Universal Chaos

Chapter 27

"Absolutely not," said Steve. "We're not using Sutton as bait."

Sutton blinked slowly as she processed the idea. It made sense. Thanos clearly wanted her as much as he wanted to destroy the earth. He even brought an entire, horrible machine to tear his way into other universes. Because destroying one wasn't enough.

"Wait, wait." Sutton cut in. "This might be a good idea."

Steve cut his eyes down at her and frowned, looking less than amused.

"I know you'd do anything if you thought it'd help, but we don't need to risk your life."

"Steve, all of our lives are already at risk."

His jaw tightened at that, and Sutton turned her attention back to Natasha. Despite being the one to suggest it, she looked just as grim as Steve.

"I'm not suggesting we leave her out in the open alone, but it would have to be convincing. We only have one chance to get this right."

"He's not going to believe that we'd let her get hurt," Steve cut back in, voice tight. "Same as Khan, it wouldn't work."

"No," Bruce said. He gave Steve a level look. "But he'd probably believe that she'd give herself up. And Loki can shapeshift, can't he? We can send him out looking like Sutton; she doesn't have to be the one that goes."

Steve brightened at that suggestion, but his hope was quickly dashed by a shake of Loki's head.

"That wouldn't work," Loki told them. "Your dear Sutton has a particular... aura about her that is quite distinct. He would know it wasn't her immediately, if He even deigned to check out the imposter in the first place."

Sutton winced. Because of course she would. Loki already mentioned being able to feel her using her powers back in the Stark Tower elevator. Of course something that distinct would cling to her. Would force their hand in this plan.

The muscle in Steve's jaw clenched tighter and he tilted his head to the side in a sort of unhappy acquiescence.

"It's too dangerous." He argued. "If we make a mistake, he can destroy a lot more worlds than just ours."

Nat ignored Steve and looked straight at Sutton.

"What are you willing to do?"

Sutton hoped Steve understood that she didn't want to die. She didn't want to put herself in terrifying, life or death situations and have to fight for every breath with the weight of universes on her shoulders. Her body, her will, felt stretched thin. There wasn't a single part of her that didn't wish this entire, horrible, series of events could be over. Erased.

But not even a superhero world operated on wishes.

Sutton maintained eye contact with Nat and cleared her throat.

"Whatever it takes."

[][][]

Despite Steve's severe disapproval, they continued on planning as if they'd go through with using Sutton as bait.

They decided to hang back and wait while Sutton pretended that she had slipped away from the group to look for Thanos on her own. Thor would cover the rear while Steve would charge in from the front. The idea was that Thor's strength would be most advantageous as a surprise, but Sutton had a feeling Steve wanted to be in a position closer to her anyway. The rest of the team would create a perimeter and attack from all sides before Thanos or his goons could actually get a hold of her.