Radioactive | Bucky Barnes

THE AVENGERS: CHAPTER ONE

"Talk to me, Doctor."

Nick Fury's voice echoed across the lab as he stepped through the heavy doors, sharp eyes immediately locking on the glowing Tesseract. The cube pulsed with energy—erratic, volatile. Something was wrong.

Dr. Erik Selvig emerged from behind one of the machines, worry etched into every line on his face. Behind him trailed Rhiley, arms crossed, her jaw tight.

"Director," Selvig greeted with a nod.

"Fury," Rhiley added flatly.

Fury ignored her, turning instead to the scientist. "Is there anything we know for certain?"

"The Tesseract is misbehaving," Selvig answered without a hint of humor.

Fury raised an eyebrow. "That supposed to be a joke?"

"That's how she described it." Selvig gestured toward Rhiley, who didn't flinch under Fury's scrutiny.

"It's not just active," she said. "It's... unstable. It reacts to me. Like it's agitated."

"She tried to grab it," Selvig added quickly, shooting her a disapproving glance.

Fury turned sharply. "You what?"

"It was worth a shot," Rhiley shrugged. "And it worked for a moment until it-" She waved at the cube. "It just started to freak out again." 

Fury looked between them both, unimpressed. "We've prepared for this," he said to Selvig. "Harnessing energy from space. That was the idea."

Selvig's voice grew tight. "We don't have the harness. The energy's erratic. It's interfering with all our systems. Radiation is low—gamma, mostly—but the spikes are unpredictable."

"Still dangerous," Fury muttered, eyes narrowing. "Where's Barton?"

"Watching," Rhiley said before Selvig could respond.

Fury looked up instinctively and caught sight of Clint Barton crouched on a narrow support beam high above the lab floor.

"Agent Barton, report."

Barton dropped down silently, landing with practiced ease. His gaze swept across the room. "Nothing in or out. If something set this off, it didn't come from our end."

"You think it came from the other side?" Fury asked.

Barton nodded once. "Doors swing both ways."

Rhiley shifted beside Selvig. "You hate it when I use metaphors," she said.

"That's because your metaphors are usually wrong," Selvig shot back, though his hands were flying over the keyboard.

Suddenly, he froze. The numbers on the monitor surged.

The Tesseract pulsed once—twice—and then thudded like a heartbeat. The ground beneath them rumbled. The light shifted, deepening into a violent blue as power poured from the Cube in waves.

"Erik—" Rhiley started.

Too late.

A concussive blast rocked the lab as a column of energy erupted from the Cube, tearing open the air above it. The portal formed violently—chaotic, twisting—a hole to the cosmos. A shriek of wind tore through the room as blue light blinded them.

Rhiley threw up a shield, her energy crackling to life around her in a glowing arc that deflected debris and protected Selvig. It wasn't just instinct. The Tesseract's surge called her power forward like it recognized her.

When the light faded, the lab was quiet again except for the hum of the Cube and the sound of footsteps echoing from the portal.

A figure stood in the wreckage. Cloaked. Pale. A scepter in his hand.

"Loki," Rhiley muttered.

Fury stepped forward. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to put down the spear."

Loki tilted his head, smile cold. Then he struck blue light exploding from his scepter. Fury and Barton dove for cover as the lab erupted in chaos.

"Move!" Rhiley grabbed Selvig and pushed him toward the exit.

"You should help—"

"I am," she said through gritted teeth.

Another blast ripped past them, and Rhiley turned, arm raised, catching it with a shimmering shield of energy. The scepter's power skidded off her barrier, sending sparks flying into the air.

Loki's eyes narrowed, and his attention snapped toward her.

"Interesting," he murmured.

Then he turned the scepter on Barton. One flash—one hit—and Barton straightened unnaturally, his expression blank. Gone.

"No," Rhiley whispered, her pulse spiking.

She moved too late. Barton raised his gun—and didn't aim at Loki.

He aimed at her.

But he didn't fire.

"Back off," he ordered flatly. "I don't want to hurt you."

Rhiley stared at him, stricken. "You don't even know me anymore."

Loki advanced, eyes on the Tesseract now. Fury, injured but standing, tried to secure it.

"I still need that," Loki said, his voice smooth.

"This doesn't have to get messier," Fury warned.

Loki smiled. "Oh, but it will."

The doctor beside Rhiley stiffened. She turned—and watched the light flicker behind Selvig's eyes.

"No, no, no," she hissed. "Erik!"

He blinked—but didn't answer. Loki had him, too.

"You will know peace," Loki said calmly, lifting the scepter again.

Fury was already issuing orders. "Rhiley! Containment team—now!"

She tried to grab the Tesseract case—Barton stepped in her path.

They struggled. She held it for a moment.

Then—crack.

His head met hers in a brutal headbutt.

She collapsed, stars in her vision, blood dripping down her face, but even through the pain, her powers flared, wild and reactive. The Tesseract responded, pulsing sharply with her pain, sending a small tremor through the lab.

Loki's gaze landed on her again. Assessing.

"You're connected to it," he said, almost intrigued. "That power... where did you get it?"

"Come closer," she snapped, staggering to her feet. "I'll show you."

But Barton lifted his gun—this time aimed directly at Selvig.

Rhiley froze.

"Don't."

"One word," Barton said, voice cold, "and I shoot the doctor."

Her hands dropped. She let the case fall.

Loki walked past her without another glance.

"Foolish girl," he muttered, stepping into the vortex of chaos and stolen minds he'd created.

And Rhiley stood there, bloodied, hands trembling, the Tesseract still singing in her bones.

It knew her now.

And it wasn't done with her.