Peter held his hands up to keep Tony at a distance. He was vacillating between anger at what happened and embarrassment at having overreacted. Tony had caught him off guard. The swat had stung a lot more than he thought possible, but it had also faded just as quick. He had his accelerated healing to thanks for that, but he was mortified that Tony had felt justified to smack him hard enough to make it hurt. He was also insulted that his mentor, the man he admired so much, had felt it necessary at all. He wasn't a little kid, and he hadn't said anything so disrespectful to have warranted that kind of reaction. Or he didn't think he did. Peter turned and faced Tony having been able to blink back the tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. His face was burning in humiliation.

"You alright, kid?" Tony looked apologetic and that made Peter feel even worse.

More tears blurred his vision and Peter turned to face the glass doors again. "I'd like to go to my room, Mr. Stark," he whispered.

"Peter, did I hurt you?" Tony placed a hand on his shoulder again.

Peter swallowed the lump in his throat. "No."

Tony turned him around and looked intently into his face. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. The gauntlet was supposed to be an empty threat, but I've got to tell you, Pete, you're really pushing my buttons. I consider myself a pretty chill guy but your attitude is over the top."

Peter kept blinking losing the battle of the tears as several ran down his cheeks. He quickly brushed them away. Hearing Tony apologise made him feel guilty and he didn't like it.

"Let's finish discussing this and call it a day. I think both of us are tired."

Tony nodded in the direction of the sofa but Peter shook his head.

"There's nothing else to talk about. Can't I just leave?"

Tony shook his head and wandered over to the sofa, sitting down. "No, not until we come to an understanding."

Peter took a deep breath. His temper was flaring again. He needed to get some space or he was going to lose it. Why couldn't Tony get that? Peter leaned against the glass and cross his arms.

"Just talk," said Peter, his voice tight.

Tony sighed. "Okay. Have it your way. Do you understand what I said about Spiderman being grounded?"

Peter narrowed his eyes a little but nodded. "Yes."

"No going out and playing superhero for a month. If you can abide by my rules then I'll return the suit and we'll discuss more guidelines then, okay."

"Fine, whatever." Peter stared at the ground refusing to look at the billionaire.

Tony lifted a brow. "Any questions for me?"

Peter shook his head. "No, can I go?"

Tony heaved a sigh and stood to his feet, walking over and standing in front of Peter. "Pete, are you really okay? I didn't injure you, did I? I only wanted to get your attention, not hurt you." The man's voice was filled with compassion.

Peter's eyes flared. "What did you think would happen if you hit me with your friggin iron glove? Did you think it would tickle?" He was angry but his voice sounded more hurt than mad.

"No, I figured it would sting. I wanted it to make an impression. You were way out of line, and I wanted it to stop."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Yah, whatever. You win. Can I go now?"

Tony stared at him for several long moments before walking to the glass doors and inputting the code. He opened the door and pointed up the stairs.

"You're free to go as long as we understand one another."

Peter stood still looking at his escape but he didn't move. His heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't how he wanted to leave things. He only wanted to make his mentor proud. He didn't want to be angry and he didn't want the billionaire angry with him either. Damn it, how did they end up here? Why couldn't he just be really interning for the man?

"So, this is it, then?" began Peter as he went out the door and stood on the bottom of the step.

Tony furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" He leaned against the doors, keeping them ajar.

"Tomorrow I go home and we go back to you ignoring me. Is that how it's going to be?"

"I'll be in touch in a month, Pete. I promise we will discuss things more then, okay?"

Peter nodded, disappointment flooding his face and mounted the steps. He heard Tony shut the glass doors behind him and the closure felt permanent. Peter allowed the tears to cascade down his cheeks now as he made his way back upstairs, and to his room. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He never felt more alone than he did right now. His heart ached, both from feeling empty and from being brushed aside. He knew that his internship was over and that he'd probably never hear from Tony Stark again. He'd blown it. The suit was gone forever, and he was alone again just like before.

Peter wiped the tears away and walked over to the mirror. He stared at his red, tear-streaked face. Suddenly he hated his reflection. He put his fist out and the mirror shattered under his hand.

"Damn it!" he cursed. The shards of the mirror scattered at his feet and some caught in his hand. He grimaced as he looked at his hand. Blood pooled around the shards. Somehow the pain was cathartic. He didn't often feel pain like he did before he was bitten by the spider. A part of him welcomed it this time. Feeling physical pain was better than emotional pain any day. He walked to his ensuite bathroom and ran his hand under the running water, picking out the shards. He stood watching the blood run down the sink. His hand slowly stopped stinging and he could see it beginning to heal. His healing abilities even impressed him.

