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They met when Alex was at the Bar with No Name again.
Apparently, he is such a failure at being either a hero or villain that masked criminals don’t care about seeing him, and no one in the “hero” (they have Stark as leader, and accept Emma “repeated sexual offender” Frost with open arms. For fuck’s sake, they accept Alex) community care much either of what he is doing at any given time.
Given that his nickname is less “sentinel of liberty” or “the goddess of the elements” and more “Knock-Off Cyclops” and “screwed-up Summers” (by people who KNOW of Gabriel’s existence, mind you), well. It’s not like anyone expects him to be a particularly relevant individual to keep an eye on.
Not even Sinister.
Anyway, Alex had still shoved himself in a dark corner just in case someone with an X-beef was feeling like causing trouble.
He was stuck on his glass and some dark thoughts, he had so many, he couldn’t tell you the specifics of that day. Maybe something about Scotty? Unlikely, those he keeps for especially bad days, the ones where he wants to leave this world. Could be mutantkind's state in the world, his brother going somewhere in the wild after blowing Alex off (again), Emma Frost doing something (again), the hate messages on Alex’s social medias (as usual), or Lorna being off the grid and Alex worrying even if she is more competent than him and she made it really clear they should not breathing the same air right now (she was nicer about it, of course, but Alex hates that she is right).
Anyway, that got dark for some reason. Alex is reminiscing about how he met his boyfriend, for frick’s sake.
The man of the hour interrupted his musings back then too.
“Can I sit here?” A man with a slight Italian accent asked. Raven hair that reached shoulder-length, a skin that used to be tan but he had clearly spent quite some time avoiding the sun recently. He still looked real pretty. Despite the slightly open black tailored suit that showed a buttoned white shirt, Alex immediately thought that this was a man that just needed to put on a leather jacket when he needed to seduce anyone effortlessly. An idea that you knew was bad, but was so, so tempting.
Alex didn’t gulp. He even snarked back. An improvement over how he started some other relationships. (Hello Leila O’Toole).
“It depends. Is this a recruitment speech for some megalomaniac plan of world conquest, or you just want to avoid the flirting by hiding that mug of yours?” The man looked at Alex like he was suddenly a lot more interesting than at first glance. Alex liked that reaction.
The business dude declared: “I’m tailing someone who is a regular at this.. no-name bar. Do not worry.” He then smirked. “Having some standards as to which jobs you take? I like that.”
Alex wisely decided that it was better to not explain his whole situation. The guy had apparently not identified the mutant as the “M-word speech guy”, might as well take small mercies. The hero gave a nod, and the guy went over Alex’s legs to sit in the darkest corner. Alex could still distinguish the guy, his focused eyes, and the way his mouth was showing some teeth like an animal on a hunt. Alex also had the impression of yellow eyes also appearing in the shadow to look at him, but a blink and they were gone. Alex, stupidly, pinned them on the alcohol.
Of course, they could have both slurped their beer (despite the name, the establishment was well-stocked enough, and Deke knows how to make a mean cocktail) and never encountered each other again, but, as usual, Alex ran his mouth. “Wonder what kind of informant you’ve got to learn the new location, mr. detective. Took me weeks for anyone I know to be aware of it themselves and then tell me, and I have contacts in everything from Brotherhood of Evil Mutant to the Reavers. Mind you, I don’t think the borderline transhuman cult dedicated to killing mutants is welcome here, but you never know, with villains.”
The handsome face (was he Italian? Some Spanish ancestry maybe?) was first annoyed, then confused, and now looking Alex up and down like the guy was judging Alex’s worth. An odd feeling. Usually, people look at Alex in person for the first time, and already had preconceived notions they easily managed to fit Alex into.
The guy's mouth formed something that was half-seductive, half-aggressive snarl. Alex shuddered some. “So, I guess you’re a big name, uh?” Alex snorted, definitively a little tipsy. There was a flash of a grin in the darkness, oh boy he was starting to see double (he was not). “Nah, just a pinball. You have no idea what my resume is. What a mess. I was a Genosha Magistrate, you know? before Magneto ruled the island and it got bombed. Back when they were enslaving mutants.. I was amnesiac back then, long story. Magic mambo-jumbo, you probably never had to deal with that type of nonsense..”
