Maximum Effort
Peter was more then tired. He had felt so worn down that not even the third cup of coffee Dr. Banner handed him helped. He had stopped by the Avenger tower on Tony's request. Something about a fault in his gauntlet. He soon found out it wasn't about a gauntlet at all. Tony began the conversation with, "I see you've been partnering up with Deadpool."
Ah yes. Peter saw it coming. He knew the Avengers didn't agree with the mercenary or anything he did. But he was starting to warm up to him. After the diner they patrolled for a few hours. Wade was a better partner then Peter anticipated. He kept his promise on not killing anyone and they finished things twice as fast. Which was good for Peter, he got more sleep that night then he had in a week. But he had to keep their team ups limited. He knew the Avengers would try to talk him out of it. But he was thankful for the help the Avengers couldn't offer.
After assuring Tony that it was only a temporary thing and he had an eye on the merc they went back to his suit. Bruce updated Peter on the serum, he had managed to target specific cells, things were looking good. But even with the good news he felt worn. It started after Deadpool showed up at his school. He was terrified the older man had found out his secret identity. Relief flooded him when he introduced himself as if they'd never met. As soon as the merc left Peter picked up his things and ran to his next class. He knew Deadpool wasn't there to harm him but talking to him outside of his suit put Peter on edge.
"Peter?"
He blinked up from his gaze on the floor. Bruce was staring at him with a folder in hand. "Sorry what?"
"I asked if you wanted to take a look at these, see if there was a better solution you could come up with," he handed Peter the folder.
"Sure," he muttered taking another sip of coffee.
"You okay," Bruce asked taking a seat next to him.
The student sighed brushing a hand through his hair. "Just tired. I've got a few projects to finish and a report to write for the Bugle."
"Take it easy Peter. Just because you have super healing doesn't mean you can't exhaust yourself," Bruce gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Why don't you take a night off," Tony suggested from where he sat. "A couple of us are having dinner in the penthouse." As tempting as free food was Peter declined. He had planned to meet up with Deadpool tonight. After fixing Tony's gauntlet Peter waved them both goodbye. He took his time getting back to his apartment knowing he still had a long night ahead of him. He managed to write up half the article before suiting up. The nightlife seemed quieter today, Peter hoped that meant there wouldn't be as much trouble. Deadpool was already seated on the ledge of the building they agreed to meet at.
"Hey Spiderbabe! Ready for our crime fighting date," he asked hopping up.
"First of all, it's Spiderman. Secondly, it's not a date. You did well last time Deadpool, let's keep it up."
"Straight to buisness huh? Okay, I can be serious," he waved a hand over his face. His usually animated mask going blank. "Serious Deadpool activated," he said in a deep tone.
Peter gave an amused snort crossing his arms, "do you have any cases? Or should we just get to patrolling?"
"All my cases are closed! Wait til you hear-" he stopped himself, clearing his throat. "I mean we should patrol." Peter nodded and they went down the fire escape. Seeing as Deadpool couldn't swing around like Peter could they decided to just walk around. Neither of them had any set route so they wondered down allys trying to keep away from crowded areas. Within the first few minutes they stopped a robbery and mugging. Together they were able to stop them in just a few seconds.
Peter felt more at ease knowing he didn't' have to work alone. After a couple of hours they sat on a park bench with hotdogs from a cart. "What were you going to tell me earlier," Peter asked, figuring they could share casual conversation while they ate.
"Earlier? Oh! I had a case with this rich couple uptown. Their daughter had a stalker sending them pictures so they hired me to find them. But oh ho ho was there a twist to that plot," Deadpool went into an animated story about the case. Peter listened attentively. He laughed at all the halfassed jokes watching the merc make wide gestures and facial expressions. Nearly throwing his hotdog at a pair of joggers who glared at him.
"You didn't kill anyone," Peter noted. "Good job."
The spider could almost feel the glee radiating off Deadpool. "Totally worth it. And I met someone! This cutie with a bootie, nothing compared to you. Actually you're pretty evenly matched. Anyway he was super sweet, had the biggest eyes and softest looking hair," Peter felt himself go pale as he went on. Deadpool was talking about him. About the other him. It was odd, like he was listening to something he shouldn't be hearing. At the same time he was feeling flustered. Peter was used to Deadpool flirting with him in the suit but hearing him complement him outside of it felt personal. "He was gone when I got back," the merc sighed leaning on his hand. Peter didn't even see him finish the hotdog. "I knew I never had a chance in hell but it would have been nice to talk to him for a bit longer."
Peter was thrown off by that. Deadpool usually seemed so confident. Even when Spiderman thwarted his insistent flirting the man bounced back with the same bubbily attitude. But he sounded so sad right now. It almost made him relatable. Peter knew what it was like to struggle with relationships. There were only a few people who accepted him when he was pre-t. Even fewer that would consider dating him. And they usually threw any sort of respect for him as a man out when things started to get physical. He felt like he never had a chance with anyone.
And then Gwen came around.
Peter shook his head turning away from his own dark thoughts. "How do you know you didn't have a chance?"
He stared at Peter for a silent second before gesturing to his general person. "I'm Deadpool. Merc for Hire. Insane. Professional Unaliver. I'm not really boyfriend material. Or even friend material."
"I thought we were becoming friends," Peter muttered.
Deadpool slapped his hands on his cheeks, his mask sinking into an O when he gasped. "Spider friend?"
