To see me is to die.

xxx

“Nothing but I guess I’m just wondering.” Logan shrugged his shoulder. “Aint nothing wrong with wondering, right?” He turned to down his drink and order himself a new one. “Trust me, I aint no fan of being killed either but it happens when you’re in my line of work. Just somethin’ you learn to accept sooner or later.” 

“I didn’t say that I changed.” He scoffed at the motion. “I just decided to do something different with the life I never even asked for.” Logan shook his head. “Well, everyone’s different. Before Weapon X, I would’ve gladly had settled down and had children somewhere in deep, deep Canada but now? I’m not so sure about that.”

\

“Does it make me a monster? Because I like doing this?” She asked him. She wasn’t quite so sure anymore herself. She didn’t see anything wrong with killing but everyone else did so what did that make her? Death doesn’t discriminate and all that noise. “I don’t know. Are you often so full of day dreams, wishes and hopes?” She laughed. She wasn’t a cynic but she didn’t fool herself into anything. After all, what would she want if not this? “Oh, I am not scared of it. It isn’t scary. It is what comes after. That is scary.” She went quiet for a moment as she took a sip of her drink, a chill running down her spine.

..

Logan just shook his head. “What can I say? I’m easily pleased when it comes to being offered sex.” He shrugged his shoulders, he had no issues with speaking out about what he wanted when it came down to that, so he took hold of it with both hands and it had been worth it, ISA or not. Not like anyone would find out. 

“But you could know something different, you just have to be willing to seek it out because it’s not going to find you.” Logan pointed out with a small shrug. “That feels familiar, a lot of my memories feel like dejavu some times.” He admitted, at least they could relate there. “I got something different and I knew no different.” Logan told her. “Like we said, I was made to be a weapon by the Weapon X programme, before then I had a life. If it wasn’t for the X-Men, I would’ve been captured by the ISA long ago and working for them, not knowing any different” a beat “do you want to know something different from this life you barely lead?”

\

Elektra sat still for a moment, not sure what to say in response. “And what is wrong with liking things the way they are?” She asked, her eyes glancing at him. “No questions. No prying. Just being.” She said simply, seeing nothing wrong with what they did. “The world is kill or be killed. I’m not exactly a fan of being killed.” Though the taste of death tasted familiar. Did she die? Even she couldn’t answer that one.

..

“Trust me, I prefer your sai’s to be safely in their hiding places rather than in my guts. It’s hot, but even I need a break some times.” He took another deep drag from the cigar, watching her for a moment before turning his attention away. “Beats me, I ask that every day of my life, what else is there but killing and fucking?” He raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Eh, that depends on the next few minutes and the moves you make.” Logan told her, setting his half finished cigar down on the ash tray. “It’s cute that you think of yourself as a ninja.” He couldn’t help but smirk. “But you’re just another cog in the shit machine that is the ISA. Don’t you ever want something different? Like I’m asking seriously this time, not to just get in your pants like last time… although, I wouldn’t say no.”

\

“Yes, well, believe it or not, so do I. Though I often find, once I stop, that is when the feeling of being unsettled sets in. Like stiffening up.” She took her drink from the bartender, letting her middle finger circle the rim in thought. “Nothing.” She answered simply not looking at him. “Nothing for people like us.” She said, taking a sip of her drink.

As he spoke about her being a cog in a machine, Elektra chuckled. “Isn’t that what we all are?” She asked him, her eyes glancing to him. “We exist and we work and we fight and we fuck and then we die. Sometimes.” She added on taking another drink. “Please, you wanted it as just as much as I did. I’ve never met a man who didn’t want to sleep with me.” She laughed. As she thought over his question, her laughter turned quiet.

@risingreddeath

He caught her scent before she even showed herself in Stara Kafana and it caused Logan to take a deep drag of the cigar that he had hanging from between his lips. He turned to the bartender and ordered himself another beer in Sokovian before sparing her a glance when she walked in through the door. “One for her too.” He told them gruffily then turned back to smoking, blowing small smoke rings into the air. 

