Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THE FIRST AVENGERS: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

BELGIUM – DAY

The snow hissed where it touched her.

Rhiley stood surrounded by soldiers—Hydra, not hers. The cold never got close enough to matter; the heat rolling off her had melted a ring into the snow. Guns pointed her way, hands trembling on triggers.

They were scared. She could see it in their eyes.

"What's wrong, boys?" she asked, head tilted. "Cat got your tongue?"

She raised her hands.

Without warning, the rifles were ripped from their grips—metal screeching through the air like it had a mind of its own. Rhiley smirked as the weapons hovered above the men, then dropped them with a clang.

The soldiers didn't stay conscious much longer.

"Boo."

Steve landed beside her, tossing his shield and knocking out a straggler without breaking stride. "I'm starting to see the resemblance."

Rhiley stepped over a groaning man. "To what?"

"You and Howard." Steve caught the shield on its rebound. "Peggy told me once—couldn't see it till now."

"Oh yeah?" she asked, eyeing him. "What resemblance is that?"

"You're both dramatic."

"Says the guy carrying a frisbee into battle." She gestured to the shield.

He laughed. "Remind me to tell Peggy you're mad she talked behind your back."

"Duck!" he suddenly shouted.

Rhiley ducked just as the shield whizzed over her head, knocking out an enemy who had been sneaking up behind her.

"I knew he was there," she muttered.

"Sure you did," Steve grinned, retrieving the shield. "Just thought I'd help out."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

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The knock on James's door came late.

He opened it, half-expecting a prank, maybe one of the guys playing another stupid joke, but there she was. Rhiley. A bottle of rum tucked beneath her arm. There was a glint in her eyes he hadn't noticed before—something softer, brighter.

"Can I come in?"

James didn't answer at first. He just stood there, stunned by the smile on her face. "Always," he said, stepping aside to let her in.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said, her voice light, almost teasing, as she placed the bottle on the nightstand.

"You never are." James closed the door behind her, his heart suddenly hammering in a way no mission ever had. She was calm, but there was something about her tonight that made his chest feel tight.

She caught his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "What? Miss me?"

James shook his head, quickly looking away. "Sorry, it's just... You look happy."

"I'm a little offended," she teased, though her smile didn't fade.

James let out a breath and shrugged, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. "You know what I mean. You're always so... tense."

"The mission went well." She shrugged nonchalantly, opening the rum and pouring generous amounts into two plastic cups. "I'm allowed to be happy about that."