He looked in the mirror and his thoughts went to how he'd felt when Tony had struck him. The immediate sting had shocked him. He'd been knocked around a time or two as Spiderman and often it stung a little but Tony's wallop had hurt. That sting, compounded with the look on the man's face, had more than taken him aback. It had reminded him of a time when he was much younger and his Uncle Ben had taken him to task over his disrespectful attitude. Those memories weren't pleasant but his heart ached for uncle. He missed the man so much that it sucked the oxygen from his lungs. Ben had been like a father to him and every fibre of his being ached from missing the man. Somehow, without even knowing it, Peter had allowed himself to believe the Tony Stark cared for him and maybe, just maybe…no, that kind of thinking had only led him to where he was now. Wounded and alone.

A loud knock at the door pulled him from his revelry. Before Peter could answer, the door flung open and Tony came into the room, a look of concern on his face. Peter was confused as to how the man had gained entry when he had locked the door behind him.

"FRIDAY said you injured your hand. Are you okay, Kid?" Tony took in the broken mirror in the room and the hole in the wall from earlier and crossed his arms.

"How…"

"FRIDAY let me in, kid. Let me see your hand."

Peter came out of the bathroom looking sheepish. "Uh, I kinda had a little accident."

Tony stepped forward and reached for Peter's hand, inspecting the damage. He looked up at the boy and shook his head.

"Was it worth it?"

Peter pulled his hand away. "It was an accident."

"So you said." Tony crossed the room and inspected the hole that Peter had kicked in the wall earlier. "I suppose this was an accident too?"

Peter swallowed and nodded. "I…uh…keep forgetting how strong I am. I'm sorry, Mr. Stark. I will pay for it to be repaired."

"With what, Pete? You don't even have a job, for Pete's sake. Are you going to ask your aunt to pay for it?" Tony waved a dismissive hand. "Never mind, it's not about the money. I can afford to repair it. I'm more concerned with the why. What made you mad enough to put your hand through a mirror and your foot through the wall?"

Peter walked nervously over to the desk in the room. He stared out the window at the skyline. From the corner of his eye, he could see Tony taking in the room. Peter felt sure he would notice that he hadn't touched anything in the room, not the video games, the computer or the Lego. All of it stood untouched but if the billionaire philanthropist was bothered, he didn't show it.

"I'm sorry."

"That's not what I asked for, kid. You don't need to apologize to me. I want an explanation."

Maybe it was something in the man's voice or maybe it was because Peter was so tired, but whatever it was, it was this moment when Peter's resolve broke. His whole body began to shake and tears fell down his cheeks in currents.

"I-I never asked you to find me. You were the one w-who lied to m-my aunt about the stupid internship," sobbed Peter, working really hard to regain his equilibrium.

"Peter," began Tony, sobering at how hard the kid was struggling to speak to him.

"NO!" shouted Peter, his face red from his emotional outburst. "You came to me, Stark. Not the other way around! I-I never asked for your help. You asked for mine! I d-did you a favour by going to Germany." Peter choked back another sob and Tony tried to reach out to comfort him but Peter pulled away. "Don't. Just don't." Peter clenched his fists tightly. He didn't want to be this needy and pathetic. He didn't want to need Tony, but he did. He did need him.

Tony stood quietly taking in Peter's emotional vulnerability. The helplessness was written all over the young teen in front of him. Peter wasn't mad about the suit. It wasn't anything to do with the suit at all. Tony could finally see the truth. When Tony had first discovered the footage of Spiderman on Youtube, he'd taken some time to find out who Peter Parker was. He'd discovered lots about the kid including the recent murder of his uncle, how hard the kid's aunt worked to keep him in private school and the death of his parents when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. Peter had lived a hard life.

Peter suddenly turned. "I'm going home. You have your suit. I get it; I'm grounded from being Spiderman and you'll call me in a month. It's all good." He started towards the door but Tony caught him by his forearm.

"You're not going anywhere, kiddo," began Tony softly.

Peter shook off Tony's hand. "Yes, I am. Damn it, just let me go!" Tears kept running down his cheeks in torrents.

Tony shook his head and in one fluid movement, drew Peter into himself and tightly embraced him. Tony felt the kid's body stiffen in response but Tony held him firmly and stroked the back of young teens head.

"It's okay, Peter. You're not alone anymore," he whispered in his ear.

Peter's body was tense for several more minutes and then he melted into the embrace, sobbing. Tony held him close, feeling the kid's pulse race and hearing the anguish in the cries. As much as Tony was a tough guy, he was also compassionate and his heart went out to the teenager.

"I'm sorry…I-I just wanted to be like you…I-I just…"

Tony hushed him gently. "I know, kid. I understand."