The guy was still looking at the rest of the room, and Timber the waitress looked kind of worried at Alex’s company. oops, not a private investigator then, but a proper villain. No wonder the guy looked baffled by Alex’s comment. But still, he had turned his body a bit to look better at Alex. The mystery man was definitively amused by something. “Oh, I don’t know.” And oh yeah, Italian. “I might have some ideas. And you have made some friends with mutants since then? Good for you, I do not take.. kindly, to bigots.”
“Ahh, you yourself have standards, Mister criminal?” Alex joked, while still being internally relieved. To top it off, the guy clearly enjoyed the verbal exchange, given the small smile he gave. Madelyne was... a bit too focused on looking powerful, and a bit too afraid of someone demeaning her. And Alex was always worrying too much about what he said to Lorna, to her eternal frustration.
Maybe starting with someone brand new, who had no connection to the X-Men (or the Avengers, frankly), was the way.
Well, last time he thought that, it turned out she was very much connected to mutants, but a guy could dream?
The guy’s eyes opened up. “Oh. I’m Jackie.” He gave a hand to shake. Alex took it. “Alex. So, not your typical venue?” The guy gave a dismissive look at the room. “Yeah, I am more one for the private clubs, the expensive wines, the suit and party dresses… not one for the costume world.”
“I always think I’m getting out of here, and yet, here I am, a good decade later, former governmental agent, once again with the other nutcases in yellow spandex and black leather. There is a debate on what is cooler-looking, believe it or not…”
The dude almost spit his drink, and had to cover his nose. Alex handed him his napkin. Honestly, the whole costume thing was WAY over his head. Over half of his outfits are containment clothes. He is not trying to be cool, he isn’t even sure why Lenny Task decided to give him a little headpiece.
At least this turned out to be the perfect way to break the ice. The guy clearly having fun meant Deke and Thimber decided that Alex was not in danger (Alex would have to check just who Jackie was, but he was happy to pretend this was out of worry for him and not fear the guy would cause a problem for the establishment), and soon, Alex and Jackie were talking about many things, from relationship (“yeah, I was in love with my adoptive sister. She just saw me as her protective big bro.” “Kind of gross, dude. But, I started a relationship with my brother’s ex-wife after he abandoned her and their kid to get back with the high school sweetheart that looked like her, so I can’t judge.” “That has GOT to be against something in the bro code. Also what is wrong with your brother?”) to sports teams, to literature (Alex was arguing the merits of Dean Koontz despite the man’s track record and critiqued Grant Morrison’s Green Lantern run, Jackie had gone and bought Alan Moore’s lost girls, and had an unexpected good knowledge of Film noir), and Jackie’s high culinary expectations. (Alex is satisfied with instant noodles. They are not the same.)
When a guy in a business suit and a clear feeling of paranoïa entered the bar, Alex and Jackie were actually too focused on speaking to notice him. The darkness did not make the man realize Jackie was there. An odd whisper that Alex could have SWORE he heard actually alerted them, but no one was near them.
Unfortunately, this was Jackie’s target, and so, they had to quickly wrap up Alex’s rant on S.H.I.E.L.D. 's complete lack of effectiveness and the disaster of the Registration Act. but at least Jackie gave Alex an address and a date for their next meeting. (They did not call it a date, but Alex was hopeful.)
Once the man left, it felt like the shadows were less important in Alex’s corner of the Bar.
Timby came to Alex with worry in her eyes. “Be careful, Alex. That’s Jackie Estacado.”
After a beat, Alex had to admit: “Gonna have to tell me more. the name doesn’t ring a bell. I'm more of a “mutant menaces” kind of guy, you know? If he’s the kind of guy Daredevil or Tony Stark are dealing with, I’m kind of out of my zone, you know?” Well, Alex was also dealing with MULTIPLE types of Aliens on the semi-regular, but neither Brood or Shi’ar would have been that known by the general population, all things considered.
