Energy hummed under her skin and rushed through her. Sutton felt immensely small and incredibly large all at once. It was strange and new and unexplainable. And then it was over. She stumbled and Tony nearly failed to catch his balance as they dropped a foot to the floor, like they'd missed the last step of a flight of stairs. Her ankle almost rolled but she regained her footing. She blinked. They were through the portal and on the other side.

It was the same room they were just in, but instead of INSOL agents, a gaggle of men and women in white lab coats stared at them in surprise. A woman with a clipboard stepped forward and stared at Tony.

"Mr. Stark?"

Sutton stepped back to get a better look at the room. It was unmistakingly the same lab they were in a moment ago; the only differences were the level of technology in it and the lack of destruction from ripping machinery apart to use somewhere else.

Steve, Natasha, and Clint fell into the room behind them. It looked like they materialized out of thin air.

"Finally." Natasha grumbled.

An armored INSOL agent dropped into the room with them and everyone balked. He looked around the room in shock and Clint grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him back into the empty space he emerged from.

"Oh no you don't. There's only room for one stowaway here."

He fell back into the air and disappeared with a stifled yell. Then the air shifted where the portal was, as if it were refracting light. It nearly shimmered, or stiffened like glass, and then shattered. Sutton couldn't quite process it.

"He didn't disintegrate, so that's good." Tony commented. "I didn't account for anyone else's bio-frequency, but it's good to note the baseline was enough."

"It broke." Sutton said quietly. "That was it, wasn't it?"

A numbness spread through her limbs. She hadn't been able to see her family one last time. They were gone.

The scientist with the clipboard took another step toward Tony and peered at him through narrowed eyes.

"How are you here?" She asked. "We were just watching you on the news in New York. You were fighting an alien invasion."

She looked at the others and realization dawned in her eyes.

"Were you all fighting?"

"Most of us," Tony replied.

The scientists broke out in a flurry of questions regarding how quickly they transported across the country, what they were doing there, and was there another invasion coming?

Tony took charge and fielded off the questions.

"No, no, no. Look, the threat has been detained," he pointedly looked at Loki and Thor who made sure to stick near him. "Everything's peachy. Now, it's been a long month. Day? Look. I could just really use some time off. Now, excuse me while I call in actual reinforcements."

Loki made eye contact with Sutton and grinned. She didn't like the way his shoulders relaxed and stature lost some of its tension. Like he'd won. She made sure Tony was between them in case Loki tried anything sinister. Clint nodded at her decision and leaned closer to her.

"Keep your distance, kid. Now's when he's most dangerous."

Tony grabbed his briefcase and pulled on a portion of it; it lit up and whirred but didn't unfold.

[Mr. Stark, I briefly lost contact with you.]

"I know, Jarvis, I'll explain later. Right now, call Pepper."

[As you wish, sir.]

A dial tone took Jarvis' place. It rang three times before it picked up.

"Anthony Stark! I thought you were dead!"

"Pepper! Oh, now you answer your phone."

"How could you do this to me again!"

Sutton winced on Tony's behalf but was impressed with the level of volume Pepper was able to achieve. She had good lungs.

"Pep-"

"Don't you 'Pep' me, Tony!"

"Pep," Tony emphasized, "we could really use a ride. I need you to send a jet over."

"A jet? Tony, where are you?"

Tony walked off with his briefcase and all Sutton caught of their conversation as he walked away was a snarky,

"Oh yeah? What are you going to do when you get your hands on me?"

Sutton waited near Steve and the SHIELD agents for Tony to arrange transportation. Steve watched Tony walk away and shook his head.

"I still can't believe I forgot my shield."

Sutton blew air out of her nose.

"Well, you know. Things have been kind of crazy."

"And I can't believe they actually pulled this off."

"Yeah."

She hadn't processed what happened yet. It hadn't stopped happening. And she still felt sick and confused and overwhelmed. Handcuffs still dangled from her wrist. Conversely, the Avengers lost the edge and unease they carried the entire time they were at her house. Their equilibrium was reestablished while hers careened off the side of a cliff.

Tony wrapped up his conversation and rejoined them; he dropped his briefcase and clapped his hands.

"Okay, a jet is on its way here. Man, it feels good to have money again. How did you manage to survive for so long without it?"

Sutton gave him a flat look.

"We peasants learn to adapt."

"In the meantime, who wants shawarma?"

Hours later they made their way out onto a private runway. Pepper rushed out of the plane and ran down the stairs, in heels, and threw herself at Tony. She cradled his head and held him for a moment before pulling back and shifting her hands to either side of his face. It wasn't clear if she wanted to kill him or kiss him. She pulled his head down and pressed their foreheads together instead and Tony melted.

"I thought you were dead."

"I know."

"I watched you fall from the sky, Tony."

