Chapter 3: Every Hero Has a Price
"Wait a minute, Where is Big Bob?!" Deadpool exclaimed as he burst into the room, fully expecting to see the familiar, somewhat fatherly figure of Bob Iger waiting to greet him with open arms and a billion-dollar contract. Instead, he was met with a very different sight.
The room was a stark contrast to the sleek, modern lobby. It was dimly lit, with only a few recessed lights casting a subdued glow over the long, imposing conference table in the center. The walls were adorned with framed posters of Disney and Marvel's greatest hits, but there was something slightly off about them. The characters in the posters seemed a bit too perfect, their smiles a little too wide, their eyes lacking the usual warmth. The air was thick with a sense of formality and something else—something darker.
Seated around the table were a group of individuals who looked every bit the part of high-ranking executives, though not the kind Deadpool was used to dealing with. There were three men and two women, all dressed in immaculate suits that screamed "corporate overlords." Their expressions were a mix of calm and calculation, as if they were sizing him up, dissecting him with their eyes.
At the head of the table stood a woman, clearly the leader of this group. She was tall, with sharp features and an air of authority that demanded attention. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and her eyes were cold, calculating, yet with a glimmer of something that made Deadpool wary—intelligence, ambition, and perhaps a hint of amusement.
Deadpool cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing suspiciously behind his mask.
"So, where's Bob? Did you guys kidnap him? Is he tied up in a basement somewhere? Or is he taking a nice swim in Scrooge McDuck's money vault? Because if so, I totally get it—best way to unwind after a long day of corporate shenanigans."
The woman at the head of the table smiled, but it was the kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Mr. Wilson, we're not here to talk about Bob Iger. He's… otherwise engaged," she explained cryptically.
"Otherwise engaged?" Deadpool echoed, putting air quotes around the words. "That sounds ominous. Are we talking 'otherwise engaged' as in he's sipping martinis on a private island, or 'otherwise engaged' as in he's locked in a dungeon somewhere?"
The woman stepped around the table towards Deadpool, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor, completely ignoring his sarcasm.
"Mr. Iger was not required for this meeting, but we needed you here, and this was the most effective way to ensure your cooperation," she explained further, now standing directly in front of Deadpool, her posture radiating authority.
Deadpool tilted his head, his eyes narrowing playfully behind the mask.
"And, do you have a name, corporate Karen?" he asked teasingly, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he faced this high-powered executive.
The woman's expression remained unfazed, her gaze steady and unamused.
"My name is Evelyn Cross, and I lead this department—officially known as the Department of Multiversal Stability and Integrity, or DMSI for short."
Deadpool raised an eyebrow, or at least the part of his mask where his eyebrow would be, his grin widening.
"DMSI, huh? Sounds fancy," Deadpool replied, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated air of nonchalance. "Let me guess, you're the ones who get called in when things go sideways in the multiverse and the TVA's too busy cosplaying as 1950s librarians? Do you guys have cool gadgets too, or are you more of the 'push the big red button and hope for the best' kind of crew?"
Evelyn maintained her calm, collected demeanor as she continued.
"While the TVA focuses on maintaining the Sacred Timeline, our department handles matters of a different nature. We monitor and intervene in universes that the TVA does not oversee, ensuring their stability and integrity. Think of us as the guardians of realities that exist outside the TVA's jurisdiction."
"So, basically, you're the B Team," Deadpool teased, slightly amused. "You're the backup squad for when the main act is off filming another season of 'Loki.' Let me guess, the budget didn't allow for an Owen Wilson or Tom Hiddleston cameo, huh?"
Deadpool turned to the reader, breaking the fourth wall as usual.
"Come on, Disney, do better! Where's that sweet, sweet box office money going?"
Evelyn ignored the jibe, her focus unwavering as she responded.
"We operate in realities that are, for lack of a better term, simpler and cleaner, Mr. Wilson. These are worlds where the balance is more delicate, where the slightest disturbance can lead to catastrophic consequences."
Deadpool paused, his masked face showing an expression of realisation beneath the fabric.
"Simple and clean, huh? Oh man, this is some serious foreshadowing. I've seen enough movies to know where this is going."
He leaned forward, almost conspiratorially as he stared at Evelyn.
"Let me guess—next you're gonna tell me that some tragic, blue-haired Keyblade Master is involved, and I'm the guy who's gotta fix it all?" Deadpool asked, eager to know more.
