#pantherpool

“No cat videos this morning?” Wadeasked calmly, stabbing his fork into the stack of pancakes on the table andplopping them on the plate that had been set for him. T’Challa glanced at him,watched him pour a very large amount of syrup over his pancakes, and lookedaway again.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” T’Challa said, Wade saw the corner of hismouth twitch. He stared at the man until he squirmed and looked at him.

“May I help you?” he asked. Waderaised his hand slowly and moved it toward T’Challa’s face. T’Challa pulledaway until he couldn’t go any further and then he watched wide eyed as Wade’shand kept coming closer. Wade pressed his finger to the corner of T’Challa’smouth, pushing in until his finger was sunk into T’Challa’s cheek.

“I saw that. That right there. Thisright here.” Wade said, wiggling his finger and then pulling it away quicklyand taking a huge bite, staring at T’Challa as he chewed, his cheeks poofingout. T’Challa squinted at him, like he wasn’t sure what he was looking at.

“What?” he breathed, sounding horrifiedthat Wade had just poked his face. But Wade was pretty sure he was morehorrified that Wade had just shoveled two more fork fulls of pancake into hismouth.

“It twitched.” Wade said after he’dswallowed his mouthful. T’Challa looked at him for a long time and then smiled.

“Did it?” he asked, dropping histablet on the table gently and reaching for a strawberry on the table. He bitinto it and smiled again when Wade licked his lips. Wade made a disgusted soundand finally looked away.

“You’re a monster.” He mumbled andshoved more food in his mouth. T’Challa chuckled and shifted in his seat,pressing his knee to Wade’s and throwing a strawberry onto his plate. Wade madea small disgusted noise and stabbed it with his fork. He looked at it,shrugged, and then shoved it into his mouth too. He chewed his food and staredat the table cloth. Thoughts running through his head a mile a minute. His eyeswent foggy and then he felt a warm hand on his arm. He blinked slowly a fewtimes and then shook his head, then looked at his arm. T’Challa was looking athim, concern etched into his features.

“Are you alright? You’re quiet thismorning.” T’Challa said, he seemed to think for a moment before he correctedhimself.

“You’re quiet, for you.” He said,his lips twitching again. Wade smiled a small smile and looked at him.

“Yeah. I’m good. I’m…good.” Wadetrailed off. T’Challa’s brow furrowed and his head tilted.

“Wade. What is it?” he asked. Wadefelt like he’d been punched. He sounded so concerned for him. Wade shrugged,one shoulder lifting and then falling.

“It’s nothing. Just tired. I have aboyfriend who keeps me up all night ya know.” Wade said, pushing a cheery toneinto his voice and wiggling his eyebrows and then shoveling more food into hismouth. T’Challa watched him a moment longer and then sat back in his chairagain, eating his own breakfast in silence.

“Ya know what no.” Wade said,slamming his fork onto the table. T’Challa didn’t even flinch. He just set hisown fork down and looked at him.

“Just tell me Wade.” He said, hisvoice calm.

“I-“ Wade started, cutting himselfoff and swallowing hard. T’Challa bit his lip.

“It’s just that-“ Wade tried again,stopping and shaking his head before he got going. He sighed and hung his head.

“Never mind.” He muttered, standingup and grabbing his plate. He walked to the kitchen and tossed the dish intothe sink. He braced himself with his hands on the sink ledge, gripping it sohard his knuckles turned white. He growled in his throat and slammed his handsdown hard.

“How can I help?” T’Challa’s quietvoice came from behind him. He was always so kind to Wade. An irrational angershot through Wade and he spun around.

“Why are you with me? Huh? I mean, I’mfucking… a fucking terrible excuse for a human being. I’m- I’ve killed people.So many fucking people. I like doing it. I’m good at it. You’re a good man T’Challa.Why the fuck would you even want anything to do with me?” Wade asked, his voicea little hoarse, his eyes stinging. T’Challa frowned at him and then walkedinto the kitchen. Wade backed himself against the sink and shook his head, T’Challaheld his hands up and stopped walking forward.

“I know all these things Wade. Iknew them when we started this. And I’ve known them during. And knowing themdoesn’t change how I feel about you.” T’Challa said, his voice calm, Wadeswallowed and wrapped his arms around himself.

“Well maybe it should.” He mumbled,looking at his feet. T’Challa walked closer and stood next to Wade.

