Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

RADIOACTIVE: PART TWO

"Good thing I'm not claustrophobic," Rhiley muttered dryly, the metal door hissing shut behind her as she and Phil stepped into the sprawling underground lab. She was called in just 48 hours after the news of someone from her pass potentially being a problem. 

The facility felt like it had been built inside the bones of the earth—thick concrete walls, low ceilings, the faint hum of power in the floors. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting the entire place in a cold, sterile glow. Rhiley adjusted the standard-issue S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform collar, still stiff from her hurried change in the quarters they'd assigned her less than an hour ago. Her duffel bag remained unpacked in the small, windowless room down the hall.

"Rhiley?"

She turned, head tilting at the sound of a voice that was just familiar enough to trigger something—a half-formed memory, the smell of chalk dust and adrenaline. A woman with a sharp stride and sharp cheekbones made a beeline toward her.

"Oh my God," the woman breathed, her eyes wide as she took Rhiley in.

Rhiley blinked once, recognition catching up. "Olivia?"

"Agent Lynn," the woman corrected, offering her hand for a formal shake.

Rhiley didn't take it.

"What are you doing here?" 

Instead, she glanced sideways at Phil, who had just answered a call, voice already slipping into business mode. "I'm still waiting on my orders," Rhiley said casually. "Phil doesn't like explaining things over the phone." She looked at Agent Lynn. "He's a bit paranoid," she added with a half shrug.

Agent Lynn's smile faltered. She clearly didn't know how to place Rhiley—civilian? operative? anomaly?

"Agent Coulson?" Olivia clarified, brows knitting. "He's the one who called you in?"

Rhiley turned her full attention back to her, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Yeah?"

Olivia's demeanor shifted—more proper, a touch wary. "He's Director Fury's right-hand man."

"I'm aware."

"Agent Jones," Olivia tried again, clearly unsettled by Rhiley's unbothered attitude, "I would work on how you address higher-ups with a little more—"

"It's not Jones anymore," Rhiley cut in, a flicker of steel in her voice. "Just Rhiley. Or Agent Rhiley, if you're into that sort of thing."

"I—" Olivia didn't get a chance to finish.

"Agent Rhiley." Phil returned, ending the call and sliding his phone into his coat pocket. "Agent Lynn."

"Sir," Olivia replied immediately, straightening like someone had pulled a string down her spine.

"You'll be stationed here with Agents Lynn and Coleman—"

"Charlie?" Rhiley interrupted, surprised.

Phil gave her a short nod. "Agent Coleman. Yes."

"Charlie's been here since the last round of energy spikes," Olivia added quickly, but her words trailed off when her eyes drifted toward the glowing platform at the center of the lab. Something thrummed faintly beneath their feet.

Rhiley followed her gaze—and spotted a figure she hadn't expected to see.

"Dr. Selvig?" she called out, her face lighting up despite herself.

The older man looked up from the monitors, his smile instant. "Rhiley!" he called, stepping down from the platform with the careful gait of a man who lived too long in his mind.