After the whole ‘the multiverse is real here are two other Peter Parkers’ fiasco Peter (peter 3) found himself back in his home reality with more thinking to do than he wanted. He had seen how broken the other Peter was after losing May. He couldn’t imagine it, but it reminded him of how broken he still was. He couldn’t stop thinking about what the older Peter had said, about how love wasn’t off the table for guys like them. Maybe Peter just needed to find his own MJ, even if he wasn’t sure he deserved love like that. Everyone, he loved always ended up worse for it, his parents, Ben, Harry, and Gwen. But he didn’t want to feel this alone anymore.
After witnessing another Spiderman spiral into his negative emotions and allow himself to get violent he was scared , and Peter knew he never wanted to return to that sort of mindset. The year after Gwen’s death had been bad enough.
He’d stopped on top of a small skyscraper to stretch; swinging was getting more tiring as the years went on and his lower back needed a break. Even with the relief of stretching, Peter’s mind continued to race with thoughts of the other Peter's and what had happened.
That was until a loud voice called from behind him, abruptly interrupting his shaky concentration.
“Spidey, how are you?!” Deadpool said.
“Hello Red.”
“Oh no…”
“What?” Peter asked, turning to look at the hulking red figure approaching.
“You said that in your sad voice.”
“My sad voice?”
“Yeah, your voice is all… sad, less cute 17-year-old more depressed 30-year-old.”
“I’m not 17! I am an adult! Like come on people do some basic math, I have been spiderman for 13 years. If I was 17 now, I would have been 4 when I started and that makes no sense.” Peter was standing now pacing back and forth flailing his hands.
“Okay, now you’re getting irrationally upset, which means I was right. Something is up.” Deadpool moved to sit on the ledge of the building and patted the spot next to him in encouragement. Peter huffed at him and sat.
“You’re right, it’s just a long story,” Peter sighed, crossing his hands in his lap.
“I have nothing better to do Baby Boy.”
With little else to do, Peter spilled. He told Wade about arriving in the other universe (and yes Wade did make more than one joke about the potentials of multiple Spidermen for his fantasies) and how he had seen the pain all Peters seem doomed to and about how he felt unsure if he could have relationships, but that the older Peter gave him hope. He didn’t tell him about needing to find his MJ but Wade seemed to understand anyway.
“Let me see if I’ve got this right.” Wade turned towards Peter and continued, “You decided you shouldn’t be allowed to have meaningful relationships, but now you’re confused because an alternate version of you made it work, and you’re debating whether you should be allowed to try again?”
Peter nodded dumbly, picking at the fingertips of his gloves. Hearing it aloud made it feel even more unrealistic than before, but it felt good to be able to talk to someone about it.
“That’s some bullshit Spidey.” Peter looked up shocked, but Wade charged on. “Of course, you should have relationships. You put out so much good into the universe you should get some back in return.”
Peter huffed a tiny sarcastic laugh. “The universe never seemed to care before. You know that as of next week I’ll have been mourning Gwen for longer than I knew her.”
“That’s sad baby but …”
Peter interrupted raising his hand in a silencing motion. “No Wade, I think about this a lot. When Gwen died, I held her, I held Ben too. When Ben died and I saw the blood on my hands I couldn’t do anything about it because I was in shock. But when I lost Gwen, the blood was worse. It was under my fingernails; it had seeped through my gloves and when I had to wash my hands I hesitated because I realised that was all I had left of her. It was the last time I would touch a part of her. How am I meant to go back to normal after that… ?”
Peter could feel tears starting to well up, his vision blurring slightly.
Wade didn’t respond immediately. He hesitated, and something about the pause felt comforting, Peter knew that it meant that Wade heard him, that he was taking this seriously. And that meant a lot to him right now.
When Wade started to speak, his voice was quieter than normal.
“I lost Vanessa… my Gwen. She was killed because of me, and I went completely off the rails. I mean full rage, tried to blow myself up. If it wasn’t for some crazy friends of mine and a vision of her I had when I thought I was dead I don’t think I would have recovered either. Some days are still hard, but I’m better. I mean look at me, I have been clean of direct murder for two years thanks to you. I know this sucks to hear but it does get better.”
