~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wade ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Why's it staring?)

[I don't know, why don't you ask.] Yellow grumbles.

(I can't speak... what ever he's speaking.)

[Thanks for clearing that up....]

"Wouldn't go in there." Max warns the merc as he explores drawers and cupboards.

"Why?" He asks pulling it open anyway.

(Um yeah he's still staring.)

[Would you just shut up?]

(No!)

"Guys. Not today. White I know he's staring you don't have to keep saying it,"

(Oh hey. Shiny things.) white chirps as he notices the contents of the drawer.

[Wait a second...]

"Are these mine?" Wade asks as he rummages through it. Many of his missing in action knives and pistols made stored within the drawer.

"Maybe." Max says before biting into a muffin.

"Why do you have them?" Wade asks.

"Don't leave them out and laying around for people to take after your missions." Max responds with a bold tone.

Wade gives her a small glare before going to the drawer next to that one. "Now that one you shouldn't go in"

"Right," Wade says sarcastically as he opens it and closes it again slowly. It indeed was not another weapons drawer,

Max and what'shisname look amused by his confused and disturbed expression, not offering and answer to his silent questions that he had no desire to ask.

He instead turns to the child that had started to follow him around. "Does he want something from me?" He asks.

"Not that he's made known." Max says.

Wade pulls on his suit, making sure the gloves were on correctly and not showing any skin.

[Well he doesn't look horrified. I doubt he's seen it.]

"Hi...." he says.

"Din arr?"

"Dinner?" Wade asks before looking up at Max in confusion. He's pretty sure that's not what the kid wants. He freezes when he sees Max's stiff posture as she looks at Grey.

"I think he wants to see your scars." She says hesitantly.

"What?" Wade asks.

"Just tell him yes or no. I'm sorry, he asked why you wore a mask so I told him.

"Great. So now you've gotten him curious and interested to see the real life Freddy Krueger. Good job Max." Wade snaps.

"That's not why he wants to see Wade. He's different."

"You've only known him for like a day. You don't know that." Wade says. "What makes him any different from any other curious child?"

"Look at his hands." Max snaps suddenly infuriated, her wings flaring angrily.

Grey had backed away from Wade as he stared at the ground. He could tell he was the reason for the start of the argument. "Beklager." He whispers trying to back away further only to run into the corner of the wall.

Wade did as Max did not understanding why until he saw the hands that are being protectively being held closely to his small chest as he seemed to panic, looking around with large eyes at being cornered.

[Burns....]

"I don't know if they will heal from him or not Wade. He hates them as much as you hate yours. He needs to see someone else who has scars like his." Max says.

"What do you mean you don't know if they will heal?" Peter asks as Wade turns back to the scarred child expecting to be punished as he cowers away from Wade.

"He's one of us." Max says. "But he can't shift. I don't think he's a pure blood. He won't have many of our senses and abilities."

"Yes he does." Vaughn objects.

"How do you know?" She asks. "Darkfang-"

"She was wrong. She wasn't sure. That's what she assumed. I know he can."

"How? Have you seen him? His memories?"

"Well no..."

"Then you can't says that."

"It's okay." Wade says quietly kneeling down in front of Grey to fully relax on his shins to seem less scary. The two shifters continue to mildly argue over the child's abilities as the Mercenary tries to communicate with the child.

Grey cringes as he closes he eyes, sucking his head and stiffening, ready for a smack that never comes.

Something inside Wade shatters as he sees Grey do this. Something he himself had to train himself into not doing anymore before joining the army.

Wade with the way he was sitting on the floor was shorter then the small child as he gently the taps the boy's ankle, not wanting to startle him by touching his arms your shoulders.

Grey's green eyes slowly open in confusion to look at Wade. The Merc softly smiles to the boy as he slowly reaches for his small hands. Grey visibly trembles as he does so, not looking at his own hands or Wade, instead. The Mercenary pulls away before slowly pulling his gloves off to reveal scared hands and reaching them out to Grey.

The child watches him. Tearful eyes looking at his hands then at his own burn remains that his accelerated healing couldn't get rid of.... not yet anyway. The boy reached out hesitantly and touched Wade's extended palm.

The boxes remained Silent as they watched the exchange. No one else in the room taking notice as a serious discussion about what Grey could be replaced the argument while Peter remain engrossed in the subject.

"It's okay." Wade repeats when the child's other hand set in Wade's upturned palm. "They're only skin deep." Wade mutters. The saying never had done anything for him but make him pissed. But Grey isn't exposed to the world yet. He's still young and if he grows to be accustomed to the literal fact then maybe he could grow used to them. "The scars on the inside are there to stay only if you let them." Wade says.

He curses himself as his eyes water, causing him to look down.... the scars on the inside never disappear. But again, that's something that he could change for this child.

A sudden, externally painful longing for his own daughter pulled a small sob from the adult before he hugged the child before him. Grey stiffened for a second before relaxing into what he recognized as an embrace, not understanding why This man was crying.

"I'll protect you. I promise I'll protect you like I couldn't Ellie. I'm so sorry."

Silently behind the Merc the three had stopped talking and were staring at Wade's back in concern as the glanced at each other confused. Vaughn stared at space as he was pulled into the memory of what had happened to the little girl in the Mercs mind. His eyes wide and horrified as he was forced to watch.

All of this thankfully oblivious to the Merc as he held the child and cried.