almost instantly. "At least that wasn't a waste. She does have pretty good taste doesn't she?" Bullet asked him and Crixus wagged his tail happily. "Yea I think so too." Bullet said and patted him on the head before pulling the giant bone out of the bag and Crixus jumped back to his feet and looked at the bone excitedly. Bullet handed it to him and Bullet walked back out of the room with Crixus behind him, the giant bone bumping into everything they passed.

Time passed and the sun began to fade into darkness and the team decided on one of their bonfire nights. Logan got the fire started as the others began loading drinks and ice into a cooler to take outside. The team gathered around a roaring fire in the cool Colorado mountain air. Bullet sat with a beer in his hand, Crixus at his feet, and Domino sitting in his lap, He couldn't help but feel at peace watching his fellow team members getting along with each other for a change, instead of at each others throats as they had so often been. They each went around the fire telling stories of their past, experiences they had gone through, events that made them into who they are today. It got around to bullets turn and he told them of his past with Stryker reluctantly at first but opened up upon seeing them not judging him but realizing where his training, his determination and even the anger that resides within him came from. They seemed more understanding of him if anything, and for the first time Bullet even told them about Marie and Robby, many hearing it for the first time. Bullet felt relaxation take over him as he unloaded that burden that had he had been harboring for so long. For the first time they felt like a real team.


	9. Chapter 9

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**

Bullet woke up early the next morning feeling slightly queasy from the night before and decided to run it out of his system. He climbed out of bed quietly and for once did not wake Domino. (must have drank more than I thought) Bullet thought to himself as he began to get dressed with only the light from the moon filtering through the blinds to illuminate the room. Crixus jumped to his feet and followed bullet from the room when he left and shut the door behind them.

"You better not slow me down." Bullet said and Crixus wagged his tail as they walked out into the crisp morning air.

Bullet took off at a jog with Crixus at his side. He ran to the end of the driveway and along the street further up into the mountains. After nearly a mile Bullet broke off from the road and into the surrounding forest. He ran and jumped over limbs and ducking under hanging branches, Crixus stayed with him the whole way. They came to a small stream running down the mountain and Bullet came to a stop.

"Looks like this will be our halfway point." Bullet said and Crixus walked to the stream and began to drink. "Not a bad idea." Bullet said and knelt down at the stream to scoop water into his hands and splash on his face. Just as they were about to take off back down the mountain Crixus began to growl.

"What is it?" Bullet asked and stopped to look in the direction Crixus was facing to see a family of three deer emerge from some foliage to drink. "Calm, Crixus." Bullet said and knelt at his side. Crixus stopped growling and looked on as the deer stopped and looked at them.

Bullet remained as quiet as possible as to not spook them and watched as they all got their fill of the water and then as quickly as they came they turned and left again.

"Lets go." Bullet said and ran back through the woods and toward the road.

They made it back down the mountain passed by only a few cars that were out at the time of morning. They ran back up the driveway to the Aerie and came to a stop. Bullet caught his breath and looked down to see Crixus panting heavily.

"What do you say we head inside and let you get some rest?" Bullet asked and just then Crixus began growling.

"You are way too paranoid." Bullet said thinking it was more than likely a squirrel or rabbit. "No your right." Bullet then said quietly as his hand slowly lowered toward his pistol.

"Either you come out now or I start shooting." Bullet demanded.

"It wont do you much good." A man said as he stepped out of the forest. He was a large black man wearing jet black pants and a bright yellow shirt.

"I gotta hand it to you, you are brave to come here. What do you want?" Bullet asked removing his hand from his holster.

"I want you to come with me." The man said.

"And when I refuse?" Bullet asked and Crixus growled and took a defensive stance after sensing Bullet's mood change.

"Then I will have no choice but to take you with me." The man said and clenched his fist.

"Good luck." Bullet said and pulled his pistol and fired a round at the mans knee. The bullet bounced off and the man smirked. Crixus rushed the man and attacked, he bit into the mans arm and held on tight. The man lifted his arm and raised his other hand. Bullet quickly switched his clips and pointed his pistol at the mans head.

"Release him." Bullet warned. "This one wont ricochet off of you, Have you ever heard of a metal called adamantium?" He then asked.

"Perhaps you should tell him to release me." The man said as Crixus still hung on. "I have no want to hurt an animal."

"Crixus, let go." Bullet commanded and Crixus released the man and backed off slowly while still growling.

"Now what do you say we handle this like men?" The man asked and Bullet smirked as he put his pistol away and placed his left foot slightly behind the right ready for the larger mans attack.

"I promise you I am more of a man than you are ready for." Bullet warned but the man raised his fists. "Crixus go inside." Bullet commanded and Crixus slowly turned and ran for the door.

"I have heard all about you, that's why I brought back up." The man said and another guy much smaller came through the trees wearing a green and yellow outfit.

"Anyone else?" Bullet smirked.

"Don't need anyone else." The larger black man said and Bullet smirked as Crixus barked and scratched at the door knowing that if he needed it back up of his own would be waking up to the sound on the door if the werent already awake from the shot he had fired moments before.

"What do you say we get started then?" Bullet asked.

The large man approached walking slowly without taking a stance and Bullet immediately registered 17 weak spots. Bullet swung a quick left Jab and the mans head snapped back but he tilted his head back forward with the same expression before throwing an uppercut. Bullet jumped quickly and back flipped off of the mans chest landing on his feet a few feet away.

"Invincible skin and super strength, too bad that wont be enough, you are far to slow to ever lay a hand on me." Bullet said taunting the man.

"What about me?" The other man asked and jumped in much faster and with a lot of technique, his speed and agility unlike anything bullet had only ever encountered once before. The man's fist and feet were hard as stone as bullet blocked and attempted to counter the blows only for them to be dodged in return.

"You have studied under Lei Kung." Bullet said impressed after noticing the same technique he had learned many years before. "Your chi is strong." Bullet gave the man a comment as they met at a stalemate.

"As have you, but you are outmatched as I have the power of the Iron fist." The man said.

"Only because I refused it." Bullet taunted knowing he was offered the chance to take the journey but decided against it as he would dishonor the title based on who he was. Iron fist kicked high, Bullet ducked under it, popped back up and threw a right cross only to meet his foe fist to fist.

"Allow me to show you the power of the Iron fist." He said and his hand began to glow burning the skin off of Bullets fist.

Bullet ground his teeth through the pain and smiled as he pulled his fist back and it healed in front of Iron fist's face.

"As I said you stand no chance." Bullet said and out of the corner of his eye saw the larger of the men charging him.

Bullet turned and saw the man get tackled by an even larger metal figure. Colossus began raining down punches onto the man beating his head into the ground but not doing any real damage. Bullet raised his arm to stop a kick from Iron fist. Colossus and his foe wrestled on the ground going back and forth pummeling each other until Colossus got the upper hand and grabbed him in a bear hug lifting him off of the ground.

"Time to end this." Bullet said beginning to reach for his pistol after jumping back to avoid further attack. Iron fist vaulted over his head and before he could land bullet side stepped and threw back an elbow hitting Iron fist in the back of the head knocking him forward into a clothesline from a charging Logan knocking him unconscious.

"Colossus let him go." Bullet said.

Colossus let him go and The man landed on his feet.

"I will ask you again. Who are you?" Bullet asked and the man remained silent.

"The hard way then." Bullet said and rushed in hitting the man in his side. The man crumpled to the ground surprised at the pain. "Just as I thought, your skin is unbreakable but once that is bypassed your still human. Transferred energy, that pain you felt was your kidney, how many do you think you will be able to handle before you start urinating blood?" Bullet asked.

"My name is Luke Cage." The man answered between coughs.

"Good now who sent you?" Bullet then asked.

"I cant tell you that." He said and bullet walked away.

"Cant blame you, I would never give up my clients either, besides if it is who I think it is they know you are in trouble and they will be here soon enough." Bullet said. "Warren you have anywhere we can detain these two?" Bullet then asked turning to Archangel.

"Yea there is a bunker in the woods a few hundred yards from here. The man that owned this place before me was one of those nuts that thought the world would end at Y2K." Warren answered after taking a few seconds to think about it.

"Good, lets go Luke." Bullet said and picked the unconscious Iron fist up and slung him over his shoulder.

Bullet locked the two men away and walked back to the Aerie. Crixus ran up to him wagging his tail, Bullet walked to his room unlocked his safe and removed his laptop, after doing a quick search he came up with the name heroes for hire, a further search increased his suspicions as to who hired them and he knew they would be making an appearance soon. Bullet shut his laptop just as a voice played over a megaphone from outside.

"Bullet you are under arrest, come peacefully, unarmed and alone." Nick fury yelled into the megaphone.

"Fury." Logan growled and Bullet sighed before getting to his feet and walking toward the door.

"You are not just going to turn yourself over are you?" Rahne asked.

"What do you think?" Bullet asked as he opened the door. "Stay here until I give the signal. Colossus come with me and Logan." Bullet instructed to the team and only him and Logan walked outside.

"Keep a close eye on the one on the right, he is the most dangerous of the three." Bullet said to colossus as they walked out.

"He doesn't look very tough comrade." Piotr said.

"Don't under estimate him and whatever you do, do not make him angry you wont like him when he is angry." Bullet said before they approached Fury.

"What do you want now Fury?" Bullet asked calmly.

"You are neither unarmed or alone as requested not that its unexpected. I understand your mission but you have left a pile of bodies in your wake Shield can not allow you to continue." Fury said.

"The pile will continue to grow larger until my mission is over and there is nothing Shield can do about it." Bullet said with the same eerie calmness.

"Then you leave me no choice but to bring you in." Fury informed him.

"Is that why you brought your body guards?" Bullet asked as he looked back and forth between Iron man and Bruce Banner.

"You brought this on yourself." Fury said.

"You think I haven't come up with a way to deal with the hulk?" Bullet asked. "Banner I can cure you." Bullet then said turning to the small scientist and Bruce's jaw dropped.

"That's impossible." Banner said.

"It's not, after our first encounter I spent months at your old lab, the one that turned you into the hulk. I started with detox treatments and cleansing supplements, I began mixing every herb and Chinese, Himalayan and every other possible option i could until I found one that only grows in South America, with the right dosage it was able to cure small animals of the gamma irradiated blood. With someone as large as you it would not be a cure but a treatment you could take once a week to keep the hulk away. Fury would no longer be able to use you as a weapon. While you are taking the treatment we can work together to strengthen it or come up with another active ingredient for a cure." Bullet informed him and Bruce just stared in shock before shaking his head.

"A few years ago and I would have jumped at the opportunity, today however the hulk and I have come to an understanding." Bruce said and Bullet nodded.

"Then I would hate to have to force a dose, you really should stay out of this." Bullet said and Bruce stepped back away from Fury. " I mean no one that doesnt deserve it any harm, we are taking down people that hate mutants and are hunting them down as the hulk you should know exactly how I feel."

"One down Nick." Logan smirked and rubbed his knuckles itching to let his claws loose.

"That cure wont work on me." Iron man said and raised his hand and it began to glow threateningly.

