Another day and another fight. He wasn't moving as quickly today, or fighting as steady and he knew it. The rock monster slammed a heavy fist down and Peter barely dodged it as Quentin flew over head among a mess of green lasers attacking the monster as Peter pitifully distracted it on the ground.

The monster flailed around knocking a large car towards Peter who webslung out of the way just a touch too slow. His body slammed into a nearby brick wall leaving him winded as he struggled to gain a deep breath.

"Ugh" He muttered as he staggered back into position and readied himself for another blow. Come on Peter, dodge this one.

His thoughts were cut short as a familiar sound filled the air and a thud sounded behind him. He desperately whirled around to face the new arrival, not caring in the slightest if he was struck down by the monster at this point. He'd never thought he'd hear that noise again.

His mouth fell open as he watched the sun glare down and glisten off of red and gold metal. He was so homesick, so beaten down, that the mere sight of the suit brought an immediate sense of childlike security. His feet carried him closer, he didn't even have to think about it. Shakily he reached out. His fingertips longing to touch the suit, to know this was real.

Suddenly he jerked his hand back as he realized how stupid he must look right now. It's not him, you know it's not him, it's just a suit, just a way to get you home. Peter whipped his head around and saw Quentin leading the battle away from them as he finished to end the attack on the city.

"Mr. Rhodes?" Peter asked as he turned back around to face the Iron man suit that was still just standing there with it's faceplate covering the occupant. James Rhodes. That's who this must be. He operated a suit just like Tony's. It had originally been Tony's even. Maybe he'd borrowed one of Tony's more high tech ones.

"Not quite." A familiar voice said and Peter actually stumbled back as the suit opened and Tony walked out of it. Reaching down he actually pinched his skin firmly to try and wake up, but nothing wavered. Tony stood there all the same.

"I don't understand…" Peter murmured lost for words as he blinked rapidly. Wondering with each opening of his eyes when the man in front of him would be gone. Peter Parker was never lost for words, Aunt May used to tease him about that all the time. Here now though, as he stared into the eyes of someone who was supposed to be dead, words failed him.

"Time machines, wizards, superheros, Wakanda healing tech. Lets just say I know people." Tony answered pretending to list each thing off of his fingers.

"That's not possible. They told me they wouldn't go back for you. I tried to get them to do exactly that." Peter retorted shaking his head and Tony sighed.

"Well things change when a 16 year old kid with powers goes on the run with a lunatic and destroys large areas of Europe. What's that saying? Desperate times?" Tony snapped and suddenly Peter realized how furious the man in front of him looked. There was nothing left in his expression from the last time he had seen him alive on the battlefield. No tenderness and vulnerability, no understanding.

"It's not that simple Mr. Stark…I had to go on the run." Peter started to explain desperately. After everything, after longing to see him, the very last thing he wanted to do was fight with Tony. If anything it was the opposite, he just wanted to run forward and embrace the man. He didn't understand how this was possible, he still wasn't convinced he wasn't dreaming it.

"I'm telling you it is that simple Parker. The coverage on this has changed. People are starting to think you and your strange new friend are behind this. After everything that's happened kid I thought you'd be smarter about this." Tony scolded, stepping closer, as Peter now backed away.

"SHIELD wasn't looking out for people and they sure as hell weren't looking out for me. Quentin and I are just trying to help." Peter defended gesturing behind him where the city was in shambles. How could Tony not see how much worse this could have been had Quentin and himself not shown up. Shown up like they always did. SHIELD was never on scene the moment these took place. Quentin didn't waste time and resources, he just jumped into battle because he'd seen the sinister side of these monsters attacks on his version of earth.

"Then you should have came to the Avenger's for help. The team I set up for people like you!" Tony yelled and Peter flinched. Anger began to ebb to the surface at the jab though.

"People like me?" Peter asked and Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, People like you Peter. People who have powers and are too young to handle themselves alone." Tony explained impatiently.

"I tried going to the Avengers. They denied me. I told you that already!" Peter yelled back.

