Tony approached the Parker residency in slight hesitancy. It has been an unsettling while since he's spoken to any of them, especially the kid, since the day they had awkwardly separated. He has plenty to say, but in favour of keeping Peter safe and not going behind the kids back, he kept it between himself and Pepper.

Weeks ago in the hotel room, when Peter had a meltdown and had spilt the can of worms of what he's been and still going through. He had told Pepper it all, and it was safe to say that she wasn't very pleased with the revelation. That was an understatement. She was livid. However, the woman took a deep breath to calm down her nerves. And stated how they had to keep it to themselves. They couldn't go behind Peter's back, nor could they scream and shout and attract attention.

And so, it was knowing those facts that made the duo come up with a life-changing decision.

After dropping the kid off with his Aunt after their time away. Tony and Pepper had a long, deep and thorough conversation about their next steps. Steps that will be changing a certain interns life.

Tony knows that having a Little around is going to change some things. But the shaded-glasses wearing man is consistently firm, that it won't change much. And if it does, it won't be massive changes. Little's need routines and too much change will be detrimental to their health. Not unless it's for the best and will benefit them in the long run.

He just wants the boy out of harm's way. And what better way to so, than to take the boy on permanently. Little side and all.

Peter is still the same incredibly smart boy he always is before they found out about his classification. That doesn't and will never change. Gosh, even Pepper teases about the fact that this may be the much-needed push Tony needs to adapt to a life of healthy eating and sleep schedule.

Now, after a week of essentially baby-proofing the lab and main floors with actual safety precautions. Tony is ready to build and invent with the one person he's starting to think less of an intern, and more as his best friend.

Bringing his hand up to the wood of the door of the apartment, Tony knocked on the door three times before waiting patiently to be let in. There was a loud shuffling and then the sound of the door being unlocked, only to reveal a stressed Aunt May. Her hair dishevelled and static with worry.

"May? Is-" Tony was cut off by suddenly being shoved into the wall. Mason's hands pinning him by his collar. Crinkling the material and making creases.

"You should have called us to say he was with you!" The man spat in his face, completely confusing the millionaire. What was this about? And why was Mason acting worried, when it was the complete opposite of what the man truly felt about this situation.

Due to all that Peter rambled to him weeks ago, Tony knows the man didn't give two fucks about the intelligent boy. It made him sick to see his intern's abuser fake concern.

"What are you talking about? Peter isn't with me." Tony croaked out, happy the strangling hold on him loosened once he replied.

Aunt May slapped Mason on the arm before inclining Tony to come in. "Earlier this morning, we found Peter's room unslept in. Peter isn't here, and he isn't with Ned. We called his mother and there's been no sign Peter has been there, he isn't at school because his school bag is still in his room. That and today is Saturday. So where else would he be?" May exasperated, hands pulling at her hair. Her nephew is usually doing some sort of homework by now.

"We were about to call you, to see if Peter was with you. But then you appeared at the door, and now you've said how he hasn't even been with you, we have no choice but to call the police. This isn't like Peter, Tony. If he wanted to leave, he would say. But he didn't, and that's unusual." The woman rambled, lip biting and being nothing but a perfect representation of worry.

Tony shook his head, taking May's hand into his. "There's no need to call them, I don't think it would be a good idea," Tony stated, having a change of priority now he knows about his intern's history. A history that Aunt May didn't seem to know about.

Gosh, they are going to be having a long, detailed talk.

"Peter is a little, yes? This is something I've only previously learned about, but we have all of us to blame for that. Mostly myself. Anyway, he's a little and involving the police is going to do nothing but stress him out. So, I will go find him. I will have Pepper hack into the CCTV system, and we will locate Peter. Fast, efficiently and police free. Are you alright with that, Ma'am?" Tony hoped he calmed the woman down, and have her stray away from the idea of calling any sort of authority.

He didn't care about Mason's opinion, nor did he want it. Tony knows the man is enjoying this. As there's no burden on his shoulders, Peter is everything but a burden.

He's intelligent, kind-hearted and caring. Socially awkward, yes. But once settled and realises he isn't being threatened, he's quite the rambler. Tony loved that about him, especially when it's about the science of certain topics that peeked the boy's interests.

"If there isn't no sign of a struggle in his room, that rules out him being kidnapped. If he hasn't answered your calls, he probably wants space. Yes, New York is a big place. But knowing Peter, he won't stray too far away. He'll stick to a familiar area, I hope so at least." Tony spoke, hoping his logic is correct. "He loves you too much to be going too far, May." The man set his glasses atop his head.

He couldn't bring himself to say the same to Mason. If he ever did, he would physically throw up.

May let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding, willing to give her nephews mentor control over the situation. He was right, and it seemed he had it all planned out to the point it will work. "Alright, I trust you. But if you take too long, and I don't hear from you. I am ringing the police, deal?"

And who was Tony to decline a reasonable settlement?

"Of course." The man bowed his head in a silent agreement, not missing a beat on giving a glare to Mason before he left the flat.

He hated the guy. And all was in good reason.

Leaving the apartments ground doors that lead to the outside city air, Tony pulled out his Vivo V3 phone. A device he had made especially for him from China. And scrolled through his contacts, pulling up Peppers contact and pressing call.

"Hey, no time for greets. Do not fret as it's all under control, but Peter's missing. I need you to load up all that you can on CCTV cameras around Peter's apartment. I'm going to find him, and I don't care how long it will take. If I don't, then Aunt May is going to take the next necessary action. I don't want the police involved if I can help it, it's not what Peter needs right now and I know you will agree with me on that." The man rambled, determined to find the boy, and when he did find him. He's going to take him home, and they will have a very long, serious chat.

However, what he didn't know. That is how he's going to find the boy, as it will certainly put a dampener on his plans.

Pepper let out a gasp at the mention of Peter missing, but like asked of her. She didn't question and instead pulled up the CCTV camera's events. Old and new.

"He was last seen at -" The strawberry blonde gave out the address coordinates, and was surprised herself at how close Peter was from the apartment.

See, Tony was right. Peter wouldn't have strayed off too far.

Instead of phoning up Aunt May straight away, Tony hung up on Pepper and dashed to the alleyway that Peter was last seen entering. He hoped he would be forgiven, as he should have gotten back to the woman as soon as Pepper told him where Peter was last seen. But whose saying Peter was actually in the alleyway, and when entering the said alleyway that was located. Tony was one hundred per cent sure May wouldn't be able to cope as to what his eyes laid upon.

It frightened him shitless, so he could only imagine how Aunt May would react. She would possibly pass out.

There, laying on the gravely unkept ground of the alleyway. Laid peter.

Though it wasn't just Peter's semi-conscious state that caught his eye, the clear bag of pills that laid beside the boy. Hardly anything left.

Oh god no.

"Peter, kiddo. Hey, come on stay with me. Shit." Tony sat the barely aware boy up with his arm, trying to get some sort of response.

"S-sorry D-Daddy." The boy mumbled before going limp in Tony's arms.