? tangled hearts ? spideypool ?

9 ? we can't be friends

And so, Peter made his decision. He would keep Wade close, but not too close. He would laugh at his jokes, fight by his side, and pretend that everything was the same. Because that was the only way to protect them both.

But as Peter sat there, alone on the rooftop, he couldn't shake the feeling that this silence—this unspoken truth—would be the hardest battle he'd ever fight. Because pretending Wade was just a friend was a lie he didn't know how long he could keep living with.

In the distance, the city buzzed with life, oblivious to the turmoil inside one of its heroes. Peter stared out at the horizon, his heart heavy with the weight of what he couldn't say. He would see Wade tomorrow, and the day after that, and every day that followed. He would smile and joke and fight alongside him.

And he would never tell Wade the truth.

Because some things were better left unsaid. Even if it broke him.

—-

The next day arrived with the same routine. Peter found himself swinging through the city, the familiar rush of air and the thrum of adrenaline as comforting as ever. For a few moments, he let himself get lost in the rhythm of it, the way the city seemed to blur beneath him as he moved from one skyscraper to the next. But even that wasn't enough to quiet the thoughts racing through his mind.

Wade was waiting for him, like he always was, at the usual spot near the old warehouse by the docks. Peter landed quietly on the rooftop, taking a moment to pull his mask back into place, to slip into the persona of Spider-Man. It was easier that way—easier to hide behind the mask, to pretend that everything was normal.

As he approached, Wade was sprawled out on the edge of the building, his legs dangling over the side, humming some old pop song Peter couldn't quite place. He didn't turn around when Peter landed, but Peter knew he was aware of his presence. Wade was always aware, in that unsettling, hyper-alert way that came from years of surviving against the odds.

"Hey, Spidey," Wade called out without looking back. His voice was light, playful, but there was an underlying tension that Peter could sense. "Took you long enough. You miss me or something?"

Peter forced a chuckle as he walked closer. "Yeah, Wade. Can't get enough of your sparkling personality."

Wade finally turned to look at him, his mask off, revealing his usual smirk. "Damn right. You know I'm the highlight of your day."

Peter felt his heart skip a beat, the usual reaction whenever Wade smiled at him like that. But he buried it deep, refusing to let it show. He couldn't afford to slip—not even for a second.

"Ready to go?" Peter asked, focusing on the mission at hand. They had a lead on a small gang causing trouble in Hell's Kitchen, and while it wasn't anything major, it was enough to keep his mind occupied.

"Always ready," Wade replied, hopping to his feet with a surprising amount of grace for someone who usually embraced chaos. He fell into step beside Peter as they headed for the next building, side by side like they always were. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

As they moved through the city together, Peter found himself glancing at Wade more often than he should have. The way Wade moved with that casual confidence, the way his eyes lit up whenever they encountered a bit of trouble—it was all so effortlessly... Wade. And Peter couldn't help but feel that pull again, that undeniable connection that had rooted itself deep inside him.

But he pushed it down, just like he always did. He had to. There was no room for those feelings here.

When they finally reached their target—a small, run-down warehouse tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city—Peter was relieved to have something else to focus on. He scoped out the area, noting the guards stationed outside and the dim lights flickering from within.

"Looks like a party," Wade muttered, pulling out his katanas with a flourish. "Think they'll let us crash?"

Peter smirked beneath his mask, grateful for the distraction. "I think we'll have to make our own entrance."

With that, they were in motion. The fight was quick, brutal, and efficient—the kind that Peter had grown accustomed to over the years. But this time, he found himself hyper-aware of Wade's every move, every slice of his blades, every quip that left his lips. He couldn't help it. Wade had become the center of his world, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

When the last of the thugs had been taken down, Peter found himself standing in the middle of the wreckage, breathing heavily, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. Wade was beside him, wiping the blood off his katanas with a casual flick of his wrist.

"Not bad, Spidey," Wade said, his voice tinged with approval. "Not bad at all."

Peter managed a grin, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You weren't so bad yourself."

Wade sheathed his swords and turned to Peter, his expression unusually serious. "You good? You've been kinda... off lately."

Peter's heart skipped a beat, panic surging through him. Had Wade noticed? Had he been that obvious? He quickly forced a laugh, shaking his head. "I'm fine, Wade. Just..tired, I guess."

Wade studied him for a moment longer, those sharp eyes searching his face as if trying to see through the mask. But then he shrugged, letting it go. "Well, get some sleep or something. Can't have you falling asleep on me during our next adventure."

Peter nodded, relieved that Wade hadn't pushed further. But as they left the warehouse behind and headed back into the night, Peter couldn't shake the feeling that he was running out of time. That sooner or later, he wouldn't be able to keep pretending.

Because every moment they spent together, every laugh and every fight, only made it harder to keep the truth locked away. He was falling deeper and deeper, and no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise, he knew that one day, the walls he'd built around his heart would come crashing down.

But until then, he would keep pretending. Because it was the only way to keep Wade in his life, even if it meant breaking his own heart in the process.

As they swung off into the city once more, Peter glanced over at Wade, who was already making some offhanded joke about tacos and explosions. And despite everything, Peter found himself smiling.