Universal Displacement

Finding, Plotting, Falling

"WHERE IS IT, TONY? WHERE IS MY HAND, HOW COULD IT JUST DISAPPEAR?"

Tony let out a surprised curse and leaned in as if for a closer look.

"Ok," he finally said. "Ok, just calm down. At least you're not bleeding out, right?"

"WELL YES AT LEAST THERE'S THAT."

A tingling sensation shot through her arm, and Sutton flinched back away from the camera, her eyes drilling in on her wrist. There was a flickering and then she watched as her hand phased back into existence. Tony's eyes were wide and Sutton was gasping, sucking in much needed air. She flexed her newly found fingers and twisted her wrist around, fearful that it'd disappear once again at a moments notice.

"Tony."

"Yeah. Ok, I'm sending a jet over. Be ready, Small Fry."

"No problem."

By the time Sutton got to California she was a mess of frayed nerves and jet lag. Every twitch, shudder, and tingle set off in her body had her frantic. She was staggering into the baggage claim when she felt someone grip her at the elbow and tug her along. Sutton stumbled, still uncoordinated, and looked up to see Tony's concerned face.

"But my bag-"

"Don't worry about it."

Sutton huffed just because she was supposed to, but was too tired and terrified to argue. She hadn't seen Tony's face so stern since before they'd gone through the portal and her stomach was sent into a seizure of quivers.

Tony behind the wheel was still as life-threatening as ever, but for once Sutton didn't care. The sooner they got to the lab the better.

"Do you know what's wrong with me?"

Tony shot a look over at her from the corner of his eye.

"Of course not; you just got here."
Sutton frowned. His fingers were drumming against the steering wheel and his voice had a bit of unnecessary bite.

"But you have a theory?"

He glared at her briefly and then sighed.

"Let's just hope I'm wrong, kid."

Tony wouldn't say more than that and it only seemed to cause her heart to beat faster and more erratically. Once they were in viewing distance of Tony's California home, Sutton felt a bit more hopeful; she sighed.

"Sorry for ruining your and Pepper's vacation."

He looked at her as if she'd just told him that Steve had been frequenting strip clubs.

"Are you serious?"

"Well I-"

"Shut up, Small Fry. I didn't rescue you from prison and give you a job just to watch you disappear piece by piece."

"Technically you didn't-"

"Before you finish that, I'd just like to remind you that I am your boss."

Somehow it was just what she needed to hear. Which made absolutely no sense, but it let her laugh a bit and she knew if anyone were able to help her it'd be Tony.

"Thank you."

Finally they made it up into the drive and Tony rushed her out of the car and to the door. Pepper was waiting for them in the entryway looking concerned but composed.

"Sutton."

"Hey, Pepper. Sorry about rui-"

Pepper rolled her eyes and interrupted her.

"Come on, let's get you to the lab. Tony."

Sutton was not surprised that Pepper already knew about the situation. Pepper knew everything.

Sutton had never been to Tony's California home, more like mansion, and so was attempting to soak it all in. It was a bit hard to really appreciate it what with the threat of losing limbs still looming in large in the back of her mind. But she tried anyway. Her worries were forgotten completely for a split second as something across the room moved. Her face split into a grin.

"Dummy!"

The robotic arm sprung up as if surprised at such an enthusiastic greeting on his behalf. Tony rolled his eyes.

"Focus, kid."

He sat her down on one of the lab counter tops and began puttering around grabbing supplies and equipment. In the meantime he began asking her questions about her symptoms, as if he were a doctor, and if anymore of her limbs had gone missing. It may or may not have been a joke but either way she was not amused. Sutton's right leg began to tingle painfully and she gasped as the shock ran all the way up her spine. Tony's sharp eyes locked on to her and he rushed to take readings.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!"

He must have not liked whatever results he was getting because his gaze flashed up to meet hers and he was scowling.

"How long has this been going on?"

Sutton shrugged, and then winced as her whole body was met with a shock.

"Ugh, I don't know. Over a month, at least."

At that answer the fire in Tony's eyes flared and he grit his teeth briefly.

"And you didn't mention this before?" He let out a curse and tried to move faster. "Geez, Small Fry."

"I'm sorry," Sutton snapped. Nausea rolled through her as the humming under her skin increased. She let out a painful moan as she squeezed her eyes shut, but pressed on. "I forgot to bother you with every little thing that goes on in my life.Tony, I have a cold. Tony, I think I got a hangnail. Tony, they killed off my favorite TV character!" She sighed once again. "What is it, Tony? Tell it to me straight. I-ow!"

Tony was still scrambling. Sutton could see a sheen of sweat forming on his brow and it only made her all the more anxious. Pepper stood in the background, a hand over her mouth and eyes wide; it made Sutton feel like she was about to keel over at any moment. It took a few seconds, but Tony finally decided to give her a response.

"Do you remember what I said about our universes being on different frequencies? Or something like that?" Sutton nodded that she did remember. "Well, kid, it's taken awhile to manifest, but your molecular structure doesn't match this one's. Your body, as far as I can tell, is trying to find it's way back home."

Sutton paled considerably more than she had already and swayed on the counter top. Her right foot was suddenly mauled by needles and she looked down to find it gone.

"Tony!"

"I see it."

Her eyes were heating up and threatening to spill over as she looked up to Pepper.

"I can't- I can't go home. Not now."

Pepper's face was white, making her freckles stand out even more sharply.

"Darn right you can't," said Tony. "Your body has no way of directing it's energy and even finding the right universe in the first place. The odds of you finding your way home is about one in-"

"Don't tell me the odds," Sutton shouted. "Fix it!"

"Yeah well, maybe if I'd had a bit more warning!"

The next tidal wave of pain was the harshest she'd experienced yet and she fought back a cry of distress as it washed over her. She was too afraid to look down and see what damage was done. Tony's intense cursing and Pepper's gasps were enough to give her a decent clue.

She met Tony's eyes and couldn't stop herself from letting the tears fall.

"I don't have enough time, Small Fry," he said quietly. "I can't-"

But she didn't get to hear the rest of it. The world was suddenly black and silent and she was being torn in a thousand different directions at once. There was no falling or flying or movement. She just was. Never had she felt more alone as she did while being pulled through the nothingness of everything. She screamed out loud, and no one heard her.