Author's Notes: Many thanks to everyone for the amazing feedback and discussion! Please keep it coming! On a side note - my apologies to readers awaiting the next chapter of my Pacific Rim fic, Character & Fitness. The latest chapter was not at all to my liking, so it's undergoing a full rewrite. Also, for those who need a visual of Sam and Scott being chased by Bucky's disembodied arm, I shall post the vine that inspired that scene on my Tumblr, 3Fluffies!

Canon Notes: This chapter draws heavily from the comic canon for Ramonda's history. Ironically, I wrote most of this material as the driving force behind Wakanda's entry into international politics before the first trailers for Black Panther even came out - so I was very pleased to see Nakia on the trail of human traffickers!

Chapter Twenty-Nine

WAKANDA…

Late the following morning, Wanda was still tired. It'd been a rough night, with Bucky awakening himself (and Wanda and Steve) with violent nightmares more than once. Steve had come down to make breakfast and taken it back upstairs for Bucky, and Wanda had a feeling she wasn't going to see much of either of them. She and Steve both felt more wrung dry than triumphant today, and she knew that would hold double for Bucky.

It's not fair, she'd once ranted in those first months after Sokovia. Stark and his lawyers had assured her that she was safe from revenge or even being taken into legal custody within Avengers Compound and as part of their ranks, and the remnants of Sokovia's parliament had ground out the conclusion that they weren't going to prosecute her unless she returned to their soil. Only then had she really broken down, over Pietro, over Hydra, Ultron, the apocalypse she'd nearly brought about, all the death and horror that she had brought about. Why does it feel the worst right when we think it's finally over?

"Because that's the moment that you finally feel safe enough to let go everything you've been holding back," the therapist that Stark paid for had explained. "That's why it's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Adrenaline keeps us going through a crisis, and keeps us focused when we think we're in danger, even when that lasts for years. When we know the threat is finally gone, often that's when we break down."

There had been times that she'd thought she would never be an Avenger, not with the way she crumbled during hard or scary simulations and balked at using her power in a way that involved any risk at all. Could hurt someone, could kill someone, already did, so many, can't can't can't -

Steve had been so patient with her. So had Natasha and Sam and Vision. Rhodey had been worried, when he'd worked with them, that it was just too much to handle, but he'd been kind about it, even in his thinking when she heard his doubts and he couldn't help it.

Now, the morning after Bucky's deliverance, she curled up on the little couch in front of the television, snoozing through movies and grumbling commentary at Food Network gameshows (more fun to do in a group), and occasionally flipped to the international news to see if any new crisis had erupted.

She grinned to herself when a recap of the latest developments in the Thunderbolt Ross Scandal, as it was now known, included a brief shot of Ross in that lovely prison jumpsuit, being escorted from a police van into federal prison, never to be seen again. President Bunt had dodged the issue of whether he might pardon Ross, as he'd hinted early in the scandal, but he'd finally tweeted, "I don't pardon generals who smash old ladies' faces in nursing homes. Thunder Bolt can rot with other traitors like CNN". Of course, the American and international media were rather alarmed by Bunt threatening (again) to imprison journalists, but at least his position regarding Ross seemed pretty clear, if bloody-minded and crude, as usual.

Back before Ultron, when Bunt had just been a reality TV star with a lot of money and a big mouth who dabbled in politics, Wanda and Pietro had snidely compared Tony Stark to him. They'd debated, crowded around a television during long, dull off-hours with off-duty personnel whether Stark or Bunt would make a worse U.S. President. Wanda and Pietro had always sworn the world would be safer with Bunt.

What a mess we made. I wonder how much of the climate of fear after Sokovia was the reason that Bunt was elected at all.

Breaking News drew her attention from that bitter, guilty line of thought, and she found herself watching Natasha Romanoff testifying before the investigatory panel of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Wanda hadn't realized Natasha was going back to soon.

"Miss Romanoff, you are aware that this panel is currently discussing a possible case against former Avengers Wanda Maximoff and Steven Grant Rogers?"

"Yes, I am."

"Do you have any knowledge - or let's say - any theories as to their whereabouts at this moment?"

"I do, sir. However, for me to announce them here to the public would be highly irresponsible, both for me and for this panel, because any location of safe harbor for either of those people almost certainly is a safe harbor for other individuals who are not Avengers, who may be refugees and in extreme danger as a result of the inhumane way the Sokovia Accords are being implemented in many nations."