Some part of Peter broke at the words because he’d been waiting for years for it to get better, and it hadn’t. Seeing the other Peters had given him hope again, but as soon as he returned home it had drained away to a small puddle, leaving him with just enough to keep hurting himself believing it could be better.
“That’s just it Red, I don’t want it to get better! I have been waiting for years, and nothing’s changed. I just want it to be better!”
He was sobbing now, and he could feel his mask gluing itself to his face and being sucked into his hyperventilating mouth. He just couldn’t do this anymore.
“You’re gonna suffocate yourself, idiot.”
Wade leaned over and grabbed Peter’s jaw. He rolled Peter’s mask up over his nose, freeing half his face and Peter couldn’t help but lean into the warmth of Wade’s palm. He felt ridiculous, covered in snot and tears, but having Wade next him eased it a little because they’d seen each other's worse states, and Peter knew there was no judgment between them.
“It is already better. I can see you improving every day. When I first came to New York you were only just back to fighting the ‘PG’ way again, and you haven’t snapped once since. You are better Peter, but the loneliness won’t go away if you don’t let people in. Which means risking being hurt again, but hey you have me, you will always have me I can’t die on you.”
Wade said, and Peter could hear the smile in his voice.
Peter laughed and leaned forward, pressing his forehead into Wade’s chest. He felt the weight of the last week slipping away, his pain and doubts wouldn’t fade completely but, in that moment, he was comfortable and at ease in Wade’s arms. How did Peter end up having an ex-mercenary be the best company he’s had in years? How did Wade know how to calm him down so easily? Their friendship was something Peter was confused by but had greatly appreciated over the last few years.
“Come on, let’s go stop a crime. That always cheers you up. We can swing by Hell’s Kitchen. I know Matt gets your hero guilt better than I do.”
“He is catholic, guilt is like his whole thing.”
Deadpool laughed and nodded pulling Peter up. The two of them descending into the busy streets.
---
They ended up stopping two robberies and helping Matt stop a kidnapping before midnight. The three of them had just arrived at Matt’s rooftop, and Foggy stepped out to offer them all donuts. Peter stood back with Foggy, watching as Deadpool showed Matt the grip on a new knife he bought.
“You get into those red leather pants yet?” Foggy whispered.
Peter stopped munching on his donut to glare through his mask at Foggy. Since the so dubbed ‘Team Red’ had gotten closer Foggy had been insisting that Spiderman should get with Deadpool.
“The only red pants getting action here is this whole in the side of my pants getting stitched up.”
“That’s not true, I get into Matt’s red pants all the time. You’re just a coward. Getting into the pants on a red leather clad buff man with violence issues is great. I really recommend it.”
Foggy winked, or at least, that’s what Peter thought he was trying to accomplish.
Peter rolled his eyes, moving his head exaggeratedly to ensure Foggy got the message.
“I’ve told you before Foggy, me and DP don’t have what you have. You and Matt have the whole old married couple thing down, DP is…. Chaotic. I am … healing.”
“Spidey, I have known you for almost three years now. You’ve been healing. Hell, Matt is always healing. You will always be healing. You are not going to wake up one day and be better. You have to make it better. Move on.”
“And you think I should move on by what… getting a good pounding, in the fun way for once?”
“Makes me feel better.” Foggy laughed patting Peter’s shoulder. “But no, in all seriousness I think you and Wade are good for each other, and I think both of you would be a hell of a lot less angsty if you weren’t so alone. Also, Matt is sick of smelling the sexual tension and pining, he says it stinks.”
“I don’t know how I feel about Wade, Foggy. I’m still confused.”
“God, you’re harder to convince about being gay than Matt and you aren’t even Catholic. I have a great gaydar. I am never wrong.” Foggy looked quite proud of himself for this, but Peter didn’t really understand Foggy’s suggestion that Peter and Wade should get together.
Peter didn’t respond, instead he got up and walked over to Deadpool and Daredevil in the hopes of avoiding the conversation (and his thoughts).
“Baby! Please assist me. This dumb ass is telling me that fucking alternate universe versions of yourself is incest,” Deadpool said.