A giggle of nervous relief escaped her. “He is the leader of a Mafia family. Started as a hitman taken from an orphanage, they say he was the son of a particularly sadistic enforcer and a prostitute who did not survive the birth. He climbed the ladder until he took out the then-leader of the Franchetti family when they turned on him. Now, he is leading a re-christened family who is killing their rivals in ways people can’t comprehend. They say he controls demons, that the very dark heed his call.”
Right, if Alex remembers correctly, she tried to make it into Hollywood. Honestly, not a bad storyteller. Maybe she shouldn’t have counted on her looks and become a voice actor?
Instead, what Alex said was: “Timnby, the last time I thought someone was just a normal person for me to date, it turned out she was the niece of a cult leader that are tried to turn me into a power battery, and that she was leading her version of the cult in the hopes I would become her consort. I wasn’t expecting anything normal here, don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
He was wishing he was as certain inside, but “fake it until you make it” was, unfortunately, Alex Summers’ life motto.
The next week, Alex was welcomed into an Italian restaurant where the prices were not on the menu, the wine was over 20 years old, and the fact that he was waiting for Jackie Estacado had everyone making sure they had the most comfy and remote room in the back. Just hearing his name had the owner straighten up, and Alex was gently but strongly pushed to “[their] room" before he even had the time to say Jackie in full.
When Jackie showed up with 15 minutes late, the smell of something burned with ammoniac on his hair, and clearly having put another suit in a panic after something happened to the previous one, asking if Alex has already picked his choice, and if this was okay, Alex simply joked that he felt like a Wattpad romance protagonist.
-
It was a few dates (and they even called them as such!) later that they had to talk about their respective lives.
They were walking down the streets at night (Jackie preferred the nighttime, even if Alex pointed out that his skintone was not enjoying it nearly as much), Alex wearing the clothes Jackie and his expansive tastes had bought him on a whim, when the mob boss startled. Seeing the man look at the nearby streetlights with annoyance, Alex stated: “Is this about the people following us? I can’t see them either. But I sense eyes on us too.” Jackie spared a glance at Alex, impressed. “You need something specific to see them. Or else they want you to see them.” He was looking at the lights, and seemed ready to destroy them.
Alex stated: “There’s an abandoned warehouse nearby, no lights on in a large place..” At his boyfriend (Boyfriend! Alex Summers had a hot boyfriend who didn’t have a bunch of issues Alex felt responsible for!)’s surprised stare, the superhero commented: “Whenever we are in bright places, you always act more on edge. Being in the dark makes you feel confident. When you were scared by another boss having a turf war with you, you only wanted to meet me where it was poorly lit. Jackie, I am not dumb, you know?”
Estacado seemed downright charmed by Alex’s figuring it out, before he remembered they were about to be attacked and grabbed Alex with urgency. They were at the warehouse in two minutes tops.
Once they were in the place where Alex could barely see anything with the light coming only from the places where teens and vagrants had taken out the planks on the windows.
Having left Alex’s hand, Jackie had walked a few feet more, apparently very capable to move in near pitch-black, and said: “Well, that one, you might be more shocked.” he sounded almost... Shy? “ I’m sorry, I did not want to scare you.” Alex had to hold back a snort at that. He remembered dying, he had fought the Adversary, saw Cameroun Hodge’s awful attempt at passing for human, and had spent months as an undead. Whatever the Italian mobster had in store, it might hopefully surprise Alex, but scare him? That would be surprising.
Turns out, Alex was surprised. The Darkness.. condensed around Jackie’s body, creating some kind of.. Geiger-esque armor (at the very least, the monsterfucker in Alex was not getting scared. One. Bit.).
It was mostly dark green, almost black, but with yellow elements that suspiciously looked like gills on the shoulders and the upper leg. His hands and biceps looked like silver, and like his fingers were claws. Spikes were coming off from his back at random, but with shapes that made Alex think that, if needed, they could become full-blown wings. Jackie’s shoulder-length hair were moving in the open like invisible wind was moving them, the way it was almost like darkness was entering in and out of Jackie’s armor like- Alex would have almost said smoke, but the gills look was making him think this was the breathing of whatever was all over Jackie. Besides his front, “silver” plated armor was covering Jackie’s face in what almost looked like a gas protection mask, and two red dots (infrared?) were located where Jackie’s eyes would be. There were also tentacles coming out of his arms, things with teeth.
