Peter started to wake when his sensitive ears caught hushed whispering. His groggy brain registered 2 voices. Peter cracked open his eyes to see the blurry image of Captain America standing in front of him. The 2 older men didn't seem to notice that Peter was awake yet, so he shut his eyes and listened to their conversation.

"Bucky, you should've called the moment you found out where he was," Steve chastised.

"He doesn't need to be locked up like a wild animal."

"We wouldn't do that, Bucky, you know that."

"What I know is that Stark overreacts when it comes to Peter's safety, and nobody would tell him to cool off," Bucky argued. Steve sighed and took a seat by Peter's feet.

"What happened? Was he trying to—" the words "commit suicide" hung unspoken in the air. It made Peter anxious, but he remained still.

"That's not my story to tell," Bucky answered simply.

"Buck, this is a KID we're talking about, He doesn't have the emotional maturity and life perspective to handle this alone."

"I'm not a kid, and I'm not 'handling this' alone," Peter spoke up. The teen sat up so he could speak properly to the duo.

"And Mr. Barnes is right. What happened today is for ME to tell when I'm ready." Bucky couldn't help the proud smirk that pulled on his lips. Steve looked stunned.

"Right then. when you're ready to talk we will listen," Steve stood up," until then, it's time for you to come home." Bucky opened his mouth to protest, but Peter placed his hand on Bucky's human hand.

"I'm ready," Peter assured before standing as well.

"Thank you, Mr. Barnes, for everything." Bucky quirked his lips upwards into a sad smile as Peter and Steve left.

When Peter arrived at the Tower common room, he was crushed by Tony's arms in a sudden embrace.

"Oh, Peter! I'm so glad you're okay," Tony exclaimed in relief as he held Peter to his chest. The teen hugged back, careful not to use too much strength.

"Where were you? What happened? How did Steve find you? Are you hurt?" Tony asked rapid-fire questions. Peter couldn't find it in himself to answer them at the moment, so he pulled back from Tony and planted his hands on the older man's shoulders.

"I'm fine now. I just needed some time to process. I'll tell you everything when I'm ready," Peter answered as calmly as he could. Tony looked surprised but nodded.

"Okay then, I can wait until you're ready." The silent apology was clear in his statement.

Peter smiled gently, "I forgive you, Mr. Stark." Tony let out a breath of relief and hugged Peter again.

After a few weeks, things began to return to normal. Peter went out on patrol after dinner and sometimes before lunch if the Tower was quiet. Besides being Spider-Man, Peter spent most of his time working in the lab with Tony or assisting Bruce. From time to time he would even be invited to train with the Avengers. Everything was going great until Peter met a robber in a Queens alleyway. The criminal was trying to steal a purse from an old woman. Peter dropped down between them heroically.

"Go ask your own grandmother for cash," Peter quipped. The robber was distracted long enough for the old woman to flee. The man shot at Peter, who easily dodged it. The bullet ricocheted off of the alley wall and hit the robber between the eyes. He fell to the ground lifelessly.

"No!" Peter shouted as he dropped to his knees by the criminal, checking his pulse. He was dead.

"KAREN, call an ambulance!" Peter began CPR on the man, but it was of no use. He could hear the sirens coming, they were just a few streets from the hospital. Peter hoped that the hospital staff could work a medical miracle. The teen swung away from the scene, planning to return to the Tower. He had to stop on a random office building rooftop. Peter's heart hammered against his ribcage, his lungs refused to take in a full breath. The corners of Peter's vision dimmed as he gasped for air. The teen unceremoniously sat on the rooftop, having minimal control of his body which was shaking like a leaf.

"Peter, it appears that you are having a panic attack. Would you like me to contact Mr. Stark?" KAREN offered.

"No! No, don't call him," Peter rasped.

"If your episode continues, I am obligated to contact Mr. Stark." Peter hastily pulled off his mask and tried to breathe. He felt pinpricks in his fingertips and toes while his arteries throbbed in time with his rapid heartbeat. Peter wasn't sure how long he remained in that state on the rooftop, but his phone began buzzing in his pocket. He read the caller ID. If his heart rate wasn't incredibly high already, it would have skyrocketed.

"M-Mr. Stark," Peter's voice wavered as he spoke.

"Peter, FRI told me you're having a panic attack. What's going on?" Tony asked worriedly. There was a moment of silence on Peter's end. All that could be heard was city traffic and muffled sobbing.

"He's dead," Peter finally said.

"Who's dead? Peter, You have to breathe. Breathe first, then tell me who." Peter shakily inhaled and exhaled a few times. It didn't do anything to ease him, but at least he wasn't on the brink of passing out.

"A man, a robber. I tried—" Peter's voice failed him, "I tried to stop him from robbing some lady. He shot at me and the bullet— I'm supposed to save people! I—" Peter was hyperventilating again.

"Peter! Pete, come on, breathe! I'm on my way to you, please just breathe." Tony considered flying out to him in his suit, but Peter didn't need the spectacle. Tony could hear the headlines already (Ironman Carries Spidey Bridal Style After His Rooftop Meltdown!). Tony hopped in his fastest car and sped off, breaking the few traffic laws New York actually followed. Peter put his mask back on and made his way down to a nearby park bench with KAREN's direction. Peter felt numb and exhausted. Utterly exhausted. His body has a 5-second delay for every movement. The teen could barely keep his eyes open. So, when Tony Stark pulled up next to him, Peter didn't move an inch. He still didn't move when the man took a seat next to him on the bench, not even to acknowledge that he heard Tony calling his name. Peter's legs only walked to the car because Tony was guiding their path. The same for their way to Peter's room in the Tower. Tony pulled off Peter's mask and tilted his head from side to side, examining him for any injuries.

"Pete, kiddo, what the hell happened out there?" Tony's voice was saturated with concern. Peter remained silent. He didn't have the energy nor the emotional capacity to tell Tony how badly he fucked up. Tony sighed and let Peter lay down on his bed. The man pulled the comforter up to Peter's shoulders and sat by his bedside for a bit, stroking Peter's hair. Once the teen was asleep, Tony quietly soundlessly left and locked himself in his lab.

"FRIDAY, bring up today's footage on Peter's suit." He sat down and watched with a furrowed brow.