The Unassigned Mission

Comfort

As Peter fisted at the ungraspable wooden pier, he heard approaching footsteps. Immediately sitting up to defend himself if it were a bystander or cop; this situation looks bad. There's an unmoving body, completely blue from being suffocated and everyone's "friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man" sitting by the body. It could be easily assumed that Peter did it and they wouldn't be wrong but he deserved to explain himself.

"Tony," Peter gasped; he was on his knees looking completely defeated. The green in his eyes are more vibrant due to his crying, causing them to be bloodshot.

"Hey, easy there," Tony kneeled down in what was probably a couple thousand dollar suit.

"I killed a father," Peter whispered to Tony with pleading eyes. Tony cupped Peter's pale and wet face with his right hand and then pulled him into a hug. It was the most fatherly physical gesture Tony has ever done for Peter.

The paternal actions weren't uncommon, Tony has done everything for Peter relating to being on the team, as well as making sure he is well taken care of in life. Peter may feel like he's being ignored by Happy and Tony but they're actually always keeping a close eye on him. Tony knows of Peter's abilities but he's also very much aware that he is still a kid. He has teenage things to worry about and his Aunt too ever since Uncle Ben died, which is not something that someone that young should worry about but that's Peter for you. He takes on everyone's problems and tries to fix them, even if he hasn't been able to figure out his own. Tony admires Peter's loyalty and the other positive qualities that a true hero requires. Peter is genuine but that also scares Tony; Peter has so many things going on in his life and is such a good person. That maybe he won't be able to handle unpreventable situations like right now.

Yet, the only thing Peter needs currently is reassurance. He's okay, what he did is unfortunate but he was a bad man. This is common when it's Heroes vs Foes time but tragically Peter had to face this alone.
So, the hug was the most amount of contact Peter has had with Tony, where for a moment he felt safe and young again. Where he could forget about being Spider-Man, he'd open his eyes and he'd be in his old house with his parents. His dad hugging him tightly before bed like he always did before he lost him. He wouldn't spend the night trying to figure out himself after the bite, no, he would've gone right to bed. But that was before and this is the only comfort from a fatherly figure Peter has gotten in a long time.

"Kid, listen to me. He is-..er," he glances over at Maxwell "was a very bad man. He was the man behind warehouse robberies that have been occurring over the past few years. He's been under the radar but police have been able to connect the fingerprints to him ever since you put him in jail. I mean the bluish tint to his skin should've been a give away but...He wasn't in the system before but now that he was just recently. It was calculated, he owes the city millions."

Peter pulled back and sat down on the pier,"That doesn't make him worthy of death!"

"He abused your friend, didn't he?"

Peter bit his lip and nodded, "I guess."

"You guess?! Peter, the marks left on that girl... he could've been sentenced with not just child abuse but attempted murder! She has burns on her that can never heal. She had to live with him," he pointed at the body "and now she has to live with the constant reminder of her father and the trauma he caused her. Peter, you got rid of one heavy reminder in her life."

"I just don't know if that's enough to just accept a murder."

Tony sighs and stands up, "you're a good kid, Peter. You see the best in people but also the worst. You might've had some motive behind following him tonight," he raised an eyebrow like a disapproving dad but his face then immediately softened "but it was self defense, yeah? KAREN shows me what you see...you did nothing wrong."

Peter wipes at his eyes and stands up as well as he listened to Tony,

"Except for the part where you ran out on Sophia and May, even when she told you specifically not to!"

"Okay, okay!"

"No one is against you. Except for the ones I tell you who are, okay? There are more villains in this world than heroes, so don't let that big heart of yours get too caught up on every one you meet."

He hugged Peter again and walked Peter towards the opposite end of the pier, near the street. Where Peter just then noticed the Iron Man suit hovering, waiting for Tony to go back in.

"I need to call the cops, put your mask back on," he gave him a sweet smile and stepped back into his suit.

"You did good, kid." The Iron Man version of Tony's voice said.

Peter nodded solemnly and looked down the pier at Maxwell's body, "I hope."