Bluff (Logan & Daken)

[Gummy]

Daken was in an even fouler mood. He had been hunting for the man for too long and his patience was almost gone. He had gone into the sticks trying to locate him but he had missed him once again. The vehicle he had stolen was left on fire at the bottom of a mountain road as his temper had got the better of him. The tiers were slashed and windows smashed before he set fire to it and shoved it down the hill. The one bit of destruction was enough to calm his temper just a little.

He had re-read the articles about the kids and other incidents which gave him an idea. It had taken him a good day or two to get back to New York but this time his plan was already being made in his head. When in New York all he needed to do was to find one of the 'deralict' areas that wasn't too hard. The city was looking tired.

The building was a rust riddled apartment block with hardly anyone there, only a few people who were worse off than him. Scoffing he headed inside. Now for the bait. One of the down and outs must have a child at least and sure enough there was one. Smiling he approached.... the bait was now set.

The scrap of a kid headed straight for Xaviors mansion looking for Logan. Where they were to say their sibling was in trouble. They explained that they were stuck and the kid thought they had moved through the wall. They had seen Logan and thought he could help with his strength and claws. The kid even put on tears. If Daken had been there he would have been proud of the acting skills.

Meanwhile, he was setting the trap for the man. One which would mean his revenge was dealt.

[Rift]

Logan had only been back to the mansion for a few days when the kid came calling. While it wasn't exactly what he had expected, he was lying if he didn't admit that having an excuse to get out and away from the accusing eyes of the other X-Men wasn't just what the doctor ordered. Sitting there, trying to act as if everything was back to normal and he hadn't killed Jean and others while acting as the Horseman of War, it was driving him insane. Scott had dragged him back despite his better judgment, but even if Slim had gone ahead and forgiven him it didn't mean the others were so eager to give him a third chance.

Face it, what really matters is that you can't forgive you. You know ya don't deserve it and if they are scared of you they've got every reason to be. Ain't nobody more scared of you flying off the handle than you are, he thought.

So when the kid came running up with his sad sob story, Logan took a single glance behind him to make sure nobody was dogging his steps or eavesdropping, before following him. He didn't want any of the X-Men following him, not because he couldn't use their help, but because he had a nagging feeling that the kid wasn't playing it straight with him. Sure he had the tone of voice, the fake panic, the almost about to cry look, and could lie better and with a straighter face than most politicians, but this wasn't Logan's first rodeo.

He followed, dutifully nodding, telling the kid how it would all be okay, but as he did he listened.

Kid's heartbeat is going fast, but not fast enough for someone panicking over a brother or sister stuck in a wall. Just fast enough to be concerned cause he's selling a pack of lies. Sweating too, means he's nervous, but he wasn't until he actually found me. Now he's alone and hoping I'm buying this load of crap.

When they were far enough away from the manor that he was sure they were not being followed by any overly curious mutants, he came to a stop.

"Alright, hold up kid. Played your game junior, but I'm done. Guessin' someone put you up to this, a decoy to lure me away. Hope you got paid upfront, cause the folks stupid enough to try and make a run at me are not likely to have much use for ya once your role as bait is finished. They ain't the most forgiving types. Why don't you tell me who did this and maybe you can get out of Dodge before whatever trouble they're bringing catches you up in the middle. Wouldn't be the first dead kid I've seen, but I've a hard enough time sleeping these days without your lying self being added to the stack," he said with just enough edge to let the kid and anyone listening in know that he wasn't in the mood.

[Gummy]

The kid grinned at Logan as if the game was definitely going to be fun. Daken had thought of this but it didn't matter. The kid stopped and looked at Logan. He held his hand out as if asking for Logan to pay him.

"Ain't not'in worth doin' if you don't get paid!"

It was simple. Logan was going to pay him. Then he would just get the money off of the man who owed him money. If the money was given then he would only reveal a brief description of a man with a mowhawk. He would also tell him what room to find him in. Then the kid would sprint off heading straight for the room.

Daken was waiting and heard the kid running before the door even opened. He knew what that meant and for once Daken threw a small wad of money at the boy before adjusting where he lurked in the dark and gloom of another shadow. One where he could listen to others moving in the building. Listen for the man he was waiting to see. The kid left with a grin on his face walking away with enough money to see him through a few more days.

Daken waited. No matter he would bide his time. If he needed to send another he would. Only next time the kid wouldn't be in as good a shape. His jaw tightened as his impatience grew, so close, so far away. If the man didn't turn up. He knew who would regret it.

