Stand By Me

It was about noon when Wade finally woke up. He stretched his limbs knocking over an empty pizza box and a few beer bottles. It took him a while to actually get out of bed. He had to find the source of every ache in his skin, making sure not to twist or pull anything that'd bust open. He cursed as he fumbled out of bed toward the bathroom. Tripping on a beer bottle on the way. He didn't bother flicking on the light, stopping to piss in the general direction of the toilet before turning to the sink. There was a low groan as the water spat out the tap.

Wade rinsed his hands and collected the toothbrush from the counter. After squeezing a glob of toothpaste on it he shoved it into his mouth and wandered out. The alarm clock on the dresser was still impaled on a katana so Wade turned to his phone for the time. He had slept most of the day away meaning he had a long list of messages. He grunted, choosing to ignore them. He went to the kitchen, spitting into the sink and leaving the toothbrush there before opening the fridge. It had nothing but a roach inside. It made a run past Wade but he managed to stomp on it.

He went to the living room instead. Sat on the coffee table was a bag of leftovers. Nothing inside but stale fries. "Fuck," Wade growled going back to his room. No food left. He had to leave the apartment. He pulled on a hoodie and jeans from the floor. He had to look for his mask in the stain covered sheets. His gloves found thrown towards the dresser, he finished with a pair of heavy boots.

He gagged after pulling his mask on. It still smelled like blood and leftover tacos. Deciding to get things done in one go he scooped up as many clothes he could along with his suit into bag. He took the quarters from his nightstand then went to the front door. This was the hardest part. Wade stared at the fading blue door. He fiddled with the ends of his mask, his gloves. He pulled down the waist of the hoodie and checked that his laces were done up all the way. Not a single piece of skin visible. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, quickly regretting it in the mask. He shoved the door open with a grunt, letting it slam shut behind him.

He had made it out of the building without a hitch, but once he was on the crowded sidewalk his stomach flipped. He clenched his jaw and forced himself to keep his pace, heading for the taco truck only a block away. The man inside already knew Wade's order and had it ready almost as soon as he said it. He left the man a hefty tip then continued down the street to the laundry mat. He found the most secluded corner, dumping all this clothes together into the closest machine. Wade glanced around to make sure no one was close.

He lifted his hood and slid his mask off, keeping his head down as he tossed it in with the rest of his stuff. He bought a handful of soap from the dispenser next to him then started the wash. He stuck to his corner and kept his head down as he ate. Usually Wade was scoping out the place, checking every face. But without his mask he couldn't lift his eyes above anyone's shoes. His need to be social and active was completely depleted by his self esteem. He didn't want to be seen, let alone talked to. Especially now that his skin had shifted and the beginning of a sore blossomed on his cheek.

Maybe he could live with the scars if they didn't hurt. If they stayed in one place. If they didn't bleed or puss or peel. But they did. They consistently reminded him that they were there. Some days it wasn't so bad, there'd be a few scabs or a sore. But other days. Gods. Other days Wade wished he was able to die. Every inch of his skin would ache and pull. It got caught on any fabric or ooze some kind of liquid. It kept Wade up all night until he swore he was going insane again. Sometimes he'd just skin himself. Let the cells grow back and for a few seconds his skin was okay. But then the scars would set in and it started all over again. Wade had been doing good though. After getting Madcap out of his head things had gone quiet. He had gotten so used to constant chatter in his brain that he was almost lonely now. Don't get it wrong, he was glad to get rid of the lunatic but now that it was just him in his head he felt like he had no one else to blame anymore. Things weren't nearly as fun.

Now he was shiny and new. He figured getting his life straight was a great way to restart. He was excited that his personal hero was now his team mate. Wade never imagined teaming up with Spiderman. He was still inwardly boasting about being able to actually work with him. Sure he was the one slapping the word 'team' on this but it made him hopeful. Besides, he felt like Spiderman was warming up to him. It was the third chapter after all the romance had to get started sometime soon.

After finishing his tacos Wade rubbed greasy fingers on his jeans then shifted all his clothes to the dryer. He had his arms full of wet clothes when he turned to the dryer, effectively smacking into someone else sending quarters across the dirty tiled floor. "Shit," the person cursed diving to collect them. Wade set the pile on a washing machine and helped gather the coins. "Sorry 'bout that," he said quietly, handing the person his change.

