Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THE FIRST AVENGERS: CHAPTER THREE (EMBER)

"How's Stark?"

Everyone usually referred to Howard as Stark, so there was never any confusion when someone asked. Rhiley always knew who they meant. She never went by her last name unless, of course, Howard was yelling at her. 'Rhiley Lucia Stark!' he'd shout. She hated her middle name.

"He's good," Rhiley shrugged off the question playfully. "Still obnoxious, as always."

As the two women walked through the base, they used the time to catch up on everything they'd missed. Peggy Carter was probably the only woman Rhiley had ever connected with. They were close but still lingering on the surface—mutual trust, shared banter, unspoken history. Peggy had tried more than once to peel back the layers of Rhiley Stark, but the woman was fortress-built.

Howard, at least, was more forthcoming about who he was. Rhiley? Not so much.

"How long are you here for?" Peggy asked.

"Until they tell me I'm not here," Rhiley replied with a smirk. That was her job. She went where the paperwork sent her and did what the higher-ups wanted—usually with a sarcastic comment and a flare for chaos. She did things her way. It got her in trouble more often than not.

"What's the assignment?" Peggy asked casually. Too casually.

Rhiley narrowed her eyes. "Starting me off with easy work, right?" she teased. "There's talk about assigning me to a new unit. No solo missions. I miss my undercover shenanigans. Honestly, I think they're punishing me—grouping me up with a bunch of soldier boys. It's revenge."

"Or you're just being dramatic," Peggy countered.

Rhiley skipped ahead of her, walking backwards with arms outstretched. "Come on, Peg, you know me. I like the rush, the responsibility, the thrill, the smell of danger all of it."

Peggy chuckled, amused. "Well, I'm sorry you're disappointed. Honestly? I still think it's too soon for you."

Rhiley rolled her eyes. "I got cleared for field duty. P. Had this talk with Howard already. I'm not in the mood to rehash it."

"Are you okay, though?"

"Hell, even if I scream it from the rooftops, no one's gonna believe me."

"We're concerned," Peggy said gently. "We're just worried about you."

Rhiley stopped, her eyes falling on the recruits. "They seem stiff," she deflected.

Peggy understood the tactic. She didn't push.

"Well, let's fix that," she said with a mischievous grin.

Peggy stepped forward, command voice activated. "Men!"

The soldiers snapped to attention.

Rhiley observed them closely. They looked too new—bright-eyed, clean uniforms, barely a wrinkle in sight. They hadn't seen the ugly side of war. Not yet. Innocence clung to them like fresh starch.

That's when one soldier caught her eye.

Blonde. Blue-eyed. Shorter than the rest. Her lips curled into a smile.

He made it.

"Gentlemen, I am Agent Carter," Peggy addressed the group, pacing. "I supervise all operations of this division." She pointed to Rhiley. "And this is Agent Rhiley. She'll be with us for a short time, which means it's your lucky day. It doesn't take much to get on her bad side. She has a temper."

"She's lying," Rhiley cut in. "I don't have a good side."

A chuckle rose in the back of the group. Then a voice.