Tony crossed his arms stubbornly. "No. No way."
Peter pouted. "C'mon, he's not that bad. Saved my life a few times. He even buys me tacos from this sleazy food truck sometimes!"
"I just don't trust him. Not in the tower, or around our team. He's. . . ."
"Unpredictable?" Steve suggested from the couch, where he was reading a newspaper. (Seriously, grandpa, there's this thing called the internet now.)
Bruce peered above the frame of his glasses, momentarily pausing from his paperwork. "Annoying?"
"Unreliable," Thor put in firmly, watching the conversation unfold with slight irritation. He sided with the Man of Iron on this topic.
Clint grinned. "A suicidal son of a bitch who knows how to have a good time?" Nat slapped the back of his head.
Tony waved vaguely at his team. "You see my point, Petey? It's too big of a risk. In most countries he's got a price on his head north of ten thousand dollars. A guy like that's got to have his enemies."
"Or," Peter contradicted, equally as stubborn as his new mentor, "it could mean he's a great fighter who knows how to get out of tough situations." Tony frowned. "Aw, c'mon. You said you'd give him a chance."
Steve glanced up from his news. "You did promise, Tony."
"Thanks, grandpa," Tony called sarcastically to Steve, who returned to his paper. The rest of the team waited with held breath for the decision to be made. There was no leader to the team, but it was Stark's tower, after all. Therefore, the final say was his. Tony looked back at Peter and his big, brown, sad puppy-dog eyes, and felt his resolve crumble. "Fine. Bring him in."
Seeing Peter's delighted face almost made Tony's choice worth it. Almost.
Peter dashed to the door, peeked his head out to alert his friend to the new decision, and skipped back to Tony's side. Suddenly, the door swung open, and the red-clad Merc with a Mouth strolled in.
Wade pointed a gloved finger at Tony with a carefree, I-don't-care-if-you-hate-me smile. "Heyyyyyyy, Tinman! Captain Popsicle! What's crackalackin'?"
"Get out."
"Aw, Stark, you don't mean that!"
"I do, really," Tony deadpanned. "Get out now."
Peter tried to shine his sad eyes at the billionaire, but with the mercenary in the room, Tony's irritation far outweighed his sympathy. "Please, Tony."
Tony sighed. "Petey, this was a mistake. He shouldn't be here."
"Why?" Deadpool asked with aloofness. He strode to Peter's side and slung an arm around the web shooter's shoulder. "Is it because I'm what you might call 'unpredictable'?"
"That's an understatement," Tony mumbled under his breath.
Wade went on, pulling a pistol from its place at his belt. "Or, perhaps it's my fondness of automatics?"
Tony glared. "You're practically covered in guns, grenades, and swords."
"Or my mental instability?"
"You're more psychotic than a serial killer," Tony said coldly. "Oh, wait, you're that too."
Deadpool removed his arm from Peter's shoulder and walked up to Tony, stopping inches away.
"We've all killed," said Wilson with shockingly lightness.
"Unlike you," Tony growled, "we regret killing. You do it for sport."
Peter stepped between the two, holding up his hands in a passive manner. "Guys, guys, I'm flattered you're fighting over me. But can't we just see what happens? I mean, he's been here two minutes."
Tony glared at Peter—something he didn't do often. "And in two minutes, I've already decided I don't like him."
"Thor tried to kill me when I first met him. Now we're bros, right, Thor?" The Asgardian begrudgingly nodded.
Tony sighed, setting his eyes back on the mercenary. "I don't like you," he stated simply.
"Really? I must've missed the memo."
Tony ignored Wade. "But you're Peter's friend, and he hasn't steered us wrong yet." Peter and Wade both exchanged grins, accepting their victory. Peter put a hand on Wade's shoulder, about to introduce him to the rest of the team, when Tony stopped the two. "Don't make me regret this, Wilson," he said with utmost sincerity.
