Wow! I am just overwhelmed! The continued support for my story is truly inspirational.

We also proved my theory, ya'll love Peter getting whumped. How about a little Tony angst instead?

As a note, this chapter was intentionally designed to leave you with questions so don't think it was posted in error :)


"You know what? I deserve a god damn medal. And a parade. No. No. National holiday- International holiday. There you go. Everyone take the day off. Bask in the awesomeness that is me. Me. Fixer of everything, Solver of the things."

Phone on speaker, Steven smirked, "Hello Tony." He was completely unphased by the other's rant.

"Rogers, don't get coy with me. Not now." The blond could envision the other pointing a finger at him. "No, you know what. Listen to me. I'm the Captain now."

Steve couldn't help it, he did chuckle slightly. "You know…I actually get that reference."

"Oh so they got On Demand in Wakanda? What else they got? Maybe a little precious metal you want to bring me back?" Tony wondered, unable to sit still and instead walking around his office while tossing a ball into the air repeatedly.

"That really isn't up to me, but I'll see if I can bring you a souvenir." Wakanda was rich in Vibranium and it seemed Tony only needed to see the Black Panther suit in action to know what it was made from. Whether or not T'Challa would part with any for Iron Man was questionable but the King seemed to be rather open to the idea of their unified front against the terrors of the planet (and those from beyond as well).

"Yeah well, pardons should be going through this week. Ratifying the Accords themselves will take…" Tony sniffed slightly, "Considerably longer but we have a temporary hold in place. Considering I thought I'd have a bit longer before the next crisis I'd say we aren't doing too shabby." Before Steve could comment or compliment Tony on all he'd done the other continued, "And by we, I mean me of course, you lot are just enjoying your Amazon vacation."

"You do know that Wakanda and the Amazon rainforest are on different continents, right?" Steve was pretty sure he did.

"Are they though?" Tony said, with the confidence that could make just about anyone change their mind.

"Tony." Steve gave, in that tone. The one that said Tony was funny but they had more serious matters to discuss.

The billionaire sighed dramatically. "You know, the fact that I'm coordinating pardons for you and the rest of your motley crew of outlaws, while at the same time helping a wizard set up a secret refugee camp for Asgardians should earn me a bit more kudos than this."

"Is that why you're doing all this?" Steve wondered.

Tony didn't even skip a beat. "Of course, that's exactly why I'm doing this, so I can lord it over the rest of you. I'm saving a thousand Gods. Gods Steve, they owe me. Big time." Both men knew that wasn't, ultimately, why Stark was doing it, but he couldn't let everyone see that he was as soft and squishy as the rest of them under that hard metal exterior.

"Is there something I can help you with?" It was almost a game, figuring out how to get Tony to the point, the real point of any communication.

"Tired of me already? Okay Capcake-Yeah there is. The second those pardons go through you and your team go all covert like to Norway. Thor needs all the help he can get at the moment and if I go anywhere near the country someone is going to know somethings up. I've already had a hard enough time covering the money trail."

"Basically, you want eyes on Loki." Steve had heard from Tony previously, that the God of mischief was on his way, Banner too. Everything Stark had said up to that point could be summed up in that one sentence.

"Yeah got it in one. Bruce and Thor seem to trust him, I'm not sold yet." Neither was Steve for that matter.

"We'll check it out. Send over the coordinates."

Tony smirked on his end of the phone, "Don't worry about that. I got a guy, owes me one. Just do me a favor and tell Clint to have his camera ready." Capturing the Falcon screaming in terror as he fell through a magic portal would be worth all the stress he'd been under these last several weeks.

"…Alright." Steve didn't know what to make of it but in all the craziness of the world these days, he figured it was best not to question it. "What the ETA on Thor and his people?"

"Two days." So they were cutting it close, even if the pardons didn't come through, Steve and his team would still be there to help. It was what they did, it would simply be risker to go to countries that had ratified the Accords, putting Tony's efforts to change things in jeopardy.

"Alright. We'll be there as soon as we have the all clear."

"Damn straight you will be." Was given before a dramatic, "Stark out."

Smirking, Steve shook his head before catching the somewhat perturbed gaze of the Wakandan King. "Is he always like that?" It caused the blond to chuckle.

