Chapter 25
Peter had spent the last few weeks in the training room. His medication had yet to make any big changes but he felt better getting it back into his schedule. Actually he felt better having a schedule. Now that he was staying in the tower he didn't have to worry about the bills or food. He was able to save money.
Jameson was on his back so Peter sent in a few old photos and new articles about Spiderman's sudden disappearance. It wasn't what his boss was looking for but he accepted it. That let Peter focus on what mattered at the moment. He went to visit Aunt May who was able to take some time off work. Weapon X hadn't found where she lived so she was safe at home. She sent him off with a bag of some of his old clothes which he tore into after getting to the tower.
The first day he went down to the gym was near two in the morning after failing to fall asleep. He wasn't really sure how to use half of what was there so he stuck to the treadmill and body weight workouts on the mats. He stuck to that, eventually going down at earlier times until one morning he was greeted by Steve. The renowned hero was eager to share his routine.
They left the tower to go for a run then went back to spar for a while. The next morning Natasha was there. She gave him helpful stretching and core exercises. They sparred too, Peter was simultaneously excited and terrified. She taught him a lot that helped with his balance. The morning after that Clint was there. He gave him a few pointers on shooting at moving targets. They ended up sitting in the rafter like ceiling made for equipment they weren't using. Clint ended up teaching him a few hand signs they could use on the feild in case of emergency. But Clint almost always had his hearing aids in.
After that Peter would find at least one of them down there. Ready for a routine or lesson. He liked it a lot better then sitting in his room. Tony and Bruce were happy to have him help out in the lab as well. They'd taken him in as an apapprentice Peter was elated. This was a hands on learning he'd never get in school.
He was sat in the lab now with Tony right beside him. "Have you tried a different circuit?"
"It'd be useless, there won't be enough of a current to push it-"
"Boys," they both looked up at Pepper who was shaking her head. She had come in just a few hours ago from the other tower. Or building. Home? Peter wasn't exatly sure, he just knew that's where Pepper liked to stay while working. "When's the last time you ate?"
They glancedat each other then at any clock within reach. "Few hours ago," Peter shrugged. Almost ten to be exact.
"What day is it," Tony mumbled.
Pepper clapped her hand. "Okay! Up you go, we're having dinner upstairs with the rest on the team." Both men were tugged from their project with disapproved sounds. "Don't make me get Steve." They both waved it off. Steve would give them a lecture they could easily keep working while he did. "Don't make me get Nat." They both shot up and to the door without a word. Nat on the other hand would tinker with anything that could destroy what they'd done so far. She couldn't put this stuff together but she sure knew how to take it apart.
Pepper chided Tony on the way up saying he was leading a bad example for Peter. While he grumbled about never claiming to be a role model Peter tried to remind them he was an adult. He could make his own decision. Pepper then began chiding him making Peter regret opening his mouth. In the penthouse were the usual residents plus Steve. Dinner had already been called in, set up on the counters for them to grab before sitting at the table.
Peter excused himself to change. He'd gone straight to the lab after the gym that morning. When he got to his room he noticed the company phone ringing on the desk. He glanced at the number, smiling when he answered with a carefully pitced, "hey Deadpool."
"Webhead," the familiar deep voice rang in his ear. "Have you heard from Peter?"
"Uh," he scrabbled for his personal phone finding a few missed calls from the merc. "He was fine, last I heard." He opened the phone and skimmed over the new text messages. "What's up?"
"I might have gotten a lead. It's...well it's complicated. Can you meet me at our old meet up? On the roof of the old apartment building."
Peter glanced at the door where he could hear the others. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. I just needed someone to talk to, ya know? Before I...I just needed to talk."
Peter went to the closet for his suit. He couldn't say no to Wade. Especially when he sounds so ominous and maybe nervous. "Give me a few minutes I'll be right there." They each said hung up, Peter was quick to get dressed. He was still feeling hesitant but once the suit was on a wave of familiarity rushed over him. It could on be described as if he were at home. It gave him a boost of confidence as he crept to the doorway. He shot Bruce a text saying he'd be back soon knowing the doctor was the least likely to freak out about him running off.
Peter took the staircase just hidden enough from everyone's view up to the rooftop. The air was cold. Peter tugged on his mask, blinking at all the new gadgets that appeared on the lenses. Tony had given him a new suit after his last one was taken. He hadn't had a chance to get used to it so he left everything to the most basic setting before swinging across the streets of New York. He received a few cheers from people, most of them welcoming him back. And it felt good. Peter felt all the weight of the last few weeks melt away as he got to his destination.
