First Dance: Part Two
Sliding into the empty chair, Domino regarded the two men at the table with a mixture of apprehension and interest. The pictures in their SHIELD files hadn't done them justice, she decided. They were both tall and powerfully built, with a--presence that she envied. Confidence, she told herself. They're very good, and they know it. She wondered how many years of experience she'd need to have under her belt before her 'cockiness' became that sort of--aura.
She shifted uneasily in her chair as she saw that Bridge was staring at her. Outwardly, he seemed perfectly calm, but there was something in his eyes, a faint gleam of what might have been--surprise? Domino frowned inwardly, wondering how she'd provoked that sort of reaction. But he didn't seem inclined to act on it right at the moment, so she turned her attention to Cable. He was the one she was really curious about, after all Logan's stories.
Unlike his partner's, Cable's SHIELD file hadn't included any personal information at all. Not even a real name, which had intrigued her considering her own eccentricities in that area. Looking at him now, she couldn't even tell how old he was. His brown hair was streaked with silver, but he didn't look any older than Bridge. She'd read in his file that he was some kind of cyborg, but meeting his eyes was still rather jarring. His right eye was normal, a light blue-gray, but his left was blank gold, and glowed faintly in the dimness of the room. Some kind of implant, she told herself, and noticed that, unlike herself, Bridge and everyone else in the bar on this hot summer's night, he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
Looking mildly amused, he offered her his hand. His left hand, which would have been perfectly normal-looking if it hadn't been made of metal. Flushing slightly, she shook hands firmly. His grip was strong, but not crushing, and she caught herself wondering how much he was holding back.
"Why Domino?" Cable asked. His voice was deep and rather rough, but Domino noticed a faint, musical accent she couldn't quite place.
She stepped firmly on the impulse to ask 'Why Cable?' in return. "Because things have a habit of falling into place for me," she said, hoping she didn't sound too brazen. Cable leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a faint bemusement that made her uncomfortable, for some reason. "Thanks for agreeing to this meeting," she said, too quickly.
He blinked, as if she'd startled him. "I'll relay your thanks to Hammer," he said, his phrasing oddly stilted. "I understand you flew in from the West Coast?" She nodded, and his tone grew faintly apologetic. "I'm sorry to inconvenience you by bringing you all the way out here, then, but we're about to leave on a job that may take the next few months--"
"Not a problem," she said briskly, a little surprised by how polite he was. Not at all what she'd expected. "I'm just glad to have this chance." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could smack herself in the head. God, that sounded ridiculous. He's going to think I'm some kind of groupie or something--
Cable's mouth quirked in what might almost have been a smile. "It'll be to our benefit, if we come to an understanding." His accent seemed to grow stronger, and she shifted in her chair, irritated by her inability to place it. Even with all the traveling she'd done with Logan, she'd never heard anything quite like it. "You come with good references," Cable continued, "although I have to admit, you're a little younger than I expected--"
"A little younger?" Bridge suddenly blurted. "We'd have done better robbing the nearest cradle!"
Domino gave him a single incredulous look before she could stop herself. What the hell is this? she thought, struggling to control her expression. Good cop, bad cop?
"I don't understand the problem," she said, unable to keep the suspicious astonishment out of her voice. Bridge heard it, and laughed as he looked sideways at Cable.
"Damn, Nate. Looks like I hurt the poor girl's feelings."
Domino bit back what she really wanted to say. "Look, Bridge," she grated, telling herself to be diplomatic. She was, after all, showing a great deal of presumption in coming to them. "Your group's looking for someone with specific skills. Skills which I have. My age shouldn't matter." You chauvinist pig, she thought balefully, but didn't say.
Bridge snorted. "Give me a break, girl," he scoffed. "Skill is one thing, experience is another. We don't need some greenhorn who can't apply her know-how under pressure."
"G.W.," Cable started, looking distinctly displeased. Bridge waved at him dismissively.
"Nate, we're wasting our time here," he said brusquely, before Cable could say another word. Rising from his chair, Bridge gave her a contemptuous look. "Go home and grow up, kid. Give us a call in five years." He suddenly laughed again. "On second thought, make that ten years."