"Mark 7 power down." Bullet said and Iron man's hand fell down to its side and the blue light from the repulsor blast faded.

"Jarvis what happened? Get my suit back up." Tony said.

"Lockout code six, two, niner, Charlie, foxtrot, lima." Bullet said and locket Jarvis out of the suit.

"I am afraid I have been locked out and am currently unable to access the Mark 7's primary or secondary functions." Jarvis said.

"Bullet what did you do to my suit?" Tony yelled angrily.

"Two years ago, you traveled to China and battled the Mandarin. During that time I remote hacked Jarvis and shut him and your security down temporarily, It took me nearly fourty minutes to sneak in upload my voice commands to your armor suits and get back out, by the way the heated toilet seat is a nice touch." Bullet said and Logan smirked.

"You used my toilet?" Tony yelled even angrier now.

"I would think you would have learned by now Fury, I will beat you every time but this will be the last time. Tony's security is not all I hacked, I also tapped into the shield helicarrier and with the correct codes I can access all of it's functions. You will turn a blind eye to my mission or I will drop you into the Hudson." Bullet said.

"Your bluffing." Fury said angrily.

"I never bluff." Bullet said and pulled his cell phone from his pocket and typed in a code.

"Director Fury, we have lost engines one and three." An agent said over Fury's radio.

Nick fury pulled a pistol and aimed it at Bullet's head. "Start the engines back up." Fury demanded.

"Go ahead Nick pull the trigger, I am the only one with the codes." Bullet said. "Now I am done with this game of cat and mouse. I am getting tired of you coming after me time and time again so I am giving you an ultimatum. Judging by my calculations, you have just over two minutes before your helicarrier is at the bottom of the Hudson, so you will either get in line or get out of my way. " Bullet said forcefully and Fury said nothing.

"One minute and thirty seconds Nick." Bullet said and began to place his phone back in his pocket.

"Ok you win." Fury said unable to call Bullet's bluff in case he was in fact not bluffing. "What about your prisoners?" Fury then asked.

"They will be released and you will take them with you, they have not been harmed. James, release the prisoners and send them around front." Bullet said turning his head back to the Aerie. "You didn't honestly think that those two could beat me did you?" Bullet then asked turning back to Fury.

"I told them to wait until you were away from here and alone." Fury answered.

"They don't listen very well, a little over confident. It wouldn't have mattered they were both outclassed, Iron fist was good but is only versed in the one form of martial arts and doesn't have it in him to end my life it causes him to hold back, and Luke is so unused to pain that when he experiences it, it is overwhelming." Bullet said and just then Luke Cage and Iron Fist walked out. "As I said unharmed. Now you will keep up your end and stay out of my teams way." Bullet said and Fury nodded before turning and walking back to the SUV they arrived in. "Oh and Fury don't bother trying to deactivate my security measures it will take you a hundred years." Bullet then said and turned to walk back into the Aerie.

"What about me?" Stark asked still unable to move.

"What do you think?" Bullet asked Logan as they turned back around.

"An Iron man statue would be a nice addition." Logan answered.

"Yea but if we leave him in there the smell of him rotting will be too much to bare." Bullet said. "Deactivate lockout code, authorization code seven, four, one, bravo, sierra, November. Mark 7 restore power." Bullet said and the suit began to power back up and Tony took off into the sky.

"He still has a hard on for you." Logan said as they began walking back in.

"Shoot a guy one time and he stays angry for well over a decade." Bullet shook his head.

"You shot Iron man comrade?" Piotr asked.

"Yea Fury sent the Hulk after me when I was young. They took me to the helicarrier, I escaped, headed to the armory got my weapons and Tony tried to stop me, He was unaware of the adamantium bullets and I put a round in his thigh through the suit." Bullet answered.

"Who was that little guy?" Piotr asked.

"Bruce Banner, you probably know him as The Hulk." Bullet said and Piotr stopped in his tracks.

"That was The Hulk?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yea that's why I told you not to underestimate him."

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**  
**Two days later**

"What are you doing here Scott, did you find any Intel that will help us?" Bullet asked as he met Cyclops in the living area.

"Nothing you don't already have. I do however have another mission for you." Scott said.

"We started this team to put an end to the Purifiers threat to mutants, I am not taking requests, sorry to waste your time." Bullet said and sat on the sofa.

"This isn't a request." Scott said more forcefully.

"I definitely don't take orders, watch your tone Scott I have had a hell of a week." Bullet warned getting slightly angry with Scott's tone.

"Don't forget I started this team." Scott said through gritted teeth.

"You brought us together then stepped aside, you hold no power here. My team will stay focused on the task at hand." Bullet said refusing to give any ground.

"What are you doing here goggles?" Logan asked as he walked in.

"Mastermind has been single handedly waging a war against the purifiers, making them commit suicide publicly." Scott informed him.

"We have bigger fish to fry besides it sounds to me like he should be on our team." Bullet said.

"You heard the man." Logan agreed.

"He is not keeping his part in it a secret, it looks bad on mutants everywhere, he needs to be stopped." Scott said not backing off either.

"We can always rebuild our reputation, its not like human think the world of us as it is." Bullet informed him.

"How dare you disobey me." Scott yelled.

"Disobey you? As I said you hold no power here, you hold no position above us how dare you feel like you have some sense of entitlement." Bullet yelled back.

"I was asking nicely at first, I can make you do what I want." Scott said and Bullet used every bit of patience and restraint he could muster to not punch him.

"How do you plan on doing that?" Bullet asked holding in his anger.

"Emma is a very powerful mutant." Scott smirked.

"Tell your whore to bring it on, the professor couldn't access my mind." Bullet laughed.

"She has the cuckoo's or did you forget about that?" Scott said sure he had the upper hand.

"I will kill them before they get close enough, keep pushing your luck and you might not walk out of here. I always respected you Scott but I will not allow you to threaten me I suggest you go before things turn ugly." Bullet suggested and Scott stepped face to face with Bullet and Logan sat back with a smirk.

Bullet delivered a punch so quick Scott couldn't react to avoid it. The blow shattered his nose filling the air with sound of the bones crunching underneath the pressure of his fist. Scott lifted his head with blood pouring from his nose and prepared to fire a blast when he felt the barrel of a pistol pressed to his chest.

"Go now." Bullet demanded. "Get your nose looked at. Oh and I wouldn't suggest coming back without a very sincere apology."

Scott backed off and spit blood on the floor fearing a bullet in the chest. He walked out of the door and Bullet sat back down on the sofa.

"I was wondering if you were ever going to do that." Logan smiled as he sat next to Bullet.

"Punch him?" Bullet asked.

"Yeah he's such a tight ass, as many times as the two of you have argued, you always held back, your a better man than me. What pushed you over the edge this time?" He then asked.

"I don't know, stress, long week or maybe I just finally got fed up with him." Bullet smirked. "What makes people think they can control me? Do I really seem like that much of a pushover?" Bullet asked.

"Its not like these are normal people trying to enforce themselves, these are leaders, commanders, generals. That is all they have known for a long time." Logan said being the voice of reason for a change.

"Your probably right, I have a question for you or more of a request." Bullet said and got to his feet.

"Go ahead." Logan said.

"Can you take over the team for a week or so. I need a vacation." Bullet asked him.

"You want me to sit here and continue training these bastards while you go and relax." Logan said.

"If you are not up for it, can you at least make sure they don't do anything stupid? I will give them homework to keep them busy. It is more of a working vacation if thats any consolation." Bullet asked.

"No problem, I'm just going to sit around and drink. Where yah goin?" Logan then asked.

"Africa." Bullet said and walked to go pack everything he needed for the trip.

...

"Where are we going?" Domino asked as she walked into Bullet's room and noticed him packing.

"We are going nowhere, I am going to Africa." Bullet informed her.

"Oh a safari sounds fun." Domino said.

"One, you are not going, and two, not that part of Africa." Bullet said.

"Where are we going then?" She asked.

"Its a secret, and you are not going." Bullet informed her again.

"I am going to go pack my things." Domino said and ran off before bullet could say anything else.

...

"So where are we going?" Domino asked as Bullet flew the jet.

"I suppose you are going to find out sooner or later, have you ever heard of a place called Wakanda?" Bullet asked.

"Its like Atlantis, noone knows if it actually exists." Domino answered.

"Oh its real." Bullet said and engaged the auto pilot so he could sit back and try to relax.

...

Bullet and Domino deboarded the jet and began trekking through the forest. They walked for nearly an hour. Domino kept catching sideways glances of Bullet looking around and constantly checking his surroundings. Bullet knew they were being watched and more than likely walking into a trap.

"I have never seen you this unsure of your surroundings, whats going on?" Domino asked growing nervous, having never seen Bullet like this.

"This place is dangerous keep your eyes open." Was all Bullet said as continued walking but kept his hands away from his pistols which confused Domino even more.

"We walk into buildings full of dozens of well armed and trained mutant hating religious freaks, but we walk through a forest and you are worried?" Domino asked.

"Yea there are poisonous spiders here, tiny and hard to see but can kill in hours." Bullet lied.

"Your lyi-" Domino began but was cut off by a spear digging into the ground at their feet. "What the." She said and reached for her pistols before Bullet grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"No." He commanded firmly.

Domino looked around and suddenly saw that they were surrounded by twenty tribesman armed with spears with extremely shiny incredibly sharp blades.

"Turn back now and you wont be harmed." One of the men said and stepped forward.

"We mean you no harm, we only wish to speak to your king." Bullet said and slowly pulled his pistols from his holsters and set them on the ground before instructing Domino to do the same.

"I said turn back." The man reitterated.

"I didn't come this far for no reason." Bullet said and held his hands up.

The man held his spear out until the tip was at Bullet's chest. Bullet stopped and thought for a second before grabbing the shaft sidestepping and pulling the man in towards him. Bullet headbutted the man, relieved him of his spear and threw it at another man pinning him to a tree by the waist band of the cloth covering him. Bullet then put his hands up as a sign of surrender to avoid further confrontation.

"Take me to your King." Bullet then said and the first man got off the ground and walked behind Bullet. The man kicked the back of Bullets knee causing him to drop down, he then bound his hands and put a blindfold over his eyes. They did the same to Domino and began walking them through the forest.

"If we get out of this I am going to kill you Bullet." Domino said to him angrily.

"We will be fine I promise." Bullet assured her although it really didn't ease her nerves.

They walked for twenty minutes before they came to a stop. More chatter began to fill the air and Domino began to grow more nervous.

"Release them." A loud commanding voice rang out above the rest and Bullet smiled. The restraints on his wrists were cut and he removed his blindfold.

"T'challa it's good to see you friend." Bullet said and embraced the man in full black panther gear in a hug. "Next time I expect better treatment however."

"Next time give me notice of your arrival." He replied and Domino looked on confused.

"The two of you know each other?" Domino asked. "Then why were we bound and blindfolded?"

"You must understand this place and its location has remained a secret for a very long time and for very good reason. Seeing as how you arrived with Jason I will assume that you can be trusted." T'challa said and gestured for them to follow him.

"I wish I could say that we are here for more personal reasons-" Bullet began.