“I aint ‘ere to fight. Ain’t feeling much up to it.” Logan then gestured to the second drink with his cigar and nudged it over to her. “I haven’t spat in it, you’re welcome.” 

\

Elektra never did expect company. She often found comfort in being alone. It was often because, even if she couldn’t remember, she had a sense of familiarity of being alone. It had its moments of companionship but she often found people fleeting. Just snapshots in what she could even remember from her past. Like scenes but no cohesive footage. So, imagine her surprise to run into an old...something. Could you call it a lover? A friend? Enemies who fooled around? It beat her. 

As he spoke, Elektra didn’t look at him as she took a seat next to him. “Pity. I always thought you liked it when I stabbed you.” She mused before sighing a little. “Believe it or not, neither am I. I suppose being idle really makes you think what else is there besides fucking and killing.” She muttered as spoke in Sokovian for a Manhattan drink. “We’ve done far worse to each other.” She glanced over at him.

“I’ve been dead a few times. Not my best moments, but hey, at least I wasn’t there for them.” Daken shrugged. Elektra was making a cute effort at making her try and sound all world-weary and all-knowing, but Daken had spent most of his 70-something years on Earth training under the world’s greatest killer in the Icey depths of Northern Canada. Sure Hell’s Kitchen must have been really rough. “I do many things, people, and other nouns.” Daken said vaguely. “Nothing I don’t trust you to blab to other people. And you can leave whenever, unless, the ISA has something on you.”

“Armistice. No weapons drawn, for now.” Daken said, raising his hands as if surrendering, and re-sheathing his claws. “I was fully intending to keep my promise. I don’t break my word.”

\

“That is what makes the merciful. Perhaps we are just two individuals giving out mercy?” She humored dryly as she took a sip of her drink. She didn’t miss the look in his eye. The underestimation. She was used to that. A woman in a work as bloody and aggressive as this? Well, that was just the icing on the cake because she loved her job and she loved being good at it. “The ISA is all I know. That and it pays well. As it goes, things that are more expensive sometimes are worse and I am terribly expensive.”

As he put his claws away, Elektra put down the dagger she had up her sleeve. It wasn’t so much for combat but more a quick strike to the throat to escape. She didn’t exactly have the means to kill an immortal. She sure as hell could leave them something to remember her by however. “Oh, I always break promises. It is what makes promises so fun.”

“What are they going to do, fire me? Kill me? I can’t even kill me.” Daken sneered. “Oh no, one guy said he doesn’t really like us. Bullshit. I don’t think they care at all.” Daken said, waving his hand around. “I’ve doublecrossed teams in full view of each other. They just care that I do my job at the end of the day. No one else is willing to do their dirty work.”

“Ooooh, weapons. Deep cut.” Daken said, snikting out one claw. “Literally.” He said with a smile. It was probably a stupid idea to reveal this much to Elektra, but she wasn’t going to do anything. “How about this, I promise not to stab you, if you do the same. Deal?”

\

“Oh, death is a mercy. It is nothing to be scared of.” She wasn’t. In fact, she felt some sort of familiarity with it. Not exactly a friend but a shadow that she felt walk alongside her. Perhaps because she was used to being surrounded by it. Comfortable in its weight. “There are worse fates than dying.” She then looked over to him. “And what is it that you do? They report no results in Sokovia. If you are wanting a free vacation, I would suggest going somewhere warmer to hunt them down so I don’t have to drink this horrid rye.”

“Jealous. If only I could have a manicure like that.” It was similar to Logan’s though she wasn’t going to bring that up. “That isn’t going to work for me.” She said simply as he offered her a promise. “That and let us not make promises neither of us may keep. This is work. Your teammate can be your target tomorrow. Even you. Even me. So, perhaps a truce for a moment.”

. 