Domino got up, feeling her cheeks burn. She gave Bridge a scornful look, although every fiber in her being ached to wipe that smirk off his face. Logan had been right, damn him. Next time she'd listen to him. "Fine with me, Bridge," she said coldly, and turned to go. She'd be damned if she gave him the satisfaction of showing disappointment. His loss, she told herself fiercely.
"You know," Bridge called after her as she started for the door. "Maybe I was wrong. What do you think, Cable? Could the Pack do with a mascot?" Domino turned back towards him slowly, glaring in disbelief. He grinned maliciously at her, clearly enjoying himself to no end. Cable, on the other hand, was staring at him as if he thought his partner had taken leave of his senses. "Eye candy," Bridge continued mockingly, "to lure in potential employers. You might be good at that, kid, you've certainly got the looks for it--"
The leer he tacked on to the end of that outrageous suggestion was just too much. Seething, Domino stepped forward and decked him. Taken by surprise, Bridge went down like a sack of potatoes, with a very satisfying thud.
"What do you think of my looks now, you son of a bitch?" she snarled, and then gave a startled yelp as she was unceremoniously deposited in the chair she'd vacated only a moment before. "Hey! Hands off, pal!"
"Maybe I should have had that second drink," Cable muttered, letting go of her before she could even begin to pull away. She opened her mouth, intending to tell him where he could shove it, but the words froze on her tongue.
His left eye was glowing. Not faintly, as it had before. Actually, blazing would probably be the better description. Cable gave her an unreadable look and then turned, stiffening as he surveyed the room slowly. His fists were clenched at his sides, and the look on his face was one of fierce, almost desperate concentration. Domino glanced around warily, trying to figure out what he was looking for. But no one was showing any interest in their table. Not even the bouncers--which was just plain weird, considering what she'd done. "Nothing to see--" Cable muttered.
"Cable!" she said sharply. He didn't look at her, and she scowled. Oh, this is just great! One insults me, and the other ignores me! Well, I'm NOT IMPRESSED! "Earth to Cable!" she almost shouted. He shivered, the glow vanishing from his eye, and looked down at her blankly. "Look," she snarled, too angry to be diplomatic any longer. "I don't know if this is how you treat all your applicants, or whether the two of you just had a few too many before I got here, but I didn't travel across the continent to be--"
He gave her another one of those strange almost-smiles, somehow silencing her as effectively as if he'd clasped a hand over her mouth. "Insulted. Of course you didn't," he said with a weary sigh, his shoulders sagging. Rather unsteadily, he returned to his side of the table and bent over to pull his own chair upright. Domino frowned. She didn't recall it getting knocked over. Cable stared vacantly at the opposite wall for a moment. Then, shaking himself, he peered down at Bridge. "Get off the floor, G.W.," he said, sounding irritated.
Using the table as support, Bridge pulled himself back to his feet, straightening his chair and sitting down. "I think she broke my jaw," he said, rubbing it tentatively.
"We can only hope," Cable muttered. Bridge gave him a lopsided grin that made Domino scowl, suddenly sure that this had all been an act, some kind of test. But before she could say anything, Cable winced, sinking his face into his hands. "Thanks, partner," he said, his voice muffled. "Like my headache wasn't bad enough already."
Bridge's amusement turned so swiftly into concern that Domino was startled. "I think we could all use a drink," he said, and signaled the waitress to come over. She did, smiling cheerfully, as if she hadn't seen the minor fracas that had just occurred. Domino frowned. From what she'd heard of the Gatehouse, if you acted up, you got tossed out. This sort of tolerance was very, very odd. Why wasn't anyone--"What would you like, Domino?" Bridge asked abruptly. Domino stiffened, disarmed by the sudden courtesy, and gave the waitress her order. The woman looked expectantly at Cable. "Get him another, too," Bridge said, his eyes narrowing. "Same as before." As the waitress left, Bridge leaned towards Cable, and Domino grew even more puzzled as she saw the guilt in his eyes, clear as day. "I'm sorry, Nate," he said quietly. "I should've thought--are you all right?"
Lifting his head, Cable gave him a disgusted look. "I'll live," he snapped, sounding exhausted. "But I could do with some notice next time."
