The city sparkled under a canopy of stars, lights twinkling like a sea of fireflies below. It was one of those rare New York nights where the air was crisp but not biting, the city alive but not suffocating. Spider-Man crouched on the ledge of a high-rise, gazing out over his kingdom of concrete and chaos.

"You know," came a familiar, irreverent voice from behind him, "you really nail the whole brooding rooftop look. Classic superhero vibes. Ten out of ten."

Spider-Man didn't flinch. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Deadpool, what do you want?"

"What, no 'Hey, Wade! Thanks for stopping by'?" Deadpool hopped onto the ledge with his usual lack of concern for gravity, landing in an exaggerated superhero pose. "I bring excitement, flair, and the unmistakable aroma of street tacos, andthisis how you treat me?"

Peter sighed but couldn't quite suppress the small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn't know when he'd stopped finding Deadpool's antics infuriating and started finding them… endearing.

"What are you doing here, Wade?" Peter asked again, tilting his head toward his uninvited guest.

Deadpool shrugged, plopping down next to him with a casualness that didn't match their precarious perch. "Oh, you know. Saw you swinging around, thought I'd pop by, maybe sweep you off your feet. Literally. It's kind of my thing."

Peter chuckled despite himself. "I don't have time for your chaos tonight. It's been a long day."

"Well then, Mr. Grumpy Mask," Deadpool said, leaning back on his hands, "what do you say we sit here and have ourselves a quiet little vigilante moment? Just two guys, saving the world one bad guy at a time."

Peter shook his head. "You don't do 'quiet.'"

"Sure I do," Deadpool replied with mock indignation. "I'm like a human lullaby. Calming. Soothing. Wait, are lullabies supposed to have explosions? Because if so—"

"Wade," Peter interrupted, though his voice lacked any real edge.

Deadpool fell silent, a rare occurrence that always threw Peter off balance. They sat together in companionable quiet, the city buzzing faintly below.

Peter couldn't quite pinpoint when things had started to change between them. For years, Deadpool had been the embodiment of chaos in his otherwise meticulously balanced life. He was reckless where Peter was careful, unpredictable where Peter was methodical. And yet, somewhere along the line, Deadpool's constant presence had stopped feeling like an intrusion and started feeling like… comfort.

As the night wore on, the air between them seemed to hum with unspoken words, a tension that neither of them quite knew how to breach.

"So," Deadpool said finally, breaking the silence, "you ever think about it?"

"Think about what?" Peter asked, glancing sideways at him.

"You know," Wade said, twirling a finger vaguely in the air. "This. Us. You, me, the whole cat-and-mouse thing we've got going on."

Peter blinked. "Cat and mouse? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play coy, Spidey. You know exactly what I mean."

"I really don't."

Deadpool sighed dramatically. "Fine, let me spell it out for you: We've been doing this little dance for ages now. You're the uptight, do-gooder hero, and I'm the roguishly handsome wildcard who keeps you on your toes."

"That's not—" Peter started, but Deadpool wasn't done.

"Face it," Wade said, leaning closer, his tone suddenly softer. "We're perfect for each other. I make you laugh. You make me… not want to blow stuff upallthe time. It's a match made in superhero heaven."

Peter opened his mouth to argue but found himself at a loss for words. Deadpool's gaze, though masked, felt strangely intense, and Peter's stomach did a flip he couldn't quite explain.

Before either of them could say more, Peter's Spidey-Sense flared. He shot to his feet just as a streak of light exploded against a nearby rooftop.

"Trouble," he said, already leaping into action.

Deadpool followed without hesitation, drawing his katanas as he launched himself after Spider-Man. "Trouble? My middle name!"

The fight was short but chaotic. A small gang of tech-enhanced thieves had decided to test their stolen gadgetry on the city's rooftops, and Spider-Man and Deadpool made quick work of them. Between Peter's precision and Wade's… unorthodox methods, the gang didn't stand a chance.

As the last thief fled, Peter turned to Deadpool, shaking his head. "You really didn't have to blow up their drone."

"Didn't I?" Deadpool replied, spinning his swords dramatically before sheathing them. "It wasaskingfor it."

Peter rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. As much as he hated to admit it, Wade's chaotic energy had a way of making even the worst nights a little brighter.

"Alright, let's call it a night," Peter said, dusting off his gloves.

But as he turned to leave, Deadpool took a step forward—and slipped.

The puddle he'd stepped in might have been avoidable if he hadn't been so busy striking a victory pose, but as it was, he tumbled backward with a startled yelp.

"Wade!" Peter called, lunging forward on instinct.

He caught Deadpool by the wrist, their movements awkward but effective as they both collapsed onto the rooftop. Peter ended up sprawled on top of him, their faces just inches apart.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Peter's heart pounded in his chest, and he was acutely aware of how close they were.

"Oh," Wade said softly, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

Peter blinked. "What?"

Wade tilted his head slightly, his mask hiding whatever expression might have been there. "Nothing. Just… 'oh.'"

It hit Peter all at once, like a puzzle piece snapping into place. That tension he'd been ignoring, the way his heart always seemed to race when Wade was around—it all made sense now.

"Oh," Peter murmured, his own voice barely a whisper.

Neither of them said anything for a long moment, the city fading into the background as they stared at each other.

Deadpool was the first to break the silence, his voice soft and almost uncertain. "So… what now?"

Peter hesitated, his mind racing. "I don't know," he admitted. "But… maybe we stop dancing around it?"

Wade tilted his head. "You mean—"

Peter nodded. "Yeah."

Deadpool's grin was audible even through the mask. "I knew you couldn't resist me, Webs."

Peter rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile spreading across his face. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yeah," Wade said, his tone surprisingly tender. "But you love me for it."

Peter didn't argue. He didn't have to.