Evelyn's lips curled into a faint smile, the first hint of amusement breaking through her otherwise professional exterior.
"You're not far off, Mr. Wilson," she replied, her voice measured. "A good guess, I suppose."
The high-powered executive turned gracefully, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor once more as she made her way back to the head of the conference table. The subtle sound of her footsteps echoed in the dimly lit room, adding a sense of impending seriousness to the already tense atmosphere.
Deadpool watched her go, noting how the other execs subtly shifted in their seats, readying themselves as she passed. It was clear that Evelyn commanded their respect—perhaps even their fear.
"Well, her name is in the title of this fanfic," Deadpool muttered, more to himself than anyone else, his gaze following Evelyn's purposeful stride. "I wouldn't say that is a 'good guess'."
Evelyn moved with the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly what they were doing, her team falling into place behind her like well-practiced chess pieces. As she reached the head of the table, she didn't miss a beat, pressing a hidden control panel embedded in the table's surface. With a soft whir, the lights dimmed, and a holographic projector hummed to life, casting a soft glow across the room.
In the center of the table, a three-dimensional projection flickered into existence, displaying a chaotic swirl of images—fragmented worlds, collapsing universes, and in the midst of it all, the unmistakable figure of Aqua, the blue-haired Keyblade Master, her expression determined yet haunted.
"Mr. Wilson," Evelyn began, her tone now all business, "this is the situation we're facing. The Kingdom Hearts universe is destabilising at an alarming rate, and Aqua is at the heart of it. If we don't intervene, the collapse will spread, potentially destabilising multiple realities connected to it."
Deadpool crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as he processed what she was saying.
"Hold up, hold up. You're telling me that a video game universe—one full of spiky-haired teenagers, overly complex plotlines, and key-shaped swords—is suddenly a ticking time bomb? I mean, come on, we're talking about coding, programming, and some halfway-decent voice acting here. Sure, the series has its moments, but this sounds more like a server glitch than the apocalypse."
Deadpool smirked under his mask, clearly not buying the gravity of the situation.
"Maybe someone forgot to debug the final boss or accidentally deleted a few lines of script. Have you tried turning it off and on again?" Deadpool joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Evelyn's expression remained steely as she shook her head.
"Not in this case, Mr. Wilson," Evelyn replied, her tone firm and authoritative. "The Kingdom Hearts universe is special. It exists beyond the boundaries of ordinary video game code. That's why it's under our jurisdiction and not the TVA's. It's not part of the Sacred Timeline, and it doesn't follow the same rules as the other universes. What happens there can and does affect other realities, ones far beyond the game consoles and screens of its players."
Deadpool's eyebrows shot up beneath his mask, genuinely intrigued—or as close to it as Deadpool ever got.
"Ok, tickle me intrigued, Cross. Tell me more about how this pixie dust-filled fever dream affects other realities. I think the readers deserve some good ol' exposition here. You know, the kind that usually makes people's eyes glaze over but somehow ends up being super important later on."
Evelyn allowed herself a small smile, sensing that Deadpool's curiosity might just be the key to getting him fully on board.
"The Kingdom Hearts universe is, for lack of a better term, a nexus point," she began to explain. "It connects various worlds—some from Disney, some from other realities—that wouldn't normally intersect. This isn't just about the worlds you see on screen; it's about the deeper connections that exist between them."
She pressed another button on the control panel, and the holographic display shifted, showing a web of interconnected worlds, each linked by glowing threads of light.
"These worlds aren't just random. They're all tied together by a powerful force—what you might call the 'Heart of All Worlds.'"
Deadpool's white eye holes on his mask widened, and he leaned forward with excitement.
"Wait a minute, did you just say 'Heart of All Worlds'? That's what Kingdom Hearts is! Oh man, I remember what Ansem said all those years ago—'Behold the endless abyss! Within it lies the heart of all worlds: Kingdom Hearts!'"
He put on his best sinister voice, doing a pretty solid impression of Ansem, The Seeker of Darkness.
"I can still hear his voice, clear as day. Seriously, that line gave me chills. I mean, come on, it's Billy Zane! The guy's got gravitas."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Deadpool's depth of knowledge on the subject.
"You're well-versed in the lore, Mr. Wilson."
