[I added to last chapter. Read that or this won't make sense.]

Avenging Phantom

Chapter 4

~•~oO0Oo~•~

It was a shocked silence following the sound of metal boots hitting concrete. Both the mugger and halfa were watching in terror. DP23 was paralyzed, his body refused to respond to his commands to runrunrunrun. He didn't think he could get away if he tried. The mugger had no such qualms and took off faster than DP23 even expected. Leaving behind the smell of alcohol in his wake.

DP23 was unsure how to feel about that reaction. Whoever this Metal Man was, he was dangerous. And he managed to find him. Every sense of reason in his body screamed danger. He was about to follow the mugger's example when the man spoke.

"Yeesh, tough crowd, huh," he mused, and his faceplate flipped upwards. His tone and expression indicated humor but he was studying DP23 with such intensity he squirmed uncomfortably but said nothing. The look had his feet glued to the floor.

The man didn't seem concerned by the lack of response from the teen because he went to his next speech. The man seemed perfectly able to carry their conversation on his own.

The teen contemplated turning invisible and taking off when the man said something of interest. "I wouldn't bother running, unless you can figure out how to mask your ecto-signature," he stated. DP23's head tilted to the side in false confusion, hoping to play off as a dumb teenager who was definitely not a ghost... Or even half of one

"I can track you and every other ghost that was in the GIW system, thanks to the samples we collected- stole," he elaborated.

The teen's eyes went comically huge, it may have been funny in any other situation. He backed up against the wall he was just pressed against. This time he seemed to be trying to become one with the wall and not be noticed. He felt exposed out here in the open, like every detail of him was under a microscope.

"- So anyway, why don't you come with me and figure this all out, okay?" He had lowered his volume and was watch the teen carefully, tensed as he expected the boy to make a run for it.

Then DP23 met the man's eyes for the first time, before they darted away and he shook his head mutely.

Still not talking huh, Tony thought. "Well, since you obviously don't know who I am, I'm Iron Man. I'm one of the good guys." He held out his hand to see if the teen would get close enough.

.oO0Oo.

An eight year-old DP23 was walking in front of two GIW agents, both were silent as if walking him to him impending doom. Which, for all knew could be accurate, there were days he thought he'd die. Like the first time they removed a few of his organs in his ghost form so they could watch in fascination they began growing back. It one of the few times they used the drugs on him, the ones that made everything hazy and weak. But it was still one od the most painful things he'd felt so far. He was afraid of the day having his organs removed would be like having a blood draw.

But there was nothing he could do. He couldn't escape yet, though there were rumors it'd happen someday. He just didn't know if he'd still be alive to see it. So he walked silently, until he yelped out as he was shoved down from behind with the barrel of an ecto-gun.

"Get up, scum," the agent scoffed. "Useless little monster. Thinks it'll get pity." Today was a lab day, which happened randomly but he could tell by which way they were walking, according to the smug looks it was going to be bad. The man slammed his boot near the child's fingers and he immediately pulled them to his chest as if burned. They laughed and told him to move as soon as he'd struggled to his feet.

Agent K cuffed the side of DP23's head and the child immediately bent his head as they walked. They arrived at *that* room, the one that haunted his nightmares. Unknowing that in a few years later he'd escape from that room and run.

They unlocked the door DP23 unable to make out the complex passwords. Then Agent O pushed him inside the room where a table took of the middle. Various trays were scattered around and sharp tools gleamed in the florescent lights. The walls were all, of course, white which made everything much brighter than it needed to be. A woman with who was cleaning a surgical scalpel looked up at them.

"Set up the specimen," she said monotone.

"Yes Agent B," they replied and DP23 didn't struggle as they strapped in his arms and legs, at least anymore. That usually resulted in more pain than necessary. At least after this they'd leave him alone for a few hours, or even a day! Maybe they'll feed him.

Agent B gave them a short nod of dismissal and they left, shutting the heavy ectoranium doors behind them.

Danny didn't struggle but he kept a constant loop of what the others had told him. They'd get out someday. This 'CW' would get them out. He just had to hang in there...

