Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

On the roof after the ferry incident:

“I'm sorry. I’m sorry.” Peter apologized.

“‘Sorry’ doesn't cut it,” Tony said in a frustrated tone, emphasizing the first word. 

Peter lowered his head in shame. “I understand. I just wanted to be like you.” And not the useless person I am.  

“And I wanted you to be better.” Peter winced at the words, but he wasn’t surprised. He always wants to be better than he is. “Okay, it's not working out. I'm gonna need the suit back.” 

Peter looked up at him in shock, “For how long?”

“Forever.” He said it like it was obvious. 

Peter couldn’t believe what he just heard. Spider-Man is who he is, “No! No, no, no! Please, please, please!” Tears start to sting in his eyes, but he wills himself to look strong.

Tony didn’t notice that the boy was on the verge of a breakdown, he just held out his hand, “Let's have it.”

Peter shook his head in denial, ”You don't understand! This is all I have!” He cried, letting his emotions win just a bit.  “I’m nothing without this suit!”

What Tony didn’t understand was that those weren’t Peter’s words. They were the words that had been spewed at him over and over until he truly believed them. “You’re a waste of space.” “You deserve nothing.” “Why should I even waste my breath, you’re not worth it” “You’re nothing.” You’re nothing, You’re nothing, You’re nothing.  

Because Tony didn’t understand the entire weight of that sentence he just added on. Added on to the already crushing mass that has squashed Peter Parker leaving nothing but Spider-Man in its wake, “If you're nothing without this suit, then you shouldn't have it.” Peter knew he was right though, why should he wear a suit that he doesn’t deserve? He doesn’t deserve anything. Why should he be labeled a hero when he was nothing but a failure of a human being? He couldn’t even save his Uncle, his own family. “God, I sound like my dad,” Tony said exasperatedly. 

“I don't have any other clothes,” Peter said defeatedly in a quiet voice. 

“Okay, we’ll sort that out,” Tony said with a nod and turned. Peter followed along behind him, shoulders slumped and head down. 

And that’s how Peter ended up in Hello Kitty pajama pants and an ‘I survived my trip to NYC.’ T-shirt. Tony had offered him a ride, but he didn’t deserve it so he said, “No thank you,” in a whisper and walked away from Tony. The man shrugged and got into his car and drove away not knowing that he had taken Peter’s one last sliver of hope with him in hand.

_____________

Before Ben died things were actually ok, good even. He loved May and Ben and they loved him, or they seemed to. Then he went on a field trip to Oscorp, got bit by a radioactive spider, became severely ill for a few days, and finally arose with newfound strength, senses, stickiness, and healing. Everything seemed to be great. He loved his family, he loved his best friend, he was in an amazing school, and now he had powers. It seemed like his life was getting better and better. But the higher you fly the further you fall. 

After a fight with Ben, which, to this day he can’t even remember what it was about, he ran out. Ben, being the amazing guardian he was, went after him to make sure he didn’t get hurt. He didn’t… but Ben did. 

It was a robbery gone wrong, Peter was in the crossfire and Ben stepped in the way of the bullet. Ben fell to the ground as the gunman ran away Peter cried out for help, falling to his knees beside his uncle and putting pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. The warm thick blood slipped between his fingers making him feel physically ill. Even as blood tricked out of Ben’s mouth he spoke. “This wasn’t your fault,” he said, but it came out a bit gurgled, around the metallic crimson. Peter felt tears stream down his face as he looked into his Uncle’s eyes, “Just remember, with great power,” he took in a wheezing breath, “comes great responsibility.” And with that, his hands fell limp at his sides and his eyes which had previously shined with light and life dulled into nothing but a hollow stare. 

“Ben?“ Peter whispered, not wanting to believe what was right in front of him. “Ben!” Peter shifts as he shouts, his pants soaking in the too-big puddle of blood beneath his Uncle. Beneath his second father figure. “Ben?! Please don’t leave me!! Please!!” He screamed, the stream of tears had now become a torrent of salt water flowing down his face, landing on Ben’s blood-soaked shirt. It was then that the police arrived. An officer had to physically pry the crying boy from Ben’s body. He could have easily thrown the woman off as he had super strength, but he was in shock. 

He kept crying, looking over at the white sheet, now dyed red in places, that was covering Ben, as the paramedics looked him over. He knew they wouldn’t find anything. The blood that covered his hands and clothes was not his own. Once they were satisfied that he wasn’t physically hurt, the same officer led him into her car. She asked where he lived, he muttered the address without a thought.

 When they arrived, she went up with him to their apartment. When May opened the door she stood in shock. She stared at the bloodied boy in front of her and then frantically tried to look behind the two, obviously looking for her husband. The officer saw this and asked if they could sit down, May already had tears in her eyes as she nodded. Once the officer confirmed her suspicion she broke down. Peter did as well and hugged her. She hugged back and after a minute the office took her leave. 

It was when the door closed behind the officer that May changed. She threw Peter off her. Peter sat back shocked as he stared at May, from the other side of the couch, with swollen red-rimmed eyes, blood still on his clothes and stained on his hands. “May?” He asked cautiously. 

“You did this!” She sneered.

“No I-” He tried but she cut him off, her eyes sharp and terrifying.

“He went after you! Two of you went out and only one came back!” She shouted the facts, “Why couldn’t it have been you?!” Peter didn’t know what to say. Yes, the same thought had crossed his mind, but he never thought May would agree. Never thought his loving aunt would say something like this. 

“I-I’m s-s-sorry,” Petter stuttered.

“You ruined everything!! We didn’t even want kids, you were just left to us! We never wanted you!” We never wanted you. Were all these years a lie? Was he ever loved? Why did they keep him if they never wanted him? Question after question went through his mind, but his thoughts were cut off by more hurtful words from someone he had thought loved him. “Now I’m stuck with you without Ben!” She cried. “He was everything to me!!” Tears still slid down her face as she yelled, “You are nothing!” She shouted straight at the boy before running to her room and slamming the door. 

You are nothing. That was the first time he heard that sentence, but not the last. 

______________

After he became Spider-Man he could pretend he had a purpose. He could pretend that he is wanted and needed, even if it’s just to save people he didn’t know that would never learn who was behind the mask. But then again, who was behind the mask? No one, he was nothing. Spider-Man gave him life again, proved that he could be useful and he had a place in this world. 

After Tony recruited him he felt really and truly wanted, even if it was just Spider-Man and not Peter Parker. Still, wanted is wanted. He felt needed and he reveled in it. Things started to look up. But as always, when things seem to look up there was always a fall waiting to happen.

This fall came with the near sinking of the ferry. Tony took the suit and with it went Peter’s last hope of being wanted and being useful. Now he was a shell, a hollow shell. No longer Spider-Man and no longer even Peter really. 

He knew he couldn’t let people die even if he was no longer a hero. He knows Vulture’s plan and he can’t let it happen. Stopping the Vulture will be his final mission in life. 

_____________

He tried to be discreet and secretive about his plan to bring the Vulture down, act like everything is normal, but even with that, things fell apart. 

He went to school like normal and somehow ended up with a date to Homecoming, he’s still not sure how that happened. Why would anyone ever want to go with him? But he was happy about it. A feeling he feels less and less these days. He goes home and tries to be the epitome of a good son , but still gets shouted at and talked down to. He’s used to it though. Nothing new. Nothing he doesn’t deserve. 

He goes to pick up his Homecoming date just to find out that her father is the one and only Vulture. By the crazed look in the man’s eyes, the man that would in normal circumstances look like a regular old soccer dad, he had figured out Peter’s identity as well. 

Somehow this encounter ended up with him ditching his date, sorry Liz, fighting the Vulture, and getting stuck under a building. He debated whether the weight that was crushing him was heavier than the weight of his life and all that has happened; everyone he let down. He decided they were about equal. He honestly mulled over not trying to get out. Let this be the end. A spectacular failure of an end just like he himself. But if he did die there he would not be able to save Mr. Stark’s tech and many people’s lives. He pushed the concrete up as hard as he could, screaming at the effort it took until it all fell and crumbled behind him. He swung off into the night to take down the Vulture once and for all. 

The next bit was a blur. Mr. Stark’s plane taking off. The Vulture following it. Peter hitching a ride by web. Sticking to the plane as it flew high in the clouds. The Vulture coming after him. The plane crashing. Fire everywhere. Saving the very man he was hunting down. And finally, swinging away and sitting on top of a rollercoaster as he watched the arrest and clean-up. 

So this was it, he had fulfilled his last mission. His purpose is done. He doesn’t want to go back to being nothing, even if that is who he is. So, if he is nothing, if he is not needed or wanted, if he’s useless and a waste of space, then he won’t be anymore. He won’t take up space and he won’t be a burden. 

After making sure the Vulture was in good hands he swung to a high building nearby and stood on the roof. He looked out at the city he called home, but it didn’t bring him joy the way it used to. He just feels hollow now, empty, just like Ben’s eyes looked when he died. He sometimes feels he had died along with Ben. Peter Parker’s been gone for a long time. The minute the officer closed that door his life was over, he was shown the truth. He is a useless murderer and no matter how much he tries to make up for Ben’s death he can’t. He is wasting May’s time and money, his face brings her nothing but misery. He is not worth it. He is nothing. 

He pulls out his phone and gives three final texts.

First, he texts Ned. His long-time best friend that has been one of the only reasons he’s held on this long. Ned, thank you for everything. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for being my Guy in the Chair. Thank you for, just being you. I’m sorry I have to do this, but maybe it is for the best. You can find new and better friends. I never deserved a friend like you. I love you man. He presses send. 

He then texts Tony, Mr. Stark, thank you for giving me a chance even though I didn’t deserve it. Still, thank you for shining some light and bringing hope back into my life even if it was for a short time. I’m sorry I bothered you and disappointed you. Thank you for everything Mr. Stark. He presses send.

As he was going to find his next contact to text, his screen lit up with a call from none other than Tony Stark. He declined and went back to his last task. He scrolled down in his text conversations to find May. It’s not like she’ll care, why would she, but he still feels a need to apologize again. Even though that’s basically all he had done for the past two years, apologize while she yelled. May, I’m sorry for causing you nothing but trouble. I’m sorry you were stuck with me. I’m sorry that Ben died because of me. I will never be able to express how sorry I am, but maybe this last decision will show you that I don’t want to be a burden to you. Hopefully this will show you a faction of my regret. 

Tony tried to call again, but Peter was done. He declined and turned his phone off. He put the device on the ledge as he stepped on to it. His legs are a bit shaky from the injuries he sustained from the crash. But the pain was barely existent. He felt numb, just like how he has felt for the majority of his life since Ben passed. He looked out at the yellow lights shining in the distance. He thought about Ben’s last words, With great power comes great responsibility, And what has he done with this power and responsibility? Nothing good. Just caused trouble and let people down. He took a breath as a tear slipped down his cheek. This is it. 

____________

Tony was in his lab trying to think of what to say to the kid when he saw him next. He thought of his own words,  but they were directed towards himself this time, Sorry doesn't cut it. Sorry will not be enough to make it up to the boy. He ignored him, talked down to him, took his suit, and yet the kid still went after the threat that Tony was too proud to look into. The boy took down the Vulture saving hundreds of lives and saved his tech as well. He grossly underestimates the boy and he regrets it. He needs to apologize, give back the suit, and he is even thinking of offering Peter a spot on the team. 

Happy looked for him at the crash sight, but he was nowhere to be found. Tony hopes he’s okay, there was a lot of damage and he knows there is almost a 0% chance Peter walked away unscathed. But still, he swung away meaning he was okay enough to do that. 

It was then that Tony heard his phone buzz. It happened to be the same kid he was deep in thought about. He smiled hoping to get a text saying that he was okay and maybe set up at a time to meet up and have a lab day. That is not what he found though. 

Tony read the first sentence and immediately his smile turned into a frown. Mr. Stark, thank you for giving me a chance even though I didn’t deserve it. The words hurt the man physically. He did that. He made the boy believe he was unworthy. Still, thank you for shining some light and bringing hope back into my life even if it was for a short time. I’m sorry I bothered you and disappointed you. Thank you for everything Mr. Stark. 

The whole text made Tony’s already mosterouse guilt double inside. But what caught his eye the most was the last sentence. Something about the Thank you for everything Mr. Stark, s ounded so final. His stomach twisted in worry. He immediately called the kid. After two rings he was sent to voicemail and his anxiety rose. 

“FRIDAY, track Peeter’s phone.” He said looking up.

“Mr. Parker is currently on the roof of a highrise in Brooklyn.” Her mechanical voice answered. 

That did not sit right with Tony, Yes the kid had web shooters and was often on high buildings, but something felt off. That text had his mind reeling. Without realizing it he had called his suit and it was morphing around him. The next thing he knew he was in the sky trying to call the kid again. After one ring it went to voicemail. He tried again and this time it went straight to voicemail, Peter had turned his phone or. He ordered FRIDAY to make the suit go faster, his anxiety ready to turn into an attack at any moment, but he had to hold it together until he knew what was happening. Until he knew Peter was safe.

He got closer and closer to the building and he could see a figure standing on the roof. Wait, no, not the roof, the ledge! Tony’s eyes went wide, his heartbeat was in his ears. No, no no no. He put 100% into his thrusters and just before the boy stepped off Tony slammed into him with force enough to hurt. He turns his body around so they both land in the center of the roof, the majority of the impact on Tony’s suit-covered back as he held his arms around the boy.

Peter was thrashing in his grip screaming, “No, no! Let me go!!”

“No can do kiddo.” He said with a grunt as he held the enhanced kid in his metal arms. His voice came out mechanical as his faceplate was still up from the flight. 

“Let me go! I’m not worth it! I’m nothing, I’m nothing!” He cried, every word tearing Tony’s heart to pieces. 

Tony’s mind flashed back to Peter’s words when he took the suit. I’m nothing without the suit! Tony started to realize just how heavy those words were. He didn’t see it before, but Peter believed those words fully and he had fed into this belief by taking his one sense of safety and self. Peter was still thrashing wildly in his arms, trying to break free, but Tony held strong. He was not about to let Peter go, not knowing that he might never get him back. Letting him walk away weeks ago was a gigantic mistake, he wasn’t about to do it again. He lowers his face plate as he speaks, “You are worth it Peter!” He tried to get through to him, but Peter just kept fighting.

“No, I’m not!! I ruin everyone’s life! I’m a waste of space, a burden! I am nothing!!” 

Tony felt tears come to his eyes at the boy’s words. How could Peter actually think what he’s saying is true? “Why would you say that Peter? Who told you that, because it’s not true.”

“Yes it is!” Peter cried but his movements were getting weaker. He was still injured from earlier tonight and the adrenaline was finally leaving him. 

“It’s not,” Tony said firmly, “You are brave and kind and good. You deserve more than the world has given you. You deserve more than the way I treated you. You are not nothing, you are Spider-Man.” Peter had stopped fighting, but he didn’t say anything. “You are Peter Parker.” Tony finished. 

Peter had slumped in his arms, but tears still streamed down his cheeks. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t say he believed Tony or not. 

Tony swore to any deity listening that he would prove to Peter that he deserved the world and more. He would show the boy in his arms that he was the one in the wrong and that it was he who needed forgiveness. He held the kid and promised to show him the love he is so sorely missing in his life. Tony will not let Peter Parker go, not now, not ever. 

Chapter Text

Peter officially gave up, the adrenaline crash too much. He slumps in Tony’s metal arms, all the fight leaving him. Leaving him feeling the way he always feels these days…numb. 

Tony had no words. He didn't know what to say, this was partly his fault. His fault for walking away and not even checking on the kid. He was swimming in guilt, but he had to keep his head above water until he knew that Peter was okay. At least physically. The mental part, the harder part, will take longer than the superficial wounds, that Peter sustained from the fight, to heal; much longer. Will they ever fully go away? Who knew, but one step at a time. “All right, time to go. Let's get you to the medbay and fix you up.” He tried to keep his voice light, but the weight of everything that had just happened made itself known by the waver in his usually steady tone.

Peter said nothing, just stared straight ahead. He failed. He had failed at everything, even ending his own life. He was truly worthless. “Peter?” He could hear Tony talking to him, but he tried to tune it out, tune everything out. He was maneuvered by the iron arms to where he was facing the man within said iron. “Kid, can you hear me?” Tony’s face plate was up and his expression was creased with concern, concern Peter did not believe he deserved. 

Tony looked at the boy who seemed to stare right through him. A  ghost of the energetic bubbly boy he knew not even a month ago. The man sighed and started to get up, a steady hand on Peter's shoulder to make sure the boy wouldn’t topple over the second he let go. He then crouched down, “I’m gonna pick you up so we can head to the tower, is that okay?”

Peter nodded almost mechanically. Although he didn’t want to listen, but he also didn’t want to be rude and not answer his mentor… his ex-mentor. He doesn’t deserve the title of mentee after he disappointed the mechanic, again. 

Tony tried to give the boy a reassuring smile, but it was visibly forced. He then put one arm behind the kid’s back and under his knees and lifted him up, the suit doing most of the work. “We’ll get you fixed up and back to May in no time.” Tony saw the kid tense at his aunt’s name and he eyed the boy with worry. Peter said nothing though, Tony sighed again and then took off. 

____________

When they got to the tower Tony took Peter immediately to the medbay. He knew the kid was probably fine, he could see some scrapes and bruises, maybe one or two that possibly need a few stitches, but other than that he miraculously came out in one piece… physically. Still, better safe than sorry. He introduced Helen Cho to the slightly catatonic teen who looked him over and gave him some pain meds and ice packs, as well as prescribed rest. 