“Wade gross, he’s right. I don’t care if you would fuck yourself, but my other Me’s are my brothers, no sexual tension. It is totally incest adjacent.”
Matt nodded in agreement.
“Maybe if you could see how hot you are Matt you would change your mind. If I had the opportunity to fuck multiple of you I would.” Deadpool was nodding to himself.
Matt just laughed, used to Deadpool’s crude humour.
“Get this mad man off my roof Spidey,” Matt chuckled as he turned to Peter.
“He isn’t my pet Daredevil I can’t command him.”
“Yeah, I am not his pet. Unless he likes that. I am open to any kink you need baby.”
Peter face palmed laughing whilst Matts exposed mouth curled in distaste.
“You are disgusting Wade.”
“Don’t get your catholic knickers in a twist Matt. You can keep your vanilla leather kink to you and Foggy. Spidey and I can explore the cool stuff.”
“Pet play isn’t the cool stuff Wade.”
“Woah Spidey! Kink shaming. I thought you were better than that.” Deadpool over exaggerated his hurt and gripped his left peck in mock pain. Peter did not indulge him and maintained his disapproving pose with one had on his hip.
Matt moved away and begun ushuring Foggy inside. “Go home, I am going to bed.”
“Yeah, to your boring catholic sex!” Wade shouted after him. Peter laughed and walked over to the edge of the roof. Once Matt and Foggy had shut the door behind themselves Wade joined Peter on the ledge.
“Thanks Wade. I feel… better.”
“No problem, Baby Boy. Anytime.”
Peter believed him. Wade would be there, whenever he needed him. He always was, even when Peter wasn’t sure he wanted him.
---
It wasn’t just Spiderman that Wade was there for. It was Peter Parker too. Although admittedly Peter Parker made very little appearance anymore but since the multiverse incident, he was trying to be Peter more. At the moment, he was indulging in a Peter Parker habit – gaming. Peter was playing online with Wade (well Wade was noobmaster69 and Peter and P3N15PARK3R but still). Peter was laughing along to Wade’s insults of other players, enjoying how Wades deep voice vibrated though Peter with his headphones all the way up.
Peter felt relaxed.
They took a 5-minute pizza pocket break and Wade called on snapchat to discuss strategy. Wade had those headphones with the cat ears and had bought Peter a hoodie with ears some time ago to match. Wade literally squealed when Peter answered the call and he noticed Peter wearing the hoodie.
“Oh my god Petey you look so cute! Those sad middle-aged men in their moms’ basements are gonna get owed by a pair of hot cat boys.” Peter smiled and paned down showing off the cute hoodie. “Peter don’t show me you are in nothing but an oversized cat hoodie unless you want a boner to distract me from the next game.”
“I am wearing boxers. Besides think of it as motivation.” Peter looked fondly at Wade through the screen as he laughed. Wade wasn’t wearing his mask, and Peter loved to see Wade’s laughter without it. He was glad that he was comfortable enough to call him like this.
God maybe Foggy was right, maybe Peter was a little in love.
Peter tensed as the microwave beeped and Wade begin to ask strategy for the next match. Something was wrong. He only managed to turn his head slightly, still gripping the phone, before he was thrown back. He felt a scorching heat storm through the room, what was left of it anyway, and small pieces of rubble followed hitting him in the face. Someone or something had set off an explosion.
There was a ringing in his ears, and only had to wait a moment before he could hear again. As sound came back, he could hear Wade yelling through his phone that was somehow still in one piece.
“Peter! Peter! I’m coming over just stay there! Are you ok!? Peter.”
Peter flexed his arm feeling the phone still clenched in his cut-up fingers and pulled it towards his face. “Wade,” He croaked out, and could now make out Wade’s face in his cracked screen. Wade had put his mask on and appeared to be moving quickly.
“Oh Petey baby, are you ok?”
“All limbs attached and accounted for. I turned away just in time.” Peter heard his door being kicked in and turned from his phone to see Wade there looking up from his phone into Peter’s eyes. Peter was still curled up on the floor. He gave Wade a tight smile, and Wade didn’t waste another moment before striding into the room, kneeling beside him, and then patting him down for injuries.
“Where does it hurt?”
