Gargoyles Fan Fiction ❯ Tangleweed ❯ Chapter 1

WARNINGS: AU, where Jackal and Hyena were separated at birth… and didn't exactly go down the mercenary path… some OOCness, incest, slightly different looks… darkfic, insanity, genetic manipulation and crazy technology…

Disclaimer: Gargoyles belongs to a whole host of companies and certainly not to me. I make no profit from this fanfiction. Don't sue.

Random bit of happy information: Apparently jackals and hyenas can interbreed in the wild. Not that it means anything…

Summary: Jackal and Hyena are business partners-to-be. AU.

Notes: Physics was never Phantomness's cup of tea, and her biology isn't that good, so bear with her er…. Misinterpretation of stuff.

Title: Tangleweed

 

“Please, my lady! This is most irregular! You can't just leave like this-.” The secretary's voice halted as a letter opener sailed through the air and embedded itself inside the wall an inch above her head. The businesswoman stood from her desk, another in her hand.

“I don't recall asking for your opinion, Angie.” She said coldly. “This deal with Jackal Enterprises is terribly important to the future of our company. I don't care about those damned rules and regulations they keep slapping on my genetics research, but it is none of your concern!”

Angie winced. She knew better than to cross Lady Hyena, as the businesswoman was known, when she was in a bad mood, and if that weren't bad enough, the entire collection of `letter openers' in Lady Hyena's desk would have told her to keep her mouth shut otherwise. She swallowed.

“I told you a week in advance not to sign me up for anything today. I shall be terribly displeased if you somehow neglected to follow my instructions.”

“But-but, going there all alone, without any bodyguards - you have many enemies, my lady!”

“And you are being quite bothersome…” Hyena hissed, showing sharp canines. Angie winced, eyeing the blades still in the woman's hands.

“I-I'll be leaving now then…”

“Do it.” Hyena stated coldly. She sighed as she heard footsteps racing down the hall. Most likely she'd need to hire a new secretary tomorrow. Why was it so hard to get good help these days?
Still…

Popped in her green contacts, slipped the sunglasses over them, ditched the wig that gave her that ugly buzz haircut… that worked charmingly on their marketing logo…all right…

Time to leave.

Angie blinked when no more noise came from the room. Peeking inside, she found that the window had been opened and that her boss had gone missing.

“Oh shit.”

 

“Sir, I really must protest! You have a business meeting with-.”

Jackal glared at his secretary, who was male, but seemed to have a bit more backbone. “What part of `I already have a scheduled appointment' do you not understand?” He hissed.

True to his credit, the man only flinched and backed up a step, before standing his ground. “I can't just let you leave, sir.”

“What's to prevent you from stopping me?” The businessman asked, inspecting an invisible wrinkle in his black suit.

Brian swallowed, and held his daily planner in front of him protectively, as if that would help.

The movement was fast - Brian almost expected to Jackal to leap at him, but was unpleasantly surprised when he realized that the man had just dove out of the open window. Blasted windows…

Wait a second…

He rushed to the window, unsure if his boss was suicidal but not wanting to deal with the reporters that might arrive if Jackal was reduced to a bloody spot on the pavement outside. However, great to his relief, if not to his ego, the man had been prepared - with a hang glider of all things! Now how had he hidden that in his suit?

Well, all right then, he'd just have to reschedule this business meeting with the FCC then… pity, they were rather interested in his cybernetics research…

 

Jackal smirked as he slipped his sunglasses on and checked his watch perfect… as he soared; he noticed another hang glider pull up next to his.

“So glad you could make it, my dear lady.”

Hyena smirked. “Same to you, I suppose.” They landed in an alley and stowed their flight capacities, before walking out. Hyena narrowed a glare at her clothing and watched with satisfaction as it morphed into a pair of tight pants and a red tank top. Much better… and so much more convenient…

“You know, I'd be interested in technology like that.” Jackal said dryly as he peeled off his suit, revealing a pair of black tight-fitting pants and a blue t-shirt beneath. “Care to sell?”

“Sorry, this is personal research.” Hyena smirked as he offered her his hand. “Can't just give it out to anyone, you know.”

“And I thought we were getting along so well too.” Jackal smiled as he kissed her. “Something you're not telling me?”

“I think there's plenty I'm not telling you, but shouldn't we… be off now?”

“Lovely idea, my dear.”

“Hmm, I like that.”