"I agree with Miss Romanoff," said one of the panelists. "Even if we do know their location, unless and until a potential defendant is charged, we have no right to command their presence."

"Let me rephrase. Given that this Court has not currently brought charges against Wanda Maximoff or Steven Rogers, Miss Romanoff, would it be possible for you to contact them and advise them that this Court is requesting their presence? And that as Avengers, if they do indeed serve the cause of justice, we hope that they will voluntarily present themselves?"

Natasha said slowly, thoughtfully, "I believe there may be avenues of communication that I could try to open, although I would point out that the Court is already availing itself of the most likely means of communicating." She gestured directly at the camera filming her, and as it panned, Wanda could see many more cameras and reporters.

"What about the matter of James Buchanan Barnes?" asked the panelist. Wanda pulled her knees up under her chin. "Should we not also direct that appeal to him? He may not be an Avenger, but Captain America maintained his innocence in the Vienna bombing."

"James Barnes is no longer a suspect in the Vienna bombing, as I understand," Natasha said. "Though I'm afraid I don't know his current whereabouts either, and given that the coalition investigating the Vienna bombing initially gave orders to kill Barnes on sight without any opportunity to defend or exonerate himself, I wouldn't be surprised if he has more reservations about coming forward."

"Miss Romanoff, it is true, is it not, that before Barnes was exonerated from the Vienna attack, you helped him escape?"

"That's not quite how I'd put it, no. I helped Steve Rogers escape in search of the truth and what he believed was an imminent threat to international security. Barnes was with him." Her lips quirked. "There had already been injuries as a result of the orders to simply run Rogers and Barnes to the ground, and if you think Captain America was going to stand idly by when there was a tip that as many as five other Winter Soldiers entirely loyal to Hydra might be unleashed, you do not know the first thing about Steve Rogers."

A ripple of chatter went through the courtroom, even some laughter. "But what about the public threat posed by THE Winter Soldier, Miss Romanoff?" the prosecutor pressed. "Does that not concern you?"

"Of course. But as long as Rogers is with him, it concerns me a lot less. There's no escaping that 'the' Winter Soldier began as a prisoner of war who was Steve Rogers' best friend and a loyal American serviceman. Steve Rogers reached him in Washington through whatever Hydra did to his mind, and the world saw him do it again in Berlin. As it turns out, we now know that the warning they tried to give about who was really behind the Vienna bombing was entirely accurate."

The woman apparently running the panel raised a hand. "In any case, neither the Avengers nor James Barnes are under investigation by this Court for events related to the Vienna bombing. We are also not empowered to order or even ask Miss Romanoff to assist in the apprehension of anyone. Let's simplify this discussion with this statement for the record: The International Criminal Court currently is examining the cases of Wanda Jaelle Maximoff, Steven Grant Rogers, and James Buchanan Barnes. Their direct testimony will greatly influence whether this Court elects to bring charges against them for crimes against humanity or other crimes within the jurisdiction of this Court. We therefore request that they present themselves at the earliest opportunity, and will take all possible action to ensure their safety and access to legal counsel during the examination process."

After a few more questions for Natasha, the panel's session adjourned, but Wanda wasn't really paying attention anymore.


Steve was snoring like a buzz saw late in the afternoon when Bucky came downstairs. He found Wanda curled up on the couch practicing her Wakandan. "Morning...maybe."

She grinned. "You're just in time for supper, so it's not quite morning anymore." Bucky leaned against the wall while she puttered around figuring out what to fix (that could reheat when Steve finally woke up).

Bucky felt...lighter, now that he'd slept, nightmares notwithstanding. He doubted that last night's breakdown would be the only one in the wake of getting Hydra out of his head, but maybe those episodes would start to lessen as Wanda had implied.

Steve's snores echoed even louder into the kitchen, and Wanda giggled as Bucky shook his head. "I thought that had to be both of you, but I think it's just him."

Bucky grinned. "Nope, that's all him."

"Oh?" she teased. "Are you sure?"

"I don't snore anymore..." Well, actually it got less funny when he thought about it. But he made himself shrug and kept his voice light. "It's something they did. You can't have a stealth assassin who snores. They did a lot of surgery on me over the years." He tried to keep his mind off the list of the surgical shit he knew of that Hydra's done to achieve "optimal performance" or whatever the hell they'd called it, but her eyes widened, and she put her spoon down to come around the counter and hug him. "It's okay, kid. Out of all the shit they left me to deal with, that's nowhere close to the worst."

