Evolution

“Where to?” Peter asked for the umpteenth time, making Wade smile. “I told you that it's supposed to be a surprise.” He told him once more. Peter pouted, wiggling in his seat nervously. It wasn't because he felt uneasy though, no, Peter loved their little trips, especially when Wade drove them to wherever he wanted to take him. The possibility of seeing and learning something new just excited the hell out of the boy. The first few times Wade had tried to calm him down by talking to him or playing music, but whenever he turned a corner to someplace Peter hadn't seen before the teen would jump up in his seat staring and pointing at basically everything he saw outside. Some might find it annoying, but for Wade it was really refreshing – Peter was fascinated by the most trivial things, he just was some kind of embodiment of life and joy and happiness and the best part about it was that it was contagious. Wade hadn't felt so leveled since ages and right now he was enjoying his life, he was happy and he hadn't even killed anyone since he had 'adopted' Peter. It was a new experience, but it was good. It felt right.

This time however Wade had outdone himself. Peter was thrilled. Sure, watching a 3D movie at a cinema was great but this? This was the best fricking idea Wade had ever had. At first Peter had been a little nervous, because of the large amount of people crowded at the entrance, but as soon as he had seen the first enclosure he let go of Wade's arm to get a better view of the animal within. He was still standing there, staring at the Gorilla that was sitting on a patch of grass intensely. “Remember, Peter – that is no pray.” Wade chuckled. “But why don't you take a picture of it?” Peter looked at him startled for a second before fidgeting with the camera hanging around his neck. He was so excited that his hands were trembling, but he tried to snap a nice shot nonetheless. While looking through the lens however he suddenly gasped in awe, lowering the camera again to see with his own eyes. “What? What is there?” Wade asked smiling, trying to make out what Peter might have seen. Peter pointed at the somewhat hidden horse-like animal wriggly. “Ah, yeah! That's an Okapi. It's also called the 'unicorn of Africa' sometimes.” “Unicorn?!” Peter gasped once again. Wade nodded, informing Peter about some other things about the animal he had researched beforehand. Sure Peter could have just read all that on those fancy information signs, but Wade wanted to tell him all those things, he wanted to be a part of Peter's experience. In addition to that Peter was a very good listener. He would look at Wade almost as if in disbelief, absorbing every single word that left his mouth.

That was how they had spend most of the day; Peter reacting to every new animal with a gasp (Wade had made a joke at some point, that if Peter continued gasping like that he would surely lose consciousness and Wade would then have to provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Not that Wade would mind..) and Wade telling him everything he knew about it. The Bronx Zoo was way too big to explore in one single swoop, especially when going so slow like the both of them. So after discovering lions, wild dogs, zebras, giraffes, aardvarks, baboons and whatnot Wade led Peter to the Children's Zoo, to top it all off.

The area looked a little bit like a barn, but people could enter the exhibit to pet the animals. There were goats and alpacas and all those other harmless but fluffy animals a kid would want to cuddle with. At first Peter seemed to be confused that he was allowed to be that close to the animals, but Wade just gave him some fodder he had bought. When a group of animals noticed the food, Peter found himself surrounded by them and although he still seemed irritated he soon started to like his new position, kindly asking Wade for more food to feed them.

In the end they spend almost an hour at the petting zoo. Peter took a special liking in a big, gentle roe deer. Petting and hugging her with utmost care, sometimes burring his face in her soft fur. “Well you do look a lot alike.” Wade had admitted after taking another photo of the pair. Peter just looked at him surprised, probably wondering what the merc had meant.

After Peter said his goodbyes to all those new friends he had found they strolled into one of the animal houses. Inside it the light was dimmed to fit the more nocturnal creatures living inside. There were various reptiles, snakes and in one terrarium there even were spiders. When Peter saw them he instantly went silent. Wade tried to distract him, but Peter wouldn't respond he just stood there in front of the glass staring at one of the spiders intensely. It made Wade wonder, if Peter actually wanted to go back to his spider-existence. He had never thought of it, of the possibility of Peter turning back into a spider, yet alone that Peter actually might wanted to.

The thought scared Wade, but it also made him sad. Hadn't he himself tried to show Peter all the joy the human life could bring?

“Hey, Peter.. do you.. do you want to be a spider again?” He whispered concerned, standing right behind him. The boy didn't look up and when Wade already thought he wouldn't answer he did.

“I.. am spider.” He said softly, looking up to Wade with his big, brown doe-eyes. The merc put his arms around the teen, pulling him into a gentle hug. “Nah, Peter.. you are so much more then that..”

So yeah, the whole spider-thing totally ruined the mood. Instead of being all wriggly and happy and excited Peter was absentminded and silent for the rest of their trip. Even the various soft toys in one of the souvenir shops couldn't change that and Wade's jokes and general silliness only earned tired smiles if any. He had almost given up, when he spotted a familiar figure sitting outside the 'Dancing Crane Café'.

“Do you recognize that guy?” Wade asked him quietly, nodding towards the man that was looking at a map of the zoo. Peter shook his head. “What?” Wade exclaimed shocked. “But that is him! Captain America! Steve Rogers himself!” He looked at Peter who seemed to finally recognize his favorite superhero. The boy looked at Wade wide-eyed. “Really?” He gasped. “Yeah, go and ask him if you're allowed to take a photo.” “..Alone?” “It's okay, just ask nicely.” Wade gave the boy a little push into the right direction and so Peter started to approach Steve slowly and nervously. From were he stood Wade couldn't hear what they were talking about, but it seemed as if Peter tried really hard to speak in whole sentences, making him stutter and blush adorably. Steve himself was as kind as always, but he too looked a little bit embarrassed, not feeling all too comfortable around 'fans', but the way he smiled he seemed to be blown away by the sheer amount of cuteness he saw in front of him. No one could blame him for that, though.

After Peter took a photo they exchanged a few more words, before Peter came back to Wade grinning like a Cheshire Cat. The merc ruffled the boys hair. “So?” Wade asked. “How did the photo turn out?” He half assumed that it was a blurred mess, because Peter couldn't handle his excitement, but when Peter showed him the actual picture on the digital display Wade was quite baffled. Sure Cap was quite good looking, but the photo looked as if taken professionally. Wade whistled in approval, while leading Peter out of the zoo.