Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THOR: CHAPTER EIGHT

Once the storm cleared, there was nothing left of the Destroyer but scorched fragments—silent, still, and truly destroyed.

Rhiley drifted in and out of consciousness during the final moments. She didn't even realize she was trying to stand until a steady hand slipped around her back and pulled her upright.

"I think we're going to have to revisit your powers," Phil said, his voice dry with that familiar calm sarcasm.

She might've laughed if he hadn't looked like he'd just been through a war zone. "You okay?"

"I can walk," he replied. "Which is more than I can say for you."

"Fair," she muttered, brushing off debris.

Phil glanced toward Thor. "Donald... I don't think you've been entirely honest with me."

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Later, Rhiley sat perched on the hood of a SHIELD jeep, watching as the others gathered near the Bifrost gate.

"I didn't believe in gods before," she said to Phil, who stood beside her, ever the sentinel. "This is... definitely weird."

Darcy, nearby, turned to Volstagg. "So how come you all speak English?"

"Your language?" Volstagg bellowed. "Ha! You're speaking ours!"

Rhiley shivered as Thor lifted Mjolnir and called out to the sky. Energy crackled in the air. "Is it possible to be afraid of a hammer?"

Phil nodded. "That hammer? Definitely."

Thor addressed the group. "He would open the bridge if he could. But I fear the worst."

Volstagg frowned. "Then we're stranded?"

Fandral gave a sweeping look around. "In that case, we'd best start settling in." His eyes found Darcy. "Tell me, are all Earth maidens as enchanting as you?"

Darcy didn't even blink. "Nope."

Rhiley laughed.

"Heimdall!" Thor roared into the void once more.

Volstagg poked curiously at one of SHIELD's mounted machine guns. "Primitive. Might be useful for pest control."

Phil smirked. Rhiley tilted her head. "What are you gonna do if they're stuck here?"

He gave a dry chuckle, something she'd never heard from him in the field. "Let's hope we don't find out."

A thunderous boom cut through the moment. The sky tore open.

The Bifrost ignited.

Phil blinked. "Guess that's one problem solved. Good. I wasn't ready to explain that to Fury."

Rhiley smirked. "Would've paid to see that conversation."

Thor approached Phil. "Know this, Son of Coul—" Rhiley had to bite back a laugh— "You and I, we fight for the same cause: the protection of this world. From this day forth, count me your ally." He paused, then added, "Assuming you return what you stole from Jane Foster."

"Borrowed," Coulson corrected, lifting a hand. "You'll get it all back. SHIELD would like to support your research now, assuming that's acceptable."

Jane blinked, speechless.

Thor turned to Rhiley. "Lady Rhiley, your brother would've been proud."

She gave a small, broken smile, eyes glassy as she looked away. "It was an honor."