Phil took a seat in the same booth, in the same diner, at the same time every week. Like clockwork. Like habit.
Across from him, Rhiley nursed a steaming cup of coffee, both hands wrapped around it as though it was the only thing tethering her to the moment.
"I've never faked my death before," she murmured.
Phil raised an eyebrow.
Rhiley gave a dry chuckle. "Okay, that one time doesn't count. I thought I was dead."
He watched her. Carefully. Quietly. The kind of quiet that pressed for answers.
She lowered her cup. "Was it S.H.I.E.L.D.?" she asked. "Did they help sell it?"
"You mean help convince the world you were gone?" Phil asked.
She nodded once. He didn't need more.
"Why?" he asked.
Rhiley sighed, gaze drifting to the window beside them. Outside, the world kept moving. "I can't be part of his life. Not like this. It's not fair to him. Or to me. I needed a clean break."
"So you let everyone—including Tony—believe you died?"
"It seemed like the kind of thing S.H.I.E.L.D. would be good at." She smirked, a little bitter. "I was just his assistant."
"According to the press release, you were a dear friend who will be missed profoundly."
She swallowed hard. "This is how it should be."
Phil didn't respond right away. He let the silence settle between them like snowfall. Then, casually, "Should we talk about the elephant in the room?"
Rhiley didn't flinch. "You mean me not telling you I have powers?"
"You lifted half a building off its foundation, Rhiley."
"You never asked," she replied with a shrug. "Didn't think it was a big deal."
"Some people would disagree."
"How mad was Fury?"
"You mean Director Fury."
She smirked again. "I haven't signed anything yet."
Phil slid a folder across the table. Neat. Official. With a pen resting on top.
Rhiley stared at it, unmoved.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. finds out I'm telekinetic and now suddenly I'm good enough for the team?"
"You were always good enough," Phil said. "We just didn't know who we were dealing with."
She opened the folder, barely glanced at the contents, then closed it again. "I'm not signing this for them."
He raised a brow.
"I'm signing it because I trust you," she said. "And honestly? You might be the only friend I've got."
Phil said nothing. Just pocketed the pen, took the folder.
"Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D., Rhiley Jones."
She leaned back in the booth, exhaled. "Actually... just Rhiley."
Phil cracked a smile. "Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D., Just Rhiley."
She rolled her eyes. "And people say you don't have a sense of humor."
"People are wrong more often than you think."
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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...
