Disclaimer: I don't have anything against trans people, and neither do Tony or Peter. It's just that Tony is trying really hard to be a good parent figure, so he misunderstood, is all. This is in no way making fun of gender dysphoria or crossdressing, it's just making fun of Tony's complete lack of experience in parenting.

Mr. Stark kind of makes fun of him for it sometimes, first raising an eyebrow when Peter steps into the lab wearing clothes that are very distinctly May's.

"Exploring both extremes on the gender spectrum, Pete?" He asks dryly as he tosses Peter his newly upgraded web shooters. "I'm totally fine with it if you're trans, but if you're going to try looking like a girl, at least find some clothes that fit. If you want, I can ask Pepper to go shopping with you."

Turning bright red, Peter managed to squeak out a small, "No, I'm fine," as he fumbled with the web shooters and attempted to regain his normal sounding voice. "I mean, Mr. Stark, I'm completely comfortable with my gender."

"Right." Tony raised an eyebrow, "Look, kid, I'm not judging, I'm cool with it either way, but just let me know if you need the Talk, and I'll..."

"No, Mr. Stark!" Groaning, Peter buried his face in his hands. "The shirt's May's, okay?"

"Kid, I know that you're poor, but..."

"Mr. Stark, I'm not trans." Peter sighed as he pulled his face out of his hands and raked a hand through his hair. "I just feel more comfortable in May's clothing."

"...Kid..."

"Not just May's!" Peter hurried to add at Tony's disbelieving expression. "And it's not because I have gender dysphoria! I just, I..." He groaned and made a vague waving motion with his hands. "I'm just more comfortable wearing clothes that remind me of other people, okay? Like, these pants are Ned's."

Tony squinted and them, and nodded. "Yeah, they're a bit baggy. Going for the hipster look, then?"

Peter groans, Tony laughs, and they talk a bit more about Peter's sexual identity (Tony gets a bit too close to serious and Peter is feeling really awkward when Tony talks about how, guy or girl, he'll accept anyone who Peter wants to date and Peter would just really rather not talking about dating with his mentor figure) but they sort of leave it at that.

Except on the way out Tony notes that it's kind of chilly outside and Peter, being oblivious, nods and sort of just reaches out to pull on one of Tony's workshop's, greasy green jackets.

And somehow they don't really notice, Tony just absentmindedly waving goodbye and Peter slipping the jacket over his skin as though it were his all along.

(He does that a lot, come to think of it.)

It's not really until he goes to school the next day and Ned goes, "Again, Peter?" that he realizes he's still wearing Tony's jacket.

And he completely freaks out.

"This has got to be super expensive!" Peter babbles on the walk home, shoving his face on his backpack and throwing his head dramatically with all the works. "If I wreck it a bit, then Mr. Stark might have to... Mr. Stark! After everything he's done for me, I just up and steal his clothes and..."

"Chill, dude." Ned rolled his eyes as they stopped by the bread shop and Peter ordered his usual sandwich. "You didn't freak out when you stole my clothes."

"That's because I do it all the time."

"You were totally cool with it the first time you did it."

"Yeah, well," Peter hesitated, and pulled out his sandwich, taking a bite as he shrugged and responded, "You're chill with stuff like that."

"And Mr. Stark isn't?"

"He took away my suit before, what if he does it again?"

"He won't, man."

"He could." Peter's voice dropped to a whisper, and he muttered, "What if I wreck it, and he makes me pay for it?"

Ned raised an eyebrow, and stopped completely, grabbing both of Peter's shoulders as he demanded, "Dude, seriously?"

Peter hesitated, and sighed sulkily, "Okay, maybe not that, but still..."

"It's fine, man. Just go and talk to him."

So he did.

And somehow he ends up with one of Tony's super expensive watches.

"Look, kid," Tony sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "As great as it is that my clothes make you feel safe..." His expression twitched, like he was still trying to understand the idea, "I can't have you stealing my wardrobe left and right, as you're so obviously doing with everyone else..."

(It's true. He's wearing Ned's Teen Titans shirt and May's mermaid yoga pants.)

"...So I figured it'd just be better to give you one thing, and that'll be it, 'kay?"

Peter nodded, a bit awestruck and a billion times thankful.

So he keeps the watch on his wrist at all times (except when he's sleeping... and even that's only sometimes), and it grounds him, heavy but light and obviously there but never a hindrance, and it feels that much safer.

(The fact that it shoots webs and lasers and has Karen in it may have something to do with it.)

(But the smell, metallic and kind of like beer but also like ice and laundry detergent and junk food reminds him of Tony, and whenever he pauses he can listen to it ticking and the world doesn't seem so overwhelming anymore.)

(So, yeah, it makes him feel safe.)

(But not just because of the lasers.)