Universal Chaos

Chapter 21

 Sutton was lead away, even if she wasn't fully aware of it. She knew her legs were moving, because she could feel the pressure and sharp pains, but the world was hazy. Shapes were blurry and tilting in the distance. There was a loud, high ringing in her ears. She couldn't focus on any one thing.

Tony.

Tony.

She choked on another sob and Steve squeezed her shoulder tighter.

"Come on; just a bit farther."

Sutton didn't even notice the change in environment until it was so dark that she couldn't see at all. Blinking, she stumbled and fell further into Steve's side.

"Careful," he said lowly; gently. "We're underground now. In the subway tunnels."

She swallowed in an attempt to speak. Her voice was hoarse and gritty.

"Why?"
"The team is pulling back for the night. At this point we're just doing more harm than good. And we could use the break. All of us."

They stopped along a wall and Sutton slid down it, sinking to her knees as she continued to hiccup.

"How?" She croaked. "How did you keep going?"

Steve sat down next to her but remained silent. He put an arm around her shoulder and tugged her close. Sutton wrapped her arms around his waist and curled her fingers into his back as she broke out in more heaving tears.

The ringing in her ears had died down enough that she could hear her own crying as it echoed down the tunnel. It was haunting in the darkness. She felt eviscerated. Empty.

"Will I wake up from this one too," she asked, voice muffled by his suit. "Please. Please tell me this is just another warning. Another nightmare."

Steve breathed into her hair and held her closer. A couple of wet drops hit her hair and sank down to her scalp.

"I wish.... I wish."

Time was meaningless as it passed. Sutton felt none of it. All she knew was that her chest hurt, her stomach was in knots, and her eyes burned. But she'd take all of that forever if it took away the horrid jumble in her mind. She'd gladly live in misery if it meant undoing what had been done.

At some point there was a multitude of footsteps that bounced off the concrete walls and let them know people were coming. Steve loosened his hold, but Sutton didn't flinch. Her eyes were stuck unblinking and staring into the darkness.

If she didn't move, didn't think, then she couldn't feel.

"Well, this has been a crappy day," Clint announced. His voice reverberated loudly from the walls; his hearing aids must not have been working. A faint light flickered through the space, illuminating a small circle where the incoming group was. A glow stick or something.

Steve stiffened then gave her shoulder one last squeeze before standing.

"Where's Tony?" Rhodey's voice rose up as he stepped out of his suit and Sutton flinched. She couldn't look. She shouldn't leave Steve to tell them on his own, but she couldn't get up. There was a thick, stifling silence and she could hear Steve take in a ragged breath.

"He-he didn't-"
"No." Rhodey cut him off. "No, man, no."

That set the group off. Sutton couldn't see Steve's face, but it must have said all they needed to know. She curled further around her knees as the cries rang out. It hurt too much. It made it too real.

Shock and disbelief and pain.

They were a team. A family. And now they'd lost one of their own.