DISCLAIMED

So, it's over a year later and I decided to do a sequel. FATWS gave me the inspiration for this. If you've not read Light Me Up, I recommend you skim over the last half at the very least.

Chapter 1

Cairo, 2017

The Egyptian air was hot and humid as 'Blackeye' walked through the bustling streets, dodging the vendors as they pushed their wares to his face. He didn't have all day, he wanted to return home to watch the national football team play against Tunisia.

Unfortunately, his contact had a tendency to drag his feet on such matters. Hopefully today he'd say what needed to be said and do what needed to be done as quickly as possible.

Ducking through a group of children kicking a white ball around, he arrived at the home. In place of a door was a thin blanket, and not for the first time, as the door had been kicked in more than a few times. Blackeye rolled his eyes, Amir was so cheap. He could get a solid wooden door for a good price if he didn't keep pinching his pennies.

Blackeye pushed through, heading up the stairs. His feet tapped against the steps, resolving to politely reject Amir's usual offer of tea, however good it was.

He knocked on the study door, but pushed inside without waiting for an answer. He'd seen worse than whatever things Amir might be doing in there.

What he did not expect was Amir laid out on the floor, a trail of blood piled underneath his head. Shock rushed through Blackeye as he ran over, rolling Amir over so that he was facing upwards.

It was only when Blackeye saw the deep cut across Amir's throat that he noticed the bloodied knife still in his hand.

He'd slashed his own throat.

Blackeye staggered back, immediately realising that something was wrong. If Amir had committed suicide, than something was seriously wrong.

When he spun on his heel, he nearly fell over in fright.

The man-he assumed it was a man- was dressed completely in a black and silver suit. His face was obscured by a helmet that looked like it was modelled after a cat. This man held no weapons, but even the fangs that aligned his necklace terrified Blackeye. He'd come out nowhere it seemed.

Blackeye backed up, but walked straight into someone else. Two bald women stood there, spears in hands and their faces also unmoving. As he stared at them, aghast, more circled around them.

"Who are you?" he cried, whirling around and wondering what to do.

"Where is The Keeper?" the suited man growled.

"I...I do not know who he is," Blackeye stuttered.

"Do not lie to me! I know you know who he is and where he is, so make this less painful for yourself and tell me WHERE HE IS."

The women moved closer, clutching their spears. They looked to be in no mood to play.

"They don't tell me."

"I think it wise that you do not attempt to deceive me. The Keeper's location. Now."

Blackeye shook his head rapidly from side to side, the fear in his eyes growing.

"Please, please, they'll kill me."

"We can offer you protection in exchange for information. Our quarrel is not with you, but those who you serve. We ask for The Keeper, nothing more and nothing less. If you tell us, we can keep you in a safe location until the threat has passed."

"No, no I cannot say. They will kill me."

"You underestimate our abilities," the man growled.

"Who the hell are you people?"

"People who can make your life hell. This is your last chance. If you do not tell me right now, we will get it out somehow, and our means will not be to your liking."

Blackeye looked around the room. He could not tell where The Keeper was, he simply could not.

Before anyone could react, Blackeye grabbed the pocket knife from his belt and slashed himself across the throat. The suited man roared in anger and grabbed Blackeye by his lapels, but could do nothing as he gurgled blood and promptly died.

Scowling, the suited man threw Blackeye on the floor and removed his own helmet.

"He was just one avenue, Your Highness," Okoye assured him, "We will not rest until we find who we are searching for, however long it takes."

"This Keeper murdered my father and many other innocents," King T'Challa of Wakanda snarled, "He may have planted that bomb, he may not have, but he needs to be captured and brought to justice. I will have failed my father if I do not put The Keeper behind bars. Many lives were lost in Lagos. It is our duty to Wakanda to take him down."

The image of his father dying in his arms flickered in front of his eyes, littered among dozens of other dead bodies in the boiling heat. If only T'Challa had been closer, able to shield his father.

He hadn't though. King T'Chaka had been murdered.

"Your Highness."

He looked up at Okoye, who was holding a scrap of paper.

"There's an address here, it's in France. It could be nothing but it is worth a try."

T'Challa nodded solemnly.

"Set our course. We are going to Europe."

—BREAK—

New York City, 2017

Steve Rogers was never one for security detail.

He felt a sense of almost helplessness, not knowing whether or not something would happen. If he was completely honest, he also found it rather boring. Steve was lucky that he was a patient man, and an observant one at that, for a lesser soul might feel the need to slack.

Nick Fury had scoffed at the idea of having an Avenger as a glorified security guard for the night, but unfortunately he'd been overruled. The protectee, some government bureaucrat, was apparently very important and was also a target of some nasty people.

That meant Steve was standing there, dressed in a nice suit, watching over the room for anything suspicious. His eyes flickered over the room every so often, ready to lock in on anything wrong.

It had been five years since he'd woken up from the ice. Everything he'd expected had been wrong, so wrong. He missed his old life, but he felt as though he was destined to arrive in the 21st Century and act as an Avenger in a modern age.

Over at the bar, the protectee, a man named Lionel Perry, was attempting to chat up some young women. Steve rolled his eyes- he was a lot older than them and couldn't exactly be described as charming.

That's when the lights flickered.

