The afternoon was a gray, rainy affair. The clouds covered the whole sky, obscuring the sun, and it had been raining non-stop since the early morning hours.

"In another reality I'm married to a really hot chick."

At the off-hand comment, Peter looked up from checking his emails for the file Banner had wanted to send to him to have a look at. It had just started downloading.

"Uh, okay?"

"She's a succubus. Queen of the Undead. Did I mention hot?"

Wade was fiddling with one of recently acquired guns. Peter had no idea where he had bought it, just that his partner had been ecstatic, like a kid around Christmas about to get presents.

Now he was taking it apart, inspecting each tiny piece of metal and whatever else it was made of. It hadn't taken him more than a few minutes to figure out how to disassemble it, then Wade had reassembled the whole puzzle of a million pieces in half the time.

He called it his 'knack'.

Peter called it talent.

"Hot chick?" he now asked.

"Very. In very revealing dresses. Actually, she's kinda purple, so the dresses look even better, and she looks like a goddess. Demon goddess." He sounded dreamy, expression slightly lecherous.

Peter shot out a web line and snatched the ammo clip from Wade's fingers.

"Hey!"

Peter raised an eyebrow. "In this reality you're bonded to me."

Wade cocked his head and a slow smile spread over his features. "Spideybabe is jealous," he sang.

"Of another reality or timeline or whatever? Where you sleep with hot succubi? Nope."

"Succubus. Just one. She doesn't share. Neither do I. But the two of us have an epic bromance going," he added. "In every timeline."

"Bromance." Peter rolled the word around in his mouth. "Nope. Not happening." He placed the ammo clip next to the laptop.

"Maybe we're at it like bunnies there, too, and hiding it?" Wade suggested, pulling a new ammo clip out of seemingly nowhere. "Or we will be? Could be I'm about to get a divorce."

"You are not."

"Getting a divorce? Where? There or here or in that wacky universe where I'm the old me, all the hot looks, all the hair, perfect skin, and no healing factor? I have to say, that's a sight to behold. Handsome Me."

"You're handsome."

"And you're myopic, hence the glasses, right, but I already know it. Don't love you any less."

"Handsome," Peter insisted, giving him a narrow-eyed look.

Wade studied him, then smirked. "So, no divorce then?" he teased. "Here or there?"

"Anywhere," Peter growled, feeling a surge of possessiveness that rarely broke through.

Yes, he was possessive, too. Very much. This was the man he was life-bonded to. It wasn't just a partnership of necessity. It was love for him, not mere 'like'. It meant something.

The brown eyes were filled with mischief. "Jealous," he whispered. "Soooo jealous. Don't be, baby boy. We're not getting a divorce."

"You better not."

"Bonded for life," Wade stated seriously. "No rings required. But I liked our exchange of vows." He winked suggestively. "And I prefer your ass to hers."

"You better."

"Aw, you're so cute when you're possessive! Deadpool like!"

"Fuck off." Peter tossed the clip at him, which Wade caught deftly.

The merc reassembled the gun with sure moves and secured it.

"You I like, too," he told the weapon. "Daddy's gotta try you out soon."

He got up and sauntered over to Peter, who was looking at Bruce's numbers and his notes.

"Huh."

Peter glanced at the other man.

"You can really read this gibberish?"

"Yep."

"Smart boy." Wade rested his chin on Peter's head, humming. "My smart boy."

"And don't you ever forget it."

"Nope. If I have the choice? Succubus or you? Immortal hot chick who doesn't mind my looks? Or sexy arachnid who doesn't either? Oh, she also tried to suck the life out of me, which was when she fell for this unbelievable piece of ass."

Peter tilted his head back. "You're not giving up on this. Why?"

Wade shrugged. "It's just fascinating. Timelines are really confusing, but also so much fun. Alter something here and the rest turns out completely different from what you know. Hey, I'm a dad in another one."

"Wade."

"Hm?" he asked lazily.

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"Don't make me use my web shooters."

"Kinky," he breathed. "You're into bondage, too?"

"Not in the way you'd find sexy."

"I find everything you do sexy, babe."

Peter slid the laptop off his lap. He turned and kissed his partner. "You would. But not now. Gotta work."

"Awww."

"Just go. Don't kill anyone. Bring back lunch."

"Yes, honey."

Peter grinned and Wade pressed a kiss to his head.

"So, bring back what I killed?" Deadpool asked just before he left the apartment.

Peter's look was enough to have him laugh. The poke along the bond had the chimera wag its surreal tail.

"Lunch it is," Deadpool promised, then he was gone.

Peter went back to his work.