"You get used to it."

Hands went up in a placating gesture, "Please, take that man all the Vibranium he needs. Keep him as far away from my country as possible." A joke, mostly.

Steve gave him a look, "You don't want him and Shuri in the same room." Was the accusation and T'Challa smirked, unable to keep a straight face.

"Could you imagine? The world would end. I am doing us both a favor." And while T'Challa wouldn't part with all his precious metal, he did keep the thought in mind. Stark had proved himself fierce and while his history was sordid, Steve spoke highly of him. T'Challa was smart enough to know that there were evils in the world that he could not face alone, so ensuring his allies were appropriately armed and armored was critical.

In New York Tony flopped onto a plush couch, staring up at the ceiling. Everything was falling into place. Everything was moving forward. Thor and his people would be settled in Norway with Strange and Wong setting up their…whatever magic barrier thing. Magic was just science not yet understood and Tony was determined to figure it out, later, when he had some free time. Captain and his team should be pardoned come morning. Changing the Accords themselves would take longer but at the very least the public outcry and support for the wayward heroes was enough to make the key governments bow down a bit.

In the coming days his plan rolled out perfectly. Why wouldn't it? He was Tony Freakin' Stark and if he could design the tech and advanced systems he built almost overnight, he could certainly enact a simple plan that coordinated governments, business, superheroes and aliens.

Piece of cake.

The next several weeks passed with similar ease. Things were going well and naturally that had him concerned. He tried to wave it off as paranoia- but things didn't go this well, for this long, without something bad brewing. Naturally he thought it was Loki- Tony had been staying far away from the mischief maker but had multiple tabs being kept on him. Strange assured him Loki would be no threat and while Tony didn't sleep easier with that promise. Only the hilarious falling adventure Loki had, which he'd been unable to escape from, eased the tension.

While Thor had remained, for now, with his people (and subsequently Loki), the rest had returned to the states. The old gang back in the Tower and while there had been tension the first time Tony and Steve had occupied the same room together, the gift of Vibranium Steve brought back with him from Wakanda had placated the billionaire enough that they simply moved on. They'd handled their apologies in private, sort of, now it was time to put the past behind them.

Settling back in was remarkably easy and while Steve lost his superpowered running partner he still kept himself to his routine, running through the city and central park, then the city and the park again. It was only by chance or fate that he happened to be entering the Tower lobby at the same time a commotion was breaking out. A few of the security officers were clearly trying to prevent a scene that a…kid was creating?

"No stop! Stop! I need to talk to Iron Man! It's important!" The boy was larger, wearing a backpack and waving his hands at any of the guards who tried to get a hold of him- he was surprisingly successful at evading them. Steve had learned long ago to never underestimate anyone but his gut told him this kid wasn't a threat, at the very least shouldn't be causing this big of a scene without some sort of reasoning.

"Son." He gave, voice commanding respect and causing all parties involved to freeze temporarily. "What seems to be the problem?"

Ned stared, wide eyed and in shock. His gaze drifted up, and up, and up because- oh my god -Captain America was in front of him! Subconsciously Ned stood a little straighter, missing one of the security guards apologizing to the super soldier for the scene. Steve raised his hand to wave off the guards, clearly this kid was as far from a threat as could be had. The lack of answer to his question had him starting down a different path. "Alright, let's start with your name?"

"Uh..Ned. Ned Leeds, sir- Captain Sir. Sir Captain America-" His hand was up again to stop the rambling before the blond motioned to himself.

"Steve." Steve was just fine. "Alright Ned, obviously you have a really important reason for being here, can you tell me what that is?" He honestly wasn't sure, but he knew that whatever Ned was here for, the boy clearly thought it was important so Steve would treat it as such, doing anything else might have Ned creating another scene.

"Yeah…" Ned seemed to think about it, "Yeah I am. I…I need to talk to Mr. Stark. I think my friend is in trouble." Ned glanced around, there were too many witnesses, right? He had to keep it a secret and so he didn't elaborate.

Steve seemed to notice, "Alright…why don't you come with me?" He gave, motioning for the other to join him and when they stepped in the elevator he didn't take him up but instead ordered, "Friday, sub level three and can you let Tony know to meet us there?"

