Chapter 8:

Third Person:

"You made the right choice," Gear informed him as Phantom floated a few inches above the ground.

Phantom nodded slightly, doubt still in his mind ever so slightly. Gear rolled her eyes and gave him a big pat on the back,

"Don't you dare get any doubt, Double D. I'm telling you, these guys are pretty cool. Thor might not like you because of your status, but the my-hair-is-perfect prince can get over it."

Phantom gave a loud snort at her nickname for the Asguardian prince. Gear just smiled cheekily. She typed away at her computers and Phantom looked over her shoulder curiously. She stopped typing for a brief moment. A map was on one of her computer screens, but another screen showed a camera feed of the Avengers talking in some sort of conference room. The bluetooth in her right ear allowed her to hear what they were saying while she could still talk to Phantom.

"Alright, this is the layout of the helicarrier. They're right here."

She pointed to the middle of the screen with the map, her finger directly above a red dot.

"Go get 'em, tiger."

"What about you?"

"Me? Dude, it's your new team."

"You're not a part of the Avengers," Phantom asked confused.

"Not really. Fury says I'm too much of a wild card and my slightly illegal habits can cause problems. He says I'm more of a kickass agent."

"He doesn't say that."

"No, but I'm almost sure he's thinking it," Gear winked, "Now seriously go. I'll be right here, watching and listening thanks to this beauty."

She idly tapped the bluetooth.

"My only request," she called out as Phantom headed to leave, "Is that you make a badass entrance. If you don't, you know I still have that video from when the wall in the school disappeared while you were taking a shower there!"

"When will we meet this new recruit," Hawkeye asked curiously.

The team gathered around when the twins informed them that the new recruit was on his way (curtsey of Gear calling them). Alex knew that they shouldn't tell the Avengers or SHIELD about Phantom's secret identity out of respect for the half-dead kid (even she didn't really understand that part and neither did Axel- it was a miracle if Gear understood).

"Soon," Alex answered.

At that moment, Phantom did appear where he was informed to meet them. His eyes glowed dangerously green as his body floated up through the floor. His white aura surrounded him visibly as the cloak opened to circle around his body in an eerie way.

"You called," he said, his voice echoing slightly.

Ten to one Gear told him to do that, Alex thought dryly before she gave a nod of acknowledgement, putting her feet up on the table in the process.

"Yo," she and her brother said in unison.

He gave a little wave in return and floated down to them. He didn't bother taking a seat. Instead he just crossed his legs and floated a few feet off of the ground. Thor glared, and because he was sitting next to Alex, he received a slap in the back of his head.

"Sorry about Viking, here. He doesn't like ghosts."

"I am not a viking!"

"Deal with it. We can spar later. Anyway, welcome," Axel said.

"If you don't mind," Iron man said, taking his helmet off and placing it on the table, "The twins informed us that you smell only half dead instead of a full ghost. If you know the reason for that can you explain?"

Phantom nodded politely.

"My parents used to be ghost hunters, and they built a portal. It didn't work at first, but then I went to check it out. I got zapped with a lot of ectoplasm, which is what ghosts are made of. Instead of killing me it got infused with my DNA."

"Makes sense," Alex said.

Hawkeye snorted.

"You said you went inside but you're like what, fifteen? What did they do, put the on button on the inside?"

"Yes. Look, my parents were crazy smart but they had their moments."

"Besides," the twins said in unison, "We're only about five or six and you've already seen how smart we are. Gear too. So why not him?"

"I will never understand how you to can do that," Hawkeye said.

They rolled their eyes.

"Also," Black Panther said, "You were special cases. If I remember correctly you two were made my a skrull and force fed an immense amount of information."

"We are not discussing origin stories, here!" Alex said, getting a little ticked.

Hawkeye huffed.

"Even so, we already know you've been called a villain and a hero in Amity, so why should we trust you?"

"Because he's a hero, just misunderstood," Axel said.

Alex nodded in agreement.

"Look at Spider-Man," Cap said, "He's a hero but thanks to the media he's know as a menace."

"Us too," Axel said. "They think that just because we made a few mistakes and was made by an alien bent on killing you we're the bad guys. Hulk is considered a monster too, but the only time he's ever really thrown a tantrum is when he's kicking ass. And when he's doing it alone he usually goes somewhere where there isn't a lot if people, like the Arctic Circle or a desert."

"I say we give him a shot," Hulk said, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.

The twins, Cap, Tony, and Panther nodded in agreement.

"It's settled then," Alex said, clapping a hand in his shoulder, "You're in."

A little while later she and Axel were showing him around the mansion. Currently they were in the training room.

Curiosity about what was said about the twins earlier gnawed at Phantom's inside until finally, he decided to ask.

"What did you mean by mistakes you made and being made by an alien and stuff?"

The twins stopped for a moment, considering whether or not they should tell him. Finally, they gave each other a silent nod of agreement.

"Some things are better left unsaid," Axel said,

"But we'll tell you anyway," Alex finished. "Look, what T'Challa said was true. We were made by a skrull five or six years ago, trained to kill the Avengers. Seeing the irony yet?"

"Anyway," Axel said, taking over, "It was the Avengers that found us. Completely by accident too. We decided with them-"

"-It was either them or S.H.I.E.L.D.-"

"-And along the way we made a few mistakes. For instance..."

"I taught at a dojo," Alex said, her voice suddenly growing heavy, "And I-we-don't know how Ringleader found out, but she...She blew up the place, killing most of the kids. I lost my arm. Axel was at Horizon Labs at the time, and after that, he stopped going. Didn't want something like that to happen again, you know?"