Jackie and Alex weren’t alone either. Goblin-like creatures, dark green like their master(?) were suddenly around them, armed with actual guns. They weren’t the goblins of Limbo, physically. They were short and noisy, yes, but the teeths were sharper, the eyes were all wrong, more like something that was there to indicate where eyes should be. It was like darkness had created things based on what people were scared of inside of the dark.
Jackie had barely had time to finish his transformation that a voice resonated inside of the not-so empty warehouse. “You know, Jackie Estacado, I was not interested in killing the human, but once he revealed he had an inkling of who you are and yet still remain your willing harlot, he became MORE THAN acceptable casualty.”
Suddenly, a bunch of generators came to life, and high-UV lamps turned on from the rafters. Every creature Jackie had summoned touched by the light died on contact, their skin peeling off like vampires (Alex has seen too many of these die, over the years).
Jackie himself had been hit by several beams all at once, and was the center of the spotlight, unleashing a scream of pain before his armor “melted" into nothing and he stood, shakingly grabbing a gun from a pocket, growling “Angelus.”
A woman wearing purely decorative pieces of tissues that just accentuated her nakedness walked towards them like she had all the time in the world. The only thing that could even remotely be called “armor" with heavy quotes, was some gold around her arms, still exposing some skin, and something that covered most of her boobs.
Alex was taking back everything he ever thought about skimpy clothes by villainess. This was another level of fanservice entirely. You could almost miss the gorgeous wings she had. Alex fake-whispered, nonchalant: “You have an ex who's a Zenescope character?”
At least Jackie let out a startled laugh, and the woman (Angelus? Maybe more of a codename..) looked put out. “I am Light and Brightness, I am more than your pitiful God and his incarnation, I am the Angelus, and you shall treat me with the respect a being older than time is due, you filthy Darkness whore!!! Quarter the madman!” And a bunch of horned, “angelic” creatures appeared to Alex’s eyes, even though the complete lack of reaction from Jackie indicated he had been able to see them all along.
It was bad. There were three dozen of the bright nudist creeps, and they were two squishy mortals without access to Jackie’s dark magic that the Summers brother suspected was a being roughly equal to that “Angelus” chick if she took Jackie’s existence so personally.
Alex was more annoyed than scared, if he is being honest. Maddie was much scarier, and she is just.. understandably moody, with everything life threw at her.
“Hummm… Must be Thursday." Alex snarked. He gave a quick side-glance to his boyfriend. “You are paying for my clothes. I know you won’t mind.” And then, he unleashed his light on the “angels”, who did not like it one bit, based on the fact that they- melted. “Damn, I’m used to people burning.” Alex whispered to his boyfriend. “Any risk they reform? I saw that before.”
Jackie was a mob boss with (presumably) supernatural powers. His surprise was visible for only a split second before he “whispered” back. (More like spit.)
“What? No, never saw. Can you hit the lights, I can bring back the darklings.”
Alex smirked. According to Jackie, he even cackled, but Alex has no memory of that (and the one time he was a cackling maniac… Yeah, no, not going there.) “Six giant anti-minion summoning projectors down, coming your way.”
The things were clearly not planning on a man who could shoot plasma from his chest. They were so confused Alex even made finger guns and said “pew pew” as he blasted both the supernatural beings and their machines. If only it had been so easy to get rid of the living pharaoh’s traps that aimed to reduce him to a living battery.
As soon as he was out of the literal spotlight, Jackie was back from modeland and into Geiger’s superhero universe, not that Alex saw much of him when he wasn’t illuminated by the light coming from Alex’s blast. Honestly, neither Jackie’s armor nor the demons he created seemed to enjoy the fact that Alex was like a sun in the dark warehouse, but they had to make due, and most stayed far away from him, only shooting from afar when something invisible was getting too close to Havok.
Seeing that her plan went pear-shaped, the Lady of Brightness (Damn, Alex sucked at naming people. Well, not that many people remembered, but Havok was his lab rat nickname when held captive by the son of the Sentinels’ creator) scoffed and made her dramatic exit.