Yelena offered a small, wry smile and lifted an eyebrow. “Ah. Well, perhaps. Everyone knows everything about everyone there,” she hummed, even as her gaze slid over the other woman. Certainly this could be interesting. “I see. I can’t believe I’ve met an actual professional killer,” she said, voice soft and dreamy as if this were simply another new adventure on whatever idle trip she had elected to take.

And then came the sharp warning about discussing marks and Yelena couldn’t help but smile languidly. “Ah. Been at it for quite a while then?” She murmured, lifting an eyebrow. They both knew fine well who the other person was, truly. Deep down, it was easy to recognise the death clinging to them and the darkness behind the eyes.

\

“See, that is what is annoying. I would get so bored in a place like that.” She laughed. Elektra often found herself growing tired of things rather quickly if she didn’t find it interesting. She used to count how many tiles were in a Mosaic in her adoptive parents swimming pool when she had nothing to do. The little details on people that gave them away to what they were. The things people believed to be unnoticeable stuck out to her. “Really? Haven’t you looked in the mirror?” She asked casually, finally turning to face the other woman.

“Longer than you have.” She said simply. She wasn’t sure if she had the younger woman made but there was something on the nose she picked up. “You didn’t exactly run away screaming when I told you what I was and seem to have an interest in marks. So, I’d either say you are one of those delusional people who loves killers or you are one. Which is it?”

.

At the unconvinced repetition of her lie, Yelena lifted an eyebrow and nodded a little. “It’s not a particularly exciting village but it kept me going while I was a kid,” she said lightly, turning a little to lean her hip against the edge of the stall as she considered the other woman. Not Red Room. Not any of the other big organisations she was aware of. So that left freelancer. At the very least, perhaps a smaller, independent organisation.

What must it be like to not have patriotism in your veins? Even now, veiled in the cover of an English tourist, Yelena could feel the thrum of Mother Russia’s teachings in her blood, coursing through her fierce and hot. “I uh…I just don’t think I’ve ever met a professional killer,” she said softly, head cocked a little. Her eyes widen slightly, as if she had just thought of something terrifying. “You’re not here for anyone here, are you?” Yelena would have known if there had been a murder in the past day or so - especially one that looked like a professional hit - but she was curious to hear the answer anyway.

\

“Most villages aren’t. Mostly cultish if you ask me.” She said though the irony of it wasn’t a mystery to her. After all, one could say she was in one herself. However, she didn’t know any different. Being a warrior, ready to kill, was just what she was brought up to do. It was what made her. She just learned that death wasn’t anything to be scared of. If you were going to deal it, you also had to look it in the eye and not flinch.

As she seemed stunned, Elektra wasn’t worried. She handled herself before. Confident. “Because many people who do don’t exactly live to tell the tale.” She laughed under her breath. As she asked if she was here for anyone, Elektra looked over at her and held her gaze for a moment, a knowing gaze. “I don’t discuss marks. I’m not an amateur.” She said simply.

.

Yelena slanted a glance at the other, veiling her careful appraisal of the woman under the guise of a curious young woman merely gazing at her new friend. “Oh really? That’s so cool, I bet you travel so often,” she said, injecting just the right amount of dreaminess to make it sound like something she was aspiring to. “I’m from Iffley? Well, Rose Hill technically but Iffley is like the actual village,” Yelena explained with bright eyes. The other woman was an assassin, that was certain, and no amateur.

And yet, there came the unruffled response, as though admitting to her career was nothing more than admitting she was a teacher. Yelena’s brows lifted fractionally and she allowed her lips to part a little in quiet surprise. “Oh. For…for fun or…?” She trailed, continuing to play her part even as she took her order from the server with a murmur of thanks. The elaboration piqued her attention though - the framing of her work was curious. A war in the shadows. It was not so far from what the Red Room had taught her and yet different in so many subtle ways. “So like a soldier kind of?”