"You need more vibranium." T'challa finished for him.

"Hold on I need some answers, how do you know each other?" Domino interrupted.

"Your boyfriend here, gave me back my kingdom." T'challa informed her.

"Uh we are not dating." Bullet said.

"I apologize, I just noticed the closeness and the body language between you and I assumed." He said.

"Back to the topic at hand." Bullet said changing the subject. "The way I remember it you won your kingdom back."

"I would never be able to rule Wakanda if I was an idiot." He said.

"Can you elaborate?" Domino asked.

"Of course. Many years ago I was dethroned by a man who called himself man-ape-" He began.

"Dethroned how?" Domino asked.

"Wakanda tradition states that when a king is challenged and loses in hand to hand combat the winner takes his place as the rightful King." T'challa said.

"You couldn't refuse?" Domino asked.

"Not without losing the respect of my tribe. As I was saying Man-ape challenged and bested me, He took his place as King and then Jason here snuck in one day looking for Vibranium. He was captured and taken prisoner, and placed in a cell right next to mine, I told Jason my story and he told me he could get us free in exchange for vibranium. He broke himself free and Challenged Man-ape in which he won and took the mantle of King. Jason then released me I challenged him to take back my spot as king and he took it easy on me and allowed me to beat him." T'challa explained.

"You were a king?" Domino asked Bullet amazed.

"For all of two hours." Bullet answered. "T'challa beat me fair and square, besides I am not exactly king material, Wakanda is in much better hands now."

"How long are you going to grace us with your presence?" T'challa asked.

"I must get back just enough to use your facilities if you don't mind." Bullet answered.

"Of course not, are you planning on forming here or elsewhere?" He asked.

"Here, the required equipment is a little tough to get my hands on elsewhere these days." Bullet answered.

"If you dont mind, might I ask what you are using it for?" T'challa asked him.

"Double Katanas." Bullet informed him.

"I should not have asked." He said and shook his head. "How much do you need?"

"No more than 40 pounds. Enough for the blades and a few more pistol barrels." Bullet said.

"That is quite a lot." T'challa responded.

"I could just take over as king again and take what I need." Bullet smiled earning a smirk from T'challa


	10. Chapter 10

**Wakanda**  
**Africa**

At the request of the black panther or king T'challa they decided to wait until morning to mine the Vibranium Bullet needed. He normally is not one to put things off but T'challa had a point about their long trip and the fatigue setting in. Rest would not come easy for the pair however as in Wakanda it is tradition for a celebration to be held for honored guests and as much as Bullet wanted to protest he also did not want to come off as rude to not only a king but one of the few people he deemed dare he say it, a friend, someone he knew if he asked would have his back and vise versa. Bullet never intended to ask for his help as he knew he would be staining the hands of an honorable man who is not a mutant to begin with so he really has no personal stake in the matter.

Before long an enormous fire was built in the middle of the village and the Wakandans danced around it in the same fashion they had been doing for centuries and sang songs of their ancestors. Bullet smiled and looked on at the display and whether he belonged to their tribe or not, he did reign over it for a few hours and he felt a feeling of pride wash over him, he was unable to tell if it was genuine pride or just the energy radiating from the tribe but the feeling was euphoric to say the least. Food and drink was shared and stories were told, stories from warriors or friends of fallen warriors describing their experienced heroics in defending their prosperous nation. Bullet found himself able to relate to the stories, not necessarily the heroics but the feeling you get when in that strained tense situation, the adrenaline that courses through your body, the pit in your stomach that nearly causes you to freeze in place before your fight or flight reflexes kick in, walking away from a battle alive, grateful that you have the opportunity to see another day the feeling of fighting knowing that what you are fighting is more than just yourself that there is so much more at risk. It has been a long time since Bullet has felt like that, and admittedly to himself he misses it but no matter what he does these days nothing feels the same to him anymore, he lives his every day based on fake smiles, emotionless in his own mind only seeming to care by the people around him from the display he puts on. He can remember a time when he held warmth in his ribcage, a time that when he fought he felt like an honorable man, not anymore he barely feels at all, he has grown cold and emotionless, from time to time he looks at himself in the mirror for long periods of time wondering that if the eyes are the window to the soul what do others see when they look into his? Why does his team follow him so loyally? Logan and Laura, and even Colossus he can understand they had fought with him for years before all of this, Domino is sleeping with him and he feels like part of her just likes killing but Rahne? She didnt know him at all until only months ago and she fought hard from the beginning to prove herself worthy to fight by his side. Why would she try so hard just to prove herself to someone she didnt know? Warpath the same, sure they know that the end of mutants could very well come to an end but they could do as so many others and suffer from ostrich syndrome, bury their heads in the sand and pretend that nothing is going on around them but for some reason which Bullet was unable to deduce in all of his knowledge they continued to improve and prove themselves to be every bit the warriors that they can be.

Would he ever be ok again? Could he ever learn to feel again? Could he ever wake up in the morning without the urge to put a bullet in his head? Sure the past months are not the first time bullet had these thoughts but when he met Marie the thoughts subsided, he had something to live for but that is gone now. That is gone because his one track mind had him coming up with a plan to kill Stryker instead of searching deeper into what he was planning in the first place. His Wife, his son, and numerous other people he called friends are all dead due to something he could have prevented. His mission now is to clean up the mess but a mess prevented would have meant not needing to clean one up in the first place. Whoever came up with the saying 'its no use crying over spilled milk' should get tortured mercilessly for weeks on end.

He and domino were offered a spot to stay in T'challa's castle which they accepted gratefully. The celebration ended and Bullet made his way to their sleeping quarters while Domino went to get washed up. Bullet sat on the floor of their bedroom and relaxed himself into a deep meditative state. After the thoughts his mind had led him to today he felt the need to see his family again even if its only a recreation of them in his mind.

Domino walked into the bedroom to see him sitting on the floor lost to the world. She had seen this multiple times and she knew what he was doing. It hurt her to see him in this state but she knew to leave him to it for fear of her own life. She watched on and a tear rolled down her cheek.

_Despite the bad things he has done he is a good man and he doesn't deserve the pain he is_ in, _to lose all of the people he cared for in one fell swoop along with a mutation like his that makes him relive that day like it was yesterday everyday_. She thought to herself wishing there was something she could do, anything to help him feel better, to help him get over the pain, to help him cope.

"How long have you been sitting there?" Bullet asked after he returned to reality from his meditative state.

"Not long, I didn't want to bother you, made that mistake once remember?" Domino answered turning her head and quickly wiping away the tear hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Yea, I remember. Its getting late, we should get some sleep." Bullet said and got off of the ground and walked toward the right side of the bed, the same side he slept on back at the Aeire.

"Right." Domino said and pulled back the comforter from her side and climbed in.

Nothing else was said between the two as they laid down. "Is everything ok?" Bullet asked moments later hearing the uneasy breathing and noticing the distance and awkwardness between them.

"I'm fine." She replied shortly further increasing his suspicions that something is wrong.

"Really, because normally your hand is between my legs at this point." Bullet joked hoping to get some sort of rise out of her.

"Not in the mood." Domino shrugged.

"Want to talk about it?" Bullet asked knowing something was eating away at her.

"What T'challa said earlier about us being a couple, I don't think it would be such a bad idea." Domino said and Bullet lost his voice for a second.

"Why makes you say that? I thought you were fine with our arrangement." Bullet said wondering what had changed in her mind, not that he didnt expect it eventually but Domino always seemed one to keep sex and her feelings seperate she was the one who initiated it after all.

"I was in the beginning, besides I think it would help you to get over her. When people have arrangements like ours they tend to fight the development of romantic feelings and I feel like you need feelings." She said and Bullet sighed.

"Don't do this." Bullet said not liking where this was going.

"Do what?" Domino asked.

"Start pushing this, don't make me chose between her and you because she will win." Bullet said and laid back against his pillow with a heavy sigh. Domino knew to expect that but hearing it out loud caused her heart to sink a little.

"I am not trying to take her place. I am trying to help you get back into the right mental state. You have been taking stupid risks on missions and nearly got yourself killed multiple times. Let the feelings you have for me develop, when you have something to cling to, to fight for there is nothing more deadly, you have been getting lost lately the pain in your eyes flares and every mission becomes a massacre. You are not tactful you dont act in the shadows, your kicking in doors guns blazing and putting yourself and the rest of us at risk." Domino explained sitting up and looking at him. If it were the opposite she knew he wouldnt give up on her its not in his nature to give up and she in good consciousness couldn't either.

"So you want to be an item for the teams safety?" Bullet asked.

"Yes and No. Think back to the shooting competition, going out to dinner, teaching martial arts to the children at the Dojo, I want to be with you because, the you that escapes on rare occasions is a beautiful person, warm, caring, inviting, as rough as you can be you can be delicate, you made me pine needle tea to help my arms when I hurt them on the training dummy, you got drunk and spilled your story to me and rahne about your family but it wasn't just the alcohol talking, you used your pain to bring the team closer together. You may not see it but I do and I want to help you to keep the grip on your humanity that you are slowly losing. Without something or someone to hold on to you will become a monster, you will slip away to a place that there is no coming back from, look into my eyes you know I am right." Domino argued and took Bullet's hand.

"Your such a romantic you know that?" Bullet joked and Domino smirked at him.

"The choice is yours." Domino said and her smirk faded not knowing which answer he would give.

Bullet pulled her hand holding his and she fell down into his lips, her eyes widened but she returned the kiss deeply. "Is that a good enough answer?" Bullet asked and she kissed him again answering his question. "If we are going to do this then we have to come up with a few stipulations that work the best for the both of us and then weigh the pros and cons and decide whether or not we want to go through with this."

"Dont give me that you have already weighed the pros and cons, you did that the moment I brought it up if not long before. Thats how your mind operates I have known you long enough to know you have mentally picked this apart already." Domino said and Bullet laughed.

"Ok so the stipulations then. We are going to go give and take style. First stipulation, you will not give me a ridiculous pet name." Bullet said.

"Does pookie fit into the ridiculous column?" Domino Joked and earned a glare from Bullet. "Ok fair enough. I want one daily allowance of PDA even if its only in front of the team."

"I will give you that, in return I want-" Bullet began.

"No that was my return for the no pet name." Domino cut in.

"They are hardly on the same level." Bullet responded.

"Your the one who said give and take." Domino replied and Bullet knew he lost.

"Fair enough. Stipulation two, I want oral sex twice a week, three when you are menstruating." Bullet said and laughed at the look on her face.

"Thats not fair, you don't get me off when I am menstruating, stipulation not accepted." Domino said.

"What if I cut that week down from three to once?" Bullet asked.

"Ok if I am going to do that then I want at least an hour of cuddling a night at least once a week until I fall asleep." Domino responded.

"You have never been much for cuddling." Bullet responded.

"That was when it was just sex in an attempt to keep emotions out of it, every woman in a relationship wants to cuddle, its comforting reassuring and for some damn reason you keep it cold in your room." Domino replied.