Wade was already there. Fully suited and geared up. Peter landed next to him with a barely audible thud. He stared at the mercenary's back. Broad shoulders slouched down, he wa staring at the streets standing on the ledge on the roof. Peter cleared his throat before approaching. Wade jolted slightly, whirling around to look at the hero. "Spiderlad!"
"Deadpool." Peter was glad to see the merc stepp away from the ledge to safer ground. "What's going on?"
The older man let out a loud sigh placing his hands on his hips. "Where to start. Um, okay, I was following a lead on a guy named Max. I ended up finding him at a car lot neard the suburbs. He was with a few guys, I tried not to unalive anyone I honestly don't remember if I did, point is I had Max. He was jacked up on superjuice though. His skin was like titanium- great now that songs stuck in my head- and he was crazy strong like on PCP strong. We were duking it out should seen me I was so bad ass but uh he got a few good hits and well I wasn't in great shape when the feds showed up. Only they weren't feds they were SHIELD agents with stupid strong weapons and," he growled scratching his head through the mask. "They caught me. I was on their stupid boatplane and Fury showed up talking about deals and whatnot. Anyway they had a proposal, it's a lead on one of Weapon X's main bases but they want me to go inside to collect information and well..."
Peter had a hard time following. The merc was shooting out words faster then he could process so Peter stood there staring for a minute before catching on. His stomach began to twist. His hands clencing and unclenching in his new gloves. "I don't like where this is going."
"I didn't either. Listen Spidey I'm going to need you to look out for Peter okay? He got caught up in this somehow and I don't him getting hurt. I don't know when I'll be back. I won't be able to contact him or anyone else."
Peter shook his head, "what are you talking about?" That sick feeling was turning to panic. He wanted to hold onto Wade as much as he wanted to punch him. What had the merc gotten himself into now?
"The want me to get captured by Weapon X."
Peter stared at him. He wasn't sure for how long. Long enough for the suit to start flashing warning signs in his face about his blood pressure. Long enough for Wade to begin fidgeting. Long enough for him to relive the horrors of what happened in that old clinic.
"You can't," the hero has spoken so softly it was almost drown out by the city.
"I have to. It's the only good lead we'll have for god knows how long and it could help a lot of people." It almost sounded like Wade was talking himself into it.
"We just got out...Deadpool you can't..."
"I wasn't asking for permission Spidey. I just need to know you'll watch over them. Ellie, Aunt May, Peter. I trusted you with them. Please."
Peter was staring again. He couldn't find the right words. Couldn't figure out a way to convince him otherwise. He was seeing that scarred face, seeing those sad brown eyes. He wanted to see Wade. He wanted to face him and tell him to stay. Peter couldn't let him go back.
With on hand he reaced behind his head, pulling the edge of the mask over. The glowing warnings flickered off as the mask fell away letting cold polluted air touch his face. Peter stared at him the whole time. Watching the merc's frame freeze up as if he'd been electrocuted.
"You can't." He didn't care that his voice was no longer lower pitched. That his face wasn't the same as the last time Wade saw him. He didn't care that his secret was out. That he might as well be bare. That everything he hid even from aunt may was revealed on top of the dirty apartment rooftop. He didn't care about anything but Wade. "You can't go."
"Peter," his name was breath in disbelief.
"Wade," the hero replied voice thick with unshed tears and panic. He took a step forward sending the merc three steps back. Peter froze, as if suddenly realizing what he'd done.
"This whole time? The whole time you were..."
Peter clenched a fist around his mask. "Wade hear me out-"
"The whole time you were LYING to me." The hero flinched opening his mouth as if he had something to say. A sting in his chest. "You had me believing you were someone else the entire time!" There was a swirl of fear and anguish in his gut. This was familiar. This was something he had heard before. "You lied to me!"
Suddenly Peter's tongue was numb. There was a lump in his throat. His hands were shaking. He wanted to fix this but had no idea how. "Wade," he wheezed.
"I trusted you."
Peter wanted to cry. If he wasn't so paralyzed he probably would. "Please..."
"I...I need some time. I need to think," the mercenary said turning around to face the ledge.
"Please," the word forced itself out in a strangled gasp. "Don't go-"
"I won't," he murmured keeping his back to Peter. "I have to think." With that he stepped over the ledge. Peter shouted wordlessly, running to the edge just as Wade picked himself up and limped down the street.