“Wade. What’s this really about?You’ve been distant lately. And you’ve been forcing jokes. I know you don’t thinkI’ve noticed. But I have. Of course, I have.” T’Challa said, still speakingsoftly, like he was talking to a frightened animal. And hell, Wade sure as shitfelt like one at the moment. T’Challa leaned closer and bumped their shoulderstogether.

“I just- I’ve been trying to tellyou something. Something you’ve told me already. And I wanted to say it sobadly but I just fucking can’t get it out. And now-“ Wade stopped and looked upat the ceiling.

“And now?” T’Challa prompted,bumping him again.

“And now I’m thinking I shouldn’t.”Wade said, looking at T’Challa and then away quickly when he saw the way T’Challawas looking at him. His serious features were draped in sadness.

“Yeah. That’s the face I waswaiting for. The face I knew I’d cause.” Wade turned to him.

“I’m just gonna hurt you. That’s whatI do. I get close to people and then I fuck things up and they get hurt.” Wadesaid.

“And that scares you.” T’Challasaid, it wasn’t a question.

“Of course it scares me.” Wadescoffed.

“I don’t wanna hurt you. I lo-“Wade bit his lip and breathed in harshly through his nose. He shook his headand looked to the floor again.

“You deserve someone better than me,T’Challa.” Wade said to his feet.

Wade heard T’Challa sigh and thenwatched his feet come into view. He watched T’Challa’s arms reach out and letthe man lift his head with two fingers under his chin. T’Challa’s sad featurescame into view again and Wade blinked back tears. He sniffed and moved his eyesaround the kitchen. He hated being looked at. Hated it. He never really hatedit so much around T’Challa though. He never looked at him like he was disgusting,or a monster, or with pity in his eyes. Wade swallowed when T’Challa moved hishands to the sides of his face and made him look at him.

“Wade Wilson. You are a good man. Donot roll your eyes, you are. I know that you’ve done terrible things. But youhave a good heart.” T’Challa said, his voice going quieter still.

“And that heart, is the mostwonderful thing about you.” T’Challa paused, his eyes moved down and then backup quickly.

“Well, aside from your ass, I quitelike that as well.” He said, smirking. Wade snorted and laughed, it burst outof him, shocking him, and smiled at T’Challa. T’Challa smiled back.

“There you are.” He whispered,brushing his thumbs gently against Wade’s cheeks and then moving his hand toWade’s neck. Wade relaxed a little and sighed. He looked into T’Challa’s eyes andfelt his heart beating fast in his chest. He swallowed and wiped his palms onhis pajama pants.

“I love you.” He said, his voice a littlescratchy, his nerves attempting to close up his throat. T’Challa breathed out asmall laugh, his eyes closing as he leaned closer and pressed his forehead toWade’s.

“I know.” T’Challa whispered andmoved forward, his lips against Wade’s making him shiver. Wade moved his handsto T’Challa’s waist and pulled him closer, T’Challa smiled against his lips andwrapped his arms around Wade’s neck, deepening the kiss. Wade hummed and thenpulled back suddenly and gasped, his eyes going wide as he stared at T’Challa. T’Challa’stongue swiped across his lip before he pulled it between his teeth.

“You did not just Star Wars meduring my first love declaration!” Wade accused, his fingers digging into T’Challa’ships a little. T’Challa let his lip go and smiled.

“I’m pretty sure I did.” He said,his voice low, a smirk on his face as he looked at Wade. Wade sighed dreamilyand bit his own lip.

“Oh good. That’s good. Sooo… what arewe doing here? And where is…here?” Wade asked, looking at the door withconcern. T’Challa raised his hand to Wade’s cheek, moving his thumb gentlyagainst the mask.

“You have had a very long, very rough,day. I’d like to give you something nice for all your trouble. If you’ll letme.” He said, sighing and giving Wade a knowing look. Wade laughed through hisnose and then nodded.

“Sure, yeah, go ahead.” Wade said,nodding and feeling silly for worrying. T’Challa nodded, pushed the door open,and walked through it. Wade followed on his heels and then was surrounded byyelling children.

They crowded around Wade and T’Challa,pulling at their hands and yelling greetings. T’Challa smiled down at them asthey pulled him and Wade forward. Wade followed T’Challa’s lead and sat on thefloor with them, only catching about half of what they were saying. He waspicking up on some Wakandian language but it was slow going. He heard lots ofgreetings, some formal some not, and he could swear that he heard one kidtalking about finance but that couldn’t be right because he was holding up apicture he had colored of T’Challa in his cat suit and there’s no way a kidthat young would be talking about finance.

