Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

IRON MAN: CHAPTER TWENTY

Pepper is seated on a small bench, head propped in her hand, she was about to doze off when Rhiley came wobbling back up the steps. "Oh my God." Pepper sat up, blood was caked up around her nose, on her chin, and shirt. She had scraps on her knees where her pants had been cut. Her palms -- "What happened?" She rushed over to Rhiley, grabbing her hands where blood was caked under her nails. 

"I'm tired." Rhiley breathed, Pepper took her hand and placed it on Rhiley's cheek to keep her head from falling. 

"What happened?" 

Rhiley blinked, finally looking at Pepper, "I fell." It wasn't a lie. Neither was being tired. She had finally used her powers and it had drained her. Howard was there --- but he wasn't. Something was wrong with her and she couldn't ignore it anymore. She had hallucinated her brother. 

They are both distracted by a sudden woosh overhead and a streak of flashing light. Pepper took Rhiley and guided her into the home, only for the two to find Tony, sitting in a huge chair, the armor scarred and still smoking, helmet off, bleeding from the nose and ears. A drink I none shaky hand. 

"Are you going to abandon him?"  Howard's voice echoed in the back of Rhiley's head when she saw the condition Tony was in. 

Tony looked directly at Pepper, "Get me home..." 

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Rhiley realized she had, had a breakdown when they were in Dubia and she saw the way Pepper watched her closely. Even though, she had enough on her hands with Tony. So Rhiley overly acted how fine she was. She kept telling Pepper over and over "I'm fine" and continued to tell her she had too much to drink and fell that night. Even though Rhiley wasn't seen with any kind of drink in her hand. 

"Yes, I know. Unfortunately Tony isnot going to be available to sitdown with you for a while." Pepper explains over the phone. 

Rhiley listened in her room, her door open -since her hallucination of Howard, she's been on edge. She kept that to herself too. She even canceled her weekly meeting with Phil. She hasn't returned any of his calls from the phone hidden in her mattress. 

"He's uh, there's a...Tony won't be--" Pepper was losing it too. "Why? I don't know anything." 

There is a knock at the door. Rhiley got up quickly, wanting to do something to distract herself. "About anything!" Pepper said, talking to, who Rhiley knew, was Phil Coulson. 

 "Rhodey." Rhiley greets, opening the door. 

"Jones." 

"I'm really jammed right now.Booked solid for the next fewweeks. I have to go." Pepper hung up the phone. 

Rhiley shut the door. "How's he doing?" Rhodey asked Pepper the moment she put her phone away. 

Rhiley wanted to smile. Tony had people who cared about him. He had his people. She had no one. At least, nobody would understand the thundering noise in her head, the nightmares, the guilt she feels 24/7. 

Pepper answered honestly, "Not so good." 

"I want to see him." 

Rhiley walked around the two and headed towards the couch. She sat down and watched. "You can't see him right now," Pepper answered. Tony hasn't even allowed Rhiley anywhere near him. 

Rhodey eyes the hole in the ceiling. "What the hell is going on here?" He continues when Pepper doesn't answer, he glances at Rhiley who shakes her head, "Let me in there, Pepper." 

Pepper faces him, then allows him by. "You want to see him? Fine. See what you've done to him." 

Rhiley flinched at Peppers's words. "You should get some rest, Pepper."