"That doesn't make it all right," Wanda growled, and to his relief, she wasn't broken up on his behalf this time. She patted him and let go, returning to her cooking. "Bastards. Princess Shuri called earlier today, just to say she's very happy for you. Dr. Dahab says you can come back to the hospital research center any time to have your arm fitted, and you can stay there if you're more comfortable than in the palace."

Bucky pondered it as she brought two plates to the table. "The palace... are there a lot of people?" Wanda nodded reluctantly. He sighed. "Steve's friends are all there, though."

"They understand. They don't blame you and neither does King T'Challa." They finished eating in comfortable silence, and Steve finally stopped snoring and came down the stairs before they were done.

"I don't suppose you saved me any?"

"A mouthful or two," said Wanda. "It might still be warm."

Steve waved her to stay in her seat and finished, and shuffled into the kitchen, scratching at his rumpled hair. "Aw, hell, it's dinnertime?"

Wanda and Bucky laughed.


BIRNIN ZANA MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER…

They did settle on freeing up the bungalow and returning to the medical research center for the fitting of Bucky's arm. Bucky was a little apprehensive when Dr. Dahab remarked that Tony Stark had given some suggestions for the design, though he figured all involved would be smart enough to check, and Stark wouldn't be stupid enough to try outright sabotage. A Wakandan team was also preparing some implants that would hopefully cure War Machine's spinal injuries, so Stark had every reason in the world to play nice.

The Wakandan arm matched the physique, weight, and muscle structure of Bucky's flesh arm, but the plates and sections were sleeker, and the metal far less reflective and obvious. "The sensory input will be closer to natural nerves, but you will be capable of disabling the input after damage occurs," Dr. Dahab said proudly.

The first stages weren't very pleasant: the surgeons had to remove nearly all of the remnants of the old Hydra arm, including the ones anchored in bone and muscle, for replacement with the vibranium components. But Dr. Kelile's team had come up with plenty of sedatives and painkillers that could handle even supersoldier metabolism, so there was no need for Wanda to reprise her role as Bucky's anesthesiologist. She still stayed close, which made Bucky (and probably everybody else) feel more at ease.

He woke up to the sound of Steve snoring and had just enough presence of mind to smile to himself before drifting off again.

A few days later, Dr. Dahab's team had Bucky in a private room - semi-private, since they let the rest of Steve's friends watch - to work on calibrating the arm. At first it was just Clint and Scott, and Bucky had the feeling they were mostly there for Steve and Wanda. Still, they were friendly and casual with Bucky. "That's kind of creepy," said Scott, eyeing the arm on the stand.

"You may not wish to watch further, then, Mr. Lang," said Dr. Dahab slyly. "Please move your fingers, Sergeant Barnes."

Bucky blinked. "What?" But at Dr. Dahab's encouraging nod, he tried...and his fingers did move...on the arm still entirely detached from his body. "What the..."

"Whoooooa," Clint leaned forward, fascinated, while Scott leaned away. "That's...awesome!"

"Nahhh, I don't like," said Scott. Wanda just laughed as he backed toward the door.

"Well, if you're gonna wimp out, track down Sam, would you? He's gonna want to see this - if that's okay, that is," Steve amended it, looking at Dr. Dahab.

"Of course, he is welcome to observe," said Dr. Dahab, looking smug. "While we don't currently employ sensory input to his wing pack, the capability does exist. Perhaps upon seeing this, he'll be interested."

"Stark's gonna be chartreuse with envy," breathed Clint. "He's not even close to that level of sensory input in his suits."

"He did express some covetousness, once he saw the extent of the connection we can create," said Dr. Dahab, and nearly all of them laughed at the understatement.

Bucky backed away curiously, but found he could still move the hand. "How far away do I have to be?"

"Quite far before the motion signal degrades. You'll know when it does - you'll feel a numbing and tingling sensation in the limb just as you would if your nervous input to your right hand was affected."

Bucky was soon turning his wrist in the rest, and made Wanda shriek and jump by flipping the arm off its post altogether and discovering that, with a little practice, he could make it crawl on his fingers. "This is like a horror movie," Steve laughed.

Then Bucky heard Wilson's voice outside, and grinned wickedly. Most of the Wakandans began to laugh, but Dr. Kelile just heaved a sigh. "They always want to do that."

"It is a right of passage for patients receiving prosthetic limbs," Dr. Dahab retorted, and the room quieted to stifled snickers and "shh!" among Wakandans and Westerners alike as Sam came in.

