Wade tiredly climbed through the window of the run-down apartment and stumbled into his room, his clothes were scorched at the seams, his hair singed at the tips, and his lungs still trying to get rid of the smoke that had settled in them. He coughed roughly into his ashen palm—followed with a comedic puff of grey ash—and staggered over to the bathroom, his hand fumbled along the wall and when he found the light switch he flicked on the lights and immediately regretted his decision. A groan slipped passed his lips and he squinted through the light.

His eyes then switched over to the mirror, and suddenly they grew wide at the sight, he stumbled over to the sink in his shock. “No....” He gasped and gripped the edges of the sink as he neared his face towards the mirror. “No, no no no no no!” He screamed with fear lacing his voice and cupped his face in his charred hands.

“Is that fucking acne!?”

His face was covered with a horrible-looking rash, and with that emerged the horrendous pus-filled cyst on his face. He frowned and rose a brow. “What? Oh, you thought I was gonna have a fucked up face right? I know what you're thinking, "but isn't that how it goes in the movie?" well what you don't know is that if you thought for a second I was gonna continue my role in this book with a fucked up face, you thought wrong.” He claimed matter-of-factly.

He then turned his attention back to his reflection and grumbled as he ruffled his head of sandy blond hair. “Damn so much was left out, thanks a lot author, now the readers are conflicted.” He sighed and cringed as he picked at his ruined clothes, pinching the ruined fabric between his fingers. “Ugh gross, infinity war ashes.” He peeled off his shirt and promptly threw it in the trash can, when he returned his gaze to the mirror he was horrified at the millions of bruises and scars littered across his body.

He grimaced at the condition his body was in and pursed his lips when he caught sight of a long gash running up his forearm, fresh and deep, and still bleeding. His mind then drifted to thoughts about Eddie, rather than his bleeding wound, who possibly could've been in the same condition as himself he shied away from the images his sick mind conjured up.

Had he made it out? Was he okay?

Did he survive?...

He shook his head and ignored the voices pecking at the back of his head like vultures at a carcass and instead he stripped himself and climbed into the shower, turning on the water to a lukewarm, and stood beneath the stream where he was left with nothing else but his thoughts. He groaned, and couldn't help but fret and panic over the teen, he truly cared about Eddie, he somewhat reminded Wade of himself when he first started middle school, always the one getting picked on and beat by the bigger kids in class.

“Wade?” A tired voice called from the other side of the bathroom door, the teenager perked up and silently cursed. “I'm in the shower gran!” He called out and scrubbed at his knuckles, ash stained his hands and had found its way beneath his fingernails. “Get out this instant!” The old lady's voice strained with the shout, the teen winced and quickly shut off the water. “I'm going, just hold—” He cut himself short as he gazed at the gash, the torn skin was reattaching itself, closing up the wound entirely on its own.

And slowly, but surely, the wound became nothing more but a faint pink scar on his skin. Wade ran his fingers over the faint line and prodded at it expecting to feel a slight throb, but nothing came. It was fully healed.

“Wade Wilson you best come out this minute!” Gran's voice shook Wade from his stupor. The teen scrambled out of the shower and hurriedly wrapped a towel around his waist before walking out to reunite with his elderly guardian. “Okay! Okay, yes the rumors were true, I'm gay.” He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well I'm Pan actually but you get the gist. It's been really hard for me to finally accept who I am, but Wolverine just— awoke something within me.” He sniffled dramatically, feigning a hurt expression.

An old lady stood in front of him, facing the wall beside her rather than directly at Wade, with her arms crossed over her chest and a look that screamed 'bitch stfu', she wore a light blue nightgown and comically pink loafers. “Now is not the time for jokes young man, where the hell have you been!?” She threw her arms up, her wrinkled face even wrinklier with the creases of worry on her forehead. “I'm sorry, I wasn't feeling well. I had a...breakdown during school and I needed to be alone for a while.” Wade explained as he ran a hand through his wet hair. “An uh, long while as you can tell...” Telling her the truth would only frighten her, even if she was as stubborn and brutish as she was now, Wade knew there was only so much an old lady could take.

Gran lowered her arms and shook her head, a long sigh of relief passed through her lips, “You're honestly going to be the death of me boy. Get over here, you scared me shitless, do you have any idea how hard it is for an old blind lady to walk around town without an aide?” She huffed, upset but not as angry as before. Wade rolled his eyes and took her shoulders to turn her around. “Yeah you were literally facing the wall this whole time, that and I'm basically naked, but hey we're a fucked up family.” He claimed with a snicker and wrapped his arms around the small old lady.