Domino scowled, well aware she was missing something. I hate it when people act like I'm not in the room. "Would either of you care to explain what the hell's going on here?" she demanded. Bridge deliberately goads me--why? To see how I'd react? No one seems to notice when I hit him, and now Cable looks like he's about to pass out--I'm not following this. Maybe Logan was right, and I'm in over my head. The thought only made her angrier.
"Sorry, kid," Bridge said easily, though his eyes kept darting worriedly to Cable, who was staring down at the table, swaying slightly. "Call it a pop quiz, if you like. I wanted to see how far someone could push you before you lost it." He shrugged. "One of the most important skills in our business is keeping your head in ugly situations. And you will get into ugly situations if you join up with us, I can guarantee it. The jobs we take tend to be as high-risk as they are well-paying. In other words, we can't afford to have faulty impulse control."
There was no condemnation in his voice, but Domino flushed. So if he were me, he would have just stood there and taken that? I don't think so. "I see," she said acidly. It made sense, she supposed, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "So you're not usually this much of a bastard?" She gave Bridge a sweet smile, and his eyebrows just about hit his hairline.
"One for her side," Cable murmured almost absently, still staring at the table.
"I didn't know we were keeping score," Domino bristled. Was he mocking her now? According to Logan, Cable didn't have a sense of humor--no, wait, that wasn't what he'd said. He'd said that Cable's sense of humor was so strange, by most standards, that it might as well have been nonexistent. A distinction, and an important one.
"Score?" he said vaguely, looking in her direction but not quite focusing on her. "I suppose. Life is a game, Domino. You take it as it comes. And trust to--luck to see you through."
Domino gaped at him for a moment. Coincidence, she told herself frantically. Still, that pause had been a little too suggestive for her liking. But he couldn't know. He couldn't. She hadn't mentioned a word about it to Hammer. Hell, she'd always kept her mutant ability to herself. That had been one of the first things Logan had taught her! "Is he always like this?" she asked Bridge tartly, to cover her distress.
"When Nate's not enigmatic, you know there's something wrong," Bridge said reassuringly. "He takes some getting used to." The waitress came back with their drinks. Domino sipped at hers, still not sure what to make of all this. If they'd intended to put her off balance, they'd certainly succeeded.
Cable regarded his drink almost curiously. It looked like vodka or something, Domino couldn't be sure. "Drink it," Bridge said firmly. Cable shrugged, and tossed it back.
"Didn't taste as bad that time," he said hoarsely after a few moments, sounding almost surprised. Some of his color had returned, although he still looked exhausted. "Can we get on with business now?" he finally said, an edge of rancor in his voice that grew more pronounced as he continued. "Or would the two of you like to arm-wrestle or something first?"
"I'm game if he is," Domino muttered balefully. Bridge chuckled, and she glared at him. "I'm serious. Unless you think that you could beat me because I'm a helpless little girl or some such shit--"
Bridge rubbed his jaw ruefully. "I wouldn't dare, ma'am," he said, his face perfectly straight. "You might take exception again, and I'm not sure I could survive that."
"Oath, Bridge, would you stop amusing yourself?" Cable growled. The last traces of vagueness had faded from his expression. Now he just looked pissed. "Before I break your jaw to shut you up?"
Bridge looked startled. "Take it easy, Nate," he said almost soothingly. "I was just kidding--" Cable spat a few unintelligible words in some language Domino didn't know. Curses, by his tone. Bridge raised an eyebrow. "Well, pardon me for living," he said, his voice still level. Cable glared at him, his left eye glowing faintly again, and Bridge snorted derisively. "Oh, I see. This is all my fault, then."
Domino looked from Cable to Bridge, baffled. "Why do I feel like I'm missing half the conversation here?" she inquired.
"You're not," Bridge said quickly. "It's not hard to tell what Nate's thinking, if you know him well enough. He can be very--predictable." That was definitely a jab, Domino realized. Cable, half-rising from his chair with a growl, obviously felt the same way. Bridge reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Nate, I know you're pissed off at me," he said pleasantly, "but don't you think we owe Domino here an 'interview'?"
"Says the man with the unique 'interview' technique," Cable almost hissed. But he sat down. "And don't call me that," he added angrily. Bridge sighed, shaking his head.
