A year to Remember. Part 3, The Conclusion

Dad

"Wait, Where's Tony?".

All, Avengers, Teens and May, tense and wince, everyone, even his aunt struggled to make eye contact with him. Not good news for Peter. "What's wrong? Is he ok?", he echoes, staring into everyone he could, even if he only met less than three pairs of eyes. They remained silent, dinstab as if riddled with guilt or sadness, all but one.

"Can I have a moment with Pete? Alone?", Rhodey asks, his voice raspier and more sullen than Peter was used to, taking a few steps forward. Everyone nods solemnly, using their quietest footsteps as they begin to leave. Most only gave Peter one last look on their way out, their eyes, glances and expressions a mix between worry and a promise to return, with May the only one to stay by the door for a few seconds and mumble something back. "I'll be back with dinner, ok?", she more explains than asks being the last one to leave, with a kiss.

It wasn't enough to allay his worries, as Peter's eyes land back on Rhodey, scared. "Is. He. Ok?", Peter took no prisoners, glare and breath and tone not cracking or shifting or breaking. Not once.

Rhodey winces again, "Yes and No", not the best response but it's a start. It's the only start he could really think of. "He's fine, you protected him and he's physically ok, but....", there was always a but.

"What wrong!", Peter almost shouts at Rhodey simply out of desperation from the mystery, muttering an apology afterwards once his own better instincts and shames caught up with him. Not that Rhodey minded, as he replies, "you're alright kid. It's just not easy to talk about this". Peter gives him a side hug, first to help them relax, second to plead and goad him to continue. "You remember his breakdowns? His anxieties? How he is?", Rhodey recalled their various memories in the past. He knows Peter's at least heard it, at least knows exactly what he is talking about.

He does. Peter nods.

"He's worse right now".

Slouching and dropping his head, Peter sinks with worry, with one piercing thought. "Why? Is it because of me?". Rhodey takes it slow, with a deep and calming breath for both their sakes, to feel safe and make him feel safe, "it is because of you, but it is not your fault". One step at a time.

"He knows you're Spider-Man now, and with that came two things; a terrifying new fear, and existential reflection. The past, his decisions before... everything that's happened this year had landed on him and I think he's drowning. In those thoughts and in his feelings". Rhodey does his best to explain, Peter — knowing Tony well — catches along quickly. "Wait, so is he feeling guilty about everything with Spider-Man? The video? Is that what this is about?".

Rhodey bobbles his head unsure, "not entirely", He rubs his forehead worried for this conversation. Tony's past is a heavy weight to anyone he gives a glimpse to, Rhodey knows very well as one of the world's foremost recipients of it, and really didn't wanna pass it on. But he had to, now he did. "Remember how I told you about Tony's parents? The damage they did to him?". Peter nods.

"Well, wether he likes it or not, Tony's come to see you like his kid, called you that much a couple of times though I'm not sure he realised he did". That's startling to Peter, leaving him somewhat silent, somewhat shot with thoughts and fears and concerns. "Regardless, seeing how we hunted you, how his armours hurt you, and all the drama between him and you, Spider-Man or Peter... He thinks he's Howard Stark".

A ridiculous assertion to Peter, "But that's silly!", he spits, threatening to pull a few stitches with how he seated up and flared his arms. Rhodey chuckles nodding in accord, "I know that, you know that, but he's not thinking with his brain, he's thinking with his anxieties". Which is where he thinks at his silkiest. "He's convinced himself that he's bad for you, that he's a terrible mentor and father, that he's responsible for all of this".