Genius Idea

Hearing what Bob had just said, Charlie blinked, momentarily speechless.

Did he say… Tony Stark? They're here to kill Tony Stark?

He let go of the microphone button, allowing Deadpool to resume his own, endless commentary. Charlie had set his microphone to "push-to-talk," so as soon as he released it, Deadpool was free to talk as much as he wanted.

And talk Deadpool did, jumping in with his usual, unfiltered energy. "Whoa there, buddy. Did I hear you right? Kill Tony Stark? Hahahaha! Let me guess, the plan is to scrape at his armor and bore him to death?"

Charlie couldn't help but recall Stark's bodyguard, Happy, in Iron Man 3. Whenever Happy told people he was Iron Man's bodyguard, they'd laugh, as if it were some kind of inside joke. Stark had even eventually moved him to head of security to spare him the embarrassment.

"Well, that's what we thought at first, too," Bob admitted, nodding. "We were like, 'Assassinate Iron Man? You're kidding, right?' But our contact insisted—said Iron Man's unbeatable, sure, but Tony Stark? Not so much. He said that Stark himself told the world he's just flesh and blood under all that metal, that all it takes is one bullet at the right time."

Bob cast a wary glance at Deadpool, looking like he was afraid to set him off. "And, uh… the pay was good. Real good."

Charlie considered this. In fairness, their analysis wasn't completely wrong. Plenty of people in Stark's world had noticed his Achilles heel—that he was vulnerable without his suit. Iron Man was a living tank, but Tony Stark? Just a man. And more than one Marvel villain had tried to exploit that exact vulnerability.

But the problem here was that these killers hadn't grasped one essential fact: the Tony Stark they were after wasn't a real person. Stark existed in Charlie's hero pool—a digital construct, brought into reality only when summoned. There wasn't a killer alive who could reach him, let alone hurt him.

Even if one of them got lucky and somehow managed to shoot Stark, it would be nothing more than a temporary setback. Stark would respawn in Charlie's roster, ready to be reactivated at any time. Now that's true invincibility—a virtual character immune to permanent death.

As Charlie pondered this, Deadpool launched into another tirade. "You know where your boss went wrong?" he asked, leaning in close to Bob, whose wide-eyed expression suggested he was too terrified to answer.

Deadpool answered for him, raising his voice dramatically. "He picked the wrong guy to do it, that's what!"

Bob, already trembling, jumped at Deadpool's sudden shout, looking as though he might pass out.

"That idiot with the big bucks spends a fortune to kill Stark and doesn't even hire the only guy who could do it right," Deadpool said with a gleeful sneer, gesturing to himself. "Me!"

He threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "Imagine all those lovely, crisp bills, wasted on hiring a bunch of third-rate nobodies who probably can't even fly a plane."

Deadpool was, in his own way, a special kind of mercenary. Sometimes he saved the day; other times, he'd take on a job if the price was right. He followed no one's rules but his own and was just as motivated by money and excitement as he was by the idea of doing something "good." Deadpool's dreams weren't lofty or noble—he wanted cash, chaos, and beautiful women. 

Bob, caught off guard by Deadpool's strange reaction, blinked. His first assumption had been that this guy was some kind of superhero. He'd arrived like a storm, a strange man in a red costume, unhinged and relentless, cutting down the team like they were nothing. But now? Now, Deadpool sounded less like a hero and more like… well, a fellow assassin.

Seeing a possible way out, Bob spoke up. "Uh… sir? Look, considering our boss is… uh, not with us anymore, it's clear we're not continuing this mission. But if you're interested, maybe I can introduce you?"

"Got a contact?" Charlie's voice came through Deadpool, sharp and direct.

Bob shook his head. "No, the client was… really careful. We don't even know who they are. They used disposable phones for every call. There's no set contact method…"

Bob trailed off as he caught sight of Deadpool's dark look, and he hurried to add, "…but I can take you to the meeting place! We're supposed to check in at a specific time, and there'll be someone there to give us the next instructions."

Now, that sounded like a promising lead.

"Fine," Deadpool growled, letting a glint of malice show through. "But if you're lying…"

"I swear, I wouldn't dare!"

Charlie was satisfied with the new development. He wasn't worried about Stark, but his curiosity about this employer had definitely been piqued. There was always a risk that Stark's advancements, despite their benefits, might threaten certain powerful interests. Technological progress was a double-edged sword, after all, and Stark's world-changing inventions had upset more than a few companies along the way.

For some, Stark's tech represented the future. But for others, it spelled the end of their control, maybe even their livelihoods. Charlie recalled Stark had always dealt with this tension, having created as many enemies as allies. His good intentions for humanity's future often bred resentment—and sometimes, his enemies weren't just criminals but former allies or competing companies who felt left behind.

Bob and his gang had come from a city called Wendelani, where the employer was likely based. Looked like Charlie would be making a trip.

For this mission, he decided on a team-up with Batman and Deadpool—a classic DC-Marvel crossover. Though Batman and Deadpool didn't typically cross paths, Batman was at least familiar with Deadpool's "cousin," Deathstroke. Fans often compared the two, and now, this unlikely partnership had a certain symmetry to it.

Thanks to the Watchtower's teleportation array, getting there wouldn't be a hassle. The portal allowed heroes to instantly travel anywhere, sparing them the time and effort of flying cross-country.

After they arrived at the Watchtower, Deadpool went uncharacteristically quiet. But after a pause, he turned to face the screen, breaking the fourth wall once again.

"Hey, player… don't get all hot-headed! Don't mute me just yet—I've got a genius idea."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. He decided to let Deadpool speak.

"All that cash sitting there, waiting for us, and we're gonna let it go to waste?" Deadpool scoffed, shaking his head. "Here's what I'm thinking: we kill Stark, just once, take the money. He doesn't really die, right?"

Charlie: "…