The Phantom's Hero

Plan B Wasn't Meant To Go Like This

"Avery Addleston, you promised I would never see you in this office again."

"I lied. You told me I would be getting out of here."

"I lied."

Avery was swimming in a sea of memories before her eyes finally opened. A tickle under her nose was the final jolt to wake her up, finding blood on the blanketed seat beneath her. "Shit!" she cursed, her hand flying to stop the blood, keeping her head forward. Feeling no blood on her hand, she looked down to see a handkerchief against her nose, unsure of how it got there but grateful, nevertheless.

Gradually she realised that the car was still, and the driver's seat was empty. Fearing the worst, although unsure why she cared, Avery opened the door to exit the car, her fists clenched and ready for anything. Through the window of the gas station, she could see the Phantom paying for fuel. His gaze fixed on the bundle of items in front of him, his mask hanging on his belt rather than adorning his face. Sighing in what she refused to believe to be relief, Avery got back into the front passenger's seat, keeping her head forward slightly to try to stop the thankfully slowing trickle of blood.

After a minute, the driver's side door opened and Simon got in, a small carrier bag of stuff and a tray of coffee in his hands. For another minute, the two were quiet as Simon put the coffees into the cup holders and stretched to put the bag of snacks in the footwell of the back seats. Once he had adjusted and popped some gum into his mouth, Simon eventually put the key into the ignition and the car stuttered into life once more.

Avery pulled the blood-soaked handkerchief from her nose and before she could ask about the monogram on the corner of the used to be white fabric, Simon answered the unspoken question. "Yes, it belonged to him," the man admitted, not sure where his mind was going but determined not to lie. "That was James' handkerchief. He gave it to me, just before prom."

"You were at prom?" Simon nodded. "My prom?" He nodded again. "Am I supposed to just guess at who you are?"

"No, I will tell you, honestly, I will. I just want to get safe first, maybe a shower, a bit of first aid." The man refused to look at her, but Avery knew he meant that last part for her.

The two allowed the lull in the conversation to linger as Simon pulled the car onto the highway once more. Avery counted an entire minute before speaking and breaking the silence between them once again. "How long have you been able to heal?"

The man paused for a moment before sighing. "For as long as I can remember."

"You can teleport like me, but only if you press that button?"

"I can do it without the button if I ever have time to practise."

Avery scoffed a single laugh. "You would have time if you stopped trying to destroy the damn city every day." She gulped and watched a red Audi quickly overtake them. "I've never seen you use it when fighting."

"I have done it once or twice, but never as often as you." Simon remembered the many times she had used the power during battle, but never too often, it made him think of a question for her. "Do you have limits?"

"Everyone has limits," Avery said rather sullenly. "Everyone has that point where not even the adrenaline can save them, the point where the villain wins."

"I'm not a villain," Simon said firmly. "And you're right about limits. I've just never reached mine."

"Even- " Avery started.