Dawn had broken in, sunlight shone across the room as Taskmaster was passed out on the floor. His skull was cracked, body bruised and worn, blood stained his clothing. When he awoke he had trouble recalling anything.
Tony rubbed the back of his head, it throbbed ferociously, a pain that reached down his neck and in between his shoulders. Each touch is more tender than the last. He still couldn’t recollect how he got in this much pain, and soon realized he wasn’t even in his own apartment.
“What the hell?” Taskmaster muttered to himself. Standing up to investigate the apartment, he recognized it as Deadpool’s dump of an place.
Though he didn’t remember coming here. Tony snuck into the bathroom where he undressed, looking to see all the cuts and bruises that covered all over himself.
Tony was upset to see his skull mask completely shattered, the jaw hanging off, ready to snap. Underneath the mask he could see his very own jawline, his lips that had dried blood on them.
Turning on the sink to clean himself up, Tony wondered what he was doing here, if he and Wade got into a fight or not. He hadn’t remembered anything the night before, but his memory hadn’t been this fuzzy in years.
It was odd that Deadpool wasn’t around, as this was his place, it was strange to be here alone, he kept thinking that Wade would show up any moment and catch him completely naked. He didn’t dare shower for that reason. Instead Taskmaster grabbed his worn clothing and dressed himself in it, planning to sneak out the window and find his way back home. Before he could open the window he heard a noise coming from the front door.
Tony gripped his knife and walked out of the bathroom, just for protection, if it was Wade he shouldn’t need to fight him. But he couldn’t be too sure after the state his own body was in. Although, he didn’t imagine Deadpool would beat him up this badly without good reason, hoping for answers more than a fight.
The main concern at this moment was the absence of Wade.
If they really did get into a fight it would explain his lack of presence, but he still couldn’t imagine getting into this bad of condition when fighting Wade.
Both of them had gone easier on each other over the years. He thought they were closer, throwing punches more for show. If Wade had hurt him like this then Tony felt it had to of been his own fault.
Entering the main room, Tony was met with Deadpool holding a bag of groceries, with a very shocked expression on his face.
“Tasky?” Wade asked, confused by his appearance.
“Jesus… you look like hell! What brought you here?” Wade sets the groceries on the counter beside him, one hand reaching for something to defend himself with while the other was reaching out to Taskmaster in hopes to get him to lower the knife.
“I was hoping you’d answer me. I’m not sure how or when I got here!” Tony replied, putting the knife away.
“Let’s just sit down.” Wade walked over to Tony, helping him to the couch.
He looked at the wounds Tony had sustained and bit his lip. “Let me get you something to clean these up.”
“You don’t have to do that. I don’t need your help.”
“Yeah? Is that why you’re in my apartment right now?” Deadpool sarcastically responded.
“Just shut up and let me take care of you.”
“I’m a grown man, I can take care of my damn self.”
Wade scoffed and threw the bandages at him. “Then do it.”
Tony struggled to pull it apart, his left hand was too weak to assist him. He looked away for a moment, in complete silence, a heavy sigh escaped from his mouth.
“Alright, could you help me ‘Pool?” Tony relented, ashamed to admit he needed the help.
“Only if you stop complaining.” Wade knelt on the floor, pressing the wash cloth on Tony’s wounds, cleansing them before undoing the bandage wrap and firmly applying it. Tony winced by each touch, the pain was sharp and it felt as if his skin was on fire. “Damn that hurts.” Tony whined.
“I said no complaining. It’s obviously going to hurt, you were bleeding out all over my living room!”
“You don’t have to touch it so much is all I’m saying!” Tony snapped at him.
“You know, a little thank you would be nice every now and again, why do you always have to be such a dick about everything?” Wade scolded him as he tied the bandage.
Tony refused to face him for a moment. “I don’t like being touched when in pain…”
“I’m just trying to help you so it won’t hurt so much.” Wade insists, lowering his head and pressing his finger against Tony’s bruise.
“Would a kiss make it feel better?”
Tony blushed, annoyed and embarrassed. He covered his face from Wade’s view. “I just said I don’t like to be touched.”
“Well, I can kiss the parts of you that aren’t in pain.” Wade offered, grinning playfully at him.
“You’re so weird. Why do you think I’d want that?”
“Ever seen Raiders of the Lost Ark?”
“Seriously? This isn’t a film, Wade. You can’t kiss my problems away.”
“Correction, Marion didn’t kiss Indy’s problems away either, but they did share an intimate moment from all that sexual tension between them, that’s the whole point. I think it applies to us as well.” Wade suggested, gesturing at one another.
“Sexual tension? You’re just saying shit now.” Tony denies any interest in Wade.
Wade shook his head, seeing straight through his act.
“I think you wanted to be here. You wanted to see me and have someone tend to your wounds. But I wasn’t home.” Wade smirked at Tony.
“Why else did you stay here?”
“I passed out.”
“Right. But you still came here, why didn’t you go to your place?” Wade poked him.
Taskmaster was defeated. Wade knew well enough, this wasn’t a big mystery, the events that happened may have been, but Tony couldn’t deny the feelings he had. Thinking back to the night before, he did remember not wanting to be alone, though he’d never admit this, he was scared and wanted to be comforted. Wade was right about that.
He hated that he was, how easily he could see through his facade.
Tony didn’t have many friends, something he’d always prided himself in, being a loner, having no emotional attachments. But then whenever things become too tough and scary, he has no one in his corner. Nobody to turn to for help.
That’s when he feels the loneliest, most vulnerable.
Wade was the only real friend he had, the only person he felt safe with. Despite admitting this, Wade mattered a lot more than he willingly acknowledges.
“I didn’t want to be alone.” Tony confessed. His eyes strayed to the ground. Wade sighed, standing up to sit beside him.
“You aren’t alone. Tasky— you know… well you know it. Not with me.” Wade rests his hand on top of Tony’s.
Tony doesn’t react. No flinching or pulling away this time, he just sits there, staring at their hands before interlocking their fingers together. Tony softly laughed, sitting upright.
“You know, my lips are a bit sore. Maybe you should kiss them to feel better.” Taskmaster suggested.
Wade’s eyes roll. He leans in, removing the mask from Tony’s face. “Is that what you want?”
“Yeah. It is.” Tony responded, eagerly accepting his kiss.