[Rift]

Logan didn't mind the kid trying to hustle him. Brat that he was he still needed to eat. Besides if the kid was half as smart as he seemed he'd of gotten cash out of whoever put him up to this in the first place. His making off with a smug grin and some cash in his pocket was far better than him being caught in the crossfire. Whoever this was had to know who they were dealing with and in his experience the only people who messed with him knowing what he was were either the very stupid or the very dangerous. Given his luck lately, it was probably the latter.

His return to the mansion and the team was still something he was doing more for Scott than himself. It was just fine with him if who or whatever this mystery man turned out to be just so happened to be the thing that finally punched his ticket.

Doesn't mean I'm gonna make it easy on 'em though, he thought with a grin.

And so he carried on, having trailed the kid a ways and waiting until he was gone before he pressed on into the rathole of an apartment. Instantly a cacophony of foul odors struck him. Old blood, spilled booze of multiple types, cigarettes, and stale urine was bad for anybody, but with Logan's enhanced senses it was so much worse. Aside from being disgusting it made tracking that much harder. So instead of wandering through the dark halls and stumbling over bottles, broken floor, and who knew what else, he tried a different tactic.

"C'mon, the brat's gone and just because it smells like Satan's outhouse in here doesn't mean I can't still hear. It's quiet meaning we're all alone Mr. Mohawk. So why don't ya step out and we can start this dance!"

[Gummy]

Daken waited, he heard, he smelt, he grinned like a Cheshire cat. The Bast*** was here!

Yes, the place stank and there was odd dripping coming from various old pipes but it was also silent and a good place for the scum to die. Where he left her so many years ago.

He waited as the man spoke... Mr Mohawk indeed it almost made him laugh but his blood was pumping. Pounding in his ears so loud that it just took one split second, one moment and his held body would moved. Where he stood allowed his voice to echo and move around the empty building. His accent was not oriental but also American and the words were spat out as if he was trying to get rid of a poison.

"We have been dancing for years. You just didn't know it."

Then he moved.He was quick, young, lithe on his feet as he moved the few paces and aimed several hits at the monster's stomach, sides and head. His claws were not out, he didn't need to have them out not yet. He kept his guard up protecting as he went. Each punch, each jab made his yell louder. Each minute moment he glared at Logan. Daken's eyes and face a mixture of oriental and American, similar but different. His words were spat out with the blows.

"You murder! Bastard!"

His fists repeating the pattern of stomach, sides, head, chest. It didn't matter at that moment if they landed or not. His tattoos enhanced his own physique. He was holding back. Waiting for a moment, just one moment. The trap was still there, still set but not yet sprung.

[Rift]

Kid's fast, I'll give him that, Logan thought as Daken began throwing punches.

The way he darted in and out, not really concerned with landing blows so much as showing he could, told Logan that he was testing him. It was something he'd done himself before and reminded him simultaneously of old sparring sessions with some of his masters and of something from the Nature Channel.

He's acting like a wolf on the hunt. Ducks in, tests defenses and reaction times before backing out again and coming from a different angle. I get the feeling he could do some real damage if he wanted to and based on how pissed he sounds he wants to, but he's dragging this out, he thought.

And so Logan allowed the man to land a few hits, blocked a few others, and actually failed to block some. If the mohawk sporting man was going to test him he may as well play along and do so in kind. After one hit got through, bruising his ribs, Logan made sure not to lose his cool, instead returning a few light jabs at his opponent.

"I've been called worse kid. So that's what this about? I gutted someone you knew? Sliced and diced someone and now you want revenge? Just how did you think this was going to go? You'd lure me out here, use some harsh language, and try to act like this is a scene from that Princess Bride flick? Well guess what kid I've killed so many folks I've done lost track. Most of 'em even deserved it, so yer gonna have to give me a clue as to what caused your particular beef with me and you better do it quick, cause I'm already getting bored junior!"

Truth was Logan had the faces and screams of everyone he'd slain etched into his mind and soul. Even with a history of memory issues he remembered details if not the whole picture. His comments were designed to piss his opponent off, another test to see how he reacted. For all he knew the kid could be entitled to some measure of revenge.

Lord knows I deserve it. Never should have let Scott drag me back from those damned woods. Maybe this is the comeuppance I have coming to me, but as ticked off as this kid is the last thing the world needs is someone as angry as me walking away from this encounter even worse.

[Gummy]

He didn't care if a couple of Logan's blows landed, it didn't bother him. He knew the Ba**ard was holding back just as he. The words which hurt him worse made him hit home harder. He couldn't struggled to speak and each word was spat out. He knew the blows didn't really matter. What mattered was this man suffering.

"You killed an innocent. Left another for dead."

Then on his next words he allowed his bones to grow as he tried to land a blow to Logans gut.

