Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THE FIRST AVENGER: CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

3 Months Before The Convention...

"You need to stop pushing yourself." Howard's voice caught Rhiley's attention as she walked through the front door. Sweat dripped from her forehead gluing a few strands to her cheeks. She didn't respond to Howard verbally, instead gave him the middle finger. "You know I'm right."

"I just went for a run." She had grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen and locked eyes with Howard who waited in the living room. "Why are you in my apartment?"

"I have keys."

"I never gave you keys."

"I made them."

"What do you want, Howie?" Rhiley sighed, sliding down the wall and onto the floor. She takes a swig of the water and stared at her brother as she sported an annoyed expression only siblings can decipher.

"I want you to talk to me." Howard stood up, "Like I'm your brother--"

"Okay." Rhiley nodded, "Go away."

"You're funny."

"One of us has to be."

"I know this routine." Howard argued, "You've been doing it since we were kids."

She shrugged, pretending to not understand. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Can we just skip this part of you pushing me away and move to the part where you open up and we can hug it out and move along?" Howard sat in front of Rhiley who looked away from him, "I just want to help you."

"I am fine."

"I know you're lying."

"Shut up." Rhiley snapped, looking at Howard who wasn't backing down. "I don't need you." That was a lie. Unlike the other times Rhiley had dug herself into a hole as a child, this was different. This was permanent. She was ashamed.

"What if I need you?"

"What if you're better off without me?" Rhiley set down her glass of water, "What if I'm just a burden?"

"You're not a burden." Howard smiled, "at least, not all the time."

"You're an ass." She shakes her head but her lips twitch up, "What if you can't help me this time?"

"How about I be the judge of that?"

"I'm in position," Rhiley whispered as she quietly slipped out of one of the many air vents. Her fingers hover over her ears. She looks up at a red light flashing on the wall. "I'm guessing Cap is in position?"

"He made quite the entrance." Clover mocked on the other end.

Rhiley glanced down the hallway. Empty. Steve knew making that entrance would have all the guards on duty attracted to him like moths on a lamp. That gave her the benefit of a sneak attack. "Am I the only one who thinks this plan is insane?"

Rhiley smirked, and moved her hands back to her earpiece, "If only someone cared about your opinion, Clover."

"No fighting, kids." The cap huffed through Rhiley's earpiece.

Rhiley doesn't respond back. She kept close to the wall, slipping through the chaos as the lights flashed, and the alarm blared. Steve was the distraction.

"Stop."

Rhiley's feet cemented into the ground at the order. That familiar feeling arose from the pit of her stomach. The voice. The echo in the back of her mind made her submit to the request. She found herself snarling, moving her hand to the earpiece.

"No."

Rhiley's hand froze midair. "Your Captain is a little busy at the moment." Dylan's voice echoed over the alarms. "Turn around." He ordered and Rhiley followed perfectly. "Hi." His sickly smile made her cringe. She wanted to lung at him. Tear him apart limb by limb.

"How about you stop being a coward and let's see who wins in a fistfight?" Rhiley snarled.

Dylan pretended to think for a moment, "Nah." He intertwined his fingers, staring at her. "I would ask how you're doing but I think I already know--"

"I swear-"

"Stop talking."

The order came from somewhere in the back of Rhiley's head. She felt her lips tighten and the words snag in the back of her throat. "That's better." Dylan sighed, walking up to her, "This time nobody is gonna come to your rescue." She couldn't respond, but she glared at the traitor. She knew who he was talking about and it made her want to scream.

"We're in!" This time, the voice came from Rhiley's little earpiece. This time, it was from Morito. The plan had worked on Steve's end.

"Rhiley, find Peggy," Steve commanded, though Rhiley couldn't respond she saw the smile slip onto Dylan's lips. He knew about the earpiece and how badly she wanted to scream the words trapped inside her. After a minute of not responding, her earpiece crackled.

"Rhiley? What's your ETA?" It was Peggy.

"You know I can simply kill anyone who tries to aid you, right?" Dylan whispered, standing a foot away from Rhiley. "Do you really want to be responsible for more of your friends dying?" It was a question he already had the answer to.

"Stark." It was Clover, "This isn't the time for one of your rebellious antics."

"Captain, something's wrong." Peggy responded, "I'm gonna find, Rhiley."

Rhiley wanted to yell for Peggy to stay away. She glanced down to watch Dylan pull out a gun. "You're coming with me."

"Rhiley Lucia Stark." This time, it was Howard who spoke.

"I hold onto every single memory because I know we won't be making any more."