Peter rolled his eyes ignoring him. "Did you even ask him out?"
"I was getting to it," the merc grumbled propping his head in his hands.
Peter leaned back with a sigh. Originally he wanted to stay as far from Deadpool as he could while out of costume. It just seemed like too much of a risk. But now he was contemplating how he could manage time and some form of relationship with the man. Platonic, of course. He wondered if he'd be able to hide it from the Avengers. How he'd hide his real identity. The more he thought about it the more complex the whole thing seemed. He already had so much to deal with. But the way the merc was hunched over sulking motivated him to work through it.
"Hey," he said placing a hand on the older man's shoulder. "Don't give up."
Deadpool stared at him again before sitting up. "Right. Maximum effort."
"Just try not to get a restraining order," Peter chuckled getting up. "Let's get back to work."
Deadpool sat up with his usual enthusiasm. "Let's fuck shit up!"
----
Peter went to school feeling refreshed the next day. He had gotten a few extra hours of sleep that night and was able to take a warm shower. The ride to school was quick. The crowds of people didn't feel as stiffing. He even managed to finish his essay before his second class started. After his chemistry class he walked to the mathematics building, taking a seat on the bench as he usually did. He had about twenty minutes before his professor showed up.
He was halfway through a thesis when someone plopped down beside him. He stopped his writing, looking up at a familiar masked man. Panic made his hands clammy, but remembering what happened last night he calmed himself. "Deadpool," he greeted finishing the sentence.
"Petey pie," the older man cheered. "Sorry I ran out on you yesterday."
Peter closed his book looking up at the man. "No I'm sorry I couldn't stick around. Had an essay to write," he explained lamely. "What's that?"
Deadpool held up a paper bag, "tacos! The good kind, from the truck on 3rd. Thought I could eat lunch with you today. If that's okay." He tensed up as if getting ready to leave.
Peter shrugged pushing away his anxiety. "Sure, what kind did you get?"
"All of them," he grinned opening the bag. They set up chile and sides on Peter's chem book. Each of them splitting up the tacos, which Wade had gotten far too many of. Then again Peter saw what he could eat in pancakes. He could probably eat all these on his own. "So Pete whatcha studying to be?"
Peter waited to swallow his food before speaking unlike the merc. "I honestly don't know yet. I'm just trying to get my Bachelor's, maybe a PhD eventually. Specializing in biochemistry. Or Mechanics."
"Wow, you're like super smart huh?"
Peter blushed, "uh, well I work really hard."
"That's good. I wish I had the patience for school, it wasn't my thing."
"Did you drop out," Peter asked timidly. Afraid to overstep his bounds.
"Naw, I finished high school but that was only because I needed my diploma to join the military." Deadpool started on his fifth tacos while Peter just finished his second.
"Oh, thanks for your service."
"Bah," he waved him off. "It was in Canada. And I just wanted to get out of the house. I was discharged a few years later. And then I became Deadpool," he shrugged.
"Origin story on the second meet up? I feel special," Peter teased.
Deadpool sighed, "that wasn't even half of it." Peter dipped his taco in the red chile, quickly regretting it. He fanned his face choking on pained yelps. Deadpool laughed loudly, watching the poor boy suffer for a second before offering him a can of Cola. Peter gulped it down greatfully before glaring at the other man. "Careful it's hot."
"Thanks for the heads up," the student muttered sipping the soda slower this time.
Deadpool was still chuckling as they ate, "you have any hobbies?"
Crime fighting. "I take pictures for the Daily Bugle."
"That newspaper that talks smack about Spiderman?"
"Yeah, I don't write for them much. I just give news reports and pictures. Pays the bills. Sometimes," he muttered the last part under his breath.
"Do you agree with them?"
Peter glanced at the now serious Deadpool. "About Spiderman?" The masked man nodded. "No. Most of what they write is bias."
The merc sighed in relief, "good. I don't know if we could be friends if you hated Spiderman."
I really need to stop getting myself into these conversations, Peter thought to himself. "what about you?"
Deadpool hummed tilting his head, "I like cooking. Mostly pancakes. Polishing Bea and Arthusr these babies," he gestured to the katanas on his back.
"Bea and Arthur?"
"Golden Girls Petey! Please tell me you've seen Golden Girls."
Peter vaguely remembered his Aunt May watching it. He'd sit down with her for a few episodes but couldn't remember anything specific. "I've seen a few episodes."
"I've got the whole set, we can marathon it sometime. If you're down."
Peter thought about it. So far things were going smoothly, it was easy to talk to the merc even outside his suit. And honestly he liked it. He missed having a friend around. One that couldn't die assured him even more. It wasn't like his relationship with the Avengers. He didn't feel like he was just some kid with Deadpool. He felt like they were almost equals, in some complicated way. Even if he was hiding things from him. Multiple things. He took a breath, the constriction of his binder bringing a familiar sort of panic. He passed for now, but what if something happened? How would Deadpool react to him being transgender?
"Or not, if this is too weird for you I understand. We don't have to hang out again."
God. And how many times has Peter had to say things like that? To people he had just come out to. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "That's not it. I'd like to see you again."
Deadpool straightened up, "wait really?"
"Yeah," Peter looked to his watch, cursing at the time. "I'm late for class. I'll uh- I'll see you around?"
"Yeah, yes! Heck yes! All the yes!"
Peter laughed waving over his shoulder, "bye Deadpool!"