Wade gave a mock salute. "You got it, Iron Man."
"'Sup, Barton?" Wade asked easily, already having brushed off Tony's vague threat.
Hawkeye grinned. "Nothin' much, Wilson."
Peter curiously eyed the two. "You two know each other?"
Clint grinned nostalgically. "Yeah, we've teamed up a few times."
"Why do I get the feeling this is another Budapest thing?" Bruce asked, work forgotten. He didn't have much against Deadpool, exactly—he just found the man to be a little erratic at times. Too violent and outgoing for Bruce's own liking.
"What's a Budapest? I think that gave me food poisoning once."
Natasha rolled her eyes at the illiterate assassin. Her views on Wade Wilson were much more cut and dry: she found his skills important, but his ego and mannerisms threw off any chance of official work like herself and Clint were in. "It's classified."
Deadpool raised his eyebrows—at least, it seemed as though he did. It was a bit hard to tell with the mask and all. "Clint, I didn't know you had a girl."
Clint made a face. "No way, dude. She's like my sister."
"If you say so," Deadpool shrugged, not buying the excuse. He then turned and headed towards the kitchen. "I'm starved. What's for—"
Thor suddenly stepped in front of the mercenary, blocking his path. "I'll be keeping watch on you," he warned.
Deadpool gave a cheery sigh. "I feel so welcomed here!" With that, he sidestepped the Asgardian prince and went to raid the fridge.
Peter's plan was to watch Wade like a hawk and make sure he didn't set anything on fire. Then maybe—just maybe—there might be a chance of his friend being invited once more.
Unfortunately, Tony and Steve intervened.
Soon after the recruitment of Spider-Man, Peter found he was the baby of the team. Despite being almost eighteen, he was a child in the team's eyes. Each teammate found it their personal duty to watch over Parker, which he found endearing. He never had to worry about a place to stay, or a person to watch his back, because one of the guys (or Nat) would always be there. But having Captain America and Iron Man as disapproving older brothers was nothing short of annoying.
"Just give him a chance," Peter pleaded quickly. Wade had left with the others for the kitchen nearly a minute ago; if someone hadn't died already, Peter would be truly thankful.
"I don't like him," Tony repeated for the fiftieth time that day.
Steve reluctantly shook his head. "I've seen better men. You could have picked someone more . . . less destructive, couldn't you?"
Peter let out an aggravated sigh. This was like pulling teeth. "You wouldn't understand."
Tony crossed his arms. "Try me."
Peter glared, mentally putting together a witty comeback. Suddenly, a scream could be heard from the kitchen. Nearly eighty-two seconds without a fire, Peter thought. I think that's a new record.
The trio dashed to the kitchen, just in time to see Clint swatting the refrigerator with a rag, trying to put out the flames. Natasha was in the corner trying to calm down Bruce, who looked too green for comfort. Thor, wielding Mjolnir, was chasing Deadpool around the kitchen. The panicked mercenary leaped over a counter, landing directly in front of the three.
Tony looked and sounded pissed. "You are so dead," he ground out through his teeth.
Steve watched Clint and his actions with confusion and horror, before sprinting to his aid. "How can a fridge catch on fire?" he shouted over the commotion. Clint gave a helpless shrug.
Peter was mortified. Wade turned his focus to his friend. "Peter, I am so sorry." Something in Tony stirred at the sincerity of the madman's voice. "I just wanted some nachos."
Peter was saved from a reply by Thor's hammer, which flattered Wade like a bug. A gory, mushy, dead bug. Tony cringed, slightly taken aback as he saw the remains of Wade Wilson slowly knit themselves back together. Hearing of a man who couldn't die was one thing. Seeing it happen was another.
Thor, who had known his now enemy's superpower, looked angry still, but much less irritated. On Clint and Steve's side of the room, the flames had spread to the walls and ceiling, and it was now a matter of controlling the flames rather than putting them out. Clint disappeared in search of the nearest fire extinguisher.