SDSDSD

Lunch was real food; a diverse mix of Italian, Spanish and Mexican, all spread out over the table, rousing Peter out of work.

Time flies, he mused.

It was already way past two in the afternoon and he was hungry. Having a metabolism like his own wasn't always an advantage. He needed so much more food sometimes, it had put a serious dent into his already low savings.

That wasn't a problem anymore, but he still shopped on a student's budget. Wade kept teasing him about it, heaping stuff into the fridge, but Peter couldn't really argue.

He needed it sometimes.

Like now.

Damn, he had really lost count of time.

"You're having fun," Wade remarked, still in his full outfit, thought the mask had come off.

"Tons. Really. It's incredibly fascinating stuff."

"Good for you. Hope you bill them accordingly."

"Oh, this isn't freelance. This is my part-time job."

"Earning your own money. So proud of you, baby boy. All grown up and getting ready to play with the big stuff." There was a suggestive eyebrow wriggle.

"Go and play on your own."

"With myself?"

Peter groaned and hooked a finger in the suit's belt, pulling the other man closer with an ease that spoke of his strength. Wade's pupils widened a little.

"Damn, that's a turn-on," he murmured.

Peter smirked and kissed him. "I need to finish my work, Wade. We can see what else we can finish after that."

Another theatrical groan. "Petey, you drive me into an early grave!"

"Which you wouldn't stay in anyway."

"Truer fucking words and all."

Wade kissed him again, hands copping a feel as they slid over Peter's lower back and down his ass.

"Wade." It was murmured against the scarred lips.

"Hm?"

"Two hours."

"I'll hold you to it."

SD

Peter finished in close to two hours.

One hundred and thirteen minutes.

SD

The two of them didn't finish the after-work party under an hour.

Actually, Wade enjoyed playing for a lot longer, thanks to both of them having a low refractory period and a healing ability, though Wade's was truly outstanding.

SD

"Better than a succubus?" Peter teased, fingers tracing the scars.

"Hm."

"Hm?" he echoed.

"Still analyzing the facts, drawing up flow charts, extrapolating data, adding diagrams and creating a really cool Power Point presentation or class."

"A-plus student."

"The very best."

Peter ran a flat hand over the hard-muscled chest. Like before, he marveled at the build of his partner, not disturbed by the what Wade called 'fugly wrapping'. Even the missing nipples had only ever drawn a first curious look, then he had just enjoyed the whole package.

Wade grabbed the hand and pulled Peter into a kiss. "Better than a succubus," he finally agreed. "Though I never slept with one. Might have to for comparisons. I mean, statistics and all…"

"Nope," Peter replied mildly.

"You'll just take my word for it that you're better?"

"Yep."

"You're so easy."

Peter laughed. "Good for you, then."

"Hey! I charmed you into my arms!"

"Sure."

Wade tousled his already messy hair. "Fess up, Spideybabe. You couldn't take your eyes off this fuckable, lovelable piece of man-cake."

"Whatever makes you sleep at night."

Wade lifted his head and kissed him.

What followed was a lazy make-out session that had Peter sigh in appreciation of his mate's talent.

SDSDSDSDSDSDSDSDSD

Working semi-regular hours at Stark Labs was… new. A completely different experience than any of the sister labs Peter had been as a temp.

He needed a little to adjust to the demanding and challenging work, but it was fun and he was learning a ton within a short amount of time.

Bruce wasn't always there, but when he was, they talked about not just work, but also private matters.

Like the bond to Deadpool.

"I don't judge," Bruce told him over a lunch break that consisted of sandwiches and incredibly good coffee. "Deadpool was lucky to find a partner in you, Peter. He relies on you in a way no one can measure. You are the anchor. You balance his energy. I understand that everyone is worried about it, but I find there is little to worry about, actually."

"Uh, really?"

Bruce smiled gently. "You and he make a great team. You were already keeping him balanced before the bond took. It seemed inevitable that you finalized it. It gives both of you an edge and it calms both of you in its own way."

Peter blinked, startled by the deep insight.

"Let them talk," Bruce added with a small smile. "You won't be able to stop the rumors or lies. I know how that is. Actually, a lot of Avengers do."

"Not an Avenger," he replied automatically.

Bruce chuckled. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do. It's just that suddenly everyone is interested in what I do or don't. They keep warning me, but why does everyone assume I'm the weak link? Why do they believe Deadpool is this overpowering, evil monster?"

"Because no one understands him. No one can predict what he does or how he does it. They think he's insane. Crazy."

"But I'm not his little submissive."

Bruce laughed, eyes dancing. "No, you're definitely not. Prejudice is a powerful weapon and people wield it easily. As for Cap and Tony, they feel protective sometimes. Deadpool isn't exactly a good guy. He kills people for money and because he likes it."

