Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

RADIOACTIVE: PART ONE

"His memories are intaked?" 

"He's good, Rhiley." 

"Are you sure?" 

"Do you remember when you woke up?" Phil stopped, stepping in front of Rhiley. "How did you feel?" 

"Yeah.." She breathed, "I didn't have anyone, though." 

"Steve has you." She glanced over Phil's shoulder, feeling herself beginning to hyperventilate. "He asked for you, Rhiley." 

"I think I'm gonna be sick." She turned around, working up to get the courage to walk into that room. She hadn't realized how hard this was going to be. 

"Rhiley?" 

She turned, looking at Steve Rogers with wide eyes. He looked exactly how he did the day she last saw him and the days after - when he was in that coma. He looked just as shocked as Rhiley did, she couldn't seem to move her legs. 

Phil moved out of the way because it seemed Steve Roger had not forgotten how to move his legs. 

He was hugging Rhiley tightly before she could even realize what was happening. It took her a few seconds to wrap her arms around the man and bury her head into his chest. "You're alive." Steve kept repeating, and if she was anyone else he would have snapped her into two pieces with how tight he held her. 

"I'll leave you both to catch up." Phil says, "Rhiley, you know how to contact me." 

Rhiley found the ability to pull away from Steve. She walked towards Phil and pulled him into a hug before he could walk away. She's never hugged him - not until this moment. She never wanted to feel close to anyone ever again. 

"Thank you." 

"I didn't do anything." 

Rhiley pulled away and smiled at Phil, "Trust me. You did everything." She looked over at Steve who waited patiently, he still stood as if he did not understand the new world he was in. 

-

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-

Things were awkward. 

She had taken Steve to the diner she'd been coming to since awakening from the coma. "Rhiley-" and Steve ordered water, overwhelmed with the choices on the menu. Even though they were all so simple. 

"Steve." She responded they didn't know what to talk about. "You look well." 

Steve smiled, "So do you." 

"We aren't though." 

"No." He agreed, "So, you have a nephew?" 

Rhiley finally laughed, "And you're famous." She leaned back into the booth, "How does that feel?" 

"I just woke up from a coma." Steve reminded Rhiley, "I'm still adjusting." He studies the young woman in front of him, "Does it get better?" 

"No." 

"I've always enjoyed your honesty." He continues, "S.H.I.E.L.D, what do you think of them?" 

"They're a big faceless unknown government agency." She shrugged, "Phil is nice." 

"Agent Coulson?" 

"Yeah." 

"Do you two?" 

Rhiley laughed, "No-" She shakes her head, "I wouldn't, I still ---" She hasn't needed to speak to anyone about this. Except, sitting there facing Steve who knew almost everything--

"You're still in love with him, aren't you?" 

"I was never able to be in love with him, Steve." Rhiley shakes her head, "We never had our moment." 

"I'm sorry, Rhiley." Steve looked out the window, "I understand." 

"At least we have each other now." She sighs. "That's something." 

"They asked if I wanted to work with them." 

Rhiley looked back at Steve, "What are you gonna do?" 

He shakes his head, "I don't know." He looks down at his water, "Everything is new and things are confusing right now, I don't know if I want that." 

"You know I'll support you, no matter what you decide to do." She leans forward, "Since you're Captain America and all." She whispered the last part, looking around as if someone was listening to a conversation with two unknown people. 

"Thank you, Rhiley." Steve continued. "Thank you." 

-

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....Two Months Later...

Rhiley set her stuff inside the small bedroom. Over the last few months, she had finally found herself setting up a place for her that she could call home. 

And it was because of Steve who had moved above an old abandoned boxing gym. Two-bedroom apartment. 

She had taken a break from S.H.I.E.L.D, having gotten tired of going on 'babysitting' missions. They didn't trust her, yet. Phil had thought this was a good idea - finding a foundation she could balance herself on, with someone who understood what she was going through. 

Rhiley talked to Phil at that same diner, each week, at the same time - no matter what. 

Now she had a bedroom she painted sage green, and plants she had to replace every couple of weeks because they kept dying on her. But she wanted to keep something alive so she kept trying. 

She had a desk that was situated in the corner next to her window. She didn't have a computer - she still didn't understand how those worked. She didn't need to understand. "Rhiley!" and yet sometimes she'd regret moving in with Steve because they went running every morning at the same time - 5 miles - each day and she wasn't about to tell him she wasn't injected with steroids like some people. 

Rhiley's been getting in better shape, physically and mentally, because of Steve. She had someone to talk to, who found her on the couch curled up after a nightmare. 

However, sometimes, she still found herself calling Phil at 3:00 am and he'd always answered. 

After their run, though, Rhiley had convinced Steve to add heading into the coffee shop a block from their place. She'd got him to stop ordering only water and have left it up to the baristas to choose or even experience his drinks so he had something new to try every morning. 

Rhiley always had fun with that. Especially watching them flirt with Steve and chuckle when he doesn't realize it. 

"And one large latte." Steve set down the to-go cup. 

"Have you tried going into the line of a professional coffee server?" Rhiley asks, standing back up, "I tried, it wasn't my thing but it could work for you." She shrugged, walking through the door Steve had held open for her. 

Rhiley pulls her phone out when it begins to ring, "Agent Coulson?" She waited, looking over at Steve, "I'm with him right now, what's up?" She continues walking alongside until she stops, "Okay, I don't know-" 

"Rhiley." 

The young woman looked over at Steve, "Go, I'll be fine." 

She breathed and weighed her options. "Are you sure?" He nodded, "Okay, yeah Phil, I'm available." She listened, "Tonight?" She nodded, "Okay." and hung up. 

"Where are you going?" 

"Some private base that needs more Agents on it." She looks at Steve, "You sure you're good?" 

He smiled, "I'm good, Rhiley." 

"Okay." She put her phone back in her pocket, "I'll call you." 

"I know."