 

Jackal blinked for a second, then nodded as they walked out, blending into the street crowd. No one paid any attention to two… teenagers, or at the very least, they were pretty young looking…

 

Hyena stirred her cherry soda as she silently evaluated her perspective partner. She'd seen Jackal only a few times before, but she couldn't deny that he was attractive and deadly, a combination she quite liked. Unfortunately, they hadn't really gotten anywhere besides business, but she kept her hopes up. After all, mixing business and pleasure was fun…

Jackal took another sip of his chocolate milkshake and nodded. They might have looked like any other couple out on the street, if not for the sunglasses. Well, perhaps that wasn't the right way to phrase it. The others unconsciously edged away from them, almost as if they were radiating an aura of danger…

“So,” Hyena said, crossing her arms, “What do you think?”

“Very intriguing… combining genetic manipulation with robotics. Dangerous scheme as well… who is your head scientist?”

“Dr. Anton Sevarius. Have you heard of his research?”

“Ah, yes. He was quite successful at gene splicing and DNA manipulation, I heard he even managed to change rats into mice within a week. Impressive, considering that there's so much work involved, even if their species are closely related…”

“Indeed.” Hyena replied dryly. “I'm glad it meets with your approval, partner.”

Jackal smiled in return. “So tell me… how exactly did you manage to get your suit to do that?”

“I'd show you, but I believe that requires a more… private demonstration.”

“A woman after my own heart, indeed. No need to worry.” Jackal said, as he took Hyena's hands in his own and carefully steered her outside before pressing his wristwatch. There was a subtle shimmer, almost mist, and they vanished.

 

They crashed down into reality again, landing on soft carpet, which made Hyena glad she'd ditched the high heels for more suitable boots. Blood red carpet, Hyena noticed. Nice. The room itself was done tastefully in black and red, hints of metallic gold and blue… very nice…

She eyed the canopy bed with interest but snapped her attention back to Jackal as he smiled. Useful. She didn't know that his company had already developed space-distortion mechanisms, and especially not a unit that small and so cleverly disguised…

Interesting.

“I'm not the only one keeping secrets, am I?”

“No, of course not. Although this is still a prototype…”

“How intriguing.”

“Don't tell me yours is prototype as well.” Jackal replied, watching with interest as Hyena's clothing shimmered again, resolving into an adorable red minidress. He licked his lips appraisingly, noticing her returning look.

Well, this would be fun after all. “What are they?”

“Nanobots, strange, isn't it? We were initially going to use a semi-solid hologram matrix, but then some one on the staff brought up how inconvenient that would be if the generator fizzled and died. Bad publicity that way, so…”

“They're alive?” He asked, watching her with interest.

“Not quite, but they do require an implant to utilize, another reason why we're not marketing this - until we find a better solution.”

“Fascinating.” He traced the golden hyena pendant at her throat, suddenly struck by a thought. “It's this, isn't it?”

“You always were quite perceptive. I knew when I saw you that this would be a good idea.” Hyena smiled as Jackal brought her face up towards his and kissed her.

 

Her fingers tangled in his long hair as he carefully guided her across to the room. The sheets were cool satin underneath her skin as she hit the bed, but really, this was….

Perfect.

 

He stroked her hair afterwards, wondering why it felt so right. It wasn't as if he hadn't slept with others before, but she was different. She called to him and despite her tough exterior and coy glances in her eyes he saw his own reflection… Perhaps it ought to have frightened him, but he didn't care, not really. She was the woman for him, that he was certain of, none other could have endured what he'd put her through, but she laughed with him as their eyes met in the midst of agonizing pleasure…

 

It had been wild and savage and at the same time achingly heartbreaking. She didn't know why, it wasn't as if she hadn't tried her own share of men but they were always spineless underneath their exteriors but he was real… blades of ice hidden beneath a smirk that she knew how to read very well - hadn't she seen it in the mirror for years? And painful though it might have been at first, she had adapted - their hearts beat in rhythm after all.

 

“I don't do love,” He warned her, as they signed the last papers and prepared to part ways for the night. He reached for his shirt as he spoke, meeting her eyes casually.

“Neither do I,” She answered, and he caught the subtle fire in her eyes, inclining his head in a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Silence seemed to stretch taunt between them, but a shout broke their concentration. He wasn't sure which one of them reacted first as the gunmen broke into the room, but he didn't care, because as his throwing knives sank into flesh unprotected by body armor, he really didn't care much…

She was moving faster than she thought she could, the blades shimmering into existence at her fingers and he thought he caught a brief glimpse of - claws? In any case, the security guards came running and winced when they saw the destruction, blood covering what had once been pristine white marble of a dining room. Pity.