"No they denied your childlike request to try and raise a dead man!"
"Then why the hell are you here now? You're here now aren't you! It doesn't seem so childlike and absurd then does it!?" Peter yelled, his voice hoarse as tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. He hated how his emotions betrayed him that way. He was thankful his mask shielded his face.

"You should know all about them rejecting you. Siberia ring a bell?" Peter asked his voice quiet now but he added as much sting into the words that his voice could muster.

"You don't know when to admit you're wrong or when to back the hell down. I can't believe I thought mentoring you would change anything. " Tony replied coldly and Peter scoffed.

"You dragged me into this! I was fine just being a neighborhood hero." He yelled, stung by the words.

"You were a vigilante who was bound to end up in jail or dead without me." Tony said simply, as if clarifying the most basic of facts.

"Yeah and you used me in your fight against Steve Rogers." Peter shot back and Tony didn't respond for a long moment this time. Peter took this as all the admission he needed at the accusation. Suddenly he didn't know anything about the man who was standing in front of him.

He thought back to that day in his small bedroom in Queens. He'd told Tony why he did what he did, and Tony sat next to him with a hand on his shoulder. It was the first time he'd had an interaction like that with a man to whom he'd looked up to since Uncle Ben died.

That had become a pivotal memory in his mind on why he'd wanted to become an Avenger. Had it really all been bullshit? Now that Thanos was gone was Tony showing his true colors and checking out?

Had he wasted weeks, months almost, mourning a man whom he'd considered to be a father figure all for nothing? Had it really been all in his head? Clutching one of his wrists with his other hand he squeezed it tightly. He felt as though he was slowly going crazy, that he didn't know a thing about what he thought he'd believed in before.

"What matters is that I'm here to bring you home. General Ross wants a word with your time over here. Maybe we can still salvage your reputation." Tony said reaching out for Peter's upper arm.

"What!?" Peter yelped backing up in horror at the words. Tony hated Ross. Ross put Avenger's in prison cells and Tony was just gonna take him to that man?

"Oh don't act surprised that they knew it was Spider man over here. Not that ridiculous night monkey bullshit the public eats up. I mean honestly, night monkey?" Tony complained with a heavy roll of his eyes.

"I'm sure as hell not meeting with Ross. That'll go over real well when I show up in my suit even though the guy clearly hates people like me!"

"You wouldn't show up in your suit Peter. He already knows who you are for christs sake." Tony explained in exasperation.

"What!?" Peter yelped again looking up at the man in disbelief. Suddenly he felt as if he was seeing Tony for the first time. Maybe all the rumors about the cold hearted billionaire arms dealer he had heard weren't so far off base.

"I had to disclose the information I had about you Peter. They needed something to keep the growing tension at bay so they wouldn't pursue you harder or smear Spider man's name further." Tony defended and Peter just shook his head in disbelief.

"You knew what that meant to me." Peter whispered and his mouth fell open when Tony actually rolled his eyes.

"It didn't change anything did it though Peter. Seems to me like you abandoned the people you were trying to protect by hiding who you were anyways." Tony said, his voice low and unapologetic.

"Who even are you?" Peter asked his voice cracking as he fought to hold back more tears that stung at his eyes.

"I'm just a guy who has been trying to protect you from day one Peter. The guy fighting the insistence that you were too young for this, that I picked the wrong guy. I'm starting to think they were right." Tony said with a finality ringing in his words.

Peter made a choice in a split second, before he could let the emotions drown him any further. It felt as though if he didn't get out of there now he'd be rooted there for good in endless disbelief and disappointment. He gave one last look back at the man to whom he'd once idolized.

He held his arm up and his webbing released as he flew up into the sky, web slinging all the way back to the flat that he and Quentin were crashing at. Not once did he dare to look back. He stumbled into the living room ten minutes later and collapsed onto the sofa.

Ripping his mask off he let the tears roll down his cheeks freely now. Briefly he wondered about Quentin but let the thought pass knowing his friend would be able to handle himself. He couldn't allow much space in his mind for anything other than crushing discontent. He was absolutely mortified that he had allowed himself to think he was anything more than a pawn in Tony's game.

