The quiet office on the top floor of Stark Industries Headquarters was illuminated only by the pale glow of the computer monitor.
On the screen, a grainy desert video was playing.
A group of heavily armed terrorists surrounded a kneeling figure. The man's hands were bound, and a black hood covered his head. Several rifles were pointed at him as a camera recorded the scene.
Even without the hood being removed, the hostage's identity was obvious.
Tony Stark.
Standing beside the desk, Natasha Romanoff watched the footage carefully.
As a Level Ten S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, she spoke multiple languages fluently. Unlike most analysts, she didn't need subtitles or translators.
She understood every word being spoken in the video.
One of the terrorists stepped forward and spoke angrily into the camera.
"Obadiah Stane!"
"You deliberately hid the identity of the target!"
"Tony Stark was not mentioned in the contract!"
"This is a disgraceful deception!"
Another man stepped closer, gripping Tony by the shoulder and shaking him violently.
"Because of your lie, the mission risk has increased!"
"The price must be increased to three times the original payment."
"If you refuse—"
The man raised his rifle threateningly.
"We will break the contract."
"You brought this upon yourself."
The video ended.
The screen faded to black.
For a moment, the office remained silent.
Then Deadpool leaned back in Tony Stark's expensive executive chair and casually spun around once.
"Well?"
He looked at Natasha.
"What do you think?"
Natasha crossed her arms slowly.
Her expression was serious.
"Stark Industries is about to experience a massive earthquake."
Deadpool nodded thoughtfully.
"Exactly."
Then he sighed dramatically.
"Pepper is going to get more wrinkles."
"And I really hope she doesn't blame that on me."
Natasha stared at him.
How could someone treat evidence of corporate conspiracy and attempted murder like casual gossip?
Meanwhile, the computer finished copying files.
Transaction logs.
Shipping records.
Financial transfers connected to Obadiah Stane.
Deadpool calmly removed the USB drive and slipped it into his pocket.
Then he turned toward Natasha again.
"Alright."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You now have exactly three hours to explain why you've been following me."
His tone was suddenly serious.
"If your explanation isn't convincing…"
Deadpool slowly cracked his knuckles.
"…I have many interesting toys at home."
"Trust me."
"You won't enjoy meeting them."
Natasha didn't react to the threat.
She simply began speaking calmly.
"I am an agent of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division—"
"STOP."
Deadpool suddenly raised both hands.
Natasha blinked.
"…What?"
Deadpool stared at her.
"Did the author send you here to increase the chapter's word count?"
Natasha: ???
Deadpool sighed.
"Fine."
"Let's just call it S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I've heard of that one."
Natasha hesitated.
"…Okay."
Talking to Wade Wilson was like trying to negotiate with a tornado.
His logic twisted in ways that made normal conversation almost impossible.
Still, she continued.
"I am a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."
"Mr. Wade Wilson, we searched the United States database for your identity."
"We found nothing."
Deadpool nodded calmly.
"That's because I've never been here before."
"This is my first visit to America."
"I arrived on Colonel Rhodes' helicopter."
"If you want to complain about illegal entry, you should talk to him."
He shrugged.
"Besides…"
"Illegal immigration should be handled by ICE."
"I didn't realize S.H.I.E.L.D. had taken over their responsibilities too."
Natasha narrowed her eyes.
"You seem to know a lot about the United States."
"Too much for someone who claims he's never been here."
Deadpool tilted his head.
"Alright."
"Then let me ask you something."
"What if I told you that we couldn't find any records about you anywhere in the world?"
The room grew quiet again.
Deadpool thought about that for a moment.
Then he replied seriously.
"That's easy."
"I popped out of a rock."
Natasha stared at him.
Deadpool waved dismissively.
"Anyway, that's not the important part."
Natasha reached into her bag and pulled out a thick envelope.
She placed it on the desk.
"We created a new identity file for you."
Deadpool opened it.
Inside were official documents.
Passport.
Identification.
Residency records.
All perfectly forged.
"You can now legally live in this country."
Deadpool nodded approvingly.
"Very thoughtful."
Then he looked up.
"So what's the price?"
Natasha shook her head.
"No price."
"We simply want you to consider a proposal."
Deadpool leaned back.
"And that would be?"
Natasha pulled out her phone.
She tapped a few times and turned the screen toward him.
Deadpool raised an eyebrow.
It was the desert cave footage.
The same footage that showed Deadpool cutting bullets and fighting terrorists.
"How did you even get that?" he muttered.
Natasha smiled slightly.
"Don't worry."
"This video currently exists only in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database."
"And unless something unexpected happens…"
"It will remain there."
Deadpool exhaled slowly.
Now he understood.
