author's note: Hey all! I updated the previous chapter and added a few important plot-related things to it, so please read that before reading this!

Tony Stark knew something was wrong with Peter the second he heard JARVIS announce the kid's arrival in his lab. Namely, because he was supposed to be keeping himself busy in New Jersey on a decathlon trip, as per his agreement with Tony and his Aunt May to balance both school and "work".

Even Tony, with his head permanently in the throes of blueprints and future projects, had remembered that much (though that was partially thanks to JARVIS' daily reminders and partially because the kid wouldn't shut up about the upcoming trip with how excited he was for the event).

Tony spared a second to wonder whether or not he should worry. He decided the fact that Peter was still in New York was vaguely concerning, though more concerning was the kid's uncharacteristic silence. Usually, Peter was jumping about the lab with wide-eyes, asking Tony to look at the schematics for one project or another.

Otherwise, he'd be studying intently in the corner or playing around with any of the bots. The awkward twiddling and fidgety gestures he was making, on the other hand, weren't quite the norm.

"Hey, kid? Aren't you supposed to have galloped off to New Jersey on your white horse about —" Tony gestured at one of JARVIS' sensors with an oil covered elbow.

"Seven and a half hours ago, sir," JARVIS filled in knowingly. His voice sounded only faintly disappointed that Tony didn't know this Very Important Information off the top of his head.

Tony hummed in response and considered looking at Peter to gauge his response to his awkward prodding. Instead, he gestured for DUMMY to hand him a wrench and promptly muttered a curse when DUMMY dropped a screwdriver into his hand instead.

Peter leaned against a nearby lab table, and watched Tony fiddle with the wiring of his latest project, somewhat conscientious of the expensive equipment in the lab.

"I'm good, thanks for asking Mr. Stark!" He reassured his mentor quickly.

Tony glanced back with a raised eyebrow and a scolding already on his lips.

"Right, well, that not really what I asked. Anyway, you're about as convincing at lying as Hammer is at schmoozing. What's really happening?"

Peter rubbed the back of his neck nervously and looked around the pristine lab.

"Um, well. The decathlon trip was delayed and it turns out it's sorta being held in London? Like London, England sort of London," Peter explained. "And I've already told May and she's all 'you should go, Peter' and um..."

Tony snorted.

"And, just. If I leave, there's not going to be anyone to stop crime like muggings, or even anyone to fetch cats out of trees! Which I've only done once or twice, by the way."

"New York won't fall apart if you aren't there for a week. Anyway, it's not like you need my blessing either, kid. Go! Be a normal teenager; not a souped up spider kid," Peter opened his mouth to reply and Tony interrupted, "And pass me that cable looking thing over there."

Peter fetched the cable and continued speaking.

"But I won't be there to stop any crimes! Someone could get hurt!"

He sounded genuinely broken up over the possibility. Tony wondered if he could get that sort of emotion in a jar and use it next time he had to get out of trouble with Ross. He put down his tools and turned to look at Peter.

"Look, I know you don't believe me, but looking after every single person in the city isn't your responsibility just because you have super powers. You should relax once in a while and let other people, who are paid and trained, do the job. There are tons of superheroes flying around, whether Ross or anyone else wants them here or not," Tony muttered the last part. "New York will be fine."

By the time Tony looked at Peter again, the kid seemed less gloomy. Tony was glad to see him brighten up; he hadn't dealt with teenage angst since his own days as an early high school grad in MIT, and he wasn't about to start now.

"Thanks so much Mr. Stark!" Peter looked ready to ambush him for a hug. Instead, he settled on a very enthusiastic wave goodbye and began heading for the door.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Tony shouted to Peter's back.

"— And don't do anything I would do," Peter chimed in. "I remember how it goes Mr. Stark. Goodbye, sir!"

Despite all attempts at dissuading him against it (Well, most attempts. Tony was pretty cocky, after all.) Peter held onto both his hero worship and certain formalities with an iron grip.

Tony watched Peter disappear behind the doors and continued working. After all, he had deadlines that he should at least try to make.

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Peter had never been to a public airport before in his life. In fact, the last and only time he had been in a plane, it was a private flight headed directly to Germany for the fight of his life.

The first thing he noticed was how busy it was. There were people rushing about every which way, lugging backpacks or carrying suitcases behind them. Other people were standing in small groups consulting their phones or just chatting.

The amount of noise and periodic announcements about the cancellation of one flight or the departure of another was astounding and overwhelming. Peter resisted the urge to close his eyes. He put in his earbuds and took careful, slow breaths instead. Somebody grabbed his shirt sleeve and tugged him forward lightly.

"Come on, this way. You've never been to an airport before, right? I think I heard Ned mention this is your first time," Cindy commented. She looked him over once and, after apparently passing muster, the concern in her eyes dropped slightly.

"We're sitting over here and waiting for Flash to get his bags checked in. I know Mr. Harrington warned us to try to bring carry-ons only to make the process easier, but of course Flash would disregard that," Cindy muttered in fond annoyance. Peter couldn't relate.

Ned waved when he and Cindy managed to squirm out of the stream of people and into his eyesight.

"I'm so pumped for this, dude! The flight's kinda long, but I streamed a ton of superhero movies on my laptop. We have a lot to catch up on."

Michelle chimed into the conversation without lifting her nose from her book.

"Don't even think about it, losers. We have a lot of studying to do. Liz said she was planning a sort of quiz bowl on the plane."

Ned barely had time to express his disappointment before they noticed several decathlon members making their way over to security.

"Mr. Harrington is waving us over. It looks like it's time to get in line for security." Cindy pointed toward Mr. Harrington. He was indeed waving his arms and gesturing for the students to come this way. His bright yellow sweater vest was making an attempt to draw more attention than his dramatically flailing arms, and Peter couldn't decide which of the two made him more noticeable.

MJ caught his eye and stifled a smile, after having come to the exact same conclusion. She began moving toward the line and Peter grabbed the handle of his suitcase and followed the rest of his teammates. It was going to be a long day and, like Ned had said, an even longer flight.

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authors note:

I guess i'm back? Sorry about the update time, this is...very hard to write. But at least I finally have something vaguely resembling a plot set up. Since my last update, i've been writing a lot (insert shameless plug to check out other works on my profile) so my style has changed a little. I hope no-one minds.

Thanks for all the favorites/favs/follows. And the reviews, especially! They fuel me to write more. Also I appreciate any feedback for this chapter because I'm still not entirely confident in it. Let me know what ya'll think!