Damn, even mafia leaders can’t escape them. The drama queens in capes and latex. Or well, G-strings, in that specific case.
As he was tearing through the horde of creatures, be it by riddling them with bullets or ripping arms, Estacado was talking to someone or something else that Alex couldn’t hear. Just great, he now had TWO lovers that were tormented by demonic entities into being rulers of armies of darkness. At least this one wasn’t planning on killing his child, or something. (Yes, Madelyne had regretted it, but still. You start by trying to sacrifice your kid for demonic powers, you end up letting your boyfriend in a state of undead out of fear that he would leave you.)
Once they were finally alone (with Jackie’s horde of foul-mouthed goblins. At least these ones seemed to be utterly thrilled that Jackie’s new “boytoy” was a moving weapon), and the only light sources were the new holes in the walls, the mob boss’ supersuit evaporated into the darkness it came from, and it grabbed Alex to go outside of the place before he came crumbling down/the cops arrived after all the noise they made.
They were in these remote corners of New York that didn’t seem like they should exist with how alone people still managed to get, but still. You never knew. When they were a bit more far away, Jackie let go of Alex almost reluctantly.
“Soo..” He started. “You have powers?” Alex laughed. “Dude, you met me in a supervillain bar. What, you think I have the skills to create a crazy piece of tech, or at least take care of it after I stole it from wherever?”
Jackie at least had the decency of acknowledging he walked into it, and shut up. One of the imps(?) wasn’t so smart. “Pretty mouth AND sharp tongue? Good lay, boss.” “Can I shoot him?” Alex commented with a raised eyebrow. Jackie was clearly insulted on Alex’s behalf, and declared: “Allow me” before making the goblin dance over his bullets. With a gun that wasn’t Jackie’s normal weapon, but something that came out of the gauntlet of darkness he now had.
Jackie then asked: “This isn’t.. a problem? The tentacles, the Angelus after you, the Darklings.” He made a wave around to the many creatures that were around them. One of the eel things that came from the mobster’s shoulders earlier on went to nuzzle against Alex’s side, while another rubbed his large teeth against his neck. Alex pet it. “Naaah. One of my ex-girlfriend is Madelyne Pryor.”
Jackie had a small movement of jerking back in surprise. “The girl who put a giant demonic tower in the middle of the city?!?” he pointed at the embassy in the distance, with its mushroom shape. “The very same. My brother’s first wife.” Alex gave a small smile of melancholy.
“Wow. Wait. That ex-girlfriend of yours? Wait, is your brother Cyclops!!?!?” Jackie looked both disturbed, confused, intrigued, and panicking. “Oh yeah.” Alex winced. Jackie looked in the distance like a traumatized veteran. “Oh my... Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor dated.. That somehow explains so much and nothing at the same time.” The younger Summers tried to wave it away. “There are details I’m not sure I should share right now that explains it more.. Long story, you probably don’t wanna know.” To his surprise, Jackie actually did choose to ignore it for the time being.
“Wait, you’re a mutant?” Alex squinted his eyes and raised his voice. “You’ve got a problem with that?” He growled, one of his first leaking blue energy. His sleeves were already ruined, and a large navel blast had made a giant hole in his T-shirt anyway.. “No, I just..” Jackie realized he had no way to make it look good, and simply scratched his neck, his eyes to the ground, properly cowed. “I’m sorry. Was not expecting it. You... I don’t know, you don’t look like you enjoy going in thighs.”
Alex let the silence between them last some time. Even the creatures looked worried. One of the eels snapped its jaws near Alex’s ear, which resulted in Jackie grabbing it and insulting it. Finally, the mutant said: “I don’t enjoy it, but I never seem to be able to get out. I will say, I know some people who manage quite well, even some former teammates.”
“Wait, does that mean you’ve been an X-man?” Jackie looked away from the underlings he was cowing, his eyes focused on Alex, like he was worried for him. Only Lorna even was so open in her fears for Alex, and they were unfortunate enough to always both be so hurt that they couldn’t be capable enough to take care of the other. Still, there was an undercurrent of intrigue. Alex remembered why he liked Jackie’s presence so much. The guy knew nothing about him, and had genuinely approached their relationship like Alex was a civilian to pamper and protect. It was now time to show-off.