Tony led Peter, who walked beside him almost automatically when he told the kid to follow him. He had him sit on the couch and handed him a throw blanket while he went to make some hot chocolate. He would have preferred coffee, but it was late and he was trying to be a good influence. Something he has not been for the boy up until now. He had the kid fight his own battles, ignored him, and got him injured. He wanted to do better. Although he had told Peter, I wanted you to be better , he was a hypocrite, because it was himself who he wanted to be better. His words just keep coming back to haunt him. 

Once the hot chocolate was done he went back to the couch. Peter was still sitting where he left him, blanket in hand. He had not moved an inch. His demeanor was eerily different from the boy he had recruited. The talkative hero who always had a quip to say was completely silent and unmoving now. Tony put the mugs on the table and sat down next to Peter, still leaving space between them. “How are you doing kiddo?” Peter said nothing. Tony tentatively reached out a hand and put it on the kid’s shoulder. Peter turned to look at him, instead of straight at the wall like he had been. The fog seemed to clear a bit from his eyes. 

“Mr. Stark, I-” He choked on his words, unshed tears filling his eyes to the brim. “I-I’m so s-sorry.” And the floodgates opened and tears streamed down his face like a never ending waterfall of grief. 

Tony quickly closed the distance and wrapped his arms around the sobbing boy. “No Peter, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, I’m sorry I took your suit, and I’m so sorry that I just left you.” He hugged the kid tight like he was worried he would lose him… he was though. He is terrified that if he lets go, lets Peter go again he will never see him again. 

“No, y-you sh-shouldn’t have to d-deal with m-m-me. I’m n-not w-worth it.” he tried to pull away from the older man’s grip, but Tony would not let him go. 

“Yes, you are Peter. You are worth so much more than you think.” Tony said into the boy’s curls which were still disheveled from the winds of New York. 

“No, I’m not.” He said determinately and pushed himself away from Tony using a bit of his super strength, but not enough to hurt the man. “I’m worthless, I’m nothing!” He cried as he got off the couch, stumbled, and fell onto his bottom. Tony reached out for him, but Peter scooted backwards until he hit the wall behind him. He hugged his knees to his chest making himself small.

“Who told you that Peter?” Tony asked, slowly getting up and walking forward like he was approaching a wounded animal that he might scare away. With Peter’s wide bambi eyes staring up at him, he wasn’t that far off. 

“It d-doesn’t matter, it's t-true.” Peter said, his voice still loud but not as much. 

Tony stopped a few feet from Peter and sat down criss-cross applesauce. It was an odd position for the billionaire, one he hasn’t sat in since, maybe grade school, but he wanted to come off unthreatening. “It’s not true Peter.”

“How would you know?” Peter bit out, but immediately felt guilty and squished himself into an even smaller ball. 

“Because you are kind, caring, and the most selfless person I know. And I know a lot of people.” He joked, but it fell short. “Peter, who told you those things?” Peter said nothing. “Do you truly believe them?” Tony asked, afraid to know the answer, yet already knowing at the same time. Peter still said nothing. Tony tried a new tactic, “Why do you believe them?”

Peter thought about this. If he told the truth maybe Tony would finally realize he isn't worth saving. “I-” his voice got caught, but Tony waited patiently, “I’m a murderer.” He whispered and put his head down on his knees not ready to see Tony once again disappointed face. 

Tony did not expect that answer, but he knew something was off. There was no possible way Spider-Man… scratch that, there was no possible way Peter Parker was a murderer. But he needed to know why Peter thought he was, “I don’t understand Peter, can you explain please?” He tried to make his tone soft. 

“I-I killed m-my u-u-uncle.” he stuttered and a new wave of sobs came out. Tony wanted nothing more than to go to the kid and hold him while he cried, but that didn't go very well last time. Instead, he waited patiently, his heart breaking from the grieving boy in front of him. 

“I’m positive that’s not true Pe-” he didn’t get to finish.

Peter whipped his head up, his eyes blazing with anger, but Tony could clearly see it wasn’t directed at him. This fury Peter had in his eyes was aimed at himself. “It was! I fought with him and ran away! He wouldn’t have gotten shot if he didn’t go out looking for me!” He cried, a renewed flow of tears streaming down his face, dripping from his chin.

Everything started to fit together like a dreadful jigsaw puzzle. A puzzle that Peter was missing the final piece of, a piece that showed Peter that it wasn’t his fault. Tony knew it wasn’t, and now he had proof. “Peter, that wasn’t your fault.” 

“Yes, it was!” Tony could see the twisted maze of guilt Peter has lost himself in, one he never thinks he will get out of because he believes he deserves it. 

“Peter-” Again he is cut off.

“It should have been me!” he cried out and that pulverized any shred that was left of Tony’s heart. “May was right, it should have been me!!” Peter put his head back onto his knees, he missed the sudden change in Tony’s demeanor.

A moment ago all that was on Tony’s face was pain, pain for the boy crying out in guilt and grief, but when Peter shouted that last sentence Tony’s face changed. First to shock and horror, because he honestly can’t believe what he just heard. But then it changes to rage. Rage aimed at the one person who made Peter feel responsible for a death, the death of his uncle, his father figure, nonetheless. Rage at the one person who was supposed to love and take care of Peter, May Parker. 

May Parker had done this to the most sincere, caring kid. May Parker had thrown misplaced guilt at an innocent boy who didn’t know better. A child so full of trust in his parental figure that he believed he was responsible for such a gruesome, heartbreaking fatality. Tony doesn’t even know how long Peter has had to live with this guilt, a guilt that doesn’t belong to him. Doesn’t know how long he has been trying to make up for this suffocating culpability that he doesn’t deserve. 

Peter looks up and sees the anger on the mechanic’s face. He misconstrued it, believing it is aimed at him. Believing that he has disappointed the man once again. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he says again and again, over and over. 

Tony can’t take it anymore, he rushes over and holds the kid in his arms. Peter flinches, but then just stays still. Tony has no idea what’s going on in his head, but it can’t be anything good, “Peter, his death was not your fault.” Peter opens his mouth, but Tony stops him, “It doesn’t matter what angle you look at it, it wasn’t on you. May should have never said such an awful, horrible thing, along with all the others that I’m sure she has made you believe.” Tony thinks back to Peter's choice of words… scratch that, May’s choice of words that she pushed on to Peter, I ruin everyone’s life, I’m a waste of space, A burden, I am nothing, I’m not worth it, You shouldn’t have to deal with me, I’m worthless, etc. 

Two sentences rise above the rest in Tony’s head, This is all I have! I’m nothing without this suit! Those two sentences will always come back to haunt him. One, because Peter really and truly believes them. He believes he is nothing without Spider-Man. Nothing without a suit, mask, and alternate persona to hide behind. And two, because he, Tony Stark, genius, didn't see it. Didn't see that those words were a clear call for help. Didn’t truly see the kid until it was almost too late. 

He made a decision as he held the kid, who was fighting just a bit in his grasp, still obviously believing that he doesn’t deserve affection, “You do deserve the suit Peter.” Peter stopped fighting, he stopped moving, just listened, “You deserve so so much more than you were given. It’s May,” Peter tenses physically at the name of his aunt, “who doesn’t deserve you.”

“But she’s all I have,” Peter whispered, his mind flashing back to his only other family dead on the concrete, something he has believed is his fault since the incident.

“That’s not true Peter, you can stay here,” Peter says nothing, Tony amends his words. Peter feels unwanted so he needs to make it clear that he is more than wanted, “I want you to stay here with me.” Peter doesn’t confirm or deny his opinion verbally, but he nuzzles into the embrace just the slightest bit more. That’s all Tony needs for now. First thing in the morning he will ask Pepper for the adoption papers. He will not let Peter go back to a life without love. 

Although Tony has not known Peter very long he had this strange paternal instinct kick in the moment he got that text. He felt like a part of him would be gone if Peter was gone when he saw the boy on that ledge. He honestly wished he had known the kid longer than he has; been there for his first steps, first words, first crush, first everything, but he will try to be there now. No, he will be there now. He had always sworn off the possibility of having kids, he didn’t want to repeat the cycle with his father. He didn’t want to screw up an innocent kid the way Howard screwed him up. But here, holding Peter in his arms, all of those worries washed away. He can’t wait to be there for Peter, through the good times; times where he gets an A on an test, the first time he falls in love, when he gets into college, etc. But he also wants to be there for him when things get tough like his first heartbreak. Even now, as the boy is falling apart in front of his eyes he wants to be there, get him help, and put him back together. 

He holds the kid just a bit tighter, feeling the boy’s tears fall into his shirt. “It’s going to be okay Peter.” He whispers and drops a quick kiss on the crown of the kid’s head and then rests his cheek there. This just felt right. “I’ve got you now.”

Chapter Text

Tony kept holding Peter, both of them against the wall sitting on the ground. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, but that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was Peter, Peter, whose face had now softened, tear tracks starting to dry on his cheeks. His breath had evened out and he looked almost peaceful, that is if someone didn’t know what had happened now a few hours earlier. Tony couldn’t describe the relief he felt when Peter finally settled and fell asleep against his chest. The fact that Peter felt safe enough to let down his guard around the older man meant the world to him, especially after he had failed the boy so spectacularly. Now, it could be that Peter was just exhausted and his body finally gave out, but part of Tony wanted to believe it was the first reason. It was obvious he did not feel safe around May, for good reason, but he can only hope that he can make the kid feel safe here, with him. 

Tony, as gently as possible moved his hands, which were previously holding Peter's back and carding through his hair soothingly, to where he could get a good grip on the boy without jostling him. He kept one arm around his back and put his other under the boy’s knees and lifted him. Tony held in a groan of pain as his knees popped. But, Peter didn’t even weigh that much, so it wasn’t so bad. Tony briefly wondered if this was because of his freaky Spider DNA or because he hasn’t been eating enough. He pushed that thought away for the moment as Peter shifted a bit in his arms, but did not wake up. 

He started walking down the hall debating on what room to put Peter in. He had about a thousand guest rooms to pick from, but in the end, he picked one that was next to his own master bedroom, this way he was close if Peter needed him. He also had a small lab across from that particular guest room, one he barely uses. He plans to use it though, at least for today so he can stay close, not just for Peter’s sake, but for his own peace of mind. 

When he got to the door he nudged it open with his foot. He walked in and strode over to the bed. Carefully he bent down a bit and used the hand under Peter's knees to pull back the comforter. He debated a second before putting Peter on the bed since the kid was still in his suit. Still, he wasn’t willing to change the boy out of it without his permission which was a bit hard to get as he was unconscious at the moment, it wouldn’t kill the boy to sleep in said suit for a bit anyways. He covered the boy who curled subconsciously into the warmth. 

Tony was about to leave when Peter’s hand shot out and grabbed his. He looked down surprised, but the boy’s eyes were closed. Tony tried to pull away again but found that Peter’s hand was stuck. Peter had used his spider powers to stick to Tony in his sleep. It was blatantly obvious the boy was in need of comfort and Tony was not about to deny him. Tony smiled softly down at Peter before he very carefully moved the kid over and sat down on the bed, putting his feet up and bracing his back against the headboard. When he finally settled down Peter started moving. He moved closer to the older hero and pressed himself against the man’s side, laying his head on Tony’s chest, right next to the Arc Reactor. Even though all of this the boy was still fast asleep, seeking comfort and safety. Tony carefully moved one arm so it wrapped around the teen and the other to reach for his pocket. 

He took his phone out and started typing orders into FRIDAY since he couldn’t talk as that would risk waking the exhausted kid. – Lock windows in Guest Room #12 –  Keep Doors in Guest Room #12 unlocked at all times. – Inform me if Peter leaves the Tower. – Inform me if Peter is ever in distress. – Compile a list of Peter’s allergies as well as his favorite foods. – Order all of Peter’s favorite foods to keep in the kitchen. – Order books on parenting a teenager. – Order books on how to help someone with suicidal thoughts – Compile a list of good therapists including some that have worked with enhanced individuals. The list went on and on, trying to cover every basis. 

He didn’t want to invade Peter’s privacy, but he wanted to be careful. He was terrified he would lose Peter. Once he knows Peter is in a better place he will change some of these protocols, but until then, better safe than sorry. 

While FRIDAY started on the neverending list of tasks, Tony switched to texting Pepper. 

Tony: Hey Pep, I need a favor. He typed. 

Pepper: What did you do now? Although it was nothing more than a text he could hear the exasperated tone of the words. 

Tony: Nothing! He typed back defiantly. 

Pepper: What do you need Tony? 

Tony: Adoption Papers. 

Pepper: Excuse me? Is this a joke? Came the response right away. 

Tony: Nope. 

Pepper: For like a dog? She wrote back.

Tony: No, a kid. Ok, Peter did have puppy dog eyes, but still no. 

Pepper: And who may I ask, are you adopting? Also why aren’t you calling me? This seems like quite a serious conversation to be having over text. 

Tony: I don’t want to wake Peter up. Tony answered both questions in one.

Pepper: Peter Parker? 

Tony: The one and only. He typed back.

Pepper: Tony he has an aunt.

Tony: I am well aware and I will not let him go back to her. Tony’s brows creased in anger at the thought of May Parker. 

Pepper: Why? He could picture Pepper's face changing from annoyed exasperation to confusion and worry. 

Tony: She’s been abusing him. The words physically hurt to type.

Pepper: She’s been hurting him? She questioned back, the words somehow making the thin sleek phone in his hand feel heavier. 

Tony: Emotionally, yes. At least that’s all I know about. 

Pepper: Alright, I understand, but Tony you have to understand that emotional abuse is much harder to prove to a court than physical abuse. It will be harder to get custody of him. 

Tony: Yeah, well, I have proof, but we can’t show it to just anyone. Tony answered. 

Pepper: What proof? Again he could picture her eyebrows creasing with skepticism. 

Tony: You know how Fury made us put cameras in our suits after certain PR disasters? 

Pepper: Vividly. 

Tony: Well, I have footage of Peter almost stepping off of a highrise in Brooklyn.

Pepper: What? He could just picture her covering her mouth with one hand at the shock.

Tony: Yeah. Is all he wrote as he knew the former question was not a question at all.

Pepper: Is he okay?

Tony: No. Tony sighed as he looked down at Peter, still pressed against his side, his hands sticking to his clothes as a nonverbal way to say, please don’t leave me.

Pepper: Right. That was a stupid question.

Tony: It’s alright, I get it, believe me. The problem is, we can’t show the footage to a jury. 

Pepper: Why not?

Tony: He was in his suit.

Pepper: I see. Well, we can show a judge if they sign an NDA. I will write one up. From there we can decide whether having a whole jury sign NDAs would work or if we can skip the jury altogether. 

Tony: Thanks Pep. He knew it was impossible, but he tried to will as much sincerity as he could into those two mechanical words as they were delivered to her phone.

Pepper: It’s no problem Tony, but I have to warn you, that footage might not be enough for them to take away custody. 

Tony: It should be if they listen to what the kid says. It broke my heart Pep. And if he agrees, hopefully Peter will testify against his aunt or at least give a statement. 

Pepper: I understand. Send me the video and I will draw up the papers including the NDA about his identity. 

Tony: Thank you so much.

Pepper: No problem, just, take care of him.

Tony: I will, I promise.

He meant it, he really and truly meant it. He took a long breath as he put the phone down on the nightstand beside him. He then wrapped his other arm around Peter. If possible Peter nuzzled into his hold even more. Tony smiled down softly at the boy yet still sadly before he let his head fall back and closed his eyes. It was obvious Peter wasn’t waking up any time soon, he might as well get some rest too. Tony held the kid close as he let himself succumb to sleep after a long emotionally draining day. 

__________

Peter awoke feeling warm and… safe. That’s not right. He usually wakes to the feeling of dread, to numbness that has taken over his soul. “Morning Pete.” He heard as well as felt the vibration of the voice against his ear. That tone was not only lower than Aunt May’s, but it was soft, nice. Nothing like the seething angry voice he would wake up to. Nothing like the loud shouts at him and everything he does wrong, which is, well, everything. 

He’s confused and lifts his head from where it was laying right next to a warm blue light. He looks up to see Tony Stark above him, not just above him, but actually holding him. He shoots up breaking the hold Tony had on him, his eyes wide as he backs away from Tony on the giant bed he somehow ended up on. “I’m sorry.” He says quickly, still scooting back.

“Pete, hey, it-”

He doesn’t let Tony finish, “I’m sorry.” He says again, but then he backs up too far. The bed has a headboard and four towering bed posts, but no back. Peter suddenly backs up too far and falls off the end of the bed.

“Peter!” Tony is up in an instant making his way quickly around the bed. “Peter, are you okay?” He asks hastily crouching down so he is not hovering over the poor boy. 

“I’m sorry Mr. Stark, I don’t know what happened. I-I don’t know why I bothered you. I-”

“Whoa whoa whoa, slow down kiddo.” Peter’s breathing is fast and harsh, “I brought you here. I want you here.” He reminds the kid.

Peter pauses thinking back, and that’s when the events of the day before suddenly hit him. “Oh god,” Peter says.

“Peter?” Tony says hesitantly.

“I-I should have never sent that text,” Peter whispers. 

“What?” Tony says, taken aback. 

Peter finally looks into Tony’s eyes, “I shouldn’t have bothered you. I shouldn’t have put that on you.” 