It was only for a moment and most people probably didn't even notice, but Steve was automatically suspicious. He frowned and continued to look around. Soon enough, his suspicion was justified. Across the room, a server was circling the area. That would be unusual anyway, but it was even more so due to that 'server' being one of the men targeting Lionel.

Steve stepped across the floor, trying not to look too urgent. Lionel was alone when he approached, though he looked as though he wanted to do some more schmoozing.

"Mr. Perry, we need to leave," Steve grabbed Lionel's collar, whispering into his ear.

"I'm sure it's fine," Lionel tried to swat Steve away.

"You don't understand Mr. Perry," Steve hissed, "One of the assassins is here, there could be more of them here. We're going now and that's not up for debate."

Lionel decided that questioning Captain America was probably not a good idea and dutifully followed him out of a service door. Steve ushered Lionel out, eyes watching for anyone following them. As soon as they were out, the two walked quickly out of the room.

"I didn't think they were bold enough to go after me here."

"Well you probably should have stayed in protective custody like we suggested," Steve replied through gritted teeth.

"Ah, couldn't miss an event like this though, that's why you were here to protect me."

Steve bit his tongue as they continued on.

Bang

The two ducked, Steve throwing Lionel behind him as a bullet sailed passed them and missed Lionel by mere centimetres.

The assassin jumped in front of them, gun in hand before Steve could even grab his. Steve shielded Lionel as he looked around the room for an escape or a way to stop the assassin.

Bang

The assassin fell like a sack of potatoes, a single shot to the head.

"God I'm always picking up after you."

Steve smirked as Agent Emily Rogers approached, the shot clearly coming from her.

His wife was brilliant.

"I wouldn't say that's quite true."

"There's more, but the FBI are taking care of them. We need to get him out of here, there's a van that's getting him to a safe house."

"Hold on a second, I'm not going to a safe house," Lionel protested, "I'd rather have people outside my home. It's got my wine cellar there!"

"Listen bud, I personally couldn't care less whether you were housed in New York or Timbuktu but my job is to stop you from dying so you're coming with us now or so help me God I will drag you there myself by that tacky suit. Got it?"

Lionel gulped and nodded. Emily was a lot more direct about things than her husband was.

"Do you actually know what you're doing here?"

Emily glared at him and he promptly shut up. They were walking on when Emily stopped short.

"Grenade."

Steve rushed forward, pushing Emily behind him and kicking the grenade up. It exploded in mid-air just as two more assassins rushed over.

One had his gun sent flying in the explosion, which was advantageous for Emily. She rushed around Steve and greeted the assassin with a roundhouse kick in the face. Her leg caught on his shoulder and he flipped her over onto a table. Unfortunately for him, Emily was quick enough to put two in him as he charged towards her.

Steve had managed to beat the other assassin in half a second and immediately rushed over to Emily.

"Are you alright?" he pulled her up.

"Fine, it wasn't too hard," she assured him before activating her comms, "Agent Rogers here, three combatants down, please advise strategy."

"We've got them all. Take the package to the van."

"Got it. Over," she turned to Lionel, "Let's go."

The three walked in silence until they arrived into the warm New York air. Two FBI agents waited by the van.

"He's all yours," Emily told them, "Good luck, he's insufferable."

One look from the FBI told them that they were well aware of what Lionel was like.

"Well that was something," Steve stated coolly as they watched the FBI escort Lionel out of there.

"I kind of wish they'd got to him actually."

"Emily."

"It was a joke, relax."

Steve still couldn't believe the beautiful, vibrant woman in front of him was his wife. It'd been five years since they met and one since they were married, yet he was still as madly in love with her as ever. She was his soulmate, the reason why he was here, he knew that now. Being her husband made him happier than anything else had.

He never thought in a million years a woman like her would be interested in him or even that he'd ever get married. Steve had thought that maybe he'd propose to Peggy after the war but that had all changed when he'd woken up in 2012. He'd all but given up when Emily Collins flashed him a smile.

Now she was Emily Rogers, his wife.

"It looks like we made it in good time," Steve looked at his watch.

"Hmm, then I know what we'll do when we get home," Emily teased, going closer to her husband.

"Don't get me too excited now," Steve pulled Emily into his arms, playing with her hair.

Their lips were about to meet when-

"-Captain, Agent, Fury wants to see you right now."

Both groaned.

"Cockblocked," Emily muttered under her breath as they followed the agent to the other side of the parking lot.

Fury looked typically annoyed as he waited for them.

"Director," Steve greeted politely.

"Pack your bags; you're going to Europe tomorrow."

"Both of us?" Emily asked hopefully.

"Yes, both of you. There's a terror cell in France that we're following and we believe we have the last few pinned down there. We need to be inconspicuous so we're sending SHIELD's married couple on for a 'vacation.' You'll be debriefed tomorrow at 08:30 hours at base before you catch your flight. Any questions?"

Both shook their heads.

"Good, off you go."

'A mission in France with my darling husband?" Emily grinned, "Can't say that upsets me at all."

"Not a bad life, is it?" Steve agreed, his arm around Emily as they walked to the car, "Love you."

He kissed her head which rested on his arm.

"Love you too. Now let's get home and have some pre-trip fun."


I hope you enjoyed Chapter 1 and the return of Steve and Emily.

Next Time: In France, Steve and Emily get ready for action but are surprised to see that Sam has been sent there on a mission of his own.

Thanks again and don't forget to review xxx