Following Peter, Wade made his way back to his apartment.
The whole way, he seemed a little... off.
"What's wrong, Wade? You don't look like you're in a great mood," Peter finally asked, glancing at the silent man beside him.
"It's nothing. I think I was just seeing things." Wade gave a forced laugh and shook his head. He rubbed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
All along the way, Deadpool had felt like someone was following him. He couldn't be sure if it was just his imagination. After all, he hadn't worn the suit in ages. He was retired now.
Wade knew what kind of work he used to do—and he was worried that maybe some old enemy had come back for revenge. But it was strange. Things had been quiet for so long… so why now?
Still, it was only a feeling. Wade didn't want to alarm his friend, so he chose not to say anything.
"I think I really need to take a break," he murmured.
"I can call in for you tomorrow—get you the day off," Peter offered immediately.
They kept chatting casually as they walked, and eventually Wade noticed that whoever had been following him had disappeared.
Maybe I really am just being paranoid.
With that thought, Wade finally let his guard down and returned home with Peter.
His mind was still a mess, and he wasn't even sure how he was feeling. He pulled out his keys, stuck them into the lock—and behind him, Peter quietly clenched his fists.
Click.
As the key turned and the lock gave a crisp snap, the door swung open.
Wade pushed the door gently—
BANG!
BANG!!
Suddenly, two thunderous blasts exploded right in front of him.
Wade's expression froze, and his hand instinctively went for the pistol at his waist.
But in the next instant—
"Happy Birthday!!"
As the door opened, the room inside erupted with people shouting and smiling all around him.
"Oh! Y-Yeah! Hahaha!"
Wade swallowed hard, then quickly forced a grin.
Truth be told, he'd just been scared half to death. But he recovered quickly and gave the cheerful Indian cab driver in front of him a big hug.
"Birthday surprise, huh? Totally saw it coming. You guys didn't scare me at all. Nope. Not one bit."
"Really, Wade?" Peter grinned behind him.
"Ah-ha, you big teddy bear." Wade poked Peter in the chest. "You're getting sneaky, you know that?"
As he stepped into the apartment, Wade was stunned to see so many familiar faces gathered in one place. Not just his old X-Force teammates and fellow mercs, but Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and even Yukio were there.
"Oh my god, I don't even know what to say."
His heart, which had been heavy and tangled just moments before, suddenly felt warm.
But soon, he couldn't help but frown. "Wait a sec… aren't we missing a couple people? I get that Thanos didn't come, but where the hell is Weasel?"
Before anyone could answer, Wade waved it off and answered himself.
"Oh right, forgot. That guy's tied up in a lawsuit and couldn't make it. Probably dropping the soap with Kang right now."
Everyone looked at each other in confusion, having no idea what Wade meant by that.
It was Colossus who finally stepped forward.
"Wade, today is your birthday. You can do anything you want."
"Really?" Wade blinked excitedly.
"Uh… well, not everything. I kind of regretted saying that the moment I finished." Colossus looked awkward.
The room burst into laughter. Even Wade clapped him on the back.
"Relax, I'm retired now. I'm just a regular ol' regular guy. Did I say 'regular' twice?"
"Come here, man. Look what we got for you."
Wade turned to look—and saw the cake sitting on the table. Frosted in blue and inscribed with "Happy Birthday, Wade", it had a single candle stuck in the top. A photo was propped beside it—a group shot of all his closest friends, each of them smiling joyfully.
And just then, everyone in the room began to sing the birthday song in unison, celebrating Wade's special day.
"Ohhh... you guys are too much."
Wade stepped forward slowly. As he looked up, his eyes met those of his girlfriend—no, ex-girlfriend—Vanessa.
"Hi," Vanessa said softly with a smile.
Wade smiled back, though there was a trace of sadness in it.
"These past few years haven't been easy… Ever since the strike— I mean, ever since I retired. But honestly, right now? I feel happy. Because I have all of you. I'm the luckiest guy in the world."
"Make a wish, Wade," Vanessa said gently, standing beside him.
