The ferry disaster
Peter had been keeping busy.
Between school, training, and secretly analyzing alien tech with Ned, he had barely found time to breathe.
Now, he finally had a lead.
Using the tracker he had placed on one of the stolen weapons, Peter discovered that the sellers were planning another deal—this time on a ferry.
He was going to stop them.
Everything started well.
Mr.Stark called and praised him but he had to hang up because he was in the middle of trouble.
Peter tracked the criminals, observed their movements, and even waited for the right moment to strike.
But the second he intervened—everything went to hell.
- The fight escalated too quickly.
- The Vulture arrived—throwing off Peter’s plan.
- FBI arrived and targeted him instead of vulture.
- One of the weapons malfunctioned—blasting a hole straight through the ferry.
The entire boat split in half.
Panic erupted.
People screamed.
Peter tried.
He webbed both sides of the ferry, stretching himself to his absolute limit to hold it together.
For a moment, it almost worked.
The webs snapped.
And the ferry kept sinking.
Peter felt himself falling.
A sudden blur of red and gold.
Iron Man was there.
And he saved everyone.
By the time Peter processed everything, he was already standing on the dock—soaking wet, exhausted, and feeling like a complete failure.
Tony landed in front of him, helmet retracting to reveal an expression of pure disappointment.
“Nice work, kid,” Tony said, voice sharp. “That was great.”
Peter swallowed hard.
“I had it handled,” he muttered.
Tony tilted his head. “Really? ‘Cause from where I was standing, it looked like you almost drowned an entire boat of people.”
Peter flinched.
“I just—I was trying to help.”
Tony sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Kid, I told you to leave this alone.”
Peter’s fists clenched. “But if I didn’t do anything—”
“Then nobody would’ve almost died,” Tony snapped.
Peter felt his chest tighten.
“I was just trying to be like you.”
Tony’s expression hardened.
“I want you to be better.”
Without another word, Tony extended his hand.
Peter’s heart dropped.
“…What?”
Tony exhaled. “Give me the suit.”
Peter froze.
His whole world shattered in an instant.
“…No.”
“You don’t deserve it,” Tony said firmly. “Not yet.”
Peter felt his breath catch.
“But—”
“The suit. Now.”
Peter hesitated.
He pulled off the mask.
Unzipped the suit.
Put on hello kitty pjs.
And handed it over.
Tony took it, nodding. “You can go home now.”
Peter turned and walked away—feeling like he had just lost everything.
When Peter got home, he barely even spoke.
May knew something was wrong the moment she saw him.
But when he quietly muttered, “I lost my internship,” she felt her heart break.
She tried comforting him.
Tried telling him it was okay.
But he just gave her a small, broken smile and said, “Yeah.”
And that?
That wasn’t okay.
So she did the only thing she could think of.
She called Harry.
Harry had been keeping an eye on Peter.
Not interfering.
Not stepping in.
Just watching—ready to move if something went too wrong.
(Because Peter wants to be a hero,- he can't be warped in a bubble wrap unfortunately- so he needs to learn somethings by himself.
And when he saw Spider-Man on the news again—failing to hold the ferry together—
His stomach dropped.
But before he could do anything.
Tony Stark had arrived and handled it.
Harry exhaled slowly.
Peter was safe.
This time.
Now it was his turn to step in.
Because May had just called.
And Peter needed him.
Harry had barely stepped through the door before May was already talking.
“He’s in his room,” she said, crossing her arms. “He won’t say much, but I know something happened. And whatever it was—it hit him hard.”
Harry nodded. “I’ll handle it.”
May sighed, rubbing her temples. “Be patient with him, okay?”
Harry’s lips twitched slightly. “I always am.”
May snorted. “Sure.”
She glanced toward the hallway.
“…Good luck.”
Harry gave her a nod before heading toward Peter’s room.
He knocked once.
No answer.
So he did what any older brother figure would do.
He opened the door anyway.
Peter was sitting on his bed, hunched over, staring at the floor.
He looked miserable.
Harry leaned against the doorframe.
“So.”
Peter flinched.
Harry raised an eyebrow. “Wanna tell me what happened, or should I start guessing?”
Peter exhaled sharply.
“I lost my internship.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Harry hummed, stepping further into the room. “Lost it, huh?”
Peter shrugged stiffly. “Yeah.”
Harry sat down across from him. “And why’s that?”
Peter hesitated. “Just… stuff. Didn’t work out.”
Harry tilted his head.
“Stuff.”
Peter nodded quickly. “Yeah. Stuff.”
Harry gave him a long look.
“Does this have anything to do with you coming back in Hello Kitty pajamas?”
Peter froze.
His face flushed bright red.