“Peter, listen, I am immensely glad you texted me. If you hadn’t I-”

“It would have worked.” Peter finishes the sentence, but in the most twisted horrible way he could.

“No,” Tony says defiantly. “I wouldn’t have been able to get to you and help you.”

“You can’t help me.” Peter's voice is now much quieter. 

“I can if you let me.” Tony offers, his crouched position starting to hurt, but he pays his aching joints no mind.

“I’m not worth it.” 

Tony’s heart broke again, it felt like every time Peter said one of those self-deprecating sentences it cracked further. It’s like their conversation yesterday never happened. But then again, one conversation, one day, was by no means going to fix months, maybe even more, of May’s words and actions. One day was one particle of a whole picture compared to what created this monster of guilt that seems to have consumed the small boy in front of him. “Yes, you are Peter. I know you don’t believe me, but you will.”

Peter shook his head as tears came into his eyes, but he didn’t want to let them fall. Instead, he blinks the sadness away and starts to stand. “I’m sorry I bothered you Mr. Stark, I should be going home. May will be worried.” Peter swallowed past the lie.

Tony stood up too, his knees popping. He looked at the boy sadly. He didn't want to say the next sentence, but he knew avoiding the truth was not the way to go, “We both know that’s not true.” The dam broke and tears slid down Peter’s face so fast they started to drip onto the floor from his chin. He goes and wraps Peter into yet another tight hug. Peter flinches but doesn’t pull away, Tony wonders how long it’s been since he’s been hugged by a parental figure, other than by himself, “I’m not letting you go back there Peter. May does not deserve you… heck, I don’t even deserve you, especially after the way I treated you, but I will do everything I can to make it up to you and to somehow find a way to deserve you.” He drops a kiss onto Peter’s head and sways the two of them gently from side to side as Peter cries into his shoulder. 

After a while Peter’s sobs started to dissipate. “You want breakfast.”

“I-I don’t want to bother you.” he hiccuped.

“You’re not bothering me Pete, I promise.” Peter didn’t seem to believe him. “I need to eat too, you know. Everyone does. And you, with your enhanced metabolism, need to eat even more.” Peter still said nothing and Tony sighed inwardly. “Alright, well I’m going to make breakfast for both of us no matter what.” He stepped back and he could have sworn he heard the kid whimper at the loss of contact, but it was so small he wasn’t sure. “Give me one second okay?” Peter nodded and Tony gave him a smile before turning and leaving the room.

He went to his room and grabbed some clothes including sweatpants, an old band T-shirt, and one of his MIT sweatshirts, and returned to the guest bedroom, scratch that, Peter’s room. “Here,” He held out the folded clothes.

“I don’t want to-”

“Peter, I want you to wear them. They might be a bit big, but the sweatpants have drawstrings that you can pull, tie, and make tighter.” They both did nothing for a moment, Tony holding out the clothes and Peter looking at him skeptically. Finally, when Peter realized Tony was not going to back down he took the clothes from him.

Tony smiled, “Alright, you go shower and change and I’ll make breakfast. You know where the kitchen is right?” Peter nodded. “Great, I’ll see you out there once you're ready.” He clapped a hand on Peter’s shoulder, gave it a quick squeeze of encouragement, and then turned and left. 

______

Tony was just finishing up making breakfast when Peter walked in. Tony’s MIT sweatshirt seemed to swallow the boy as it was at least two sizes too big and his curls were still a bit damp from the shower, a slightly darker brown than usual. “Hey kid, Breakfast is almost ready, why don’t you have a seat,” Tony said gesturing to one of the stools against the center island from his place by the stove. 

Peter quietly took a seat as Tony finished cooking. When he was done he placed a plate in front of Peter filled with, “Blueberry waffles?” Peter questioned looking up at Tony.

“Yeah, they’re your favorite right?” Tony asked, a little unsure.

“Uh, yeah, h-how did you know that?” Peter looked like he was in awe.

“FRIDAY told me.” Tony shrugged like it was nothing, but really, it meant the world to Peter.

“How did she know?” He asked.

Tony turned back to make himself a plate, “Not sure actually.” Tony sometimes believes FRIDAY is smarter than him, but he would never admit it. Once Tony had his plate and coffee in hand he went to sit next to Peter who was still staring at him and the plate in shock. “I can make you something else if you don-”

“No!” Peter said quickly, a bit too quickly. “I mean, I love them. Thank you.”

“It’s not a problem kid, happy to make them for you any time.” Tony smiled lightly, not really understanding the weight of what he just did.

He was about to take a bite when Peter spoke up again, “No really Mr. Stark,” Tony paused and looked to the kid, “Thank you. Th-This means a lot.”

Tony’s eyes softened, “Your welcome Peter.” He then ruffled the boy’s still slightly damp curls, “Now eat up.”

Chapter Text

In the middle of Breakfast, they both heard a ding from the elevator signifying that someone else was on their floor. Tony had changed the protocol so only he, Peter, Happy, Rhodey, and Pepper could come up to the Penthouse without explicit permission from himself. By the click-clack of heels against the floor Tony knew it was Pepper who was coming down the hall. 

“Pep!” Pepper came to a stop at the doorway and smiled, “Want some blueberry waffles?”

“I’m okay Tony, thank you.” She then looked at Peter, “Hello Peter.” she said in a kind warm voice.

“H-Hi Ms. Potts.” Peter gave a small smile. 

Tony and Pepper are dating, but she stays at her own apartment most of the time, no matter how many times Tony offers her a room here, even a floor. She does stay the night sometimes, but for appearance’s sake, they for the most part keep things looking professional. Yes, the paparazzi speculates, but no use fueling that fire if they don’t have to. Pepper likes her romantic relationship with Tony to remain private, away from prying eyes. 

Pepper walked closer and started rummaging through her bag. “Here are the papers you asked for Tony.” Tony takes them, but eyes Peter a bit worriedly. Pepper then realizes that Tony has not discussed this decision with the kid yet. She smiles, “I should be going. I have a lot of meetings today and work to do.” She excuses herself so they can have some privacy, but not before fixing Tony with a look that silently says, tell him.

Tony gives her a nod so she knows he understands, “Bye Pep.”

“Bye M-Ms. Potts.” Peter awkwardly waves. Pepper smiles once more before turning. The click of her heels gets softer and more distant the further she walks back down the hall until they stop completely as they hear the elevator doors close. 

Peter eyes the papers in Tony’s hand but doesn’t ask. Doesn’t think it’s any of his business. Tony sets the papers beside himself and turns so he faces Peter “Listen kiddo, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” 

Peter pauses, fork halfway to his lips. He lowers it back down to the plate and turns to Tony. The man looks serious and Peter is worried he did something wrong. He always does something wrong. “Sorry.” He says, trying to fix whatever he must have done.

Tony’s eyebrows furrow, “For what?”

“I don’t know.” Peter looks down.

“You’re not in trouble Peter. You didn’t do anything wrong.” That would be a first , the boy thinks but says nothing. Tony cautiously looks at the kid but continues. “I wanted to discuss what happens next.”

“What do you mean?” Peter asks looking back up.

“I mean,” Tony thinks about how to go about this, “how we proceed with custody and your living situation.”

“May has custody and I live with her, what is there to talk about?” Peter asks, once again seeming to forget their earlier conversations.

“Peter, I told you, I’m not letting you go back there,” Tony said, his voice stern but not harsh.

“I kind of have to Mr. Stark. As I said, she’s my legal guardian.” 

“Not for much longer if I can help it.” Tony says, rage filling his being at the thought of May Parker.

“I don’t think you understand how the law works Mr. Stark. If I stay here you could get in trouble.” The last thing Peter wants is for Tony to get in trouble for hiding him here. To the law, it will look like kidnapping more than keeping him safe.

“You let me worry about that.” Peter frowns, “But you are right, legally, I am not your guardian, but if you let me, I would like to be.” He slides the stack of papers over to the boy with a soft smile on his lips. 

Peter stares at them incomprehensibly. He just can’t wrap his head around the one word that shines above the rest, Adoption. “This is a joke right?” 

Tony’s smile immediately falls. “No.” He says, not understanding. Did Peter think he was tricking him? Did Peter not want to be Tony’s son? 

“You want to adopt me?” he said it like it was the most preposterous thing in the world. 

“Yes,” Tony says., but his voice is a bit more unsure than before.

“Broken, orphan, poor, Peter Parker?” He says incredulously.

“I wouldn’t use all those words, but yes. You are not broken by the way.”

Peter quietly scoffs, but his eyes have not left the first page of the papers. “You want to adopt me?” he asks again, his mind spinning with how absurd this sounds.

“Yes,” Tony states with more confidence.

“On purpose?” Peter asks, finally looking at Tony. 

“Of course,” Tony immediately replies, “why wouldn’t I?” Tony can’t think of a reason why he wouldn’t want Peter as his son. Yes, they had a rough patch, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t and doesn’t care. He wished Peter believed that, wished he didn’t give Peter a reason to not believe that. 

“Why would you?” Peter counters. Tony opens his mouth to give a never-ending list of all the reasons he would want to, but Peter doesn’t let him. “May and Ben didn’t choose me, they were stuck with me. They were chosen because my parents named them in their will. They didn’t want me, nobody wants me.” Peter looks back down, the familiar sting of tears enveloping his eyes.

“I want you.” The words are out before Tony can even think, not that he would ever take them back. 

Peter looks at Tony with confused, sad, lost eyes brimming with tears. “Why? I’m nothing, I’m worthl-”

“Don’t finish that sentence, because it is not true Peter. You are kind, intelligent, caring, heroic, funny, and just amazing all around. Although you might be able to, I can’t think of one reason why I wouldn’t want you as my son.” 

Son. Something about that measly three-letter word strikes Peter harshly. He hasn’t been someone's son for years. Not since his parents died. He was close to a son to Ben and he thought May, but they had never used those words. Nephew. Although Nephew has way more letters than Son, Son still sounds heavier. Son, feels out of reach to Peter. The older he has gotten the farther he has been distanced from that word. “Son,” Peter says out loud without meaning to.

“Yes, son,” Tony says as he watches the boy carefully. The word is said with such sincerity that Peter wants to break down again right there. He holds it in though, no one wants a crybaby as a son. If he falls apart again Tony will realize asking for this is a mistake. Part of him thinks he should just break down, prove to the man that he is not worth it. Another part wants to stay strong, stay in this fantasy where he might actually be wanted. “You can think about it if you want,” Tony states as he watches the inner turmoil happening in Peter’s head. For now, he can just try to get legal guardianship. Adoption can come later if that is what Peter wants. 

As he watches Peter war with himself silently he knows he has to show Peter he is serious. Prove to the boy that he can trust him. One night is not going to fix the trust he broke, and he is naive if he ever thought it would. At the start of their relationship, Peter had blindly trusted the older man. He literally followed him into a war he had nothing to do with. Tony didn’t realize until now how lucky and privileged he was to have that unwarranted trust from the boy. When he took the suit and left Peter to the wolves, his aunt, he broke that trust. No, he crushed that trust under his iron boot. He now has to find a way to mend it and earn the trust he never deserved back.

Peter was still staring at the papers trying to comprehend what was being asked. “How about we finish breakfast and then we can work in the lab for a bit.” He slides the paper’s away, but not out of sight, just so Peter doesn’t think he has changed his mind. 

Once the Papers leave Peter’s eyesight he snaps back to reality. He nods and continues to eat.

After Tony makes another two more waffles and puts them on Peter’s plate the boy looks at him quizzically, “You need to eat more, I can tell you are not eating enough for your metabolism.” Peter opens his mouth and then shuts it, unsure if he wants to fight back as his stomach is still begging for more sustenance. He’s used to it, but it’s different when you have the food right in front of your eyes, the smell making it painfully hard to ignore. “I made them for you, so if you don’t eat them they will go to waste.” Tony knows it’s a low blow. He knows Peter would never want to waste Tony’s food and money, and yet the mechanic doesn’t feel too bad. Once Peter gets his weight up a little more he can feel bad for the slight manipulation, but not while he can see and feel the kid’s ribs poking out. 

He knows May does not have a lot of money, that she works double and triple shifts for the money she does have. He doesn’t blame her for Peter not getting enough food, especially because she doesn’t know about his metabolism or any of his powers, but he does blame her for everything else. Although by the looks of it, Peter hasn’t had anything cooked specifically for him for a long time, that is on May. No matter how bad her cooking may be there is just something so personal and comforting from a home-cooked meal. It doesn’t have to be every day or even every week, but once in a while does a lot. This is proven by the way Peter looks at the blueberry waffles with such admiration. It doesn’t even have to be home-cooked per se, just something meant for the boy, something the boy enjoys. Not needs, but wants. 

As Peter starts on the two waffles Tony just gave him he gets a call from an unknown number. Usually, he would ignore it, but it could possibly be a lawyer Pepper hired to help Peter’s case. So he steps away with a promise to be right back. He moves far down the hall, trying to get out of earshot from Peter, which can be a challenge with his enhanced hearing. He goes all the way to his room and shuts the door. “Hello.”

“Hi, Mr. Iron Man sir?”

A young voice is on the other line. Tony’s eyebrows furrow. “Who is this and how did you get this number?” He says authoritatively, but not super harshly as there is obviously a child on the other end of the line. 

“Uh, this is Ned.. Ned Leeds sir,” There is a pause and Tony wracks his brain for the name, “Peter Parker's best friend.” 

Right, Ted , Ned. “Yes, of course, what can I do for you, Ned?”

“Um, I-I’m sorry to bother you sir, but, I’m just really worried and didn’t know who to call.” The boy paused his fast rant and takes a breath, “I tried to call May but she declined my calls.” Anger shoots through Tony but he stills it to listen to the boy who continues speaking. “Anyway, I got this text last night from Peter, of him basically saying,” another shaky fast breath, “s-saying goodbye.” Shit, Tony didn't think about the fact that Peter sent a text to people other than himself, which now that he thinks of it was very narcissistic of him. “He’s been struggling a lot lately and I can’t find him anywhere. I called him but his phone is off which also means I can’t track him. I’m really worried and I don’t know who else to turn to, I-”

“He’s safe.” Tony cuts in, trying his best to comfort the distraught boy. 

“don’t know what to- wait what?” Ned asks, his ramble stopping abruptly.

“I got to him in time.” He hears a sob on the other side of the phone realizing that Ned, being as smart as he is, easily put the text and Tony’s last sentence together to paint a horrific picture. A picture of how close he was to losing his best friend. 

“I-Is he okay?” Ned practically whispers.

Tony looks behind him toward the door that leads to the hallway to Peter. “No, but he will be, I’ll make sure of it.”

“I-I don’t want to make this harder on you Mr. Iron Man Sir,” Tony smirks at the title, “but I don’t think Peter should go home to May.” The smile is quickly wiped off his face. Is he the only one who didn’t know? “She’s not very nice to him,” that’s putting it mildly, “not since Ben passed.”

“How long ago was that?” Tony asks, afraid to hear the answer.

“A little under two years I believe sir.”

Two years.

Two years of being put down and told you are worthless. He wonders how on earth the kid had been so upbeat at the start of knowing him. It just proved that being wanted and being Spider-Man was all the boy had. Tony had torn both those things cruelly from the kid without even batting an eye at the time. 

“He’s not going back,” Tony states, a darkness in his voice as he thinks about the last two years and all that Peter must have gone through. 

“Good, good.” Ned says. Ned reminds Tony a bit of Rhodey. Rhodey was always there for him even when he messed up. He was always on his side and right with him whenever Howard decided to be an asshole. Ned was doing the same for Peter with May. Ned was a true friend. 

“I’ll let him know you called and if he’s up to it I’ll see if he can text or FaceTime you,” it’s then that Tony realizes that Peter’s phone is still on the roof of that highrise. He’ll have Happy go grab it. 

“Thank you, sir, please,” The boy pauses, but Tony is patient, “please take care of him. I know it’s not your job," No, it was May's job, but it should have been privileged, "but… h-he doesn’t have anyone else… adult wise.”

“I promise to take care of him, Ned, I won’t let anything happen to him.” God, he hopes he can keep that promise. 

“Thank you.” The two words sound like a breath of relief as Ned says them.

“You don’t need to thank me. Don’t be afraid to text me if you are worried about him or if you need anything.”

“Oh, w-wow, um, y-yes sir.”

Tony smiles at the slight stutter, “You’re a good friend for calling.”

“Th-thank you.”

“No problem, it’s true. I’ll message you soon with an update on Peter.” with that he hangs up and walks back out of his room and down the hall to Peter. 

When he gets there he sees Peter’s plate empty and the boy sitting there quietly. “You want any more?” he asks. Peter jumps a bit, not realizing Tony had come back. The mechanic looks concerned at that as Peter should have been able to sense his presents. He pushes that worry aside, he’s in a new place and his powers are probably a bit haywire along with his overwhelming emotions. 

Peter shakes his head at the question.

“You sure? I don’t mind making more.”

“I’m okay, thank you,” Peter says shyly.

“Alright, but if you get hungry just let me know. We can order something or go somewhere or,” he stops, he really doesn’t want to ambush the kid with one million options while he already seems afraid to move or talk without consequence. “Just let me know if you get hungry again okay?”

Peter nods. “Alright, want to go work in the lab?” the older man asks. This time when Peter nods it’s more confident and he can see the slight outline of a smile on the kid’s lips. Tony smiles back, “Alright kiddo, let go.” He says as Peter hops off the stool and quickly puts his dish in the sink. When he comes back Tony puts an arm around his shoulders. Peter, whether it’s intentional or not leans into the contact. 