"I'm okay." He soothed. He gently kissed her on the top of her head and rested his chin on the spot. "Gosh, I've missed you."

"It's been less than a day."

"Yeah, that's the part I have to explain."

Sutton's emotions were already a mess and the sight of them together nearly shoved her over the edge to tears. And then Tony pushed closer to Pepper and kissed wherever skin he could reach. Sutton averted her eyes.

"It was sweet. Up to this point."

Natasha shrugged one shoulder.

"A little on the sappy side if you ask me."

Clint collected his things and headed for the plane.

"Hey, let's keep it PG, alright? We've got virgin eyes over here."

Sutton reddened at the comment.

"Shut up."

"I was talking about the Captain, but if you relate."

Pepper and Tony separated and Pepper finally noticed Sutton standing off to the side.

"Wait, who are you? You're not an Avenger."

Sutton waved weakly.

"Hi, um, no. I'm not. My name is Sutton Regan and I'm, uh, a big fan?"

"She's part of the explanation." Tony supplied.

Sutton gestured back at him.

"He owes me money."

Pepper looked between them and furrowed her brows.

"I'm sorry?"

Tony held his arm out to direct Pepper back towards the plane.

"Let's get on the plane first. I could really use a drink."

The jet took off and Tony made sure to pour himself a generous glass of something expensive before diving into the story of their time in Sutton's world. Others cut in to correct Tony's tale as needed. Tony liked to embellish stories.

"No, they did not build statues of you and worship you there."

"We're not cavemen, Tony, just because we don't have fancy holograms."

"Wrong. You weren't even the one who technically 'fixed' the portal."

Pepper sat back in her chair after he was done and tried to process all of it. She ran a hand through her hair and shook her head.

"Another universe? I know we just experienced aliens and there's super powers now, but that's insane." Pepper looked at Sutton with pity. "You poor thing. I can't even imagine- And you had to put up with all of them by yourself? You must be a saint."

"Oh, not really." Sutton laughed lightly. "You and Natasha had more trouble at Tony's birthday party."

To Pepper's credit she didn't more than blink at Sutton's knowledge that she had no business knowing.

"I'll have to ask Natasha for a comparison next time we have coffee."

"You both actually get along? You weren't just saying that to annoy Tony?"

Tony harrumphed at the reminder and Clint looked wary.

"You don't talk about me, do you 'Tasha?"

Natasha patted his knee with a sly smirk.

"Of course not."

Conversation diverted to other topics: the destruction of New York, containing Loki until they could get him and Thor home, and about contacting SHIELD to go over what happened.

Sutton wouldn't feel safe until Loki was off planet. It was odd that he hadn't tried to grab her and run off yet. Not that she was complaining, but it was strange that he put so much effort into forcing her hand to come with them and then just gave up.

He didn't even pay her any mind on the plane. He looked deep in thought, but that was just as unsettling in its own right.

She wished she'd gotten to see the Marvel movies being released this year. Now she didn't have any heads up. She didn't know anything. She liked knowing things.

"Sutton, do you have any idea of what you're going to do now?" Pepper asked.

She asked it as gently as possible but it still stung. She only just arrived, of course she didn't have a plan. What could she even feasibly do? She didn't exist anymore. Sutton pulled on a lock of hair.

"I- No. I don't- I didn't have-"

"Hey."

Pepper placed a hand on her knee and smiled kindly.

"It's okay. Tony and I will help you take care of getting settled. Jarvis can start establishing some digital records for you and we'll create a family history that goes back far enough to be believable. I'm sure SHIELD will understand. Besides, it's the least we can do if he owes you money, right?"

Sutton smiled thinly in return.

"And a toaster."

"Fury is going to want to meet her," said Clint.

She shuddered. If there was one thing besides being kidnapped by Loki Sutton would like to avoid, it was being interrogated by Nick Fury. But it most likely wouldn't do her any good to protest. Though she didn't know how much good it would do him, she had very little relevant information to share now.

Sutton fell asleep on the plane. Usually she didn't, despite contrary claims, but Tony's plane was comfortable; nicer than first class. It was the best sleep she'd had in days and when she woke up again they were nearing New York. Her eyes were glued to the window when they descended. She'd never been to New York before.

The first thing that registered upon exiting the plane was how warm it was. It wasn't usually so warm this early in the season in Washington. She didn't even need a jacket.

They walked down a private tarmac to where a few vehicles waited for them. A couple of the cars had SHIELD logos on the sides of them and it was surreal to see in person. It was like she was behind the scenes for a Marvel movie. She latched onto that idea.

She could treat this like a trip. Like a vacation.

If she could convince herself that this was a temporary, fun event until she got somewhere private, she could hold it together.

The door to the most expensive looking vehicle in the lot opened and Happy stepped out with a beaming smile aimed at Tony.

