Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

IRON MAN: CHAPTER EIGHT

"December 7, 1941: the day the world changed forever." A distant narrator reads, a screen lights up and photos flicker through the dark room. "President Roosevelt declares the United States will build fifty thousand planes to fight the armies of Hirohito and Hitler."

Rhiley Lucia Stark found herself in the very back, she wasn't dressed up like most of the people in the room. At this point, she hadn't heard from S.H.I.E.L.D. in three months and had been working with Tony Stark for two of those months. "Although no such capacity to build existed."

Rhiley lifted her gaze towards the large screen to find 'STARK INDUSTRIES' blinding the audience. "Howard Stark, the founder of the fledgling Stark Industries, answers his call to duty"

A gloomy smile twitched onto Rhiley's lips and she paused her scrolling of cat videos. "And builds not fifty, but a hundred thousand planes" She looked up and smiled at the young face of her brother, the one she had nightmares about every night. She could still hear his voice.

"Later, Stark's work on the Manhattan Project makes the end of the war possible." And somehow, pride fueled her chest. She always knew Howard was the most gifted person she knew; other than herself, of course. Sure, he didn't accomplish flying cars but still.

"Stark Industries would go on to contribute to every major weapons system through the Cold War." Rhiley put her phone into her jeans pocket and leaned against the wall. Flashbacks of the convention erupted through her mind and her heart ached.

"But Howard Stark's greatest achievement would come in 1973" Rhiley smiled at Tony Stark when he appeared on the screen, he was a toddler, so small, carefree. "From early on, it was clear that Tony Stark had a unique gift."

"At seventeen he graduated summa cum laude from MIT. Four years later, tragedy would pass the Stark mantle from father to son-"

"Where's Mr. Stark?" Rhiley heard the security next to her mumble into his earpiece. She cracked her neck back to the front and her eyes narrowed to the spot he should be sitting in. It wasn't unusual for Tony to ditch these events but why was she even there then?

Rhiley took her leave the moment they had called Tony Stark to the stage and realized he wasn't there.

This was the first time the young woman had ever even set foot in the city of Las Vegas. Lots of gambling, lots of smoking, and a whole lot of drinking. So she knew Tony was doing one of those things or something else she didn't want to accidentally picture her nephew doing.

"Hey, pretty lady."

"No." Rhiley pushed past the drunken man and walked deeper into the casino.

"You think we're having a 'moment' here, but this is the logical conclusion of several mathematical truisms" That voice was unavoidable. Rhiley's listened to it speak about science for the last two months and half the time she was just ordering the man's coffee and not paying attention. She still didn't understand her assistant job truthfully. Don't let Tony die. Yet she wasn't security? She felt like an overpriced babysitter.

"Your hypothalamus is flooding your system with a chain of proteins called peptides so that every cell in your body is opening itself up to the happy chemical: oxytocin."

Rhiley watched from a distance but close enough to hear, her nose scrunching up in confusion as the woman's face looked turned on and Rhiley wanted to gag. "Wow." The woman stuttered. Rhiley rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Hold on a second." Tony ordered, rolling, "So now your limbic system is positively...throbbing. A Kirlian photograph of us right now, occupying this space, would show serious subatomic particles being exchanged between us, with a rapidity that transcends-- (then) Are you getting this? You will be quizzed."

"Jones," Rhodey stepped beside her, she had met him the moment after Tony Stark had hired her, "How long has he been here?"

"Probably awhile, I don't  know."

Rhodey sighed, glowering, and headed over to Tony. "My God, what are you, they roped you into this thing too?"

"Yeah. They said you'd be deeply honored if I presented." Rhodey explained, and Rhiley chuckled. She liked him.

"Okay, let's do this."

Rhodey plops the Ares statue down on the felt. "Your assistant heard more than you did." Rhodey gestured towards Rhiley.

Tony's eyes glanced up and he smirked "That was quick. Thought there'd be more of, you know, a ceremony. Maybe a highlight reel." He gestured for Rhiley to come over. She did. "I must now take my ease, along with the House's funds."

Tony grabbed the award and walked away, Rhiley and Rhodey following him. "A lot of people would kill to have their name on that award.."

"It belongs to my old man. They should have given it to him."

Of course, Rhiley had to get used to Tony describing Howard Stark and the father he was, and the father he was, was not the brother Rhiley knew, it wasn't even the man she knew her brother to be. She had to keep her tongue-tied. "What's wrong with you? A thousand people came here tonight to honor you, and you left them with egg on their faces. This award means something, Tony, it's bigger than you."

"Please don't argue in front of my assistant, she's too innocent for this." Tony spots something, "Hold that thought a sec.." He's stopped in front of a roulette wheel. Puts all his chips down on, and nods to the wheel operator.

"I am an over-glamorized babysitter." Rhiley finally realized it out loud.

"Yeah." Rhodey huffed, agreeing, "Me too."

"Put it all on black. Don't worry -- it's approved" The wheel spins.

"You just blew three million." Rhodey points out.

"Yeah. Don't know what was more exciting -- winning it...or the fact that I don't care I just lost it."

"Everything's funny to you."

"No. You're not funny. " Tony corrects, then points at Rhiley, "She is, though, she hasn't been talking much today, what's up? Massive hangover? Broken heart?"

"Neither." Rhiley corrects, "You're just giving me a headache."

Tony laughs then looks at Rhodey, "See? Funny." 

"We've got a hell of a day tomorrow. Can we get out of here now?"

"One more stop."

Of course, Rhiley doesn't go with the two into the men's restroom and ventures off when they disappear through the doors. She had been emailed Tony's schedule by Pepper Pots, someone who didn't give Rhiley a headache and talked so she understood every word unlike Tony who she had to purchase a dictionary for then Tony threw that dictionary away because it was the 20th century. Then she had to learn how to use a phone.

Tony had advised Rhiley to have a little fun the moment he learned this would be her first time in Vegas, but instead, she followed him around, made sure he stayed alive and went to bed in a hotel room at a decent time. 

After all, what else was she supposed to do?