Peter was curled in the back corner on his bottom bunk. He had a blanket wrapped lazily around himself, and he hugged his limbs close to him. He wasn't cold, just frightened about what was happening in the kitchen right now. Somehow, the blanket made him feel a tiny bit better. After all, Mr. Stark had handed it to him and told him to stay in his room for a little while. Who was Peter to disagree?

"I told you before, and I'll tell you again, Stark. That boy needs to be kept safe!" Aunt May screams at Tony Stark. Peter can't see anything of what's happening, but even though his door is closed, the fight is in the farthest room from his bedroom, and he has the blanket over his ears, his heightened senses mean he can hear every angry word in their argument.

"I'm saying that letting him be Spiderman will keep him be safe! Peter is perfectly capable of taking care of himself." Tony Stark's voice is dangerously level and calm, something he knew meant that he was going to explode in anger very, very soon.

I mean, how dare she?! How dare she lock Peter, poor, innocent Peter, in a closet. Just because she had some dim-witted justification doesn't make it right. What's worse, is that she didn't seem sorry for her actions. Tony wasn't completely sure, but in his mind, locking a kid in a closet could definitely be considered child abuse. I mean, the kid was having a panic attack for crying out loud. He was so weak when Tony finally managed to pull him from the closet and into his room. He was practically lifeless, limp and silent. His eyes were blank and he didn't have the energy for anything. Tony shakes the image from his mind as he turns back to May's angry rant.

"He is not helping people!" Aunt May cries.

"Really?" Tony says, a hint of anger finally creeping into his voice. "Because I call saving countless lives helping someone. Wouldn't you?"

"I would if you weren't a liar, Tony Stark!"

"Oh, I'm a liar?" He cries. "Why don't you listen to the crap you're spewing out." He raises his eyebrows at her.

"Whatever you say. You've never spoken the truth in your entire life. For you, it's just one lie after another. You really think you can support Peter on that nonsense?" She gives a gloating look to Tony Stark.

"At least I won't lock him in a closet." Tony wheels around so he doesn't have to look at May's angry expression. He moves quickly and quietly to Peter's room.

The door opens, and Peter miserably looks to see Mr. Stark apologetically moving into the room. He shuts the door quietly behind himself, and then moves closer to Peter.

"Hey, kid." He says quietly. "Mind if I sit here?" He point to the spot next to Peter." Peter just nods. Tony smiles at him, trying to keep his dread off his face; Peter has never looked so upset.

"So, me and your Aunt were talking a little bit, and she's not changing her position." Tony sighs. "I think-"

"Tell me this isn't her." Peter pleads, looking at Tony Stark with large, tearful eyes. "Tell me she's drunk, on drugs, maybe that this is her evil twin or something like that. Just tell me that this isn't her." Tony bites his lip as his heart shatters into a thousand pieces. He knows what it's like to be this broken, to feel so unprepared for this type of moment. He knows it well, but not what he can say to help ease the pain, to make it better for Peter. Still, he's gotta give it his best shot.

"Peter," Tony sighs. "Sometimes, people do things for reasons that we can't explain. They make decisions that they think will help, but in reality, they actually make things worse. When people make decisions this big, especially to protect the people they love, you sometimes see a new side of them."

"She won't be in trouble for this, right?" Peter says in a small voice.

"To some extent, yes." Tony quickly keeps talking as he sees Peter's worried eyes. "But, only because I don't want you living with her for a while."

"I... I guess that's a good idea." Peter says worriedly, his brow starting to furrow. "I suppose I could go stay with Ned for a little while."

"No, Peter. I mean, I think you should come live with me." Tony Stark says. He's not sure how Peter will react. After all, wouldn't Peter rather live with his best friend than him?

"Mr. Stark, I couldn't be that much of a bother to you and Pepper, and-" Peter protests. Tony Stark raises a hand to silence him. "You're always welcome, Pete. We'd love to have you while we're figuring things out." Peter thinks for a minute before nodding. A small smile finally escapes his lips as he peers at Tony. Tony can't keep a similar smile off his face as he looks at the kid staring at him with wide eyes.

"Alright, we just have to pack your things, and then we'll be off!" He says brightly. "Do you want help?" Peter shakes his head and throws the blanket off his shoulders to start getting ready. With a clear plan, his spirits are slightly higher than before. Plus, how cool would it be to live with Tony Stark?

Peter just grabs things and throws them in a suitcase. His school items go in his backpack, and his clothes and other personal items go in his suitcase. He can't believe that he's actually leaving. It feels much scarier than he's ever imagined. Granted, the way he imagined it before was leaving for college, but that's under a completely different circumstance. Now, the lines between dream and reality waver a little, leaving Peter to wonder if this is all really happening.

"Mr. Stark?" Peter steps out of his room with his backpack on his back and his suitcase tottering behind him. He looks for Tony, and sees Aunt May glaring at him from across the room. She takes several large steps towards him, and gets close to Peter. Tony defensively moves to Peter's side.

"So this is it, huh?" Aunt May says reproachfully. "You're leaving to go live with a stupid, crazed billionaire." Although Peter is staring at the ground, he can't stop himself from quietly saying, "He's not stupid or crazy."

"Really, so then what is he?" Aunt May demands, glaring at both of them. Tony is shocked, wondering what Peter is going to say next.

"He's... kind. And he cares. I wouldn't call that crazy." Peter looks up to see his Aunt's angry expression.

"C'mon, Peter." Tony grabs him by the shoulders and starts to wheel him towards the door. They can both hear Aunt May shouting profanity after profanity at the both of them, but neither of them care. All that Tony cares about is the fact that Peter trusts him. A lot. And he was going to do anything in his power to keep Peter safe