"Let me give you a pointer!"

Each of his next few jabs had a spiky thrust, the blades only leaving his skin as he tried to land each blow before being semi retracted. His eyes were wide, bloodshot, the spit froth around his mouth and his snarl resembled his father far too much.

"LOOK! AT! ME!"

He aimed a punch directly at Logan's eye but stopped short allowing his twin blades to slowly expand. His arm was steady still coiled as he looked the man in the eyes where the twin blades now aimed. A pause from Daken, that was the first pause. He wanted this old man to see who and acknowledge who he was before he would try and land some gut splitting blows.

[Rift]

For the most part Logan allowed the young man to throw his punches, largely opting to take the hits rather than try dodging or countering. It hurt, but he'd been hurt before and far worse. At the moment he needed to learn more about the kid, who he was, and why he had it in his head that they were enemies.

"You killed an innocent. Left another for dead."

That hurt more than the punches did, largely because Logan couldn't refute it. He didn't know specifically who the man was talking about because despite his earlier attempt to anger him, there was truth in what he had told him. He'd slain many people over his long years and he couldn't say that all of them deserved it. When the rage overtook him and the animal took hold he tended to start slicing and dicing anything in his path. Had he killed someone close to the kid? Was there someone in the long line of bodies of his past that had simply been in the wrong place with the wrong mutant at the wrong time? Truth was he just didn't know. It was one of many times when the holes in his memory tormented almost more than the sins he did remember committing.

It was as he had that thought that he notices some of the blows had drawn blood. The wounds were minor, the lacerations already healing.

Hmm. I'm not so rusty that I missed a shiv, so what the devil is...

It was at that moment time almost seemed to slow as the kid aimed straight at his head. He saw his face, really saw it, for the first time. The curl of his lip, the flash of his teeth, and the rage in his eyes. It was like looking in a mirror. A mirror that was all too accurate thanks to the deadly blades slowly parting skin on his fists. Claws.

As he sidestepped the punch he had a single thought run through his head.

He's got an animal in him too.

Feeling his anger rise Logan narrowed his eyes at the man, his knuckles popping as he curled his hands into fists.

"Alright Bub, we've played this game long enough. Just what the hell are you? Another Weapon X reject? Another clone? Another #^%&-ing mind game from Department H?" 

[Gummy]

As Logan looked at Daken, Daken only thought how pathetic he was. The age was showing on him but also the stupidity of the man. It was Logan's fault that his family were dead. It was Logan's fault that he narrowly missed punching him in the head. Daken was even more angry. Worked up so much that he reverted back to his native tongue. He didn't worry about landing punches or moving Logan any more. What mattered now was keeping up the pretense that he was trying to hit Logan. Both of them were angry but he had more than that in him. His speech changed to Japanese.

"私はローラとは違います。私はあなたの息子です"
"Watashi wa rōra to wa chigaimasu. Watashi wa anata no musukodesu!"

SPOILER: Click to show

English translation"I am not like Laura. I'm your son!"

He didn't need to say anything else. He just needed to plunge his blades into Logan's stomach just as he had done to his mother all those years ago.

[Rift]

Not much surprised Logan. Over the years he had seen, faced, and done many things that were beyond the pale for most normal people. Whether it was simply the result of an extended lifespan, many and varied covert missions he barely while with Weapon X, or the strange beings and enemies he'd battled as a member of the X-Men there wasn't a great deal that could shake his resolve or throw him off his game.

Daken had managed to do just that.

He'd known about Laura, as someone sent by any remnants of the Weapon X program would, but the disdain he had when mentioning her meant he knew she was an altered clone. The conviction with which he claimed to be his son, his actual flesh and blood relative, was either the best delivery of a lie he'd ever heard or he really believed it. Logan had learned that whenever dealing with someone linked to his past, a past he only remembered in bits and pieces at the best of times, he could never be certain of anything. For awhile he'd actually thought that the scumbag Sabretooth was his father, so it wasn't out of the question that this kid, whoever he was, really believed he was his son.

Someone could have filled his head with this and sent him after me. Rattle my cage, maybe get under my skin in the process. Wouldn't be the first time. I've pissed off some twisted people in my time and anyone involved with experimenting on mutants definitely qualifies. But then again, could he be right? Logan wondered.

He'd known better than to get distracted, to let words get to him, but after everything with Apocalypse and Jean he was not feeling himself. That split-second hesitation however was likely going to cost him...

[Gummy]

Daken saw that second, saw the hesitation, saw the confusion, disbelief and he struck. He moved fast his right hand punching into Logan's right side of his stomach and pulled his blades across as Logan had left his mother and he had been born so he will do the same to his father. He switched back to English as he tried to lift and push Logan back onto one of portruding metal reinforced spikes that had been worn visible through the crumbled concrete.

