[there's a very short list of people that he's been in this position with. may, of course. she raised him for most of his life, the two of them being all each other has anymore. so naturally they've seen each other at their best and their worst. have relied on each other for support, for comfort. and then there's ned, his best (only) friend. the two of them have each others backs as they do all they can to survive high school. it's give and take with both of them. the love, the support. it comes naturally now. easily.

with tony though...

all this time, and the relationship still feels uneven, feels weighted in his direction. he takes far more from tony than he gives. support, comfort, knowledge. tony dishes it out, even if he doesn't entirely realise it at the time. but peter knows that he doesn't offer the same in return. that tony has those people in his life already to provide it. and yet--

even with tony's back to him, it's obvious that he's upset. that peter wasn't imagining his reaction to his words. so it's as natural as it would be towards may or ned for him to step forwards again. to tentatively wrap his arms back around tony's waist again.]

The world needs you, Mr. Stark. So that means you've got to find a way back home again. If I tell you what coming, then something worse could happen, and you'll blame yourself for it. I'm not doing that to you.