“Dude, I have led a team of Avengers.” Alex smirked, a hand on his throat as if to say: “Darling, I am so much better than you, now soak in my glory.” Reality then came back with a vengeance inside of the former governmental agent, and he bit his lips, let his hand drop, and added: “This was the worst period out of MANY in my life. I am now infamous for the “m-word” speech. Yeah, seriously, I went there.” He put his nose and mouth inside of his hands, and let out a gurgle. Jackie patted his back awkwardly with a look of complete befuddlement. “Damn, hero stuff is not for you, carissimo.”
Alex let out a little giggle of nerve and relief at that. “You’ll be surprised how much I have both wanted these words and hated them when I was told them, hon. You’ve got no idea..”
The Italian’s brows twitched. “Wait, how come you’ve been an Avengers and X-Men, but they let you in the villain bar?” Alex smirked. “A girl has to have some secrets, Mr. Estacado.” He said, playing coy with his hands behind his back. The goblins laughed. “But let’s say I have some interesting baggage. I mean, I worked for the limbo administration, and I was even the face of a US government team. Twice! I can’t believe you did not try at all to check who I was!!”
Jackie seemed slightly offended, but mostly amused. “Hey! I asked around in my corners! Not my fault you aren’t known by mobsters and crooks, just by the megalomaniacs and the feds!” “Oh, is that a question about joining your gang, Jackie?” Alex asked, feeling mixed feelings about the idea. “Because I’m not sure if I want that, or that I fit that well with your team. Seriously, I don’t care, but what is this about?
Jackie sighed, but explained without complaints (Incredible, Scott should have taken notes, even if he wasn’t there as usual when his brother was doing stuff). He was the latest member of a dynasty of crooks, murderers and monsters. But on top of their metaphorical horrors, every man of the family is the host of the very concept of Darkness, an entity that could only be called a God. As soon as the next boy was conceived, the previous Estacado died horrifically, avoiding the lineage to spread, but they could create monsters to pillage, rape and kill, amongst many other abilities. “I am actually one of the nicest Darkness holders there ever was, and I was already killing without regret as a teen.” Jackie admitted, and it seemed he was only feeling guilty about NOT feeling guilty for who he was.
“My powers started to manifest on my 21st birthday. I’m still new at this, even if I am always discovering new stuff on my own. There is a cult dedicated to the Darkness. But I don’t trust them. They want it freed.” “Eurgh, I’ll have to tell you about it some other day, but I also had to deal with a cult wanting me to join them. Horrendous, I feel you, man.” Jackie’s face lit up at the admittance.
“So, I have the powers of a sun within me, you are the Heir to the Darkness with a capital D? And I guess that Angel thingie is Light with a capital L, and you don’t want to be possessed by your powers like that lady was?” Jackie was clearly unused to someone just accepting the weirdness; “Yeah, kind of. The Angelus is the opposite of the Darkness, but it’s not good either.” “They never are.” Alex spat. Jackie looked at him with a question on his face, but Alex refused to add details.
“Well, don’t worry. I don’t believe you are a good man, but I know you aren’t that type of monster.” Alex said. “I knew what I was getting into. You’re still the Italian mobster who believes The Grandfather is an ideal to try to emulate and enjoys way too much things based on their price tag. That you are also capable of getting a sexy breathing suit of armor and can summon monsters like my ex, the Queen of Limbo, isn't scaring me, buckaroo.” A “Darkling” said: “damn, think I have my shot at dating the freak?” The creature did not survive.
“Well, you are right, Alex. I am morally obligated to buy a new leather coat.” Jackie smirked. “I guess you’ll have to accept the true leather jacket, though. I don’t think I can allow myself to be cheaper for my boyfriend. Damn, and me who thought Wenders was absurd when he recommended that I try guys if I was too worried to have sex to not get a girl pregnant.” “Not trusting protections? I mean, I get it if your life is on the line, but-” “The Darkness is sentient, capable of manipulating things to an extent, and I am a very reluctant host. Let’s say it has already tried for me to get replaced.” “Got it. Oh God, does that mean I will have to deal with a former hornbag sexually frustrated when we fuck?”
