HE'S BACK
Almost a year had passed since Phantom had gone. Winter checked in from time to time, especially after the Avengers fought a big ghost attack, made sure everything was in good shape and everyone was alright. They never heard from Scarlett or Clockwork again, and all Winter would say was “Phantom needs them.” So she’d check in, and from time to time she helped update ghost tech, and send messages to Scarlett about capturing ghosts that the Avengers had blasted back to the Realms. And the Avengers, well, they tried their best to move on.
Peter was different, after Phantom had gone. He had taken up his place as an Avenger, taken on more responsibility. Moved into the Tower permanently. And it was discovered quickly that he would be the team’s expert on ghost fighting and tech. He had spent more time with Phantom than any of the rest of them, and he had done training drills with him, and listened to Phantom ramble on and on about his own experiences learning to fight other ghosts. The first time the Avengers fought a significant ghost threat without Phantom, Peter was the one who took charge on the comms. Who brushed off Cap, told him he was wrong, told him to defer to the person with more experience. The startling thing had been when Cap had done it. He hadn’t even argued, not really. So Peter took point, and he did something entirely different than Cap had been trying to do, and it worked. They won.
The scary part was Peter’s lack of enthusiasm about this. He had always been so bouncy about the concept of going on missions, being an Avenger. But once Phantom left and those dreams had come to reality, it hadn’t been such a big deal anymore. He smiled, of course, thanked everyone profusely, promised not to let them down. But he wasn’t that ecstatic vibrating kid he had been with Phantom. Peter acted mature, suddenly, older. The pranks he and Phantom had been so fond of were conspicuously absent. And everyone worried, but Peter brushed them off with fake smiles and haphazard reassurances.
Tony was faring better, but not by much. Phantom had been a pain, of course, but it was nice to have him around. Peter finally had a superhero friend, someone with a “life” just as complicated and screwed up as his own. And they always laughed together, and drove Tony crazy together, but Tony loved them still. He would never admit it, of course. Peter had long since been like a son to him, and Phantom had definitely wormed into his heart, and watching both of them hurting that last week had been pure agony. The aftermath had been even worse. Watching Peter fall apart, then patch himself up with tape and glue and move on. Grief didn’t work like that, Tony knew. He was sure Peter knew, too, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
The rest of the Avengers, well, they were alright. As alright as they could be. They hadn’t been close to Phantom, not like Tony and Peter, but they had appreciated him. Included him. Been glad that Peter and Tony were so happy with him around. But now he was gone, and it was much harder to just up and move on than it should have been.
One night Peter was trudging home from Ned’s house, heading to the subway, the cloak Phantom gifted him pulled tight around his shoulders. His Spidey Sense had buzzed, but he wasn’t quick enough to pull away from the bullet. Thankfully, that didn’t end up mattering. His gifted cloak was bulletproof, apparently. He started wearing it out on patrol and learned it was also knife proof, and tranquilizer bullet proof, and arrow proof.
The day of the ghost attack was cloudy. It usually was, for some reason. Peter was out on patrol, cloak tightened around his shoulders, when the portal opened, and what came out was like a smack in the face. The dragon, Aragon, roared out, followed by a veritable army. The first time Aragon had attacked New York, Phantom had saved everyone. Come flying out of his own portal, cursing, diving right into battle. He had ended up on the comms, and him and Peter had bantered and joked and taken down ghosts. That had been the start of everything. Peter stared for a moment before snapping out of his reverie. Then he put out the call to the Avengers, engaged ghost fighting mode on his suit, and dove into the fray.
Tony was, as per usual, the first other Avenger to show up. His own suit had ghost fighting mode engaged, and he dove into the fray. The dragon wreaked havoc. The other Avengers arrived as Peter wracked his brain, trying to think of how Phantom had taken down the dragon the first time. There was yelling over the comms, chaos, everyone waiting for Peter to start explaining his usual carefully considered strategy in a firm tone. Tony snapped something, tone sharp, and Peter snapped right back. He caught a glimpse of the medal around the dragon’s neck, and suddenly he remembered. So, in his usual firm voice, he started giving directions.
