Disconnection

Chapter 7

Peter groggily sat up and yawned, lazily running his fingers through his hair. He looked around the room, confused until he recalled where he was, opening his mouth wide in shock as his gaze landed on a familiar figure standing a few metres away.

Wade was frozen, staring at him with a stunned expression, and more importantly, he wasn't wearing his mask.

They both stared at each other silently for a moment until Wade suddenly lunged into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him with the faint click of a lock.

Peter was at a loss for words. He noticed there was now a blanket over him with a Spiderman logo pattern all over it making him smile but also making him feel a little guilty. He checked the time on his phone, noticing that Steve had replied to his earlier message, reminding him of his curfew and asking if he expected to be back in time for dinner. He wasn't sure so he decided to answer later. He put his phone down and tried to figure out what just happened.

After about ten minutes he stood up and walked over to the bedroom door, hesitating before gently knocking three times.

“Wade, are you in there?”

There was no reply, so Peter asked again, his voice sounding a little frantic this time. When there was no reply once again he started panicking, worrying about what he would find if he walked in.

Just as he was about to put his hand on the handle the door opened. He stepped back as Wade emerged in sweatpants and a hoodie pulled low over his head, his mask visible underneath.

“Uhhh hey Petey, how long have you been here?” Wade said nervously.

“How long?! Long enough to find you dead and covered in blood! What the hell Wade? You weren't responding to my texts so I come over to see if you're okay and I find you like that? What happened?” Peter’s voice had gone shaky at the end of his sentence, his face turning red.

Wade looked nervously at the door as if he wanted to escape through it before replying. “I was taking a little break from life, it's no big deal, I always come back anyway.” He lowered his voice, muttering “whether I like it or not.”

“No big deal!? What the fuck Wade! Do you know how worried I was? You could of been taken by someone while on a job! Just because you can't be killed doesn't mean you can't be hurt and tortured!” Tears were starting to well up in Peter’s eyes but he continued.

“Just a simple text to let me know that you were okay would have been nice! If you don't want to hang out with me that's fine but at least let me know that you're safe!”

Wade looked guiltily at the floor. “No Peter it's not that, I just think you'd be better off associating with other people. I mean, look at me, you just found me in a dirty old bathroom after blowing my own brains out. Am I really someone you want to get to know?!” Wade started becoming hysterical “I hear voices Peter, and they aren't nice. I've got more issues than I have weapons and that's saying something! I'm not going to let my crazy fuck up your life!”

“I can make my own decisions! This is why you need friends, ones who can help you deal with your shit! You don't have to be force yourself to be alone!” Peter was crying at this point, but was too emotional to stop.

“Well it's not like you’re any better! Last time I checked the only difference between what I did and what you did is that you won't come back!”

Peter's face paled and he took a step back, turning away so Wade couldn't see the hurt on his face.

“Oh shit, I'm so sorry Peter, that was out of line.” Wade came up behind him and hesitantly turned him around so they were facing each other.

“I'm sorry Peter, I shouldn't of said that, you were right, I should have let you know I was okay.”

Peter suddenly wrapped his arms around the older man’s waist, his head resting on his muscled chest. “No I'm sorry you're right, I just want to help you like you helped me, I don't want to see you get hurt whether it's from a job or from yourself.” He didn't know how he had the courage to hug Wade, but he didn't want to let go. Wade remained frozen at first, but gradually he relaxed and wrapped his arms around Peter.

Peter took a deep breath. “Wade, a while ago there was someone I cared about a lot, and when she needed me most I wasn't able to save her. I don't want that to happen again.”

Peter felt Wade’s chest rise and fall, his arms easily wrapping around Peter’s small frame. “How about we make a deal? Whenever either of us are feeling down, we have to call the other person, okay? No matter what time.”

Wade looked down at the slender boy in his arms. “Okay, it's a deal baby boy.” He couldn't help but grin when Peter looked up and smiled at him as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

As Wade wiped a stray tear from his cheek, Peter acted impulsively. It's now or never.

He stood on the tips of his toes, swiftly but gently rolled Wade’s mask up to expose his mouth, and before Wade could question it, he put a hand on each side of his face and kissed him.

Holy shit. I'm kissing him.

And he's kissing me.

All coherent thought abandoned him as Wade softly pressed his lips against his. Peter eagerly pressed his tongue against his lips, gently exploring Wade’s mouth as his body melted into the kiss. Wade shifted his hand to tangle into Peter’s hair as their kiss deepened.

After a few moments they both slowly pulled away, opening their eyes wide and staring at each other. Then Peter smiled and Wade couldn't help but join in. He adored his smile, it was like the sun was shining out through his face, the deep brown of his eyes boring into the bright blue of Wade’s.

They held each other in a comfortable silence, each thinking about what just happened. Finally Wade broke the silence
.
“Uh, so do you wanna stay and watch a movie? I can make tacos?”

Peter beamed at him, still in the embrace, reluctant to let go.

“I’d love to.”