"There you are, sir." He said. "It's good to see you alright. Some people were very concerned over your stunt at Stark Tower with the portal."

He made an effort to subtly nod in Pepper's direction, but Sutton could see his eyes were a bit red. Pepper took the deflection in stride.

"Happy." Tony flinched at the mention of a portal, but quickly covered it up. "Good to see you, bud. How about we not talk about portals for a while, alright? I've had my fill."

"Sir?"

Natasha and Clint spoke with Bruce and the other SHIELD agents and Sutton loitered near Steve. She rocked on her feet and caught his eye.

"Did you make any friends to meet up with, before all this craziness?"

Steve brushed back his hair nervously.

"Er, not really. No. I, uh, I was still working on getting settled."

Sutton nodded once and didn't press the issue.

"I guess that puts us in a similar boat then, huh?"

Steve stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. I guess so."

His short reply made it occur to her that perhaps comparing their lack of connections was a bit presumptuous of her. Steve lost his best friend in war, his first love to old age, and was living in a world that had moved on without him. He hadn't gotten the chance to adjust or move on. They were not the same. But he nodded in farewell and stepped away to get into a SHIELD vehicle before she could take it back or apologize.

Maybe she was overthinking things. She was too tired to know.

Tony waved her over impatiently and she hurried over to get in his car with him.

The private airport transitioned into steel looming buildings and the bustle of the city. New York City. She pressed into the thought that this was a vacation. That she was on a cool trip and could enjoy this moment without being stressed.

The skyscrapers towered over them and the surplus of concrete and lack of green was a stark contrast to what she was used to. The amount of cars on the road was overwhelming. There was no end in sight and the honking and maneuvering didn't stop. Sutton couldn't see herself ever driving in traffic like this. If an hours-old alien invasion didn't cut back on traffic, nothing would. Though things did quiet down the closer to the city center they drove.

She sat awkwardly in the back seat with Happy while Tony and Pepper bickered in the front.

"Tony, they specifically said that they want to debrief-"

"I'm not letting Fury debrief me, dear. That's all you. And I don't give two rusted gears what SHIELD wants. I'm not sitting in a SHIELD waiting room; I'm going to eat something and then I'm going to sleep in an actual bed. Preferably with you."

"Tony, other people, like me, are still in the car." Said Sutton.

She was relieved, at least, that Tony was stubborn enough to postpone a SHIELD interview. There was only so much she could handle in one day before she imploded.

Tony turned down another street and an old architectural style building came into view. Sutton recognized it as a hotel, but had never heard of it before. It looked leagues above her paycheck.

A valet came out and took Tony's keys as they filed into the hotel lobby.

Pepper looked around the hotel lobby and gave Tony a look.

"What?" Tony quipped. "The city's a mess and my tower is in shambles and, to be honest, this is closer. Pepper, I stayed in a Motel 8, can you imagine?"

"I'm sure it nearly killed you."

Tony walked up to the counter, grinned, and said,

"You know who I am. Now please give me three rooms."

She accepted the card key Tony passed to her and silently rode the elevator up with everyone then split from them in the hall to go to her own room. Sutton stumbled into the room and headed straight for the shower then the bed. It was much better than the Motel 8's.

Tony was only able to brush off SHIELD's insistence for a few days before they showed up at his tower in person. Nick Fury was an entire experience. He already had the entire story from Clint and Natasha, but came to see if Tony had any leftover notes from his work on the inter-dimensional portal. Tony adamantly denied any. Sutton wasn't so sure.

When he set his eye on Sutton she nearly broke into a sweat. She really didn't think she had any relevant information for him, but he was determined to question her about what she knew anyway. He disagreed with her opinion and declared that she knew too much and that SHIELD would keep an eye on her. For her own safety.

A week after that she stood in Central Park to watch Thor and Loki return to Asgard. Nick Fury agreed to let the Asgardians take the Tesseract back with them for safe keeping, and, likely, it was the only way for them to get off earth in the first place, since Thor had destroyed the Bifrost.

SHIELD cleared out a portion of the park to send them off and Sutton rode along with Tony and Bruce to see it all through. They discussed if she ought to be there or not, given Loki's motives, but Tony figured that she'd be safer next to them than alone when Loki could create duplicates.

Sutton waited her turn then gave Thor a parting hug.

"It was great meeting you, Thor. Thanks for saving me in the lab. And, you know, defending me at the hotel."

"It's no more than I ought to have done." Thor said. "I apologize again on my brother's behalf."

"Don't. It's not your fault."

She stepped away and headed back to the group, but froze halfway.

Had Thor done any research on his own next movie? She doubted he had put effort into learning how to use the internet. It might not be smart for her to share; it could mess with their timeline and the choices they would make without her around. But she'd feel worse than she currently did if she didn't give him a small heads up.

"Wait, Thor."

