X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ Seven Deadly ❯ Pride ( Chapter 5 )

Seven Deadly

A X-Men Fanfiction

Written by RogueMoon

 

Chapter Five

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PRIDE: Unrestrained appreciation of our own worth; a desire to be more important or attractive than others; considered the most serious of the seven deadly sins; that which drove Lucifer to compete with God and fall from Heaven

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The Devil was making him wait. The tests were worrisome. His metabolism too high, burning too much energy, too many nutrients. He had to take it easy. Only two hours in the gym, eat only what he needed and no more, then back to the lab for more poking and prodding. More tests and experiments with his blood to try and fix it.

He couldn't join the others when they went out on missions. Got out of the facility. Did their jobs. He could still do his job. Do any job. High metabolism or not. The Devil wouldn't let him. His only consolation came from the fact the Devil was working all hours to try and fix his problem.

He was the one the Devil cared about. He was worth it.

But he was stuck below ground. The lab complex was entirely too small for his liking. Funny that it felt that way when it was one of the largest of the Devil's homes. Fully staffed and all.

He needed to get out. Get some fresh air. Prove he didn't need to be stuck inside just because he was hungrier than usual.

He finished breakfast, restless as he carelessly tossed his trash at the can, missing by a mile. Satisfied when the packaging ignited in a soft foom. Smile splitting his face at the cursing of the staff, fire extinguisher being pulled out.

Laughter rang down the hall.

He wandered. He knew every corner, every hidden passage, every vent, every way to move unseen through the facility. And could do it blind. He was so bored. He was better than this.

A stop at his room to get a shower and change of clothes. A note left on his table. Grey Crow. Mission. Wish he could be there.

He scowled and made the note go boom. Got changed.

He was going outside, needed to go outside.

The Devil be damned.

Trench pulled comfortably over his shoulders, he casually snuck out of the lab and up to the surface. To the quiet Chicago neighborhood just outside of downtown.

It was windy. Cut at him. Chilly. He forgot it was fall. Coat hugged tighter about him. Sunglasses on.

Smirk that made every woman he passed blush and cast second or third glances his way. Every man who wasn't gay or bi jealous, territorial.

He wandered the streets below high rises. Glancing in shop windows, the smell of deep dish pizzas, so famous, enticing him. His stomach growled.

He found a pizzeria attached to an outdoor cafe. Took a table there. Put himself on display. Like he was better than everyone there and knew it.

He was.

Service came immediately. Pretty girl, if chubby. Probably 200 pounds. Not a terrible weight with her height. In her late twenties. Two-toned black and purple streaked hair in a bun. Blushing and flirting and trying to hide it as she took his order.

Another smirk, French endearments pouring out like the smoothest silk, tumbling from his lips. Girl probably wished she had learned that in school instead of Spanish. No alcohol, the Devil had been clear on that. Just a tall, cool glass of milk. Skim if they had it.

She would have gone out and bought him a carton from the nearest market to make sure he got what he wanted. She had other customers before him. She ignored them for his attention. Her co-workers envious.

They should be. He was worth it.

People passing on the sidewalk beyond the small iron fence. Long glances, trying to catch his eye. Phone numbers, slips of paper and business cards mysteriously appearing on the edge of his table. Just as mysteriously disappearing into his coat sleeves. Never looking at them. There one moment, gone the next.

He wasn't even trying.

Someone stopped outright, staring at him. He wouldn't have noticed otherwise. They were all so beneath his attention now.

He looked over, met their eyes. That smirk becoming a cruel, terrible grin. Jubilee. The little Asian-American. Logan's pet. Next to her, a girl with a dark, millano look. Blush painting embarrassment for her friend over her features. Indulgent embarrassment She was attracted.

Jubilee was shocked.

He licked his lips slowly, suggestively.

The pretty, young eyes widened. He imagined she must have gasped, the way her mouth fell open. Though the sound of the crowds and traffic drowned it out.

Her mouth moved. She was trying to speak. No sound came out. Her lips formed the syllables. Gambit.

A question. Unbelieving, but wanting so hard to believe.

He tipped his glasses down. He saw the hope, the joy, the smile take over her face as he winked at her. Red on black eyes.

She jumped the fence and hugged him, laughing and crying and causing a scene. He laughed back, told her and her friend to sit. Join him. Lunch was on him.

The waitress would get them something. Soda's. Pizza. Salad. Whatever they wanted. She blushed and hurried off to do so.

So many questions. Where had he been? How had he gotten out of the arctic? Why hadn't he called anyone? How had he survived and thank God that he had. Cerebro couldn't find him. They thought him dead. All deflected and left with vague non-answers that seemed to satisfy for now.

So many upset looks from passing women who wanted to be sitting with him.

He asked questions of his own. Genuine interest in finding out what had happened to the X-Men since he last saw them. It had been months, after all. He needed up to date intel.

Jubilee and her friend, some flower name or another, were gossips. Once set in motion, their mouths wouldn't stop. They didn't notice how much he ate. How much they ate. How long they sat there until the sun began to set.

They wanted him to come back with them. He said no. He was staying with a friend for now, he would be fine. He'd be in touch later. More vague non-answers. Non-committal.

He'd go easy on Jubilee. Make her death quick. She hadn't actually been one of the ones to condemn him. She just had the misfortune to run with them.

Bill was in the hundreds when they were done. Charged it to the Devil's alias. Came back approved.

Jubilee tried to follow. Tried to find out where he was staying. To lead the X-Men there.

Lost her easily.

He was so much better than them. Didn't need to come back. Run back to them, tail between his legs.

He was better than the whole damn city.

The Devil met him at the door. The door to the brownstone. Less people passing on the street. The Devil looked like an elderly doctor, nothing out of the ordinary as he took the steps two at a time.

He smirked at the Devil, shrugging as he passed. Told him he wanted a real meal. Chicago style deep dish. What better place than Chicago.

Told the Devil he ran into Jubilee as the door shut behind them. Told him the gossip.

The Devil sighed, but couldn't bring himself to do much more. The Devil knew he was good.

The Devil had answers. One of the tests were successful. Tissue regeneration from the frostbite therapy, to keep muscles from atrophy had triggered some regrowth of the brain tissue. The part that had been taken out years ago. His body required more energy because it was producing more. But had no where to go. Nothing to burn but his own body fat. Not all the tissue had regrown.

The Devil would either have to remove the new mass or reattach the old. His choice.

It was an easy choice.

Surgery would commence as soon as possible. Cost negligible. Always negligible.

He was worth every penny.

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End Chapter