(Flashback)
Peter comes back in a flash of light, after giving Hope some words of encouragement. He sees his Uncle is still here with a big proud smile on his face.
"Like I said," Ben says as he walks to his nephew, "Peter Parker can do some amazing things too."
Peter gives him a sheepish look, "I wore my mask."
Ben waves him off, "Semantics."
Peter laughs with his uncle.
Ben stops laughing before he gives his surrogate son a hug, "I love you, Peter. Don't ever think otherwise."
Peter returns the hug with just as much affection, "I love you too, Uncle Ben."
They both pull back and notice that the senior Parker begins to fade.
Ben lifts his hand up to see this and says, "Well I guess I'm done here," he places his hands on the younger Parker's shoulders, "Do me and your parents proud son."
Peter looks at him with a smile full of emotion and nods, "I will."
Ben nods back before he says, "And Peter, the next time something happens to your aunt, and you feel responsible, don't."
Peter flinches at that as he lowers his head.
Ben continues, "She is not always going to be there kiddo. She is over ninety years old and has had health problems for years. She won't always be there. You need to be okay with that."
Peter swallows hard the retort and the emotions that want to come out. He's always known this, but truthfully he's never been at peace with it.
Ben's soul is nearly gone as he says one last thing, "Good luck champ. And always remember, with great power-"
"Comes great responsibility." Peter finishes for him.
And just like that, he was gone. But instead of feeling regret, Peter felt something foreign. Something that he has not felt in the longest time possible.
Peace.
"There is still another matter to discuss."
His inner peace is brought to a halt as he turns his attention to the Tribunal, wondering what else there could possibly be to discuss.
Whether he sees this or not, he doesn't show, he merely continues, "The Phoenix Force is in need of a host after young Hope. One that can better manage the power."
*****
(Present)
"Why do I have a bad feeling that you volunteered?" Strange asks rhetorically.
"Because you know me well enough to know that I am that dumb," Peter quips.
Silence for a few seconds before Strange, Richards, Stark, and Rogers all start ranting.
"Are you seriously out of your mind?!"
"Didn't we just fight the X-Men for this very reason?!"
"How is it possible for someone to make this many stupid decisions?!"
"How could you possibly think this was a good idea?!"
Meanwhile, the youngest of the gathered group just sits there with a patient look as he waits for an opening to explain. He was expecting this of course. After everything that's happened, why would they think it's a good idea for the Phoenix to be around?
Though he is kind of annoyed at how they just straight up ignored his situation with his uncle.
"Can I say something now?" Peter says gaining their attention, "I know you all are against this and I know you would have been when I made the suggestion, but I wouldn't have made it if there were better options."
Steve, being the most level-headed one in the group, asks Peter, "What are you talking about?"
Peter stands and begins to pace as he recalls what was told to him, "Okay, so the Phoenix Force right now isn't the big threat it was not too long ago. After Hope and Wanda used it to restore the mutants, it died. But being what it is, means it will come back. And when it does it will look for another host."
While three of the four Illuminati members don't fully understand, Strange figures where he's going, "You volunteered because you don't want some other poor soul to carry that burden."
Peter raises his hands defensively, "Hey after everything Hope went through and after this whole war with the X-Men, I figured this would be the least worse option."
Reed Richards rubs his head to alleviate the migraine he has, "Okay, but what makes you think you could handle the power better than anyone else."
Peter lifts two fingers up, "Two reasons. First I'm all about power and responsibility. It's my whole schtick. You all know that," they nod in agreement, "And two, I have the capability to manage it."
"Come again?" Reed asks in surprise.
Peter rubs the back of his neck while he explains, "Well remember me mentioning the two big heads Order and Chaos at the trial," they nod, "I also mentioned that I essentially have access to chaos energy."
"Which is the same power Wanda uses," Tony says in revelation.
Peter nods in happy to see he got it, "Exactly! See I can now use that power to keep it in check."
While they can see how this plan has some merits, they are obviously still very concerned.
Cap decides to voice his concern, "Will that be enough?"
"Well, that and something else."
Captain America asks, "What else?"
At this point, Peter gets an uncomfortable expression on his face as he shuffles in place.
He looks to the resident magic user and asks, "Can you and I get a cone of silence or something?"
Strange raises an eyebrow at his request, "Why?"
He points to the three men he's not speaking to and says, "These three don't need to know and the only reason I'm telling you is because you are the only one who could help me."
"How?"
"Cone of silence," the good doctor seems reluctant, so Peter gives him a pleading look, "Please."