"That's acceptable." Bullet said and pulled her in close to him, he held her while they sat awake coming up with ridiculous stipulations and laughing and joking as it became a game to see who could come up with the most outrageous one. Domino fell asleep that night wrapped in the arms of a man that avoided sleeping with her for a long time and then spent even longer keeping her at bay emotionally, she fell asleep happy not only that she finally got what she wanted but that she had a chance to improve his emotional state and potentially save the world, she knew that at the rate he was slipping into the darkness that it would only be a matter of time until he lost his mental stability and they couldn't pull this mission of without him.

...

Bullet and Domino awoke to a start to the sound of alarms blaring throughout the Wakandan village. It wasn't even light out and by the placement of the moon in the sky and their geological placement he could tell that it was a little after 4 A.M. regardless of the lack of an alarm clock. The pair jumped out of bed and ran down the hallway where they ran into T'challa pulling on his mask as he headed for the exit.

"T'challa whats going on?" Bullet asked as he and Domino ran behind him.

"Intruders, hostile." T'challa answered.

"This is your territory what actions are we going to take?" Bullet asked.

"This is not your fight, I appreciate your willingness to help but I can not ask for your assistance in this matter." Panther said.

"You didn't ask." Domino said as they stepped out of the castle and ran down the steps toward the village.

"Any idea of who would have the balls to attack you here?" Bullet asked.

"Very few know of Wakanda and even fewer have the capabilities to actually reach Wakanda." He answered and Bullet readied his hand at his pistol. "Unfortunately I have no way of knowing who it is."

"Does it matter who it is?" Domino asked.

"It would give us an advantage to know our enemy." Bullet answered.

"T'challa, its N'jadaka he has come back and he is not alone." One of Wakandas warriors said as he ran from the forest to inform them.

"Impossible. N'jadaka is dead." T'challa replied shocked.

"The eyes do not lie my king." The man said and turned back to face the forest ready for the impending battle.

"Who is N'jadaka?" Bullet asked.

"He now goes by the name Erik Kilmonger, he was once a native here, his parents were murdered and he was taken as a slave as a child. N'jadaka blamed my father for this and has vowed revenge. Years ago we accepted him among us and he tried to take over, he and I battled atop warrior falls, during the battle he went over the falls onto the rocks below." Panther answered.

"Could it be possible that he survived?" Bullet asked.

"There is only one way. The altar of resurrection, I am sorry but I can not say anymore, it is forbidden." T'challa answered.

"Ok is there anything more you can tell me about N'jadaka. His skills, intelligence, strengths, weak-" Bullet began to ask before a spear flew from the jungle and impaled one of the warriors standing guard. "Everyone get to cover." Bullet yelled having not seen who threw the spear and knowing that more could be coming from anywhere. "Domino cover the left flank." Bullet said giving strategic command. "You, cover the right." He then said to an elder battle tested warrior standing next to them. "I will stay here and defend, T'challa take 10 men and fall back to the village and take cover. If any of you get over run we will retreat to T'challa's location, if we should become over run there we will fall back to the castle to make our final stand does everyone understand?" Bullet asked.

"This is not your fight I can not ask you to involve yourselves." T'challa said as he placed his hand on Bullet's shoulder and looked between him and Domino.

"We are already involved just by being here we will help you to see this through." Bullet informed him.

"N'jadaka is here for me, I will not hide, I must face him." T'challa spoke up.

"And you may have the opportunity but it will not be on his terms, we will control this battle instead of letting him do so. He did not challenge you directly, he launched an unseen attack from an unknown location, I am unaware of your customs but that seems more of an act of war or am I wrong?" Bullet asked him just as a large imposing man stepped into view followed by a small army of soldiers whose color seemed a little off. "Go now!" Bullet yelled and everyone decide not to question him as they ran in the direction they were directed to.

"You made a bad decision by coming here." Bullet said as the man walked towards him slowly.

"And you made a bad decision by staying here, judging by your appearance I assume you are not native." N'jadaka said calm and confidently as he stepped over the fallen soldiers body and pulled the spear from his lifeless chest.

"You should have quit the last time you were here, but you don't seem like the type to give up, apparently even in death so asking you to leave peacefully seems fruitless, lets seem if we can find a way to make your death a little more permanent this time." Bullet smiled and placed his pistol in his holster and took a spear from the warrior to his left.

"Kill them all." N'jadaka said and his warriors charged in.

"This is your home, do not let them." Bullet told the squad at his back, as he raised the spear and threw it impaling the skull of one of the charging soldiers causing him to drop. Bullet pulled his pistols again and unloaded two rounds hitting two more warriors, and looked on surprised as they didn't fall. "They are already dead, head shots seem to put them down." Bullet said amazed before T'challas words about the altar of resurrection replayed in his head. Bullet pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Domino's number. The phone raang twice before he got an answer.

"I know, I know, altar of resurrection, head shots only if thats all I am a little busy." Domino said and bullet laughed.

"Be careful." Bullet said and hung up.

"I'm going for N'jadaka, you guys stay back." Bullet commanded as he took off at a full sprint, he reached the squad of undead soldiers and ducked and dodged spear thrusts as he made his way through them. He caught the end of a spear that was swung at him and elbowed it to break the tip off and jam it in the skull of another warrior. Bullet learned quickly that breaking bones desnt hurt them but it does immobilize limbs and joints. He began breaking knees and dislocating shoulders one after another making defending the village that much easier for the others.

"You are very good, but I am better." N'jadaka said after Bullet cleared through the crowd and approached him with nothing more than a few scratches to show for his battle.

"Prove it." Bullet said and placed his combat knife in its sheathe.

"A bare knuckle brawl to the death then?" He asked, Bullet smiled as he removed his holsters and tossed them aside. "Very well."

N'jadaka circled Bullet like a lion stalking its prey looking for a weakness, it didnt take him long to find one he swept forward kicking at bullets knee. Bullet raised his leg blocking N'jadaka's kick with his own leg. N'jadaka smiled and continued circling until he found another weakness. N'jadaka lunged forward and reached for Bullet's left arm and bullet caught his right wrist with his left hand and delivered a backhand slap with his right hand to knock N'jadaka off balance and humiliate him.

"I was told you nearly beat T'challa, maybe you got lazy in death and forgot your training." Bullet smirked.

"You are smarter than it would appear at first glance, you are clearly aware I was merely testing you, you have no chance at winning, let me pass peacefully and I will let you live." N'jadaka said and Bullet could see the hesitation in his eyes, N'jadaka knows if he is forced to fight he could very well lose. Bullet smiled and stepped aside.

"You have no intention of letting me pass do you?" N'jadaka asked having seen the look in Bullet's eyes.

"No." Bullet said stepping back in front of him again. "Shall we get started?" Bullet swung a hard left N'jadaka ducked and Bullet kneed him the chest sending him reeling back. "No more tests, if you continue to waste my time I will kill you where you stand, face the odds no matter how stacked against you they are."

N'jadaka smiled and rushed forward with an incredible pace which caught Bullet off guard. N'jadaka delivered a flurry of punches landing with two before Bullet could raise his guard to block. N'jadaka placed his right foot forward between bullets legs and behind his left before shoving him with his shoulder causing Bullet to fall. Bullet hit the ground with a thud, he looked up to see N'jadaka's large foot speeding towards his chest, Bullet rolled to the side and began getting to his feet when N'jadaka kneed him in the chest driving the air from his lungs and causing him to hit the ground again.

"This is a waste, I told you that you stand no chance." N'jadaka said and decided killing Bullet wouldnt be worth it but instead turned and headed toward the village.

Bullet got to his feet a few moments later catching his breath and decided to rejoin the battle against the undead warriors.

Bullet joined the fight taking out warrior after warrior as the soldiers around him. Bullet began noticing the Wakandan warriors slowly but surely falling around him.

"Retreat to secondary position!" Bullet yelled and the warriors began fighting their way back as the zombies warriors kept advancing.

They made it to the village center and Bullet noticed that Domino and the other squad had already retreated long ago.

"Glad your here we could use your help." Domino said as Bullets squad rejoined them.

"We have been taking them out seven to one, we are outnumbered far more than that." Bullet informed them. "fall back to the castle we will retreat up the steps and take advantage with the high ground." Bullet said and they began back pedaling toward T'challa's castle.

Bullet heard some scuffling off to the left and saw Panther fighting N'jadaka. T'challa began getting the better of him and N'jadaka broke loose and ran into the forest, T'challa took off running after him.

"No no no shit" Bullet cursed to himself.

"What's the problem?" Domino asked as she unloaded a round into an advancing warrior.

"I told him to face N'jadaka on his own terms. Can you handle this?" Bullet asked her.

"Sure, once we take the high ground but I am running low on Ammo." Domino informed him.

"Take these." Bullet said handing her his pistols and two extra mags.

"What about you?" Domino asked as she unloaded the last of her ammo and took his pistols.

"I'm going to save T'challa." Bullet said as he grabbed the closest dead warrior and snapped its neck paralyzing it but not killing it.

Bullet ran off toward the forest where T'challa followed N'jadaka into the forest. Bullet ran through at full speed unaware of where he was going until he heard the rushing water and he remembered the story about N'jadaka going over the warrior falls. Bullet ran up the mountain following the sound of the running water until the trees opened up. He looked around until he saw Panther and N'jadaka fighting among rocks near the edge of the fall. N'jadaka dodged a swipe from panthers claws and grabbed his arm. He spun him around, kicked in the back of his knee and grabbed both sides of his head.

"Today you meet your end, today I get my revenge." N'jadaka said into T'challa's ear.

"Do it and I put a knife in the back of your head, from this distance I cant miss!" Bullet yelled over the sound of the rushing water.

"You again." N'jadaka said as he turned after delivering a blow to T'challas head rendering him unconscious. He left Panthes limp body on the rocks and approached Bullet. "Didnt I beat you once, This time I wont leave you alive."

"You are not as good as you thought." Bullet said and tossed his knife aside as N'jadaka approached him. "Shall we pick up where we left off?" Bullet asked and removed his shirt and boots revealing he had no other weapons.

N'jadaka ran forward up the bank and baseball slid at Bullet's feet. Bullet flipped backward and landed on N'jadaka's thigh.

"Your predictable." Bullet said and stepped back.

"I also have a high tolerance for pain, symptom of having died already." N'jadaka said as he got back to his feet without so much as a limp.

"I noticed that earlier along with your speed and strength, turns out I was not the only one being tested, you honestly didnt think you could have beaten me that easily did you?" Bullet asked and began circling N'jadaka as he was circled during their first fight.

Bullet threw a punch N'jadaka caught his punch and began squeezing Bullet's fist. Bullet yanked his fist back pulling N'jadaka into a headbutt. N'jadaka's head snapped back and bullet hit him in his throat with his left hand partially collapsing his windpipe. N'jadaka gasped for air and fell backward. Bullet delivered a front kick to N'jadaka's chest knocking him onto his back. Bullet walked to the left where he tossed his knife and picked it up. He walked back toward N'jadaka and kneeled on his right shoulder. N'jadaka swung a left hand which Bullet caught easily. Bullet placed N'jadakas hand on his own chest and drove the knife clear through it and into his chest before pulling it out causing N'jadaka to scream in pain.