"An interview sounds good," Domino said swiftly, before the two of them could have at it again. Theirs was not an entirely trouble-free partnership, she realized. Not so surprising; this business tended to be hard on relationships of all sorts. "What do you want to know?" she continued briskly.
"Why you came to us would be a start," Bridge said, quite politely. Cable didn't protest Bridge taking the lead. He merely leaned back in the chair, watching her with some of the same intensity she'd seen from him after she'd decked Bridge. It was unsettling, but she masked her reaction carefully, not wanting to give anything away.
"That's easy enough," she said, looking at Cable, not Bridge. "The Wild Pack has a good reputation, and like I said before, you were looking for someone with my--talents." There weren't any 'want-ads' in the mercenary world, but word tended to get around. "My--a friend advised me against it," she said curtly. "The way things were going up until now, I was beginning to think he was right." Take that, she thought, watching Bridge out of the corner of her eye. He merely grinned.
"I do a convincing impression of a jackass, don't I?"
"Impression?" Cable asked with a laugh. It was a rusty sort of laugh, as if he didn't do it very often, Domino thought. Bridge snorted and Cable shrugged, still looking amused. "So, Lady Luck," he went on, a definite challenge in his voice. Domino nearly jumped out of her skin at the nickname. "You really want the job? Keeping in mind that if you take it, you'll have to put up with Hammer, who wrote the book on 'chauvinist pigs'--"
Domino nearly choked to hear her own description for Bridge thrown back in her face. Was I that obvious? she thought in distress. But Cable continued, not waiting to see her reaction.
"Grizzly, who's basically an overgrown, taciturn teddy bear with an attitude--G.W. here, who's usually Mr. 'By- the-Book'--and me, the worst of the lot. As I'm sure your 'friend' told you--in detail." His gaze was level, but the challenge was still there.
She stared at him, speechless, for a full minute. He knew. Somehow, he knew about Logan. Maybe I'm not the only one who did my homework, she thought, reassuring herself with the likelihood that he, or maybe Hammer, had simply done the same sort of research on her that she had on them. Still, she took a sizeable gulp of her drink, suddenly needing a little fortification. One thing's for sure, she thought, glancing at Bridge, who was watching Cable curiously. Life with these two would never be dull.
"I've got my own eccentricities, Cable," she said, somehow sure that it was him who'd make the decision, in the end. The dynamic between him and Bridge was odd, but she thought she had that part of it figured out, at least. "I'm sure I could learn to fit in." He gave another grating laugh, and she scowled at him, not entirely sure she wasn't being made fun of. "What's so funny?"
"Not you," he said, regaining his composure instantly. "An inside joke, that's all." He glanced over at Bridge, who stared back at him for a moment, almost measuringly, and then nodded. "How about a trial period?" Cable asked, turning back to her. Domino was about to protest, but he gave her a quelling look. "I'm not questioning your abilities," he said evenly. "But you may get to know us and decide your talents would be better used elsewhere."
Domino stared at him. Giving me an out? Why? "Suits me," she said, the first response that popped into her head. Cable nodded, and stared down into his empty glass, his expression strangely haunted. Bridge, on the other hand, gave her a friendly smile.
"I still think you're too damned young," he said, straight-faced. Domino told herself it was going to take awhile to get used to his sense of humor, that was all.
"I had a good teacher," she shot back. "And with my life, I've had to grow up fast." Hell, she'd never really had a childhood, between the upheaval of her early years and her life with Logan. Not that she was complaining. Some experiences, she could have skipped without much regret, but all in all, she was happy with the choices she'd made. She had no desire at all for an 'ordinary' life. The one she had was far too much fun.
Bridge nodded, apparently accepting her words at face value. He seemed about to ask her something else when he was interrupted.
"Bridge! Cable! I've got a bone to pick with you two!" someone snarled from the vicinity of the door. Domino's heart turned to ice at the familiar voice.
Not him-- she thought, paralyzed. Not him. Not here--
A tall, blonde man, bearded and menacing, stalked up to the table, followed by three unsavory-looking types whom Domino immediately labeled as 'thugs'. But she didn't spare them a second look. Her attention was riveted on their leader.
She knew this man very well. She'd met him several times before, and each time, she'd prayed quite fervently that she'd never have to see him again.