“Hey!! I will be nothing but a perfect gentleman in bed, you hear that!”
They went to go drink some things at Jackie’s rich-ass’s apartment. They did NOT have sex that night. Instead, they continued talking of everything and nothing, of baby names for a boy Jackie could never meet, of demons and Perilous Siege, of Alex’s beer tastes that disgusted Jackie the wine snob, or of past loves. Of demon doctors and cottupy cops. of hallmark movies and what kind of dogs they should have. Alex rambled about Cool Rock facts. Jackie was still scared Alex would need a gun to defend himself like a “true” American (a career criminal, more accurately, Alex said out loud by accident, completely drunk. Jackie found it hilarious.).
-
“And so, we have Bianchi's location. We are acting tonight, before he moves out. We are not sure of the firepower on hand, we shall give you bulletproof armor, except for you, Guido. Any questions?” Valerie declared while pointing at the dock warehouse on the screen.
Alex raised his hand while looking at his phone. Lorna raised an eyebrow at her former boyfriend's reaction. He had been acting weird since Valerie introduced a mission that included New York's mafia. Freakshow made a groan of annoyance. “Oh, come on!! How many people are there on your contact list? You've got a pop-star, weapon dealers, a slew of mercenaries, Avengers, who are you calling for help? Moon Knight? Frank Castle?” Lorna had to admit, for a guy who seemed to doubt people are for him, Alex had a great contact list.
The blond made a show of thinking it over. “I don't have Moon knight's number.” He pouted a bit. “I really should. Probably can get it by asking at his mansion. Castle's too much of a loose canon. Have you heard what he did when S.H.I.EL.D. asked for his help?” “I didn't, and don't want you to tell us.” Valerie deadpanned. Polaris was kind of intrigued, tho. At least she could ask later on. “True, anyway. I can give us support, I know a guy high-ranked within the Franchetti-Estacado cartel. I think they would be ready to help get rid of a rival, if we are lacking in manpower for an unofficial hit.”
“High-ranked indeed, if he can get away with calling it that.” The police officer who came to them with the demand to deal with the mutant trafficking ring looked at Alex as if he suddenly realized there was a snake in the garden.
Alex just shrugged with a satisfied smile. Lorna squinted in worry. What the f*ck did Alex do this time?
“Well team, let's see how our new fit fits.” The pun made everyone shudder and groan. Valerie stopped him from rising. “We haven't given the approval for the mafia's help, Alex. Stop ignoring me.” “Stop ignoring everyone else's opinions or reserve they have, Val.” He shot back. Guido and Lorna, used to it after all these years, just tuned out. Their newest members like Akihiro or Xyber, looked worried. Ah, baby Wolverine is not used to X-Teams, all things considered. What was he even doing here anyway, Lorna wondered, confused. This was NOT Krakoa's X-Factor.
It took a shouting match (or two), but the cops seemed just thrilled by it, so Alex won the war without winning the battle. He called.
It took only two rings. “Hey, honey.” He said, chipper. Oh god damn it, Alex, who are you dating now? Madame Masque 2.0? Hey, she has reasons to worry, and she has no idea who these Frasetti-Avacado are.
“Careful, I'm at work.” Some unintelligible mumble. “Yeah, so, we have some idea on where to hit Bianchi. Yeah, not my service normally, but cops have asked for help for mutant trafficking.”
Alex suddenly made a face. “Really? Like that? Oh, Thanks, truly.” He put his hand on the phone. “They said yes!’
The Captain made a face. “While I can buy any members of Estacado would be thrilled to destroy their current rivals, just who is your girl for her to have influence on Jackie Estacado's decisions,or at least have enough clout that she can command a squad in a day?”
Alex gave a smile that was his “I am laughing at you but trying to hide it as a self-sufficient smug smile”. A very specific smile, yes, one that he rarely had, but Lorna knew Alex maybe better than she knew herself.
Instead, the middle Summers child asked what kind of info they could give. Lorna immediately noticed the captain told Alex to give a rendez-vous point that was later than theirs, and Alex's face told her he noticed too. Oddly enough, she could not notice any words that came off as a good covert message that something was happening. His tone was also exactly the same as before.
