Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

IRON MAN: CHAPTER NINE

"Hello, Miss Jones."

"Again, Jarvis?" Rhiley stepped into the house, her voice filled with mild annoyance. "Just call me Rhiley, for the love of—" She broke off mid-sentence, her attention caught by Pepper speaking to a woman in the hallway. The woman was hastily putting on her shoes, her hair a tangled mess, and that's when it clicked.

"Rhiley," Pepper greeted warmly.

"Reporter?" Rhiley raised an eyebrow, giving the woman a pointed look.

The woman glanced at Rhiley, a skeptical eyebrow arched. "Who are you?"

"None of your business," Rhiley shot back, her tone sharp.

"Rhiley, down," Pepper said in a calm but firm voice. Rhiley rolled her eyes but obeyed, moving closer to Pepper.

The reporter gave Rhiley an uncomfortable glance but didn't say anything further. "Look," she said briskly, "Tony wanted me to stay for breakfast, but I really need to get a jump on my day. Can you call me a cab?"

"The cab's already waiting outside," Pepper replied smoothly.

"Great," the woman muttered, turning to leave. "Oh, and a coffee, please. Black. One Splenda."

Pepper smiled sweetly. "Should I tell Mr. Stark you were satisfied with the interview?"

Rhiley shuddered at the thought. She didn't need to guess what had happened behind closed doors. "Nasty," she muttered under her breath, making sure the reporter couldn't hear.

As the woman left, Pepper turned to Rhiley with a soft chuckle. "Have I mentioned that I'm in love with you, Pepper Potts?"

"Twice a day," Pepper replied, her smile warm. She liked Rhiley—unlike the women Tony usually brought around, Rhiley was different. She had a sharp mind, no-nonsense attitude, and she never flirted with Tony. It confused Pepper, especially since Rhiley was easy on the eyes, with those same piercing eyes Tony had.

"So, what brings you here?" Pepper asked as they both moved into the kitchen.

"Packing for Tony," Rhiley answered, her tone dry.

Pepper smiled knowingly. "Honestly, I'm glad Tony hired you. It lets me focus on the real business side of Stark Industries. But somehow, I always get roped into his shenanigans."

"Oh, Pepper," Rhiley teased, "Happy Birthday."

Pepper grinned. "Thank you, Rhiley. I'm going to go yell at Tony. Want to join me?"

"I'd love to, but I've got to finish packing for him," Rhiley said, pointing toward the stairs. "I'll see you later, Pepper."

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"Sorry, pal — car trouble."

"It wasn't car trouble," Rhiley muttered, stumbling out of the car, exhaustion pulling at her every step. The nightmares from last night were still clouding her mind. She dragged her luggage behind her, trying to shake off the fog.

"I figured," Rhodey replied, shaking his head as they made their way toward the plane. "I was out there for three hours. What the hell?"

"I had car trouble," Tony repeated. 

She dropped into a seat across from Tony on the plane, closing her eyes and resting her head against the window. "Thanks, maybe later," she murmured when Tony offered a towel, shaking her head. 

"And none for her. She's a mess when she's woken up." Tony told the flight attendant who offered them a drink. 

"I hear you." Rhiley's middle finger flashed up in response, directed at Tony.

"That's why I keep you around," Tony chuckled, his grin wide.

Rhiley found herself falling asleep after that only to be woken up a few hours later by Rhodey and Tony talking to each other. "We're working, Tony."

"You should have a drink. We've got a twelve-hour flight ahead of us."

"It's two in the afternoon."

"It's two in the morning where we're going. C'mon, ten hours "bottle to throttle"

"Don't start with me."

"Oh! Look, sleeping beauty is awake." Tony noticed Rhiley's eyes flicker open, "Want a drink?"

"No."

"Jeez, we're not getting hammered. Just a nightcap. We'll sleep better and arrive fresh. It's the responsible thing to do." Tony told the two of them.

"I slept just fine." Rhiley pointed out, straightening up and then sinking back into her seat.

"I don't know about you lot, but I want to sell some weapons."

Now, Rhiley didn't understand how exactly it happened, well, she did. Rhodey gave in to peer pressure and the two men got drunk. "You don't get it. I don't work for the military because they paid for my education or my father's education. Don't cheapen it like that."

"All I said was, with your smarts, your engineering background, you could write your ticket in the private sector -- on top of which, you wouldn't have to wear that 'straight-jacket"

"'Straight-jacket'? This uniform means something. A chance to make a difference. You don't respect that, because you don't understand."

"See that one? Her I understand. Croatian. Hot-blooded, I'm serious. Must be those winters in Zagreb"

"You're not listening to a word I'm saying."

"I am listening. I'm changing the subject. It's the same litany, every time you've had a thimble of alcohol. Drink One: reflections on the New American Century and related topics -- "

"Something's...seriously wrong with you, man."

"Drink 2: A History of World War II and the Tuskegee Flyers. Drink 3--"

"You know, hell with you. I'm not talking to you anymore. " Rhodey undoes his seatbelt, and rises, looking for somewhere else to sit.

"Go hang with the pilot. You'll get along, he's got a personality just like yours."

"I will." He walks off.

"You're an ass, you know that." Rhiley takes this opportunity to speak up, Tony chuckles at her and winks. Lighting up when Rhodey comes back and slumps down.

"That's funny."

"You could tell?"

There had been no pilot. 

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