Chapter 13
Wade Wilson was a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid. So yeah, he noticed how Clint’s scent changed. How James started being extra protective of the Omega. Even Lucky was spending more time around his stomach.
Which, Wade noticed, was getting bigger and was now a whole bump. Even though the Omega wore hoodies and baggy shirts to try and hide it.
So yeah, Wade wasn’t stupid.
Clint was obviously pregnant.
And now they were going to give Wade back to the system.
He doesn’t even blame them, now that they’ll have some shiny new puppy around. One that actually belonged to the two of them.
Clint and James acted as if nothing was different, which only made Wade that much madder.
And so finally, when he caught the two secretly touching the bump, he decided to do it for them. Rip the bandaid off and all of that.
See? Maybe Wade really was a good pup after all.
He left Charlie behind, as well as a note just saying 'it's for the best', and packed the cash he had saved up and a few granola bars he had stashed away that he was pretty sure Clint and James knew about. The pup waited until after he heard them go to bed to sneak out. It was easy, considering he could bribe Lucky with leftover pizza.
Wade would miss them, of course, but it was for the best. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself as he made his way to the pawn shop. It helped that Jimmy agreed the whole walk over. He knew Cable and Logan wouldn’t rat him out. Well, at least he didn’t think they would...maybe he should come up with a plan B…
Plan B, for now, was to run away again should they try and call Scott. Plan A was still to walk over there and see how they’ll react - since they had helped him in the past.
The familiar bell made him feel off, but he trudged up and smiled at the two Alphas behind the counter. Cable and Logan both looked at each other before turning to the pup.
“Wade? Hey buddy, what are you doing here?” Cable asked, not looking that excited to see him.
“Just need a place to stay tonight. Figured I could use your back room again?” Wade started walking that way but was stopped by Logan.
“Bub, we let that happen cause your foster parents were beating you. I thought these guys were nice? Do we need to make a visit to their house and rough them up a bit?”
“Oh no, they haven’t touched me. Except for hugs. And James lets me play with his robot hand when I’m bored. And sometimes...Clint will run his hands through my hair, but they aren’t like that.” The two Alphas looked at each other again as Logan still kept Wade from entering the back.
“Then pray-tell, Mr. Wilson, what are you running away for?” Cable asked, hands now on his hips.
“They…” Wade paused, cause he wasn’t prepared for this turn of events, “they’re secretly Nazis.” There. That was a word he knew scared other adults. Except the two just kept staring at the pup.
“Nazis?” Cable repeated back to him with a little frown on his face.
“Uh huh…I um...I found stuff in their closet. Yeah, they totally hate...just all kinds of people you guys. Not the kind of family you want your pal to grow up in. No siree.”
“Alright, you know what? If that’s the case, I’m going to go ahead and give Scott a quick call…” Cable said, even going so far as to take his phone out.
“No!” Wade shouted. “Look, can I just stay the night? We can call Scott first thing tomorrow morning, okay?” The two Alphas didn’t look convinced but nodded. I’ll be long gone before you call him anyway, Wade thought to himself. The pup gave them both a shaky smile before he headed to the back room and turned to his oldest and most honest friend in the world.
“So, Jimmy, what do you think? Not too bad, huh? At least until we figure out what our next step is. Huh? No I don’t think they have any food back here, why do you always think with your stomach? Can you focus on me for one second? What? No...you ass I don’t think I’m actually better off here, this is for their own good. Gosh why do I take you anywhere…”
Wade was so distracted talking with Jimmy, he didn’t hear the bell from the front door of the pawn shop.
Didn’t know he was about to be betrayed when the backdoor suddenly opened.
The sound made the pup turn, freezing when he saw who it was.
“How’d you find me so fast?” he asked his foster father, who didn’t even look mad. The Alpha looked tired...and relieved. His scent didn't have any signs of anger or even...disappointment.
“I had a nightmare, woke up, went to find you, found your note, called Scott, checked at Sal’s and then came here,” James explained as he entered the room and went to sit on the chair Wade had been planning on sleeping on.
For some reason, the Alpha not being mad started to make the pup mad.
