Chapter Text
Complete emptiness.
There was nothing. It was a clean black slate waiting to be covered.
No one knew what was behind all that darkness. No one knew what would cover all that darkness. It was a waiting game.
That was Peter Parker’s life.
Or was it a description of the smog that covered the New York sky?
Who can tell the difference at this point anyway…
Peter Benjamin Parker--‘Who?’ You may ask…Well not many know who he is anymore—scratch that, no one knows who he is anymore.
Peter’s life has been what some may describe as a ‘dumpster fire’ ever since he was bitten by a radioactive spider when he was 14 years old. Nothing has been easy for him. He’s not complaining! He’s had a decent life until recently.
He had two loving parents. Until they died…
He went and lived with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben who tried their absolute best despite the tight income. Peter never mentioned that he saw them slowly sell some of their things so he can have an extra birthday present…
Uncle Ben was a great father figure, teaching him important life lessons. Until he died…
Then Mr. Stark took him under his wing and helped him be Spiderman. Until he died…
Aunt May was his biggest supporter through it all. Until she died…
But! Ned and MJ, his best friend and girlfriend were always by his side. They were a shoulder to cry on until he was wiped from their memories to stop the entire multiverse from collapsing in on itself…
So, excuse Peter if he sighs a little too loudly when someone asks him what his name is. Excuse Peter if he’s walking down the street and does everything to avoid eye contact with others. Excuse Peter if he rolls his eyes at the couples holding hands. Excuse Peter if he unknowingly glares at the group of laughing friends a few feet away from him.
Excuse Peter, he’s just so tired.
But Spiderman doesn’t get tired. So, he has to keep going.
Which is why Peter pushed away all the bitterness he was feeling and studied for his GED. He got a somewhat livable apartment. He also got two jobs: one down at the Daily Bugle taking pictures and one down at the café that’s directly below his apartment. He even made himself a new Spider-Man suit.
It was a lot for a young adult to take on but it was a fresh slate so he can start over.
But the one thing Peter forgot about starting over was meeting new people. Even in his old life he never had many friends. It was him, Ned, and MJ…that was it. Now it was just him and he would have to figure out how to move on without them.
Which all leads to right now where Spider-Man is perched on a building during his nightly patrols.
Peter has been on his own for about five years now. And do not let anyone else say otherwise: it does not get easier with time. He’s been completely on his own for five years and each day was as bad as the last. Each day was as lonely as the last.
It’s not completely Peter’s fault! Sure he maybe could have asked for the number of the pretty blonde that frequents the coffee shop or the tall bloke that lives down the hall, but there would be too many questions asked. Peter really didn’t want to explain everything to some innocent stranger just because he got a little lonely. He’ll be okay. He’s Spider-Man! Spider-Man can deal with a little loneliness besides despite what Peter may think, it hasn’t been that lonely lately…
“Oooo! Spidey!” Ah there is it…right on schedule too.
Deadpool aka one of the few things that kept Peter from going completely insane lately.
Deadpool was a complicated person. He was a mercenary but he wasn’t. He was annoying but he wasn’t. He was insane but he wasn’t.
He was also a very open person. Peter had to stop him many times from oversharing. Sure when you spend so much time with one another you learn a few things…like Deadpool loved Mexican food, he had voices inside his head, and that the only reason why he has his powers was because he was trying to cure his cancer.
Peter had shared some personal things as well like his parents dying but Deadpool didn’t need to know about the laundry list of others as well. Deadpool was suspicious of how he was teaming up with the Avengers one day to never working with them again, but Peter gave some half-assed answer about not wanting to be confined to their rules and the ex-merc was satisfied.
Sure, the two had shared trauma and stories but no real personal information was shared, no names were exchanged, Peter didn’t tell him where he worked, he didn’t even share how he came to know Tony before he stopped working with the Avengers…
But again, can you blame Peter?
Everything bad that has happened to him was because someone knew who he was behind the mask. And he could not deal with any of that again.
Which is why patrolling and hanging out with Deadpool has strictly been a Spider-Man thing and not a Peter Parker thing.
“Hiya Pool” Peter mumbled glancing quickly at the other mutant before turning back to the streets of New York.
“And what is your fine little ass up to if I may ask?” Deadpool plopped down next to Peter swinging his legs over the ledge.