There was another brief movement as the nanobots reassembled, replacing golden glove-claws with nothing, shimmering into existence as a delicate diamond bracelet on one hand. Hyena calmed them and felt their hum settle into quiet, multiplying their numbers just in case…

 

Detective Elisa Maza wondered why she always got the strange cases. Ten men with guns taken down by… something with claws or fangs, she guessed, as she entered the crime scene. The businessman was comforting his - wife? Girlfriend? She wasn't sure, but considering their state of undress, surely neither of them could have hidden anything in that…

Then again, there were no security tapes in this area of the mansion - curious, but she supposed as it was the man's bedroom, he didn't want some things on tape. Still, if the security guards claimed that they hadn't come until later - and none of them had knives, just guns and radios, it didn't make any sense…

In any case, the police left after a few hours leaving the couple alone.

 

“Well, that was an interesting development.” Jackal smiled, hiding a smirk. “I didn't know your nanobots were so lethal…”

“And what I want to know is how you managed to hide all those knives in a pair of boxers.” She retorted.

“Ah, well, we all have our secrets, don't we?”

“You're just like me then.”

“Did you doubt it? It certainly explains why we seem to be so… magnetically attracted.” If she listened carefully, with her head against his chest, she could hear a slight hum of machinery. Fascinating.

“Your techs must be excellent. If not for this,” She tapped the pendant, “I wouldn't be able to tell…”

“Well, no point in advertising it, although all our robots are rather flashy…” He smiled. “But what about your own geneticists? They're quite pretty, you know.”

She smiled ruefully in acknowledgment and stretched her fingers, and he watched fascinated, as gold shimmered over her skin in an almost living layer, elongating into wicked claws, razor-sharp, he was sure. “They're beautiful. How did they do it?”

“I think we both have our secrets, don't you?”

“Well, it certainly isn't the nanobots, although you fooled me quite nicely earlier… but this Jackal isn't so easily duped…”

“I could say the same for this Hyena.” She smiled, intertwining her clawed fingers with his normal ones. “You'd look good with these.”

“Hmm… well, I'll do it if you hook yourself up with a linking system…”

“Deal.”

 

Time passes…

 

Angie walked into the room to find her boss looking quite happy, not that it was rare, but she seemed genuinely content, not her usual savage glee when she went after competitors. Hyena indeed, the name fit the other businessmen whispered. A vicious businesswoman, she was…

A glitter caught her eye. She looked again, but it was still there. “Well I'll be.”

Hyena looked up from her computer, finally acknowledging the secretary's presence. “Ah, Angie, there you are. I'm afraid you'll have to cancel my meetings for today.”

“But why, lady?”

“I'm getting married and I'd rather not deal with it. I'll see you in a few months, after my honeymoon.”

“What?!”

“I'm leaving Doctor Sevarius in charge. He'll take care of everything.”

Angie stood there, jaw agape, watching as he boss waltzed out. Now sometimes, life just wasn't fair…

If this crazy lady could find a husband, why couldn't she?

 

“But sir!”

“I can't be late for my own wedding, Brian. I'll be back shortly, I suppose. If not, I'll leave Dingo in charge. He won't screw things up.”

Brian briefly wondered who'd be crazy enough to marry his boss, and settled for nodding and waiting until Jackal was gone before he began to trash the office. Damn, it wasn't fair! The man was rich, famous, and now he was getting married to some hot chick to boot! Meanwhile, he was stuck in a job that was comparable to a war zone when Jackal was in a temper - and he frequently was - and the pay wasn't even that great!

Damn, it just wasn't fair…

 

He was leaving the building when he bumped into a brunette with a heavy briefcase. It opened, scattering papers to the wind. Brian hastily apologized and began to help her gather them up.

“You work for Hyena?”

“Yes, why?” Angie studied the man. Not much older than she was, she guessed, with dark eyes and a shock of blonde hair. He was kind of cute.

“Interesting. I work for Jackal Corporation.”

“No kidding. What do you do? I'm a secretary - Ms. Hyena's, personal assistant, or as I like to think about it, target practice.”

“Funny, that's how I'd describe my boss as well.” Brian said. “Say, I'll treat you to some coffee as an apology for this, all right?”

“Sure.” Angie decided. He was kind of cute and she hadn't had time for dates for a while, what with her job. But now… things were looking up!

 

“So, your boss let you out at one P.M. on a Monday? Wow.”

“Yes, she was rushing off to some wedding or another…” Angie stirred her cappuccino.

“Strange, my boss said the same thing,” Brian took a sip of his mocha before the implications hit. He looked at Angie. “Wait, you don't think…”

“My boss is marrying yours? Well, if the stories I've heard are true, they'd be a match made in heaven - or hell, as it were.”

“Marriage would simplify all the complicated paperwork they'd have to do for their merger…”

“This is too crazy.” Angie sighed. “What were the odds we'd meet up?”

