Universal Displacement

Finding, Plotting, Falling

Loki pierced the guard with shining green eyes.

"Then I suppose our only choice is to trust Odin. Or do you doubt the king?"

The guard looked startled and paled slightly under his helmet. He broke eye contact and stepped back away from the cell.

"Of course I trust our king," he said mechanically, stiltedly. "Which you would do well not to question." And then without further words, he departed. Loki went back to his book, his food going cold. The guard did not see the wide grin stretch across his face.

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Sutton sat in the doctor's waiting room and was trying to ignore the magazines that touted the magnificence of the Avengers while also contrasting the praise with the public's condemnation of them. And all the Science Monthly issues were just explaining the brilliance of Tony's mind. She was currently perusing a Good Housekeeping. Even then, they still had an article about how to make your very own Thor cupcakes.

Eventually she was called back, eventually, and she stressed to the doctor the severity of her symptoms and tried to describe them as well she could. As it usually was, she couldn't tell if the doctor actually took her seriously or not. But he agreed to a series of tests. They were totally stupid and useless at first, from what she could tell. Not that she was a doctor. But, really? Looking in her ears and poking her stomach? Seriously?

Finally he did some tests of merit. He took some blood and did an x-ray and one other test that she didn't quite understand, but the machine seemed fancy. But he had only agreed to those after she casually mentioned that she really wanted to be her best for Tony Stark's conference meeting tomorrow. He was really counting on her to be there and be functioning on all cylinders.

When the tests were done, the doctor gathered up the supplies himself and asked her to wait here and that he'd be back with the results shortly. Sutton snorted. She was well aware of a doctor's version of shortly.

The doctor finally came back into the room and Sutton stopped playing with the tongue depressors that she'd snagged. She ignored the doctor's exasperated eye roll and sat at attention. These were actually results she was interested in. The doctor put back on his professional appearance and smiled at her.

"Well, good news, Miss Regan. Your results are normal. There is nothing medically wrong with you."

Sutton frowned and shifted on the stiff, paper-lined bench.

"Then why have I been feeling so terrible," she asked. "I've never had these sorts of symptoms before. It can't be nothing."

The doctor gave her a condescending smile.

"Have you recently had a major life change or other added stress? The body can do many things in reaction to situations that cause us discomfort."

Sutton sighed at his response and glanced at the door quickly.

"Maybe," she conceded. "But it's still an issue. And it's been getting worse."

"Well then, I would recommend on either getting rid of the stressor, or trying to get away for a little while."

Sutton's lips pressed together tightly and she nodded sharply.

"I see. Well thank you."

She quickly left after that, scoffing at doctors and medical practices in general.

'Just get rid of the stressor.' Oh! How lovely! What a great idea! Genius!

Her left leg and right arm suddenly went numb as she walked causing her to stumble. Sutton snarled to herself. Doctors were the worst! No wonder Tony hadn't bothered with them in Iron Man 2.