Peter has a point, and Tony concedes with a small quirk at the lips. “Guess I can’t argue with you there.”

The question makes him pause for a moment. He doesn’t know how Peter is going to take the news, and it’s not like he can just get up to comfort him right now.

But, he deserves to know. And considering Tony’s level of guilt with all this, it needs to be him that tells him.

“Five years.” His throat feels even drier still, but he doesn’t stop talking. “I... Yeah. Your aunt knew. I went to see her a few days after I made it back from space. I would have gone sooner, but I couldn’t. It...the trip back was longer and harder than anticipated.”

With his good hand, he reaches for Peter’s as if to offer some comfort. It’s not much, but it’s all he can do right now.

“What do you remember?”