The flight back to the tower was a quiet one.

  Ironman streaming across the New York skyline with an embarrassed Spider-man in his arms? Yeah, not really conversation striking.

  Peter was more then embarrassed though, he was mortified. The fact that Mr. Stark had not only tracked him down, but saved his life? May hadn't been the yelling or lecturing type, but Mr. Stark sure was. Peter would be hearing this for days and he could definitely kiss Spider-man goodbye.

  The pair touched down on the tower's landing pad, Tony landing with ease and leaving the poor teen to stumble before catching himself. By the time the suit had retracted back into the building, Tony had already started on his rampage.

  "What in the hell were you thinking, boy? Oh, that's right, you weren't! You could've been killed! You cannot, i repeat cannot, be so goddamn reckless while you're wearing that suit! I am-" Tony was cut off by Peter raising a hand. "What?" He demanded.

  Peter didn't even bother to hide the tears pricking at his eyes. He was exhausted and embarrassed and sad and all he wanted to do was go to bed and never wake up. He knew he was going to have to deal with Mr. Stark eventually, but he just didn't have the energy to do it right now. He thought Spider-Manning would get his mind off his troubles, but it only seemed to make them more real once he returned back to being just plain old Peter Parker.

  "..can..we finish this later?" Peter asked, voice tiny in the absence of Tony's yelling. "I don't feel so good."

  Tony's eyes softened only slightly. He went to say something, if only to offer words of comfort but the young and weary teen was already retreating back into the Tower, head down and feet dragging.

  The billionaire waited until he disappeared behind the glass doors before gripping his hair and letting out a groan in frustration.

  "Why can't he just cry?" He wondered aloud to himself. "Why does he always have to be throwing himself into danger?" Tony heaved a sigh and followed the boy into the Tower.

  I guess some people just grieve differently.

***

  Peter slammed the door behind him and flopped onto his bed. He had felt a panic attack coming on as soon as they arrived back at the Tower, and now he was just overflowing with anxiety.

He curled into himself on the bed, tears wetting his eyes as he let reality sink into his skin. It wasn't as if he'd been pretending that it didn't happen, maybe he just kept denying it. But now that Mr. Stark was lecturing him like he was his dad or something? There was no more denying the fact that Peter Parker had been mercilessly thrown into another life.

Peter stifled a sob into his fist, his muscles aching as he made himself as small as possible. He wanted this to stop, he wanted to stop feeling this way. He wanted May.

"Mr. Parker, you seem to be in a state of emotional distress. Shall i contact Boss?" Friday said, a bit of concern detected in her mechanical voice.

Peter wailed louder. The last thing he wanted was to see Mr. Stark. He just wanted to ride this one out alone. He didn't need some billionaire hovering over him like he was a fragile piece of glass or something. Because everyone knew glass was replaceable.

"N-no," Peter wheezed. "Just..can you activate Sensory Overload Protocol?"

"Of course, Mr. Parker."

And Peter let himself cry in the sudden darkness of his bedroom.

***

  "Sensory Overload Protocol activated," Friday's voice came from overhead, followed by the whole tower plunging into absolute darkness. Tony stopped in his tracks.

  "What was that Fri? Sensory Overload Protocol?" Tony asked, though he felt he already knew the answer.

  "Yes sir, Mr. Parker asked me to initiate Sensory Overload-"

  "Yeah, yeah, i got that. Why?" Tony interrupted the AI, starting towards the teen's bedroom.

  "Mr. Parker's anxiety and stress levels are significantly increased. He seemed to be in distress," Friday reported back.

  Tong cursed under his breath. Was it because he yelled? Did something happen while he was out on patrol? Why wouldn't this kid just talk to him?!

  Tony reached Peter's room, hand jiggling the knob. "Peter, kid?" He said. "It's me. Let me in."

There was scuffling from behind the door and then it opened. The room inside was bright again, as was the rest of the Tower, and Peter Parker stood in the doorway, a big smile on his face.

"H-hey, Mr. Stark!" He greeted. "What's up?"

Tony took a step back, examining the kid with confusion etched into every line of his face.

"Mr. Stark?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"..you need something?"

  Tony struggled to wipe the offended expression from his features as he stared at the boy. He seemed fine...so why was Sensory Overload Protocol activated?

"Mr. Stark? Are you okay?" Peter asked quietly, taking a step out into the hallway.

Tony shook his head. "Kid," He said. "Friday activated Sensory Overload Protocol. You good?"

Peter bobbed his head. "Yeah, why wouldn't i be?"

Oh, i don't know, maybe because your aunt just died and you've been acting like everything is fine, Tony thought with a tiny roll of his eyes. "You just seem shaken up is all. Know I'm here if you want to talk, okay? I know this isn't easy," he settled with saying.

  Tony noticed how the kid slightly flinched when he said that. Peter swayed on his feet before leaning against the doorframe. "I just don't want a repeat of Uncle Ben, is all," Peter sighed.

  Tony nodded along encouragingly.

  "I don't want to fall under. Not again. I don't know if i could resurface this time," Peter continued. "May...god, it's almost like she knew. Maybe that's why she sent me to you," the teen looked at the man when he said this, eyes big, glass orbs.

  "I think she knew you wouldn't leave me alone."

Tony felt a little part of him die inside. How was he supposed to respond to that? The fact that he didn't even know this kid a little more then a year ago and now they were practically family was shocking, if not frightening. How did he end up with this kid as his son-adoptive son? How did he end up being his aunt's last resort, if not her first choice?

Tony didn't say anything, he just simply couldn't. He had no words to describe how much Peter's agony hurt him. So, he just pulled the teen into his chest, a hand on the back of his head.

"You're not going under, you hear me?" Mr. Stark said, a certain determination in his voice. "And if you do, you sure ain't going under alone."

Peter smiled into his mentors shoulder before closing his eyes and letting himself cry.