“No idea, but maybe its fate.” Brian smiled as he took her hands. “Maybe this is what we've been waiting for…”

 

“I don't think white is quite your color.” Jackal said, as he eyed Hyena's ensemble. Granted, it was traditional Western gear, but even so, he didn't think it looked that good…

“This is coming from my groom who's wearing jeans and a jacket… when the ceremony starts in ten minutes. Why didn't you get changed?”

Jackal shook his head as he tapped his own choker - strange, she hadn't noticed it before, but it looked rather interesting… she watched in surprise as his attire solidified into a midnight blue tuxedo with a little jackal on the tie.

“I should have known.”

“Let's just say the pattern your nanobots are based on was developed by none other than yours truly…”

“Fascinating,” Hyena agreed, as she watched her own outfit shift to brilliant scarlet edged with gold. “Better?”

“Infinitely.”

 

“Kindred spirits, I swear.” Brian said, as Angie finished relating her tale. “You know, it's odd… I don't think my boss ever threw his letter openers at me.”

“Consider yourself lucky. My life literally flashed before my eyes.”

“Why didn't you quit?”

“Too much trouble, I suppose, and it pays pretty well. Plus I've kind of gotten used to her quirks.”

“Ah…”

 

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Jackal smiled as he kissed Hyena, hardly aware of the photographers in the background, or the decrepit old woman who was in a tree.

Ramona clutched her chest tightly, shuddering. Her worst fears had been realized. She'd dismissed the gossip columns as nothing when they'd first mentioned the merger of Hyena and Jackal, but now… there was living proof right in front of her.

I'm sorry… I should have stopped this somehow…

She ran after them as they walked to the limo, not wanting to make this a public confrontation, but fearing for their lives if this travesty continued. “Stop!”

Both Jackal and Hyena turned, Hyena's expression shifting into annoyance and Jackal's mirroring hers to an impossible degree. “What is it? If it's cash you want, I'm sure we could spare some.”

“It's not that!” Ramona gasped, grabbing Jackal's tie. “It's!”

The paparazzi came running. Hyena tossed the woman into the limo as Jackal climbed in after her and the driver shot off like he was mad. Ramona gasped for breath, noticing with slight alarm that the other two seemed used to the crazy speeding.

“Now then,” Jackal said mock-pleasantly, “Why did you interrupt us?”

“Maybe she's a reporter in disguise.” Hyena's voice had grown more feral, and her eyes glittered maliciously as she extended her claws.

“What-What's happened to you, Harriet?” Hyena flinched back at the name and Jackal frowned.

“And you, James?”

 

“How do you know my real name?” Hyena hissed. She had gotten it changed years ago, who wanted to be called Harriet?

Jackal felt the claws in his own hands slip out and he allowed them, placing a sharp finger underneath the woman's chin. “You'd best speak now, lady. We may be alone, but we're far from helpless.” He laid a restraining hand on Hyena's arm. Not yet…

 

“I-I'm your mother.” Ramona choked out, wondering why her children had become… this. “You-you're twins… that's why I know your names…”

“Liar!” Hyena shirked, and lashed out before Jackal could stop her, tearing three gashes across the woman's chest.

“Shh, shh, love.” Jackal soothed her. “You have no proof, woman.”

Ramona shaking withdrew from her battered purse two documents. One was a birth certificate, another one of adoption….

Jackal and Hyena exchanged glances as the inked pages, before Jackal snarled and dug his claws into the woman's throat. He turned to Hyena as the corpse fell onto the seat between them. “Well, that was an unexpected bit of news.”

“You believe her?”

“Tis not a question of if I believe or no… it is what would happen if the press caught wind of this, my dear…” Jackal said soothingly. “Luckily, they won't…” His eyes narrowed slightly and there was a feeling of slight heat before the papers burst into flame, leaving nothing but ashes in their wake.

“How will we explain this?” Hyena gestured to the corpse as she jabbed it contemptuously. “Should we do something?”

“Don't worry my dear… I'll take care of it.” Jackal whispered as he kissed her tenderly. “No one will know of this, my dear little sister…”

Hyena's smile matched his own as she brought his bloody claws to her hands and licked them clean. Delicious. “Of course, dear brother… our lives are our own now.”

Forever.

 

END FIC

Completed 11/8/05

Hyena and Jackal are at least kind of insane, according to the show and the creators. So I kept em that way, kind of.

Originally, I was going to have Angie and Brian work together to reveal the twin's secret, but I decided this kind of ending fit better, and that's what I wrote.

And I honestly believe Jackal and Hyena love each other, although in what way I'm not sure, but several people pointed out that they probably have an incestuous relationship in the show. Heh. So I'm just playing with the idea.