\

“Something like that.” She chuckled as she spoke about her travelling. She had seen most of the world. Half for work. Half because she was bored. She wasn’t interested in the sights or whatever spiritual awakening or rich trinket they had to offer. She liked finding the dark underbelly. Places she shouldn’t be. Places she shouldn’t want to be. That was what this war with The Hand was. Fighting in the most unsuspecting places but you can taste the violence in the air. The smell of blood that lingered. The smell of adrenaline and excitement. “A village.” She repeated but unconvinced.

Elektra glanced over her as she seemed to be in shock at what she said. “Well, you have to love what you do. Just so happens I love my job.” She said simply. As she mentioned that she was some sort of soldier, Elektra’s features scrunched up briefly as she shook her head. “Oh god no. Imagine that. Patriotism isn’t my thing.” She said as if she had a bad taste in her mouth. “I don’t dress it up. I’m a professional killer.” She looked at the other girl. “Would you prefer I call it something else? Maybe a maid for instance?”

.

Yelena slanted a glance to the woman who had spoken, taking in the easy but lethal way she held herself, the careful wrap of the scarf, the loaded question. Someone in the business then. No one else would be able to pick their words so particularly. Yelena hummed a little, sliding into one of her easiest tourist covers without another thought. She continued to inspect the food on offer, trying to decide what she actually wanted. She would let no other assassin get in the way of her food - even if it was concerning that there was potentially someone else on her mark’s tail.

“My accent?” She asked. “I’m from Oxford. Well, just outside really - it’s a tiny little town, no one ever knows where it is,” she said with a light laugh before gesturing for the stall owner to come over while she ordered in careful, accented Italian. No sense in showing off language fluency if she was trying to look like an ignorant tourist - halting, basic grasp of the language was a better idea. With that done and the man hurrying off to start her order, she turned a little to flash a smile at the woman, innocent and guileless as she tilted her head in an imitation of curiosity.  

“What about you? Are you just visiting out here too or do you like live local?” Yelena asked, wide eyed and hopeful - the picture of a solo female traveller, eager to find friends.

\

“Oxford.” She repeated as if reaffirming it herself. She continued to inspect the goods. As she said she would probably have no idea where it is, Elektra laughed under her breath. “Try me. I’m a diplomat’s daughter. I have a very good education.” She chuckled as she picked up a simple apple and removed her glasses to look at the young blonde. She would be interested to see just what she was going to say. A child in the game was always interesting because she also was one herself.

Elektra paid the server, thanking him in Italian, flawlessly, making no attempt to disguise any sort of infliction or hesitation. At her question, Elektra glanced over. “Oh, I kill people.” She said simply with a shrug, as if it was a nice little pass time. Like it was something as quaint as knitting. She took the bite of her apple as she seemed to continue going on about her day like murdering people wasn’t what she just said. “There are wars all over the place. Ones in the shadows. That is where I come into it.” She said simple as she tossed the apple in her hand for a moment. 

“I’m not with any team, Elektra. I have a job, but that doesn’t mean i’m particularly aligned with any side.” Daken said as if it were easy. “Listen, the ISA is great. They pay my bills. Do I dream of working there the rest of my life? No.” Daken shook his head. “We could be friends, Elektra. I’m not here for the ISA bullshit. I don’t think any of us want to be here.”

“I’m still young at heart. And I’m not playing any games here. Maybe you should be more concerned about your reaction to a simple proposal of friendship?”

\

Elektra tutted playfully as he said he wasn’t aligned to any side. “I’d watch who you say that to. If this is going to be a game, your going to have to play it better than say such reckless thing.” She mused as she looked over at him. She supposed he was right but how could she have a life outside of this? She didn’t even know who or what she was from what she was told by the ISA. “I draw the line at hair braiding and friendship bracelets.”

“I don’t do friends, Daken.” She replied simply. “I often find people are unreliable. Fleeting.” She told him as she inspect her drink as she spoke. “I often find weapons are ineffective if bound by something like that.”

xx

“I know exactly what I’m doing.” Logan shot back at her and rolled his eyes some at her next words. “I know more than just being a killing machine these days.” He said as she got up and started to leave. At her words to meet her outside, he hung back for a minute or two before downing the last of his drink and headed out of the doors after her, half expecting a fight on his hands. 