He wouldn't do that to a girlfriend, right? Like, Alex sucked as a boyfriend, but it wasn't on purpose. Actually, he cared maybe too much about the other's happiness. That had led to one disastrous wedding reception.
Alex ended the call while still sounding happy, re-affirming that the priority was the safety of the human “merchandise", that he couldn't wait to see [her] and then glared at the captain once the phone was closed. He darkly said: “If you are planning on doing something, believe me, I won't have to do a thing for it to blow in your face, but don't screw that for me.”
Oh, Alex. Always giving too much of the benefit of the doubt.
By the time X-Force and the police were on the scene, the warehouse was on fire, even MORE people than expected were panicking on the ground in power-dampering collars, and there was gore on the windows.
The Captain paled: “Holy shit.” Valerie made a strong face, but she was clutching Clarabelle's hand. Alex seemed over annoyed and had entered the realm of the pissed.
An unarmed Italian model in a suspiciously impeccable suit came out of the fire. “Alex? You're early.” He says, confused. Havok in full tactical gear walked up to him. “Dammit, Jackie!! We wanted him alive for interrogation.”
This was the guy who led the mafia team Alex had ties to? Damn, Lorna knew Alex could be irresistible to some, but no way someone would pick HIM when that other man gave hints of being available. Holy shit, was Alex banging the sister of a mob boss? She was starting to think he truly did not have interest in Anne-Marie, despite her suspicion. Northstar would apparently not have been an obstacle for Alex...
The guy scrunched his marble front. “Well, no matter what was the plan, turns out this was a set-up, based on what we tore out of Bianchi before killing him. Didn't you find it suspicious that a cop came to your team rather than more proper feds?”
Lorna heard Alex make a noise of disagreement, but she turned towards the captain, and refrained a gasp at seeing the guy dead on the ground, holding his deeply torn throat, his face forever held in a silent scream. Well shit, the mafioso had mutant connections too.
The man continued: “Plus, I made sure every one of your people came out, even had some.. agents, take care of the wounds of one of them. Wasn't that the important thing?” Alex gave a back glance, saw the corpse, looked slightly more annoyed (he WAS one of the most okay-ish with killings, so no surprise there), before turning towards the dangerous man, his arms crossed. “And you couldn't let us interrogate him either. Dude. Let me do stuff.”
Estacado.. blushed? “Sorry, I know you're capable, but I don't deal well with people threatening my folks.” Alex rolled his eyes. “You're lucky you're cute, you dark and broody romance novel protagonist.” And he then kissed the mob boss.
Oh.
Ah dang it, Lorna had lost her bet that Alex's first male kiss was Bobby's current boyfriend!! Well, clearly there was one thing to do.
Make sure that guy knew what was good for him was being good to Alex. She walked with conviction.
“Hello. Lorna Dane.” The man beamed and only then looked her over. “Wow, Alex talked a lot about you. At times he really makes it sound like the perfect love that was never meant to be, sometimes I think you two should have been friends and never something else. I can see why he couldn't resist.”
Alex slapped him at the back of the neck. “Dude.” Jackie was completely unrepentant. Lorna effortlessly detected still-working guns in the warehouse and had them fly outside to threaten the man lit up by the fire. “This is The Talk." She calmly said. “You might be used to people folding over, but be aware you don't treat him right, and there will be literal Hell to pay.”
The guy smirked at the mention of Hell. “Well, I definitely won't mind seeing more of you. You probably won't take a job from me like Alex, but do know Jackie Estacado will always answer Alex Summers' calls, and also yours, cara.” He tried to kiss her hand, he got whipped in the face by the butt of a rifle.
Alex laughed, so at least he accepted Lorna's approval as it came.
Guido himself was stunned. “So.. you're dating a mafia leader now, Alex? Aren't you afraid about conflicts of interest?” “Naah, it's fine!” Despite Alex seeming certain, Lorna was certain it wasn't, especially given Valerie's face, but hey, that was Alex. Maybe he would even manage to make it work. Who knew, odder things had happened.