Chapter Text
a.m.
It's slowly becoming more and more familiar a sight to Peter when he stirs and sees Wade's scarred features smushed against the pillow beside him. Not Wade's face that is – that's become everyday and mundane (at least to everyone but Wade), but Wade asleep. Usually Peter's the only one in bed of a morning. Wade rarely actually sleeps, but when he does, Peter is pretty sure he could drive a tank through the room complete with full military tattoo, and Wade wouldn't stir, maybe just mumble something indecipherable about G.I.Joe and plastic underpants before turning over onto his side. Usually Peter can find him channel hopping, playing on the xbox, toying with ammo, or sometimes even cooking breakfast for them all.
He doesn't tell Wade, but the breakfasts are his favourites, because if there's one thing Wade can cook, it's pancakes, and who doesn't love pancakes? They eat and talk and laugh together and it's just so stupidly domestic and ridiculous and Peter treasures every precious second.
So Wade cooks, and Matt looms behind him in case, he gravely intones in his best Serious Lawyer Superhero voice, Wade has another 'genius' idea about flambéed bananas and blowtorches, whilst Peter perches on the worktop and catches up on the news before he has to leave for work. He pretends to read sometimes, pretends to be immersed in the tv whilst watching the two of them argue about what should and should not go in or near a pancake, Matt's hand resting on Wade's hip whilst Wade switches a jar of peanut butter for a jar of dill pickles, half-heartedly trying to catch him out.
Matt shakes his head and allows a small smirk to form before he switches them back. 'You're not even trying anymore,' he scolds. 'I'm insulted.'
'Just wait till you see what I put in the sugar,' Wade grins and Peter drops his heaping teaspoon with a clatter before it touches the side of his coffee cup. Their chef folds up with laughter whilst Matt carefully slides a perfect pancake onto a plate and places it in front of Peter.
'Don't worry,' Matt reassures him as Peter pathetically attempts to tidy up the mess which he totally meant to cause really oh yeah, because he'd never fall for that old gag, no siree, 'he's bluffing.'
'How do you know, Horndog?' Wade calls over his shoulder, 'That little heartbeat trick doesn't work with me, remember?'
Matt licks a finger and dips it into the sugar bowl. 'It doesn't need to, Wade.' He slowly sucks on the digit and suddenly Peter feels like a horny teenager again, because that really shouldn't be quite so hot a thing to witness. 'I can smell your tampering a mile away.'
Wade pouts and returns to the stove, ranting about cheaters and the finer points of sabotage whilst Matt strokes the back of Peter's hand for a moment before sitting and carefully turning the volume down on the television. Peter feels a pang of guilt as he remembers Matt's hyperactive senses. He really should know better by now. It's why he only catches Matt asleep almost as often as Wade (but at least Matt actually sleeps). Matt is usually up at some godforsaken hour and has retreated to his soundproofed room, the one caveat of the relationship they all agreed to, although Peter knows that part of Wade still views it as a rejection. And to an extent it is, because Wade is simply too loud for Matt. Wade is too loud for everyone, Peter quips when Matt confesses this when they are alone, but Matt shakes his head.
'No, not like that,' he sighs, frowning. 'He can't help it, I know but his heartbeat...' he runs a hand through his hair wearily. 'It's not even a hundred percent regular, let alone slow. It's...it's like torture sometimes.', his voice cracks momentarily before he attempts to joke, 'I swear I can hear his body regenerating .'
Peter really wishes he could dismiss that as an exaggeration.
A slender finger draws circles over Peter's wrist, making him shiver. 'Every time we touch, Pete, it's actually amazing, but too often it's just too damn much.' This time it's Matt who looks ready to burst with guilt, and Peter shakes his head. He knows it's much more than just this between them all, knows that Matt is never really with them on a Sunday morning, but no way is he going to bring up the big 'G' man in the sky. No freaking way. He'll deal with the practical stuff first, the questions that can be answered.
'It's totally okay, we understand.' Peter soothes. 'You need your peace, it's cool and good and proper, really.' He teases. 'Besides, my crazy person date limit is one, here. Kinda planning on keeping it that way.'
They both smile weakly, and some tension seems to drain from Matt's shoulders, but Wade must have good hearing too, or he's guessed the problem because – as Peter gently reminds him later whilst the two of them slouch on the couch - holding his breath won't make his heart beat any slower.
'I was bored, is all,' Wade responds with a sharp exhalation. A flicker of something dies in his eyes and he turns away. 'Just a game, y'know, Spidey-boy. It's not like I-' he catches himself, and Peter doesn't press him any further. Instead, he promises himself that he will make certain that one morning they will all wake up together, unreservedly content. Because if Peter Parker makes a promise, then the world damn well knows it's going to be kept.
And so Matt leaves the sun-drenched apartment with case papers under one arm, white stick in the other, Peter with design schematics for Horizon Labs and a spare cartridge of web-fluid tucked into a pocket, and Wade... None of them are ever entirely sure what he's got up his sleeves, but he figures he'll find out one of these mornings.
-end pt 1