Chapter Text

On the way down to the lab Tony quickly sends Happy a text about Peter’s phone and the address of the building. 

When they get down to the lab Peter steps aside and keeps close to the wall like he is afraid to be in the way. Tony looks back at him, “Did you have anything in mind that you want to work on?”

Peter shakes his head.

“Ok, well, I was thinking we could make some upgrades on your suit and maybe make some more web fluid.” Tony states.

“M-My suit is upstairs,” Peter states.

Tony knows the suit is here in the lab, but then his mind supplies him with the onesie that kid was wearing last night that he passes off as a suit. The thing is torn to shreds from the crash and fire. “I meant this one,” Tony states as he walks further into the lab and gestures to a display case that has the Spider-Man suit he designed inside. 

“Th-that’s not mine,” Peter whispers sadly, eyes cast down in shame. Shame for not deserving it. 

Tony can feel the guilt inside him threatening to devour him for what he did. “Yes, it is.” Peter says nothing, just keeps looking down. “I should never have taken it away Peter.” Peter still says nothing,  “You deserve it. You earned it.” Something warm sparks in Peter’s chest at the last two sentences. He looks up and his hopefully sad face screams, Really? 

As a way to answer the expression-made question, Tony opens the case, steps aside, and gestures to Peter. “It is yours and always will be.”

Peter hesitantly steps forward, one eye on the suit, one eye on Tony to make sure he is not doing anything wrong. It takes longer than it should for Peter to make his way to the suit, but when he gets there he carefully reaches out a hand. Tony sees the subtle change when Peter’s fingertips brush the fabric. He can almost see the spark in Peter’s eyes come to light again. The spark he saw in the kid when they first met. The spark that had kept him going through everything going on at home. The spark that Tony had extinguished all those weeks ago. The spark that he hopes to kindle and protect until it turns into a blaze that brings Peter back from where he is tucked away in his mind to keep himself safe. 

“H-How do I?” Peter asks, looking from the suit to Tony.

Tony understands and comes over to press a button on the side of the case. The suit then falls from where it had been held up into Peter’s awaiting arms. He looks down at it, his eyes welling with tears. Tears of relief. Tony doesn’t want Peter to use the suit and mask as something to hide behind, but if that’s what he needs to do as he navigates and gets used to this new place and new way of life Tony won’t stop him. He will coax Peter out, the real Peter, at some point, but not until the boy is ready. 

Tony lets Peter take in his suit for a minute before speaking, “I was thinking about adding a stealth mode so you can take down villains without being detected. We can draw out some plans if you’re up for it.”

Peter tears his eyes away from the red and blue fabric. It looks like it takes effort to do so. The fear that this is all fake and that the suit will disappear the moment he looks away still hangs over his head. “You want me to help?”

He asks it like he has not helped Tony in the lab before, which he definitely has. “Yes.” Tony askwers plainly.

“You trust me to help?”

The question takes Tony by surprise just a bit. Of course, he trusts Peter, but then again he hasn’t really shown that lately. What with not looking into the Vulture, taking the suit, and not listening to what Peter’s words were truly trying to say. Trust is a two-way street. Peter is not going to trust Tony again if he doesn’t first show the kid that he trusts him fully. He cannot ask for trust if he is unwilling to give his own. “Yes, Peter. I trust you to help.” Peter’s eyes shift as he looks for dishonesty in Tony’s demeanor. Looking to see if this is a trick. “I trust you to help work on your suit as well as mine.” That gets Peter’s attention. Tony doesn't allow anyone to work on his Iron Man suits, he barely even lets Rhodey touch them. 

“Really?” Peter whispers, still skeptical.

“Really,” the older man tries to put as much sincerity into his answer as he can.

After looking at Tony’s face one more time he is satisfied that the man is telling the truth, “okay.” It's small and quiet,  but it’s something.

Tony smiles, “Alright then, let’s get to work.”

_______

They spent a few hours in the lab working out schematics for this new stealth mode, Peter made some web fluid for his shooters, and Tony showed the boy a bit of how his own suit works. During this time he could see the old Peter start to poke through. His eyes, which were still filled with apprehension, skepticism, and anxiety now had a spark of curiosity and maybe even a sliver of joy in them. He didn’t say much, worried he would say the wrong thing and Tony would get mad and even throw him out, but he nodded along to everything Tony said and it was obvious he was paying attention too. 

Around lunch, Peter’s stomach growled loudly. “You hungry?” Tony asked, turning to the teen who was just now putting the new canisters of web fluid into his web shooters. 

Peter shrugged, but then once again his stomach gurgled unhappily. 

“I think your stomach has its own opinion,” Tony smirked.

“Sorry,” Peter said willing his stomach to stay quiet.

Once again, like it had happened so many times today and yesterday, the smile on Tony’s face vanished into concern, “You have nothing to be sorry for Pete. You are allowed to be hungry and you are allowed to voice your feelings.” Peter wanted to scoff, but he held it in and just nodded in fake understanding. “You want anything in particular?” Peter shook his head. “Alright, hope you like cheeseburgers,” Tony said lightly.

The man turned to look up at the ceiling even though he didn't have to, “FRI? Order my usual from Stella’s diner and add three more cheeseburgers and a boat load of fries, plus two chocolate shakes.”

“Done. The order will arrive in 20 to 30 minutes boss.”

“Thanks baby girl.” He smiled up and then turned back to Peter “You want to pick something to watch for when we eat?” Peter shrugged, “You really have no preference, because if that’s so, then I will be happy to put on Paw Patrol or something.” Peter looked at him in disbelief and then rolled his eyes. It was amazing for Tony to see the sassy spitfire of a kid peek out of the guarded armor he has wrapped himself in. “So that seems like a no to Paw Patrol, so what are you feeling?”

Peter seemed to hesitate, but then spoke up, “Star Wars?”

Tony almost rolled his eyes playfully at that but he doesn’t in fear Peter will take the tease the wrong way. He knows the kid loves Star Wars. “Sure, whatever you want.”

Whatever you want. It was an odd sentence for Peter to hear and comprehend. Just the word Want was confusing. For a long time now he has gotten what he needs and that’s it. Food, a roof, education, and that’s it. He wanted to be Spider-Man, but even that had been taken away, more recently than his other wants, but it had still been gone. Want just feels a bit like a foreign concept now.

Tony watches in concern once again as Peter wars with himself in his head. Tony doesn’t know exactly what he is thinking, not sure he wants to, but he knows whatever it is would probably break his heart, or what’s left of it. “Come on, let's set the movie up so it’s ready when the food arrives.”

Peter snaps out of his thoughts and automatically starts moving along with Tony to go back up to the Penthouse. Tony gathers two throw blankets from a hall closet once they make it to the living room. He hands on to Peter and keeps the other as he directs the boy to sit on the couch. While they wait for the food the elevator dings and Happy comes down the hallway. He has Peter’s phone in hand. “Hey boss, here’s the kid’s phone.” Happy says not seeing Peter yet as Tony went to meet halfway between the halfway and the couch. 

“Thanks Hap,” Tony says as he takes the phone. The phone itself is a mess. The screen is almost completely obliterated with spider web-like cracks. It’s a wonder Peter could even see the screen let alone text people on it. He would get Peter a Stark phone soon, the one that doesn't come out for another month. 

“How’s he doing?” Happy is usually gruff and nonchalant, but Tony can see the worry in his eyes. He has no doubt Pepper got him up to speed on the situation as Tony just hasn't had the time. He hoped she did the same with Rohdey too. It’s not like he wants everyone to know what happened without Peter’s permission, but he knows he will need his own support in supporting Peter. 

“He’s right here if you want to ask him.” He doesn’t want to overwhelm Peter but he also doesn't want to speak for him. 

Happy looks behind Tony to find Peter on the couch. He’s staring at Happy with big eyes swallowed by Tony’s MIT sweatshirt. “Hey Pete.” Happy says, his voice softer than normal.

“Hi,” Peter whispers, “sorry you had to go out of your way to get my phone.” Peter looks down.

“It’s no problem, Peter, I was happy to do it.” Peter nodded minutely but didn’t seem like he actually believed it.

FRIDAY broke the slightly awkward silence that had settled over the three, “The food has arrived and is ascending the elevator now boss.”

“Thanks doll,” Tony says walking past Happy down the hall and getting to the elevators right as the doors open. The bag of food is sitting in the middle of the enclosed space. He picks it up and goes back to the living room with both the food and Peter's phone in hand. 

“It was good to see you Peter.” Happy says, which is very out of character for him, but then again this is a new situation for everyone involved. 

Peter forces a small smile to form and gives a nod. Happy turns around and starts walking to the elevator just as Tony is returning, “I’m heading out now, but let me know if you or Peter need anything.”

Tony can see the sincerity in his friend's eyes, “I will, thanks Hap.”

Tony goes back to the couch, gets out the food, and displays it on the coffee table in front of him and Peter as well as handing the boy his phone. Peter takes it and puts it face down on the table not even looking at it to see if he missed any calls or messages. Tony finds this odd.

"Ned called to see how you are," the man said as he looked from the face-down phone to Peter. "He's worried about you."

"I'll text him later," Peter whispered as he looked down in what appeared to be shame.

Peter did feel shameful. Here he is taking up Tony's time and worrying Ned. He doesn't understand why they are being so nice to him. Don't they understand that I have nothing to offer them? Don't they understand that I am a useless burden? Don't they get that I'm just not worth all this trouble?

Tony looked at the kid in concern. It felt like that was his permanent expression around Peter now. He can see the boy's self-deprecation from here even if it isn't verbal. He reaches out and grabs one of the foil-wrapped burgers and holds it out to Peter. This seems to break the trace as Peter grabs it and smiles in thanks, even though it is obviously strained. Tony gives him a smile back and reaches out for a burger of his own. Once they each have a burger in hand he asks FRIDAY to start Star Wars: A New Hope. 

__________

Halfway into the movie, Tony’s phone goes off. Peter is on his third burger when Tony excuses himself with the promise that he will be back. Like this morning he walks down the hall all the way to his room and shuts the door hoping he is out of earshot from Peter. He’s pretty sure he is with the movie still playing loudly in the living room. 

“Hey Pep,” He answers. 

“Hi, is Peter doing alright?” Pepper asks.

It’s a loaded question if he’s ever heard one. “He’s…” Tony hesitates, “He’s getting there.” is what he settles on.

“I spoke to a judge.” 

“That was fast.” Tony states surprised.

“I have a friend who works in the DA’s office that knows a judge. She pulled some strings for me. I sent over an NDA to sign and as soon as it was sent back with a signature I went over with the video. I didn’t want to send it in case someone else got their hands on it as Peter’s mask was off.”

Tony, not nearly for the first time, is immensely grateful to Pepper for all her foresight. “Okay, and what did the judge say?” Tony asks, holding his breath as he waits for an answer.

Pepper sighs and Tony can feel his shoulders slump, not hopeful for her response. “He said we don’t have enough evidence for a trial.”

“But he saw the footage. He saw Peter was about to…” Tony cuts himself off. He doesn’t want to finish that sentence.

“Yes, but it’s all circumstantial evidence.”

“You heard what he said Pep.” Tony says in disbelief.

“Yes I did Tony and it was nothing short of heartbreaking, but it’s still not enough.” Tony was about to fight her on that but she continues before he can, “There is no proof those words came from May. There is no proof that she is the reason he was up there.”

“She is.” Tony states in a dangerously low voice.

“I know that and you know that, but the video is not enough for others to see that. Not to mention that since he was in his suit someone could claim that he, or Spider-Man, is always on high buildings.”

“Yes, but his words,” Tony emphasized again.

“I know Tony, I do," she did sound sincere, "but we have to look at this from all angles. If we go to court with just this we will fail. It all comes down to one fact.” Tony forces his anger-filled mind to really pay attention to Pepper’s words, “The video might, and that is a big might, show someone that there is a correlation between Peter's words and actions with how he is being raised, but there is no concrete evidence of causation. There is no way to prove, through the video, that he was up there because of May’s behavior and treatment toward him even if there is a connection.” 

Tony is very well-versed in the concept of Correlation vs Causation, especially being in the field of science. It’s harder to understand it though when you do have all the facts, or most of them. When you know there is both correlation and causation. But Pepper is right. A stranger watching that video, no matter how horrifically heartbreaking it is, will not have enough to go on to see causation. Even if Peter testified, which he does not want to make the boy do, it would just be his word against May's. 

After giving a moment for Tony to take in her words she speaks again, her voice softer this time, “I’m sorry Tony.”

“It’s not your fault, thanks for trying Pep.”

“Of course,” she says without a beat. 

“What do we do now?” He asks. 

“I think one or both of us need to speak with May Parker.”

Tony’s blood boils just at the name. He doesn’t even want to be in the same building let alone the same room as her. He is worried about what he might say or do if he sees the person who turned such a bright, happy, rambling kid into the scared, apprehensive, quiet, kid in the living room. But for Peter, he'll do it. “Can we keep Peter out of it?”

“It’s his life, Tony, he should probably know what’s going on. I think he should decide how involved he wants to be.”

Although Tony wants more than everything to shield Peter from all of this; from May, he knows Pepper is right. “Yeah, you're right.” He says even though he never says that. He is almost expecting Pepper to joke around and ask him to say those two words again, but she doesn’t. This is too serious to be joking around.

“Do you want me there when you speak to her?”

“Do you mind?” Tony asks, his voice just a bit uncertain. It would be nice to have her there not just for support but to keep him and his rage toward May in check.

“I don’t.” She assured, “Plus, to exchange guardianship you need two witnesses, I can be one, and if Happy drives you he can be the other. That is if May agrees to sign the papers.”

“Thank you so much, Pepper.” He rarely uses her full name, but he does right now to show how grateful he is towards her.

“Of course Tony. I’m here if you or Peter need anything. For now, I will try to reach out to May. If that doesn’t work I will look up her work schedule and you and I can go to her apartment when she’s supposed to be at home.”

“Sounds good. Thanks again.”

“It’s no problem, really. Just be there for him and make sure he knows he has options when you tell him what’s happening. He can be involved as much or as little as he wants to.” She takes a breath, “Also,”

“Yeah?”

“Please make sure you're taking care of yourself too Tony.” Tony goes to make a retort, but she cuts him off before he can get the first syllable out. “I know you probably want to make a joke right now and say you always take care of yourself, but we both know that’s not true.” Tony slowly closes his mouth, the comeback dying on his tongue, “It’s not just you anymore, you have a child in your care now.” Tony takes a breath, because, wow, he does. He has another human being to take care of and that thought is as joyful, since it’s Peter, as it is daunting. “You have to take care of yourself to be capable of taking care of him. Promise me you’re taking care of yourself because if not I will have Happy and Rhodey come and check up on you.” 

It’s not really a threat. He would be more than happy to spend time with his best friends… scratch that, his brothers, but still he assures her, “I promise.”

“Good.” She takes another breath, “I love you.”

“I love you too.” and with that, he ends the call. 

Tony opens the bedroom door and hurries down the hall to get back to Peter. Having the kid out of sight for even the ten minutes the call took was too much. Too much since the image of Peter stepping off the building is still branded into his brain, and no matter what, it will leave a scar that will never go away. He needs to see with his own eyes that Peter is safe, only then can he take a full breath again.

Chapter Text

Tony makes his way back down the hall to finish the movie with Peter which is now nearing its end. Having Peter back within his sight releases some invisible tension around his chest, allowing him once more to take a full breath. The kid had finished all three burgers and his fries by the time he got back on the couch to finish his own. Peter barely notices his return as he is entranced in the film. Tony knows they have to have a hard conversation once the movie is over and he wills himself to get ready for it. The sooner the better.

Once the credits roll Tony has FRIDAY pause the movie and turn the lights up a bit, but not too much as to not shock Peter’s sensitive senses. “Listen kid, we need to talk.” Peter’s face immediately falls and Tony internally face palms. There were about one million and one ways to start this conversation and somehow he chose just about the worst one possible. It sounds like he’s breaking up with the boy and by the look on his face Peter had the same thought. Tony goes to clarify, “It’s about May.” If anything Peter’s frown deepens, but what can he expect when bringing up the kids' abusive aunt. 

“What about her?” Peter asks in a small voice.

Tony thinks a second before he responds. There are a few things he wants to bring up, “Can I ask you a question?” He starts with, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable.” He adds this on so Peter knows that he is in control. The boy nods warily. “I know some of the things May said to you,” Peter looks down, “but did she ever hurt you… physically I mean?” He has to know, one because he needs to know the best way to help the kid, but also, sadly, it could strengthen their case if they still want to try to bring the custody issue to court.

Peter looks up at him surprised, “No, never!” it comes out more defensive than he thought it would.

Tony is not sure what to think about the tone Peter used. It’s as if he thinks that emotional abuse is no big deal compared to physical abuse. The fact is, sometimes, not always especially since the two can go hand in hand, but sometimes, emotional abuse is worse than physical abuse. Many, if not most, physical wounds heal over time. Emotional scars are just that, scars. Like with visible wounds they fade until they can leave a scar or disappear altogether, but emotional scars can take longer to fade if they ever do. They are and will always be there whether they affect someone anymore or not. Still, that may be a discussion for a different time. 

“Okay,” Tony says gently.