Bridge rose from his chair, his expression cold. "Consider me quaking in my boots," he said icily, staring the newcomer down. Cable seemed oddly disinterested, as if the confrontation wasn't worth his notice.
"You and the Tin Woodsman there cheated me and my boys out of a job, Bridge! I should rip your throats out as an object lesson!" The man stopped in mid-rant, and turned slowly, looking down at her with something very close to amazement. Which turned instantly to a pleasure that made her feel twelve years old again. "I'll be damned," Victor Creed almost purred. "Fancy meeting you here, Neena."
***
Domino's--Neena's? Cable wondered--sudden fear nearly knocked him out of his chair. She was thinking in basic, primal emotions that hit him even harder than her 'vocalized' thoughts.
And there were images, too. Terrible images. Cable rose from his chair, swaying a little under the assault. A young girl, a knife clutched in her shaking hands, backed into a corner by a tall, laughing figure--the same girl, but older, her arms pinned by two other men as Creed came towards her--several different images of Logan and Creed fighting--
"Back off, Creed!" he said harshly, clearing his mind by an act of will. He had nightmares of his own. He didn't need to be sharing anyone else's. Creed turned away from Domino, still grinning.
"What? You the frail's protector now, Nate? Kinda ironic, don't you think?"
"I don't need a protector, Creed," Domino snarled, and Cable was swamped by a sudden, red-tinged tide of absolute, unadulterated hatred. His head was already swimming from that ill-advised second drink, and she wasn't helping. Oath, she'd be easy prey for an enemy telepath, he thought, dazed. Any psi of decent strength would hear her coming a hundred kilometers away.
"Really?" Creed asked, leering at her. Domino stared up at him, not moving, but Creed misread the tension that gripped her body for fear. Cable knew better, sensed how close she was to going for his throat. "You certainly grew up pretty, girl. The runt'd have a fit if he knew who you were drinking with, you know."
"You'd be surprised, Creed," she grated.
"Ha! I don't think so, kid. Maybe he knows, but I doubt he approves. His precious little student, running around with the Wild Pack?" Creed's eyes narrowed. "Y'know, Neena," he said suggestively, "if you just got tired of hanging around with the low-rent model--"
"I'd sooner rot in hell," she spat. Creed laughed.
Cable wished he dared used his telepathy on Creed. But he'd tried that once before, and nearly gotten gutted for his pains. Creed's mind was so fragmented, it would take a telepath much stronger than him to have any effect. But he had to do something, stop this somehow--
But Domino surprised him. Moving her chair back slightly, she got up, standing almost nose-to-nose with Creed and not giving an inch. "Go away," she said, her voice seething with hatred. "Or I'm going to take a dull knife and hack off a few choice pieces. Then we'll see how well your healing factor works."
Creed roared with laughter. Cable sensed Bridge debate going for his gun, but hesitate. "Hell, Neena, I almost bought that," Creed said almost pleasantly, and Domino's eyes blazed with fury. Creed's expression changed in a way Cable did not like at all. "Yeah," he mused, reaching towards her. "Very pretty--"
A heartbeat later, she had her gun pointed at Creed's face. Cable had sensed her make the decision to draw it, but he doubted anyone else had seen her move, she'd been that fast. "Or," Domino continued savagely, "I could just blow your head off and see how long it takes you to grow a new one."
Creed looked unruffled. "Don't I remember knocking a gun out of your hand once, Neena?" he said, baring his teeth at her. She flushed, but regained her composure almost instantly at the amusement in Creed's eyes. "You should've learned your lesson that time. Can't say I'm sorry, though. It'll be so much fun to teach it to you again."
What he was implying was unmistakable, and it took all of Cable's self-control to harness the rage that swelled up inside him and channel it into cold, purposeful wrath. He barely managed it. Though Creed was clearly referring to something in the past, Domino looked about the same age now that Jen had been when--Cable swallowed hard, walling away the memory with practiced speed. What is, is. And this was just one more reason to hate Creed.
"I've gotten faster since then, you bastard," Domino snarled. "You got lucky once, Creed. Once!"