Soon, the dragon was down, and they were busy trying to get the thousands of smaller ghosts that had accompanied him back into the Realms. Peter was directing, as usual. Things were going moderately well, until Tony and Peter were surrounded, and being closed in on. They were blasting, but there were just so many ghosts, and god, Peter didn’t even know what to do now. He tugged at the cloak around his shoulders, pulling Tony into it as much as he could, and hoped.
Much to Peter and Tony’s shock, once the ghosts caught sight of the cloak, they froze. The advance stopped. Tony glanced at him, at the cloak, at the ghosts.
“You are a child of the Ancients,” one of the more human looking ghosts nearly hissed.
“I am,” Peter agreed, willing his voice not to shake.
“Where did you get that cloak?” Another demanded, the voice like nails on a chalkboard.
“It was a gift from King Phantom,” Peter answered, firmly, though in all technicality that wasn’t entirely true. Phantom had given him the cloak, King Phantom had not.
A murmur rippled through the ghosts. The sound made Peter shiver. They stared and whispered for a moment longer. Tony was talking, low and fast, into his comms.
“You will come with us,” the first ghost who had spoken proclaimed.
“We will take you to the King,” another added.
“He will be most pleased.”
“He has been looking for you.”
The announcement was met with eerie silence. Tony was still talking in his comms, voice desperate.
“Alright,” Peter agreed, his heart hammering in his chest. Phantom had been looking for him? But Phantom didn’t remember them, right? Peter wanted his mask to be off so he could run his hand through his hair. As it was, he settled for tugging the cloak tighter around himself and Tony.
All around them, a low chant started up in a language Peter had never heard. Tony looked nervous, but didn’t interrupt. In a moment, a green portal blasted open. The ghosts started herding Peter and Tony through, and they had no choice but to go. Someone was yelling on the comms, but Peter was way past listening. Soon, the world blurred green, and they were through.
The Realms were like Peter remembered them, green and swirling and odd. They headed for a door, and Peter had some vague impression that he had been here before. The ghosts stopped outside the door, and somehow Peter and Tony ended up right in front of the door. The door creaked open. Tony seemed weary and lost, but Peter took his arm and led him confidently inside. He had been here before. This was Red Willow, Phantom’s lair.
The wooden buildings, the blue grass, the cheery paint, the lack of doors, the night sky. Yes, Peter was very sure, this was Red Willow. Unlike last time when he was here, he was not with Phantom, and so he was walking on the ground. It was...odd, almost. Tony was still close to him, wrapped up in the cloak, Peter refusing to let him go.
“Peter, where are we?” Tony asked, sounding dazed.
“Oh. This is Red Willow, Phantom’s lair. Um, you might want to take your suit off, physics is kind of...weird here. I don’t want you to fly into the floor or something,” Peter answered, feeling dazed himself.
“Okay,” Tony agreed, much to Peter’s surprise.
Tony’s suit opened and he stepped out, looking around. Peter adjusted so he was next to Tony, the cloak wrapped around both of them again.
“So what do we do now?” Tony asked, skipping over the panic stage in favor of planning.
Peter’s brain leapt to catch up.
“Um, last time I was here I was with people. Phantom, Scarlett, Clockwork. And, there were these shadows, like sort of copies of Phantom, but not really? I’m not sure how to explain it. But we went to this big snowy place, um, and there was a Red Willow, like a sort of ghost tree, there,” he offered, trying to come up with some sort of plan.
“So what, should we try and go there?” Tony asked, tearing a hand through his hair.
“I’ll take you,” a smooth, feminine voice cut through the air.
Both Peter and Tony’s eyes snapped to the side. The ghost there was familiar to Peter. Her hair was long and dark, falling in waves, just like the last time Peter had seen her. Her outfit was different now, the white jumpsuit exchanged for a flowing white dress with a lace collar and a cinch around the waist, falling a little past her ankles.
“Eventide!” Peter exclaimed, grinning, unsure if the shadow would recognize him or not.
Eventide's face softened, and she smiled in a gentle expression that would look out of place on Phantom’s face.
