After being ambushed by more adversaries than he had originally expected, Peter’s flank had been slashed open by one of their weapons, forcing him to retire from the fight. After ensuring more allies arrived to join the battle, Peter fled a safe distance away and quickly covered the slash with his webbing. It took him longer to return to his apartment than it usually would, the searing pain in his side slowing him down, but once he finally arrived back at his apartment, he stumbled inside and carefully removed his severed and blood-soaked suit. He wasn’t far into the process before Wade had let himself in, attempting to tell him about the altercation he passed on his way over.
When Wade saw the severity of the injury on Peter’s side, he was quick to assist, cleaning the wound, stitching it up, applying gauze, and administering the painkillers hidden in the back of the medicine cabinet. Peter was used to patching up his injuries himself, but even with years of experience, he could have never done it as quickly or as neatly as his boyfriend had. He supposed it was something Wade could have learned when he was in the military, though Peter was certain the army didn’t teach him to conclude medical care by tucking the patient into bed and kissing them goodnight.
***
He awoke from a nap the next afternoon with Wade sitting in the bed next to him, watching reruns of Star Trek on the bedroom TV. As Peter started to stir, he felt Wade’s fingers run lightly through his hair, pushing the strands back off of his forehead. Peter could tell that the painkillers from that morning were wearing off, but despite the pain in his side returning, he let out a comforted sigh, melting under his boyfriend’s touch. When Wade suggested he change the bandages, Peter nodded, watching Wade mute the TV, slip out of bed, and disappear into the bathroom. A moment later he returned, gauze in hand, and sat on the edge of the bed next to Peter.
Peter gingerly lifted his arm above his head, bracing himself as Wade lightly tugged his shirt up, clearing the space around the dressing he had applied earlier. He could see there was some blood that had soaked through, but it wasn’t nearly as it had been the day before. As his boyfriend pulled back the adhesive, Peter took in a sharp hiss, involuntarily tensing his muscles as the gash on his side was revealed with burning pain.
It subsided after a moment though, perhaps with the assistance of Wade’s comforting words, and Peter’s eyes moved to fixate on Wade’s face as he continued to nurse the wound. He felt an overwhelming sense of love and care spread over him, his heart warming at the scene before him. He had been in relationships before, but he and Wade shared something special, something unique that Peter had never experienced before, and something he now could never imagine living without.
As Wade finished changing the bandages, he caught Peter’s gaze and he leaned in for a soft peck, surely intended to be quick enough that he wouldn’t put Peter in any pain. Even though only seconds had passed, he felt immediately lost when Wade pulled away, and Peter couldn’t help himself from reaching up to rest his hand on the back of his boyfriend’s neck, pulling him back in for another kiss.
His heart beat faster as their lips pressed together, this time much longer and deeper than the first. His thumb rubbed affectionately at the nape of Wade’s neck, tilting his head into the kiss. He was fully lost in the moment, but eventually had to break away for air. He was unable to open his eyes just yet, lips hovering only a few centimeters away from Wade’s.
“I love you, Wade,” Peter breathed out. “So much.”