“I—I—”
Harry’s lips curled slightly. “Because I distinctly remember May telling me that someone left the house in regular clothes and came back looking like they robbed an eight-year-old’s closet.”
Peter spluttered. “That was—it’s not—it’s totally unrelated!”
Harry smirked. “Oh? So it’s also unrelated to a certain ferry incident?”
Peter’s stomach dropped.
Harry’s eyes sharpened.
“Or maybe,” Harry continued, “it’s got something to do with a certain billionaire in a red and gold suit?”
Peter’s entire body tensed.
He opened his mouth—
Then closed it.
Because he had nothing to say.
Harry leaned back, watching him carefully.
Then, smoothly—
“Try again.”
Peter swallowed hard.
He was so dead.
Peter’s heart was pounding.
Harry’s gaze was calm but sharp, like he was seeing straight through him.
And the worst part?
He probably was.
Peter opened his mouth—trying to come up with some excuse, some way out—
But nothing came.
Because Harry already knew.
Maybe not everything, but enough.
The ferry. The suit. The Hello Kitty pajamas. Iron Man.
There was no way to talk himself out of this.
So, instead?
He just dropped his head into his hands.
“…I screwed up,” he muttered.
Harry didn’t say anything.
So Peter kept going.
“I—I thought I could handle it. I had a lead on these guys selling alien weapons, and I figured if I just stopped them, it would be fine.”
He laughed bitterly.
“But I didn’t stop them. I made things worse.”
Harry’s expression didn’t change.
Peter clenched his fists. “I got cocky. I thought—I don’t know—I thought I was doing the right thing.”
His voice cracked.
“But I almost got people killed.”
The words hung in the air.
“I lost the suit,” Peter whispered. “Stark took it.”
Peter had expected a lecture.
He had expected Harry to call him reckless, irresponsible, or just plain stupid.
But instead?
Harry just leaned back in his chair, watching him carefully.
Harry finally spoke.
“Good.”
Peter’s head snapped up. “What?!”
Harry shrugged. “He was right to take it.”
Peter stared.
“You’re supposed to be on my side!”
“I am,” Harry said evenly. “Which is why I’m glad he did it.”
Peter felt like he’d been punched.
“…Why?”
Harry leaned forward.
“You tell me.”
Honestly now peter was getting angry.
Harry hummed. “Then let’s keep this simple.”
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do, Peter. But I am going to ask you a few questions.”
Peter tensed. “Okay…?”
Harry tilted his head. “Why do you do it?”
Peter froze.
Harry didn’t elaborate.
He didn’t need to.
Because Peter knew exactly what he meant.
“…Because I have to.”
Harry gave him a long look.
“Do you?”
Peter swallowed hard. “Yes.”
Harry nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Then—
"You started being Spiderman using homemade suit with pjs, literally an onise if you ask me-"
Peter looked indignant" it's not an on-onsie!!"
Harry continued as if he didn't get interrupted "- which had none of the cool tech. Soo Would you do it without the suit?"
Peter’s stomach dropped.
“I—” He hesitated.
Harry didn’t look away.
“…Yeah,” Peter admitted. “I would.”
(I'm Spider-Man, even if my suit is an onsie homemade. I don't need a suit to be Spider-Man)
Harry smirked slightly. “Good answer.”
Peter blinked. “…What?”
Harry leaned back. “I was wondering if you were smart enough to realize that.”
Peter scowled. “Are you messing with me?”
“A little.”
Peter groaned.
Harry chuckled.
then—
His amusement faded.
And he looked at Peter with something… heavier.
Something real.
“Peter,” he said quietly. “You don’t need a suit to be a hero. And you definitely don’t need Stark’s approval.”
Peter froze.
That was exactly what he had been struggling with.
Harry sighed. “You’re not Stark. You’re not me. You don’t have to be anyone but yourself.”
Peter swallowed hard. “But what if—”
“No ‘what ifs,’” Harry interrupted. “You either keep moving forward, or you don’t. And I think you already know which one you’re going to choose.”
Peter hesitated.
He nodded.
Because he did.
He just needed to hear it.
Steady. Unmoving.
Harry gave him a small, knowing smile
"…What do you do now?”
Finally, Peter took a shaky breath..
“I get back up.”
For a while, they just sat there.
Finally, Harry stood up.
“Well,” he said casually, “you’re grounded.”
Peter groaned. “Seriously but you can't ground me?”
Harry grinned. “Yep,I can , I'll talk to May.”
Peter flopped onto his bed. “This is the worst.”
Harry chuckled, heading toward the door.
“Night, Peter.”
Peter sighed. “Night, Harry.”
The conversation was over.
Peter felt lighter.