“Being blown up typically hurts everywhere.”
Wade began man handling Peter trying to turn him but Peter’s limbs where still stiff in his curled position.
“I don’t wanna wrestle.” Peter joked, but Wade just sighed not even budging. Peter inhaled sharply as Wade’s fingers pushed into his side, he’d found a wet spot on the hoodie. Wade grabbed Peter’s wrists in one hand and began to gently pull the hoodie up.
“Buy me lunch first,” Peter grumbled, and Wade paused.
“I bought you the hoodie.”
“That isn’t the same.”
“Okay, I’ll buy you lunch, after I get microwave plastic out of your side.”
“Foreplay usually comes after lunch and before or during the stripping.”
“I’m unique.”
Peter finally relented, he nodded to Wade, and the hoodie was off his body onto Wade’s arm that was still holding his wrists. Smart, he thought. This way when Wade took the hoddie off it didn’t pull at Peters cut wrists. Wade let him go and gently helped him uncurl, exposing his side that was bleeding. The shrapnel was small, thankfully, and Wade just pulled it out there.
“Oh mother hubber that hurt,” Peter exclaimed.
“Say fuck. Being blown up warrants a fuck.”
“Who blew me up anyway? They did a crap job.”
“I am glad they did.”
Peter nodded and rolled onto his back feeling less stiff now that there wasn’t plastic sticking out of his side. He turned his head and saw his pizza pocket on the floor. He pouted. “My hot pocket… they blew up my food. It’s personal now.”
Wade stood and began to investigate the small hole where Peter’s microwave had been. It wasn’t a big explosion. It wouldn’t have killed him unless he was facing it and close, but it still did some damage. What was more concerning was that he hadn’t sensed it. The bomb must’ve been shielded from his senses somehow. Peter stood slowly and limped to Wade’s back and looked over his shoulder. The bomb remains looked normal but when Wade pried apart one section Peter recognised a symbol on the side.
“Fisk,” Peter sighed.
“You mean the big bald guy!? I thought he was Daredevil’s problem!”
“He normally is. But a little bit back I brought down a smuggling ring he had at the docks. It didn’t go smoothy.”
“What do you mean?”
“He saw my face, but I didn’t think he could find me. It isn’t like anyone knows who Peter is.” He could see now that he’d been wrong, but he’d been so tired he didn’t think Fisk would care enough to come after him.
“How the fuck did he see your face, how could you be so careless?”
“Careless! I was not! I was busy trying not to die. He was crushing my fucking face, I was lucky I got out of there with just a fractured skull. I didn’t have time to care he knew I looked like every other white, brown haired nerd in New York.”
“Peter, Fisk is big time. He is dangerous. And he found a way to get past your powers. This bomb was a few micro-seconds of blowing microwave parts into your face. If he had sent men right after the explosion you would have been in no condition to defend yourself.” Wade had reached out to grab Peter’s face in his right hand and gently ran his gloved thumb down next to a scratch on Peters face.
“I will admit I don’t like that I didn’t sense it. I should have sensed it as soon as it was in the house. He must have gotten some tech from somewhere like OSCORP. What are we going to do?”
Wade laughed. He placed his hands on Peters hips and began to half carry him to the couch.
“We are not doing anything. I am taking you to Matt’s and he and I will take care of this.” He grabbed a blanket from Peter’s couch and wrapped it around Peter to cover him up, reminding Peter that he had been standing in only his boxers.
“Wha… no. He tried to blow me up. I can help.”
“Usually I say yes, but you were just blown up. He can get past your senses, and you can’t take another hit like that.”
“I’m fine.”
“If you can walk over to me right now you can come.”
Peter tried to walk to Wade who had taken a few steps back but as soon as he took a step his left leg crumpled, his knee apparently bruised to all hell. Wade sighed and in one motion scooped Peter up and walked out of the apartment.
When they arrived at the apartment Matt was already in the suit ready to go and Foggy was grumpily asking what was going on. Wade settled Peter on the couch and wa;ked over to Matt and the stairs to the roof.
“Oh hoho no. Why did Deadpool just drop off a naked bloody Spidey on my couch? Why is my boyfriend in his suit on a Sunday? Sundays are days off remember? Good day of rest or some shit.”