"So much for the high tolerance, seeing as how you have nothing I need why dont we end the torture hmm?" Bullet asked and placed the blade of the knife at N'jadaka's neck.

"Jason no!" T'challa said weakly as he got to his feet slowly. "We do not assassinate war criminals."

"If you let him live he will just make another attempt on your life." Bullet said without pulling the blade away.

"That would be difficult from a Wakandan prison." Panther replied as he placed his Hand on Bullet's shoulder.

"He is smart, strong, fast, and manipulative, can you be sure your prison can hold him?" Bullet asked.

"Can we ever be sure of anything?" T'challa asked.

"Your right, he dies." Bullet said.

T'challa grabbed his arm quickly and pulled it back creating distance between the blade and N'jadaka's neck.

"This is your decision T'challa just know that it may mean your life." Bullet said and released the blade causing it to clatter to the ground.

"I accept the risk, he will remain a prisoner." T'challa said and Bullet stood to his feet.

Bullet's cell phone rang and he answered it after turning away from his downed foe. "Bullet, we suffered heavy casualties but we are victorious." Domino said.

"Its over T'challa." Bullet said after hanging up the phone.

"It's never over Jason as long as Wakanda stands so will its enemies."


	11. Chapter 11

"Do we have to go back so soon? I was just starting to have fun." Domino said as she sat in the co-pilot seat headed back to the states.

"I told Logan we would only be a week." Bullet answered as he set the auto-pilot and sat back. "How is your arm?"

"Just a flesh wound, its a little tender but you did a great job with the stitching." Domino answered as she pulled up her sleeve and looked at the wound. "That scar will be one hell of a story. This was just what I needed thank you."

"Drug cartels are always fun and you never feel bad about it, I'm glad you chose Columbia after we left Africa." Bullet replied.

"The money doesn't hurt either." Domino said and looked back to the cargo hold where a pallet loaded with drug money sat.

"Most of that is going to charity, don't forget that." Bullet reminded her.

"I know I know but what charity?" She huffed out the question defeatedly.

"Whatever makes you sleep the best at night." Bullet answered.

"What do you think the team has been up to all week?" Domino asked as she got out of her seat and climbed into bullet's lap.

"They have no doubt been sleeping in, but working hard once they wake up, Logan isnt the earliest bird but he wouldn't let them slack off. Bullet responded as he wrapped his arms around Domino and pulled her into his chest.

"What do you say we slow this thing down and join the mile high club?" Domino asked and gave bullet a sexy smile.

Bullet slowed the jet and lifted Domino off his lap before unbuttoning his pants.

* * *

"It feels good to be home doesn't it?" Bullet asked as they walked in the front door.

"It kind of does." Domino replied as Bullet walked in the front door.

The pair were soon greeted by their team and even their new mascot Crixus. Logan lifted his beer and nodded to them and that was more of a greeting than Bullet expected from his fellow team leader. Bullet said hello to everyone and walked to his room to unpack. He walked back down stairs and out to his ruck to grab more of his bags and his two new katanas.

"New hardware?" Logan asked noticing the swords.

"Yea check it out." Bullet said and unsheathed on before tossing to Logan.

Logan caught the blade and whistled at the craftsmanship and ran his thumb along the razor sharp blade slicing his thumb open which healed as quickly as it was cut. He tossed the blade back to Bullet who had set his bags on the floor.

"Then she said no I said I'm a thespian. Get it, get it." A familiar voice finished a joke as two men appeared in the middle of the entertainment room. Bullet unsheathed his second sword and ran forward swinging the sword at the smaller of the two men's neck and thrusting the second blade at the larger mans gut stopping a mere inch from each.

"Who the hell are you?" Bullet asked before either of the two could react.

"Bullet, you don't remember me? I'm hurt." Wade said and began reaching for the pistol at his side.

"Do it and I will separate your head and lock it in my gun safe." Bullet said before turning to the larger man. "I will not ask again who are you?" Bullet asked for the last time.

"Bullet lower your swords." Domino demanded as she ran down the stairs having heard the commotion.

"They appeared out of nowhere, this one is crazy and I can only imagine his company is the same I will not lower my blades until I get some answers." Bullet shot back an inched his blades closer until he broke skin on deadpool's neck and the other man's gut.

"His name is Cable, he is not crazy." Domino said and approached but knew better than to try to stop Bullet physically. "Him yes your right, you should keep your sword on him." She then gestured to domino.

"Seriously writer, you are seriously not going to make him lower the sword?" Deadpool asked staring off at the wall.

"So Cable what are you doing here, did this one enlist you in his revenge plot?" Bullet asked and pressed a little harder though the man showed no sign of being in pain.

"No I actually came to speak to you, Wade would not leave me alone until I brought him along, he has a way of being very annoying until he gets his way." The man answered and Bullet smirked knowing all too well that the man was right about that.

"I am hurt that you think I would seek revenge, I don't kill for revenge just for money, ohh or chimi chongas I would definitely kill you for some chimi chongas." Wade said and Bullet sliced his throat before removing the blade and watched as the blood sprayed from Wade's neck. The wound healed and the bleeding stopped before Wade could speak. "That really hurt what was that for? Do you have chimi chongas?"

"Anything to shut you up even if its only for a second." Bullet answered and wiped the blood off on Cable's shirt before walking away. "Now tell me where you came from and what you came for or you will never make it back."

"Why don't you tell him Wolverine, it will be more believable coming from you." Cable said and looked to Logan who sat on the couch drinking a beer during everything.

"You know this man Logan?" Bullet asked.

"His name's Cable, he's a time traveler, comes back to make changes from time to time." Logan shrugged.

"Time traveler, you expect me to believe that?" Bullet asked turning back to the man.

"Is it really that hard to believe, it is you after all who invents the technology." Cable said and Bullet looked on with a straight face.

"Ok, you have peaked my interest, you have five minutes, start talking." Bullet said and sheathed his swords.

"What you are doing, the mission, you can not continue the way you are going." Cable said and Bullet laughed.

"I am not stopping." Bullet informed him.

"I am not asking you too, you can not sit back and do nothing either. You just need another approach, this ask no questions kill everything that moves attitude cant continue, you have to be smart." The man said and bullet scoffed.

"And why is that?" Bullet asked.

"Because it gets you killed." Cable said and the jaw of everyone standing around listening dropped except for Bullet's.

"Why should I believe you?" Bullet asked him unsure of what the man told him.

"Because things get a lot worse after your death." He said and stood in the exact same spot he appeared in as wade walked to the fridge and grabbed one of Logan's beers before an empty bottle flew across the room and smashed against his skull.

"Owww what was that for?" Wade asked as the wound from the glass in his head healed.

"Put it back." Logan warned.

"Back to the topic at hand, who kills me?" Bullet asked turning back to Cable choosing to ignore the other situation.

"You do." Cable said and everyone around gasped, they knew Bullet was having a hard time but also knew he was doing better with his grieving.

"So that means I accomplish my mission?" Bullet asked knowing that was what he planned to do after avenging the deaths of his family. "I finally make it back to them?"

"Yes you make it back to your family, and also the rest of your team." Cable informs him.

"What do you mean he makes it back to the rest of his team?" Rahne interrupted before Bullet could ask the same question.

"All of you except for Logan and Bullet will perish, but you can all take comfort in the fact that Bullet avenges your deaths, after causing your deaths of course." Cable answered her and looked to Bullet with a thousand yard stare in his eyes.

"I think its time for you to go if you want to make it back to your terrible future, I will look after my team. Have you considered the fact that no matter what you do your future will be a wreck, sure you can make small changes, save certain individuals but the outcome stays more or less the same, your tossing pebbles into the ocean, let that sink in on your way back and then fix things in the present instead of trying to fix them in the past. Goodbye Cable." Bullet said and turned his back on the man.

"I will go but before I do I will leave you with one piece of advice, you should check out Illinois." He said and grabbed wade before pushing a button on his wrist and disappeared again.

"Logan I take it this man wouldn't have come back here to lie to us right?" Bullet asked him.

"Wouldnt make much sense would it." He stated.

"I guess not I need some air." Bullet said and walked toward the door.

"I dont think so, your not leaving me to clean up this mess." He said as the rest of the team began asking him question after question.

"I will answer any questions you have when I get back, please do not turn to Logan with your inquiries. There better?" Bullet asked as he opened the door.

"Where are you going?" Domino asked.

"Out."

* * *

"Has Bullet come back yet?" Domino asked as she walked down the stairs from her bedroom noticing Logan sitting at the bar with a beer.

"No." Logan said and took a swig of the cold brew.

"Its almost midnight, we should look for him." Domino said as thunder boomed followed by lightning illuminating the room through the windows.

"How do you plan on finding him?" Logan asked.

"You can track him." Domino suggested.

"Not in that storm, it wasnt raining when he left, there are no boot prints no scent trail to follow, people tend to go to the same places, do you have any idea where he might have gone?" Logan asked.

"I can think of a few places." Domino answered him.

"Good luck." Logan said and got up from the bar. "I'm going to bed."

"Your not coming?" She asked.

"He's a grown man not a lost puppy he will come back." Logan said and continued walking.

"What about you?" Domino asked turning to Crixus as he laid on the sofa with his head toward the front door waiting for Bullet to walk in. Crixus lifted his head as Domino walked toward his bedroom to get his spare truck key and then back down the stairs.

Domino ran through the rain and opened to door to Bullets truck, Crixus jumped in and climbed to the passenger seat. Domino climbed in and brushed her already soaked hair out of her face. She started the truck and backed down the long driveway. She drove up the mountain to the clearing he had taken her to when she hurt her wrist and he made her a sling and tea that he lied and said would help with the pain but instead made her tired so she could rest. There was no sign of him there so she continued driving further up the mountain. She racked her brain trying to think of where he may be just then Crixus began barking and looking out of the passenger side window.

"Is he that way?" Domino asked and pulled the truck to the side of the road and shut the engine off. They had to trek the rest of the way on foot, the clearing is not wide enough for the truck. Domino sighed and opened the door. Crixus jumped over her and took off into the forest. Domino jumped out slammed the door and took off after him. After running for roughly a mile she came to a clearing and noticed Crixus sitting in the mud as Bullet scratched behind his ear.

"Bullet you have to be freezing, you know its raining right." Domino asked as she was cold and had only been in the rain for minutes and not hours.

"I'm fine." Bullet said in his regular tone of voice as if the weather had no effect on him at all.

"You just left us after that bomb was dropped and then didn't even bother to come back." Domino said with anger becoming more and more evident in her voice.

"What do you want me to say?" Bullet asked and didn't even bother to face her.

"That you don't plan on getting the team killed, if there is even a team left after that news and what is this about you killing yourself after everything?" Domino asked and took a seat on the log that bullet was sitting on.

"Of course I dont plan on getting you killed but you all knew the risk when you signed up." Bullet stated firmly.

"Is that why you kill yourself? I dont think its just to rejoin your family or you never would have agreed to make things official between us." Domino stated and Bullet merely shrugged. "Are you going to talk to me?" She then asked.

