Author's Note: I admit I wasn't 100% sure about the last chapter. Can Steve get a sensory overload? I wasn't sure, as I've only read one or two stories where he has one, but I wanted to show a little vulnerability with him. This is the chapter that's teased about in the summary! This one's a little out of the box but I wanted to do something a little less obvious, as well as bring in the IronDad element from Steve's perspective.

"I just wish he would trust me out there, you know? I wasn't doing anything reckless! I couldn't let something happen to him if I could do something about it! Why can't he understand that?"

Somewhat reluctantly, Tony had allowed Peter to come along when the Avengers were called to take care of the latest threat. To Peter's credit, for the most part he did as he was directed, securing the perimeter and getting civilians out of the way. It wasn't until he saw that Iron Man was unknowingly in the line of fire that he got more involved. Spider-man swung close and pushed Iron Man out of the way just in time, almost getting hit by an energy beam himself. While grateful neither one of them was hurt, Tony didn't take too kindly to Peter putting himself in harm's way on his account. On the Quinjet on the way back to the Compound, Tony and Peter exchanged some choice words, resulting in the two of them storming off to their respective spaces once they returned. Tony retreated to his workshop and Peter presumably went off to his room.

Steve had tried going to talk to Tony, but the engineer had put his workshop on lockdown. Nothing short of a life-threatening emergency was going to get him to open it up right now. So, Steve went to go find Peter, hoping he would have better luck with him. It was how he now found himself sitting next to the kid on his bed.

"It's not that he doesn't trust you," Steve replied. "If he didn't, I don't think he'd support you going around as Spider-man the way he does. But things like what happened earlier scare him. And I've come to realize he often masks that fear by lashing out."

"But nothing did happen!", Peter argued, "We won, and everyone is fine!"

"You're right, pretty much everything worked in our favor," Steve explained, "This time. But Tony's always thinking ahead, to the next time, and the time after that. He's thinking about all the possible what-if scenarios. He feels like he's thrown off if he hasn't thought of how to handle every contingency. And he doesn't have a plan if something serious were to happen to you."

"Sounds kinda similar to something he said to me once before," Peter said, calming down as he seemed to be remembering some past incident that Steve had not been privy to. "But he doesn't have to feel responsible for everything that happens to me."

Steve was aware that Tony had larger issues with guilt and responsibility, but he also knew that when it came to Peter, it was more than simply holding himself accountable. "Tony always hates it when someone takes a hit, or almost takes a hit, that was meant for him. God knows I've been on the receiving end of that argument more times than I can count. But when it's you? That's a whole different level. You may already be aware of this, but he cares about you very much. He sees you as family." Not that long ago, Tony had let it slip to Steve exactly how he saw Peter. However, Steve avoided specifically using the L- or S-word with the kid. If Tony hadn't yet told Peter that he loved him like a son, Steve didn't think it was his place to say it. That was a discussion for the two of them.

"'Sometimes people care too much. I think it's called love'", Peter quoted, not quite looking at Steve, his growing slightly wider as if he were just now realizing something. "Sorry, that made me think of a line from an old cartoon I used to watch when I was little."

Steve smirked at him. "Believe it or not, I got that reference. It's actually from a children's book that came out when I was a kid. I think it describes your situation perfectly."

"I dunno, I said some things to him that now I'm not too proud of," Peter said dejectedly. "Mr. Stark probably hates me now."

"You both said some things," Steve admitted. "He and I have had our fair share of arguments, going all the way back to the day we met. But so far, we've managed to work things out. I don't think there's anything you could do that would make him hate you."

Peter sighed. "I care about him a lot too. Almost like a, well, like a father-figure, I guess?" Peter's expression momentarily turned bitter. "And it seems like I tend to lose them. Fathers and father-figures, I mean. So, I'd rather not lose another one, you know?" Peter sighed. "I don't know if that makes any sense."

"I think it definitely makes sense," Steve replied sympathetically, "Family goes beyond your blood relations, after all."

Peter looked wistful. "Technically May isn't even related to me. So, I guess you could say my family is already like that."

Steve grew thoughtful for a minute. "For a long time growing up, it was just me and my Ma. I met Bucky while we were still kids. He became my best friend, and eventually he was more like a brother. He did his best to look out for me, pulling me out of street fights, setting me up with dates, offering to let me stay with him after my Ma-," Steve's voice caught briefly, "well, after I found myself on my own. Before I was Captain America, he was one of the few who saw past my physical appearance. And after I became Captain America, he was one of the few who still saw me as Steve Rogers. I know he and I still see each other as family, even after everything that's happened."

Peter was quiet as he thought about what Steve said and after a minute Steve continued. "A found family can be just as meaningful as one you were born into, sometimes more, because you chose each other."

Peter looked away as he spoke. "That makes sense now that I think about it. I guess I should go talk to Mr. Stark, huh? If he'll even want to see me, that is."

Steve had a knowing look in his eye. "Well he did have the workshop on lockdown, but I have a feeling he'll make an exception when FRIDAY tells him it's you at the door."