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"No, were coming with you. Now, I dont understand what hangups you have about your identity, but I dont care. New york is in danger. We need to get that core now."
"But- You dont need to come, I can just get it from my place. bring it back.."
"Are you serious, kid? There's not enough time for that. It's gonna blow. We need to do this, and we need to do it fast."
"Well, you could wait around the corner-"
"I dont care about your address, Spiderman." Tony points at him, accusatory, now. and narrows his eyes "I care about the world. You dont have your priorities straight."
Spiderman draws in a deep breath.
"I know you dont, because the second you're out my sight, you're going to make a run for it. " Tony knows Spiderman wants to object, but he continues speaking anyway. "You're worrying too much about protecting your identity, and not enough about the radioactive alien tech sitting in your bedroom. It can and will blow up everything in a 5 mile radius, any minute now. I dont care who you are behind the mask, Spiderman. I'll never come bother you in your cushy student apartment if you dont want me to. I'll pretend I never even saw it. But were coming with you."
Spiderman lowers his head, defeated.
"Drive to the walmart. "
Tony cant stop his irritation boiling over. "Dont screw with me kid. Give us your address."
"No- no it's nearby. Just.. It's the closest point."
Tony is about to start again, but Happy shifts the car into gear.
"No time to argue, boss."
The air in the car is tense as they speed through the city. Tonys anger is tangible.
Tony scans the street through the window as they approach. He doesnt see any apartment complexes, or houses, or dorms. He doesn't see anything even remotely residential. He turns towards Spiderman, livid.
But before he can speak, Spiderman opens the door and slowly climbs out.
Tony watches as Spiderman begins to walk towards a group of homeless men, gathered pathetically beneath a sheltered loading bay.
One of the older men notices him. His eyes widen, alongside Tony's
'Hey... Hey, Spiderman..'
The man hesitates, glancing nervously at Spiderman, and then at the car, and then at the empty sleeping bag next to him.
" Are you here for - for Petey? " Theres a thick layer of dread lacing his voice.
"I swear he's a good kid. Whatever he's done, he doesnt mean it."
Spidermans shoulders sag.
"Dont worry, he's okay. I just need to borrow something."
"Is this to do with where he's been going?"
Something clicks for Tony.
"I knew I should have pushed more. I knew he was getting mixed up in something. What is it? Drugs? Oh my god, Petey-"
"No! No, its not drugs. He's good.
You're good. "
Tony's heart drops, only halfway, because he still doesn't believe it. He glances towards Happy, but Happy doesn't look back at him. He just stares at the scene, in disbelief.
Because there's no way.
And then he watches Spiderman lift a concrete slab, so naturally. Without searching, asking - he knows exactly where to look.
"Petey keeps all his really important things in that food waste bin under there. Said nobody would steal something if it looks like trash."
Spiderman opens it, and pulls out exactly what they're looking for - A tiny Chitaurian core, contained in a plastic screw-cap water bottle, and dusts off the grime it's covered in.
Happy finally meets Tony's gaze.
Neither of them say anything.
They dont say anything because theres nothing to say.
This is Spiderman's home.