"I don't have the answers you want. Perhaps you should go back I will be back sooner or later." Bullet told her.

"Quit being a pussy, get your ass back to the Aerie, get some rest and clear things up with your team. Cable informed us that we all die so that we are prepared, the future is never set in stone we can change things, we don't have to die but we need you to keep us together Bullet, without you this team will fall apart. It is you who keeps us from killing each other, Logan is great but he is not the glue to keep everyone together that's you. Now I am not giving you an option get the hell up." Domino demanded and threw an elbow knocking Bullet back off the log and expelling the air from his lungs. "If you are going to tear this team apart to tear us apart then don't wait for it to happen just do it. The team deserves better than that, they have been risking everything fighting beside you and you just leave them wondering where we are going to go from here, they look to you for answers and you will get your ass back and supply them with the answers they need."

Bullet looked at her from the ground and then laid his head back into the mud and let her words sink in. "Your right." Bullet then said as he sat up and the slowly got to his feet. He walked slowly back in the direction Domino had come from. Crixus walked beside him occasionally shaking off all though it did no good as they rain kept falling. They reached the truck and Bullet climbed into the passenger side having said nothing the whole walk.

After a silent drive back down the mountain they reached the Aerie and walked inside. Thankfully for Bullet everyone else seemed to be asleep giving him time to figure out what he would say to them. He walked to his room and got a shower washing the mud off of him under the hot water. He walked back out to find Domino in his room her hair still damp from the rain.

"I cant believe that the strongest man I know can be such a baby." She said and Bullet sighed deeply as he dried his hair.

"Not now Dom." Bullet said and climbed into bed after discarding the towel.

"When?" She asked angrily standing at the edge of the bed.

"Does never sound good?" Bullet asked hypothetically.

"Thats your problem, you never talk about the things that bother you and then one of two things happen, either you blow up and do something stupid out of anger and wind up risking your life to along with a bunch of others or you shut down and enter a depressed state, would it be possible for you to accept that you got some bad news and figure out a rational way to deal with it for once?" She ranted and Bullet closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair out of frustration.

"I just found out everyone in this house apart from Logan will die because of me and you expect me to just accept that? Why are you accepting this? If you were smart you would get as far away from me as possible, everyone who gets close to me dies, cant you see that I am poison, a parasite leeching what I need from those around me without regard to how it will affect them." Bullet stated. "I dont want to lose anyone else, maybe we should disband the team."

"And then what?" Domino asked wondering where he was going with this.

"I finish this myself, you heard Cable I accomplish this mission in the end and avenge my family's death." Bullet answered.

"I cant speak for the others but I am with you in this and I will not let you do this without me, the future is not set and I refuse to accept that my life ends at the hands of a purifier we haven't faced one yet with the capability to kill me." Domino informed him.

"I cant lose you Dom, I cant go through that again." Bullet said and his features dropped from neutral and emotionless to sullen.

"I'm not going anywhere, that's what I am trying to tell you." She said as she stripped down and climbed into bed with him.

"Just because you say it doesn't mean it wont happen." Bullet said and laid back again.

"Im with you in this until this mission is over, I will see the end of it. I will not discuss this further, I am going to bed, its exhausting putting up with your shit." She said and laid her head back on her pillow.

"Dom?" Bullet asked as he turned to face her.

"Hmm?" She asked him.

"Thanks." Bullet said.

"For?" She asked turning over to look at him.

"For not biting our tongue, for telling me what needed to be said. For not leaving me to sleep alone tonight." Bullet said and kissed her forehead.

"Your bed is more comfortable than mine." She joked and curled up next to him resting her head onto his chest.


	12. Chapter 12

Bullet awoke the next morning knowing he would have a lot of questions to answer for his team. He groaned through the want to stay in bed and got up. He slapped Domino on her ass waking her up before heading down to make breakfast for the team before they wake up. He headed downstairs and began preparing everything when Laura made her way down the stairs.

"Where did you head off to yesterday?" She asked as she sat down in a seat at the dining room table.

"Needed some air, we will discuss it when everyone else wakes up, shouldn't be long." Bullet said as his ears picked up the sound of a shower running and others up and moving around.

" I want to thank all of you for still being here." Bullet said once the team gathered.

"Don't look at me I survive." Logan said and bullet just shook his head.

"Don't thank us all, I'm not planning on staying." Warpath said and stood from his seat.

"I wont blame you for leaving but please hear me out. You all have every reason to leave but you don't have to die. Cable was right, I have gone in to every battle headstrong, shooting first and leaving none alive to ask questions later at the expense off all of you. No more will I put my thirst for vengeance ahead of the rest of the team, no more will I allow us to head in with poor plans and strategy that we escape from unscathed due to pure luck even if luck is on our side. No more will we go on mission after mission until something worthwhile falls into our lap because I am to antsy to do the proper research. If you stay we will attack this differently than ever before we will be prepared and we will succeed I can not guarantee that all of you will survive but I can guarantee that should you fall it will not be in vain. Now the future is never certain, if it were Cable wouldn't have come back to deliver his warning. I will not blame you if you leave but every last one of you is still here, that tells me that you have faith, not just in me but in us, in yourselves. I have one last thing to show you before you decide to leave. You all have heard the stories of mutants going crazy, walking into public and suicide bombing civilians right?" Bullet asked of his team.

"Yes but those are all just rumors right? There has been no proof with everyone carrying a camera in their pocket it would have been caught on film." Rahne said.

"No videos have surfaced because I have been monitoring these instances and removing the videos before anyone can post them." Bullet informed them before gesturing for his team to follow to the entertainment room where he turned on the television, he pressed a button on his phone and a video began to play on the television screen.

The team's gaze never once strayed from the screen where a young boy in his late teens walked into a busy intersection where he began to glow a bright yellow, people began to scream and scatter in an attempt to get away from the mutant. Suddenly in a bright flash a full square block was destroyed, dozens of bodies littered the pavement and the only noise to be heard was no longer people screaming but car alarms from the distance that the explosion set off.

"This is one of 5 separate suicide bombing events that happened the exact same way. The situations were way to similar to be coincidences so I looked into it, and these are not situations of mutants acting in fear or anger. The airborne pathogen that killed the inhabitants of mutantville is the cause of this or a variation of the same anyway. This is modified to not instantly kill mutants but to overload their powers making them lose control to the point that it kills them and others in an attempt to make it look as if mutants are acting out after mutantville. I was never able to connect the dots but I believe Chicago may hold some answers. Now you have seen what we are up against and exactly why we need to stop it. Things are only going to progress until something is done and I need you with me, all of you. After all I can only keep this covered up for so long, humans will not stand for this and its only a matter of time before they figure out what is happening or at least what it seems like is happening and they retaliate." Bullet said and looked to warpath.

"You had me at suicide bombings." Warpath said and grinned.

"When do we leave?" Laura asked rubbing her knuckles itching to let her claws loose.

"Patience Laura, remember being headstrong is what gets all of you killed. We will train and prepare and go to Chicago fully aware and prepared to face whatever it is we are up against." For now if you need to let some frustration out I could use a sparring partner." Bullet said and smirked as he put his hands on the hilt of his combat knife.

* * *

**Chicago**

"Is everyone clear on the plan?" Bullet asked as he lowered the ramp to the blackbird.

"We try not fall to our deaths." Wolverine said looking a little pale as he looked out over the city.

"Yes but not exactly what I meant." Bullet remarked.

"Colossus, plays defense for Wolfsbane while she and I capture any high ranking members we can, Wolverine, and Warpath take out the remaining soldiers and you help them while gathering any intel you can, Domino will call out enemy locations formations and provide suppressive fire. If we encounter any situation that poses any real threat we call for back-up immediately and don't take any unnecessary risks." Laura answered and bullet nodded before jumping out of the jet.

"Your sure you upgraded this jet to be able to land itself?" Warpaths asked over the com as he jumped out after Bullet.

"Yea three blocks from here, top of an above ground parking garage." Bullet said as he pulled his chute and everyone else followed suit.

The team drifted down silently under the night sky until they landed on the roof of the compound hidden in plain sight in the city.

"How do we get in from here?" Colossus asked.

"With this." Bullet said and pulled a canister from a bag on his back. "Its called thermite, we are going to melt a hole in the ceiling dropping rebar reinforced concrete and steel on anyone unlucky enough to be walking underneath of it, then we are going to jump through the same hole giving us the element of surprise." Bullet said and began spreading the powder in a large circle.

Bullet began spreading the thermite heavily in a large circle. Once he was satisfied he had enough he informed the team to stand back and he lit the thermite. A bright flash burned bright and hot enough to melt clear through the roof of the building until a large circular slab of reinforced concrete fell down into the building. Sounds of confused shouts from purifiers within began to ring out and Bullet pulled the pistols from his holsters before leaping into the entrance firing shot after shot dropping 8 bodies before he even hit the ground. He immediately began scanning his surroundings looking for the place to begin his search, after all it was Cable who recommended Chicago and it had to be for a reason.

"Wolfsbahne, Colossus, and X-23 head to the north end of the building, a small squadron is heading that way, find out what they are protecting. Wolverine take the second level mezzanine, Warpath you keep this level I will help to cover you. Bullet it looks like there is a security blast door at the south end you should be able to get through it, there is a reason its protected find out what is behind it. Everyone remember, keep in radio contact at all times." Domino called out and everyone began heading off for their jobs.

Colossus, Rahne and Laura ran up a ramp leading toward a cafeteria. three men rounded a corner and Laura growled and leapt through the air her claws extended, Colossus armored up and jumped in front of rahne as a volley of bullets headed in their direction. Rahne took on her wolf form, darted around Colossus and leapt for another guard grabbing his throat in her teeth and ending his life. Colossus grabbed the third and slammed his head into the concrete wall with a sickening crack.

Wolverine ran up the stairs to the second level his claws unsheathed. He didn't bother to avoid the gunfire instead let them hit him and used the pain to fuel the animal inside him. He grabbed a soldier on the stairs and tossed him over the side and continued upward quickly dispatching any purifier unlucky enough to cross his path.

Domino ricocheted a bullet off of a cross beam and took out a purifier hiding behind a large steel testing chamber as Warpath threw one clear across the building and into a wall.

"How is everything going? I am hearing a lot of gunfire?" Bullet asked over the radio.

"Nothing we cant handle." Laura said.

"You know me, best at what I do." Wolverine answered.

"Everything is good on our end. How is that door coming along?" Domino asked.

"Rewiring the security panel so that I can reset the biometric palm scanner, one minute tops." Bullet responded. "Remember if anyone calls a code red we drop what we are doing and head in that direction."

Bullet pulled the cover panel and began searching for the wires before cutting them and then retwisting the yellow ones together. He touched the blue ones together and the door slid open. Bullet walked in and looked around at a bunch of empty containment cells and two that weren't empty.

"Who are you? You shouldn't be here, he will kill you." A woman with long purple hair said as she stood up in her cell, her hair a mess a wearing what almost looked to be a prison issue jumpsuit.