"What can I say? Kingdom Hearts may be my 13th favorite franchise, but I care about it," Deadpool replied, leaning on the table in front of him with a casual, almost nonchalant air. In doing so, he accidentally knocked over a stack of neatly organized files belonging to one of Evelyn's workers, sending papers fluttering to the floor. Deadpool didn't seem to notice—or perhaps he didn't care—as he continued, "All those Keyblades, convoluted storylines, and characters with questionable haircuts—what's not to love? And Billy Zane as Ansem The Seeker of Darkness? That's iconic. Shame he didn't reprise the role, though…"
He paused, as if savoring the nostalgia for a moment, a rare moment of quiet reflection in the middle of his usual chaos. Then, with a quick shake of his head, he snapped back to reality and turned his attention back to Evelyn.
"So, this 'Heart of All Worlds' is what's tying everything together and causing all this mayhem?" Deadpool asked, his tone now laced with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
Evelyn watched him carefully, her gaze briefly flicking to the scattered papers before returning to his masked face.
"Yes. The Heart of All Worlds is the central force that connects the various realities within the Kingdom Hearts universe. It's a source of incredible power and balance, but it's also incredibly fragile."
"And Aqua is behind this mess how, exactly?" Deadpool asked, standing up straight now, his tone more serious as he pointed to the hologram of Aqua still hovering in the center of the table. The projection showed the Keyblade Master, her expression resolute but troubled, like someone carrying the weight of countless worlds on her shoulders.
Evelyn took a deep breath, her gaze never leaving Deadpool's.
"It's rather complicated, Mr. Wilson," she said.
Deadpool immediately held up a hand, cutting her off.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Complicated? Corporate Karen, I live for complicated. I'm basically the poster boy for convoluted storylines. I mean, have you seen my comics? Hit me with the 411, friendo."
Evelyn hesitated for just a moment, her carefully composed expression faltering slightly as she prepared to explain the situation. But she quickly recovered and dove into the exposition.
"As you know, Sora used the Power of Waking to save Kairi, but he overextended himself, which caused severe repercussions."
"Ah yes, the Power of Waking," Deadpool interjected, placing his hands on his hips in a mock-heroic pose. "Or, what I like to call, 'Nomura's convenient plot device that makes absolutely no sense but sure looks cool in a cutscene.'" He paused, then pointed at the reader, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks, Tetsuya Nomura, for turning the plot into a pretzel."
Evelyn's patience was clearly wearing thin, but she pressed on.
"May I continue, Mr. Wilson?" she asked.
Deadpool, always quick on the draw, replied with a teasing tone.
"Continue, please, thank you kindly… Dear Madam."
Evelyn ignored his antics and continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone.
"As I was saying, the Power of Waking isn't meant to be used lightly. It disrupts the natural order of things, bending the very fabric of reality to the will of the user. Sora's overuse of this power not only destabilised his own existence but also weakened the boundaries between worlds."
Deadpool dropped his hands from his hips and his eyes widened slightly behind his mask, though his tone remained sarcastic.
"Oh, so it's one of those 'use it too much and reality starts to unravel' kind of powers. You know, like every other overpowered plot device in existence. No biggie. So Sora went all 'reality-warping hero' and now the universe is on the fritz. Got it. But where does Aqua fit into all this?"
Evelyn nodded, her expression somber as she replied.
"After Sora's disappearance, Aqua became obsessed with finding a way to restore balance. She learned of what Sora had done with the Power of Waking and believed she could use it to find him and repair the damage he caused. But as I mentioned earlier, the Power of Waking is not meant for such purposes. It's dangerous—more dangerous than even she realised."
Deadpool frowned, clearly trying to piece it all together.
"So Aqua thought she could fix everything by using the same power that messed things up in the first place? Sounds like a bad idea. Like using dynamite to unclog a toilet."
Evelyn's eyes darkened as she continued.
"Aqua's intentions were pure, but her actions have only made things worse. The more she used the Power of Waking, the more unstable the universe became. She opened rifts to the Realm of Darkness, allowing its influence to spread and corrupt the worlds she was trying to save. In her desperation, she's become blind to the damage she's causing."
Deadpool scratched his head, clearly perplexed by the situation.
