Ultimate Avenging Alliance Chapter 9 The Work of a Lawyer

Peter alternated between watching Wade snore and watching Matt wince. Apparently, healing from a death took a lot of energy. And Matt didn't need to explain that merc snoring plus super hearing equalled sore ears.

"I was wondering," Petr said suddenly. "What happened the first time you worked with Deadpool?"

Matt squirmed slightly, the cell's blankets too rough for his sensitive touch. "He came into the office and scared the living daylights out of Foggy and Karen."

"Ouch," Peter winced. "Guns or scars?"

"Guns. Swords. I think he had a few grenades..." Matt trailed off. "He said he'd been hired to kill someone, but he was framed."

Peter frowned. "That doesn't make any sense."

"No, it took a few minutes to get him to give me a more...linear story. The hit was on a gang lord. Employer had some serious gambling debts, seemed he'd decided it would be cheaper to off the creditor. But when Deadpool approached the building where the target supposedly was, it exploded."

"Wade was framed for the explosion?" Peter guessed.

"Yeah. Wanted me to help clear his name, 'cause he knew I'd know if he was lying." Matt sighed. "The hardest part was trying to find a way to exonerate him. He couldn't turn himself in, because there's a lot of murders he did commit. The explosion was all over the news; didn't you hear about it?"

"Thirty dead, forty injured, over a hundred homeless? I think I remember it." Peter winced. "I was livid, 'cause Deadpool told me he was only into mindless violence upon people who deserve it. Would have been out there hunting him down myself, 'cept I'd dislocated my shoulder and had to wait for it to heal."

"Probably for the best," Matt nodded. "That could have got messy."

"Yeah." Wade let out a particularly loud snore, making Matt wince again, and Peter glanced over lest the merc was choking. "Didn't know you were involved, though."

"We kept it quiet," Matt shrugged. "We eventually came up with the idea of tracking down the guy who actually blew the building and getting him to confess to Deadpool - who no one would believe - and half a dozen tape recorders, none of which he knew about. Turned out Deadpool's employer was paying off his debt in a game of double-or-quits, where he'd win if Deadpool made it to a month without capture. We got enough for both debtor and creditor to be charged with conspiracy. Then we threatened to sue every media outlet that claimed Deadpool was the bomber for libel and slander unless they retracted." Matt smiled fondly. "Foggy was quite upset about the whole thing, but Deadpool managed to get his original fee, insisted on splitting it with me, and so I called it the firm's payment for services rendered. We paid that months bills, gave Karen a bonus, and have most of the rest set aside for an emergency."

"Good payday?" Peter asked.

"At this point, any payday is a good payday," Matt shrugged. "We're hardly rolling in it."

Peter smiled. "Glad I didn't mess that up for you."

"It's appreciated," Matt nodded. "Karen doesn't know this, but...we've been quietly making arrangements in case I'm killed or arrested in the mask. Having a bit of spare cash will help." He paused. "We decided that, if I go missing, Foggy would give me three months." He tilted his head towards what had to be one of the cameras. "Hear that? You said a month, so don't get carried away."

"Dunno if I should envy you for having someone in the know to take care of your affairs, or pity Foggy for having a good idea what's happening," Peter muttered.

"For your sake, I'm hoping your aunt does assume you've been recruited as a researcher, not a test subject," Matt whispered. "Might keep her from panicking too much."

Peter hmmed. "You think Deadpool has someone who'll miss him?"

Matt tilted his head. "I hope so. It would be awful to be so alone no one notices you've been kidnapped."

Peter found himself wanting to get closer to his friend, just to reassure each other that they weren't alone. After a moment, he figured he might as well go for it. "That's something I'm scared might happen to me, he confessed, settling down next to Matt. "When I move out and go to college, who'd know if I don't come home?"

"I'm sure Aunt May will call you, every week," Matt reassured him. "Or, if you're that worried, I could call you." The lawyer grinned. "How about this? Foggy's wanted to meet you since he heard I knew you. Why don't I introduce you, and we'll see if he feels like mother-henning you?"

Peter chuckled. "Sure you want to share your best friend?"

Matt shrugged. "Foggy loves having friends, and I think he appreciates it when you're watching my back. Anyway, I had pretty much the exact same fear when I headed to college. Dunno how I'd have coped without Foggy." He smirked. "But he's still my partner, and don't you forget it."

"That would be nice," Peter smiled. Then he thought of something, and his face fell. "Assuming we get out of here."

Matt fumbled, and grasped his hand. "We will get out of here, Peter. We will."

Peter took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, we will."

AN: Back from the mini-hiatus. Got distracted by Marvel Red Team week...

So, also Jason and the Argonauts, Black and Red, and Ultimate Writing Adventure. More soon.

Please review.

Katara