"Nope, don't think you have," Tony said, looking over at her briefly.

"I was about ten or so, almost eleven," Paige said. "A couple of my classmates at school had figured out what I was. And of course, they were daring me to try all these different things. Plastic, metal, wood, brick, common things around school. I didn't really want to, since I was already going through the same thing with my family every time they took me to a new doctor, but honestly, you know how kids can get at that age. Refuse a dare and the bullies think you're weak and pick on you more."

Paige absently rubbed one of her arms as she spoke. "Then one of them went into the science closet and pulled out a beaker and dared me to try glass. I never tried glass before, so I still thought that I changed all the way through. So I took the beaker with both hands and went for it. Next thing I knew, one of the other kids was screaming and a second was throwing up, and I didn't realize until I heard the teacher telling my parents what happened that it was only my skin that changed."

She shrugged a bit. "I was put into In School Suspension from then on, and ended up transferring schools a month later."

Tony snorted. "Kids are little brats," he said, shaking his head. "So, did it scare you more or them? Once you realized it was just your skin, I mean."

"I'm not sure who it scared more," Paige admitted. "I mean, I saw how much it scared the others. It got me kicked out of school, pretty much. But... I didn't like it, either. I promised myself I'd never do it again."

"Why?" Tony stopped at that and looked at her. "Why not do it again? Because it got you in trouble?"

"Because it got me in trouble, because nobody else wants to see that, and because honestly, you're not supposed to be able to see people's insides," Paige said. "And I guess because I'm squeamish. I don't like seeing that sort of thing, not even my own body."

Tony nodded. "Yeah, it's not so fun seeing your insides, although I suspect it's better when they're still where they belong." He hadn't been squeamish, not for a long time, but he could understand that.

"A bit, yeah," Paige said. "But ever since, I make sure not to do glass. Or if I do, it's glass you can't see through."

"Uh huh." Tony shook his head. "Well, I get that. It makes sense. And I imagine you've tested your own limits."

"Sort of?" Paige said. "I had no choice when I was a kid, but I haven't really since then..."

"You haven't tested to see what all you can do." Tony looked at her, rather incredulous. "That was one of the first things I did."

"Well, being hooked up to sensors all the time as a kid and made to absorb everything that could even be vaguely classified as 'solid' kind of put me off any more testing," Paige pointed out.

"Yeah, I get that, but that was when you were a kid. You've never been curious about what you can do? How long you can hold something?" Tony shook his head. It just didn't make sense to him.

"I guess a little, sure," Paige said. "But until recently, I've never had a safe place to really practice."

"You can always come here," Tony said. "I mean, you'll be fine at the mansion too, but you can come here too." He looked at her for a few moments.

Paige hesitated at that.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It won't... bother anyone?"

"No," Tony said firmly. "It won't bother anyone. We're not exactly normal people, and we've dealt with weirder than you before, and definitely more antagonistic than you."

"That doesn't mean that it won't bother anyone," Paige pointed out. "Being able to deal and not minding aren't the same thing."

"No one's said anything," Tony said with a shrug. "And trust me, when something bothers them, they let me or Jarvis know."

Paige hesitated again. Everything she knew about other people was telling her that they couldn't possibly want her around if she wasn't normal, but on the other hand, Tony hadn't lied to her yet about the others not minding.

"I guess, if it's okay..." she said uncertainly.

"I'll let you know if anyone decides they don't like it," Tony said with a shrug. He doubted that would happen, but it sounded like she could use the reassurance.

"Alright," Paige said. "Thanks."

Tony nodded and settled in to tinkering again for a little while.

Elsewhere, Remy was working on trying to cheer up Crystal.

"The boys are watching the children well enough, chere, what say you to going outside to burn off some sparks?"

"Sure," Crystal agreed, getting up and motioning for him to lead the way. "Might as well." She'd kind of gotten used to playing with him every day or two.