"What?" Mr. Stark spoke unexpectedly softly, "Have you not been eating Pete?"

Peter felt a wave of discomfort pass through him at his mentor's question. This was the exact thing he had been trying to avoid; having to discuss why he wasn't eating. How was he supposed to explain that he just woke up one morning and, out of blue, stopped feeling hungry? The teenager knew how unbelievable that sounded, it didn't even make sense to him.

"Don't be mad," Peter starts, bracing himself for what he knows will be one hell of a lecture. At this point it was pointless to lie, Mr. Stark already knew he hadn't been eating, FRIDAY had told him as much, and lying to the billionaire was bound to just make things worse. "I just haven't been hungry lately."

"What?" Mr. Stark repeats his earlier question, still using the same oddly calm tone of voice.

Peter thought he would have already started yelling at this point. Not eating had become a sore topic after a incident a couple of months before the snap when Peter starting eating less than he should because his new metabolism was costing Aunt May a lot of money. When Mr. Stark had found out, he had been very, very upset.

"I just haven't been hungry lately Mr. Stark -" Peter began.

"I heard what you said kid," Okay, now Mr. Stark was beginning to sound a little more angry, his voice stern, allowing no nonsense. "I just don't believe you. There is no way you are suffering from malnutrition just because you haven't been feeling hungry lately."

The genius finished his thought by giving Peter a look that made to teenager want to disappear. Gosh, why was Mr. Stark always so dramatic.

"It's just -" Mr. Stark cut Peter off.

"No. I don't want to hear you're bullshit lie right now. With your metabolism not eating is a serious thing," Mr. Stark paused only for a second to give his kid the look again; full of disappointment, disbelief and a touch of concern (with Mr. Stark there was always a touch of concern). "so we are going to start by getting you something to eat and then we'll talk. Okay?"

Even though the older man had phrased it like a question, Peter knew it was really more of an order and even he wasn't stupid enough to argue.

"Okay fine." Peter said as he started to stand, blinking away to stars that swam across his vision at the sudden movement. "But it really is not a big deal. And you definitely don't need to help me stand! Stop being so annoying."

The young superhero spoke the last part as Mr. Stark attempted to wrap his arm around Peter's shoulders to support some of his weight. Peter instantly pushed his mentor away, and even though it was a little rougher and harder than Peter had meant for it to be, it was really Mr. Stark's fault for being so annoying.

The billionaire stumbled back a little with the force of Peter's unexpected push. He was clearly surprised and Peter couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret at being so rude to someone trying to help, even if the help he was giving was completely unneeded.

"Okay well I guess if you have enough energy to push me around like an ungrateful little brat, I shouldn't be too worried, huh?" Mr. Stark's voice was riddled with annoyance. Well fine, Peter was annoyed too.

"So can we stay here then? And I can watch the best superhero in the whole wide world work on his suit. A dream come true!" Peter responded with dripping sarcasm and a horribly fake smile. Deep down, he knew now wasn't the time to push Mr. Stark but the older man had started it by calling Peter a brat. He knew how much the kid absolutely hated being called that. And to hear it from his childhood hero… well, that really stung.

"Oh wow you really are being a brat today kiddo" Usually Peter's heart would leap when Mr. Stark called him kiddo, but the way Mr. Stark said it now made it sound more like an insult than an affectionate nickname. It hurt. "Now come."

"Stop calling me that" Peter spoke, not moving from where he stood. It had been a long, long time since he and Mr. Stark had had a fight like this. The last time had been well before the snap. It kind of felt good to let all of his bottled up annoyances at how Mr. Stark has been acting lately; he was far too concerned, strict, and not acting at all like the old Mr. Stark. Peter missed the old Mr. Stark.

"What? A brat?" Mr. Stark started passively, "then stop acting like one."

Peter felt a sudden burst of irrational anger which he would later blame on his lack of food; it really was causing him to not think clearly.

"Asshole." The teenager muttering under his breath, and even as he finished saying the word he knew he had gone too far. He had just called the Tony Stark, Iron Man, an asshole.

The room went silent for a moment and Peter half expected Mr. Stark to just walk out without saying a world, but he didn't. Instead the billionaire stared at Peter with a look of complete disbelief.

"Okay that's enough." Mr. Stark now sounded seriously angry, his voice raised. "I have no idea what's gotten into you today but you do not call me an asshole, understood?"