"Call me bullet, and I can handle myself, today is your lucky day. I am going to get you out of here." Bullet said and walked to the security computer in the corner of the room. He deactivated the containment cells and immediately felt the familiar feeling of a telepath attempting to enter his mind.

"Ahhh?" The woman screamed and fell to her knees clutching her head.

"I understand you are weary of me but I am a friend here, my mind is to advanced for telepaths, here let me help you." Bullet said and extended her his hand.

"She's right you know, he will kill you." A man seeming to be in his mid twenties with a gold colored skin said as he stepped out of his cell.

"Who are you?" Bullet asked him. "And who is he?"

"My name is Josh, Josh Foley. All I know about him is that they call him Bastion." He answered.

"Code red. We found what the guards were running for." Laura yelled over the sound of blasts firing.

"I have to go follow me I have a friend who will provide cover fire until you can get out safely." Bullet instructed them. "Domino, I have two escapees that need a clear path out of here."

"I have them, get to Laura." She said and Bullet took off running as fast as he could.

He covered the main factory firing shots and dispatching of the few remaining purifiers, he headed up the ramp toward the north entrance following behind Warpath and Wolverine. They entered the north wing of the building and Bullet saw an older man in all black and red his eyes lighting up, preparing to fire a blast. Bullet holstered his pistols and pulled his katanas from their sheaths. He dove in front of the blasts and deflected them with the vibranium blades.

"I was wondering how long it would take until you found me. I must say it took you much longer than I thought it would, I am rather disappointed. Not that it wasn't expected after all your intelligence pales in comparison to my own." Bastion said and stood up straight crossing his arms behind his back.

"I take it you are in charge here?" Bullet asked him. "And not entirely Human, judging by your attempts to rid the world of mutants I say a form of sentinel."

"You are correct, lay down your weapons and your team will die quickly. You on the other hand will suffer, your mind is much to valuable to waste." Bastion answered.

"We will see if you feel the same in pieces bub." Wolverine growled as he launched forward and began slicing at Bastion.

Bullet jumped in and began slicing at him but the pair met nothing but air. Laura rejoined the fight followed by Colossus and Warpath while Rahne stalked from the outside waiting to leap. Laura ejected the blade from her foot a launched a kick. Bastion grabbed her foot and threw her at Colossus, he dodged a punch from Warpath and kicked him in the ribs, Bullet attempted to stab him, ad he grabbed bullets wrist and redirected the blade making him impale Wolverine before punching bullet sending him flying and throwing an elbow back into wolverine sending him reeling as well.

"Give it up you have same odds of winning the lottery as you do defeating me." Bastion said and bullet got to his feet rubbing his jaw where he was just punched.

"People win the lottery all the time." Bullet smirked and picked his swords up. "I have destroyed plenty of sentinels and killed plenty of humans, its only a matter of time until I find your weakness."

Bullet launched another attack slicing high with one sword and low with another. Bastion flipped back and fired a blast, Bullet side stepped and flipped forward and lunged downward driving a blade into Bastion's collar bone. Bastion delivered a front kick and bullet flew back. Bastion pulled the sword out and tossed it aside.

"Nanites they are a wonderful thing." Bastion said as the wound healed. "As far as the weakness goes, I am afraid you wont find one."

Rahne leapt from behind bastion and sunk her teeth into the back of his neck. Bastion grabbed her and threw her against the wall.

"No!" Bullet yelled as Bastion hands lit up purple and fired a blast that hit Rahne in the chest as she lay on the ground.

"Well it seems we must cut this short. I am needed elsewhere. We will meet again and on that day you will draw your last breath." Bastion said and lifted off of the ground and flew off without another word.

Bullet pulled his pistols and ran after Bastion emptying his clips as he ran.

"Bullet get back here, Rahne needs you." Colossus said and Bullet stopped in his tracks, he could either follow bastion or get back to his team.

"Ahhh!" Bullet yelled angrily as he turned back and ran back to Rahne. "Domino get to our location, Rahne is hurt and you are the only other person with basic field medical training."

Rahne reverted to her normal form, her bare chest bruised, her breathing heavy and she winced at the pain from every breath she drew.

"How bad is it?" Domino asked over the radio.

"Three broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, collapsed lung and internal bleeding." Bullet answered her.

"The collapsed lung and internal bleeding are going to be a problem but can be explained where is the nearest hospital?" Domino asked.

"I can help." Bullet heard josh say over Domino's transmission.

"Who is that?" Bullet asked.

"Golden boy?" Domino answered.

"I'm a healer, its my mutation." He informed Domino.

"Get him here now." Bullet demanded.

Bullet popped Rahne's shoulder back into place while he was waiting for Domino to show up. She screamed in pain and Bullet heard footsteps approaching them.

"How do I know you are who you say you are?" Bullet asked Josh as he stood up and drew his sword placing it to his neck.

"Give me your hand." Josh said and Bullet hesitantly handed him his free hand.

Josh grabbed bullets hand and it soon began to glow, the pain in Bullets Jaw where he got punched faded quickly and Bullet withdrew his sword. He stepped aside and Josh ran to Rahne's side, he knealt down and placed his hands on her chest.

"Does anyone have a knife?" Josh asked and he was quickly handed blades from Bullet, Warpath, and Domino. "I can put a stop to the internal bleeding but what's in there will still need a way out."

Josh cut into Rahnes side where the blood was pooling beneath her skin causing her to scream in pain. The blood began to quickly spill out and Josh dropped the knife and placed his hands on Rahne, they began to glow again and Rahne screamed again as her broken ribs healed her bruises returned to their normal color and her bleeding stopped as the incision that Josh made healed.

"Alright, who has Rahne's change of clothes?" Bullet asked as Rahne sat up and covered herself up.

"Right here." Domino answered and pulled a set of clothes from her pack and handed them to Rahne as everyone turned to let her get dressed.

"Thank you, but you could have been out of here by now, why did you stay to help?" Bullet asked Josh after pulling him aside.

"It was the least I could do after you freed me. Thank you for that by the way." He said and extended his hand.

"Don't mention it. Listen, Bastion is still on the loose and I'm afraid you wont be safe, he will come back for you, I would if I were him anyway, you know too much, you cant be allowed to live. However I can keep you safe and we could use a healer, we aren't in the most safe line of work as you can see." Bullet said and Josh stopped and thought.

"Your right, I can't exactly pull of the human look either, if you have room for me I could offer my services for asylum." He said and Bullet took his hand and shook it.

"What about me?" The purple haired woman said.

"I don't have problems getting the information I need. I can set you up with another identity and a new life but I'm afraid I don't have need for a telepath." Bullet informed her.

"What about a soldier." She said and formed and psi blade in her hand and took a fighting stance.

Bullet pulled his own Katana and swung it at her, she raised her own blade and stopped the vibranium in its tracks.

"Your a little slow but you have basic training, your in. What's your name?" Bullet said and sheathed his blade.

"Betsy Braddock, call me Psylocke." She said and dropped her psi blade.

"We have to go the police will be here soon, we will have to split up leaving here the whole group of us will be too obvious, everyone remember the jet is at the top of the parking garage three blocks north of here. Josh, you will follow me. Betsy go with Domino" Bullet said and everyone headed for the exit.

"So where is your safe house? Underground somewhere, someplace highly secret?" Josh asked.

"Colorado, in the mountains, hope you like the cold." Bullet answered and pulled Josh into an alleyway as a police car sped down the road toward the building they just left.


	13. Chapter 13

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**

"So these nanites, how do we bypass them?" Domino asked as Bullet sat at his laptop going over all of the data he was able to find about Bastion and the nanites that healed him after bullet had stabbed him.

"I honestly have no idea. His healing seemed to be as fast as Logan's and he seems to feel very little to no pain probably having to do with him being more sentinel than man, so I cant even count on him to make mistakes from he pain causing him to not think straight. As fast as they are able to replicate and self repair it would take something able to destroy all of them nearly at once and even when I find that I need a delivery method to introduce it into Bastion. I'm lost but I believe I know a way to figure it out." Bullet answered.

"And what is that?" Domino asked and Bullet turned the laptop toward her.

'Stark industries pioneering the way into nano technology.' A headline of a Scientific America article read on the screen.

"Do you really think he is going to help? Stark hates you or did you forget that?" Domino asked and Bullet smirked.

"No I haven't forgot, which is why I am going to take a different tact in dealing with Tony." Bullet answered her.

"And might I ask what this different tact is?" She asked and Bullet closed his laptop.

"I am going to ask nicely."

* * *

**Manhattan**  
**New York**

"You better have a damn good reason for being here!" Tony yelled angrily after flying down into an hole that opened in his ceiling wearing his Mark VII armor.

"Calm down Tony, I am not here to cause you any harm, or grief or anything else negative for that matter." Bullet said and stood up from the Sofa on the top floor of Stark tower.

"You have caused me nothing but harm and grief since I have known you." Stark said and withdrew the faceplate of his suit.

"Your right, but you have improved your tech because of weaknesses I have pointed out, you should be thanking me." Bullet said and approached him with his hands in plain sight.

"Your right thank you for shooting me, the rehab on my leg was practically a vacation in Italy. Now if you don't mind me asking, Why are you here?" Tony asked and walked to his bar.

"Are you going to be a good host this isn't exactly easy for me." Bullet said.

Tony sighed and pulled out a second glass before pouring two glasses of scotch. "Here." Tony said and handed Bullet a glass. "Now what is it that's not easy for you?"

"I need your help." Bullet remarked and Tony choked on the swig he just took.

"Pardon? I think I must have heard wrong." Tony said after recovering.

"You heard right, Nanites, what do they mean to you?" Bullet asked.

"They don't exist, at least not yet. Nano technology is decades ahead of what anyone on the planet is currently able to comprehend on a realistic scale much less to actually produce." Tony answered.

"You are a much better liar than that Tony, that is the same speech you used when the government was attempting to commandeer your iron man technology." Bullet said and finished his drink setting the glass back down on the bar.

"Ah, you got me. So why not just hack my systems and steal my tech like in the past?" Tony asked and Bullet shook his head.

"Tony, Tony, Tony, I have never stolen your tech. Stolen would imply that I never returned it. I borrowed your tech without permission, huge difference. Besides you put extra security measures in place after the last time I hacked your systems, Isn't that right Jarvis?" Bullet asked.

"Yes Mr. Bullet." Jarvis said and Bullet smirked.

"You tapped into Jarvis and reconfigured him to call you Mr. Bullet, what else did you do while in my system?" Tony asked getting annoyed.

"Other than discover that you barred and secured the back doors I had in place and triple encrypted any other access point. I discovered that it would take me weeks to access your system from an outside point and days from inside here, the problem is that I don't have that time, so back to the topic at hand, nanites?" Bullet asked again.

"Well back to the topic at hand what makes you think I would help you?" Tony asked.

"Because the one thing you hate more than me is people stealing your tech. My team recently went toe to toe with a Sentinel/human hybrid that used Nanites to self heal, Between his strength, speed, senses, abilities, and being able to self heal, he made my team of super powered trained killers look like a bunch of children playing in a sandbox, I need to know how to stop him." Bullet said and Tony's armor began to peel off piece by piece and return to a plate and the wall that slid back to reveal a hidden storage location. "I see your warming up to me."

