The apartment buzzed with an uneasy quiet. For all their banter, The Boys and Deadpool couldn't shake the weight of what was happening—or the fact that they had no idea what to do about it.
Alex sat at his small dining table, staring out the window. The New York skyline looked the same as ever, but the two suns in the sky cast an eerie, dreamlike glow.
"This is so weird," Alex muttered to himself.
Deadpool, sprawled across the couch like a cat in the sun, turned his head. "Weird? Kid, this is the multiverse. Weird is breakfast. Chaos is lunch. And dinner? Oh, dinner's usually tacos. Unless you're into chimichangas. Are you a chimichanga guy?"
Alex sighed. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"
Deadpool wagged a finger. "Oh, I take lots of things seriously. Like snack runs. And dramatic entrances. And this." He gestured vaguely to the room. "See? Serious."
Tensions Rise
Butcher leaned against the counter, nursing a beer. His sharp eyes scanned the room, lingering on Alex. "Alright, sunshine. I've gotta ask: this system o' yours. You sure it's not some kinda mind-f***?"
Alex bristled, his shoulders tensing. "I don't know what it is, okay? It just... shows up. Gives me quests. Skills. Information."
"And no one else can see it?" Hughie asked hesitantly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"Yeah," Alex muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Just me."
Butcher snorted. "Convenient, that."
"It's real!" Alex snapped, standing abruptly. "I don't care if you believe me. You've seen what I can do!"
"Yeah," Butcher said, his tone cold. "But that don't mean I trust you. Or your magical, invisible fairy system."
"Oi," Frenchie cut in, gesturing toward the window. "Maybe the kid's not the problem, eh? Look outside. Two suns. That ain't exactly normal."
"Normal's overrated," Deadpool chimed in, flipping onto his stomach. "But I gotta say, I'm loving the soap opera vibes. 'Will they trust him? Won't they? Tune in next time on *Multiverse Meltdown!'"
An Unexpected Quiet
Alex turned back to the window, letting out a slow breath. The city looked calm—almost too calm.
"It doesn't make sense," he said softly. "If the multiverse is collapsing, why is everything so... normal?"
"You'd rather it wasn't?" Hughie asked nervously.
"No," Alex replied quickly. "But this feels like the calm before the storm."
Mother's Milk nodded. "He's right. Something's coming. You can feel it."
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of their collective uncertainty settling over them like a shroud.
A Glimpse of Trouble
Deadpool broke the silence, standing up suddenly and peering out the window. "Hey, uh, question: does normal New York traffic usually include glowing mist creeping through the streets?"
Alex's stomach dropped. "What?"
Everyone crowded around the window. Far below, faint tendrils of white mist slithered between the buildings, their movements slow but deliberate.
"Merde," Frenchie muttered. "That's not good."
"No s***," Butcher growled, grabbing his crowbar.
Alex's system pinged loudly in his head, startling him.
System Notification
[QUEST ALERT]
New Quest: Survive the Approach
Objective: Investigate the source of the mist and survive the encounter.
Reward: +500 EXP, New Ability Unlock
[WARNING: HIGH-LEVEL ENEMIES DETECTED]
Alex paled. "It's back. The mist. And it's... worse this time."
"How do you know that?" Hughie asked, his voice tinged with panic.
Alex didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the growing tendrils below.
A Bad Idea
Butcher pulled on his coat, his expression grim. "Alright, let's move. If that mist's causin' trouble, we're dealin' with it."
"Deal with it?" Alex blurted out. "How? We don't even know what it is!"
"We'll figure it out," Butcher said bluntly.
"That's your plan?" Alex asked, incredulous. "Just... wing it?"
"It's worked so far," Butcher shot back.
Deadpool clapped his hands. "I like this plan. Very improvisational. Very doomed. I'm in."
Alex groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You guys are insane."
"And yet, here you are," Deadpool said with a grin. "Part of the team. Don't worry, we'll put it on your resume: 'Fought creepy mist with unhinged mercenaries and a foul-mouthed Brit.'"
Heading Out
Reluctantly, the group left the apartment and descended to the street. The white mist was closer now, curling around lampposts and benches like ghostly fingers.
"Alright, kid," Butcher said, gripping his crowbar. "Lead the way."
"Me?" Alex squeaked.
"You're the one with the magic bloody system," Butcher said. "Time to prove it's good for somethin'."
Deadpool leaned over, whispering loudly. "No pressure, kid. If we die, it's totally on you."
"Not helping," Alex muttered.
The group stepped cautiously into the street, the mist swirling around their ankles. Somewhere in the distance, a low, guttural growl echoed faintly.
"Fantastic," Hughie muttered. "Monsters. Why is it always monsters?"
"Because the universe loves irony," Deadpool replied cheerfully. "Now let's go get eaten."