“Indeed, son of the crown, I am. I apologize, for I am sure I know you, but as my master cannot remember, nor can I. Speaking of my master, Phantom awaits you. Come, come,” Even insisted, then she turned, floating slowly away.
Peter pulled Tony along after her before he could argue.
“Eventide? Who is that? How do you know that?” Tony asked, softly.
“She’s one of the shadows I was telling you about. I met her last time I was here,” Peter answered.
“Why did she call you ‘son of the crown’?” Tony asked.
“I’m not sure exactly, but Phantom told me they used to call him ‘son of the ancients’ when he wore this cloak, since an ancient gave it to him. So maybe it’s like that, since Phantom, gave me the cloak and he’s the king, I’m the ‘son of the crown’?” Peter offered, trying not to ramble.
They were going to see Phantom. He had been looking for them, even though he obviously didn’t remember them, still. Peter was buzzing with excitement and anxiety and trying not to show either, as well as not get his hopes up.
“That would make sense. Peter. Hey, we’re gonna get through this, kid,” Tony comforted, pulling his arm tighter around Peter’s shoulders under the cloak.
“Yeah. Right,” Peter agreed, holding onto Tony a little tighter.
They were quiet as they walked. The scenery changed into the woodland, then snow was falling. The heater in Peter’s suit kicked on, but he knew from experience that wouldn’t help for long. Tony was already shivering against him, and Peter tried to press closer to him, to share the warmth of his suit. Eventide stopped abruptly, turning to see Peter pressed against a shivering Tony.
“Right, you’re alive, sorry, we forgot for a moment. Here,” she said, softly.
As she spoke, two thick black cloaks materialized on a nearby tree. Eventide plucked them off the branch, offering them to Peter. Peter took them with his free hand.
“Here, I’m gonna pull away for a minute to put this on you, but it’ll help,” Peter said to Tony, gently.
Tony’s teeth were chattering, and he nodded quickly. Peter pulled away, and Tony shivered more violently in his absence. Peter tucked the cloak around Tony’s shoulders, securing it with sure fingers. Tony’s shivering slowly subsided, and he clutched the cloak tightly to him. Peter pulled his starry cloak off for a moment, put the other one on, then put the starry cloak back on over the black one. By the time he was situated, Tony had stopped shivering completely, and was staring at his suit in wonder.
“How did that work?” he asked.
Peter chuckled as he tucked the starry cloak around both of them again, pulling Tony close.
“Ghost magic mumbo jumbo. Don’t question it, just be grateful. Now come on, we have someone to see,” Peter answered, the hope obvious in his voice.
Eventide smiled, nodded once to Peter, and started leading the way again. Tony looked around in both wonder and suspicion as they were led into more snow, and Peter could make out the Red Willow up ahead. Soon they were walking under it, and Peter’s eyes were scanning for Phantom. There, at the base of the trunk of the willow, sitting on a raised ice throne, was Phantom.
Well, sort of. It was Phantom, of course, but he looked different. His white hair was messy, flecked with snow. The usual jumpsuit was gone, replaced by navy blue robes, stark against the white snow. Phantom had a new cloak as well, white, covered in prints of snowflakes and frost and ice, blending in with the background perfectly. A crown that looked like it was made of ice floated slightly above his hair. On his right side sat another familiar figure, her hair blood red against the snow, wearing smooth lavender robes with a dust pink cape. Scarlett. Her face showed no emotion when she looked at them, though Peter knew she had always had a good poker face. All around Phantom were the other shadows, though there seemed to be more of them now. One was on his left, sitting on the arm of the throne. Another stood behind the throne, hands firmly planted on Phantom’s shoulders. More were scattered at his feet, running gentle, reassuring hands over his arms or legs or chest.
Soon Peter and Tony were standing in front of the throne, huddled together like they had been the whole walk. Eventide floated off and planted herself practically in Phantom’s lap, and Phantom hummed, running his hands up and down her arms distractedly. Phantom’s eyes fell on first the cloak, then Peter, then Tony. Peter couldn’t read his expression, and he was almost holding his breath. Phantom turned to Scarlett, a question in his eyes, but she didn’t respond.