"Lets just say that I believe you. I found faint traces of someone playing around in my systems 6 months ago after I began developing the nanites, at first I thought it was you, turns out I may have been wrong, and besides if you were going to try and kill me you would have done it by now." Tony said and took a seat on his sofa and pulled out his cell phone before pulling up holographic images of the nanites, their blueprints and designs. "They only have one weakness, it will not be easy but if you were to-" Tony Began.

"Deliver an extremely high direct current directly into the blood stream of the host then I would be able to short circuit the nanites all simultaneously. 750,000 volts if these designs are accurate." Bullet said after looking at the diagrams.

"Yes but you need a continuous current that would last at least fifteen seconds, so your delivery systems would have to be something that would not be able to be removed. If this Sentinel is as good as you say then you would have to get in extremely close and it could be extremely dangerous for you, While I wouldn't shed a tear if something were to happen it could be extremely beneficial to the world if you were to remain a part of it." Stark said and Bullet looked shocked.

"What makes you say that?" Bullet asked.

"You are clearly turning a leaf, the old you would have just taken the information you want instead of putting aside your pride and asking for help. That is the kind of man I could possibly forgive for shooting me and maybe work alongside one day. With your brain and my money and resources, we could accomplish great things." Tony said and bullet got up and extended his hand.

"Maybe one day, but before we start kissing and making up I have things I must deal with first." Bullet said and made his way toward the door. "Oh and Tony, distance yourself from Fury, that cant possibly work well for you or the rest of the avengers."

"I have been thinking the same thing more and more recently. Goodbye Bullet." Tony said and Bullet stepped off of the elevator to head back down and out of Stark Tower.

Bullet walked back out onto the streets of New York. He began heading south toward Manhattan when a black Pontiac GTO skidded to a halt beside him.

"Get in." A familiar voice said and Bullet opened the back door and climbed into the car.

"Castle, just the man I wanted to see, What poorly veiled threat do you have for me today?" Bullet asked as the tires squealed loudly as Frank sped off.

"What did I tell you last time I saw you?" Frank asked.

"Than New York is your territory and the next time I operate in your turf that you would kill me." Bullet said. "I believe it even less now than I did then. My methods may be questionable even to you but my results don't lie, ultimately we work toward the same goal. You just always saw me as another villain because I accepted money to do what you do out of vengeance." Bullet said as the car sped through the traffic in the crowded New York streets with extreme skill and precision.

"Why are you here?" Frank asked as they sped towards Brooklyn.

"I needed to talk to Stark and while I was here, I had some questions for you." Bullet said.

"As a Professional courtesy I will answer one, then I have some of my own." Frank responded.

"Fair enough, but perhaps we should head somewhere a little quieter, perhaps your safehouse in Bedstuy." Bullet said.

"How did you?" Frank asked.

"I keep track of everyone that could be a potential ally or threat." Bullet answered.

twenty minutes later and the pair pulled up at a house and they climbed out of the car and walked inside. Bullet looked on impressed at the extensive arsenal that lined the walls of the dingy worn down building.

"You said you had a question?" Frank asked.

"More like a request. I have been trying to find a man leading an organization known as the purifiers that masterminded the attack on Mutantville. He is extremely thorough at covering his tracks even from me, I was hoping that with your informants that maybe you might know something. He goes by the name of Bastion." Bullet said and picked up a SIG 556 PSD from the wall and raising the scope to his eye.

"I have been keeping track of you as well or trying anyway, I am unaware of the safehouse you have been holding up I have just been following the trails of blood. There is a survivor that is being held at a prison Psychiatric hospital in Delaware but I am unable to get close to him. I have tried pulling security footage, video, audio, anything I can think of unfortunately you don't leave much to work with, all video and Audio are scrambled beyond anything even remotely salvageable and there are rarely any witnesses. As far as the one in Delaware, with my police background and my image I would never be able to get in to question him, you on the other hand are a ghost, with the right documents you could get anywhere, be anybody. From what I have heard his mind is a mess, from the reports I was able to find he just rambles about a demon, the reaper he calls him but none of the doctors there have been able to make heads or tails of it, I feel you may be able to get more out of him than you could me." Frank said and Bullet placed the gun back on the wall.

"You said you have questions for me?" Bullet asked him.

"When does it stop? You are heading down a slippery path, I know exactly how it feels to seek revenge but it takes you to a dark place and I would hate for you to end up as one of the people on my list. As far as the gangs and the organized crime goes, I feel with your head in the wrong place you could be much more dangerous than any of them and If that ends up being the case I will not hesitate to kill you. So when does it stop, were do you draw the line?" Frank asked him.

"Trust me I don't want this life, I tried quitting years ago, and I can see the finish line but I fear that a lot more people will have to die before that is possible, if that puts me on your list then so be it, I feel you would be a very promising adversary but lets hope for both our sake that it does not come to that because in the end we both know the outcome." Bullet said and headed for the door.

"Oh and Bullet, follow the money trail. I am sure you have already thought of this but the people you are after clean their money that makes it much harder to follow or potentially easier depending on how you go about it." Frank said before bullet left.

* * *

**Sussex**  
**Delaware**

"My name is Dr. Woodbury, clinical psychologist, I am here to see inmate 358902." Bullet said walking up to the front desk in the Delaware maximum security Mental health facility and flashing his forged Identification. "I am doing research on extreme cases of post traumatic stress syndrome and from what I have heard I believe he may be the most advanced case I have ever seen.

"I am afraid that particular prisoner is not allowed any unscheduled visitors with out the proper clearance. If would like I can direct you to the warden and he can get you the proper request forms." The guard said.

"Already done. Check your system again." Bullet said and the guard checked and called for an another guard.

"Jackson can you escort Dr. Woodbury here to see our guest in cell 7?" The guard asked the second that came a moment later.

"Officer Jackson, what can you tell me about Prisoner 358902, He seems to be a very interesting case." Bullet asked as they walked through the halls of the facility.

"Interesting huh, that's one word for it. I can tell you he's crazier than all hell. The man sits on the floor day to day muttering to himself about the reaper, a bunch of religious mumbo jumbo, judgement, redemption, that kind of stuff." Officer Jackson informed Bullet. "Here you are Doc. He is in a Jacket now, be careful he has a tendency to be a spitter. No STDs but still its fucking gross, good luck."

"Thank you officer." Bullet said and walked into the cell and heard the door shut behind him.

"Mr. Farrell its good to see you my name is Dr. Woodbury." Bullet said and the man turned to see him before screaming loudly.

"Its you the reaper, oh god are you here to kill me?" He asked frantically.

"So, your not as crazy as they think, you remember me anyway. I allowed you to live once, why would I kill you now?" Bullet asked him. "And why the reaper, where has that come from?" Bullet asked after the man caught his breath.

"Whenever you are around the cameras get fuzzy all that can be seen is flashes of black and when you leave there are just dead bodies, no one that has ever seen you has lived except for me I lived, I was judged and lived, now your back to finish the job." He rambled almost too fast for Bullet to hear him properly.

"So the reaper that's what your purifier pals are calling me, I like it. Your right, however, I did come back to finish the job. There is one way you could prove that your life is worth being spared." Bullet said and the man snapped to attention and looked into Bullet's eyes.

"What way?" He questioned.

"I need information, on your leader, Bastion." Bullet said.

"I don't know anything, I am not ranked high enough." He said and Bullet just shook his head.

"Then your useless to me." Bullet said and stood up.

"No please don't kill me." He said and bullet knocked on the cell door, the door opened seconds later and Bullet walked back out with the officer.

"Well you were right he is too far gone." Bullet said.

"What's your professional opinion?" Officer Jackson asked him.

"Regular sessions at least weekly if not more, other than that keep him in that jacket and be on your guard when he starts spitting." Bullet joked.

* * *

**Angel's Aerie**  
**Colorado**

"Any luck?" Domino asked after walking out to meet bullet before he walked inside.

"Not as much as I would have liked, I found out the purifiers call me the reaper which I thought was pretty cool, and I figured out how to stop the nanites." Bullet answered.

"Reaper, it fits, the whole angel of death thing suits you. As far as the nanites how do we handle them." She asked.

"We will go over that with the team, for now I need to pack a few things. I have one last thing to do, a way of tracking down Bastion." Bullet informed her.

"Can I go with you on this one? I cant stand being cooped up here." Domino asked.

"That depends, is your passport up to date?" Bullet smirked.

"Of course it is, I'm sure one of them are anyway." She joked.

"Good, pack warm, Its pretty cold in Switzerland this time of year." Bullet said and headed up to his room to pack for the trip.

* * *

**Zürich**  
**Switzerland**

"Mr. Woodbury, normally you handle all of your transactions online, I must say it is a pleasure to have you here in person, although it brings to question, to what do we owe the pleasure? Are you here to renegotiate our rates because I have to say-" Bullet private banker Levin Balthis began rambling.

"Of course not Mr. Balthis, your rates are more than fair I am as always satisfied with the service you provide however I have a rather odd request." Bullet said and Levin smiled.

"Anything for one of our premiere members, is there anything I can get for you, a glass of water perhaps?" He asked.

"No thank you." Bullet answered.

"What about the lovely lady, anything for you Ms.?" He then asked.

"Thurman, and no thank you." Domino said.

"So about this request?" Levin then asked.

"I need some information on another American client of this bank, I know a major part of us banking here is the secrecy you provide and what I am asking for is a stretch and that it undermines a code but it is something that is desperately needed." Bullet said and the smile on Levin's face faded quickly.

"I like you Mr. Woodbury but what you are asking for I can not do." Levin said and Bullet nodded.

"I understand, then another request?" Bullet then asked.

"I have a bad feeling about this but go ahead." Levin said.

"Switch some money from this account into mine and some from mine into it. No information traded just some numbers traded no one other than the three of us need to know anything." Bullet said and Levin shook his head again.

"Again Something I can not do, but you seem capable Mr. Woodbury, Now I am going to take a restroom break and we can get back to other business after I get back." Levin said and turned his laptop toward Bullet with the banking system pulled up giving him a wink before he left.

Levin left and bullet quickly began transferring money into the desired account. Once all was said and done he turned the laptop back around and waited for Levin to come back.

"Sorry that took a little longer than expected I assume everything is well?" Levin asked.

"Everything is wonderful, but sadly I must get back to the states, thank you for your time Mr. Balthis." Bullet said and got up from his seat and extended his hand.

"Of course Mr. Woodbury, if there is anything else you need do not hesitate to ask." Levin said and shook his hand.

"So what was that about?" Domino asked.

"Getting into Bastions account gives me access to where all the digital dollars I swapped end up. The larger of the purifier operations will tend to swallow more money and that is where those dollars will go. It gives me a better idea of where Bastion will be and when." Bullet told her.

"So its almost over?" Domino asked.

"I hope so." Bullet said.

"Its kind of strange though. People like us have been fighting our whole lives, what do we do when there is no more fighting?" She asked.

"We live."


End file.