“Wilson Fisk tried to blow Peter up. I need you to take care of him whilst Matt and I take the fucker down.”
“He destroyed my pizza hot pocket”
Foggy opened his mouth to protest looking between Wade and Matt. He paused and looked back at Peter on his couch and sighed. “Go get that fucker. Just bring your red leather-clad butts back in one piece. I will feed the Spider.”
He gave Matt a kiss on his cheek and Matt squeezed his bicep in return.
Wade paused and walked back over to Peter. He ran his hand through Peter’s hair, something he did when Peter was nervous to calm him. “We got this. Matt will keep me in check. No killing. Just relax. It is like you have hired me for an MJ.”
Peter stilled confused. He had never mentioned MJ. In all the ranting about his time in the multiverse he never actually gave that detail. The idea he needed to find an MJ was something he had kept to himself.
“What do you mean?”
“MJ… you know that’s what people they hire me for, the MJ, the Mercenary Job.” Wade kissed Peter’s hair and sauntered away.
Peter paused. Processing. By the time he came out of his shock Wade and Matt had left. Peter then began to laugh almost manically. Of fucking course. If this wasn’t a sign from the universe that owed him a big fat apology Peter didn’t know what was. The universe had said ‘you dumb ass Wade is your MJ’ and thrown it in his face.
Foggy looked over at him with concern. “Should I be worried about the maniacal laughing. Did you hit your head after the explosion?”
Peter shook his head still smiling.
“I’m alright, really. Just hungry and a little cold.” Peter gently shook his head while smiling. It was ridiculous really, sitting on Matt’s couch in nothing but his boxers with the fluffiest blanket ever draped over him and thoughts of Wade being his MJ running wild.
“Pants and food. Can do. Did I ever tell you my mother wanted me to be a butcher?”
“A butcher?”
-----
When Wade and Matt got back Foggy and Peter were on the couch, How To Train Your Dragon on the tv. Foggy had fallen asleep and Peter wasn’t far off. Wade's heavy combat boots on the stairs pulled him from the brink of sleep. He tilted his head in Wade’s direction, blinking sleepily.
“Wade.”
“We got him baby boy. Behind bars. Caught him red-handed murdering one of his men. Matt ensures me knows the law well enough that he can keep him away.”
Matt nodded at Peter and strode over to Foggy to kiss his forehead. Wade was soaking wet and he pulled his mask off to shake some of the water off.
“Why are you wet?”
“Seeing you in grey sweatpants always gets me wet.”
“He fell through a fish tank,” Matt said helpfully.
“How… Never mind I don’t care,” Peter laughed, too tired to push for answers. He pulled himself into a sitting position and Wade came over to help him. As soon as Wade was in Peter’s personal space Peter reached up and cupped Wade’s face, pulling him down into a kiss. Maybe it was a bit too rough and not the most romantic kiss ever but he didn’t care. After realizing his feelings for Wade he needed him to know.
As Peter pulled back from the kiss, giving Wade some space, Wade stayed put. His face still only a couple inches away, their noses almost brushing.
“Wowee, how bad did you hit your head baby boy?” Wade asked dazed.
“I didn’t hit my head at all.” Peter took a deep breath. “I love you Wade.”
Wade’s eyes were comically large, and he whipped his head around to look at Matt, Peter realised it was for reassurance when Matt spoke up.
“He’s not lying”
A smile slowly speared across Wade’s face. “About fucking time,” he whispered as he leaned in for another kiss. Peter smiled into the kiss, happy for what felt like the first time in years.
They broke apart when there was a grumble from the other side of the couch. Peter turned and smiled over at the half-awake Foggy.
“You were right.”
“Damn right I was,” Foggy said sleepily.
Peter turned back Wade, whose face was still held between Peter’s hands. “You told me I was allowed a relationship like the other Me. I think I believe you now.”
“Good,” Wade said, sneaking his arms closer around Peter. “Because in this universe, I’m not going anywhere.”
Peter leaned in for another kiss and could hear Foggy faking tears.
‘Look it’s so beautiful. Team Red, we’re all a big happy gay family.”