Wade felt a pull on his hand and turnedto see a small girl looking up at him. She had some bad scaring on the leftside of her neck, Wade was pretty sure it was a burn.

“Hey there.” He said, nodding at herand curling his gloved fingers around her tiny hand.

“Hi Mr. Pool.” She said shyly, lookingat the ground and shuffling her feet. Wade swallowed hard and felt his chesttighten, he’d never seen anything so damn cute in his life. She moved a littlecloser, pulling herself forward using Wade’s hand.

“Can you take your mask off?” She askedquietly, her voice so small that Wade found himself leaning closer. He bit hislip and tilted his head, just looking at her for a second and then realized hehadn’t responded.

“Yeah! Yes of course! Anything for youlittle one.” Wade said quickly, reaching up with his free hand and pulling hismask over his head.

“I really hope I’m not covered in bloodor something.” He muttered to himself, he heard T’Challa laugh next to him andthen felt two gentle fingers on his chin. T’Challa turned Wade’s head towardhim.

“You aren’t.” he said, moving his thumbover Wade’s lip before lowering his hand and letting Wade look back to thelittle girl next to him. She was smiling up at him.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, her smilingfading as she moved her small hand to her chest, her fingers resting at theedge of the burn on her neck, the skin there was pink and stood out against herdark skin like the moon in the night sky.

“Naw, it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Wadesaid, smiling down at her and moving his thumb over her hand. She was quiet fora moment and then her eyes sparkled.

“Can I touch it?” She asked, smilingagain as she looked at him.

“Of course you can touch it. That’s definitelywhat it’s there for.” He said, making a face at her as he leaned forward alittle. She giggled and reached out, her tiny fingers moving slowly over Wade’sskin. When she reached his lips he opened his mouth and moved forward quickly,closing his lips over her fingers and making a ‘nom nom nom’ sound as hepretended to nibble on her. She screamed playfully and pulled her fingers back.

“Noo don’t eat me!” she yelled, hersmall voice going high as she giggled.

“Aww fine.” Wade said, pouting andcrossing his arms.

“You’re just no fun.” He said, sideeyeing her and then smiling when she giggled again.

Then she was hugging him. Her smallarms wrapped around his neck gently, her head resting on his shoulders.

“You don’t think it’s ugly? My scar I mean?”she whispered into his shoulder. Wade felt his throat tighten and his eyesstarted stinging. He pushed her back a little so he could look at her.

“No. I think you’re beautiful. Scars andall. And you’ll always be beautiful, no matter what anyone says to you, okay?” Wadesaid, widening his eyes at her. A tear fell down her cheek and she nodded,smiling again before burying her face in Wade’s shoulder. He listened to hersniffle for a moment and then the other kids and her were walking away, goingback to their studies. Wade stared after them for a long time before he felt awarm hand on his shoulder.

“Are you ready to go home Wade?” T’Challaasked, looking down at him. Wade took a deep breath and looked up at him.

“When did you stand up?” he askeddumbly, blinking hard. T’Challa smiled down at him and then grabbed his handand pulled him to his feet.

“A few moments ago, where did you go?”T’Challa asked quietly, pushing into Wade’s space once he was back on his feet.Wade shook his head and looked over his shoulder at the children sitting in a circle,they were talking and laughing and answering questions. He looked back to T’Challaand smiled.

“I don’t know. Somewhere nice I think.”Wade said, furrowing his brow. T’Challa leaned forward and rested his head againstWade’s.

“I am glad of that at least. Are youfeeling better?” The king asked, rubbing at Wade’s shoulder with his thumb.

“Yeah, loads. Thanks.” Wade muttered,sounding shy himself now.

“Did you bring me here just to meether?” Wade asked as they headed for the door. T’Challa pushed the door open andWade followed him through it.

“She had been asking to meet you for awhile, I thought you could both use a little reassurance today.” T’Challa saidcalmly, turning to look at Wade and stopping in front of the large windowslining the hall. Wade pressed into his space.

“Ya know, that’s really sweet of you.You’re just a big ol softy.” Wade said, leaning in and pressing a kiss to T’Challa’slips. He smiled into it and then looked at Wade.

“I have been called many things in thislife, but that is a first.” T’Challa said, looking at Wade and pursing hislips. Wade widened his eyes playfully and pressed close again.

“But you like it right?” he asked,brushing his nose against T’Challa’s. The king huffed and shook his head, hisstraight face dissolving into a smile.