Wade pressed his lips together, and nodded.
Then he knelt down, closed his eyes, and made a wish in his heart.
At the summit of the Potala Palace.
"We're racing against time now. We have to find Deadpool before the TVA does. In other words, we're racing the ones who control the timeline."
Gazing out at the crimson sunset that spread across the horizon like a pool of fresh blood, Alex's eyes grew increasingly resolute.
"This road is dangerous. It could cost you your life. I can't guarantee your safety."
"It's fine," Petra shook her head and looked at Alex seriously.
"I once had a family… but they're gone now. Later, when I was at my lowest, it was Professor Charles who gave me a new home. Now they're all gone. If I don't make it out of this alive, at least I'll get to see them again."
She gave a pale smile, then continued. "Mr. Crow, can I ask you for a favor?"
"What is it?" Alex turned to face her.
Petra didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at the Time Resetter in Alex's hand. After a short pause, she spoke again.
"This is my world. I want to be the one to send it off myself."
Following Petra's gaze, Alex glanced down at the device he was toying with in his hand. After a moment of consideration, he extended his arm and handed the Time Resetter to her.
"Go ahead."
Petra didn't fully understand what the device did. She believed that triggering it would destroy the entire world. What she didn't know was that the Time Resetter would actually send everything here to the end of time.
Of course, there wasn't much difference between the two outcomes. The people who lived in this world were doomed either way. No one could survive being consumed by Alioth. Aside from the various Loki variants, hardly anyone ever escaped its hunt.
From Alex's understanding, the Void was a desolate wasteland. The variants who lived there were extremely cautious, constantly on edge, terrified of being noticed by Alioth.
Honestly, sending an entire world of living beings to the "gallows" weighed heavily on Alex's conscience.
But since Petra was prepared to do it herself, he had no objections.
As she took the device, Petra's voice trembled slightly.
"The professor's dream was to create a world where humans and mutants could coexist peacefully. That was his life's goal. If this world can't realize that dream, then I'll carry it forward in his name."
With that, she activated the Time Resetter, following Alex's instructions, and gently placed it on the ground at the top of the mountain.
Alex reached out and placed a firm hand on Petra's shoulder, giving it a strong squeeze.
"I believe that one day, Charles's dream will come true. To have taught students like you… his life was more than worth it."
"We resisted! And there were people who were willing to help us!" Petra clenched her fists tightly.
"I know."
A complex light flickered in Alex's eyes.
"We all know."
Political interests weighed against justice upheld by students.
When the dark powers in the elites waged war to satisfy their own desires, it was these young people who stood up and said no.
Even if they weren't mutants. Even if they were just kids. They still stood on the side of justice. Their strength was small—nothing compared to the sentinel robots or the overwhelming armies—but they stood tall anyway.
It was a war doomed to fail. Neither Charles nor Erik, despite wielding the most powerful mutant abilities, could change their fate.
War is the dirtiest form of politics, and the yearning for peace is the most noble spirit of civilization.
"The world has rotted. Darkness has fallen on civilization. But Petra, I want you to know—you didn't lose. Because there are still people standing with you. This universe may be doomed to destruction, but your spirit cannot be extinguished."
Helping Petra to her feet, Alex lifted his head.
"Take one last look at the stars in this universe. Remember this place. Remember the humans who stood by you. I believe Charles's dream will be fulfilled—someday."
"Mhm."
Petra looked up, eyes brimming with tears as she stared at the starlit sky.
When the stars shine bright, we carry forward.
This was one of countless parallel worlds—and one where the X-Men had fallen.
But who could say they lost? The Eastern beacon still burned bright. In a world of despair, this was the answer that represented hope.
"Miss, open the portal."
At Alex's silent call, a purple rectangular portal appeared behind them, rising up on the mountaintop like a gate to another world.
[Energy consumption: 0.97%. Portal activated.]
With one last glance at the night sky of this world, Alex patted Petra gently on the back.
"It's time to go."
...........
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