"How's it going? Ooh," Sam tilted his head at the arm resting innocently on the table. "Okay, that is a little creepy."

"You think?" Clint remarked, and Dr. Dahab fiddled on his tablet while Dr. Kelile tried and failed to not grin.

Bucky waited until Sam was only half-paying attention, then waggled his fingers. Sam frowned and looked at the hand. "Did that thing just move on its own?"

"Huh?" Bucky said.

Dr. Dahab shrugged, all businesslike. "In the calibration process, spontaneous movement is possible, Airman Wilson."

"Oh, okay."

Once he had his back turned and was talking to Clint and Wanda, Bucky tiptoed (tipfingered?) the arm up behind him and poked him in the hip. Sam turned and jumped a mile. "What the - Rogers?!"

Steve affected innocence that would fool nobody if he'd actually done it. "I didn't do anything!"

"Cap, didn't anybody teach you not to play around with really, damn expensive prostheses?" Sam demanded.

"I'm afraid it's a side effect of men being in the same room as one," said Dr. Kelile. Wanda broke character and started giggling.

Scott peered back into the room just in time for Sam to turn around and see that Bucky's detached hand was now flipping him off. "What the - "

"Oh, they do that sometimes, the sentient limbs. They get their own personality," said Dr. Dahab. Bucky and Steve and Clint both lost it and burst out laughing, and Sam and Scott were still gaping at Dahab when Bucky decided to go for broke.

All conscious awareness Sam Wilson or Scott Lang might have had that they were being played vanished in the face of a disembodied metal arm scuttling like a crab across the table then leaping at them. Both bolted, and debate raged for years over which of them let out the highest-pitch scream.


BIRNIN ZANA MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER, WAKANDA…

Another international news event brought activity at the research center and the palace to an abrupt halt the next day when the Black Panther was sighted in South Africa. Steve assumed it was an official Avengers action until he got very confused and alarmed calls from Tony.

"What the hell's T'Challa doing?!"

"Wait...you don't know?" Steve croaked.

"Rogers, c'mon, I've got the Enhanced Affairs Committee screaming bloody murder that he's breaking into a private citizen's compound in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Africa! What the hell's going on?!"

"Tony, I swear, I didn't know anything about it until it hit the news just now!" Steve insisted. Seeing some of the Wakandans glancing his way, he didn't dare say any more. "I'm sorry, I don't know anything."

"Dammit." Tony hung up.

The Black Panther had back-up. From a distance, they resembled any commandos, clad in black and taking out the compound's defenses, but Steve had seen enough by now of how the Dora Milaje moved. Why's he doing this alone? What could possibly be worth the international incident? "What the hell is in there?" he murmured as the rest of the Secret Avengers clustered around him.

"Vibranium?" suggested Scott.

Bucky shook his head, watching the activity on the screen with narrowed eyes. "Not vibranium. They don't take paramilitary action even for theft of their goods. I don't think the question is what is in there. I think the question is who."

Everyone turned and looked at him. "Shit," muttered Clint.


DEVIL'S PEAK, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

The compound of Anton Pretorius was heavily reinforced and defended, possibly the most armed private estate in South Africa, for good reason. Anton Pretorius had many enemies at home and abroad, as one of the wealthiest, most influential men in South African politics. His influence stemmed from the ugliest of motives: his rhetoric was a staple in white supremacist organizations around the world, and motivated some of the vilest attacks on black men, women, and children in and beyond Africa. In recent years, he'd developed quite the following in the so-called "alt-right" of the United States.

No doubt President Bunt would have a thing or two to say about King T'Challa's assault.

T'Challa did not, as the Americans would say, have any fucks to give.

After a careful investigation, he and Shuri and Jakarra as well as Wakanda's best detectives had all come to the same conclusion: Pretorius had stolen from Wakanda. This act would not go unanswered, even thirty years later.

T'Challa didn't even dare formally announce an heir before embarking on his attack, for fear of tipping Pretorius and his sympathizers off. Instead, he gave his written instructions to Shuri and W'Kabi for the great tournament to occur in the even that T'Challa didn't survive, so a new king (or queen) could be bloodlessly chosen.

It was irresponsible to do this. But T'Challa simply could not justify waiting for even a minute longer than absolutely necessary.

Half of the Dora Milaje accompanied him to lead the attack and defend him. The rest stayed to defend Shuri, Jakarra, and the country.