When Iron man had shown up he'd felt that overwhelming sense of familiarity and comfort that comes from something that reminds you of home. Now he balanced on the edge of something strange. The longing that still resided for Aunt May, Ned, and MJ clashed with the crushing disappointment he'd experienced seeing Tony again.

May, Ned, MJ… they'd never understand this side of his life. Apparently Tony hadn't even understood him. Was there anything left for him at home now that secretary Ross knew who he was. Could even go back home without hurting people in the process?

His brain ached as he was torn between nostalgia for the familiar and a new urge to continue on his path of the foreign and strange. Quentin might just be the only friend he had left.


The small circular table in the center of the room was surrounded with people. Every single chair that was available was taken by someone. Rhodey, Clint, Wanda, Stephen, Sam, Bucky, Tony, and Steve.

It was the first time they had all been together in one room in a very long time. Most of them had gathered together about bringing back Tony, but there was a different dynamic now, because Steve and Tony sat next to each other at the head of the table.

Tony leaned in and pointed to something on his tablet in his hands and Steve looked down and murmured something back. It would be easy for an impartial person who didn't know the story of the Sokovia accords to look at the two men and see nothing more than teammates, friends even.

Smiles crept onto the faces of several people at the table as they observed the two while they patiently waited for the meeting to start. The story may have featured Tony and Steve at the forefront but they had all been affected too. The Avengers were the only family some of them had.

Bruce strode into the room throwing his lab coat over his shoulder before joining them. He grabbed a bar stool from the corner and pulled it up to the table. Tony greeted him with a nod of his head.

"That everyone?" He asked Steve who nodded while looking around the table.

"Great. I just want to say thank you to you all. I know bringing me back involved some effort and support from you all. I'm not good with the whole feelings thing, which I'm sure you've noticed… but thank you. Just thank you." Tony said looking around at them all. Sincerity ripped through his heart as a lump threatened to grow in his throat.

He'd dreamt of the vision Wanda had placed in his head so many times. Of the Avengers ruined and dead because of him. There were also the memories of several of them in Ross's prison, hating him for his part in it. Restless nights of knowing that Thanos had taken many of them away. He never thought he'd be here again with them all. All that was missing was Peter, and that brought him back to business.

"We are glad you are back Stark. Your daughter has a father again, and soon Peter will be home too." Wanda responded looking pleased. Tony smiled somewhat awkwardly at her. He'd never known what to think of her or shared many conversations with her.

"Yes, speaking of Peter. That's why we've gathered you all here today. We have our first mission as a team since Thanos and since the Accords." Steve said and Tony glanced around the table to gauge the reactions of his friends at the mention of the Accords. The anxiety settled in him when none of their faces betrayed any hint of emotion towards the word. Indeed they all just looked to Steve with expressions of concern.

"Do we have any new information?" Sam Wilson asked and Tony sighed while nodding his head.

"Unfortunately we do. I've got the name of the man operating with Peter. He's called Mysterio in his suit but the man behind Mysterio's real name is Quentin Beck." Tony explained as he tapped away at his tech and a projection of the battle with the elementals flashed to light above the table.

"Shit." Clint muttered watching the destruction that was displayed on the screen.

"So Becks the glowing green guy? What's his deal?" Bruce asked peering over his glasses as he studied the battle.

"Yes. His deal is he was a former Stark Industry employee who I had to fire when his ideas became too wild and out of control. Well, obviously that didn't go over well." Tony explained darkly as he thought back to the charming and brilliant young man he'd hired years ago, who eventually became too crazy behind the eyes as he explained his plans.

"Well we know is he's charming. He got in with SHIELD and got a hell of a lot of information from them because they were trying to recruit him as a new Avenger and trusted him. That's where Peter comes in." Steve explained pointing to the black clad figure moving across the screen as well.

"Peter was already at a low point so he took advantage of him." Wanda stated sadly, her eyes far away. Tony remembered how something similar had happened to Wanda with Ultron when she was young and broken just like Peter.

