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A woman had been staring at Wade for awhile. Logan couldn't decipher the look on her face. Was it pity? Disgust? Hatred? He prayed to every god he could remember to not let her ruin their day. He had dragged Wade out of the house because he wanted to distract him from his depressive thoughts. According to the younger man, that morning his brain had decided to remind him of all the reasons he didn't deserve love. Logan had tried to comfort him with tender kisses and soft touches, but Wade had pushed him away.
"No touching. Got it."
He understood that sometimes tenderness felt like acid poured on an open wound. So Logan had sat down next to Wade without making any physical contact, but still close enough for him to know he wasn't alone. He could relate to what he was feeling. He had felt unworthy of love for most of his life. When Ororo and Beast dated him, Logan had often wondered why they wanted a relationship with him. Yes, the sex was great but that wasn't enough to put up with his dark moods and primal behavior. The only person who had made Logan feel like every part of himself could be loved, including the berserker, was Wade. And he loved the Merc with an intensity that surpassed anything he had ever felt for anyone before. He had already told him he loved him with words and gestures, but the voice in Wade's head was making him doubt everything. It was frustrating seeing him in such anguish without being able to hug him. He could do it anyway, wrap his arms around Wade and profess his eternal love, but the younger man had made it clear he didn't want that. And Logan was not going to touch Wade without his permission. That was why they were currently in a public park with Mary Puppins. Playing with the dog outdoors was something that could distract him for awhile. Unfortunately, strangers could hurt Wade with just a look. He hadn't noticed the woman yet but she was walking in their direction now. Fucking hell...
"Time to go home. C'mon, bub."
Logan picked up Mary Puppins, ignoring Wade's protests, and started walking away hoping he would follow him. He didn't. Stubborn sonofabitch.
"Hey, what's got your panties in a twist? You were the one who insisted on taking a walk outside. All I wanted to do was curl into a fetal position and wallow in self pity all day..."
"Wade Wilson? Is that you?"
Too late. The woman was standing in front of Wade.
"Who wants to know?"
"You helped me a long time ago. There was a stalker..."
"Stalkers are such pathetic losers..."
"They're also dangerous. I hired you to get rid of him."
"Rid of as in scaring him or...?"
"I didn't have enough money for the other option. He never bothered me again. Thanks to you I learned a valuable lesson."
"How did you recognize me?"
"Excuse me?"
"I've changed a lot since then. And not for the better."
Logan was watching the whole exchange in silence. There was nothing he could do to stop her from talking with Wade. Well, he could slice her in half if she said anything hurtful to him. But surprisingly, she didn't.
"Your face hasn't changed much. Your eyes are still kind. The only thing different is your size..."
"My size?"
"You're bulkier. Your muscles are a little bigger. But that's to be expected from a superhero like Deadpool."
"I'm no hero. And there's nothing super about me, unless you're talking about my super cancer."
"Even before you were Deadpool, I considered you a hero. Thank you for saving me."
"Oh, please, lady. You're just a cameo from the first movie. A lame one, no offense."
"Cameo?"
Wade was looking at an invisible audience, mocking the woman's sincere gratitude, using jokes as a deflection. Logan was having none of that.
"What's your name, ma'am?"
"Meghan. And you're Wolverine, right? I'm glad you're not dead."
She looked down at Mary Puppins, did a double take when she saw the tongue, and then scratched her little head gently without making inane remarks. That made her earn Logan's esteem immediately.
"I'm not this universe's Wolverine. I'm a variant. But that's not important. I just wanted to ask you something. You said you learned a valuable lesson because of Wade."
"That lesson changed my life."
She was looking at Wade with admiration and genuine gratitude, but he scoffed and rolled his eyes. Logan wanted to stab him in the gut. He didn't, but only because it would traumatize Meghan.
"Could you tell me what you learned?"
"I learned that nice guys aren't always good guys. That innocent looking men sometimes are hiding their vile nature behind a mask of meekness. Wade looked like the quintessential sexy bad guy that parents warn you not to date..."
"Ha! She thought I was sexy..."
"You still are."
She smiled cheekily when Wade choked on air. He was wearing low rise jeans with a crop top that said "Daddy's Girl", his defined abs and his sharp Adonis belt on display. She was right. Wade was sexy. Insanely sexy. Meghan suppressed a smile when she saw Logan checking him out. He smirked unrepentant.
"As I was saying. He looked like a sexy bad guy. But he wasn't really a bad guy. I know he killed people for a living, but they had it coming, right?"
That made the three of them chuckle good-naturedly. Did that make them disreputable people? Maybe. But they didn't give a fuck.
"Dangerous looking guys aren't necessarily bad. My tough as nails husband has a kind heart. When I met him he reminded me of you."
She was now addressing Wade. Logan hoped that he took her words seriously.
"The handsome version of me or the melted wax version?"
"I can see you went through a lot of pain. Your skin is a testament of that. But the way your skin looks doesn't make you less attractive than you were before. I confess I think you are sexier now. Yes, you were pretty..."
She wrinkled her nose at the word and it made Logan smile.
"But being pretty is nothing compared to being extraordinary."
"Me? Extraordinary?"
"Can I hug you, Wade?"
It took him a moment to respond and when he did, it was just a small nod, almost shy. She hugged him tight, one hand rubbing his back like a mother would. It was a wholesome hug. But not as wholesome as what she said next.
"You are extraordinary. I wish you all the love and happiness in the world. You deserve it."
"I don't deserve any of it."
"It's not up to you to decide that. Just accept the love that is given to you because when someone loves you there's nothing you can do about it."
"Yeah, I will never stop loving him even if he asks me to."
"Peanut..."
"You're together?"
"Yes, we are, ma'am."
"Good."
She let go of Wade and smiled up at him.
"I'm glad you have someone who loves you so openly. I don't come here often, but I hope to see you two again soon. Bye, Wade. Bye, Wolverine."
"Call me Logan."
"Only if you stop calling me ma'am."
"Okay, Meghan."
"Bye, Logan. Take care of him. Wade's one of a kind."
"I will."
"Bye, cute little dog."
She booped Mary's nose and then left the park. Logan turned to Wade and stared at his face. He looked better.
"May I touch you now, darlin'?"
"Yes, you may."
Logan reached out and caressed his cheeks delicately with the tips of his fingers, like he was touching a flower petal.
"I won't break, peanut. I'm a tough motherfucker."
"I know."
"Then touch me for real."
He obliged by cupping Wade's face in his hands and kissing him hard. When Logan pulled away the younger man smiled brightly at him.
"Let's go home so you can touch me more. And by touch I mean fuck."
Yeah, Wade was definitely better.