“So does that mean I’m going back with h-her?” Peter asked, his voice low again.

Without a beat Tony replies, “No. I told you I am not letting you go back.” He has told this to Peter many times in the past few days and yet it still hasn’t sunk in. It doesn’t bother Tony though, well of course it does, but he doesn’t mind reminding Peter over and over until the kid finally believes it. 

“But she n-never hurt me.” It was a small waver in his words and yet it spoke volumes. Subconsciously Peter knows what he’s saying isn’t true.

“Maybe not physically, but she hurt you in other ways.” Worse ways. He saved the last part for another time. Peter said nothing. “Pepper and I are going to talk to her.” 

Peter looks at him in surprise. “Why?”

“To see if I can get official custody of you.” Peter nods minutely, but somehow still looks disbelieving. “You can come with us if you would like to.”

“D-Do I have to?”

“No. It is completely your choice.”

“Can I think about it?” He whispers.

“Of course. Pepper is going to call me and let me know when we are going to go over. It will probably be soon.” Peter nods again. “If you don’t come, are you okay with Rhodey coming over to keep you company while we are gone?” Tony chooses his words carefully saying keep you company, Instead of, watch you since I’m still afraid to leave you alone. Peter’s smart though, beyond smart, so Tony knows he probably can read between the lines anyhow. 

Still, even if he does understand the hidden meaning behind the words, he replies, “sure.” 

Tony wouldn’t leave Peter with just anyone, but Rhodey is family. Happy is too, but he will be the one driving as well as one of the witnesses, so he cannot watch over Peter. He hasn’t asked Rhodey yet, that is his next task, but he is almost 100% sure he will have no problem doing this, especially since if all goes well, or as well as something like this can go, Peter will be his nephew.   

“You want to go back to the lab?”

Peter perks up at that, “Yes.” Tony had noticed how Peter enjoys working in the lab more than anything they have done so far at the tower. It’s the closest he has seen him to the boy he met months ago. Bits of the old, energetic nerd, peaking through the scared, traumatized, timid boy that sits before him. 

“Let's go,” Tony says with a smile as he gets up off the couch, his knees creaking at the movement.

___________

While Peter is tinkering with his suit Tony texts Rhodey letting him know the situation and asking if he would be okay watching the kid if Peter decides not to go with him and Pepper. Rhodey, every the amazing friend, replies instantly letting Tony know he will be there in any capacity he needs him in. Tony then updates Ned since he very much doubts Peter has reached out yet. He will ask him about it, but one thing at a time. Top priority right now is getting May out of Peter’s life as smoothly and calmly as possible. The last thing the boy needs is more stress. 

The rest of the night is much like the first half of the day. Working in the lab. Ordering food (pizza this time) and watching a movie (The next Star Wars). By the time the credits roll Peter’s eyes are drooping. Tony gets up and taps the almost asleep boy on the shoulder lightly, “Time for bed Peter.” He whispers.

Peter jolts to full awakeness even though Tony tried to use a gentle voice, “Sorry!” 

It grates on Tony’s heart that Peter’s first thought in awareness is to immediately apologize. “Hey, you're alright kid. I didn’t mean to scare you, I just didn’t want your back to hurt tomorrow since you were falling asleep in a not so comfy position.”

“Oh, sorry.” Peter says, quieter this time.

Tony sighs, “Like I said, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just thought you would be more comfy sleeping in your bed.”

Peter nods his assent and gets up but doesn’t say anything. It’s still odd to see the kid this quiet. Tony wraps an arm around his shoulders as he leads Peter down the hall. He feels the boy lean into him. It could be because he is exhausted, and Tony’s sure that’s what Peter would blame it on, but Tony knows he is also in dire need of physical connection. He relied on Jarvis and his mother for that growing up. Tony’s pretty sure Peter used to rely on Ben and May for that, but who does the kid have now? Tony. He has Tony and the billionaire will make sure Peter knows that. 

To prove this point, even if Peter is a bit too old for it, he tucks the kid in. Peter just stares up at him with wide wary eyes as Tony makes sure the blanket is up to his chin. Eyes that seem to be looking straight into the older man’s soul, searching for some malicious intent or deception. He will find none. “Do you need anything?” Tony asks, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Peter keeps staring at the man’s face as he gives a small shake of his head. The eyes still boring into Tony tell a story. A story of innocences and yet, at the same time, so much wisdom. Wisdom you can only get from experience. Peter is just too young to have had as much experience as the wisdom in his eyes show. 

Tony wishes he could say each and every experience the kid has undergone was filled with warm comforting sunlight and laughter, but he isn’t as naive as he was not even a week ago. He knows better now. Knows better than to believe what is right on the surface. Knows now that the blinding smiles the kid gave him all those months ago was just a way to cover cracks in his life that had just continued to split and break after Tony left. And just as those smiles were hiding the truth within the boy’s life, these timid fearful expressions that seem to now be forever etched into each line on the boy’s face are hiding the kid he truly is. The energetic, rambling, smiling kid that had to withdraw, fade, and all but disappear in order to survive. 

There were signs. Things he should have read into more in the moment, for instance Peter’s words on the roof after the Ferry incident, also known as the day Peter was once again abandoned by another adult; Tony. But even before that, if he thinks back, there were signs that now seem like alarms that should have woken Tony up. Had him wondering why such a young kid could be so insightful and wisdomous. 

When you can do the things that I can, but you don’t and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you. 

Tony should have set the boy straight there and then, but he was so buried under his own avalanche of guilt that he let Peter believe this was true. He himself for a long while believed this was true. Sometimes, it’s easier to realize one of your own faults when you see it in others. Peter nor Tony is Atlas. Neither is capable or should even try to hold up the world on their shoulders. And yet, this is exactly what the webslinger has been doing, putting others, the world, before himself. Now it’s Tony’s turn to take some of that weight. He will gladly put down his own unwarranted weight and let it go in order to hold up some of Peter’s until the kid is ready to relinquish it as well. Until Peter accepts that not everything is his fault or responsibility. 

“My room is right next door if you need anything. Also, you can ask FRIDAY anything if you feel more comfortable talking to her.” Peter gives a nod in understanding. “Alright, goodnight Peter.” He reaches out and ruffles the kid’s hair before standing up, back stiff and achy. 

He’s about to close the door when he hears a small, “Mr. Stark.” 

Tony opens the door a little wider to let the light from the hallway gently illuminate Peter’s face, “yeah?”

“Thank you.” 

Tony smiles softly, “Of course. Goodnight.” Peter closes his eyes and Tony closes the door quietly. 

Tony heads back to the living room to grab his tablet and sits on the couch. FRIDAY has since turned off the TV so he turns on the lamp next to him. He takes his phone out of his pocket to see he missed a few texts. One is from Ned.

Ned: Thank you for the update Mr. Tony Stark. Can you just tell Peter that I miss him and that we still have to finish rebuilding the lego Death Star together? 

Tony smirks at the last part and just sends back: Will do.

He then sees a text from Pepper.

Pepper: Call me when you have a chance. 

Tony presses the call button. It rings twice before he hears “Tony?”

“Hey pep,” he sighs, just hearing her voice releases some of the invisible tension surrounding him. “Anything new?”

“May Parker will not accept any of my calls or reply to any of the emails I sent to set up a meeting.” Pepper explains.

“That sadly does not surprise me.”

“I found her work schedule at the hospital and she will be off tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow tomorrow? As in,” he looks at his watch, “in an hour and a half?”

“Yes, why? Did you tell Peter?” There is a hint of disapproval. As if she expected him to put it off and not tell Peter yet. Which is… well, honestly fair if you look at his history.

“I did.” He assures, “He said he wanted to think about whether he wants to come or not.”

“Do you want to put this off until she has another day off to give him more time? Her next day off is in about five days I believe.”

“I really just want to get this out of the way but I also don’t want Peter to feel pressured.” 

“You could give him the choice.” Pepper offers.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Tomorrow I will tell him our plan and he can pick which day he would feel more comfortable with.”

“In the meantime I will move some things around to make sure that Happy and I are free for a couple of hours tomorrow just in case.” He can hear Pepper typing away, probably emailing people to get some meetings moved around. “I already cleared your schedule for the foreseeable future so you can focus on Peter.”

“I don’t tell you how much I love you enough.”

“No, you don’t. I can set a reminder on your calendar to do so more often.” Tony lets out a small laugh, “Either way I always know.” He can hear the smile in her voice. 

“Good, because I do. I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Call me once you speak with Peter.”

“I will, goodnight.”

“Goodnight Tony.” She hangs up. 

Tony texts Rhodey to let him know the plan and also to let him know he is on standby for Peter watching duty. Rhodey replies with approval of the plan, to say he can be there wherever, and to tell him to get some rest. Tony is glad to have people looking out for him. He just needs to show Peter that he has that too now. 

He texts Happy about tomorrow who answers saying Pepper has kept him up to date on all of this. Of course she did, that woman can no one hundred and one things at a time while still being ahead of schedule. Afterwards he gets a little SI work done that he had been putting off. But not long after that, he decides to go to bed earlier than he has in longer than he can remember. He has to set somewhat of a good example for Peter. 

Before he lets himself drift off under his silk comforter he makes sure FRIDAY knows to wake him if Peter needs anything. He knows he doesn’t have to double check with his AI but he does it anyway. With that reassurance he drifts off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Tony got up the next day around 8:00am since he actually went to sleep at a reasonable time. He took a shower and got dressed in sweats and a T-shirt before checking in on Peter. He knocked on the kid’s door around 9 to give the boy a little longer to sleep. When he heard no response he quietly opened the door to see nothing but a head of brunette curls poking up from underneath the covers. He smiled softly as he walked in. He looked around for a moment noticing how bare and plain the room was. He had a growing list of tasks relating to Peter that he had to get done.

1. Get May out of Peter’s life
2. Finish put safety protocols in place
3. Earn the kid’s trust 
4. Get Peter to contact Ned
5. Customize Peter’s new room
6. Find a therapist if Peter agrees to see one
7. Have Peter get to know his family, now the kid’s family as well (Pepper, Happy, Rhodey)
8. Build up the kid’s self confidence

Some of these will take a lot longer than the others and the list just seems to expand more and more as the days go on.

Tony makes his way over to the bed and sits down on the edge. “Pete,” he says softly. There’s a small groan from beneath the blankets and then Peter shifts. “Peter, it’s time to wake up.” He keeps his voice low as to now jar the boy awake.

It doesn’t work. Like before, once Peter is aware enough he bolts up, “Sorry,” his voice is raspy with sleep.

Tony is not surprised but it still hurts to hear that word come out of Peter’s mouth. “Your alright, just wanted to wake you before I start making breakfast.”

“I-I can make it.” The kid responds now sitting up, comforter polling round his waist. 

Although Peter always verbally apologized to May for anything and everything, he would also try to make her meals when he was home as a way to say sorry. Still, no amount of food could make up for her husband being dead. Nothing he could ever do in his option would make up for what happened to Ben. 

“No, no, I’ve got it. Why don’t you get up, take a shower, get ready, and meet me in the kitchen when you’re done?”

Peter immediately starts doing as he is told, getting out of bed quickly. He almost falls from being lightheaded but rights himself before he does. Tony looks surprised at how fast he is moving. “It will take a bit to get the food ready, we’re in no rush.” Peter slows a bit as he gets some sweat pants and a plain shirt out of the chest of drawers across from the bed. Tony makes a mental note to add, get Peter his own clothes, to the ever growing list. He gets up and walks towards the door, “Take your time Peter.” He adds once more before leaving. 

Peter takes a breath before resuming his task. He heads to the bathroom connected to the bedroom as he goes to take a shower. 

_______________

When Peter emerges from his room twenty or so minutes later his hair is still dripping and his curls are a bit of a darker shade than usual. Tony was just finishing the eggs, sausage, and bacon. He puts the finished food onto two plates making sure Peter’s potion is at least double his own. 

“Hey, come sit and eat.” Peter walks over and sits on a stool at the center island. “You want water, juice, milk, uh…” Tony opens the fridge to see what else he has.

“C-Could I have s-some juice please?” Peter asks timidly.

“Of course.” Tony pulls out the orange juice and grabs a glass. He pours it and then hands the filled cup to Peter. 

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” Tony puts the carton of juice away and then grabs his mug of coffee from the counter before joining Peter. He sits and eats for a few minutes before Tony breaks the silence, “So, Pepper called last night.” Peter looks over at him warily. “She said we can either go talk to May today or in five days when her next day off is.” 

Peter says nothing as he looks down at his still mostly filled plate, his appetite diminishing as he thinks about his aunt. He always tried to eat less when he lived with her after Ben passed. Yes, he needs to eats more because of his enhanced metabolism, but he also knows it cost a lot of money to feed him. He tried to make things easier on May by eating the bare minimum he had to to be able to function. He feels selfish now as he stares at the heaping helping on his plate. 

“We thought it best to give you the option. If you still want more time to think about whether you want to come with us we can postpone the conversation until her next day off.”

“I-If I d-decide not to come,” Peter starts, not looking up, “could I p-possibly see her again another-t-time?” Peter finally looks up once he is finished.

Tony’s not sure how to answer that. The whole point of this conversation with May is to hopefully remove her from the kid’s life. But, he also doesn’t want to say no and take away Peter's choice. He never wants Peter to have to see her again, but in the end he knows it’s not his choice. One day, when Peter is 18, he will get to decide who he sees no matter what. Tony can try his best to shelter him until then, but there’s a difference between sheltering the boy and taking away his free will. He decided to answer with something noncommittal for now, “We can talk about it.” Peter’s expression does not give way to whether he likes that answer or not. “So, what are you thinking about the date?”

“I-I don’t think I want to c-come, so you can p-pick.” 

“In that case, Pepper and I will probably talk to her today to get it out of the way.” Peter gives a small nod and hesitantly picks his fork back up. “I’ll let Rhodey to know to come by okay?” Another nod. 

Tony texts Rhodey while they finish breakfast. Afterwards he excuses himself to give Pepper a call. It rings for less then a second before Pepper answers, “What’s the verdict?” Straight to the point.

“He doesn’t want to come so we can go today.”

“Alright, I will let Happy know.”

“Thanks Pep. Just give me a few hours, I want to be here when Peter meets Rhodey officially.” 

“Sounds good, Happy and I will pick you up at 12:00pm.” With that the line goes dead. 

Tony takes his phone away from his ear to look at the screen. The first thing he sees is that it’s 10:30am, meaning he has one and a half hours to finish getting ready, introduce Rhodey, and make sure Peter is okay with him leaving. 

The second thing he sees is a text from Rhodey informing Tony that he is on the way now. Tony smiles at the text, he couldn’t ask for a better friend. He sometimes doesn’t think he deserves a friend like Rhodey, but he squashes down that thought fast. If he wants to prove to Peter that the kid deserves a family and love then he also has to believe that for himself. He doesn’t want to teach the boy how to be a hypocrite. 

He goes back down the hall to where the kid is sitting, an empty plate and glass in front of him. “You done?” Tony asks. It seemed like a harmless question. Key word… seemed.

Peter’s eyes widen as he looks at Tony and then back at his dirty dishes. “I’m sorry,” he says quickly, hoping off the island stool, “I’ll clean them, I’m sorry!” 

Tony tries to get control over the situation, he comes closer trying to put his hands up in a placating gesture, but before he can Peter grabs the dishware so fast off the counter, trying to right his wrong and clean up his own mess, when the cup slips out of his hands and crashes to the ground. The sound, even though Tony has heard glass breaking about one million times, sounds so much louder now. Peter freezes like a deer in headlights. Everything is silent and still until Tony opens his mouth, trying to reassure the kid that everything is okay, “Pete-”

And just like that the world comes crashing back into motion again. “I’m sorry,” Peter pleads as he drops to his knees. The kid doesn’t even wince as shards dig into his knees. 

“Kid!” Tony exclaimed, worried about the small red stains starting to appear on Peter’s sweatpants. He is worried about the boy’s well being, but Peter takes the shout as anger.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he repeats as he now, to Tony’s horror starts to collect the broken glass with his bare hands. 

This time Tony does lunge forward, “Peter stop!” Peter freezes again. Tony is now right beside him now, debating on whether to pull the kid’s hands away from the broken glass. The pale skin on them is already decorated slightly in red rivulets. “You're hurting yourself. It was just an accident, nothing to worry about, I promise.”

Peter is still frozen as he whispers, “B-But I have to cl-clean it up.”

“I can get DUM-E to clean it up.” 

“But it’s my f-fault.”

“It was an accident,” Tony reiderates. “Even if you do insist on cleaning it up you should do it with a broom and a dust pan, not your hands.” 

Peter glances at his now bloody hands, “B-But, this i-is how M-May wanted me to cl-clean it up.” 

Now it’s Tony who freezes, “What?” the word comes out with more force then he meant it too. Peter curls in on himself slightly realizing he said something wrong. Tony takes a deep breath trying to quell his anger. “She made you clean broken glass with your hands?” Peter nods minutely. Tony lets out a breath that feels like it has been forcefully knocked out of him. “Kid, you said she didn’t physically hurt you.”

Peter looks up shocked with wide eyes, “She didn’t!”

“Pete, you just told me that-”

Peter cuts him off, “She never touched me!” He tries to amend. 

“As true as that may be, she still hurt you… in more than one way.” The last part is said more sadly.

“But-”

“Making you hurt yourself is a loophole.” He explains, “It is not okay.” Tony looks down again at the boy’s injured hands. “Can you show me your hands please?” He just wants them away from the offending shards. 