Creed laughed again, clearly enjoying himself. "One way to find out, girl--"
Cable's patience snapped, and he pulled his own gun. "Care to go for double or nothing?" he invited, and Creed stiffened warily. Cable gave him a cold smile. Misjudging Domino was one thing, but Creed knew he'd shoot him without a second thought. He had before, after all. More than once.
Domino looked like she wanted to turn her gun on him. "I can handle this myself, Cable!" she hissed, and he was taken aback by the outrage she was emanating.
Very proud, he warned himself. Proud and touchy. "Of course you can," he said levelly. "But the Wild Pack takes care of its own, Domino." Her eyes widened slightly at his words. Creed's jaw dropped, and Cable gave him a wolfish smile. "Especially against trash like this."
"Trash, huh?" Creed growled, a feral light in his eyes. "You're going to beg me to forget you said that, Cable."
"Maybe," Cable said with a half-shrug. "But not today, Creed." He jerked his head towards the door. "You leave through there. Unless you'd prefer head-first through the wall. I'd be only too happy to arrange that, if you'd like." He sensed, rather than saw, Domino's sudden grin.
"Funny man," Creed said coldly, backing away slowly. Domino lowered her gun, but Cable kept his sighted on Creed until he was sure the other man was planning to leave. "See you later, Neena," Creed said nastily, with another leer, and then motioned for his companions to fall in behind him.
"Well." Domino's voice was sardonic, but he sensed her relief. "You two certainly know how to show a girl a good time."
Cable lowered his gun, seeing the bouncers on the way over, wearing very displeased expressions. He didn't dare try another mindwipe, not so soon. He didn't have the strength left, and even an attempt would probably incapacitate him for the next two days--and leave him with a number of uncomfortable questions to answer, he suspected as he glanced over at Domino. "I think we'd better leave," he said bluntly. "We have most certainly broken the peace tonight."
"Why are they bothering now? They didn't seem to care when I hit Bridge," Domino said, giving him a keen look.
Proud and touchy. And too damned sharp for her good good, Cable thought wearily. Bridge jumped in to rescue him. Covering for him, yet again. She can't have much experience with telepaths, Cable realized. Otherwise, she would have recognized his mindwipe for what it was. It wasn't as if he'd been particularly subtle about it. He sighed. She may not have understood, but she was puzzling over it. He could hear her.
"They'll tolerate a little brawling," G.W. was saying in a conversational tone, "but pulling weapons is a no-no, by Gatehouse rules." He raised a defensive hand when Domino bristled. "Simmer down, kid, I don't disagree with what you did. God knows, I've wanted to shoot Creed for years now."
"Yeah, he's not a very popular guy, is he?" she said with a brittle laugh, a bleak light in her beautiful eyes. Bridge looked troubled, but said nothing.
By mutual consent, the three of them headed for the door. Domino even waved cheerfully at the bouncers. "So, where are we going?" she asked, when they'd stepped out into the night.
"For a walk," Cable said. The fresh air was making him feel light-headed.
"Where?" she persisted, and he bit back a sharp comment. Bridge was peering around warily, as if checking for Creed and his boys. Cable could have told him they were gone. But Bridge liked to worry, and who was he to deprive him of that pleasure?
"There," Cable said brusquely, gesturing at Lake Ontario, shining in the moonlight. He fought back a sudden surge of longing. Looking out over water always made him feel vaguely homesick, he wasn't sure why.
"Don't tell me you walk on water, too?" Domino bantered.
"You're terribly funny, you know that?" he said, growing aggravated by her smart comments. He was too flonqing tired to deal with this right now. Between the mindwipe, the alcohol he'd so stupidly consumed, and the stress of being around someone who was still shouting out her thoughts as if she wanted the whole world to hear them, he was almost ready to call it a night. But he needed to relax first, or he'd never sleep. Insomnia or nightmares, he thought resentfully. Take your pick, Nathan. "The beach, Domino. I meant the beach. You know, sand, moonlight, water lapping--some flonqing PEACE AND QUIET!"
He stalked on ahead, but he could hear Bridge and Domino's conversation as they followed him.
"Is he always this cranky?" the girl asked.
"No, actually he's rather mellow, tonight," Bridge cracked.
"Remind me to stay on his good side, then."
"Words to live by, Domino."
"Would the two of you kindly SHUT UP!"
to be continued...
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