Chapter 1
It starts off simple, small not even really that big of a problem at first. Wade doesn't think much about it at the time (if he could really think that much at all) he brushes it off but he keeps his eye on it.
On him.
Peter hung out with The Avengers a lot, he trained with them. The kid could take a hit, could also dish out one too. So when he sees the small limp in his step he shakes it off. Probably just got done training with Iron - Giant or The 99 year old virgin. (Who knew and frankly he didn't care)
But soon enough the kid is wearing long sleeves in the middle of the fucking summer. He's always looking over his shoulder. He's doing his best to avoid loud areas or crowded spaces.
He's skiddish.
Always on edge, and the more and more thought Wade gives to it, the more he feeds into the idea the more pissed he gets.
Wade is no stranger to abuse, or signs of it. He noticed it right off the bat with Russell, he'd be damned if he let whoever was hurting Peter slip by.
So when Tony places his hand on a distracted an unsuspecting Peter, who flinches slightly at the touch. Wade almost snaps.
Tony brushes it off as just Peter being taken by surprise. And Wade considers breaking his nose. Peter was like a son to both men and only Wade seemed to notice something deeply wrong with the kid. (his kid) Wade was surprised Tony didn't notice or even Barens for that matter.
All three men had been victims of physical abuse and surely they would notice Peter's behavior that raised multiple red flags. The long sleeves, the way he flinches at a small and simple touch, the way he looks like he is dying to tell them all something but the words are caught in his throat. They way he looks over his shoulder. It's alarming and it hurts Wade to see his kid in pain.
So when Peter finds Wade sitting on his bed, in his room, toying with a knife (looking like he was ready to murder a mother fucker which he was)Peter wills himself not to looked panicked on the outside.
"Wade? You okay man?" His voice is soft and full of concern. And it almost makes Wade feel guilty for intruding on the boy (and possibly scaring him).
He looks up at the teen. He's leaning against a bookshelf noticeably close to the door. Wade's gaze hardens and it's evidently clear through the mask judging by the way Peter's face pales.
"Wade what ar-"
Wade stands. "Who's hurting you Pete?"
That definitely wasn't the question Peter was expecting and he was very taken back by it. His nose scrunched and his eyebrows curl in utter confusion. "What?" "Who is hurting you Peter Parker!" Wade's voice is demanding and he notices the way Peter almost curls in on himself at the yelling. But Peter regains his composure, he holds his hands up to Wade like he's trying to calm a frightened puppy. And in truth Wade was frightened. He was scared.
"What? Wade don't be ridiculous! No one is hurting me." Peter runs a hand through his curls and looks up at the taller man.
And Peter knows by the look on Wade's mask that he doesn't believe him. Peter sighs "Wade, seriously no one is hurting me. You'd be the first to know if someone was, believe me. I trust you with my life."
There's a long pause and the air is thick with tension and it makes Peter uncomfortable so he starts to shift in place a bit.
Now it's Wade's turn to be surprised. He half expected Peter to deny being hurt, he didn't expect Peter to tell him right off the bat.
And he sure as hell wasn't expecting Peter to trust him with his life. Not that he minded Peter trusting him with his life it made Wade happy but he knew Peter was trying to change the subject by the hopeful look in his eyes and the 'can we please drop the subject' face.
Wade sighed defeated. He looks down at the kid and doesn't hesitate to pull the kid into a hug. A smile tugs at his mouth when the kid instantly wraps his arms around the merc.
"I hope you know I'm not letting this go." Wade mumbled into Peter's curls.
Peter hums "I know."
Wade grumbles and rolls his eyes.
This damn kid would be the death of him.