Peter slowly takes his hands away from the pile of broken glass and holds them out. Tony winces at the sight. There is small streaks of blood dripping down the kid’s hands, some smaller shards visible point out from his skin, a few bigger ones as well that worry the older man. “Alright, we need to get the glass out, disinfect the cuts, and bandage you up.”

“I can d-do it,” Peter is quick to offer, “I’ve done it m-many times.” The assurance has the opposite effect on Tony then what was intended. How often has Peter had to patch himself up? Patching up Spider-Man wounds seems so different then patching up Peter Parker’s wounds. Yes, they are the same person, but without the suit and mask it is much more apparent that Peter is just a kid. With the mask he can pretend Peter is mostly invincible, but underneath the fabric, outside the suit, Peter is vulnerable. Just as Tony is outside of his iron facade. 

“I know you can Pete, but it doesn’t mean you have to.” Peter’s eyebrows furrow at that, “Will you let me help you?” Make it his choice. 

Peter seems to think about it for a second, looks at Tony for another. The older man tries to school his expression into one of absolute sincerity. Tries to hide his anger at May Parker behind a locked door in his mind. After a good five mississippies, Peter slowly gives a small nod. Tony sighs in relief, “Thank you.” He states before getting up from the crouch he was in beside the boy. 

Peter gets up as well, wincing as his knees shift on top of some glass. Tony leads the boy to the bathroom connected to his room and sits Peter down on the closed toilet seat. “One second, I’ll be right back.” Peter gives a small nod. 

Tony leaves the bathroom in search of some shorts. He finds one that has a drawstring since they will undoubtedly be too big on the small kid. Before he heads back he quietly asks FRIDAY to have DUM-E clean up the broken glass in the kitchen. When he gets back to the bathroom Peter hasn’t moved a muscle. “Hey, mind changing into these so I can take a look at your knees?” Tony asks, holding out the shorts.

Peter silently takes the shorts and stands up. Tony turns around to give him some privacy. He hears a small, “Done.” and turns back to Peter who is sitting back down. Tony takes the red sustained sweatpants from the kid’s lap and throws it in the laundry bin. He then goes past where Peter is sitting to the sink and opens the cabinet below. He grabs out his first aid kit before closing the doors. He then goes to sit on the edge of the bathtub, right in front of Peter. He opens the kit and places it on the thick ledge beside himself. He takes out his tweezers. “This is probably going to sting.” Peter shrugs. 

Tony focuses on the boy’s knees first. He carefully picks out any remaining glass apologizing whenever he hears Peter hiss in pain. After he finishes retrieving all the shards that were stuck he sets down the tweezers and grabs the iodine bottle and some cotton balls. “So, this is definitely going to sting, sorry.” 

He pours a bit of the liquid onto the fluffy ball as Peter responds, “It’s okay, I-I’m used to it.”

Tony wills his mind not to spiral to a dark place in response to Peter’s words. Instead he puts down the bottle and hovers the cotton ball over the kid’s left knee, “Ready?” Peter nods. He gently sweeps the soaked cotton over the cuts. Peter jerks slightly and once again hisses in pain. “Sorry.” Peter shakes his head in a non verbal way of saying not your fault. 

Tony repeats the process with the right knee. When he is done he grabs out some smaller bandaids. “Y-You don’t have to do that.” Peter says, worried that he is overstepping by telling the man what to do. Tony looks up incredulously, “Th-They’re small. I heal fast. They’ll b-be back to normal in about a-an hour.” 

Tony gives a small nod before putting the band aids back and picking up the tweezers once more. “Can I see your hands?” Peter puts them palm up in front of him but keeps his eyes down. Tony doesn’t mention his lack of eye contact as he takes one hand gently in his own before carefully pulling out the glass. He does this with the other hand as well. He then grabs a small washcloth nearby and stands to dampen it in the sink before coming back to clean off some of the blood. 

Before the towel can touch Peter he jerks his hands away, “I-It’s white.” He says.

Tony looks down at the white fabric, “Yeah.”

“I-I’ll ruin it.” 

It takes a moment for Peter’s words to compute in Tony’s head. The kid is afraid that his blood, from his injured hands, will stain his oh so special towel? “It’ll come out.” Peter still looks hesitant, “Remember who your talking to Pete, even if it doesn’t I can buy more. Billionaire remember?” Peter waits a moment then slowly brings his hands back to where they were before. Tony takes the gesture as his cue to gently wipe away the blood. Once he is done he grabs the bottle of iodine again and the cotton balls. He repeats what he did with the boy’s knees again but now with his hands. “Alright,” he says, throwing away the used cotton balls and putting the cap back on the bottle, “I know you heal fast, but some of these cuts are deep. A normal person would probably need stitches, but I’m just going to use some butterfly bandages to help them heal properly okay?”

“O-Okay,” Peter says in a small voice. Tony nods and grabs out the small strip bandages. He’s unwrapping them when Peter goes noticeably tense. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone's here.”

“What?” Tony’s alertness just went way up.

“Someone just got out of the elevator.” Peter whispers, his eyes going from Tony’s face to the door.

Tony turns to the ceiling, “FRI-” before he can finish the sentence there is a shout from the living room.

“Tones?!” 

Tony lets out a relieved sigh, “It’s just Rhodey.” He assures the kid before he gets up and calls out from the doorway. “In here honeybear!!” He then sits back down and continues unwrapping the butterfly bandages. He starts pulling them tight over the larger cuts just as Rhodey appears in the doorway. 

Peter eyes him a bit warily, “Hey, is everything okay?” The colonel asks as he takes in the scene. Peter’s shoulder’s hunch a bit as though in shame.

“Oh yeah, just a small accident, nothing to worry about.” Tony waves off trying to convey to Peter that it really is no big deal. 

“Alright, you want me to wait outside?” 

“Yeah, we're almost done anyhow.” Tony says throwing out the now empty packaging and organizing the supplies as they go back in the kit. Tony then looks over to his friend in silent conversation, his expression saying, I’ll explain later. Rhodey gives a nod, a small smile to Peter, and leaves to wait in the living room. 

Tony loves how he and Rhodey can have personal silent conversations without even words to aid them. It’s a special type of bond that many people do not get. Tony is lucky enough to have that bond with not just one, but three people: Rhodey, Happy, and Pepper. 

Once he is finished throwing out the used materials and putting the organized and closed first aid kit back under the sink he sits back in front of Peter. “You ready?” 

Peter looks up at him with somewhat of a fearful expression. Tony forgets it’s not just May Peter is afraid of, it’s all adults. It all started with May though. May was Peter’s model for how adults should act and the way they should treat him. Should here being the key word, because instead she showed him how to be afraid. Showed Peter that he should fear adults rather than seek comfort and safety from them. “Rhodey has been my best friend for most of my life. Not only that, but I trust him with my life. He would never hurt you, I promise.”

Peter gives a slight nod of acknowledgement, but the fear doesn’t recede all the way. Tony doesn’t expect it to either. Peter needs proof, he needs more than just words. The only way to prove to Peter that not all adults are bad is to introduce him to ones that only have good intentions. Tony himself is the first, Pepper the second even if they have only talked briefly, Happy who the kid already knows to an extent, and now Rhodey. Tony gets up and Peter follows suit. Tony puts an arm around his shoulders and walks him back into the common area where Rhodey is waiting, slight concern etched into his face. 

“Rhodey, I would officially like to introduce you to Peter.”

Rhodey genuinely smiles, “Hey Peter it’s really nice to meet you.”

“H-Hi Mr. Rhodes s-sir.” 

He chuckles, “Just call me Rhodey please.”

Peter shyly smiles, “Ok, Mr-...uh Rhodey.” 

“I was thinking about having a movie day while Tony’s gone, care to join?” 

“C-Can we-” He cuts himself off. Rhodey frowns slightly.

Tony moves so he can look at Peter’s face, his eyes are cast down, “What Peter?” Peter shakes his head, “You won’t be in trouble for asking.” 

Peter looks up, slightly hopeful this isn’t a trick. He isn’t supposed to ask for things, when he does May screams at him for being selfish. “C-Can we have s-snacks?” 

Tony wants to burst out laughing, it’s such a small thing to ask for, and from a billionaire no less, but he doesn’t. He knows if he does Peter will take the sound as malicious and shut down. “Of course bud, anything you want.” Peter’s face lights up a bit, “Whatever we don’t have FRIDAY can order and get here within the hour.”

“Really?” There is a childlike wonder within the one word.

“Really,” Tony smiles. He then looks at his watch, it was almost 11:30. He has thirty minutes until Happy and Pepper arrive. “Shi… I mean crap!” Rhodey laughs, he has never seen his friend sensor himself when swearing, “I have to get dressed, Pepper will be here soon.” He looks back at Peter, “Will you be okay?” Peter looks over to Rhodey and then back at Tony giving a small yet hesitant nod. Tony nods back, “Alright, I’ll come say goodbye before I leave.'' He squeezes Peter’s shoulder once before turning, mouthing thank you , to Rhodey who gives a small nod, and heads down the hall to change. 

“Alright,” he hears Rhodey say as he’s walking down the hall, “first thing we need to do is make Tony regret giving us unlimited snack privileges. Let’s make a list of every candy and snack we can think of.” He hears a small laugh from Peter which makes him feel even more at ease to take his time getting ready and leave Peter with Rhodey. In no way did Tony ever question or doubt his best friend, but he was worried how Peter would react to being around a new adult. But hearing Peter quietly laughing with Rhodey helps put some of his worries to rest. 

Now that he is sure Peter is safe and being cared for he can focus on one thing. One person that makes his blood boil… May Parker.

Chapter Text

Tony gets ready and puts on one of his signature suit and ties as well as puts his signature glasses into the inside breast pocket of said suit. Once he is done styling his hair and cleaning up his facial hair he takes a deep breath while looking in the bathroom mirror. He has to do this by the book and be rational. Give May no ammunition and no reason to deny his request to take Peter in. He has to stay patient and composed.

How the hell is he supposed to do that though when even the thought of the kid’s aunt makes his blood feel like it’s actually boiling. Makes him want to do more than just talk to her. Makes him want to make her pay for what she has done to her own nephew.

Yes, they are not blood related, but how can you raise a child for almost 10 years and suddenly just decide you don’t love them anymore. Tony literally cannot fathom this even though, before recent events, he was not “kid” person. Still, he knows what unconditional love is. It took him longer than most to learn it thanks to Howard, but in the end he got there. 

Peter should have been shown unconditional love, but he has learned the exact opposite. He seems to have learned that love is only for those who work for it, those who give up everything to make someone else happy, and maybe not even then. What he doesn’t understand is that love is supposed to be a give and take not just take take take like May has been doing. 

The more he thinks about it the more angry he gets. He can see the anger lines etched into his forehead as his eyebrows come down and point inwards. This is exactly what he didn’t want to happen. He slowly and intentionally starts to loosen his facial features which starts to smooth out the angry creases reflected back at him. He takes another breath and pushes himself away from the sink and walks back out into his bedroom and then the hallway. 

He can hear popcorn popping away in the microwave as he walks down the hall towards where he left Peter and Rhodey. “Okay, so,” he hears his best friend say, “once the pops get to 3 seconds apart we can take it out.” 

“One, two” he heard Peter whisper before another, pop , erupted. 

“Almost but not quite.” 

“Ah I see you are teaching him the science of popcorn,” Tony says as he walks back into the room.

Rhodey rolls his eyes but smiles fondly at Peter who is still whispering numbers and getting cut off by the pops. 

“One, Two, Three!” Peter exclaimed, “It’s done!” He must realize he just yelled because he puts his hand over his mouth right after he shouts in excitement. 

Rhodey opens the microwave to make sure the popcorn doesn’t burn but does not move to take it out. “You okay there?” He asks gently. 

Peter is looking from one man to the other over and over again, hand still over his mouth and eyes wide. 

“Pete what’s going on bud?” Tony cuts in, the creases back on his face, but this time they are etched from concern rather than anger.

Peter slowly takes his hand away from his mouth and whispers, so quietly that both him and Rhodey have to strain their ears to hear, “I-I didn’t m-mean to be that loud, I-I’m sorry.”

Tony’s concerned and confused expression turns soft and honestly slightly pitying, he can’t help it, “It’s okay, there’s nothing wrong with being loud sometimes.”

Rhodey laughs, “yeah and you're hearing that first hand from one of the loudest, most obnoxious people ever,” his eyes crinkle with delight as he ribs his best friend.

“Oi!” Tony shouts indignantly.

“Point proven,” Rhodey says, gesturing at Tony and his outburst.

“M-May doesn’t like it.” Peter says a bit louder but nowhere near a normal speaking voice. Tony also doesn’t miss the one stutter on her name. 

“Well, May’s not here so.” Tony is really trying to keep his anger down.

Rhodey could see Tony was struggling to keep his hatred for May at bay. He can read Tony’s emotions like there was a neon sign above the mechanic's head announcing his feelings. Honestly that would be helpful for others since Tony often keeps his emotions behind an iron barrier. Still, Rhodey can always tell. 

“That’s right, she’s not,” he picks up where Tony left off, “you can be as loud as you want… well within reason. Just not if others are sleeping and working, but no one is now so you're completely fine squirt.” He assured. 

Peter gives a small nod, but still has doubt written on his face. Before Tony can do anything more FRIDAY cuts their conversation short, “Sorry for the interruption boss but I was told to inform you that Mr. Hogan and Ms. Potts are downstairs in the garage.”

Tony looks at his watch and sees that it is 12:03pm. “Shhh-oot” Rhodey laughs at the man censoring himself, something he has basically never seen, “I’ve got to go. Are you going to be okay?” The question is directed toward Peter. 

Peter looks at Rhodey who give him a smile and then back at Tony, “Y-Yeah” 

He sounds uncertain, but Tony has to go and he trusts his best friend to call if either of them need anything or if something goes wrong. “Okay.” He quickly has a silent conversation with Rhodey who gives a small nod that says, We’ll be fine, promise. Now go. Tony gives him a nod before laying a hand on Peter’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze before he starts to walk down the hall. He turns around just as the elevator doors are closing, Peter still staring at him from down the hall. As much as he wants to immediately go back to the kid, he has to do this. It’s for Peter. That’s all he keeps reminding himself as he watches those sad sacred eyes disappear as the metal doors finally close. 

When he gets out of the elevator Happy is waiting by the back door of the black Audi. “Hey Hap.”

“Hey Tones,” Happy rarely calls him that, it’s usually Rhodey who calls him that. Happy usually calls him Boss or Tony, but they both know this is not a usual situation. They both know this will probably be hard and not just for Tony. “Ready for this?” He asks as he opens the door revealing Pepper sitting cross legged in the further seat by the other door.

“Not even one bit.” Tony says confidently as he slides into his seat and then Happy closes the door and makes his way around to the drivers side and then they are off.

“Okay, so I have the papers already filled out except for the signatures of course.” Pepper says getting straight to the topic at hand. No nonsense, he loves that about her, keeps him on track.

“Thank you so much for all of this Pep.”

She looks over to him and away from her phone which she had been typing on while she spoke. Her face softens, “Of course, but don’t thank me yet. We have no idea how this is going to go.”

“Either way, thank you” she smiles at him.

“How is he?” She asks without having to give anymore context of to whom she is referring. 

“He’s…” he thinks about what to say. He thinks about the kid’s eyes as they bore into him from down the hall not even a few minutes ago and one word rises above the rest. “lost.”

Happy is subtly looking in the rear view mirror reflecting the same frown that has appeared on the strawberry blond’s lips. 

“He doesn’t know how to act, he’s afraid anything he does will get him in trouble and make others mad. He…he doesn’t know how to be a kid.” Tony finishes with a heavy sigh.

“Well, we’re going to try and fix that.” Pepper assures and Tony flashes her a grateful yet strained smile. 

The rest of the ride goes by with Pepper explaining how things should go and tells him to let her do most of the talking if he gets too overwhelmed with anger. It might sound patronizing, but the way she says it has no hint of annoyance or judgment. She knows about his temper, something he is sure he got from Howard, but she still loves him. Not to mention that he can see the spark of well concealed anger behind her eyes as well.

Before they know it they are parking on the street in front of a familiar apartment building. Pepper and Tony immediately get out not waiting for Happy to open the doors. They both want this over with. Happy leads the way as his always dependable head of security. He is also the one to knock on the door, knuckles echoing loudly against the wooden door. 

It is a little under a minute before the door opens, a tired looking May Parker on the other side. “Ms. Parker, we need to speak to you for a moment.” Happy voice fills the small Queens hallway. 

She looks surprised until she looks past Happy and sees both Tony and Pepper. “Oh, I see. Well if you're looking for Peter he’s at his friend's house.”

Tony feels the rage start to boil to the surface. May doesn’t know where Peter is and obviously doesn’t care. He’s about to step forward and give her a piece of his mind but Pepper puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him. 

“Ms. Parker,” she says, her eyes cold when they are directed at the woman behind the door, “we both know that’s not true. Now I would kindly step aside and let us in or we can go to the police and let them know a child in your care is missing.” 

May’s eyes go wide and then she grumbles as he reluctantly opens the door. Happy goes in first and scans the room before gesturing for the others to come through. It’s not like they were expecting a threat, but as head of security it is Happy’s job to be ready at all times in any situation. 