"So, let me get this straight—you're saying Aqua's gone full Darth Vader? She's fallen to the dark side, so to speak? But that doesn't make sense," Deadpool said. "Sure, she's had her run-ins with the darkness before, but Sora pulled her back. And if I remember correctly, he did it by ramming a freaking Disney Pirate Ride into her! That's not exactly something you forget."
Evelyn sighed, her demeanor remaining composed, but there was a noticeable shift in her tone—something more insistent, almost pleading.
"Mr. Wilson, Aqua's connection to the darkness was never truly severed. Sora's intervention brought her back to the light, yes, but the scars of her time in the Realm of Darkness run deep. The Power of Waking… it's not just a tool for salvation. It's a double-edged sword, and Aqua's been wielding it recklessly, driven by guilt and desperation."
"Driven by guilt? Desperation?" Deadpool questioned, turning his gaze to the hologram of Aqua. "Look, I get that she's been through a lot, but Aqua's no pushover. She's one of the toughest characters in that whole crazy universe. And you're telling me she's just gone rogue because of a little leftover darkness? I've seen enough bad sequels to know when someone's stretching the plot."
Evelyn leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a more urgent tone.
"You're underestimating the power of the darkness she's facing. Aqua's been isolated, fighting battles we can't even begin to comprehend. She's lost friends, watched worlds crumble, and now she's trying to wield a power that was never meant to be controlled by one person alone. The Power of Waking… it's breaking her, Mr. Wilson. It's corrupting her, twisting her mind, and turning her into something unrecognizable. If we don't stop her, the consequences could be catastrophic."
Deadpool's playful demeanor faltered as he considered Evelyn's words.
"So, you're saying she's on the verge of a total meltdown? That she's about to go full-on villain mode and take the whole universe down with her? That's… not exactly the Aqua I know from my days playing the games with Blind Al."
"Blind Al?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Deadpool grinned beneath his mask, savoring the moment.
"Oh, Blind Al. She's this sweet old lady I used to live with. Tough as nails, sharper than a Keyblade, and completely blind. We used to spend hours together—her knitting or doing whatever it is blind old ladies do, while I played Kingdom Hearts. She'd always cheer when Aqua showed up. Said she liked her spunk. As do I, she's my favorite character. So yeah, I'm having a hard time buying this whole 'Aqua's gone bad' crap."
Evelyn's confusion deepened, but she quickly refocused on the task at hand.
"Mr. Wilson, I understand your skepticism, but what Aqua is facing now is beyond anything you've seen in the games. The darkness she's contending with isn't just external—it's internal. The Power of Waking has twisted something inside her, feeding on her fears and doubts. She's not just fighting the darkness; she's becoming consumed by it."
Deadpool's grin faded slightly as he considered Evelyn's words.
"Look, I get that Aqua's been through a lot," he replied. "She's fought the darkness, got lost in the Realm of Darkness, and then had to deal with that whole mess in Kingdom Hearts III. But she's not the type to just throw in the towel and let herself get corrupted. That's why she's my favorite—she's a fighter."
Evelyn nodded, her expression somber.
"That's precisely why this situation is so dangerous. Aqua's fighting so hard that she's losing herself in the process. She's trying to carry the weight of the entire universe on her shoulders, and it's breaking her. The Power of Waking is amplifying her fears and doubts, and it's driving her to make choices she wouldn't normally consider."
Deadpool crossed his arms, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against his bicep.
"So you're telling me that the Aqua who always found a way, no matter how dark things got, is now on the brink of becoming the very thing she's fought against her whole life? That's a pretty hard pill to swallow," Deadpool said, his tone unusually serious.
"I'm afraid it is," Evelyn replied, her voice somber as she turned to her team of executives seated around the table. "Isn't it, team?"
In perfect unison, the executives around the table nodded and murmured their agreement, their synchronized response almost robotic. The sight made Deadpool shift uncomfortably where he stood.
"Talk about micromanagement," he muttered under his breath, glancing around the room with a hint of suspicion. "Are you guys even real? Or is this one of those creepy Stepford situations where you're all just puppets controlled by some big bad behind the curtain? Because if that's the case, I'm really gonna need to renegotiate my contract with Kevin."
Evelyn's expression didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something—annoyance, maybe—in her eyes.
"We're all fully committed to this mission, Mr. Wilson," she declared. "The stakes couldn't be higher, and our unity reflects the seriousness of the situation."
