Chapter Four: Family Disagreements
"You survived!" Was Tony's happy shout when Peter walked into the penthouse. An hour of swinging from different buildings to try and clear his head and Peter was no closer to an answer for his flirting. Hearing his dad's voice only made Peter shove the conflicting arguments to the back of his head. They wouldn't help him here.
"Tony." Steve shook his head at his husband's lack of subtlety. Steve's attention was soon captured by the conflict in his son's eyes that receded as soon as he caught sight of Tony. "How was the date?"
"Did you have to fight?" Tony asked checking over a slightly bemused Peter who withstood Tony's examinations and mutterings about the debris still on his suit.
"The date was fine. Better than most of my dates actually. And yes I fought, but not against Deadpool."
"Excuse me?" Tony raised an eyebrow. Peter frowned thinking over his answer before the innuendo hit him and he blushed bright red.
"N-Not like that."
"Then what happened?" Steve asked willing to listen to Peter while Tony's mind was jumping to other areas concerning sex and his inevitable destruction of Deadpool's family jewels and scepter. Peter sighed, relaxing his somewhat sore muscles.
"These guys attacked Deadpool when he was on his way to the restaurant. I went to offer help and we were gunned down before I swung us out of the way."
"Are you alright?" Tony asked renewing his inspection of Peter's body. Peter waved him off.
"I'm fine."
"What else happened?" Steve asked. Peter shrugged.
"Deadpool said he helped a woman get away from what sounded like her ex who wasn't really her boyfriend in the first place. She's safe from what Deadpool said. But I have a feeling the guys are going to keep going after Deadpool."
"If that's the case then you are not going on the next two dates with him. He can take his problems elsewhere." Tony stated in certainty. Peter's head shot up to stare at Tony in outrage.
"No!"
"I think your dad is right Peter. You shouldn't go on any dates with Deadpool." When Peter shot betrayed eyes at him Steve continued. "Just until whatever mess Deadpool has got himself in has blown over."
"Or you know, not ever." Tony muttered. Steve placed a calming hand on Tony's shoulder.
"I can't just leave him on his own dad." Peter protested. "That's not who I am."
"You could get hurt Pete." Tony tried to argue. "Deadpool's problems are none of our concern."
"I can't just look the other way."
"You can if it doesn't involve you."
"Tony, Pete, maybe-" Tony cut Steve off.
"He's a mercenary and a psychopath. I cannot and will not allow my son to continue to be around someone so dangerous. Three dates was bad enough before but now that I know you'll be hunted along with him. What's to say he won't just ditch you once his enemies do catch up to him?"
"I'm not fragile dad nor am I stupid. If memory served the Avengers were just as dangerous as Deadpool. Need I remind you of Natasha?"
"He's got a point there Tony."
"So you're on his side?" Tony asked.
"There are no sides, I'm just being practical. We can come up with a solution to appease both parties-"
"With what? I am not okay with this situation and I sure as hell am not calming down enough to consider this any more."
"Dad can't you just trust me on this? I know what I'm doing. I won't get hurt."
"That's what you said when the Green Goblin happened. And look what happened. This may actually be the time where you don't come home Peter."
"Tony!" Steve snapped. Peter drew in a breath but didn't dare release it knowing something stupid would come out of his mouth. "You should go take a break. Now." Tony opened his mouth. The stern look Steve gave him had him huffing before he turned and walked off, muttering under his breath.
"Let him cool off." Steve suggested when Peter took a step forward about to follow Tony. "I'll talk to him later."
"But- He just-" Steve nodded leading Peter to the couch.
"I know. He's just being a bit too dramatic tonight. He's worried."
"He shouldn't be." Peter muttered. Steve turned his blue eyes on Peter. Peter only lasted half a second against his pops gaze. "Don't look at me like that please."
"Your dad is the same." Steve smiled. "Can't escape the soul-searching. Now why don't you tell me what had you so confused when you came back?" Peter jerked in surprise. "You didn't really think I wouldn't notice did you?"
"I-" Peter's words failed as the conflicting emotions came surfacing about Deadpool. They warred with his urge to check on his dad. "Dad-"
"He'll be okay Peter. I'll check on him after I'm done with you. Promise." Peter had never been able to hide anything with his pops. It was even worse when Steve sat him down and coaxed him into talking about his troubles. It's why he hadn't been able to keep his identity as Spiderman a secret when he'd first been bitten by that damn spider. "Peter?"
"It's Deadpool..." Steve frowned when Peter didn't continue.
"Did he do something?"
"No no no, It's nothing like that... Well not really... It's- it's," Peter groaned. "Oh it's all so complicated."