The place is a mess. It didn’t look like this when he was here last time, he has no doubt Peter was the one who did the cleaning. There is a sink full of dirty dishes as well as some on random counter tops. The trash bin is overflowing. The drapes are closed so it is dark, the only light coming from the dim lights above them on the ceiling. There are a few empty wine bottles on the coffee table yet no wine glasses. May herself looks disheveled as well. Bed head is on full display and her clothes are wrinkled, jeans and an oversized T-shirt. 

“Sorry for the mess,” she grumbles, “wasn’t expecting company?”

“Is Peter not company?” It slips from Tony’s tongue without a thought. Pepper subtly elbows him and levels him with a glare to say, shut up now .

“Peter’s my nephew.” It might seem like a harmless sentence but the woman says it was a hint of a sneer.

“Yes, and that is just the topic we came to speak to you about.” Pepper says getting back on track.

“What about him?” There is a silent heat in her eyes as she mentions him. 

“We are worried about him.” She states plainly.

“Why?”

“Why?” Tony repeats May’s question incredulously. “Let start with the shape of his living space, the fact that he’s afraid to do anything wrong, which to him seems like everything, and finish with the fact that you have no idea where your aforementioned nephew is!” His voice gets louder and louder the more he brings up. Pepper puts a hand on his shoulder instead of elbowing him. That was meant to shut him up, this was meant to say, I know but we need to be calm if we want her to agree.

Tony takes a deep breath, looks at his girlfriend with a strained smile and a nod before he focuses back on May. 

“What Tony means to say is that we are worried about his well being. We don’t believe this is the best environment for him.” Tony has no idea how she can give so much respect to May, even if it is fake, but he is more than glad she is taking the reins.

“And how would you know, you barely know him. You don’t spend any time with the boy.”

“Neither do you,” Tony mutters angrily under his breath. 

“I’m going to be frank with you May,” Pepper starts, the fire in her eyes starting to show, “we know you don’t treat him right. We know he is afraid of you and you don’t deserve to be his guardian.”

May opens her mouth but doesn’t get even a syllable out before Pepper is cutting in again, “Please let me finish Ms. Parker,” May snaps her mouth shut at the no nonsense tone. She looks like a reprimanded child, good , Tony thinks, feel a fraction of what Peter feels . “We have proof of your neglect and abuse, and we are ready to take you to court,” it’s not technically a lie, but it’s also not fully the truth either since they don’t have enough of it. They very well can take her to court, but with what they have there is a very slim chance they would win. Still, May doesn’t know this and thus looks absolutely horrified, “although we can skip all of that if you are willing to sign over guardianship.” Pepper finishes.

Tony holds his breath, ready for the screaming to start, but when he looks back at May she does not look mad, she has a cold expression, but it’s not anger, “You can have him.” She states easily, way too easily.

“What?” Tony asks, his expression reflected on both Happy and Pepper’s faces. 

“You can have him,” she repeats, “I didn’t even want him in the first place,” she shrugs like she’s giving away a second hand shirt she got for free rather than a literal child.

Tony has no words, but Pepper jumps in quickly with the papers before May can change her mind. But then again, after what she just said there is almost no chance she would change her mind. Pepper leads her through where to sign and initial and calls Tony over to do the same which he does very happily, if not still in a bit of shock. Pepper and Happy also sign as witnesses. Within 20 minutes they are in and out of the apartment with the papers signed.

Once they are in the car again Tony says, “I can’t believe how easy that was.” Pepper nods but has an almost worried expression on her face that he doesn’t understand and doesn’t ask about. Why look a gift horse in the mouth?

Tony is vibrating with excited energy and cannot wait to tell Peter the great news. Happy pulls up at the Tower and before Tony can jump out he and Pepper tell Tony to call either of them if he or Peter need anything. Afterwards Tony quickly says his goodbyes, gets out, and heads to the elevator. 

When he gets up to the penthouse he walks briskly down the hall to find Peter and Rhodey surrounded by junk food watching The Emperor's New Groove giggling and laughing. 

Peter must have heard him because he is already looking towards him when he comes into view, his smile slowly turning down. He looks like he’s trying to read Tony’s expression. It’s not hard as the mechanic is smiling. Because of this Rhodey thinks it’s safe to ask, “how did it go?” after pausing the movie.

“Great!” Tony exclaims.

“R-Really?” Peter asks.

“Really, easy as pie.” He says his grin widening, “I am officially your legal guardian, she signed the papers.” 

Rhodey smiles at his best friend in congratulations, but the moment is broken by a small voice asking, “Just l-like that?”

Tony thinks he just wants confirmation on the good news so he replies, “Yup! Just like that.” He says with a wide smile.

“Oh,” the tone is one of unmistakable despair which confuses Tony to no end. Peter looks down as he asks, “May I pl-please be excused?” 

Tony doesn’t by any means want him to go, but he is working on choices and wants with Peter so, “Of course bud,” he says his own voice full of confusion now, smile long gone.

Peter gets up and starts walking slowly down the hall slightly picking up speed as he goes, tears just starting to overflow and fall down his face. When he finally gets to his room he shuts the door just a bit too loudly but barely notices as the rest of his world has already crumbled down around him.

“I’m so confused,” Tony says looking over to his best friend for answers, “what am I missing. This is a good thing.”

May signing the papers means Peter is now free. He doesn't have to worry about how May will react to his actions ever again. He doesn’t have to be afraid of her any more. He doesn’t have to stress about money anymore either. He also doesn’t have to hide his alternate identity in his own home anymore. How is this not a good thing?

Although Tony has gotten better over the years, empathy can still come slowly to the man at times. “It is,” Rhodey says slowly, seeing the situation from both perspectives as an impartial spectator, “but you also basically just gave Peter confirmation that his only living relative doesn’t want him.”

As the words sink in Tony’s eyes go wide with realization. He can see how insensitive he just was. Yes, Peter no doubt logically already knew that May didn’t want him. If he remembers correctly from the kid’s words, she literally told him that, but knowing and being giving up completely, being cast away, is different. It’s completely and utterly real, raw, painful, and altogether devastating.

“Shit.” He finally says after his realization. He had been so preoccupied with getting custody of Peter that he didn’t even think about the emotional repercussions. He didn’t think about the downside of getting what he wanted and Peter needed. 

What you need is not always what you really want . Peter doesn’t want to live in fear, he doesn’t want to be told he is useless; he wants to be loved. The way to get all of this is to get away from May. He needs to escape her, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to. He wants there to be a way to have everything stated, but still have May. Be loved by May. Sadly this is not possible, and need comes before want . 

Chapter Text

Tony wanted to rush into Peter’s room as soon as he had the most obvious epiphany in the world, but the boy had requested not to see anyone. He couldn’t lock the door to his room because of the safety protocol Tony had placed the day Peter came, but that still didn’t give the man the right to take all of the kid’s privacy and choices away. He reluctantly stayed away, but had FRIDAY monitor Peter to be extra cautious. 

Tony would like to say he was a mature well-adjusted adult and ate all three meals, did his work, checked up on Peter, and then went to bed, but honestly, who is he fooling? He was a guilty wreck the rest of the day. His hair almost looked like matted spikes sticking up from how many times he ran his shaky fingers through it. His dark bags have somehow turned even darker by the shadows of guilt now cast over them. And his heart is even more irregular than usual as he thinks about how blind he is. How blind he had been in front of a kid who it seemed had already lost some of his own senses, his sense of home, safety, and love. 

FRIDAY has everything on do not disturb unless it has to do with the kid. He is in his lab, but anyone could have guessed that, and he is furiously working on blueprints for upgrades on the boy’s suit. He wants to add more safety features if that is even possible at this point, but also some additions to cheer Peter up. Although with everything that has happened, he knows there’s not really much he can do in that aspect, but he can dream and lie to himself. 

He is right now writing ideas and upgrades for Karen, Peter’s personal AI. He wants to add a comic book mode where every time Peter gets a hit in on patrol Karen announces, in the kid’s ear, “Pow” “Crash” “Wham” “zap” “boom” and so on, possibly with a quiet backing tracking of Batman in his ears. Tony can only wish that it will bring a smile to Peter’s lips. Lips that have been forced to curve down by the weight of other people’s words being forced onto them. 

He doesn’t realize that the entire day, and most of the night have come and gone without any substantial evidence to show they existed at all, before FRIDAY cuts into his thoughts that are racing through his head faster than a court reporter’s fingers on a keyboard. “Peter seems to have dropped something in the kitchen.” She announces and Tony stands up immediately, tearing the corner of the paper he was writing chicken scratch on. Peter hadn’t come out of his room thus far, even to take the meals Tony had placed in front of his door until now. He rushes upstairs but tries to take some deep breaths to slow down and not scare Peter. His breath leaves him with a rattle as his nerves vibrate with anticipation.

He can hear the small metallic clicks of metal against marble and the soft “shhh…shhh…shhh” of bristles sweeping against the floor as he walks down the hall from the elevator. When he gets to the kitchen Peter is sweeping up broken glass into a metal dustpan.

Peter freezes when he realizes Tony is there, looking more raggedy than a worn doll or The Doctor. “S-sorry.” He stutters. 

“Don’t be, I can clean that up if you want me to.” Tony says, striding forward in his permanently wrinkled sweats and tee. 

“N-no, it’s my fault. My mess. M-my Mistake. My problem. S-sorry.” Everything the kid burdens alone breaks the older man’s heart. 

“It was an accident, nothing more.”

“I was an accident.” It is so out of left field that Tony feels like he has been struck in the chest. Like Peter had taken the handle of the broom in his hand and slammed it into his ribs.

“Pete-”

“It’s true,” Peter spits as he stands, glass precariously balanced on the pan, right above his bare feet.

“Peter liste-”

“Sh…she was all I had le…left!” Peter screams, his hands shake and glass starts to snow down back onto the floor. Tony’s eyes it with sharp focus pupils.

“Peter, step away from the glass please.”

“Why?!” He shouts, frustrated tears of ice slide down his flushed cheeks. “Why does it matter?!!” He stays rooted where he is, toes less then a millimeter away from being sliced by the shards now back on the freezing floor. “I get it, okay!!” His voice is so loud Tony thinks he’s trying to talk to God herself. “I’m unwanted!! I don’t need anymore proof, I will never be wanted!!!” Definitely God, who else will take accountability of all Peter has had to endure. Someone needs to, and God seems closer to get to than accountability from May. The worst part is that Tony is pretty sure Peter’s aunt, although she does not deserve that title anymore, never really did, wouldn’t even care if she saw this breakdown. I didn’t even want him in the first place , echos in Tony now hollow head. An empty chamber that repeats back the only thing that matters right now.. Peter. 

“I want you.”

“This isn’t God Damned Annie!!!” The kid screams, the shy boy being smothered by deep-seeded anger that was right underneath the surface. “You are not Warbucks!!! It’s not christmas!!!” Peter takes a huge gulp of air but spits it out before it can fully inflate his oxygen-deprived lungs, “AND THERE IS NO BETTER TOMORROW WAITING FOR ME!!!!”  Peter collapses as if he is a feather in a vacuum and sobs. Small lines of red now bubbling up on the skin of his feet. Tiny shards now bring streams of red rivulets to the pale surface. If it's up to the older man every tomorrow from this day forward would have the sun coming out for Peter Parker. The sun would even be dim in comparison to the boy's shine. 

Tony rushes forward not worried one bit about his own feet, luckily he is wearing slippers. He quickly grips Peter and slides him across the floor away from the broken glass. It’s so broken apart that Tony can’t even tell whether it had started it’s life a cup, a plate, or a bowl. Its no doubt that the remnants resemble how the boy sees his own life. On the ground, so pulverized that there is with no way to put back together again. Tony will find a way though, he will. 

“I want you, I do. I know you don’t believe that, I know, but please just listen.” His voice is gravelly from disuse. He gholds the boy, his muscles cramping from sitting on the ground. “My lawyer will have everything hadeled with guardianship by the end of the day. Let that be the first step to believing me… please.” The please is also to God, someone he despises more than anyone he has ever despised before, except May, but yet still begs for help from.

The anger has vanished and nothing is left but pure and utter despair and heartache. Peter’s mouth droops and so does his eyes. His curls aren’t even as springy they used to be. Each individual strand is burdened down by the weight of life, a life Peter is too young to have had. ”I-I’m not w-w-worth it“ Peter mumbles and shiveres.

Tony wants to cry, but this isn’t about him, “What was that?” he knew, he just wished he was wrong. “We talked about this.” Tony says gently, even though talking down to himself is all Peter has done. Why did the older man think that would change…he didn’t. Now that the storm has passed nothing is left but a sight of the destruction it caused. 

Peter looks up, tears slowing but still think falling with the pull of gravity as he just sighs, “D-do you honestly expect m=me to change my m-mind within a few days. It’s not gonna happen, you’re gonna get s-sick of me sooner or later, everyone always does. Just some leave in m-more permanent ways.”

Somehow, even life and death have become something Peter thinks he is in any way in charge of or has barring over. “No” Tony says as he grasps the boy tighter, begging that it feels comforting and not confining. As much as he wants to start a fight about this he’s not going to right now, so he focuses on what’s most important, “no,” he repeats softer, “I don’t expect you to change your mind within a few days, I just want you to try, that’s all I want.” 

Peter looks up at him at him, eyes swollen and rimmed vermillion red. The boy takes notice of the way Tony is planted beside him. As if it would take heaven and earth for him to move before Peter does. It’s another minute before there is a soft reply, “I-I’ll try,” he whispers as he finally lets his head rest on Tony’s shoulder. Let's Tony take some of the weight.

Tony takes a breath and closes his eyes, “That’s all I ask.”

Chapter Text

After Peter had calmed more the older man urged him to stand. The kid reached for the broom, ready to sweep the shards back into the dustpan. “Leave it, DUM-E can clean it up.”

“No, it’s my mess, it’s not fair to DUM-E.”

Tony almost wants to laugh, if the situation wasn’t so devastating, “As much as I appreciate your compassion for my robot, Dum-E actually likes to do menial tasks like this, it gives him a sense of purpose.”

“Oh, okay,” Peter said as Tony started guiding him toward the hallway. Peter assumed he was dropping him in the room he’d been staying in. But, Tony leads Peter right though his room and into the connecting spacious bathroom. “Wha-”

“We got to clean those cuts.” The Man states. 

Peter looks down, he doesn’t even notice that he’s bleeding, but seeing the crimson has him realizing how much they sting. Tony pats the counter next to the sink and Peter hops up to sit. “I can take care of them myself.”

“I know,” the older man states as he grabs the large first aid kit from under the sink, “But I want to help.”

Peter doesn’t say anything to that, he’s not used to accepting help, and he’s especially not used to others offering to help him. It's weird and unsettling. He just stares and scrutinizes the older man, still not trusting his kindness fully. The cuts are very small and insignificant, but that doesn’t stop the man from tending to them. 

“I’m going to wipe them off with an alcohol pad okay, it will probably sting.” Peter just gave a small nod before the mechanic gently used one hand to wipe away and clean off the blood while he used the other to hold tweezers in case there was any glass still stuck in the kid’s skin. There were one or two small pieces, but other than that all Tony had to do was add a few band-aids. “There, good as new.” He states, stepping away, throwing away the used medical supplies before closing and putting away the first aid kit. He holds his hand out and it takes Peter a full minute to understand that he’s trying to help him off the counter. Hesitantly Peter takes it and hops off, his feet only slightly protesting from his minor injuries. 

“I think I’m going to go take a shower if that’s okay.” the boy mutters.

“Of course it is.” Tony looks down at himself, “You know what, I’ll go take one too, I could certainly use one. Want to watch a movie after?”

“It’s okay Mr. Stark, I know you have better things to do.” I’m not worth spending time with. He didn’t say the last part, he promised Tony to try and not talk down to himself. Still, Peter already feels unwanted, the last thing he wants to do is be clingy. He wanted to watch a movie, but he also wanted to make himself compact. Hide, out of the way until he’s not even noticed. Make himself so small he simply disappears. Then no one would have a problem with him. Then he wouldn’t be a problem anymore.

“I can honestly say I don’t have anything better to do.” Peter is his top priority right now, Pepper can deal with SI for a little, even if it means he will have to incur the strawberry blond’s wrath later. “Plus, I haven’t watched a movie in quite a while, it’ll be nice.” He gives a genuine but tired smile. 

“You really don’t have t-”

“I want to,” Tony states, trying to convey his sincerity. This was the most he had seen the boy since he came back from speaking with May. He didn’t want Peter to withdraw into his room again. 

Peter studies him momentarily, peeling his layers away with his intense gaze, trying to find any hint of deceit. He skeptically breaks eye contact and hesitantly relaxes, “Okay.”

“Okay?”

Peter looks up and gives the man a small armored smile, “Yeah, a movie day sounds fun.”

“Alright!” Tony says more enthusiastically than he thought he had the energy for, “You go shower and I’ll set up and then freshen up.” Peter gives a nod. “And start thinking of movie ideas!” Tony shouts as he is already walking out of Peter's room.

When Tony gets to the living room he immediately starts collecting blankets and pillows and spreads them out on the, larger than necessary, red couch. He then goes back to the kitchen where DUM-E has just finished cleaning up the broken glass. “Thanks, buddy.” The robot beeps happily. Even when he can't trust other humans, he can always depend on his Tech.

