"Heh." Tony's voice was as dry as always, but the corner of his eyes wrinkled with his smirk at Peter's sentiment. It was rare to be the recipient of such earnest words.

"...Here's the thing about being an Avenger." Tony summoned the will to meet Peter's eyes once more.

"We answer to the world. Take governments. Governments can lie. They can take. They can decide you're not worth it." The first few statements come easily, though his throat tightens with the next. "You've got teammates. Teammates, though...they can disagree. They leave. Meanwhile, one day you're on top of the world with the masses and the next they're turning their backs."

He chuckles again, though the smirk doesn't reach his eyes.

"You've got to answer to Aunt May, Spider-Man. But she'll be in your corner no matter how badly you screw the pooch."