Since S.H.I.E.L.D. had seen his abilities, their goal was obvious.
Natasha folded her arms.
"I've been observing you for some time, Mr. Wade."
"You're extremely powerful."
"And you're very skilled at hiding that power."
"But you're not the only person in the world with special abilities."
Deadpool looked mildly interested.
Natasha continued.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently preparing a project."
"A team made up of individuals with extraordinary abilities."
She paused.
Then said the name.
"The Avengers."
The word echoed softly in the dark office.
Natasha stepped closer.
"If you join us…"
"You won't have to hide anymore."
Deadpool rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"That's a very impressive dream."
"But do you have something a little more… realistic?"
Natasha smiled mischievously.
"How realistic would you like?"
"For example…"
"My half-year operations budget could easily purchase your ten Mexican burrito restaurants."
Deadpool froze.
Then inhaled sharply.
"HISSSSS."
Declaration of war.
This was absolutely a declaration of war.
He immediately began searching his pockets for something valuable.
Unfortunately…
The only asset he owned was those ten burrito restaurants.
He couldn't exactly sell his suit.
That would be embarrassing.
Suddenly, Deadpool pulled out a small piece of paper.
He raised it proudly.
"Behold!"
"The phone number of the beautiful receptionist downstairs!"
"A priceless treasure!"
Natasha glanced at the paper.
Then she casually tapped her phone.
"Name: Nell Tryst."
"Phone number: 213—"
She finished reading the full number.
Then added calmly,
"By the way…"
"You're missing two digits."
Deadpool clutched the paper dramatically.
"You don't understand."
"That's part of the game!"
Natasha shrugged.
"I still don't understand."
"But you can complete the number now if you want."
"I promise not to laugh."
Deadpool collapsed into the chair.
He clutched the paper like a defeated warrior.
"I lost…"
"The reunion challenge…"
"…is a complete defeat."
After several seconds of mourning his pride, Deadpool sighed and stuffed the paper back into his pocket.
"Fine."
"You win."
Natasha smiled.
"So?"
Deadpool waved lazily.
"Whatever."
"Give me some kind of unofficial membership."
"If something interesting happens, call me."
"But don't expect me to show up every time."
The truth was—
Deadpool wasn't opposed to joining the Avengers.
After all…
Who knew when he might get bored with this world and leave?
Besides—
Deep down, he had always wanted to join.
Natasha extended her hand.
"Then we're colleagues now."
"Natasha Romanoff."
"Codename: Black Widow."
Deadpool shook her hand.
"Wade Wilson."
"Codename: Deadpool."
---
Later that night.
Back at the Disney Concert Hall.
Tony Stark stood at the bar speaking with reporter Christine Everhart.
"So you really believe you made the right decision?" she asked.
Tony smiled slightly.
"More than that."
"I'm actually proud of it."
Christine tilted her head.
"Really?"
"Who else agrees with you?"
Tony thought for a moment.
Then answered.
"Wade Wilson."
"He escaped the cave with me."
Christine nodded thoughtfully.
There were very few people Tony truly trusted.
His best friend James Rhodes.
His assistant Pepper Potts.
And the two men who helped him survive the cave.
Dr. Ethan.
And Deadpool.
Rhodes believed Tony's decision to shut down weapons production was reckless.
Pepper supported him but complained about the overwhelming workload.
Ethan supported the idea but warned Tony to move carefully.
Only Wade Wilson had supported him completely.
In fact—
Deadpool had suggested shutting down Stark Industries entirely.
Tony obviously refused.
The company was his father's legacy.
Destroying it would have been too extreme.
Christine raised her glass.
"Well."
"Have a good night, Mr. Stark."
She finished her drink and walked away.
Tony turned.
Pepper was approaching him with a gentle smile.
"She left?" Pepper asked.
Tony nodded.
"Yeah."
They began walking toward the exit together.
Suddenly Tony stopped.
"Oh right."
He pulled out his phone.
"Jarvis."
"Call Wade."
The phone rang.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Buddy," Tony said immediately.
"Please tell me you're at home."
"And you haven't done anything crazy."
Deadpool's voice came through the phone cheerfully.
"Of course!"
"I'm just watching movies on your giant living room screen."
Tony sighed with relief.
"Good."
Deadpool continued.
"You know…"
"Those movies where there are only a few actors…"
"The entire story happens in one room…"
"They never change locations…"
"And the plot is very exciting."
Tony froze.
"…What?"
Deadpool added casually.
"Oh, and I watched it from the sofa."
Tony screamed into the phone.
"JARVIS!"
"ORDER A NEW SCREEN!"
Deadpool laughed.
"Oh yeah."
"And you might want to replace the sofa too."
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