Agent B smirked, knowingly at its masked expression, but she could see it in his eyes. She'd also seen it on the countless others before she tore them apart. The look of hope.

"Ya see scum, no one will ever rescue you or the others because you're all bad. Monster," she spat.

"No 'hero' would tarnish their records to try and save scum like you. Face it, we're the good guys here for wiping your kind from every Universe." With a final growl she picked up the scalpel and the pain began.

.oO0Oo.

DP23 stared down, his ratty black hair covering most of his face and Tony could see his expression. Probably the point. He didn't make any indication he'd heard what Tony said, so the man came closer.

DP23 started out of his memories and tried to retreat but his back slammed, none too gently, into the brick wall. Tony stopped moving but he was still too close for comfort. DP23's breath was ragged as he stared at the man with wide eyes. Tony noticed the dark, bruise-like circles underneath the suspicious blue eyes that never left him, watching and looking for a way out. It made him want to wrap this kid in blankets, safe and away, until Tony could make all of this go away.

But right now he resembled a dangerous, very scared, cornered animal.

"Danny-" he started but DP23 swayed and forced himself to transform. Tony was surprised at that. Surprised that Danny even had enough energy to transform, he looked like he was dead on his feet. Danny seemed just as shocked as he looked down at his hands and watched the ethereal glow that lit up the alley.

In a split second decision Tony grabbed on small wrists in his hands instantly snapping him out of his daze. He was so surprised he didn't even think to try and turn intangible and truthful he probably didn't have the energy to get far. He yelped again as Tony pulled him into a restraining hold.

"LET ME GO!" Danny yelled, his voice cracking from disuse and damage and Tony felt his heart ache.

"Just calm down kid," Metal Man said as he struggled to subdue the underweight teenager.

"No," he sobbed defiantly, which may have worked better at being intimidating if there weren't tears welling up in his toxic green eyes. He was still struggling but not as much now. He didn't have enough energy to escape, he realized. He couldn't even turn intangible and be able to run thanks to his weakened state.

The only thing he could do by this point was hope these people wouldn't hurt him too badly. He was probably making everything ten times worse by struggling so he went limp, breathing heavily.

Tony noticed the teen's energy was fading quickly and felt a pang of worry. He shouldn't have automatically moved to force to restrain the teen. A dangerous, radioactive, powerhouse of a teenager albeit, but still one. He readjusted his hold until Danny wasn't in a restraining position and to get a better hold on him.

Danny barely noticed this as his exhaustion was beginning to take hold on his frail body and black spots swam in his vision. He was on the edge of unconsciousness when he was picked up bridal style. That was enough to jolt him into consciousness for a moment, enough to make him aware of the wind on his face. Was he flying? He must have blacked out for a moment because why was he flying?

"-on kid, stay awa-" whatever was being said fell on deaf ears as his hearing faded and his eyes slipped closed and DP23 knew no more.

.oO0Oo.

This wasn't how this was supposed to go. He was supposed to talk Danny into coming with him to the Tower so that they could help him and the other ghosts. According to all their records many were protective over the hybrid, so he guessed if Danny was at the Tower the other prisoners would follow.

As soon as Danny passed out he saw a ring appear around the boy's small waist and transform him into his human form. Even though Tony had seen the transformation in videos and when he was struggling to escape, it still surprised him.

Danny was wearing a large sweater and sweatpants he obviously got from some dumpster. He supposed it was only slightly better than the hospital gown he left in. The clothes hung off his small frame and provided no warmth against the cold wind.

Tony hugged the teen's small figure closer, to try and protect him from the wind chill. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. The best he could do was get home quick where Danny could get medical attention. Unlike the other ghosts he was still human and this form could likely still get sick.

"JARVIS, what's our arrival time?" He tried to not allow the worry into his voice. This whole mess was his fault. He shouldn't have gone after any of the ghosts, if anything happened to Danny- No, he wouldn't allow that to happen,.

"Around four minutes, sir," the British AI responded. At that moment Danny stirred for the first time, a small moan falling from his mouth, but he stayed unconscious. Which, for once, Tony was glad for. If Danny fought Tony, even in his extremely weak state, he could possibly fall or injure himself further.