Deadpool raised a skeptical eyebrow from under his mask, still eyeing the eerily synchronised execs.
"Right… unity. Sure. But just so we're clear, if I start hearing any chants about 'one of us, one of us,' I'm out of here faster than you can say 'multiverse.'"
Evelyn didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she simply nodded and motioned to one of her colleagues, who slid across the table to Deadpool a small, sleek looking device.
"This will help you track the anomalies within the Kingdom Hearts universe. It's been calibrated to respond to the fluctuations caused by Aqua's use of the Power of Waking. Use it to locate her, assess the situation, and do whatever it takes to stop her from causing further damage."
Deadpool took the device, turning it over in his gloved hands with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
"So, this is my fancy new toy, huh? What's it do—play ominous music whenever I get close to a plot twist? Or does it just beep like a metal detector when Aqua's about to blow something up?"
Evelyn ignored the sarcasm, her tone firm as she continued, "That device is your guide. It will lead you directly to the source of the anomalies. But be warned, Mr. Wilson, this mission isn't just about tracking Aqua. It's about neutralising her before she does further damage."
Deadpool's demeanor shifted slightly, his playful attitude dampening as he processed her words.
"Neutralise? You mean...?"
Evelyn's gaze was unflinching. "Aqua is a threat, Mr. Wilson. Whether she's aware of it or not, she's endangering the entire Kingdom Hearts universe—and potentially others. We need you to stop her, by any means necessary."
Deadpool's grip tightened on the device, his thoughts racing. Aqua was his favorite character, someone he admired for her strength and resilience. The idea of having to "neutralise" her didn't sit well with him.
"Look, I'm all for stopping her from wrecking the universe, but when you say 'neutralise,' are we talking about… you know, the K-word?"
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing his hesitation.
"We're talking about doing what needs to be done, Mr. Wilson. If Aqua can't be reasoned with, if she's too far gone, then you'll need to make the hard choice. This isn't just a game anymore—it's a matter of survival for countless worlds."
Deadpool's mouth twisted into a frown beneath his mask. He wasn't the type to shy away from tough decisions, but this... this was different.
"And what if I say no?" Deadpool asked, his tone flat. "What if I can't bring myself to... you know, pull the trigger?"
"If you fail, Mr. Wilson, if you allow Aqua to continue unchecked, the consequences will be catastrophic," Evelyn warned, her tone as cold as the void she was threatening.
"Catastrophic like... what?" Deadpool asked, his curiosity piqued but laced with a hint of skepticism.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You know that 'small' delay on Kingdom Hearts IV?" she remarked.
"Small? We've been waiting years for an update ever since that teaser trailer!" Deadpool scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It's like they're trying to see how long they can torture us before we snap."
Evelyn leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Well, if Aqua isn't stopped and the Kingdom Hearts Universe is destroyed, that delay turns into forever," she affirmed cryptically.
Deadpool froze, his usual swagger faltering.
"No..." His voice was barely a whisper, a mix of disbelief and horror.
"Yes," Evelyn replied, her tone unwavering, driving the point home like a dagger to the heart. "There will be no sequel, no continuation—just an empty void where those worlds used to be."
Deadpool's eyes widened in genuine shock, his brain scrambling to process the gravity of what she was saying.
"Wait, what do you mean, 'forever'? Are you telling me that if I don't go full hero mode here, the entire franchise gets the axe? No more Sora, no more Keyblades, no more—"
Evelyn's expression remained deadly serious as she delivered the final blow.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. The Kingdom Hearts Universe, gone. Erased from existence. And there's nothing Disney or Square Enix can do to bring it back."
Deadpool slowly turned to the reader, his face—though masked—conveying an unmistakable blend of disbelief and outrage. His voice dropped to a dramatic and ominous tone, the kind you'd expect from a narrator in a dark, suspenseful movie.
"Dun, Dun, DUN... But no, seriously, what the actual sugar honey ice tea! I waited 13 years for Kingdom Hearts III, and now you're telling me that if I don't pull off some miracle, it's all over? I'm not going through that pain again! I mean, come on! I was just starting to recover!"
Deadpool took a step back, clearly rattled by the gravity of the situation. Aqua was his favorite character, the one he admired for her strength and resilience. The thought of having to be the one to take her down didn't just sit wrong—it felt impossible.
