The group approached the Avengers' quarters under the cover of night. The familiar compound, once bustling with life and activity, now stood eerily still, its lights dim and exterior weathered from years of neglect. Only a faint hum of energy hinted at the remnants of its advanced technology still functioning.
"This place looks like it's been through hell," Logan muttered, sniffing the air.
"Well, half of it has," Deadpool quipped. "But hey, at least it's not another empty universe, right? Small victories."
Strange led the way, his hands glowing faintly as he performed a silent spell to open the doors. They entered cautiously, the dimly lit interior revealing dusty halls lined with reminders of a time when Earth's mightiest heroes had gathered here.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. Strange raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop. Logan tensed, claws ready, while Deadpool mimicked his pose dramatically, complete with fake growling.
"Wade, stop it," Harley whispered, his nerves on edge.
"Shh, this is my process," Deadpool whispered back.
A voice called out, firm but cautious. "Who's there?"
From the shadows emerged Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. Steve held his iconic shield defensively, while Natasha gripped her batons, their sharp crackle filling the tense air.
"Strange?" Steve asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Is that you?"
Strange nodded. "It's been a while, Steve. We need to talk."
Natasha's sharp gaze swept over the group, lingering on Logan and Deadpool. "Who are they?"
"Oh, me? I'm Wade Wilson, but you can call me Deadpool," Deadpool said, striking a theatrical pose. "Lethal mercenary, professional funnyman, and part-time calendar model. Interested in a signed photo?"
Steve raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. Natasha didn't lower her guard.
"And the other one?" she asked.
"Logan," he said simply, his claws retracting with a snikt.
Natasha's expression softened slightly, though still wary. "I've heard of you. The Wolverine. You're supposed to be dead."
Logan shrugged. "Not the first time someone's thought that."
Steve's gaze shifted to Harley, who fidgeted under the scrutiny. "And you?"
"Harley," he said, trying to sound confident. "Just... Harley."
Deadpool draped an arm around Harley's shoulder. "He's the main character, obviously. The one who drags us all into trouble. Think of him as your new favorite liability!"
"Wade!" Harley hissed, pushing him away.
Strange stepped between them, addressing Steve and Natasha. "There's no time to explain everything now. Let's just say the multiverse is unraveling, and these three are... involved."
Natasha crossed her arms. "Involved how?"
Strange hesitated, his gaze shifting to Harley. "It's complicated."
Before anyone could press further, the lights flickered, and an alarm blared briefly before cutting out. Steve and Natasha exchanged a glance.
"What was that?" Harley asked nervously.
Natasha was already moving. "Let's find out. Follow me."
The group was led to a dimly lit control room where outdated monitors displayed faint signals across the globe. Natasha typed rapidly on a console, pulling up a feed of scattered reports.
Steve stared at the screens, his jaw tightening. "The anomalies are spreading."
"What kind of anomalies?" Logan asked.
"Portals, like the one you came through," Natasha explained. "But they're unstable. Things are coming through that don't belong—creatures, people, entire pieces of other worlds. And they're getting worse."
Strange examined the data, his brow furrowing. "This isn't random. The multiverse is collapsing in on itself. If we don't act fast, these anomalies will merge, destroying everything."
Steve turned to Strange. "What do we need to do?"
"We'll need all the help we can get," Strange said. "Call the others."
Natasha hesitated. "The others... they're not the same. Everyone's been dealing with the fallout in their own way. Some of them might not even come."
"Then we start with who we have," Steve said firmly. He looked at the group. "We need to work together if we're going to fix this."
Deadpool raised a hand. "Quick question: Is this the part where we split up and get picked off one by one, or do we get cool team-up montages first?"
Steve ignored him.
Natasha sent out a signal to the remaining Avengers. As they waited, Strange pulled Harley aside.
"You've felt it, haven't you?" Strange said quietly.
"Felt what?" Harley asked, though he already knew what Strange meant.
"Your powers," Strange said. "They're tied to this chaos. Whether you realize it or not, you're at the center of all this."
Harley swallowed hard. "You're saying this is all my fault?"
Strange's expression was unreadable. "Not your fault. But your existence is the key. The more you're exposed to these anomalies, the stronger your powers will grow. But if you can't control them..."
"What happens if I can't control them?"
Strange's silence was answer enough.
Harley felt a knot tighten in his stomach. This wasn't just about surviving anymore. If he didn't figure out how to control his powers, he could become the very thing that destroyed the multiverse.
Deadpool, oblivious to the tension, leaned in. "So, when do we get to the Endgame part? I've got dibs on wielding Mjölnir if we find it."
Harley sighed. "I think we're already in endgame territory, Wade."
Logan's gruff voice cut through. "Enough talk. Let's figure this out before it's too late."
As the team prepared for what lay ahead, Harley couldn't shake the weight of Strange's words. The multiverse was crumbling, and somehow, he was at the center of it all.