Carefully, Phantom lifted Eventide off his lap, pushing her towards Scarlett. Scarlett held the shadow easily. While all the shadows, Scarlett, Peter, and Tony watched, Phantom slowly floated down from the raised throne and stopped directly in front of Peter. He wasn’t any closer than was strictly polite, maybe a solid three foot distance away. For a long, agonizing moment, he just stared. Then, slowly, his hand came up, as if he were going to touch Peter’s face, brush his hair back, like he had done so many times before. Peter’s breath caught, and Phantom flinched, his hand dropping back to his side. There was another beat of silence.
“Would you mind taking your mask off?” Phantom asked, gently, his voice cordial.
Peter almost wanted to cry. Scratch that, he did want to cry, and he was trying really hard to hold it together. There was the voice that had haunted his dreams and his nightmares, the voice he had missed and longed for and thought he would never hear again. Tony squeezed his shoulders tightly, and Peter took a deep breath.
“Sure,” he managed to choke out.
Phantom waited patiently as Peter reached up, pulled his mask off. Their eyes met for a moment, ectoplasm green and chocolate brown.
“I know you,” Phantom gasped, and it seemed like it took everything he had to say that.
Peter recognized the scrunch in Phantom’s face that meant he was trying not to cry, and god, was it making it harder for Peter to keep a straight face. Then, Phantom made a half strangled noise in his throat and threw himself into Peter’s arms. Peter caught him, of course, an icy shock. Phantom was colder than Peter remembered, but he figured that had something to do with the winter wonderland they were currently surrounded by. Phantom’s head was buried against Peter’s shoulder, and it was such a familiar position. Phantom shook against him, gentle sobs racking his body. Peter started crying, sobbing quietly, tears falling from his eyes and freezing over as soon as they did. The air was freezing, and so was Phantom, and Peter found he didn’t care because Phantom was here and they were hugging and everything was going to be okay and it’s okay we’re together now. Peter was shaking, from the crying and from the cold, and he honestly couldn’t care less.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so, so, sorry. I’m sorry because I don’t even know your name but I know your eyes and your face and that cloak. And I know that I love you. But I can’t even remember your name and I wish I could but I can’t and I love you,” Phantom rambled against Peter’s shoulder, holding on tightly enough to bruise.
Peter sobbed again. “It’s okay, it’s okay, I forgive you. I love you I love you I love you. My name is Peter. Peter Parker.”
“Peter Peter Peter Peter Peter Peter Peter Peter…” Phantom mumbled, over and over again, as if trying to commit it to memory.
Peter realized with a jolt that was probably exactly what he was doing. Letting Phantom continue his mumbling, Peter ran his hands through Phantom’s hair in a gentle rhythm, the way he always had before. Peter was shivering violently, and he could tell his body was protesting, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go of Phantom yet. He was too busy reassuring himself this was real and not a dream.
Slowly, the litany of Peter’s name stopped, and Phantom’s grip loosened. Phantom frowned, concerned, and pulled away from Peter, holding onto his shoulders and looking him up and down.
“You’re cold, and I’m an idiot,” Phantom said, bluntly.
Peter laughed, startled. “No, I mean, yes, I mean, I’m just really really glad to see you.”
Phantom’s face softened, and he pulled his hands off of Peter’s shoulders, floating back. Peter took a stumbling step forward, and Phantom raised an eyebrow, sighed. Then, he turned to Tony.
“I’m sorry, I’m sure I know you, but like with Peter, I have absolutely no idea who you are. What’s your name?”
Tony blinked once, owlishly, and Peter stifled a laugh. This was probably the first time in Tony Stark’s adult life he had ever been asked for his name.
“Um, I’m Tony Stark,” he said.
Phantom smiled. “Pleasure to meet you. Well, again. At any rate, come up here and tuck Peter under those cloaks with you and see if you can warm him up some while I scavenge for some more layers. I would just take you somewhere else, but I’m afraid nowhere here is particularly warm apart from Sekura Loko, and I’d rather not disturb the locals anymore than I usually do.”
“Um, okay,” Tony agreed, mildly.