"What makes Peter so special? Why use the kid?" Bucky asked in confusion and Tony didn't miss the side glance Steve shot at him when Bucky spoke.

"What makes him special is that he was important to me." Tony responded, keeping his voice smooth and impassive as he replied to Bucky. Tony rolled his eyes at Steve when he heard the man audibly release a held breath of air.

"Yes but you were dead so why does that matter? Why didn't he go for a partner in Wanda or someone stronger?" Sam asked in confusion, Wanda visibly smirked at the praise.

"Well no offense to you Wanda, but Peter has something we all lack. There is something refreshing and positive the public sees about how Spiderman operates. Just a guy taking care of his city. It's just so fucking pure." Tony explained and Sam tilted his head agreement.

"I still don't understand, just because the public admires him? What's his endgame here?" Clint asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Quentin Beck was always obsessed with recognition and praise. I think there was something about Spider Man's overall admiration, tagged along with him being something like my apprentice, that caught his eye." Tony explained sadly.

"So he just wants news coverage? That's pretty lame." Rhodey muttered and Clint nodded pursing his lips.

"Well there is more… It's just a thought though. I was thinking that in the end he might try and take Spider Man's place. Everyone has been calling Spider man the new Iron man across all the news networks and I think Quentin longs to take that place instead." Tony explained his tone darkening with anger.

"You think he's gonna take him out?" Steve asked in alarm and Tony only nodded.

"That will just paint him as a villain though? I thought he was after praise?" Wanda asked hurriedly her eyes full of concern now.

"I think he's behind these monsters. Again this is just my intuition telling me something but illusion tech is what he always pitched when working for me. He was good at it too. I think he's gonna have these monsters take out Spider man and paint himself the hero while finally ending the attacks." Tony said and they all stared back at him in horror.

"Surely he can't be behind this though. I mean look at this! It's more than just illusions, there's damaged cities that have paid the price." Bucky reason looking unconvinced and Tony shrugged his shoulders.

"Not if he's got a team, or droids. There has gotta be more to it. I just find it strange Peter and Quentin are always on and off scene before SHIELD or any other agency can pick up a trace. It's just too perfect how the chips have fallen." Tony explained.

"What matters is we need to get to the kid though. Tony and I have been reviewing the footage and the kid is weakening with each appearance." Steve said firmly but he was interrupted as the door flew open.

Pepper strode into the room looking uncharastically flustered. Her face betrayed an expression of anger as a tablet was clutched firmly in her hands.

"I know I should be resting but…" Tony started but she silenced him with a look as she tapped away at her tablet.

"This isn't about that. I know you've been sneaking out of the room Tony. There's something you need to see." She explained quickly projecting a new image above the table.

"Fuck." Tony cursed immediately.

"Shit." Rhodey echoed in agreement.

"So that illusion tech I was questioning you on… well I think you may have been right unless you took a surprise trip to Europe." Bucky muttered awkwardly.

"You shoot him over to Europe with one of your spinning portals?" Sam asked Strange as he nudged his shoulder.

"Can't say I did." Strange replied curtly.

Tony looked up at the screen from a news story. In bold letters under the video it read 'BREAKING NEWS: TONY STARK BACK FROM THE DEAD AND IN EUROPE?'

He watched the replica of his suit approach Peter and a familiar feeling of sadness filled him as he watched the kid reach out to try and touch the suit before yanking his arm back. There was no audio on the video but as the imposter of himself emerged it became clear there were harsh words being exchanged to Peter who was backing away from the man.

Tony's hands balled into fists as a rock flew at the news camera and cut the picture away. The news anchor went on but he didn't hear her continue, not with the ringing in his ears.

"We've got to give the press something now. Cats out of the bag." Pepper exclaimed in frustration and Tony shook his head rubbing his temple. Dealing with his own return from the dead was the last thing on his mind. Beck was using him to get to Peter now.

"No what we've got to do is get to Peter. I don't know what bullshit that bastard is feeding the kid but it didn't look good." He stated coldly and Pepper nodded, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"We'll find him." Steve insisted and Tony only nodded. They had to find him, because Beck was a dead man when he got his hands on him.