Ned swallowed hard, sub level? The pleasant AI gave a quick, "Of course Mr. Rogers." Steve had a hand on his shoulder and the teen wondered just how he'd gotten himself into this mess. The Avengers were heroes right? They wouldn't like…like silence him for knowing their secrets right? Not that he knew much, nothing really, He didn't! He knew no secrets about anything at all!

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, this floor had their regular training rooms, sublevel seven designed for containing their true powers and abilities while giving them room to train, here there were weight rooms, an olympic pool an entire underground base. They weren't going that far in, instead with a hand on Ned's shoulder Steve stepped them both out into the hallway that would take them to any of the various areas available.

"Alright son, what sort of trouble is your friend in?" Steve doubted it was something that required the Avengers to step in but the kid had conviction, so he was sure there was something going on. Maybe they could put him in touch with the local authority to handle it.

"Uh…Well…oh my god…See, I uh…" The elevator dinged again, it had been less than 30 seconds but Stark wasted no time.

"What are we doing now Rogers, field trips?" He gave at the sight of the teen.

"Mr. Stark!" Ned's attention turned, the older men tensed, still not sure what they were dealing with but something sparked in the back of Tony's mind.

"You…I know you." Where had he heard his voice? Fingers snapped, "Ted. You're Ted, Peter's friend."

"It's Ned." And "Who's Peter?" Were given at the same time.

Tony made a gesture to Steve, as if to say he'd explain later. "Alright kid what's going on?"

"Pete's in trouble! I- I know you don't care but you gotta do-"

Tony frowned, Steve noticed the change, instantly Iron Man was present, all jokes aside. "What do you mean? Where's Pete?" He didn't much wait for the rambling teen, "Friday, ping the suit." If Peter was in trouble it had to be as Spiderman. Why hadn't his protocols gone off? Ned seemed close to hyperventilating in their presence and Steve was trying to walk him through breathing exercises.

"The suit is currently on level 5 Boss." Friday answered.

Confusion continued. "Pete's here?"

"No Boss, the suit appears to be in the mailroom, scans show no signs of Mr. Parker on the property." None of this made sense and Tony turned his attention to the teen, forgoing a comment about how their mail system clearly lacked the necessary security needed to realize a multi-million dollar suit had been shipped to them.

"Where is he?!" Was turned on Ned, he needed usable information and this kid's floundering wasn't helping. Steve might have given him a disapproving look, but Tony didn't really care.

"He- He's upstate. They took him after May died." Tony felt cold. He didn't even hear the elevator ding open again, Nat stepping out to see what all the commotion was about. News of what happened in the lobby had reached the rest of the team.

The nanotech in his chest hummed, ready to form his suit in an instant but Steve's bark, "Tony." Cut through, for only a second. His voice was a warning, not to blast off, and a question all in one.

As much as Tony wanted to instantly charge ahead, he knew he needed more. He wanted to fly off, but he needed to know where he was going first. "Friday, elevator." It dinged open for him as Steve and Nat traded looks. The super soldier moved after Stark while the spy remained with a stammering Ned.

Steve didn't try to get more information as Tony continued, "Friday. Give me info. May Parker." He needed to confirm.

"Died, March 30th of this year." 73 days ago. Fuck.

"Why the hell…" It didn't matter right now, "Call Peter."

"Sorry Boss, his number is not in service."

"Fuck. Find him." Was almost growled as they stepped out of the elevator onto one of the high-rise floors, this one with direct access to the landing pad.

"What's going on?" Bruce wondered, Tony looked…haunted and Bruce turned his concerned question to Steve.

Steve was just as lost, "Tony. How can we help?" That was the most important thing in that moment. Details could come later.

"You can't. Okay? You can't. I fucked up and I gotta find him. FRIDAY!" The AI wasn't working quick enough.

"Still searching Boss."

"I designed you to hack the most secure systems in the world, how can you not locate one kid?!"

A kid, a suit, another teen who obviously wasn't coming from a long distance away to get here. "Spiderman." The dots connected.