The Tower finally came into sight. "Can you get Dr. Banner -"

"Already alerted, sir. He's waiting in medical," the AI said.

"You're too good for me," Tony said, adjusting the child in his arms to not be jostled to bad by the landing. It was late enough most of the Avengers were sound asleep in their own rooms so the silence wasn't broken by any other noises besides his metal boots hitting the concrete landing pad.

From there he took the elevator, Danny still cradled in his arms, hardly stirring when they landed on their floor and the doors wooshed open. The teen was dead- pun not intended, or is it?- to the world.

They stepped out and Bruce greeted him at the elevator, a doctor's coat and gloves on. He paused with wide eyes when he spotted Danny. The man silently motioned for Tony to follow him, his eyes not leaving the teen's prone body.

Tony set him on the table and Bruce moved forwards to examine Danny. The Iron Man armor retreated and folded into it's suitcase shape. Tony, with helmet hair and in the wrinkly clothes he'd left in, stood off to the side, watching.

"What did you do to him, Tones?" Bruce asked when Danny gave little response to his prodding.

"Nothing!" Tony defended. "And what makes you think I did it?"

"Why is he so exhausted then? You said he managed to escape from the base and you just fine," The doctor grabbed a hospital gown and motioned for Tony to come forwards.

"What're we doin', doc?"

"I need to get this filthy shirt off of him without jostling any injuries," he explained, grabbing a pair of scissors. Tony nodded and grabbed another pair.

They managed to remove the sweater easy enough, but when Bruce caught sight of the teen's chest he gasped and moved backwards to put distance between them. Tony stayed silent with a hand over his gaping mouth. The only noise that filled the silence was Bruce dropping his scissors.

The teen's chest was covered with horrible surgical scars. The largest scar started from both sides of his clavicle all the way down his torso. The flesh along the line was irritated and swollen, indicating it was fairly recent and this kid had some serious healing factor. There were several more located above major organs, all of them jagged and messily done. There was still a fading bruise on his jawline and Tony felt guilty.

"I'm- I just- have to go real quick," with that Bruce fled the room. Obviously a mixture of emotions and memories tormenting the poor scientist. Tony watched him leave in the direction of the safe rooms. He'd be back soon, Tony thought as he gather some disinfectant to clean what he could until then. He managed to clean a few of the larger wounds, the smaller ones were healing and disappearing before his eyes.

Finally Bruce came back, his face devoid of expression. But Tony knew well enough that his emotions were a storming mess. Bruce carried out a check up. He had a confused and anxious look when he looked at some of his stats but said nothing, and Tony didn't push for once.

Every time he came across something serious his tan skin took on a green tinge. Danny's leg was bad enough Bruce had to leave for a moment. It was a wonder the teen could walk or even run as well as he did.

He brought several IV bags and set them up at the teen's bedside. Bruce easily positioned the needle into the nook of Danny's elbow and he wrapped it to keep it in place. The scientist then declared he'd done everything he could at the time being and promptly left, as he also tried to control his breathing.

The genius just sighed and looked back at Danny, trying to avoid the scars (no one this young should have so many) and instead watched the teen's peaceful face. Careful to watch for any signs of distress. He knew nightmares were going to come so he grabbed a chair and sat with his tablet. But he couldn't concentrate on it. A question kept repeating itself inside his mind.

Just what exactly was he getting himself into?

.oO0Oo.

That's what even I'm wonderin' Tones.

Forgive this unedited mess. I honestly need to do a mass edit on all of my fanfics. Hopefully ya won't judge this too harshly.

I am so very sorry about my extremely long hiatus on this work. But I'm back now. And I totally forgot how much I love this fanfic.

Word: 2,500

~Reviews~

Guest: Same.

ThiccGirl: Ty

SonicMax: Agreed. She doesn't show emotions very well but Danny would probably be able to read them after a decade.

Guest, MOMOtheDOMO: Ty

Guest, Rando: Don't worry about offending me. Heh, I'm pretty chill.