"Yeah," Axel said, "But that wasn't the first time that happened, and if we told you more the story would get to long. Anyways, after we beat her and the Masters of Evil we joined the Avengers. We met Gear along the way. One of our first friends,I might add."

Phantom was silent, thinking about Gear's words. She really hadn't been kidding when she said they went to hell and back.

"I know how you feel," he said, his voice cracking slightly, "My entire family was killed by a ghost named Skulker."

The twins gave him a knowing look, and suddenly perked up.

"Well, enough about origin stories. Let's go see the jets," the twins said, walking away, leaving Phantom to follow.

"They said no more origin stories and what do they do, tell an origin story," Gear muttered to herself.

Still, she had a smile on her face as she continued to watch the twins interact with Phantom on one of her screens. On another screen, however, was something else going on. She was tracking the movements of the GiW. She even hacked into their system to know what they were planning and just what they were saying.

She munched on some hot wings from the new restaurant.

"These are delicious," Gear moaned, "Never had anything so good."

She grabbed the mic and hacked into SHIELD.

"This is Eagle One to Want To Tap That, It Happened In A Dream, and Eagle Two," Gear said into a small microphone.

On the screen, she saw how confused Phantom and Axel were as Alex just sighed.

"I hope to God that I'm Eagle Two," Axel muttered under his breath.

"No such luck, Want To Tap That," Gear informed, "It Happened In A Dream, want to come down to the house? I found out something that you guys need to know."

"Gear," Phantom said, "How are you speaking over the intercom when you're at the house? You know what... Nevermind. I don't want to know. Sure we can head over to the house."

"Sorry to break it to you," Gear said with a laugh, "But you, Phantom, are Eagle Two and Axel is Want To Tap That."

"I guess that makes me It Happened In A Dream," Alex sighed, "Yes we'll head right over but Fury's not going to be happy if you continue on the intercom."

"Pfft..."

"Need I remind you," Fury's voice said on the video feed over the intercom, "That the intercom speaks all over the helicarrier."

"No need to remind me," Gear said cheekily.

"Oh god," Phantom laughed, "That means all the Avengers know you guys are It Happened In A Dream and Want To Tap That. This is gold! HAHA!"

"So what is so important that you had to hack into the intercom of the helicarrier," Alex asked.

The group finally arrived at the house. Gear was sitting in the living room with a large predatory smile on her face. Axel took one look at her and got slightly flustered because of the nickname. Well her nickname to me is It Happened In A Dream, Axel thought, images of the dream relayed in his mind.

You idiot, we have a connection, Alex thought back at him, and I swear if I see those images again, I'm going to scream.

Axel decided to not look at Alex or Gear for fear of too much embarrassment. Danny sat down at the couch and sighed as Gear held up a large plate full of food,

"This is what is so important. I found out that the new place has the best hot wings and steak ever."

Alex sighed,

"I should have known."

"Hey, nothing is as important as food," Gear said, "Except tech. Now, try it and then judge me for all I care."

Gear looked at Axel curiously, taking in the way he was carefully avoiding looking at her. She put the plate down and poked Axel,

"Want To Tap That, you okay?"

"Dandy," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

"No thanks, not really into cannibalism," Alex said, waving her off.

Gear almost slapped herself in the forehead. She totally forgot that the twins were smiled and thanked her anyway.

"Wait." Phantom said, a confused look on his face, "Cannibalism? But you're human...Ish. how would it be cannibalism?"

"We were made with the DNA of every species of animal that has ever walked the earth. Complicated, hes, but thanks to our metabolism we can pig out on junk food all we want."

"Lucky," he muttered.

"Well, anyways, we want to test your limits tomorrow, Phantom," Axel said.

Alex nodded in agreement. Phantom paled slightly. Gear snorted.

"Can't wait to watch."

The next day Phantom was less than happy to meet the twins in the training room. They had obviously gotten bored, and as a result, there were robots strewn all around the room. Alex kicked a head with a frown.

"Stark needs his robots. Maybe we can talk to Forge instead..."

Axel elbowed Alex in the ribs and she nodded.

"I know he's here, I could smell him from the entrance. Are you ready, Phantom?"

He just shrugged.

"I guess.

Alex gave him a grin that sent shivers down his spine. It was the first time he'd ever seen her smile, and it creeped him out. She definitely looked better with the scowl.

"Then let's get started."

"I'm just gonna lay here now," Phantom said as he collapsed on the floor. Alex smirked.

"Nice work. You definitely passed our expectations. Can you stand?"

Phantom was still lying on the ground, panting his lungs out. They had done several extreme "training" exercises that left him more worn than ever before. Same with his suit. He shook his head and Axel picked him up bridal style.

"Relax, that was the hardest stage. You passed."

"What do you mean?"

"Hulk wanted to see how well you could smash. It looks like he approves."

Phantom lifted his head to see Hulk dropping down from his perch Hawkeye on his shoulder.

"They were there the entire time. What do you say, boys? Did he do good?" Alex said with smirk, crossing her arms over her chest. Hulk huffed.

"He smashes good."

Hawkeye sighed.

"Yeah, the kid did okay. But now he smells like the Hulk."

"At least you're not the one carrying him," Axel said.

Alex laughed slightly and took Phantom out of his arms and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Happy now?"

He nodded slightly, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

"Good. Now for crying out loud, make a move on Gear already."

Axel flushed and glared while Phantom weakly laughed.

"At least now the name makes sense," he laughed as they staggered out.

"Tomorrow we're getting you a cooler uniform," Alex said. "The HAZMAT suit doesn't look good on anybody. Neirger does spandex for that matter. The X-Men need a make over too."