\

“Said every man ever.” She called out to him as she made her way to the door. She was confident if not borderline arrogant about that fact but history had the evidence. It was just a shame she didn’t know it. As he stepped through the door, Elektra caught his arm, pinning him to the wall, ignoring if there was any bystanders. A world all of her own. Her lips met his but her own were hungry, as if this was a fight in itself. “This is what you wanted isn’t it?”

xx

“Thanks.” Logan rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t counting on it to save me.” he lifted his own drink to down then moved to get off his stool. “You are rather tragic, yes. Poor thing doesn’t know what it’s like to have her own mind and must do what she’s told to and believe’s she’s a weapon. Yep, tragic indeed.” 

\

Elektra laughed under her breath. “Oh, don’t be such a sore loser about it.” She then watched him stand up. “And you do?” She called out. “You are wandering in the fog as much as I am. Clinging to the only thing you know.” She told him as she too stood up. “Meet me outside.” She said after a moment’s silence as she headed towards the door with a glance over her shoulder.

When: backdated to June 2014 Where: Tuscany, Italy  With: @risingreddeath·

Yelena hummed a little as she weaved her way through the Italian countryside on her favourite motorbike. Alright, maybe it wasn’t hers but she had stolen it and therefore, she was allowed to claim it as her favourite. That was how that worked.

There was a small, local market a little way away from her final destination and so, Yelena checked her time - perfect as ever - and pulled up at the back of the parking lot, whistling a familiar tune to herself as she made her way to one of the food stalls. She knew this place did some truly incredibly bruschetta and she would be remiss if she didn’t taste it before taking off to finish up her mission.

“Excuse me,” she said lightly, veiling her own accent with the soft English lilt that was so easily overlooked in a relatively pretty spot. Everyone loved to assume she was nothing but a naive tourist. “I just have to get past.”

Elektra had learned everything from the Chaste. No parents. No home. Just that she was a weapon to be used in a war. Finding that Matt wasn’t like her. That he couldn’t take the life he needed to. The man who took the life of his father had not only broken her heart but also proved to Stick that Matt didn’t have what it took for the war that took place in the shadows. Ninjas and assassins may have been too much for Matt. He may know the way of the Chaste but he wasn’t ready to act in the way the Chaste wanted. The way they needed.

So, Italy is where she found herself. She wished it was for a vacation so to speak but she had just eliminated a sector of the Hand that was based here. She was never surprised to learn just how far the Hand reached across the globe with no one saying anything. Of course, Elektra had the killing proficiency that the Chaste needed. However, she heard the whispers. That her soul was dark and she would doom them. The opinions of others never was anything she cared for. She knew she was better than all of them combined. The self-importance and arrogance that she felt well earned.

Hearing the voice behind her, Elektra stepped out the way, adjusting the scarf wrapped around her hair. “Nice accent.” She mused as she began inspecting the stall herself. “Where did you pick that up from?”

.

Scott straightened himself up when the knife was removed, half tempted to run away again when she had him up against the wall once again but this time with the blade pressing against his flesh. What the fuck, what the fuck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! What costumed idiots? The Avengers haven’t been in touch with me at all. I escaped the RAFT by myself, okay?”

/

“There is nothing more frustrating than a liar.” She hissed as she leaned in closely. “I had a man lie to me once and I cut out his tongue. “ Elektra bit her lips as she looked at his lips as she reference the cruel act. Elektra’s eyes met his. “You have a storm coming your way. You and your friends better start praying to whatever you worship because when I find you all, you’ll wish you you could rewind time and took my offer.” Elektra whispered before pushing him through the doorway and onto the streets. “I suggest you tell them Elektra is coming to collect.” She called out as she began to casually walk away. “And when they fall, remember it was your choice.”