is dimension or whatever you call it, i don＊t know,§ pepper says, frantic. ※reed richards isanising some sort of appointment for him to go delving through steve＊s brain to find out where it went, and steve apparently thinks it＊s not a big deal and is trusting richards, but -§

tony＊s mind stutters to a halt. hang on 每 steve is going to let strange fuck about with his mind with only reed richards for supervision? fuck, he knows strange too well to believe he＊ll prioritise steve＊s wellbeing before his own wants and needs. and richards as well. the level of risk that they are going to consider eptable is going to be too high, steve probably isn＊t fully recovered from the ident and they won＊t give a shit if they hurt him, not if it＊s in the name of magic or science-

※hold him off,§ he says, going back to his workbench and grabbing his phone. ※jarvis, remove call blocking. pepper, call clint back and get him to hold them off, i don＊t care how he does it-§

※okay,§ pepper is already dialling, biting her lip. she＊s moving back and forth agitatedly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. ※clint? clint yes, he knows, he says to hold him off. i don＊t know, what do you normally do when you＊re trying to divert someone-? no, clint, you can＊t shoot anyone, just think of 每 ask natasha. get natasha on the phone 每 well go and find her then-!§

heart thumping behind the arc-reactor, tony lets pepper deal with that end of the situation and shifts his focus to what he needs to do instead. he dials steve's number, heart thudding strangely as it connects and rings. and rings. and rings. and then goes to voicemail.

”fuck!” tony swears. ”jarvis, where is he?”

”i'm sorry, sir, it appears captain rogers is not in the tower.”

tony doesn't stop to think. ”jarvis, get the suit ready. mark fifteen, go.§

there＊s a pause.

※jarvis!§

※sir, the mark thirteen is the fastest model,§ jarvis says. ※if speed is your priority.§

tony nods brusquely. ※good call. light it up.§

there＊s a faint and familiar whirring and tony watches the storagepartment in the wall open slowly, focussing on breathing in and out steadily. there＊s only one thought left in his mind, repeating over and over and he doesn＊t doubt it, not even for a second.

he needs to get to steve.

reed richards' lab is nowhere near as great as tony＊s, is steve＊s initial thought upon entering. it＊s just gone half past one and he＊s only just arrived, apologising for being late. he fully blames clint, who had done his damnest to get steve to rethink his decision and put off the appointment; it was only when steve told him he was going with or without him that clint conceded and let him leave the tower. actually, clint didn＊t even really concede; he just couldn＊t physically stop steve from exiting the building and had instead followed him with a very bad grace.

steve blows out a breath, rocking back on his heels and starting to feel a little nervous. he tries to take his mind off it by looking around, but it doesn＊t work very well. it＊s nothing like tony＊s workshop; it＊s all science and numbers and theory, none of the bots or machines or cars that tony works with. more abstract. less real, somehow.

steve suddenly wishes he had called tony. it's too late now, and besides, even if he wanted to he's left his phone on his nightstand after showering.

※take a seat, captain,§ stephen strange says to steve, his voice low and melodious. he gestures to the chair and steve nods and climbs carefully into it, leaning back and exhaling heavily. strange looks amused, like steve is a small child finding something illogically frightening. ※relax. the tenser you are, the more ufortable it will be for you, and the more difficult it will be for me.§

※easy for you to say,§ steve says, and he＊s only half joking. he wants to do this 每 he needs to do this 每 but stephen strange isn＊t exactly a warm and weing type of fella. he＊d greeted steve politely enough, but had been openly keen to dismiss with pleasantries in favour of getting down to business. it doesn＊t help that steve knows very little about the guy; he knows his official title is sorcerer supreme, and he protects the earth from magical threats. he knows that he used to be a neurosurgeon before he learned magic, which he supposes is a plus for someone who＊s about to go delving around in his brain.

he＊ll be honest; between strange and richards, steve is starting to feel a bit like a lab rat. he＊s not going to back out now though, not when he＊s so close to getting some more answers. at the end of the day, he can＊t really object to what the two men are planning if he gets what he wants out if it.

※i still think we should wait,§ clint says stubbornly, from where he is leaning back against richards＊ desk with his hands shoved in his pockets, much to richards＊ chagrin.

※it＊ll be fine,§ richards says without turning around. his fingers are flying over his keyboard, eyes glued to the screen in front of him. ※just sit still. strange, are these sensors going to affect what you need to do?§

strange looks over to richards, who stops typing and picks up a couple of small white circular disks, holding them up for inspection.

※no,§ strange says without pause. ※unless any of your equipment runs off magical energy.§

※no,§ richards says, and reaches 每 no, stretches 每 his arms over towards steve. he doesn＊t flinch, but clint does take a large step back away from the extending limbs, a look of alarmed distaste on him face. steve smiles fleetingly, and then sits perfectly still as reed sticks the two sensors onto steve＊s head, one just below each temple.