He grabs two packets of popcorn to pop once he’s done showering. He heads to his room and takes a soothing shower, one that helps revitalize him. It may be a placebo effect, but he’ll take what he can get, it’s been quite a while since he slept. He gets into something comfortable, sweat pants and an old band T-shirt, and then returns to the living room. Peter is not there yet, but FRIDAY has not alerted him of anything, so he lets the sparking feeling of panic fizzle out. He starts on the popcorn. When he’s heating on the second one and pouring the finished bag into a bowl, Peter appears. The kid is wearing SI sweatpants and a SI T-shirt. 

“Um, I don’t have many of my clothes, most of them are still at my-” Peter looked down as a grief of sorts took over him, “May’s apartment.”

Tony feels like an idiot, but just makes a note to send Happy to collect the kid’s things. “We’ll get your stuff from May’s.”

“Thanks,” Peter said softly, words unsure.

Tony smiled and turned back to the now-beeping microwave. He started pouring the new bag into its own bowl, saying, “You think about some movie ideas?”

“I picked the last one, i-it’s your turn.” Peter looked worried, but Tony just huffed amusedly.

“Fair enough. Ever seen Farris Bueller’s Day Off?”

“Was I born yesterday?” The moment it came out of his mouth the boy froze, but only a second later, the room was filled with the genuine laughter of the mechanic. 

“Again, fair enough. You want to watch it?” Tony asked once his laughter died down and Peter had relaxed, seeing that the man was not mad at him. 

“Sure,” Peter said, sounding genuinely excited, if not still a bit withdrawn. 

"Alright, popcorn is ready, FRI, cue up Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Tony said as he started walking toward the Living Room, Peter in tow. The kids face brightened even more when he saw all the blankets and pillows lining the couch. The kid gets on the large couch, carefully watching Tony’s face for any hint of anger or annoyance. When he sees none, he settles into the back cushions. 

Tony sets the bowls down on the coffee table and sits beside Peter, who looks happy but tense. He starts grabbing blankets, “Get comfy,” he said as he wrapped himself in blankets to show the boy it’s okay.

Peter tentatively grabs one of the blankets, as if he’s worried Tony will demand it back, yank it out of his hands, or yell at him. Tony does none of the above. It hurts the older man to see that Peter is scared of taking something as simple as a blanket. He tries to keep his expression open even though he’s not used to displaying his emotions. Normally he would keep them all hidden behind his heart of iron. 

Once they are both thoroughly tangled within the soft fabric and comfortable, Tony asks FRIDAY to close the shades, as it’s daytime, and start the movie. They both settle in and Tony is immensely happy that he chose this movie since he gets to hear the kid… his kid laugh. He doesn’t hear it enough, not that he can’t understand why. For now, he treasures and just listens to the joyful noise, hoping he will get to hear it more as time goes on, as Peter moves on and heals. 

As the movie plays on Peter slowly gravitates toward the other man. Tony doesn’t move, doesn’t want to scare him off, he almost feels like he’s dealing with a withdrawn and scared puppy at the shelter. Then again an abused dog has to relearn how to trust humans. Peter’s only parental figure hurt him, and now he too has to relearn his trust in adults. Tony will wait for as long as it takes.

When Peter gets close enough Tony carefully, slowly, places his arm closest to the boy on the back of the couch. Peter looks at Tony’s face as he continues to watch the movie, checking something.  Whatever it was Peter seems to have found it or not depending on which he was hoping for. Then Peter moves closer, enough that Tony can wrap his arm around the kid’s shoulders. Tony looks over carefully, making sure Peter doesn’t feel trapped, but the kid is relaxing more and more. Because of this, Tony takes a risk, he pulls the boy into his side. Peter tenses only for a moment before he practically melts into the older man.

As the movie nears its end, the exhaustion Tony had been waving off comes back in full force. His head falls to the side slowly as he loses his grip on reality. By the time his eyes close his head is resting against the younger’s.

After the movie ends Peter doesn’t know what to do. Moving would wake Tony up. He stays as still as possible but of course, Parker Luck has to strike at the most random times. He tries to hold back his sneeze, but somehow that just makes it more forceful. He tries his best not to move, but the intensity of the sneeze causes his entire body to move, thus causing Tony to wake.

Peter freezes, shutting his eyes tight.

Tony is still trying to collect his bearings. He takes in the blank TV, signifying that the movie, credits and all, has ended. He wonders how long it’s been, but that thought flies out of his head when he sees Peter. “Kid?” the boy flinches, the man’s arm still around him. He brings his arm back to his side. “Peter, are you okay?”

“I’m sorry.”

Tony doesn’t understand and the kid’s eyes are still squeezed shut, waiting for the older man to lose it and scream at him, “Why are you apologizing?”

“I woke you up.”

“I’m not mad. I’m sorry that I fell asleep on you.”

Peter peeks at Tony through one eye, inspecting him, “May always get really mad if I wake her up.”

Ah. Tony’s eyes soften, even as fury builds inside, “I’m not May, and I will never get mad at you for waking me.” Peter tentatively opens his other eye, watching the man curiously, “Even if it’s the middle of the night, or early in the morning, you can always wake me, I promise to never get mad. I can’t promise not to be groggy though,” he jokes. He gets a minuscule smile from Peter. 

He already hated May Parker, but every time Peter reacts poorly to him, his rage grows. The fact that May made Peter afraid to move, afraid to exist, is something unforgivable. Although it’s not murder, Tony thinks she should be in jail for taking away the kid’s will to live. Tony will do everything he can to bring that spark of life back into Peter’s eyes. He is determined to make Peter see himself the way everyone, besides May, sees him. 

“How about we pause our movie day for lunch,” Tony says as he gets up, the blankets falling off him. He feels a small shiver from the temperature change. Tony holds his hand out to help Peter up, and the kid takes it, with a little less hesitation. Once they are both up they head to the kitchen where Peter goes to sit on a stool at the marbled center island. “Sandwiches okay?”

“Whatever’s easiest.”

“Sandwiches it is,” Tony says as he starts pulling ingredients out of the fridge. He grabs the bread and starts making Turkey sandwiches. “Anything you don’t want on it?”

“No.”

Tony gives a nod as he makes three sandwiches, one for him, and two for Peter. He places them on plates and slides Peter’s two sandwiches toward him. “You didn’t have to make me two,” Peter says quietly.

“You need extra food for your metabolism. Plus, I know you haven’t been eating recently.” Tony states, as he grabs two glasses and fills them with water, “You want ice?”

Peter looks conflicted, but then says, “Um, y-yes please.”

“Sure thing, I hate room temp water.” The older man says as he adds ice to both glasses. He then goes to sit beside Peter on one of the other stools. He starts eating first, Peter following a few moments later. “Let me know if you want more.” 

“Okay,” Peter says through a mouthful of food, which causes the mechanic to chuckle. Happy that the kid is actually eating. Peter blushes with embarrassment. Once they have finished eating, after making sure Peter didn't want anymore, Tony starts to clean up, “I can do that.”

“I know you can, but you don’t have to. How about you go back to the living room and start thinking of the next movie.”

“Are you sure?” Peter asks, eyeing the mess.

“I’m sure, but thank you,” Tony smiles and Peter reciprocates. After he is done cleaning up, Tony joins the kid on the couch again. “Any movie ideas?”

“Uh, maybe James Bond?”

“Which one?”

“I-I don’t know.” 

“Do you have a favorite Bond actor?”

“Probably Daniel Craig. ”

“Okay,” Tony thinks for a second, “How about Casino Royale, that's one of my favorites.”

“Sure,” Peter says sincerely, glad he doesn’t have to choose. 

They spend the rest of the day watching Bond films. When Happy comes in to check on them around dinner time, they are both asleep on the couch. Peter’s head is resting on Tony’s shoulder, the mechanic's arm still loosely around the younger, and the older’s head is on top of the kid’s. They are both wrapped in blankets and surrounded by pillows. The bowls of popcorn on the table are mostly empty and Gold Finger is playing in the background. The security guard snaps a picture of the duo and sends it to Pepper before he goes back down to his office.

Chapter Text

Tony was the first to wake. Usually, he’s grumpy and groggy when he wakes up, but the moment he sees the head of brown curls resting in between his shoulder and chest, he can’t help but smile. It’s obvious Peter had slumped more onto the older man, his head slightly sliding from Tony’s shoulder, as he fell asleep. He heard the elevator doors down the hall open and tried his best not to move as he strained his neck to see who it was. 

Happy came down the hall with a large black duffle bag in one hand and a rectangular item in the other. The security guard slowed his pace, making his steps lighter, the moment he saw the kid was asleep. “Where should I put Peter’s stuff?” He asked softly.

“Just drop it in his room, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure thing,” Happy said as he walked down the hallway toward the kid’s room. When he comes back he is left holding the other flat object. “Pepper sent me straight to the frame store,” the man said, holding up a framed photo that he took only a few hours ago. A picture of both Peter and Tony asleep in the cocoon of blankets. Peter’s head on the older’s shoulder, the mechanic’s head resting against the kid’s hair.

Tony looked at it with a soft smile, experiencing a fuzzy feeling inside to match. “When did you take that?” He asks, realizing that the blankets in the photo are the ones he and Peter are under in the present. 

“I texted you back about when to grab Peter’s things, but when I didn’t get a reply, I came up to check on you two. I saw both of you asleep, took the photo, and sent it to Pepper. She immediately sent me to get it printed and framed.” He laughed, “So, while I was out I went to May’s to get it out of the way.”

“Thank you, Hap.” Tony said in a low voice, Peter still having not woken up. “Did May give you any trouble?”

“She wasn’t happy to see me, but after I told her it would either be me picking up Peter’s things now or a police officer later, she graciously let me in.” The man said, a frown on his face as he looked at the boy she basically threw away. Tony didn’t know what to say to that, he could feel his fury for May rising, but he did his best to keep his breaths even, so Peter wouldn’t be jostled. Happy, luckily, distracts him from his rage. “Where should I put it?” The man asks, holding up the frame.

Tony looked around the room. His eyes fall on the wall to his left, filled with over 20 team photos. “Take down one of the team pictures and put that one up. How about the middle one?”

“You sure?”

Tony looked down at Peter, his hand on the side of the kid’s head, smiling as the boy subconsciously cuddled closer, “Yeah, I’m sure.”

He watched as Happy took down the middle picture of the many team portraits, too many if he's honest, putting up the photo of Peter and him in its place. It was a perfect representation of what Tony wanted Peter to understand, that he was surrounded by support and people who actually wanted to be in the boy’s life. He wanted to prove to the kid that he doesn’t have to hide in the shadows, scared to speak, but that he is important to the older man and deserves a place that shows that.

“There, Is that straight?” Happy asks after placing the photo in the middle of the rest.

“Looks good to me.” 

“Do you two need anything else?”

“Nah, you have already done above and beyond Hap. Take the rest of the day off.”

“You sure?” Happy asks, his gaze flickering from Tony to Peter. Worry lines creased his face. Although he has a gruff exterior, he has a soft spot for his best friend and, of course, Peter. 

Tony smiles, “Yeah, I’m sure.” Happy nods before setting the team portrait he took down on a bookshelf nearby,  before heading toward the elevator. 

Once the bodyguard is gone, Tony debates whether to let Peter keep sleeping. He decides that the kid needs to eat. “Pete,” he says softly, hoping not to jar the boy awake. “Time to wake up.” The kid groans, trying to chase the sleep and comfort he’s waking up from. Come on, you need to eat something.”

“Tired,” the boy whines.

Tony chuckles, “I know,” he says, squeezing Peter’s shoulder, “you can go back to sleep after we’ve gotten some food into you.”

Peter’s stomach grumbled at the mention of food. “Sorry,” he said meekly.

“You don’t have to be sorry, but you do have to eat.”

Peter sighs, but sits up. He seems to realize he slept against the older man's chest and looks down, blushing slightly, embarrassed. Tony doesn’t let him sit in his unwarranted embarrassment, though, he gets up, the blankets falling off him, making him shiver at the change in temperature, and holds out his hand for the boy. Peter takes it, getting up and following the mechanic into the kitchen. 

“What would you like for…” Tony looks at his watch, “Wow, a really late dinner?” he laughs. It’s getting close to 10pm.

Peter looks at him sheepishly, “I don’t know, um… what-” He still looks like he’s unsure about talking freely, but Tony is patient. “What do you want?”

Tony smiles, but the kid’s lack of confidence makes him sad: “I asked you first.” He jokes.

“Right, sorry, sorry.”

“It’s fine, Pete, I was just messing with you. If you really don’t want to decide, I can, but there is no wrong answer.”

Peter seems to think it over a lot before finally replying, “Mac and cheese?”

Tony smiles widely, “Sounds good,” he turns to the pantry, “don’t tell Pepper, but I hid a box or two of the good stuff,” he says before he finally finds what he’s looking for and holds up a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese for the kid to see. 

Peter smiles, and Tony starts making the overly processed pasta dish. While he cooks, Peter’s gaze, at one point, lands on the wall of portraits. He has seen the wall before, but now something is different. He hops off the kitchen stool to get a closer look. The center picture is unlike the rest, it was Tony and… and him. Peter keeps staring, thinking maybe it’s an illusion, but when he blinks, it's still there. He must have been looking for quite a while because he snaps out of his focus as Tony calls, “Our delightfully unhealthy dinner is ready!”

The man sets the bowls down and looks around, finding the kid in front of the wall of pictures. “Oh, yeah, what do you think?”

“I-it’s me.”

Tony laughs, “Yeah, it is.” Peter says nothing more as he stares at the photo. “You okay?” The philanthropist asks, concerned as he comes closer.

“Why is it in the middle?” Peter asks. He can’t get over the placement. Tony could have put it anywhere else, tucked into the corner, or not even put up a photo of him at all, but no, it’s in the center. May removed all his photos after Ben passed, so none of this makes sense to him.

“I thought it fit well there, does it not?” 

Peter looks again. He looks at the photo’s surrounding it. The ones of important people, like Pepper and Happy, and literally heroes. “But I don’t fit.”

“What?” Peter shuts his mouth, afraid he said too much. Tony softens his tone, “No, Pete, please tell me what you mean.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he asks quietly, scared to voice his own opinion. Then again, his opinion was never taken to heart much before this, thanks to May.

“Not really, no.”

“Everyone on this wall is important.”

“Yes, and?” Tony had a feeling where this was going.

“And I’m not,” Peter said softly, but so sure.

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m-”

“You are Peter. I know it’s hard, but you said you would try to think more highly of yourself.”

“But these aren’t just random people, these are heroes.”

“So are you.”

“That,” Peter points to his own face in the picture, “is not Spider-Man.”

“Well, I mean, it kind of is.”

“No,” Peter said sadly, “it’s just me, I don’t belong.” 

Tony took a breath, he tried another tactic. “Do you know what I see when I look at this wall?”

“The world's mightiest heroes…” He reluctantly adds, “and me.”

“Not exactly,” Tony says, looking at Peter, “I see the most important people in my life.”

“But-”

Tony stops him, “I see my family.” Peter doesn’t know what to say to that. “If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll take it down, but at least give it a day or two to think about it, okay?”

Peter seems unsure, looking back at the wall. But finally, he hesitantly says, “Okay.”

“Thank you,” the man says sincerely. “Now, let's eat before it gets too cold.” Peter lakes one more look at the wall of photos before following Tony back to the kitchen. They both sit at the kitchen island and eat. He made both boxes, knowing Peter’s appetite is much bigger than his own. At first, the kid refuses the second potion, with the argument of, “I’m being greedy.” Tony assured him that it wasn’t greedy to fulfill his appetite. After a little more convincing, he got Peter to eat a second bowl before sticking both dishes into the dishwasher. 

“Are you still tired?”

Physically, the food had given the kid a bit more energy, but the last few days have really grated on him. He is emotionally exhausted and decides it's best just to go to bed. He nods. 

“To bed it is then,” Tony states.

Peter starts walking in the duration of the room Tony granted him, and is surprised to find the older man walking behind him. Peter is already in his Pj’s, and honestly doesn’t have the energy for self-care such as brushing his teeth right now, so he gets straight into bed. Tony doesn’t comment on it this time, although he will make sure he brushes in the morning. Tony sits on the edge of the bed and adjusts the covers to cover the boy up more. Peter looks up at him with wide, confused eyes that shatter the man’s soul, still not used to being tucked in; being shown parental love.

“Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable.” Tony says, realizing he may have overstepped, coming into Peter’s personal space without asking, trying to juggle giving the kid privacy and personal space while also making sure he’s safe and comfortable.

“No, um,” Peter isn’t used to this, to someone carrying enough to tuck him in, “it’s- uh it’s nice.” He says awkwardly, not sure how to react. 

Tony smiles, “Alright, well, I’ll be just down the hall in my room if you need anything.” Tony pauses for a second, hesitating before asking, “Can I give you a hug?”

Again, Peter doesn’t know how to act, but he nods. Tony leans forward, giving the kid a quick hug and a kiss in the temple. Peter hugged back briefly, but it still felt unusual to him, retracting his arms before Tony let go. The man smiles at him comfortingly before getting up and walking out the door. “Goodnight.” 

Peter stares at the closed door, wishing he had held on longer, but not willing to call out to Tony, still worried he would be inconveniencing the mechanic. He drifts off thinking of the comfort he has craved for so long. He dreams about what life with Tony would be like, assuming the man didn’t get sick of him like Aunt May had. 

For the first time in a long time, Peter thinks maybe this time will be different, maybe this time will be better. Just maybe, he’s not a nothing that takes up space and creates problems. Maybe this time he can actually be happy and maybe even wanted.