"I will leave you as you left my mother, Itsu."

He was seeing red and now all he wanted to do was continue with his vengeance. He needed this, he needed to give this man what he deserved. The blood of his adopted family was on his hands but his birth mother's blood was on Logan's. This man was the reason he grew up and could never find happiness. This was the man who had destroyed his family before it had even started. If he couldn't have satisfaction then no one could.

[Rift]

White hot pain shot through Logan as Daken's claws pierced through his side, flesh and innards shredding as he went. Logan howled in agony, as he blindly slashed downwards towards Daken. For a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity he almost lost himself in anger and rage, his vision blinded by the pain that only increased as he found himself lifted off his feet. Instead of giving into the animal as he normally would have, once thing pulled him back from the edge of the abyss.

"I will leave you as you left my mother, Itsu."

In a flash his mind was back in Japan, in a time before he'd met the X-Men, knew of his clone, or had encountered the likes of Apocalypse. In that moment something clicked for him, a realization that this young man could very well be something far more than a trick or evil scheme from Department H or any other long forgotten enemy. Few would know that name or how it would affect him. At the very least the boy believed it and although he didn't want to risk hope, on some level Logan felt the truth of his claims.

Before he could even try to explain or elaborate on what had occurred to Itsu, before he could make a case of how things were from his own perspective, any chance of holding the animal back vanished as the metal piping impaled him. Even more blood and ichor spilled forth as he felt the spike scrape against his Adamantium coated ribs and come just shy of piercing his heart.

[Gummy]

Daken felt the contact of Logan's claw but it was only half hearted. He was too heated to do anything but follow through. As he felt Logan's blood on him he breathed heavily wiping it into a warrior's mark across his own face. He allowed Logan's weight to fall onto the metal and off his arms he laughed at what he saw.

"You ruined my life before it ever began."

Tears were flowing from anger, hurt and hatred.

"Remember this day, remember the pain. That is what you did to her! That is how you left her!"

He pointed a finger and laughed at Logan.

"That is how I'll leave you. "

With that he wiped the mark Logan had caused him with a rag from the floor revealing it already healing. Then dropped it on the floor, turned to leave.

"For your scientists. I expected more from you."

He spoke as he headed for the door.

[Rift]

Logan heard the young man even through the pain. He remembered Itsu, his life with her, and his gut told him that despite his history of rage induced rampages he was not responsible for what happened to her.

But how can you be sure? Between a faulty memory, implanted falsehoods, and being lied to for so long? How do you know it wasn't you? How do you know it wasn't...me? he thought, the internal monologue sounding as if it was coming from War.

His guilt over Jean and the others, everyone he'd been made to kill while under Apocalypse's influence made him wonder how many other monstrous acts he'd committed and didn't remember. Could the kid be right? It was a level of doubt that Logan rarely ever had.

That curiosity would have to wait however, because in short order the guilt and sorrow was drowned out. First by the pain, then by something else, something far more primal. He coughed violently, his breath a rattle as blood poured from his mouth. For only a moment all was silent and for anyone else it likely would have stayed that way. Logan however was just anybody else, any regular human nor mutant.

The silence was broken by a low rumble, a growl as he pulled himself off of the blood covered spike. There on the ground in a crouching position, his head down, the wounds deep as they were began to heal over. Soon the grow grew louder, longer, and his head snapped up his eyes narrowed. What escaped from between his curled lips was a sound many had heard and few survived. It was a savage howl turned roar, the battle cry of the Wolverine.

"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Launching himself from where he sat, blades extended, he gave into the berserker, the animal within as he attempted to return the pain tenfold to the man who very well could be his son.

[Gummy]

Daken heard Logan's growl growing louder and he paused turning his head to look over his shoulder. As Logan started to pull himself off he turned his body and smiled.

"You do have more."

Daken spat a bit of blood onto the floor and clicked his neck, he didn't move anywhere but watched as Logan became more feral.

"You know. Laura and Razor should have told you I visited that mansion of yours. That kid Razor, he sure had a messed up head. Just like you!"

Yes that was pot calling the kettle black. Then again he had spent time hunting this man down and as Logan charged at him he knew this was going to be painful for both of them. He laughed at the irony of his words at the fact he was going to get more sport from this night and that would be good. The more he could torture this man the better. He let Logan come, no point wasting his energy just yet. At the last second he moved sideways and brought his own claws out to play. His bone colliding against the metal. Now, he moved with the speed of youth and didn't care how cut up he would get. This man had ruined his life.