Deadpool Syndrome - A Marvel Fanfic

Chapter 26 - It's All The Same, Only The Names Have Changed

***PETER***

The quinjet ride across the country feels like it takes a year, instead of two hours. I spend the whole time by myself, not really wanting to talk to anyone. And I'm not the only one - everyone else is keeping to themselves, clearly contemplating all the crazy shit that just went down. Pietro and his young friend look like they're itching to break the ice and start socializing with the rest of us, but they hold themselves back, sensing the unease in our ranks.

When we land, I get up and look out the window to see Lola streak in and land next to the jet. So I guess Coulson wasn't kidding about her being hella fast after all. If any SHIELD tech shouldn't be allowed to ever fall into the hands of Hydra, it's Lola.

As we disembark from the jet, the kid - Billy (I finally remember his name) - looks in the direction of the woods surrounding the building. "Looking for more Dark Elves?" I ask.

Billy shakes his head. "Nah, I'm just looking for the place where I used to live. Still do sometimes, in fact."

"They don't let someone as underage as you live full-time with the Avengers, huh?" I say with a small laugh - probably the first time I've laughed since we were in Deadpool and Bucky's hotel room. Not that I'm keeping track.

"You're just as underage as I am," Billy counters, grinning up at me. "You're still in high school, right?"

"I am," I say. "Or was, in the other 'verse. They told me I'm actually nineteen or something."

Billy pouts upon hearing this. "Damn. That makes you officially too old for me."

"I don't think I'm too old to be your friend," I say. "What about Pietro?"

"I...uh..." Billy scratches his head, ruffling his thick hair. "That's not what I...you know what, forget it. It's not important."

"Okay then." I leave Billy to his staring into space and run to catch up with the others. Coulson isn't far behind me, but he manages to get ahead of everyone else pretty quickly.

I look around and see a second quinjet just coming in to land next to the first one. Seconds later, the rest of the team - those that didn't come to Washington - starts to emerge. Hiro and Tadashi and their people are first, along with Baymax. Then it's Barton, Stark, Natasha, Ginny, and Fitz-Simmons. The British dude, Hunter, is next, with a blonde woman bringing up the rear. I haven't seen this woman before - she must be another SHIELD agent.

"Hey, guys," Hiro says, sauntering up to us and doing fist-bumps all around.

Baymax watches him closely for a moment, then offers his own fist to bump. I'm the first one to take it - Baymax contact is a proven mood-lifter, and this time is no exception. The reason? As soon as I bump my fist with his inflatable one, he pulls it back and makes a weird, but funny, approximation of that explosion noise - "Bata-lata-la."

Fred catches sight of this and guffaws uproariously, slapping his thighs. "Man, that never gets old. Am I right, or am I right?"

"If we say you're right, will it get you to shut up?" Go-Go says with a short, through-her-nose laugh. The Hamadas and their friends all burst out laughing along with Fred.

Barton, meanwhile, counts the crowd silently. "Um, am I missing something?" he asks when he's done. "Where's Gwen?"

And there goes any warm and fuzzy feelings brought on by Baymax being Baymax. I look down at my feet - I'm still wearing the Spider-Man uniform shoes, despite having put my street clothes back on over the uniform - and say in a small voice, "They got her."