Chapter 29
Peter opens his eyes, blinking the grogginess out of them and sitting up. He stretches, chittering to himself with a yawn. He turns to the couch, glancing at Wade. His legs have already regenerated three quarters of the way. He's pretty sure Wade'll be done healing by the end of the day at the most.
Wade's eyes snap open and he doesn't make a comment towards Peter.
Peter decides to ignore Wade's slightly-unprovoked silent treatment and smiles at him. "Good morning," Peter says. Wade continues with his silence and Peter feels only a little unnerved. "I'm visiting Tony at the hospital today. I made you some clothes, and there's a card with my number on it. You can use my shower when you’re done healing if you want, and have some left-over pizza."
Wade just stares, and Peter's smile takes a sad quality.
"I'm gonna shower now, then I'll leave." Peter heads to the bathroom to shower. Wade's still so, so, so unnervingly quiet.
Peter's shower takes a little longer than he expected. His fault, really, but the warm stream of water just feels so nice over his skin and he ends up just standing there for a while longer.
Peter dries himself off quickly, rebandages his hands and slips on some clothes. He slips on the hearing aids and his backup pair of glasses before brushing through his hair and pulling on a hat.
He walks out into the living room to put the lotion on Wade and use the damp cloths on the forming muscles of his legs. Wade's still really quiet. Peter doesn't mind. Peter sets the lotion down on the coffee table. "You can have the lotion if you want, I don't use it." Peter states, before picking up his duffel bag. He goes towards the doors, picking up his keys.
"Thank you.”
Peter stops at the door at Wade's words and turns. “You’re welcome."
He opens the door, and stops. "I meant it, Wade. Come by anytime. Call me whenever. I'm your friend. I promise."
He closes the door before Wade can respond and hops on his bike. His hands scream in protest, but he ignores it. He rides over to the hospital, locks up his bike and calls JARVIS.
"Hey JARVIS. I'm here at the hospital, and how do I visit Tony?" Peter asks, because he can't really walk up to the reception desk and say he's there to see Tony Fucking Stark.
"Ms. Romanoff is in the lobby. She says she will take you to see Tony."
"Kay, Thanks." Peter hangs up, walking into the hospital. Natasha is already there, and she nods at Peter in acknowledgment. Peter smiles and waves, freaking out just a little. Nat seems to notice his inner freak-out and smirks in amusement.
"It's this way," Nat says, and gestures which direction. Peter nods and they don't speak. When Nat opens the door, Tony is in a first class room large enough to fit the entirety of the Avengers, his few friends, and their extended and equally worried families whilst still remaining spacious and extravagant, though the Avengers are the only people there at the moment. Peter smirks at the sight.
"Hey Kid," Tony says, and Peter's eyes widen at Tony, who's laying in bed in a hospital gown, various needles and tubes sticking into his skin, but he looks as fine as a hospitalized person can.
"T-Tony, you look great," Peter responds, before his face breaks into a grin. “Thank god."
"Not god, just you," Tony responds. "Thanks for that, by the way. The whole shielding-me-from-the-blast thing."
"You're really okay," Peter says, and then he repeats it. “You're okay."
"Yeah, Kid. Pretty okay. Except I'm wearing the frankly very revealing hospital gown and—"
Peter hugs him. One second he's at the door and the next second he's by Tony's bed, arms wrapped around his shoulders.
Tony pats his back awkwardly before hugging back and wincing. "Okay, kid, no more—”
"Sorry," Peter responds, immediately backing away and looking down. "I just—" Peter studies his still-bandaged hands. “There was so much blood," he whispers, before he looks up. "But you're okay so, so," Peter feels tears of relief flood his face. "You're okay," he repeats again. "You're okay. Thank god, thank whoever you're okay and not—not— I didn't—” his whole face burns and he's beginning to realize he is definitely a complete crybaby.
"C'mon Kid, quit with the waterworks," Tony says a little quietly.
Which just makes Peter break into a small sob. “I'm sorry," he says honestly, shaking, "I'm just—"
"It's fine, Kid, I just didn't think someone would cry over me's all."
"Of course I'd cry over you! I care about you, and I’m pretty invested in your well being! I shielded you from a bomb blast for duck’s sake!" Peter responds, hiccups and sobs making him have to shout out his words. "I'm sorry I’m crying, I'm just so relieved I didn't—" Peter cuts himself off, but the rest of the sentence still streams into his brain. I didn't kill someone again.
"How badly were you hurt?" Tony asks, eyeing his bandaged hands.
"My hands are burnt and I had shrapnel stuck in my back and there were a few burns but most of it’s healed now. The spiders really helped out. Are they here, by the way?" He turns to Nat at the last part.
She shakes her head. "I brought them home. Except that one." Nat points at Mama Spider, who is sitting on Tony's head. She hisses at Nat. Nat doesn't mention the Black Widow hanging off her ear by a web strand like some pretty-but-deadly earring.
Peter chitters back, and Mama Spider calms down.
Peter stays all day, talking with Tony and the Avengers. They’re all very likable people. He checks the time every other hour, and about five hours after arriving, he tells the team he has to go home.
Peter unlocks his bike and rides home. He opens the door. It's quiet. He looks around the room. It’s empty.
Wade's gone.
On the coffee table, folded neatly where the clothes Peter made for Wade and the card with Peter’s number used to be; and where the bottle of lotion used to be; is a note. Peter opens it up.
Thanks for takin’ care of me, Petey! I'll be back soon with a fucking fruit basket so you can eat decent food, promise!
See you and your ass on the flip side, Baby Boy!
Under it is a crudely-drawn doodle of Deadpool and Peter holding hands made with crayon. Peter wonders where he got the crayons, but smiles nonetheless.
Wade promised he'd come back. With a fruit basket as a bonus.
He is looking forward to it.