Peter didn’t answer but that was nothing new. Peter knew if he responded to Deadpool’s meaningless flirting he’ll actually start to catch feelings and that is a very dangerous road to go down. Peter didn’t even want to think to what they may lead to. Peter didn’t even want to think of getting to know the real Deadpool. Peter didn’t even want to think about always having someone to come home to, snuggling close. Peter didn’t even want to…he was touch-starved damnit! Give the boy a break.
So instead a silence fell over the two. It was peaceful. It was like they understood each other without having to know what to understand…if that made sense. But nothing is ever peaceful in the city that never sleeps.
“Come on big guy…let’s go” Peter sighed before jumping off the building towards where the siren was blasting. There’s never a day off.
--
It wasn’t one of Peter’s brightest moments to say that he had to work two jobs and still live paycheck to paycheck. But there’s no one around for him to be embarrassed about the purple-lace apron he has to wear at the café.
Peter wasn’t sure how he managed to get this job. It was directly below his apartment. The pay was nice and they closed by 3pm and weren’t open on the weekends. How hasn’t Parker luck ruined this yet? He will gladly wear a purple apron for this.
“Peter!” Susan, the owner, yelled from underneath the counter. “Can you come to the front, someone came in and I’m in a situation!”
“One sec!” Peter yelled back still trying to pin his name tag onto his apron. By the time he reached the register and finally looked up Peter was one thing he never was: speechless.
Now growing up on a very low income and finding himself excelling in the sciences Peter was never one to appreciate art. But right now, with this man standing in front of him Peter felt like he was in the presence of Picasso himself.
He was just an inch or two taller than Peter, but his shoulders were far broader making him look that much bigger. You could hardly see his face with the dark hood pulled tightly but it was just enough. Peter could pick out those pearly blue eyes just fine along with a few scars that were strown across the stranger’s face.
“Um…YooHoo!...Umm Peter is it?”
It was hypnotizing.
Peter? Who’s Peter? Oh right…he’s Peter! But the guy in front of him is just so pretty…
“Get yourself together Parker!” A hand smacked him up the back of the head. Yup, that belonged to Susan.
“Ow! What was that for!?” He turned to ask her completely forgetting about the piece of art in front of him.
“If you stood there and stared any longer your eyeballs would have shriveled up from not blinking.” Susan said not bothering to turn around and hot stranger snorted at that. Ohhh so he’s got a humor side to him, noted.
“I was not staring” Peter hissed back.
“Don’t sweat it sweetcheeks.” Hot stranger sent him a wink and Peter felt like he could die happy right then and there.
There was a stretch of silence. It wasn’t overly awkward just the soft radio fuzz in the background. Hot stranger was rocking back and forth on his heels whistling a random song and Peter…well Peter just stared…again.
“Right!” It was like a light was flicked on in his head. “Uh uh—um what can I get for you?” Peter asks stupidly as if he hasn’t been working this job for years now.
Hot stranger just gave him the cutest chuckle before answering “A small caramel latte and a piece of that ass will be just fine.”
Peter is pretty sure his brain short circuited. Something about this man (He doesn’t even know his name!) is driving him insane. Why is Peter acting like this is his first time talking to anyone that is remotely attractive…oh right, probably because this is the longest conversation he’s had with someone that isn’t an employer in years.
“Right! No problem!” Peter scrambles to grab a cup, almost dropping it in the process. “For the latte part! Not the piece…--”
“Uh can I get a name?” Peter asked quickly hoping to cover up the complete embarrassment he’s drowning himself in.
“Wade Winston Wilson at your service” Hot stranger—Wade--took a dramatic bow. Peter has never been more grateful for their lack of costumers so his time with Wade doesn’t get cut short. “Do I get to learn the name of my overly adorable barista?”
“Peter Benjamin Parker!” Peter blurted out far too aggressively since the other man is two feet away from him. To avoid his face from getting any redder Peter moved down the counter a little bit to start making Wade’s drink.
The two don’t talk while Peter is making it, something he’s grateful for knowing he would mess it up somehow. Regardless of the lack of other people in line Peter still writes Wade’s name on the cup and in a moment of bravery (or stupidity) he also adds: “Peter P. 718-***-**** <3”
Peter quickly set the drink down hoping his shaky hands won’t give him away. He held his breath when Wade picked up the cup and read over his message he face broke out into a grin and Peter felt his knees go weak. Now he wasn’t sure if that was because of how beautiful Wade’s smile was or if it was relief that he hasn’t made a complete foul of himself.
“See ya soon Petey” Was all Wade said before walking out of the small shop.
What did Peter do….