The air in the Avengers Tower was thick with tension. Loki stood at the edge of the room, his gaze fixed on the fractured skyline visible through the towering windows. Without a word, he turned and began to walk away, his dark robes sweeping behind him.
"Where are you going?" Steve asked, his tone firm.
Loki paused briefly, his head tilting just enough to glance back. "To ensure there's a multiverse left to save."
Before anyone could respond, a swirling portal of green and gold energy appeared before him. He stepped through without hesitation, and the portal vanished with a sharp snap, leaving the room in silence.
Doctor Strange adjusted his cloak, his expression unreadable. "He won't be the only one stepping out. I need to investigate the source of these fractures."
Thor nodded solemnly. "Do what you must, Strange. But return swiftly."
Strange gave a small nod before summoning his own portal, the glow of his magic casting long shadows across the room. "Try not to let the situation worsen while I'm gone." His voice carried a trace of humor, but the weight of his words lingered as he stepped through and disappeared.
Preparing for the Worst
The Avengers regrouped, their movements efficient and purposeful as they began preparing for whatever might come next.
"Clint, check the perimeter," Steve ordered. "Natasha, you and Bruce secure the tower. Tony, we'll need full diagnostics on any disturbances in the city."
"I'm already on it," Tony replied, tapping at a holographic screen projected from his wrist.
Thor hefted Mjolnir, his gaze steady. "I will guard the tower. Should anything attempt to breach these walls, it will face the wrath of Asgard."
Amid the organized chaos, Alex, The Boys, and Deadpool lingered awkwardly in the background.
"Right," Butcher said, folding his arms. "Guess we're not invited to the big kids' table, then."
"No offense," Clint said, glancing back at them, "but you don't exactly scream 'team players.'"
"We're team players when it suits us," Frenchie quipped with a smirk.
"Yeah, and we make everything way more fun," Deadpool added, twirling one of his katanas.
Out of the Tower
When it became clear they weren't part of the Avengers' immediate plans, the group quietly slipped out of the conference room and made their way to the building's lower levels.
The streets of New York greeted them with a jarring sense of normalcy. Cars honked, pedestrians bustled about their day, and the city's usual symphony of noise filled the air.
"Looks pretty normal to me," Hughie said, glancing nervously at the sky.
"That's the problem," Alex muttered, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "It feels... too normal. Like it's waiting for something."
"Well, we're not waitin'," Butcher said, his tone gruff. "Kid, where to?"
Alex hesitated, his mind racing. His system offered no guidance, no quests, no pings. He felt as lost as the rest of them.
"I, uh... I guess we could go to my apartment?" Alex said reluctantly.
"Perfect!" Deadpool chimed in, clapping his hands. "Nothing like crashing at the rookie's place. Got snacks? Board games? A secret weapons cache?"
Alex blinked. "Why would I have a weapons cache?"
Deadpool threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, you sweet summer child. Stick with us, and you'll see why."
Arriving at Alex's Apartment
Alex's apartment was a modest one-bedroom on the outskirts of Manhattan, far from the hustle of downtown. The group piled in unceremoniously, Butcher eyeing the space critically.
"Bit small, innit?" he remarked, tossing his jacket onto the couch.
"It's fine," Mother's Milk said, glancing around. "Better than wandering the streets with no plan."
Frenchie found the kitchen and immediately began rummaging through the cabinets. "Any wine, mon ami?"
"No!" Alex protested, flustered. "What are you even doing?"
"Making myself at home," Frenchie replied with a grin.
Hughie sat awkwardly at the small dining table, his shoulders hunched. "So, uh, what now? Are we just... waiting for something to happen?"
"Sounds about right," Deadpool said, lounging dramatically on Alex's couch. "The heroes are off saving the world. We're just the lovable misfits killing time until the next catastrophe."
Butcher grabbed a beer from the fridge and leaned against the counter. "Only question is, when the next catastrophe hits, are we gonna be ready?"
Deadpool raised his beer like a toast. "Here's to hoping not! Chaos is way more fun."
Alex sighed, sinking into a chair. "This is my life now, huh?"
Deadpool winked. "Yup. Welcome to the big leagues, kid."