Sutton lowered her voice, but Loki was still right next to his brother and within earshot.

"The villain for your next movie, er, I mean, adventure? I heard it's supposed to be a, uh, dark elf?"

Thor titled his head and Loki's eyes flashed with interest. Sutton hoped she wouldn't regret her decision.

"That's impossible," Thor said. "They were all destroyed."

Sutton shrugged and squinted in uncertainty.

"That's what I heard, from my world at least. I think the main one's name is Mal- Mali-"

"Malekith." Loki finished for her.

Sutton glared at him but nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. That's it."

Thor rubbed his beard in uneasy thought, but nodded.

"Thank you for the warning, Lady Sutton."

"Yes." Loki purred. "Thank you. I'm certain we'll meet again."

The gears were turning in his head and Sutton could see it in his eyes and she fled back to Tony's side at the edge of the circle.

"I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you." She threw back.

Loki smirked.

It wasn't right. He lost. He didn't get a chance to abduct her or try to use her whatever-power, and he was going back to Asgardian jail. But he wasn't even trying either. He looked more at ease than he had from the first second in front of her car.

But she wouldn't think about it. The important part was that she was safe and he was leaving.

Everyone waved goodbye and Thor and Loki twisted the handles of either side of the Tesseract's container and disappeared within a beam of blinding blue light. Sutton flinched at the sight of it.

All of them watched until the light disappeared and they knew the brothers were truly gone. Then they began to break away, and seeing everyone disperse cemented the permanence of her situation in Sutton's mind.

They weren't hanging out anymore. This wasn't a vacation that would end after a week.

She gave quick hugs to Natasha and Clint; Clint mussed her hair and gave her a smirk when she scolded him. But her mock scowl dropped for a more genuine, sad smile.

"Thank you for everything. I keep saying that, but I mean it."

"Thanks for letting us crash at your place." Clint said with a wink.

Natasha squeezed her shoulder.

"You're going to be okay," she said. "And we'll be around here and there. You have our numbers."

Clint got in the car and Natasha reached into the back to pull out a duffel bag which she passed to Bruce, then she hopped in next to Clint. Clint hit the gas and threw a peace sign out the window.

"Caw-caw-!"

"Are you serious?!"

Sutton let out a flustered huff as Steve walked over with his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket and gave an awkward shrug.

"So that's it, then."
Sutton shrugged back.

"Yup."

She took a controlled breath and tried not to look as shaken as she felt. Steve cleared his throat.

"Do you have plans, then?"

Sutton ran her hand through her hair and gestured with the other.

"Tony's going to help me get the college credits I already earned on file. And he told me he's paying for me to finish school and he won't take no for an answer. So- I guess I'll start there. You?"

He looked around and flapped his elbows.

"I don't know. I might stick around here for a little bit and see what happens. Fury wants me to join SHIELD full time."

"Oh, I bet he does."

"You two done?" Tony interrupted. "Bruce wants to see Candyland."

They both gave Tony a look then waved to each other as Sutton headed to Tony's car.

"Don't be afraid to call if you ever need, I don't know, movie or book suggestions."

"I will."

Steve hopped on his motorcycle and then he was gone too. Sutton watched him leave.

"Well, that's it then."

Tony threw an arm around her shoulders and tugged her along faster to his car.

"Come on, kid. We've still got to get your stuff done. You've got a lot of work left ahead of you. Stark Industries only hires the best, after all."

"What?"

"You'll find that we're very diverse and our benefits are exceptional."

"Tony! I told you, you don't have to do so much."

They got in the car and Tony winked in the rear view mirror.

"You can consider us even now."

"I'm going to start thinking you're nice if you're not careful."

Tony and Bruce laughed.

"You'll take that back after your first press conference with me. I talk fast and not even I know what I'm going to say next."

"So," Bruce piped in. "You said 'Candyland'?"

Tony threw the car into drive.

"First a good burger. Then, Candyland."

Sutton leaned forward in her seat and looked eagerly at the side of Tony's face.

"Are Dum-E and U going to be there?"

Tony groaned.

"Seriously? They're fine, I mean, I made them, but you sound more excited to meet them than you were to meet us."

"Dum-E wouldn't blow up my toaster."

"Yes he might! Have you not witnessed him in action? And look, I'll get you a new toaster if you never mention that stupid thing again. It wasn't even a deluxe one, I don't know why you're so attached."

Sutton laughed and the sun hit her face and warmed her skin.

She still felt shell shocked and oddly hollow, but having Tony and Pepper jump in to get her established helped. She had to keep reminding herself that she wasn't in prison. She made the best choice she could. All she needed was time.

For now the plan was to keep her head down, stay off any villain's radar, and rebuild her life piece by laborious piece.

She would never pick people up off the side of the road ever again.

And maybe, eventually, she'd be something like 'fine'.