As the comic begins, Wade "Deadpool" Wilson talks directly to the reader and explains his backstory. His wife left him for another man, he spent some time in space killing aliens, and SHIELD Agent Preston is now looking after Wilson's daughter Ellie. He also explains that the story takes place shortly before 'Secret Empire #0'.
Wilson reflects on how he idolized Steve Rogers as a kid. When he first met Rogers they fought, but soon enough Rogers and Wolverine helped him through some hard times and Wilson found him to be as good as the stories said. When Rogers was artificially aged-up and asked Wilson to take Wolverine's spot on the Avengers, Wilson thought it was one of the best days of his life. And even now that Rogers is young again, he still occasionally asks Wilson to do special missions for him, including one that Rogers is sending to him at that very moment.
Rogers tells Wilson that a secure facility has been breached and it's imperative that Phil Coulson be found immediately. Wilson asks why Rogers can't just track Coulson from his SHIELD gear, but Rogers says that's not an option and he needs someone outside SHIELD for this particular mission anyways. He instructs Wilson to leave his own tracker on so Rogers can follow him, and to go to a more secure line of communication. Wilson does, and Rogers gives additional orders.
Wilson drops into Preston's backyard as her family is having a barbecue, reflecting to himself that he knew why he was put on the Avengers team: sometimes there would be bloody, violent missions the rest of the team wouldn't want to do (except for perhaps Clint Barton) but that nonetheless needed to be done. Preston is unhappy that Wilson literally rappelling into her yard, and while she confirms that she's still friends with Coulson and knows where he is, she won't tell Wilson. Wilson begins eating the barbecue food with his hands and promises that if Preston helps him out then he'll leave right away and won't come back all summer. He mentions that he particularly won't come back with loud marching bands or spaceships, at which point Preston gives in.
Elsewhere, Coulson records and transmits a message. He says that he idolized Steve Rogers as a kid and that Rogers was the reason he, Coulson, joined SHIELD in the first place. However, after Rogers' youth was restored, Coulson began to suspect that something was wrong with him and started to investigate. Now he's discovered the chamber where Rogers is keeping the Chitauri queen and wants to sound the alarm, but before he can finish his message Wilson shoots his flying car down with a rocket launcher.
Coulson frantically radios a summary of his findings and his current position as he crashes. He threatens to kill his attacker, but backs down when he realizes that he's fighting Wilson and can't possibly win. They bicker a little and then Coulson runs off after sticking something in a tree. When Wilson investigates, he only finds a bomb, which explodes in his face and knocks him back.
Coulson runs through the woods and makes it into a small town where he has a secret safe house he got from Nick Fury. Before he can actually get inside, though, Wilson catches up and jams his arm through the safe house's door so it can't close. He begs Wilson to believe him when he says that Wilson is on the wrong side, but Wilson says that he's with Steve Rogers and Rogers has never been on the wrong side. Realizing there's no way out and he can't convince Wilson, Coulson shuts his eyes in resignation. He thinks to himself that he could have stopped Rogers. Then Wilson shoots him in the heart, and Coulson collapses, apparently dead.
Wilson slumps against the wall, thinking back to the secret orders Rogers gave him after ordering him to switch to a more secure communication line. The orders were to kill Coulson on sight, and Wilson accepted, believing Rogers' claim that this was for the good of the country. Rogers then arrives and Wilson goes to him, telling him that Coulson is dead even as his bombs blow up the safe house behind him. He asks why, and Rogers says Wilson will learn that eventually, but not at the moment. All Rogers will say is that Coulson had to be killed for the good of the country. Wilson wonders what he'll say to Preston, but Rogers says that soon everyone will understand. He also says that big changes will be in store for America and he knows Wilson will help bring them about.
Rogers leaves, but before following, Wilson turns and stares forlornly at his reflection in a remaining window of the burning safe house.
Tropes:
- Blood from the Mouth: Coulson, when he dies.
