Chapter Six

One day, ten hours after the disintegration

"It's getting dark, Little Spider." Wade squeezed his hand. "Wanna stop for the night?"

Peter yawned. He was so tired. "Yeah... let's stop."

They both sat on the ground and Peter ran his fingers through the sand.

"Baby Boy," The merc said. "Are you still okay if I smoke?" Spider-Man nodded.

Deadpool unzipped a pocket of their suit and pulled out a glass pipe and a bag of weed. They filled the bowl with precision and experience and lit the dried leaves with a pocket lighter. Wade pushed their mask up and took a deep pull on the pipe. Peter watched the smoke rise into the perfectly still air, and he saw the scarred lips sigh happily.

'Pool grimaced when they saw the Spider watching them. "Sorry, Spidey, they said quietly.

"Why are you sorry?" Peter said, confused.

"Ah... Baby... you don't have to look at my face... I know what it looks like. I know it-" Deadpool said softly, looking away from Peter. "I know it's bad."

Spider-Man felt their pain, their embarrassment. He touched Wade's back, gently and carefully, and felt the mercenary relax under his touch.

"It's not. It's not bad at all, Wade, I wouldn't lie to you." Deadpool looked back at him, biting their lip. Spider-Man felt a deep pull to do something, but he wasn't sure what it was exactly. He decided to be brave.

"C-can I... um..." Peter blushed, horribly.

"What do you need, love?" Wade's voice was low and soft again, but Peter couldn't speak. He signed instead.

Do you know ASL?

Wade gasped, happily, and smiled wide.

Of course, I do, Baby. Having trouble speaking? They signed.

Yeah. Can I sit on your lap? Peter was blushing horribly again. I'm sorry, I mean if you want.

Wade froze. "A-are you serious?" They spoke out loud.

Peter swallowed hard and nodded. He looked at the ground.

I'm sorry, he signed again. Forget about it. Peter wiped a tear quickly away, trying to get a hold of himself.

"No! No, Baby, of course you can! I'm so stupid. I just never thought- God, I'm sorry, honey, c'mere. Can I touch your waist?"

Peter nodded, sniffing. The mercenary held his waist and sat the boy on their lap gently. Deadpool wrapped their arms around him, humming quietly.

Thank you, Peter signed. Your skin doesn't bother me, I promise.

Spider-Man felt Wade take a deep breath, and then their hands went from his waist to take off their mask. The mask was thrown a few feet out of the way, and Peter nuzzled his head further into the mercenary's chest. Their hands returned to his waist.

"I'm gonna take another drag, okay love?" Wade's voice was low but sturdy, and Peter could feel it rumble through him now that he was so close. Spider-Man nodded.

Weed didn't smell too bad, Peter realized. It smelled earthy and rough, but he didn't mind.

"What does it feel like?" He whispered, not wanting to ruin the moment.

"Hmm..." Wade thought for a moment. "It feels... floaty. It feels light and curious."

"That was very profound."

"You think so?" They grinned, their teeth flashing in the dark. "I'm flattered, Baby Boy."

After a third, fourth, and fifth drag, the mercenary was rambling on about God and the universe, or something, because their train of thought didn't make much sense to Peter.

"So, like, anyway, that's why I think God is dead. But if they aren't, boy am I in trouble. No lightning? I love storms, babe. I love them a lot. They're so... rainy. And wet. Very wet. I'd like to make you wet. Ah, fuck. I wish it would rain. I'm dizzy. Are you-"

"You'd like to make me -what?" Spider-Man turned to see a sleepy Deadpool.

"Mm, sorry. Didn't mean to say that. You know, when you asked to sit on my lap, I was so happy. Because y'know, consent is so important. I'll always ask before I do something, got it? Consent, babe. Good stuff. Consent. But you probably don't have to ask before you do stuff. I'm like, sixty percent kinky. And there's no way you're that kinky. You're like a thirty-five at most-"

"What?" Peter was blushing way too much.

"Mm, I want another hit." Wade grabbed their bowl and lit it again, taking a long, slow drag. The smoke spiraled out of their nose. "That's better."

"Why do you think I'm not kinky?" Spidey couldn't stop himself.

"I dunno. You're too cute for all that shit. But woah, it would be like, super hot if you turned out kinky. So unexpected. Goddamn. Am I making you uncomfortable? Sorry, Spid-"

"No, no, it's okay."

Wade yawned. "Shit, I'm fuckin' tired, angel. Let's sleep, yeah? Ha, angel's a good name for you. 'S nice." The stoned mercenary was asleep and snoring the second their head was on the sand, so Peter snuggled up next to them, feeling their warmth.

His eyes closed, and he was asleep.