The smaller man took the change. Wade barely spared a second to look at the younger man. He had a head of messy copper colored hair and a pair of doe eyes. He smiled softly thanking the merc. Wade tugged his hood down farther going back to his pile. "Uh, you dropped this," he said holding out a pair of soggy spiderman boxers, Wade snatched them back with a low thanks. He shoved his laundry into the nearest dryer before sulking back to his corner.
A few more people had crowded in meaning there was less space for him to hide. The man, who looked like more of a kid, took a seat near Wade. He clenched his hands trying to find the best angle that kept his face hidden from everyone. Half hidden by machines facing the wall, it made it seem like he was staring at the younger man. Who kept his eyes on his phone but fidgeted slightly. Wade found his eyes wandering. The younger man would have seen the lower half of Wade's face. He didn't flinch or look away he smiled at Wade.

Of course he could have just been being nice. While Wade had met his fair share of cruel people he knew there were kind hearted ones too. People who knew how to keep a polite smile even if they were disgusted with his melted pizza face. That didn't stop a part of him from internally screaming out in joy. Hoping that someone might actually give him the time of day. To talk even for a second, about anything other then his skin or work or dark origin. Wade got so lost in thought he'd forgot he'd been staring and almost jumped when the young man looked up at him. He cleared his throat, Adam's apple bobbing, "Hey."

Wade swallowed, "Hey." That was it. They both turned their heads in opposite directions. The older man cursing himself for leaving his apartment.

"Fan of Spiderman," the stranger asked him with a teasing grin. Wade sputtered tugging down his hood. If he could blush he would have.

"Yeah," he muttered feeling his stomach clench. He really shouldn't be talking. He should have just got his clothes as they were and left. But someone was talking to him! Torn between running away and having a normal conversation Wade began picking at the sore on his cheek.

"He's alright."

Wade's head whipped to the other man so fast he shocked them both. The kid looked up at him with wide caramel eyes. "He's more then alright, he's badass. He practically flies around the city, has the strength of ten men in one fist, he's taken the crime rate down by forty percent alone, freakishly flexible, and he has an amazing butt."

The younger's face tinted pink as he opened and closed his mouth before letting out a startled chuckled. "Yeah, he's uh, he's pretty cool." He scratched the back of his neck and pocketed his phone. "But I mean there's...Captain America."

Wade couldn't disagree, Captain America was up there on his list as a close second. "True but we only see him when there's some kind of huge problem. Like aliens attacking the city. Spidey helps people out on the daily." He wanted to go on but when he looked up he was stuck in those eyes. Eyes that were staring at him. Wade turned away quickly, tugging his jacket closer to his face trying to hide. It's as if he was way too exposed now.

"Yeah, I guess. Daredevil isn't so bad either."

"Maybe if he'd lend a hand outside Hell's Kitchen," Wade mumbled.

"You can't have heroes wandering anywhere they want," the kid smirked leaning back a bit, sinking into his hoodie. "Maybe it's best if they stick to certain areas-"

"Certain areas don't have heroes on standby." He glanced at the man who shrugged slightly. Honestly he seemed just as awkward as Wade felt.

"Also true." They looked off in their own directions for a second. The stranger fiddling with the zipper of his hoodie. "They should really figure their shit out."

Wade blinked at the kid who seemed to shift moods all of a sudden. "Well, heroes are super popular nowadays. They're all washed by Hollywood. It's all about explosions and sex, there's no good character development or emotional depth that really gets the audience involved anymore."

"Audience," the kid asked looked at Wade confused.

He waved a gloved hand, "Point is, they aren't seen as heroes to most people anymore. Just something to cash in on."

"That's not all true," the man argued. "I mean there are a lot of people like that now but there's still some honest to god kind people left in the world."

"Very few," Wade murmured staring at the boy in wonder. He glanced at Wade with a smile and half shrug. It was such a causal motion, for a second the mercenary forgot he was having a conversation with another human. He was scared, but mostly excited. He was actually making a friend. Even though he knew that was a problem.

"Peter," the stanger held out a hand.

"Peter," Wade repeated dumbly shaking his hand. "I mean Wade. My name's Wade."

Peter chuckled getting up from his seat. "Gotta move my clothes," he said wandering to a washing machine. Wade checked on his own, as he began stuffing them back into the bag he uncovered his mask. Stowing it into his jacket pocket he glanced behind himself at Peter. The merc had no idea what he was doing. He shouldn't have told that kid his name. He shouldn't have been speaking to him in public. He walked in wearing the damn mask. He didn't think anyone would try conversing with his fugly face. Which in all honest wasn't that bad Wade just had way to many insecurity issues.

He finished collecting all his clothes and headed straight out the door without looking back. He kept his pace, practically charging through the crowd back to his apartment. Without his mask on people parted for him, giving him space to take longer strides. He didn't slow down until he was at his door. He had to shove it up and forward to get it open. Then let it slam shut after be barged in.

Finally back home Wade took a deep breath sliding the hood off of his head. He looked at the empty apartment feeling those walls build back up. A pair of copper eyes haunted him as he pulled his mask from his jacket. He swore to himself he'd always be alone.