Gran cursed under her breath but returned the hug and chuckled, lightly punching the teen's chest to get back at him. “Did you know I had to venture out and contact the Avengers because of you? And you know what? They actually listened, can you believe that? Of course, since you came back home on your own I'm guessing they pretty much failed, but it sure was something.” She explained and released him from the embrace, Wade scoffed at her story. “Did they now? Let me guess, the one and only Captain America patted your shoulder and offered one of his oh-so-charming smiles that just screamed fake ass bit— okay wow I really need to cool off.” Wade sighed and recollected himself.

Gran deadpanned, “And you think we're both fucked up? Yeah right, I'm perfectly sane. I'm off to bed, and I don't want you running off again you hear me? And if you do I'm not letting you back inside, you can sleep out there with the pedophiles.” She grumbled and trudged off. “Too late for that warning! Should've told me that before you sent me off to summer camp!” Wade called to her as soon as she reached her room and shut her door.

The teen sighed and returned to his room where he changed into a fresh set of clothes and flopped onto his bed. “Oh my God, you have no idea how much I've missed you.” He groaned and curled up in a fetal position, he felt around the mess of blankets on the bed and let out a noise of contentment when he eventually found his plush unicorn. “Little cum stain! I missed you so much.” He claimed giddily and hugged the plush toy to his chest, he yawned and raised his arm to his face and gazed at his once carved open arm. There wasn't a single mark left behind to prove its existence, no evidence at all to show that there was once such a deep, possibly fatal, wound oozing scarlet down the drain.

He tried not to dwell on the thought too much, his head hurt, and all he wanted to do now was sleep.

And so, he did just that.

Finally, for now, at peace.

---------------------------

“Hey Pete, dinner is ready, you should change and come join us.” Steve knelt in front of Peter who sat listlessly on the couch in the living room, he was still dressed in his suit which was torn and burned at the edges, and the exposed skin where the suit had been torn open by debris was burned and cut, but the boy didn't seem to notice or care.

He was numb.

Steve rested a hand on his son's knee and the teen in turn locked eyes with him, shockingly Steve found it difficult to hold his gaze, there was just so much despair in his eyes, it was too hard to look at and hold, he could not bear his son's burden. Peter would have to face this head-on, as much as it hurt Steve to watch his boy crumble he knew it was his pain to shoulder and learn from.
And Tony was being no help at all with the situation, he was still upset that Peter had run off whereas Steve had long since forgiven his son because he understood what true friendship cost, what it meant.

Peter was the first to avert his eyes. “I'm not hungry.” He muttered and pulled his knees to his chest, Steve frowned and stood back up knowing that Peter was obviously in no mood at all, but Tony, on the other hand, didn't know why Peter was acting the way he was.
They had saved the kids who had been kidnapped and they were brought back home in one piece. Miles had been reunited with his family, smiling and waving at every Avenger that crossed paths and Eddie had immediately passed out on the ride back home after being given a rather hearty meal.
Tony thought their rescue was a win, an occasion to be celebrated.

At the same time, when Steve was about to leave Peter alone, Tony showed up fresh out of the shower and dressed in comfortable clothes. He dried his still dripping wet hair and looked at his husband and son who stared back at him with a raised brow. Peter felt sick to his stomach at Tony's nonchalance. “I can't do this.” He spat and got up off the couch in a hurry, Tony watched the angry teen and sighed. “Hold up.” He lifted a hand, Peter reluctantly paused in his tracks. “Kid, I'm gonna need the suit. You're not going anywhere tonight.” He stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Peter's blood froze in his veins and stared at his father in shock, “Give you my suit? But I've done nothing wrong! I was trying to save them!” Peter claimed in his defense, his face reddening with rage.

Tony signed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don't make this harder than it has to Peter.” He warned, but Peter stood his ground refusing to back down from their dispute. “I could have saved him, he was the only one left, I was so close!” The enraged teen growled while his eyes stung with incoming tears. “There was no time, the other kid you were looking for was too far gone to save,” Tony explained. “If the explosion didn't kill him then smoke inhalation would have done the job.”

Peter felt as though he were shot in the chest and he staggered back at Tony's harsh words. “You're a monster, how dare you call yourself an Avenger, you only care about yourself! That kid needed us, he didn't deserve anything that happened to him, he didn't deserve what he got! He...he deserved better, and so much more.” Tears trekked down Peter's face, his body trembled and his voice wavered as he spoke. “News flash, we can't save everyone Peter!” Tony snapped back at him, clearly not reading the room. Steve promptly stood in between his husband and son in fear that they would start hurting each other if they continued. “Alright, we all need to calm down.” He insisted.

Peter gritted his teeth and held his tongue. “Wade was the only one I wanted to save. No one else. You can call me selfish or cruel, but it's true. And you took him from me, dragged me away as he burned.” He looked down at his trembling hands, ash stained the fabric of his suit. He shuddered and balled his hands into fists to cease the tremors, Tony followed his son's gaze and his expression softened at the heart-wrenching sight.