At some point the starry cloak had been transferred from Peter to Tony, and Tony stepped up next to Peter, tucking them both under it. He also pulled the dark cloaks Eventide had given them around so they were sharing them. Tony was pressed against Peter, trying to share his body heat and wincing at how cold Peter was.
Phantom hummed, looked around. Then, he looked right at Tony and Peter and snapped his fingers. In an instant, all the shadows milling around produced a cloak from somewhere, and swarmed Peter and Tony, tucking the various colored cloaks around them like blankets. When they all retreated, Tony and Peter were under a good sized pile of cloaks. Many of them were put on backwards, so the fonts of their bodies were covered, while the rest were settled over both of their shoulders. Somehow, the starry cloak had ended up on the outside. Peter and Tony blinked, seeming slightly dazed. Phantom smiled.
“Better?” he asked, gently.
“Um, yeah, much,” Peter agreed.
“Thank you,” Tony added.
“Of course. Would you like to, um, talk?” Phantom asked, seeming a little lost.
“Yes,” Peter answered, quickly.
Phantom seemed pleased. “I, um, I’m glad. I’d like to know what I was like,” he waved a hand vaguely, “before.”
“I’d like to know what you’re like now,” Peter answered, softly.
“Follow me,” Phantom said, turning to an opening in the tree that Peter had not noticed before.
Phantom waited until he was sure Peter and Tony were following before he started walking. He took them through the passage, through a series of hallways, and into a comfortable looking sitting room. There were couches and plush chairs, blankets and pillows strewn about. Snow swirled in here, softly, though it seemed a little bit warmer.
“Please have a seat,” Phantom invited, taking his own place in a worn looking armchair.
Tony and Peter made their way to a couch across from the armchair and settled down there. Phantom looked at a loss for what to say, then he sighed.
“I’m lucky someone that’s not bound by ghostly custom knew me in the Before. If you were ghosts you wouldn’t tell me. You wouldn’t be able to. I know Scar wishes she could tell me everything, especially when I ask questions but…” he winced, “but she’s under an unbreakable oath not to. Every ghost that knew me well is. All I’ve heard about myself in the Before is legend and myth. But I see you,” Phantom turned to Peter, “Peter, I see you in my dreams. You’re wearing the cloak, and there’s glitter on your face, and you’re smiling. And I can feel all these emotions that I know I have for you but…” A heavy sigh, “but I never knew who you were. I could never find you. I didn’t know how. And no one would help me.”
Phantom sounded sad and frustrated beyond belief, and all Peter wanted to do was hug him. But he also didn’t want to freeze again. So he smiled.
“It’s okay. You told us you would lose your memory. We knew, and we accepted it. You didn’t want to go, but you didn’t really have a choice. You said you had a duty to the Realms.”
Phantom nodded. “I do have a duty to the Realms. That’s why it’s so confusing. The Lethean waters, they were supposed to erase everything. I’m not supposed to even be able to remember. Scar thinks I might still be able to because I’m half…”
“Because you’re half human?” Tony offered, gently.
Phantom relaxed and nodded. “Yeah, that. Sorry, I didn’t know if you knew or not and that’s a big secret here.”
“It’s okay, you told us. Well, you told me. Scarlett told Tony. Without telling you she was going to or asking permission, which you seemed pretty upset about,” Peter chimed in.
Phantom chuckled softly. “Yeah, I would be upset about that. It’s weird to think Scar would do that, though. I guess I wasn’t King, then. If you don’t mind answering, what was I like? How did we know each other? Hell, how well do we know each other? Sorry, that’s a lot of questions.”
Peter’s eyes teared up again, because even though he was clueless and he was dressed differently, he was still just so Phantom.
“Peter? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you or something. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Phantom russed to assure, his hands fluttering anxiously.
“No no, you didn’t upset me or anything. God, I just, you’re still just the same. It’s a relief. You were so scared that when you lost your memory you’d be a different person, but I don’t think you really are.”
Phantom looked bashful. Tony laughed, softly.
“He’s right, you know,” he added.
