This was familiar.
Rhiley's feet pounded against the track, muscles burning, lungs clawing for air like they hadn't in weeks. But this time, the ache felt different — stronger. It felt like maybe, just maybe, her body was catching up to where her mind was screaming for it to be.
She was still dead last.
Olivia — always fast, always effortless — had already crossed the finish line. Charlie, with her bored little half-jog, hovered a few paces ahead of Rhiley like she was barely trying.
It only pissed Rhiley off more.
Her legs screamed at her to stop — begged for it — but she forced them forward.
"Look who finally decided to show up," Danny snickered as Rhiley stumbled past the finish line, sweat dripping down her neck.
"Fuck off."
A whistle cut through the air. "Ten-minute break! Then hand-to-hand!"
Charlie groaned beside her, gulping down water like it offended her. "I hate fighting."
Danny passed by, ever the snake, flashing that stupid grin. "Makes sense. You're not very good at it."
Rhiley's grip tightened around her water bottle.
"You two might wanna pack it up," Danny added over his shoulder. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s not looking for charity cases."
Charlie rolled her eyes, deadly calm. "You ever shut up, Daniel?"
"It's Danny."
"I don't care." The threat came next — sweet as poison. "And just so you know I might not be able to kick your ass, but I can end your life digitally in under thirty seconds. Maybe I already have."
Danny snorted but didn't look back. "Yeah, okay, cyber-stalker. Good luck getting into S.H.I.E.L.D. with a record."
Charlie watched him go, unimpressed. "Absolute prick."
Meanwhile, Olivia was off charming another group - the golden girl, friendly to everyone. She was easily the best here. But she never showed it off.
Rhiley blinked slowly, her whole body buzzing from exhaustion. She hadn't slept in days. Not well, anyway.
The nightmares had returned.
Always the same.
She was back at the Stark Expo — lost, abandoned — the crushing weight of being utterly, completely alone.
And then he would appear.
-
-
-
Maria Hill paced the training ring like a lioness. "You'll meet every kind of person out there. Never underestimate anyone. They might be the ones to take you down."
Danny cracked his knuckles, cocky as ever. "I could take on anyone here."
Unfortunately, the worst part was that he wasn't entirely wrong. He'd stayed in the ring for ten opponents straight, wearing that smug smile like armor.
Rhiley hated him for it.
"Jones!"
Olivia nudged her forward. "You've got this."
Rhiley forced a tiny, grateful smile, stepping into the ring.
Danny greeted her with a shit-eating grin. "Miss me, Cupcake?"
YOU ARE READING
Radioactive | Bucky Barnes
Fanfiction"I want to go back to the time you first told me your name." Rhiley, the twin sister of Howard Stark, finds herself wrapped up with the one and only James Barnes. The next time she sees him is on her new assignment with the 107th Infantry Regiment...
