Universal Chaos

Chapter 4

Clint appeared in the doorway just as Sutton flushed the toilet. She moved silently to the sink to rinse out her mouth and wash her hands. He took stock of her as he leaned against the threshold and she rubbed at her face harshly.

"I missed something," he said.

Sutton took a moment to answer. She turned as she held her hand against her mouth for a second longer and stared at the tile floor blankly. Her thoughts were scrambled at best.

She had to wrong.

She needed to be wrong.

But Clint wouldn't stop staring and he wasn't moving. He expected an answer. Sutton swallowed.

"Tony found out something's trying to break through the walls," she said. A finger pushed against her forehead and tilted her head up until she was making eye contact with Clint. He pointed at his ears purposefully.

"Oh, right. Sorry." She curled her fingers tightly into fists several times as she fought to form words again. "I think I know what's causing the tremors," she said. "Or rather," her voice cracked, "who."

His face shifted at that, morphing into a wary expression as he continued to eye her. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do I want to know?"

His tone was attempting to be joking. He was trying to distract her or pull her out of this panicked state. But Sutton hadn't felt this level of panic since she'd left space.

He couldn't break through.

He couldn't be allowed to do that.

She'd already left that behind! She'd won; she'd escaped!

"Kh-" Sutton cleared her throat, bit her lip briefly, and tried again. "Khan."

Clint didn't move. She wasn't sure if he was trying to decipher what she'd said or if he just didn't know how to properly react.

"Well, sh-oot."

Sutton barked out a bitter laugh.

"Not a strong enough word," she said. Her stomach churned violently. "He's tracking me. My body is it's own bug. I can't hide if I can't leave my own body!"

She pushed passed him and marched back out into the living room and started pacing. Maybe it wasn't him. There was still the chance that she was wrong. Could she will herself to be wrong? Could she believe it to make it true? Did she still even have that ability? She hadn't attempted to use it since she'd been back.

"It's not him," she said aloud. "It's not Khan. I'm wrong. What would I know anyway? That information was vague. I'm wrong; it's not him."

Sutton made a lap around the couch and started again.

"It's not him-not him. It's not."

The ground gave a good shake and Clint pulled her to a stop. She blinked widely up at him and shuddered as the floor stilled.

"Whatever you're doing, you need to stop," he said. "Your nose is bleeding."
Sutton felt under her nose and came away with a few red drops. For a moment she just froze. Maybe she actually could still use that belief thing. But if her nose was already bleeding perhaps she should try planning something instead of just winging it. She couldn't recklessly risk any more vital organs. Releasing the tension in her body, she let out a shaky breath and faced Clint.

"Sorr-"

"You're not alone this time, kid. If it ends up being him, he'll have some people to answer to before he ever finds you."