Chapter 6

"Wade!" Peter calls out, his voice echoing in the chaos. But there is no response. Frantically, he searches the room, his heart sinking at seeing Wade impaled by a metal stick. One end stuck to the ground, and the other turned into itself, almost meeting Wade's back.

With a few deft movements, Peter approaches him and sees his regeneration, trying to fix him up. He takes a deep breath and says sorry before freeing him from the metal swiftly, like taking off a band-aid. Just more metal-y

Everything is silent as he tries to help Wade from the ground, throwing away the stick before he does so. Then Wade inhales sharply; he looks a bit wide-eyed as his hand fumbles to where the hole in his chest is. He looks up at him with a mix of gratitude and shame.

"Thanks, Spidey," Wade says. Even amid danger, his tone is light-hearted, despite some roughness in it. He coughs some blood, and Peter helps him sit up.

"Don't speak, not yet. Wait until you heal." He looks around. "We need to get out of here before this place comes crashing down."

Wade nods, still in shock from the incident. Peter quickly grabs his arm, pulling him to his feet. Despite the pain coursing through his body, Wade managed to stand. His eyes, however, were now filled with determination.

"Francis, he..."

"Wade, not now," he insists, because they don't have time. His voice is low and firm as he says, "Come on, we have to go."

He leads the way, weaving through the wreckage and the chaos that enveloped the facility. As they move through the rubble, Wade winces in pain occasionally, but he follows Peter without complaint, dodging debris and fire as he returns to the exit.

He web-slings him on top of one roof when he senses the police securing the perimeter near where they were. He sees freed prisoners out into the open, some inside ambulances. Once filled with fear and despair, their faces now held gratitude and hope. They have been rescued, and now they can start rebuilding their lives.

He smiles as he grabs onto Wade, moving quickly and stealthily, ducking into shadows whenever he senses someone looking. It isn't long before they find themselves at a bridge near, and he sits Wade in a corner where they can see the pall of smoke rising from the building.

"Wait for me one moment, I'll bring you some clothes, okay?" he says after seeing the way Wade is trembling.

When he receives a nod, Peter swings away swiftly through the not so silent streets, disappearing into the night to find some clothes. The city lights glimmered in the distance as he navigates through the urban jungle, his mind still reeling from the harrowing events at the facility. Despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins, exhaustion weighs heavily on him. The weight of responsibility, the lives he has saved, and the dangers he faced all took their toll on Peter.

Finally, he locates a small clothing store that appears to be closed for the night. With a quick glance around to ensure no one is watching, Peter slips inside and finds some basic attire for Wade. As he gathers a set of clothes, his thoughts drift back to the rescue mission before he shakes his head and, with a bundle of clothes in hand, Peter swiftly returns to where he left his backpack, picks it up, and then goes to Wade, relieved to find his friend still there, albeit shivering from the cold night air.

As he lands softly on the pavement below, he hands Wade a hoodie, some pants, socks and shoes. No underwear as they all came in plastic packs of three. He hates to rob, but he will do so as he knows Wades sizes and he really needs them. Underwear, though? No other Wade has ever told him that info.

He doesn't watch Wade as he puts on clothes, trying to give him some semblance of privacy. He distracts himself by putting some pants on top of his Spider-Man suit and a t-shirt. He retracts his mask as Wade has already seen him without.

The night air is cool against their skin as they sit in silence, the sounds of sirens and distant voices filling the air.

"I owe you one, Spidey," Wade says finally, his voice soft but tinged with gratitude, so unlike the boisterous personality he's grown used to.

Maybe he succeeded in stopping the so-called climax of his origins as one Wade once called it, or maybe it still hasn't happened. He doesn't know. What he knows is that he helped someone and that's enough.

So Peter nods, a small smile playing on his lips.

"You would've done the same for me," he wants to say but doesn't, as he knows it's untrue. This Wade doesn't know him; even if it stings, he's still glad to help. That is enough.

It has to be.

As they sit together, watching the smoke billow into the sky, a sense of peace settles between them. The ordeal may be over for Wade, but not for him.

"So, how do you know me?" Peter looks at him, and that's when some of the others. Wade's personality shines through as he rambles and insists Peter 'tots knows me. It's so obvious and not a case of a blind mouse catching a dead mouse. For fudge's sake, Spidey, you called my name.'

He laughs, he can't help it, even when Wade pouts, it only makes him laugh harder. And maybe he needs that and Wade notices because he lets him work through the giggles he ends up pulling.

When he's done, Wade says, "So?"

"Dunno what you want me to say, man."

"The truth would be nice. Though it's weird. I've got the feeling I should know you, y'know?"

That shouldn't rattle as much as it does. He maintains his tone light, without the hint of anticipation he really feels as he says, "Who knows, maybe we knew each other in another life."

"Le gasp! Are you pulling the moves on me, Spidey?" The tone is so familiar it hurts. "I've got a girlfriend, y'know. Or well... I had one."

"You can return to her. I'm pretty sure you haven't been forgotten. Hard to do with your personality." He cringes internally as he's letting be shown that he does know him. However, Wade seems to ignore it as he gazes downward.

"I need no pity, Spidey. Have you really seen how I look? Maybe the light is no good, but I did, and it is not pretty."

"I don't think she's into you just for superficial reasons, Wade."

"Are you kidding me? We were friends with benefits, I was the one to catch feelings. She just pitied me enough to not say anything to my face, because I'm pretty sure she noticed." He laughs deprecatingly. "Why I'm telling you my lack of love life right now? I should-- I should search for Francis and kill dead his ugly mug."

Peter grabs his shoulder and squeezes lightly. "Everything is going to be okay, Wade. You're too lovable for her to reject you. I'm pretty sure. Forget about this Francis guy and go to her. Murder is not the solution. Please."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." He doesn't sound convinced, though. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. The smile is back as he says, "So. Wanna let me down so we can go our separate ways?"

He blinks, but Wade continues babbling. " You seem like a hero so you need to go heroing. Save cats from trees and help grannies, y'know? The classics. I'll be your fan number one, so don't forget it."

Peter can't help but chuckle at Wade's words, a mix of bravado and vulnerability that seems to define him. Still, he considers for a moment, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. Despite Wade's protests and attempts to downplay his own worth, Peter can't shake the feeling that there is more to Wade Wilson than meets the eye. With a heavy sigh, Peter finally speaks up.

"I can't just leave you here, Wade. You might think you're not worth it, but I believe everyone deserves a second chance," Peter says, determination lacing his voice.

Wade quirks an eyebrow, but when Peter extends a hand to help him up, the man grabs it. As they stand together on the bridge, the city lights flicker in the distance, casting a soft glow over their figures. The night air is still and filled with unspoken words hanging between them, but he's sure they will be fine.