Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THE FIRST AVENGERS: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

HYDRA FACTORY, FRANCE--

James couldn't stop looking at Rhiley. It was a dangerous habit, especially in the middle of a firefight.

"Pay attention, for fuck's sake, Barnes," Clover snapped, not even sparing him a glance. "And stop staring at your girlfriend."

"She's not my—" James started to protest, but he ducked just in time as a bullet whizzed past, barely missing his head. It halted midair, inches from his face, suspended by some unseen force.

"That's what you took from what Clover just said?" Rhiley's voice was deadpan as she flicked her wrist, sending the bullet back toward its source. "Focus, man."

"Love the new look, Red," Clover added with a grin, clearly trying to rile her up.

"Fuck off, Clover," Rhiley shot back without missing a beat, not even sparing him a look.

Rickett jogged over, his eyes scanning the chaos. "Where's the Cap?"

"He breached the building," James explained, keeping his voice steady despite the tension. "We're just the distraction until—" The ground trembled with another explosion. "Alright, I think it's time we pull back, boys... and girl? Women? Rhiley?"

"You're the only one who still gets confused by that," Rhiley muttered as they sprinted toward the army vehicle.

"I think you need a cool code name," James told Rhiley as they rushed into the army vehicle.

 "I disagree." Rhiley commented, "The only reason I'm wearing this is because my brother made it and it helps me not to burn people." She said, looking down at James's wrapped hand.

"What about Blaze?" Clover suggested. 

"If I was gonna have a codename again, that would not even be on the list of possibilities."

"Again?" Both Rickett and James ask but Rhiley doesn't follow their curiosity up and doesn't have to as they see Steve ride up next to them on his motorcycle.

"Hotshot?" Rickett is the one to suggest a name this time.

"Hot ass."

"Shut it, Clover." This time, it's James who tells the man to shut up.

"Well, I don't see you coming up with anything." Clover retorted, "Are you struggling to come up with something decent because of your single-digit IQ?"

Rhiley rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the conversation.

"Does it have to do with fire? I mean, she can move things with her mind." Rickett reminds everyone.

"That's right." Clover looked back at Rhiley. "How does that work? I get being born with powers, being able to move things, and producing fire are two completely unrelated things. You can't tell me you just had them your entire life."

"I would try to explain to you gene mutation but I don't think your non-existent IQ could handle it." Rhiley snapped.

"Oh burn." Rickett chuckled to himself.

"What about Eclipse?"

Everyone looked at James. "That doesn't make any sense." Clover retorted. "It's stupid."

"Well," James looked at Rhiley, "An Eclipse is when an object of sorts passes into the shadow of another body, right? Kind of what Rhiley does for us. Like a shield."

Clover snorted. "That's stupid."

"I like it." Rhiley countered, "You're an idiot, Clover."

"Rhiley's right." Rickett jumped in, "It's a good name." He leaned back in his seat, "I think it's gonna be remembered for decades."