"Look, lady, why can't Riku, Mickey, or her other friends help her turn back to the light?" Deadpool asked, a note of desperation creeping into his usually confident voice. "I'm sure even Xion could probably pull it off with some sea salt ice cream and a rah-rah speech about friendship. Why am I the one who has to do this?"
Evelyn's expression softened slightly, though her tone remained firm.
"Riku went to find Sora in Quadratum—he's unreachable. The others… they're either missing or they've been turned against her. Aqua's actions have made her a target, and now, some of her closest allies believe she's beyond saving. They're not looking to help her—they're out for her head."
"Sweet heavens, that's harsh," Deadpool remarked, taken back by this. "But if her friends can't reach her, what makes you think I can? I'm not exactly Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows. Why not call the Avengers? Doctor Strange could just wave his hands around and poof, problem solved. Captain Marvel could punch some sense into her. Heck, I'm sure Paul Rudd is free—he could use some redemption after that Quantumania crap."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly, her patience visibly wearing thin.
"This isn't a job for the Avengers or other, normal heroes in the MCU, Mr. Wilson," She explained. "This is a job for someone who can operate outside the usual rules, someone who can see things from a different perspective. Your ability to break the fourth wall, your unpredictability, your… unconventional methods are exactly what's needed here. The others would only see Aqua as a threat. You, on the other hand, have the ability to connect with her on a level that no one else can."
Deadpool sighed, running a hand down his mask as if wiping away the weight of the situation.
"So, you're saying I've got to be the one to talk her down, or… do what needs to be done if I can't? No pressure, right? Just the fate of an entire universe and my favorite gaming franchise on the line."
Evelyn nodded, her voice cold and final.
"Exactly. If you fail, it's not just Aqua who's lost—it's everything she's fought for, everything those worlds represent. And there won't be any coming back from it."
Deadpool started pacing, clearly still on the fence about the whole thing.
"You know, I've always felt a connection to Aqua. She's like the unsung hero of the franchise, the one who gets knocked down but always gets back up. And I get that. Hell, I've been knocked down more times than I can count, but I keep getting back up too. It's like we're kindred spirits, you know? Both of us just trying to—"
Suddenly, one of the executives nearest to Deadpool, a balding man with a sheen of nervous sweat on his forehead, blurted out, "We'll give you a bucket load of cash and 50% merchandise fees."
Deadpool stopped mid-sentence, his attention snapping to the executive like a hawk spotting prey.
"Say that again…"
The man gulped and repeated, "We'll give you a bucket load of cash and 50% of all merchandise fees."
Deadpool's eyes widened behind his mask, and he slowly turned back to Evelyn, his voice filled with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"This bald dude with bad BO and sweating like he's been on a hot date with Hayden Panettiere—and I mean sweating—is telling the truth?"
Evelyn met his gaze with a calm, steady nod.
"Yes, Mr. Wilson. Every word," she affirmed.
Deadpool's grin stretched wide beneath his mask, his excitement palpable.
"Well, I'll be damned... Looks like this just turned into a business proposition."
As Deadpool weighed the offer, another executive—a woman who looked a bit nervous, her eyes darting around the room—blurted out, "We will also throw in your own Disney+ series."
Deadpool stopped in his tracks, slowly turning to face her. His tone was dripping with mock seriousness.
"My own Disney+ series?" he asked, "As in, 'Deadpool does Disney' with full creative control?"
The woman nodded, though her expression was a mix of apprehension and hope.
"Yes, Mr. Wilson. Full creative control."
Deadpool's grin widened beneath his mask as the idea fully took hold. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped onto the conference table with a dramatic flourish, scattering papers and sending a few coffee mugs teetering to the edge. The execs flinched, but Deadpool didn't care—he was in his element now.
"Well, hot damn! Sign me up!" he exclaimed, spinning around on the table like a kid in a candy store. "But let's be clear, folks—this is going to be R-rated Deadpool, none of that PG-13 nonsense. If you're offering me full creative control, I'm going all in."
Evelyn looked up at him, her calm demeanor slightly shaken by his sudden burst of energy.
"I didn't know these things would change your mind so quickly, Mr. Wilson?"
Deadpool crouched down on the table, bringing his face closer to hers, as if he were sharing a secret.