The Quin Jet landed outside, Lang and Barton flying in from staying with their families. Tony ignored it in as Friday offered, "Peter Parker located Boss, he's listed as residing in a group home located in Colton, New York." The nano-tech hummed again, even beginning to form around him before Steve blocked his path to the landing pad.

"Out of the way Rogers." Scott had no idea what he was walking into but he hoped to God it wasn't another battle.

"Think about this Tony. You fly up there and what? You going to fly him all the way back home?" There were still a million questions that needed answering but Steve hoped Tony would see the logic long enough for him to get answers.

"I'll think of something." He would, he always did.

"Let's take the Quinjet. You can bring him home that way." Because clearly Tony intended on bringing the kid back, his last comment had proved that. Tony considered, weighing all the options before the half formed suit retreated back into it's housing He barked for Friday to send the coordinates over and they grabbed Clint before he could make his way inside.

Barton sat himself back down in the pilot's chair and in a moment they were off with Tony demanding they go as fast as the jet could take them. Tony paced. Steve knew they were on a razor edge of the other doing something very, very foolish.

"Tony, walk me through it." What happened.

"It's the kid. Shit. Shit."

"The kid from Queens?"

"Yes the kid from Queens." Was snapped, "Do you think I just run around with all sorts of teenage superheroes?!" Steve held up his hands in surrender, not here to fight. "I brought him back after…after you know." After Germany. "Gave him the suit, he screwed up so I took the suit. That was my screw up because, apparently, he got himself into worse trouble trying to be the hero. So I gave it back. He agreed to stick to the little stuff. I haven't- There hasn't been…I have hundreds of alerts." Hands ran through is hair, "How did I not know. Why didn't he-" Horrified. That was the only way to describe the way Tony Stark looked.

"Friday. Play the message Happy got." He felt cold, dread settling deep within him as Peter's voice filled the space. It replayed what Tony recalled hearing, having heard before he fell through a magic portal, he felt sick when the rest continued.

"I uh…I really need some help. See…May-" Oh god. The kid sounded so broken "May's gone…" There were stuttered breaths as the teen struggled to try and form the words. "And I'm somewhere...I…I don't know. They say I can't…I need to…Mr-Mr. Stark I don't know what to do. Please…please call me back I- I have the suit and I…I don't know what's gunna-gunna happen, please…May's gone. I don't wanna be alone. I do-"

"Message ended Boss." Deftly, Tony heard Steve calling his name but he couldn't process it. They'd fought battles with millions of lives in the balance, won and lost more times than he could count, but nothing since his capture and torture in the desert had ever rocked his foundation so completely. The kid needed him and he wasn't there. He'd been all alone- Tony knew what that felt like and knew that he'd subjected the teen to more than two months of it thinking…thing what? That Tony Stark didn't care.

He slumped into one of the seats. It could have been seconds, or minutes later, he didn't know, before Steve's voice finally broke through. "What's the game plan Tony?"

"I'm bringing him home." Steve could hear the resolve, he'd have to work with that, use it to get Tony to think this through.

"Alright, That's the goal. How do we make that happen?" Tony's look said it all, he was just going to take the teen, consequences be damned. Steve had to work hard to get through to him. "You go and take this kid and you and I both know Ross will be at your door tomorrow. Now look, I know you don't care but just think, what hell is that going to put this kid through? Do you really want it to be like that for him?" Play to Stark's sympathies. Steve didn't fully understand how Tony cared so clearly but he could see it and so he could leverage it.

It was enough, it broke through. He needed to plan. "Friday. Lawyers. Now." It would take less than ten minutes and several 'I don't care's from Tony but in the end they were working on the paperwork. Stark had given them a time limit after asking Clint how long it would be before they touched down. 47 minutes at that point. Tony didn't care what trouble it would cause, what the process or red tape was, he certainly didn't care what the dollar amount needed to grease the right palms to push the paperwork through would be.

The second that was done he had Friday find the number for the house, anyone's number. Any phone would work, as long as someone picked up and he could talk to the kid, let him know he was a failure, but he was on the way.


So there you have it.

As mentioned above some of this doesn't make sense just yet but that was intentional. I wanted to try and give the reader some of the confusion Tony is feeling in this chapter, with everything not adding up.

Let me know how I did and weather or not Tony's guilt is as enticing as Peter's struggle.