“You were a lot like you are now,” Peter started, rubbing at his eyes. “You were kind, always wanted to help people, even at a cost to yourself. But you were lighthearted, too. A lot of bad things happened to you, but you chose to be kind anyway. You always protected people, even people that didn’t deserve to be protected. You said that maybe if people were kind the world wouldn’t be so cruel, so you tried to be kind. Even when people hurt you, you’d still save them when it came down to it. You were good. And you were embarrassed about being seen that way. You always said you were just doing your best like everyone else, you just happened to have ghost powers that meant you could do more. Nothing special. You were fun, too. We’d prank people together, and patrol together. Help people out with little things, you know. Get a cat out of a tree. Help someone carry their groceries. And we’d hang out. Watch TV, talk, work on tech. You helped me add ghost tech to my suit. We knew each other well. Really well. We met, well, this dragon ghost, Aragon, attacked my city. You swept in and saved the day, and we made dumb puns on the comms together. Everyone else hated us for it, but it was worth it. And then, well, you started coming around more, and one thing led to another.”
Phantom was shocked into silence for a moment.
“I...thank you, I think? Scar and Clockwork always say I’m good, that I always have been, but I guess...I never know how to respond to that. The truth is I don’t know if everyone is right or not, or if I’m different now. As King, I have to make a lot of tough choices. And a lot of other ones. It’s not an easy job, usually. There’s always something that needs done, or needs fixed. Sometimes there’s someone who needs….well….the ghostly equivalent of killed. Taken out. I have a lot of people in my corner. Scarlett, grandfather, the core, fright night who, as annoying as he is, is actually helpful, Pandora, Ghost Writer, and Desiree. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had help. I don’t know how I would fare if I didn’t. I don’t know if, at some time in the Before, I found out. The hardest part of this is I don’t have very much experience to draw from. That’s a downside of the memory wipe. Well, another one, anyway. Scar says it’s also just because I’m young, and as I get older I’ll know more. I don’t know if she’s right. Honestly, there’s not a lot of things I know, these days. Grandfather says just to try my best, so I am, but, well. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, as the saying goes. Sorry, I’m rambling.”
Peter smiled widely, because it was just so familiar.
“It’s okay. You’re allowed to ramble. I’ll always listen. Phantom, you’re always gonna doubt yourself. You’re always gonna wonder if you’re doing the right thing. That’s just part of it. I’m the same way. But that’s what we have people for. The people in our corner. We might not always know, and they might not always know, but they’ll help you figure it out.”
Phantom sniffled in a very uncharacteristic manner. “Thank you, Peter. Did we...we dated, didn’t we? Well, went on a date, anyway. I’m very sure we kissed at some point.”
Peter chuckled, startled. “Yeah, yeah, we did. Go on a date. And kiss. Yeah.”
“And it was gross,” Tony teased. Peter shoved him under the blankets, and Tony squealed in protest. Phantom laughed, eyes twinkling as he did.
Just then, a knock sounded on the doorframe. Phantom sighed and turned to see Scarlett there, looking apologetic.
“Sorry, Phantom, but Fright Knight is here. There’s a problem in the Far Frozen and Frostbite asked for your help. Something about liminals in the Realms that shouldn’t be here and a conflict with them? Fright Knight isn't exactly sure, but we should check it out.”
Phantom sighed, heavily. Then, he turned to Peter and Tony. “Like I said, there’s always something. I really wish I had more time to talk right now, but well, I don’t.” Another sigh. “I could make you a portal to wherever you need to go, if you want. If I make a portal I’ll be able to make a portal to that place again. If you don’t mind me just dropping in, that is.”
“I wish we didn’t have to leave. Can’t we come with you?” Peter asked, pouting.
Phantom considered, looking to Scarlett for advice. She sighed and finally gave a slight nod. Phantom did a midair spin, complete with a fistpump and whoop.
“Yes! Scar and the core finally agree on something! But you have to be careful, okay? You’re not ghosts, not even liminal, so the Realms aren’t the safest place for you. If I wasn’t King I totally wouldn’t even let you come, but as long as you’re with me you should be pretty safe.”
Peter grinned wildly. “Awesome!”
Tony smiled, but didn’t say anything. Peter and Phantom were back together, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was better than before.