IRON MAN: CHAPTER FIVE

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This brought back familiar memories as Rhiley jogged alongside the rest of her peers. Her strength felt like it was finally building up over the past few weeks.  She still struggled to keep up with the rest. Her legs burned and her legs screamed for her to stop. to give up. 

Olivia was fast, she outran everyone in this group. While Charlie stayed right in front of Rhiley. The young woman didn't seem like she was trying at all. She looked bored, which only angered Rhiley even further making her push harder. 

"Nice of you to join us, Jones." Danny laughed when Rhiley finally crossed the finish line. 

"Fuck off." 

"Ten-minute break!" A whistle, "Then we're doing hand-to-hand combat " 

"I don't like fighting" Charlie groaned, taking a sip of her water. 

"I can understand why." Danny's voice broke through, "You're not very good at it." He smiled, purposely walking by, "The two of you should probably pack it up, S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't gonna want people like you in their ranks." 

Charlie rolled her eyes, "Do you ever just shut up, Daniel?" 

"It's Danny." 

"I don't care." She glared at him, "And I may not be able to beat you up physically but I can make your life a living hell. I can learn every single detail about you with just a few clicks of a mouse. Perhaps I already have?" It sounded like a threat because it was. Charlie wasn't the type to hold back any of her thoughts.

"And risk not getting into S.H.I.E.L.D.?" If that had phased Danny he was surely able to hide it very well, "Cause I doubt they'll let a criminal join." He had gotten the last word in, only because he had walked off before the two could say anything else.

"He's such a prick." Charlie groaned.

Olivia had been swallowed up by another group. She was a social butterfly, that was clear. She was probably the top student here. However, she did downplay her abilities. 

Rhiley nursed her water, blinking more than usual to keep her eyes open. She had been exhausted the moment she woke up. The nightmares had come back a few days ago. She was at the convention - alone. Everyone had disappeared -- abandoned her -- or had she abandoned them? 

Then he would appear. 

"You're gonna encounter all types of people." Maria Hill padded around the ring, "And you should never underestimate any of them because you'll never know when they'll be the ones to take you down." 

"I can take on anyone," Danny whispered among his group. "Just watch me." 

It irked Rhiley to admit this, but Danny had been able to stay in the ring for ten different opponents. She felt each one of her nerves snap at the sight of his smug smile. All she wanted was to punch that stupid grin off his face. 

"Jone!" 

Olivia nudged Rhiley forward. "You got this Rhiley." 

Rhiley tugged at the corner of her lips and forced herself to give Olivia a thankful smile. "Hey, Cupcake." Danny greeted, "Can't seem to get enough of me, can you?" 

Rhiley ducked under the rope, "I actually can't seem to get away from you."  

The whistle blared and Danny walked around the ring, "Come on, little lady." He put his hands up, clearly not afraid of his opponent. "Let's see if you can hit me this time." 

"You'd kick all their asses."

That voice. The one from her nightmares. It was her nightmares that caused her anger to flare, the uncontrollable rage that burned deep inside her. The man, the one she had let slip through her fingers. She disappointed him. She disappointed all of them. Each time she got hit, each time she missed. She felt that disappointment spark through her bones. 

"Breathe."

When had been the last time she breathed? She wanted to scream, get that voice out of her head. She wanted to be that person again. She hated the person she had become. 

Rhiley struggled on the fourth time she was thrown on the mat, "Had enough, buttercup?" 

"You wish." She slowed with each movement she made. She wouldn't allow herself to give up. The last time she gave up - 

Danny shrugged, "Whatever you say, Angel." 

"Angel." 

She saw red. 

-

-

-


She had been knocked out by Danny. The left side of her face was bruised from the impact.

Phil Coulson waited for Rhiley to get dressed, "Thought you were gonna fall into another coma, there." He said after the young woman walked out of the infirmary. 

Rhiley paused "Was that a joke?"

"Yes." Phil responds, "Heard you went a little coco in training today."

"I'm fine." Rhiley shrugged, "Everything is just peachy." 

"Your face is not fine."

He was right. There was a large bruise forming around her eye from where Danny had made an impact, "Fractured cheekbone." Phil explained,  "You need to know, as an Agent, or anyone for that matter when it's time to call it quits. You can't strain your body, it's not healthy."

"You sound like my brother." Rhiley laughed, shaking her head, though a small smile appeared on her lips. "He'd have me locked in a padded room to keep me safe."

"I've heard you've been having nightmares." Phil comments, "Is your brother in them?"

Rhiley looked up, "How?"

"I know everything that happens around here," Phil adds, "It's my job."

"No," Rhiley shook her head, "He isn't in them, no one is."

Phil waits as if urging the woman to continue. "They're nothing, I wouldn't even call them nightmares. I'm just back at that damn convention, alone."

"That Stark Convention?"

"The one with the flying cars."

"It must have been an important night," Phil suggested, "Why else would your mind keep manifesting it onto your subconscious."

"I-" Rhiley swallows the words back, "I don't know."

The second month dragged on and Rhiley spent most of the time in the infirmary than out training with the others. She couldn't eat, she forgot to drink water, and she overworked every single muscle in her body until she couldn't move.

What else was she supposed to do? She was the least acceptable candidate and would never be put out into the field with her skills. She wasn't qualified and wasn't about to admit that out loud. If she did, she didn't know if she could handle it.

The nightmares got worse. At least they weren't at the convention anymore, but she wished they had been. Now, she was on the train again. Watching over and over again as James falls --- falls --- falls. 

She'd wake up in a cold sweat, heart racing, and tears threatening to pour down her cheeks. She would feel sick, suffocated beneath the blankets and the walls around her. They felt as if they were closing in.

By morning she would shove those feelings down, get up, and go for a run. She'd try to forget the nightmares, but they weren't just nightmares. They were memories she had the pleasure of reliving over and over again.

She was weak, useless - stuck on the fact she wasn't the person she used to be. The only person she knew. 

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