T'Challa would have to gain entry fast to reach his goal, and he and his task force swept into the underground tunnels, sending Pretorius' mercenary guards scattering like sheep before Pretorius himself was even aware of the assault.

The timing was deliberate. Pretorius himself was not there, though T'Challa would eagerly await that reckoning. But the guards were on the highest alert when he was at home, and T'Challa would not risk an innocent life.

With communications severed, by the time Pretorius knew what was in progress and could think to give his men any instructions, it was already too late.

The Dora Milaje and T'Challa's trusted warriors secured the deepest bunkers, and found many prisoners, terrified innocents of all ages. T'Challa would see them all rescued and safely returned to their homes - if their homes still existed, but he'd come for one in particular.

They found her in a section of the bunker that obscenely resembled a harem, among many other women, all of them black, held for service to Pretorius and his allies' gruesome fetishes. T'Challa kept his guard up when he and the Dora Milaje entered, although the captives were terrified and cowered wherever they could.

Only one, the eldest, her hair white, her face hollow with long fear and suffering, moved forward. "T'Chaka?"

T'Challa's heart sank. He should not have assumed she would know.

He removed his helmet, and the woman sank to her knees. "No, Stepmother. I am T'Challa. I've come to bring you home."

Ramonda barely resembled the woman T'Challa remembered as his surrogate mother when Shuri and Jakarra had been small, when his father had been happiest. She'd been proud and passionate, undeniably lovely. Now she was small and aged, and she shivered as she covered her face with her hands and began to cry.

T'Challa handed his helmet to Ayo and gathered her into his arms. To the other women, he announced, "Do not be frightened. If you wish to leave this place, then come with us. We'll see you all safely returned to your homes, or if you have none where you feel safe, we will find new homes for you. The man who owns this house will answer for what he's done."

No one chose to stay.

The local police forces and media were gathering at the perimeter set by T'Challa's team, but could do little more than bellow their outrage at the "unjustified invasion" while better-equipped officials debated what to do.

That shouted outrage gradually fell silent as T'Challa emerged carrying his stepmother in his arms, followed by a parade of dazed, frightened men, women, and children who were unmistakably captives and slaves. By the time his team had boarded their helicopters to return to Wakanda with the refugees, all of the local authorities had wandered away.


UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK…

Tony, Vision, and Rhodey were still desperately bullshitting to the hysterical UN and a bunch of reporters who insisted T'Challa was the next Saddam Hussein and South Africa was the next Kuwait when the Black Panther was captured on the cameras emerging from Anton Pretorius's compound.

As in South Africa, silence settled, heavy and stunned, on the room full of diplomats. It was Rhodey who broke it, staring at the woman wrapped in a blanket in T'Challa's arms. "What in the name of God was going on in there?"

A girl behind the king and his guards stumbled and fell, losing her grip on the blanket she was wearing. Underneath, she was nearly naked - and Tony very much doubted she was through puberty. "I think we know exactly what was going on in there," he growled. "And this is speculation, ladies and gentlemen, but I'll go out on a limb and guess that at least one of those people is a Wakandan citizen. Beyond that, I think we could all stand to calm down a little and wait to learn the facts before we start putting together a peacekeeping force or demanding Avengers intervention. So, I'm gonna just, ya know, go - " He made a show of starting for the door and then spinning back around. "Actually, let me change that: I'm gonna give the Wakandan ambassador a call and ask if there's anything I can do to help those prisoners."

To an eruption of shouted questions and roars of approval, Tony sauntered for the doors. Vision and Rhodey followed.

To Be Continued...

Coming Soon:Shuri and Jakarra are left reeling as all they believed of their mother is turned upside down. A stunned world reacts to the rescue of Queen Mother Ramonda, and learns the wrath of the Black Panther is a force to be reckoned with!

PLEASE don't forget to review!

Original Character Guide

Dr. Dahab: Chief of medical technology research, doctor and engineer. Age 50ish, six-foot-three, wears wire-rimmed glasses. Specializes in uses of vibranium for medical purposes (his job is part of what Shuri does in the Black Panther movie and prelude comics.)

Dr. Kelile: Senior physician of Wakandan medical research and hospitals, head of the medical research team treating Bucky. Age 50ish, five-foot-one.

President Ronald Bunt: President of the United States, elected in 2016. Likes to Twitter and play golf and shoot his mouth off. No, he's not based on anyone in the Real World. No, really.