Peter was mourning, Tony didn't know what kind of relationship Peter and this Wade kid had, but it was so strong that Wade's loss was enough to break his son. And that was saying something, since the age of five Peter was trained to not let his emotions get mixed in during missions, but he was still just a kid. Tony seemed to forget that at times, especially when it mattered the most.

The billionaire sighed and looked up at Steve who stared back at him, his eyes gave a pleading look as though begging Tony to just let it go and leave Peter alone. Their son was hurt, now it was time for Iron Man and Captain America to retire for the night and for Tony Stark Rogers and Steve Stark Rogers to take their places as fathers. “Son, just take off the suit...so I can hug you.” Tony pleaded with an invitation for an embrace.

Peter lifted his chin and gave him a skeptical look. “Y-you're not mad at me?” He asked shyly as he wiped away his tears. Tony shook his head and pulled Steve to him, “No, just very concerned.” He admitted with a small reassuring smile. Peter looked between Steve and Tony, not sure if everything was a trap or not, Steve chuckled when he looked at Peter's wary glances. “Your dad's not taking anything away from you kiddo, I can promise you that,” He ensured with a smile that made all of Peter's worries disappear like nothing. “Thanks pops.” He breathed and hurried to his room to change out of the suit.

Tony slumped his shoulders and groaned when Peter was out of sight. “He's never snapped like that before. This Wade kid must've really been something.” He muttered and pulled out his phone from his pocket, Steve tilted his head to the side and leaned over to look at the screen. “What are you doing?” He asked curiously, Tony pursed his lips and nudged Steve's head away. “I'm trying to take a peek at Wade Wilson's personal files, there has to be a reason as to why he was taken. There's always something.” He replied in a low murmur. “Maybe look up on Miles and Eddie too...”

Steve shook his head and perked up when Peter returned dressed in a black T-shirt and grey sweatpants. “Hey kiddo, you still up for dinner?” He asked with an eager smile. The teenager offered a small shrug and trudged over to his pops, before Steve could ask what was wrong Peter wrapped his arms around him and buried his face in his chest. Steve froze, caught by surprise, but when he realized that he had been standing there for too long he wrapped his arms around his boy and rubbed his back.

Peter sniffled and squeezed his pops tight. “He was put under my care.” He explained in a muffled voice, but thanks to Steve's enhanced hearing he was able to understand Peter who whimpered into his shirt. “I was supposed to protect him, to make sure he was safe and out of harm's way.” His shoulders trembled, and Tony put down his phone to join in on the hug. “I know it hurts kiddo, and I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I can't do anything to make the pain go away, nothing can, but the best thing I can do is be here for you.” The man explained as he carded his fingers through his son's curly hair.

Peter swallowed the lump in his throat and slightly pulled away from the embrace, he turned his head to Tony and bit his lip. “I'm sorry about my lash out...I know we can't save everyone, but I really wanted Wade to be an exception.” He admitted sorrowfully, flicking his gaze away in shame. Tony nodded already knowing the feeling of wanting to save someone so badly, wanting to bend reality, go against fate, but he was only human, they all were. And losses were always to be expected no matter the occasion.

After a long while of the small family hugging it out they pulled apart and joined the other Avengers at the dinner table.

Peter settled himself between his dads and looked around as his aunts and uncles talked, laughed, and joked amongst themselves. Their smiling faces made his heart clench and his breath hitch in his throat, in their moment of solitude and serenity Peter felt like a complete stranger, like he didn't belong there with them. He looked down at his untouched plate and couldn't help but notice how his hands were slightly stained with ash even after he had taken off the suit.

What if the ashes belonged to Wade?

Bile rose up his throat and in a heartbeat Peter was pushing himself off the dinner table and hopping right out of his seat, he barely made it to the bathroom when he retched everything out of his stomach and into the toilet. He coughed and sputtered as he hunched over the toilet, his body trembling violently. A large and familiar hand rested on the small of his back, rubbing his spine up and down as he threw up the contents of his stomach.

When the sick teen was finally done he leaned back into Tony's arms and focused on steadying his breathing. “Oh Peter, I'm so sorry.” Tony held his son against his chest and rubbed his back as he whimpered and rubbed his hands together. “It's all over me.” He whispered, Tony grabbed his boy's hands and looked at them despite Peter's attempt to wriggle away. “What is son?” He asked in a hushed tone as he carefully dropped his hands and wiped the sweat off Peter's temple. “His ashes.” The boy whined breathlessly.

“Wade's ashes.”

But when Tony grabbed Peter's wrists again and took a closer look at his son's hands, he found nothing.

There were no ashes on Peter's hands.