"So uncomplicate it." Peter gave Steve a bland look. Steve only smiled reassuringly. Peter took a stabilizing breath before he blurted out,
"I flirted with Deadpool."
"I... see." Steve's face seemed to pinch a bit as he took a deep breath before slowly letting it out. "And you've never flirted with him before?"
"No. He does, but- I couldn't help it." Peter admitted. It had been funny to leave Deadpool hanging, literally. It felt like the power had transferred to him and it felt kind of great. He didn't even give the thought of Deadpool getting revenge any thought.
"Why did you feel the need to flirt?" Steve asked.
"He always flirts and I figured it would surprise him if I did. But on the way home I started thinking of how I would like to surprise him again and- and- I should really shut up now." Peter cut himself off at the look on Steve's face. "You hate me don't you?"
"No!" Steve was no stranger to Peter's insecurities and often had to tell the boy he loved the most in the whole world that he was proud of him and loved him unconditionally. Almost as many times he told Tony he loved his very being. "No I would and could never hate you. It's just, this is Deadpool son. Tony was right when he said he's a mercenary and a certifiable psychopath. Can you understand if your son or daughter was in your shoes and you were in ours?"
"I'd trust them to make their own decisions." Peter said.
"It's easier said than done son. Deadpool has a healing factor and while you do too, his is better, and you can still get hurt. If Deadpool drags you into his mess what's to stop you from getting hit with a bullet to the heart or the head? You won't heal from that. And what if Deadpool himself goes too far and his delusions have him mistaking you as a target? There are many ways this whole thing could go wrong. Do you understand?"
"I understand. But he hasn't hurt me so far."
"'So far'?" Steve asked in confusion. The look on Peter's face was enough of a confirmation. "How long have you been seeing him?"
"It's not like that pops, honest! We've just teamed up a couple of times."
"Enough to know he won't hurt you?" Steve asked.
"He won't. He's not the psychotic murderer everyone thinks he is."
"He still kills." Peter glared.
"I'm sure the Avengers have never killed either." Steve sighed, leaned back and rubbed his face before he came back.
"You say you know Deadpool, but what if you're wrong Peter?" Peter held up his phone to show a picture of Bruce and Tony in the lab laughing at something Peter had said. Behind them Steve was blushing slightly but there was a smile on his face.
"If I'm wrong then Bruce is clearly the Hulk 24/7." Steve sighed.
"Son, I don't want you to put your full heart into this. I know you are hopeful but this is Deadpool. He's not mentally stable and I don't want you to get hurt."
"Dad isn't fully stable either."
"Touche." Steve and Peter shared a look before Peter slumped his shoulders.
"I'll keep my guard up." Steve nodded.
"Thank you. And you might want to text me or your dad whenever Deadpool takes you somewhere else on your dates. Understood?"
"Got it pops." Steve nodded before he got up.
"Now I have to check on your dad before he blows something else up."
"Too late for that sir." Friday's voice chimed. Steve sighed heavily making Peter grin despite the seriousness of his dad's newest explosion.
"Honestly Pete, you and your father are going to be the death of me."
"You're Captain America pops, you're invincible." Pete called as Steve walked towards the elevator.
"And aren't you supposed to be 'amazing'?" Steve shot back before the doors closed. Pete rolled his eyes but still laughed. He took one look around the living room before getting up and walking to his bedroom to shower.
After his shower Peter laid in bed staring at the ceiling wondering about his next date with Deadpool. The list of dates wasn't something that would help as tonight had proven. They, or at least Spiderman, was a hero and things would and could come up to interfere with the dates. Peter pulled out his phone and tested Deadpool.
'Did you get out of the webs yet?' The webs would have thinned enough to free Deadpool by now but reminding the merc of his sticky situation was a form of payback for all the sex jokes he heard.
'You sir are a fuckin tease.' Peter's face was split in half by a wide grin. 'I will have vengeance.'
'Victory is mine.'
'Baby boy you don't have the balls to imitate Stewie. On another note, when's our next date?'
'Well since we can't stick to the options listed, why don't you decide?'
'For realsies? Oh baby boy you are not going to regret this.'
'Somehow I doubt that.'
'You wound me.' Peter snorted at that.
'Not as much as your jokes wound me. So where and when?'
'Tomorrow? Meet me on top of the Natural History Museum at 8. Oh and bring your webs.'
'You're not going to break in are you?'
'What? Who do you take me for? I am a lady and a lady would never do such a thing as breaking and entering.'
'You're not a lady Deadpool. You're a man.'
'Shhh, don't crush the dream. See you then Spidey.'
GM NASAI: Read and Review please!