“Well congrats on being part bloodhound,” Wade snapped, crossing his arms and looking away from his foster father.
“Wade, will you cut the bullshit and tell me why you ran away?” The pup refused to look at the man, now looking down and finding his shoes very interesting.
“Don’t wanna live there anymore,” Wade lied after waiting a few seconds to answer, shrugging his shoulders as he looked everywhere but at the Alpha.
“Just like that?” Wade nodded again, finally looking at James to make him believe it. The Alpha just kept staring, but the pup held his ground and stared right back. “Okay then, guess I’ll call Scott and have him pick you up.”
Wade’s stomach felt like it dropped out of his body, but he just shrugged his little shoulders at the thought. This was what Wade had wanted. He must have zoned out because when he looked at James again, the man was squinting at him.
“You know you’re a terrible liar, right?”
“Call Scott, James," Wade growled out, wanting this to be over with.
“Not until you tell me why.” Wade felt tears fill his eyes, glaring down at his feet as he said it again.
“Just call Scott, James.”
“Nope.”
“DO IT!” this time Wade shouted, the anger in his belly growing. Why couldn’t he just get this over with? Why was this Alpha dragging this out?
“No,” the Alpha said firmly, reaching into his pocket and handing the pup his phone. “You want to be gone so badly, you do it.” Wade wiped his eyes with his sleeve, never one to back down from a challenge as he snatched the phone from him.
He even went so far as to type in the number. But then he just stared at the screen, his finger hovering over the ‘call’ button.
The pup felt numb and frozen in place. He didn’t even notice he was still crying until a tear dropped on the screen. But still, Wade just stood there...like a scaredy cat. Too afraid to do what he said he would. He was a coward. Jimmy's voice started talking in his ear...until two hands, one metal and one flesh, gently took the phone out of his hands before bringing the pup onto a strong lap.
Wade couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into tears, only crying harder when the Alpha brought the pup’s face to his neck to scent. And Wade hated himself a little when he felt calmer in his embrace. He didn’t deserve his calming scent.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, or Wade couldn’t really tell how long. But even though the scent calmed him and the arms made him feel safe…he didn’t return the embrace.
Bucky deserved better than him.
They both did.
Which is why Wade eventually found the courage to push the Alpha away before hopping off his lap.
“Puppy -”
“- I know about Clint, okay?!” Wade snapped, because yes...they might not have deserved him but maybe they did at least deserve an explanation.
“What about Clint?”
“I’m not stupid James, I know Clint is pregnant.” The small smile the Alpha had on his face quickly vanished and Wade felt even more sick to his stomach. “So I know that means it’s time for me to go and I wanted to make it easier on everyone.” Wade took a couple of deep breaths, hating the silence that hung between them.
“Why would you have to go?” James asked with a rough voice after another moment. And here it was, the Alpha feeling guilty for lying.
“Cause you got what you two always wanted, a baby of your own. You don’t need me anymore.”
“Oh, puppy,” James cooed as Wade curled further in on himself. He didn’t want to feel any more embarrassed than he already did, and it sounded like James was taking pity on him. He didn't want pity from him, or anyone for that matter. “That’s not at all what’s happening, sweetheart. You’re not going anywhere even if Clint was pregnant - is pregnant, no you’re right he is pregnant. It’s just...Wade...this baby...it probably won’t actually...become a baby.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Wade growled, so confused and hurt and sad and angry that he felt like it was all bursting inside of him.
“Clint has been pregnant before...but he’s almost never made it past the first trimester. Yes, we went into fostering because we tried for over five years and can’t have kids...and yes Clint is currently pregnant, but...puppy...even if we are blessed with another baby...that doesn’t mean we’re getting rid of our first one.” Wade must not have heard him right, but when he looked back up at the Alpha, he realized James was serious.
The Alpha's scent was filled with a mixture of sadness, hope and love. And most of all - complete honesty.
And it confused the hell out of Wade.
“What?”
“Tony’s lawyers have already started drawing up the paperwork for your adoption, pup,” James explained as he brushed some of the blonde hair from Wade's eyes.