"Come on, it's not even that bad." Peter backtracked, trying to defend himself without apologizing since he was still irrationally mad. "I'd rather you call me an asshole than a brat, you totally just said that to push my buttons. You started it."

"Jesus, do you even hear how much you sound like a child right now?" Peter flushed at Mr. Stark's words. "I called you a brat because you are acting like a brat right now by being a badly behaved child."

Mr. Stark's words last few words struck Peter hard; how dare Mr. Stark speak to him like that? Peter wasn't some little kid, he was Spiderman for crying out loud, a superhero! He saved lives every day and had more responsibility on his shoulders than most fully grown adults. Peter was absolutely humiliated by his mentor's harsh words.

Peter took a step forward with the intention to get right up into Mr. Stark's personal space and tell him exactly how he feel about being called "a badly behaved child", when, all of a sudden, he felt his legs fall from beneath him. The teenager felt a gasp escape his mouth as he fell towards the floor; his world turning black. The last thing Peter could remember was his fall being cushioned by two strong arms.

Peter woke up almost immediately after he fell unconscious (because he definitely did not faint, no way) to the sound of Mr. Stark's frantic voice.

"FRIDAY, get Bruce down here right now!"

The teenager slowly opened his eyes, a headache building at the back of his head. He looked around and realized he was on the floor of the lab, his head resting gently on Mr. Stark's lap. Peter forced his eyes to make their way up to look at his mentor, who appeared very panicked.

"Whaa?" Peter was surprised to find his voice uneasy and slurred.

Mr. Stark jerks his head to look down at Peter at the sound of the kid's voice and immediately schools his expression, attempting to look calm (attempting being the keyword).

"Hey buddy" Mr. Stark's spoke softly, soothingly, as his hand made its way to Peter's hand, fingers carding through the kid's curls. Peter absently noted the drastic change in the way Mr. Stark was speaking to him now compared to how he had been only a couple of minutes ago. "How you feeling? Kinda freaked me out there."

"Um, not great. What happened?" Peter winced at his slightly slurred voice. He could see by the older man's expression that he noticed Peter's difficulty speaking as well.

"I was hoping you'd be able to tell me. One second you were standing up and the next you were on the floor." Mr. Stark with a forced chuckle, trying to hide his worry. As he spoke, the genius moved his hand from Peter's hair to rest on his forehead, a frown suddenly appearing on his face. "Wow you are sweaty."

Before Peter could respond with some sort of joke, none other than the Bruce Banner rushed through the lab door. Even in his distressed state, Peter still felt a rush of excitement at seeing one of the world's best scientists. Of course the teenager had met Bruce a couple of times before but it still felt surreal seeing him.

"Thank God. Bruce." Without a moment of hesitation Mr. Stark effortlessly swept Peter into his arms, bridal style of course, and carried him over to the couch near Bruce.

"Mr. Staaaark…" Peter whined at being carried like a kid.

"Hush kiddo" And there it was. The kiddo that made Peter's heart leap. "You're okay."

The billionaire gently placed the kid down on the couch and turned towards Bruce who immediately started examining Peter. Normally Peter would have resisted but at the moment he felt very, very tired.

"What happened?" Bruce turned towards Mr. Stark.

"Fuck Bruce I don't know. We were working in the lab and all of a sudden he said he felt dizzy and FRIDAY reported that he was suffering for malnutrition. Malnutrition of all fucking things! I have no idea-"

"Tony, focus."

"Shit sorry. Anyways I started to try to get him some food but we started fighting and I don't even know what we were fighting about, god I am so stupid I should have just forced him-"

"Tony." Bruce spoke again, more firmly.

"Shit sorry, again. I'm just freaking out. Um, then he fainted. He was only unconscious for a minute max. He woke up confused, sweaty, slurring his speech. Damnit I didn't think it was this serious."

"Okay, calm down Tony. It sounds like severely low blood sugar, which is obviously dangerous if left untreated, but easily fixable. Right now we just need to get from sugary food and drinks into him. How's that sound Peter?" Bruce spoke the last part looking at Peter who had been silent the entire time.

"Um, yeah, fine." Peter slurred feeling really out of it.

