s t i n g r a y

i love that walt is just some guy. like he’s literally just some guy. he probably says his favorite food is spaghetti. but his best friend is the king of an underwater nation and captain america trusts him enough to make him spy on deadpool, and when doctor doom went good valeria richards sought him out. 

“MACH-1?” Deadpool struggled to recall the face (or costume) behind the name, he’d heard it somewhere, but the guy clearly hadn’t left a lasting impression. “You’re one hundred percent above anyone on the Thunderbolts, dude. They’re a bunch’a D-Listers, who gives a $#!& about the Thunderbolts these days? Not me, that’s for sure. I couldn’t tell you the names of half the guys on that roster. Even when I was on the Thunderbolts, nobody cared about the Thunderbolts.”

Walter let out a chuckle. A nice, earnest, dad chuckle. He supposed he was right, who did care about the Thunderbolts? Wasn’t that their whole thing? Rehabilitating evil doers... or something. He actually couldn’t tell you what they did. “Thank you, Wade.” 

“My reputation was what I was worried about when it first started. I mean, Deadpool, on the Avengers? It shouldn’t have worked, in the end, it didn’t work. I thought folks who I don’t even give a damn about would think I’d gone soft so I played up to it all, always implied it was a contractor position, a paid gig. I didn’t want the world to know that I was doing it because I wanted it.  Don’t ask me why, ‘cause I could’ve just embraced it and ran with it, but I guess a small part of me always knew I’d @#!& it up and the dirtbag merc excuse is just that, an easy cushion to fall back on.” Wade exhaled a long sigh and clasped his hands together, wringing them just to keep himself occupied. He wouldn’t disclose how much Walter’s admission meant, the fact that someone else thought he was doing good was extremely validating. He decided to try to shift the mood.

“I think if you can look in the mirror and be pleased with who you are, even when you’re in a dorky suit with water wings, then you don’t have anything to worry about. Oh, and for the record, association with me puts you in at least the B-Tier, so don’t be so hard on yourself. You can ride these coattails however long you like.”

Walter listened. He supposed with his past with Namor, he was used to the constant moral whiplash from him. Whether it was a rampage of losing his memory or becoming a machiavellian ruler, he always ended up sticking up for the king of atlantis. Why? He didn’t know. Maybe because he was the only one who truly knew him. Which... maybe he was getting to with Deadpool. Granted, others knew him better, but in different contexts. “We all have comfortable ways out of things. I was an Avenger, then I wasn’t. But I’m always a scientist and a father.” He rubbed the back of his neck. 

“No need to apologize, man.” Wade understood where Walter was coming from. The dishonesty from Deadpool had driven a wedge between his team, that and the lack of money. At the height of his popularity, it was as if Deadpool was spinning far too many plates and trying to juggle at the same time. It was a lifestyle that was impossible to maintain. 

“I miss feelin’ like one of the good guys. I don’t necessarily miss the politics or the hours, but I liked bein’ looked at as something other than dirt.” Deadpool had strong doubts that he would ever repair the damage he did to his own reputation. He wouldn’t have a chance to be adored again for a long time.

“You were actually pretty good at being a good guy.” The scientist admitted. He did feel somewhat jealous of Wade during his days with the Mercs. An Avengers Unity Division would be up his alley, but he was honored when Steve asked him to spy on Wade. 

       “Cool story, still science.” Tommy watched him work for another few seconds, before he could feel his attention slipping again. “Well, I don’t like math either, so I guess that explains why I don’t get all that magic stuff. Neither of ‘em make sense.”

Deadpool hadn’t keep in touch with any of the others since the team disbanded and he’d lost mostly everything, Walter was the only exception. Not that he wanted him to know that. “You were the only nice one. Mostly, I mean, the stuff in the bank vault doesn’t count. I would’ve preferred to kick Solo in the jaw, not you.” Wade threw his arms up in a theatrical shrug. “You ever miss it?” Probably not.

@aquaferrum​ liked this post & what’s this? Wade being nice?

“Look, Walter, I know I haven’t always been the best boss, I’ve not been the kind of guy that you’d want to buy the World’s Best Boss mug or recommend for an independent commendation, I wouldn’t be first in line to receive an award for the Rated Best Place to Work, look, what I’m trying to say is, I know I’m not going to win any prizes for team building, I’m not the kind of dude to set up an employee of the year wall and put you at the top or anythin’, but, the point I’m gettin’ at, is that when we ran together? You were always my favorite.”