"He's never coming over again, is he?" Peter asked. The incredulous look on Tony's face was enough of an answer. A roar came from across the room as the Hulk was unleashed. Steve ran to Natasha's side and the two tried to keep Bruce's alter ego contained. Thor quickly joined them.
"This is bad," Peter muttered. Half of him wanted to run to their sides and help, but another wanted to stay with his lonesome, new friend. He knew from several past experiences that Wade's regenerations weren't always easy; it helped if the first thing he saw was a friendly face. Tony reluctantly left Peter's side. not wanting to leave the teen alone, but not wanting his team to be put in harm's way. Clint ran into the room, brandishing the bright red fire extinguisher. He began to aim at the flames, as the room became a mess of fire, smoke, and white foam. The fires soon subsided, and Wade began to gain control of himself once more. Looking around, Wade saw with shame the chaos he created. Hulk roared once more, and Peter decided, after seeing his friend somewhat alright, he would go help the others. Taking off, Peter began to run the distance of the room. Hulk swatted at Thor, missing and crashing his fist into the ceiling, Peter stopped short as debris fell from above.
Tony turned and watched as the teenager was buried in rubble. "Peter!"
Tony and Clint, flames now subdued to his work, began to pull away the rubble. Somewhere deep inside the pile, someone began to move. "Peter!" Tony called once more.
To Tony's surprise, it was Wade Wilson who emerged. In his arms was a unconscious, but still alive, Peter Parker.
The kitchen was ruined, but luckily there were no fatalities. Unless you counted Deadpool's death, but he doesn't really count.
Thor, Clint and Steve were on clean-up duty, being he strongest available members. Natasha was with Bruce, who was now back to his scientist state, and was sleeping like he was dead to the world. Tony and Steve were mending up Peter, who managed a concussion and a broken rib. And stuck at Peter's side was Wade, who refused multiple times to leave. Steve gave Tony a look before leaving the room with the dirty medical supplies. It was his I-told-you-he-was-okay look. And yes, Rogers had a look for that.
After an hour or so of aftermath, Peter dozed of, sleeping away his concussion. Deadpool and Tony remained at his side, both sitting in silence.
After a long moment, Wade cleared his throat. Tony looked up at him. "I'm, uh . . . sorry. About your fridge. And your kitchen. And your ceiling. I would offer to pay, but I'm broke and you're rich."
Tony watched as Wade fidgeted, never quite meeting Tony's gaze. He apologized like a person who didn't do it often. Tony could relate. "You saved Petey," Tony stated. "I should thank you."
Wade shrugged awkwardly. "It was nothing."
The two lapsed into silence, only disturbed by Peter's heavy breathing.
"I should go," Deadpool said suddenly, rising from his chair. Tony nodded silently, and watched Wade as he went for the door.
"Wait," Tony called, just before Wade reached for the doorknob. The mercenary turned. "I just wanted to let you know. . . . You'll never be an Avenger."
Wade nodded somberly, expecting nothing less. Most of his visits to peoples' houses resulted in him being kicked out.
"But," Tony said, "that doesn't mean you can't stop by every now and then."
Wade blinked at Tony blankly, before it registered. He wasn't being kicked out. He was being invited over again. That was definitely a first.
"Sure," Wade said finally, slowly opening the door. "Yeah, that sounds cool."
Tony hated masks because you could never see your opponent's facial expressions—though, he supposed that was the point. But the one thing a mask could not hide was the emotions in your voice. And with Wade's final farewell words, Tony supposed he wasn't really that bad of a guy, after all.
DEADPOOL!
I've been waiting to introduce this guy forever! And especially with Spidey!
So, what'd ya think? The ending turned out a lot more feelsy that I anticipated, but I feel proud how this turned out.
Who do you think I should introduce next?
A/N: Don't own characters, only my fluffy plot.
Until next time!
~palmtreedragons