"Are you sure Bruce?" Mr. Stark questioned looking uncertain. "He doesn't need to go to the medbay or anything? He looks pretty ill."

"All he needs is sugar. As soon as possible." Bruce responded, then hesitated. "But you're right, he does seem pretty out of it. I'll get in IV ready if he isn't able to eat or drink, but you might as well try to get him to eat something before we resort to that."

"Well I can do that." Mr. Stark muttered, scooping Peter back into his arms again and this time Peter didn't have to energy to complain. "Chocolate sound good kiddo?"

"Yeah…" Peter muttered, feeling so out of it that he wasn't sure if this was a dream or not. Everything was fuzzy. The filter from his brain to his mouth didn't seem to function properly anymore. "I like it when you call me kiddo. I like it much much better than when you call me a brat."

"Awww kiddo," Peter, even in his state, could hear a distinct tone of sadness in Mr. Stark's voice. The older man pulled the kid tighter in his arms and rested his forehead on Peter's curls for only a second. "I'm so sorry. You're not a brat, never have been a brat, never will be a brat. You're the best kiddo in the world."

"Thank Mr. Stark, you're the best Mr. Stark ever." Peter managed to say, despite his intense tiredness, and it was totally worth it because of the laugh it got out of Mr. Stark.

Before Peter knew it he had been carried into the elevator, rode up several floors and reached Mr. Stark's common rooms. He wondered how Mr. Stark was able to hold him for so long without even breaking a sweat and decided to ask him.

"It's because you weigh next to nothing kiddo, you really need to eat more." Mr. Stark spoke with an air of lightness but Peter could feel the seriousness behind the second statement. He knew that after this whole thing was over they would be having a long talk. "Well that, and I am a very strong superhero."

"The best superhero in the whole wide world." The teenager spoke without a hint of sarcasm, and he made sure to make eye contact with Mr. Stark to let him know how serious he was being.

"God. You're killing me buddy." Mr. Stark smiled, sitting Peter down on the very comfortable couch.

Mr. Stark left, probably to get Peter some food, and Peter his eyes drifting shut. He was very, very tired. Suddenly his mentor's voice brought him back to his surroundings.

"Hey! Peter, no sleeping yet." Mr. Stark handed Peter plastic blue cup filled with coke and topped off with a bendy straw. "Drink up kiddo."

It didn't escape Peter's notice that Mr. Stark had been calling Peter kiddo a lot and he couldn't help but smile. Taking the cup, Peter took a small sip and paused.

"No no no, the whole thing." The billionaire gave Peter a look, "seriously. It's either this or an IV and I know how much you hate IVs."

"Fine." Peter quickly drank the rest of the cup, already starting to feel slightly better as the sugar entered his system.

He placed the cup down on the table beside him. Mr. Stark instantly picked the cup up, refilled it and held it towards Peter expectantly. Peter complied in taking the cup because, in truth, it actually was helping him feel better.

"How you feeling?" Mr. Stark asked.

"Better." Peter said, taking another sip of the coke. "Much better."

"Good. You look better." Mr. Stark got up from where he was sitting in front of Peter and started to walk towards the kitchen. "Okay, I'm going to make something for you to eat and while I do that I want you to finish the rest of that 2L bottle of coke, got it?"

"Jeez Mr. Stark, that's a bit excessive, don't you think?"

"Nope, no arguing. You are going to do that, you are going to eat and then I'll get Bruce up here to take another look at you."

"Okay."

"Oh, I almost forgot, and then you and I are going to sit down and have a nice long chat about why you haven't been eating." Mr. Stark turned back to give Peter a pointed look.

"Yeah…" Peter suddenly realized that he was going to have to eat for the first time in a couple of day but, oddly enough, he was actually feeling hungry again and he had no idea why. Maybe it was the coke the made his body remember the importance of food?

"Yeah is right." Mr. Stark called from the kitchen. Peter could hear him moving pots and pans around. "Anything you want to eat?"

Peter was about to say no, because he really didn't care, but everything Peter had just put his mentor through, he felt like he owed him some relief and the teen knew requesting a specific food would ease some of the worry Mr. Stark had about him not eating. Plus he was really hungry and didn't want to have to wait for Mr. Stark to cook something.

"Can we order pizza?"

Mr. Stark looked back at Peter in surprise and then a smile appeared on his face, "Of course we can kiddo."