"Look, Evelyn, Aqua is my bae, no doubt about that. She's got the whole 'tragic hero' vibe, and I respect that. But money is money, rent is due, and even a billion-dollar blockbuster with Wolverine doesn't keep the bills away forever. And let's be real, I need my daily dose of chimichangas."
He straightened up, pacing back and forth on the table, his excitement growing.
"And let's not forget Disney+. I can finally shove it in Ryan's face that my show will be better than Welcome to Wrexham! Sure, he's got a football club and that whole 'adorable Canadian' thing, but I'm Deadpool! I'm Marvel Jesus, the fourth-wall-breaking, wisecracking antihero with a heart of gold. And now I can become the Messiah for the Kingdom Hearts Universe too."
He paused, then dropped to one knee on the table, addressing the room with the seriousness of a knight pledging his sword.
"So, when you toss in a bucket load of cash, 50% of the merchandise fees, and my own Disney+ series, how can I say no? I mean, who wouldn't want to be the savior of the Kingdom Hearts Universe and have a sweet TV deal? It's a win-win!"
Evelyn, regaining her composure, nodded approvingly.
"Then it's settled. You have your mission, Mr. Wilson. Stop Aqua, save the Kingdom Hearts universe from collapsing, and perhaps most importantly, remember what's at stake."
Deadpool hopped off the table, landing with a flourish.
"Don't worry, boss lady, I've got this. Maximum effort!"
"Good," Evelyn replied, her voice cool and authoritative. She turned her attention to one of her team members, a slightly nervous-looking young man sitting near her. "You," she said, pointing directly at him.
"Me, Mrs. Cross?" the young man stammered, clearly caught off guard.
"Yes, you," Evelyn confirmed with a nod. "Take Mr. Wilson to the portal room. Time is of the essence."
"Right away, Mrs. Cross," the young man said, jumping up from his seat with a sudden burst of energy, clearly eager to avoid any further attention from his boss.
"The portal room? You mean the Marvel sparkle circle?" Deadpool questioned excitedly, practically bouncing on his heels as he leaned in, eager to know more.
The young man, turned to Deadpool, trying to maintain a professional demeanor despite the whirlwind of chaos that always seemed to surround the Merc with a Mouth.
"Sort of, Mr. Wilson," he said. "The portal room is a bit more advanced than what you might be used to. It's designed to stabilise the rift between realities and—"
"Go now!" Evelyn interrupted sharply, cutting through the man's explanation. "And bring me back a latte, would you, Stewart? Two sugars."
Deadpool's eyes lit up as he turned to Stewart with a mischievous grin.
"Wait a minute, your name is Stewart?" Deadpool asked with a teasing tone.
Stewart blinked, slightly taken aback by Deadpool's question.
"Uh, yes, Mr. Wilson. That's right," Stewart affirmed, his voice wavering slightly.
Deadpool leaned back, savoring the moment.
"Stewart, huh? That's such a... fitting name for a guy who runs errands," Deadpool mused, his tone dripping with mock seriousness. Then, leaning in closer, his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "So, do you handle the coffee runs often? Because I've got a feeling this might become a regular thing for you, my man."
"Uh, w-well, not usually, Mr. Wilson. B-but I can handle it, no problem!" Stewart replied, his voice stumbling over the words, as if his brain was racing to keep up with the situation.
"Stewart, enough with the chit-chat," Evelyn interjected impatiently, her patience was becoming visibly thin from the other side of the room. "Time is ticking. Get Mr. Wilson to the portal room now, and don't forget my latte. I want it hot and on my desk when you return."
Stewart gulped, his face flushing as he nodded even more vigorously.
"Yes, Mrs. Cross! Right away, Mrs. Cross!" He replied, practically tripping over his own feet as he turned to lead Deadpool out of the room. The lad was clearly eager to avoid any further delay—or Evelyn's wrath.
Deadpool turned and gave Evelyn a mock salute as he followed Stewart toward the door.
"Don't worry, Cross. I'll save the universe, deal with Aqua's meltdown, and maybe even grab you that latte from Starbucks if Stewart here doesn't spill it on the way back."
Evelyn's lips tightened into a thin line, her eyes watching them closely as they left, but she said nothing.
As they exited the room, Deadpool couldn't help but chuckle to himself. The stakes were high, the mission was critical, but that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun along the way. After all, he was Deadpool, and if he was going to save the Kingdom Hearts universe, he was going to do it with style, flair, and maybe a latte in hand.