"He changed," Peter growled.

"They noticed by now."

He chewed on the last bite of his sandwich, swallowing not just his food, but also his anger. He had known what he was getting himself into, but he had instinctively done the right thing. Peter hadn't thought about it all too much, had just acted, and it had turned out to be the best decision ever.

For both of them.

He wouldn't do it any other way of given a second chance to make the choice for or against Wade Wilson and the bond.

SDSDSD

They didn't always talk about Peter and Wade. Sometimes it was about Bruce himself, about his life, his losses, what becoming the Hulk had changed in him.

Or what joining the Avengers meant.

He gained a better insight into the man, into the team, but it didn't change his resolution to stay solo.

Well, solo with Deadpool.

Peter enjoyed the talks, the work, the exchange of ideas on a scientific level. He was really getting somewhere, learning so much, and the idea to tag a PhD to his name was no longer just an idea.

Wow. Just wow.

SD

"Proud of you, baby boy," Wade told him seriously when they talked about. Really talked about it. "So proud."

Wade Wilson wasn't just a big mouth with inane conversations, all fun and games. Serious talk was part of his repertoire and Peter needed him as a sounding board. It helped order his thoughts, put things into a new perspective. The Deadpool perspective and also the Wade Wilson perspective.

"Wasn't just me. You were part of the equation and still are."

"Aw, Petey! You're making me blush!"

Peter pulled him into a short kiss. "As if."

Wade looked almost bashful. It wasn't an act. He sometimes still underestimated the impact he had had on Peter Parker's life; not just as Spider-Man, but also as the struggling student and temp worker.

It was something outsiders didn't see either.

They just saw Spider-Man's influence on Deadpool, how the mercenary tried not to kill, how Spider-Man kept him balanced and could calm him down. They didn't understand that it wasn't control either.

Peter knew it was a lot of willpower on Deadpool's behalf. He was doing the work. He was fighting his own nature and anchoring to Peter to stay on the straight and narrow.

Sure, there were deviations and Peter didn't try to change him. He supported his partner as much as he could. He was there for the good, the bad and the very ugly; sometimes weathering harsh storms. The chimera was a wild beast, untamed and off the leash. It wanted to lash out when threatened, it wanted its pound of flesh, fresh blood of a kill, and it wanted the carnage.

But it could be balanced.

And around Peter it was.

SDSDSD

They celebrated his first paycheck in style: at Weasel's bar.

Including a bunch of regulars, all of them probably in a kind of business Peter didn't want to think too closely about. They were cheering when Wade announced the next round was on him.

Weasel was busy handing over the drinks and Wade just pushed a wad of money his way. "Tip included."

"Aw, shucks, man," Weasel replied sarcastically. "Might just cover the damage from the next brawl."

"Don't worry. I'll break their heads before they do some real damage."

"Blood stains are a bitch to wipe up."

"Shouldn't I be the one paying the rounds?" Peter asked after Weasel was off to refill beers, nursing a lemonade. "It's my party."

"Just enjoy your last day as a kept man." Wade winked. "As of tomorrow you stand on your own two feet."

"Kept man?" Peter quoted.

His partner gave him a bright smile and raised his glass, toasting him. "Cheers on being a PhD soon. That'll be the day you're throwing a big ass party in here that will rock the foundations."

Weasel plonked a bottle with a suspicious looking red liquid in it in front of Wade. "You rock the foundations, you pay the insurance premium for the next two decades."

"Deal."

Peter rolled his eyes and chewed on the chips Weasel had unearthed from behind the counter.

Wade had ordered pizzas for the whole bar, which arrived an hour later, and a loud cheer echoed through the room. The poor delivery guy looked around wide-eyed and a little bit scared.

Peter took pity on him. He helped unload the pizza boxes and kept the masses from overrunning them by using a little more strength than was humanly possible. He paid the bill and tipped generously. The delivery boy gave him a huge smile and quickly beat it from the rowdy bar.

"Hey, that was my treat," Wade muttered, pulling him close and kissing his temple.

No one gave them a second look.

Peter deposited the box he had saved for them on the bar and Wade grabbed a large slice of the Deluxe Meat Lovers pizza.

"Next time," Peter replied.

"You bet."

SD

They stayed until Weasel threw everyone out, which was around four in the morning.

"See?" Wade called. "All still in one piece."

"Fuck off, Wilson."

Weasel closed the door in his face.

"He loves me."

"Sure," Peter chuckled. "C'mon. Let's go home. I need some sleep."

"Light weight."

SD

But Wade joined him as Peter collapsed into bed, out like a light not much later.

tbc...