Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

The First Avenger: Chapter Nine

"Wake up, Luc."

The sheet had been draped around Rhiley's body. She could feel the heat of the sun against her bare shoulders and the light breeze that came through the open French doors. She had her face pressed deeply into the pillow with no intention of moving anytime soon.

"Five more minutes."

Rhiley felt her fingers first. They crawled up her bare arm sending a shiver down her spine and landed on the back of her neck. She was gentle, soft - warm. Like the sun just outside their apartment window.

"We gotta get ready." Her lips were soft against Rhiley's cheek. It left behind a strawberry scent when she pulled away.

Rhiley didn't even have to open her eyes to grab onto the young woman's hand when she felt the shift of weight in the bed. "What if we don't-" She asked, eyes finally opening to find a pair of blue eyes staring back at her, confused.

"Don't what?" Magnolia - she had been born in a van and raised by two nature-loving parents. She had sunk back into the bed. Not once pulling away from Rhiley. "Don't get ready?"

"Let's just quit." Rhiley leaned up, "Leave and never look back."

Magnolia smiled, "I've been trying to get you to quit since we met. Why now?"

"I don't know." Rhiley did know though, and it had everything to do with those soft blue eyes that took her breath away every morning. "I guess I never thought I would have a purpose outside of all this." She smiled, "What if we did what you talked about? Find a nice little cottage in the middle of the woods and just live the rest of our lives just the two of us."

"That was just a silly dream I had." Magnolia looked towards the open doors, the Eiffel Tower in view. She felt Rhiley's hand cup her cheek. Callused up palms, rough - but inviting.

"And you were just a silly dream," Rhiley whispered, Magnolia laid her hand over Rhiley's.

"I still am." Magnolia responded softly, "I need you to wake up, love."

"I am awake-" Rhiley responded, puzzled. She watched Magnolia's gaze drop and watched her hand touch her collarbone. She could no longer feel the warmth of the sun, no longer smell the strawberries, feel the breeze on her skin.

Instead, just felt pain burst through her entire body. Confusion swallowed her hole when she found the white sheets she had been just moments ago asleep peacefully in to be soaked with blood.

"Wait." Rhiley felt her throat tighten up. She looked back up and found herself alone. She quickly stumbled out of the bed, "Maggy!" She rushed towards the window just in time to see the missile.

Pain.

Rhiley gasped. Not realizing the position she had found herself in she bolted upward to find herself in a pile of concrete. Bruised. She scrambled to get herself out and when she finally emerged from what had been left of the building she was met with just the sound of crickets.

"Maggy?" Blood had covered half her face from a wound on the top of her head. Her brain felt like it was about to split in half. She stumbled over pieces of concrete until she found herself falling face-first onto the ground.

"Shit." She stared up at the stars, the clouds having parted sometime ago. Rhiley knew she had to get up, but her entire body tensed whenever she found herself trying. So, she just lay there, looking up at the night sky.

"Wake up, Luc."

Rhiley heard her voice but this time knew it was nothing but her imagination. A delusion brought on by a massive concussion. Yet, she responded still - tired. "Five more minutes."