The air in Stark Tower was light today, lighter than the mood had been for a long while. It was almost like a holiday this day, everyone was finally in a good mood once again. The playful vibes spreading throughout calmed the anxious Peter a bit.

Peter had been recovering for the past month and a half in Stark Tower. In all honesty, he enjoyed every moment of it. The kid was forever thankful for the days Pepper spent watching Netflix with him and the times him and Tony would sit out on the balcony and just watch the sparking city never cease below them. Stark Tower became a second home to Peter in this time, this time when he became familiar with every nook and cranny and could walk around the whole place blindfolded if he really wanted to. It would definitely be a change going from this ginormous complex to him and Aunt May's small apartment in Queens.

Peter was nervous to head back home, not for the reasons you'd think. He wasn't too afraid of the negative press that Spider-Man had been getting, and he certainly didn't fear for his safety or anything. Peter Parker was unrecognizable, even though he revealed himself, people wouldn't be able to spot the civilian Spider-Man even if they tried. Peter was afraid that Aunt May would be mortified of him. He hadn't seen May in months, not since the initial start of the Venom fiasco. Peter did speak to his aunt briefly over the phone and on Skype when he was injured, but seeing her in person? That was an all different story.

Peter hadn't told May (or anyone, for that matter) about the things that kept him awake at night. He did speak to Tony once about these flashbacks, these past realities that haunted him. Tony did help, but he was going through the same thing too. Peter didn't want to plague the Iron Avenger with the problems of some insignificant 15 year old kid when he had his own battles to fight.

Peter could only imagine what May was going through when she watched all of this on the news. He should've at least been a decent kid and called her so she wouldn't have to get whatever lies that tabloids were picking up and spreading out like a wildfire. Because of this, the spider kid was afraid that when he got home, it wouldn't feel like home anymore. It would just be a place of Aunt May's constant fear and worry, and it would be his fault.

Peter now found himself with his heavy backpack filled to the brim with his clothes, medications and other miscellaneous things Pepper forced him to bring along at the entry way to Stark Tower. The glistening silver building stood proud over New York, reflections from every passerby and building visible in the windows.

"If the subway is too much hassle for you, I can always get Happy to take you back home." Tony repeated himself again, hand on the kid's shoulder as he walked him down the steps of the large building. Tony was obviously changed after all of this, and that's something Peter didn't wish to acknowledge. The man seemed more rough and emotionless, though he still kept up a facade around Peter that he was the same man as he was before Venom. Tony didn't fool Peter one bit, Peter had been there for a couple of his outbursts. But, Peter figured that it made Tony feel more like himself and in control, so he pretended that he didn't have a clue that Tony was broken.

Peter shook his head adamantly at Tony, letting an awkward laugh escape his lips as he denied him again. "Mr. Stark, you - uh - you don't have to do that." Peter says again, then in his head he immediately feels the need to provide more explanation. He always felt so pressured around Tony, as though if he said the wrong thing once that Mr. Stark'd give up and never want to help him again. "Of course, thanks for the offer! - uh, and your generosity! But I'll just take the subway back." Peter fixes what he said very quickly this time, pulling away from Tony's arm as they came to the bottom of the steps.

The Iron Avenger let out a chuckle at the kid's awkwardness. Peter was a good kid, there was no doubt in Tony's mind that he'd do just fine for the five days he was allowed away from Stark Tower. Tony wanted to let Peter stay home with his family longer, but there were things forming. Tony wanted to make sure that Peter was ready in case the worse happened when he was at home, and if it happened while he was at Stark Tower he'd be there. "Don't do anything stupid while you're away, alright kid?" Tony questioned the spider hero, facing him straight on now. Peter's eyes stared innocently back at him, Tony could tell that the kid was paying attention to his every word and absorbing them as though they were the Bible. He would really need to get Peter out of that habit; not that being a good listener was a bad thing or anything of the sort. "And, if you do decide to put on your suit and go out to stop crime, I will know and I will make you come back here early. Want to know how I'll know?" Tony paused, not missing a beat as he derived Peter of the chance to respond. "I've got my stupid Peter senses just as you've got your weird danger...what was it? Spider senses, right!"

The Iron Avenger paused now, his eyes softening a tiny bit (which wasn't as much as you think it would be) as he looked down at the cheerful kid. Yeah, Peter would do great things some day. Tony would never be able to imagine going through the things Peter went through at such a young age and to keep fighting on as though nothing happened. He was three times the age of this kid and even he had trouble doing that, though he would never admit to it. Tony gave Peter one last pat on the shoulder before gently shoving him off in the direction of the sidewalk. "See you soon, spider-boy." Tony called out to the young kid, not staying to watch him walk away. He knew very well that Peter wanted to say more, probably something about thanking him, blah blah blah, but he didn't have time for things like that. Well, he did, he just didn't want to hear things like that from Peter. The kid had more reasons to hate him than he did to thank him, yet he always thanked the Iron Avenger. Tony was still confused by this.

Peter popped his earbuds in right after Stark finished delivering what some would call a stern talking to, but Peter just knew that as a friendly Tony goodbye and sort of threat that wasn't a threat, but really was. He was sucked back into the crowd of the moving sidewalks, but he didn't complain. Peter was happy to be a nobody again, to be a friendly neighborhood nerd once more. Unfortunately, that wouldn't last as long as anyone hoped it would.