“I...you...wait…” Wade was so confused, hope and fear and a sense of please-for-the-love-of-god-be-real coursing through his soul. “You...want me...forever?” What was happening? Sure deep down he knew Clint and James liked him, even said they loved him...but...they, they read his file... “But. James...you know what I did to...to…my father,” the pup spat the words out, leaving a bad taste in his mouth.
It wasn’t something they’d made Wade talk about. Hell, it wasn’t something the pup had said aloud since the social worker at the hospital asked about it the night he shot him. The Alpha was trying to kill his mother, beating her senseless before finally cracking her skull. The gun he had knocked out of her hand had landed next to Wade. When the Alpha turned to the four year old pup holding the gun he didn’t think, just pulled the trigger.
“Wade come here please,” James asked, snapping Wade out of his thoughts and acting as if it wasn’t a big deal. As if it wasn’t why Wade was an unlovable foster kid. Taking a breath, Wade ignored Jimmy and walked over to the Alpha. He took another deep breath, holding it in when the Alpha lifted the pup up and back onto his lap. “I don’t care that you acted in self defense against an abusive alcoholic when you were four years old. I don’t care that you pulled the trigger to survive. None of that matters to me or Clint. We love you exactly for who you are. In spite of everything you've been through, you are still so smart and weird and funny and silly and the greatest pup I’ve ever met.” Wade could hear how wet his voice was, but choose to keep his head down.
The pup’s breath hitched from that. His chest felt warm and he felt calm and...loved?
But because Wade was who he was...he said the next part out loud.
“Until you meet your spawn.” The Alpha shifted him around on his lap, turning the pup to face him, going so far as to gently use his metal finger to bring the pup's chin up to see him. When they're eyes met, Wade saw nothing but a loving smile and watery eyes from the Alpha. From his Alpha.
“Even if by some miracle this baby comes into our world and shares my DNA, you will always be my first kid. Clint and I...we already think of you as our own, Wade. It’s why we started the paperwork to adopt you. Which, your Mama is going to kill me now, by the way. He wanted to be the one to tell you.” And that...well Wade couldn’t help but chuckle at that. And...feel so so warm at the thought of his... Mom teasing his...Dad.
“You sure?” Wade asked, not caring that the tears were back. James' eyes were also watery, which made Wade feel better about all the crying.
Yes. James signed. I love you, son. Your Mom loves you too. You are our puppy. Please… he signed two words that Wade didn’t know.
“What’s the last two words?” Wade asked as James smiled and gently wiped the tears on the pup's cheeks before kissing the pup’s forehead.
“Come home,” the Alpha explained, and Wade could feel how much he meant those words. Unable to hold back any longer, he threw his arms around his father.
Because yeah, he thinks it's safe to consider him that.
“I love you too,” the pup whimpered out between puffy breaths. “I love you and I’m sorry.” James’ arms tightened around him before he felt a kiss on his head.
“Don’t be sorry, puppy. I never in a million years would’ve let you go that easily, you’re stuck with me and Clint forever. And if this other pup joins our family...then you’ll just be the coolest big brother ever, okay? Now can I take you home?” Wade laughed against his neck, nodding his head and just cuddling further into his Alpha. “Alright puppy, let’s get you home.” Wade popped his head out when James walked out of the store, just long enough to wave at a smiling Logan and Cable.
Wade suddenly felt how tired he really was, letting his father buckle him in and blushing when he placed another kiss on his head. The pup tried to keep his eyes open, wanting to savor the moment but was losing the fight against sleep.
He jolted awake, realizing they were parked back home and Bucky was unbuckling him and pulling him back into his strong arms. Wade perked up again when he realized they had walked past his bedroom.
“James?”
“Shh, you’re sleeping with us tonight. You owe me after scaring your old man.”
Wade huffed, as if he hated the idea and wasn’t practically purring when thinking of curling up with his...parents. And Lucky! Who was already snuggled up with his Mama. James gently placed him on the ground as the Alpha took his shoes and pants off, which Wade copied. Then the Alpha held back the blanket so Wade could climb in first and snuggle up between them.
Sleepy, happy, safe and home.