Part 4: T'Challa's terrible day
To say that Everett Ross would still be astounded by the technological marvel that was Wakanda, would be an understatement. Even if he had spent the better part of two months under the care of Wakandan doctors, going from surgery to surgery, he would still be amazed by everything. Especially since Shuri took time out of her schedule to show him how their tech worked.
Today the doctors finally gave the green light for him to actually get out of bed. He was still on crutches since some injuries just couldn't be healed in one day yet, like bullet wounds. The fact that there was so much to be discovered, even in Wakanda, made things all the more interesting.
Ross made it to T'Challa's office that morning with relative ease. He nodded to the Dora who were standing guard and one even helped open the door for him.
"Your Highness," Ross greeted, causing the man to jerk his head up. The King was drowning in paperwork and had probably not heard the knock. The crutches made a rhythmic sound as he ambled into the office.
"Agent Ross, I did not think you would be visiting me," T'Challa really did sound surprised and indicated to the plush chair opposite of him. Ross sank down in it with a relieved groan. Even if the crutches did ease the burden it was nice to just sit down. Everett placed the crutches he had been given against the chair and then said "With you visiting me every day in the medical wing, I thought I could at least return the gesture once I've been cleared."
T'Challa laughed but then said "After all you've done for us. Our medical expertise are the least we could offer you," The king thought back to the day of the rebellion. After his cousin had died he had received an urgent communique from Shuri. She was more screaming into his earpiece than actually being coherent. When he got down to her lab, which was in shambles, he saw her crouching over an injured Everett. The attack on the lab had left the agent with third-degree burns, damaged nerves, and a shattered leg because he couldn't have outrun the blast. To see the agent up and about after two months of intensive surgeries to repair the damage was a welcome sight. "How can I help you agent Ross?" T'Challa asked since he was somewhat confused.
"Well…." Ross now mumbled, looking a little more unsure. "Shuri told me that you are getting ready to reveal Wakanda to the world at the UN next month." T'Challa nodded at this. "I was wondering if you might need some help. All this paperwork can't be good for you, and I don't exactly want to be a moocher. With all these medical procedures piling up, the least I could do is offer my help."
"Agent Ross, Everett," T'Challa said, getting the attention of the man by using his first name. "You aren't mooching. In fact it is Wakanda that owes you a great depth of gratitude. If those weapons had left the border…" The implications T'Challa had left unsaid painted a grim picture. "You were not even in the line of duty when getting injured."
"Still all this paperwork doesn't seem pleasant," Ross observed.
"It isn't," T'Challa grimaced "But I can't have you helping me. Think of what Shuri or my mother would say," This got a laugh out of Ross. "You still have a month of physical therapy to go through. My sister would practically skin me alive if I were to let you help."
"Speaking of Shuri, she told me what happened last week." Everett muttered. "I still can't believe it."
"The fact that I gave asylum to known fugitives, or that Captain Rodgers was in fact attempting something unethical?" T'Challa questioned.
"I think it's a bit of both," Ross stated. "I can take a guess as to why you offered asylum, even if Wakanda is one of the main driving forces behind the Accords. The other issue is a bit more surprising. It makes me wonder just how much Rodgers actually acclimated to the 21st century. SHIELD should have provided him with therapy until the fall. To even attempt something this dangerous to a person who had their mind previously messed with…"
"Seems like you're sympathizing Agent Ross." T'Challa observed.
"I can be sympathetic, even if the person in question still has to stand trial." Ross muttered. "General Ross, and we aren't at all related mind you, seems to think that all the Super Soldiers and Enhanced should be locked up, regardless of circumstances. Rodgers did no one a favor by going against the Accords. What he was spouting got people thinking that he hadn't even read the document."
"You have a point there," T'Challa stated. "But as of a week ago they are no longer Wakanda's problem. Okoye made sure to escort them out of our borders."
"The fate of the Captain and his band of merry men aside, are you sure there is nothing I can help you with?" Ross asked.
"Don't worry agent Ross. Just relax and recuperate." T'Challa told him. Everett nodded and made to stand up. Grabbing the crutches which he would need for about two more weeks. "I don't think Shuri told you yet but mother would like to meet you for tea once you're better." T'Challa added as he watched the man stop, turn slightly, quirk a brow and then nod.
When Ross was out of the office he made his way down the corridors. He decided to take the scenic route back to his room in the West wing and came to the junction that had the large bay windows overlooking the beautiful and expansive inner gardens. This was the junction that led to either the West wing of the palace or the East wing. It was usually quiet here so the loud voice that Ross picked up was somewhat surprising. The lack of Wakandan accent was another surprise. So when Ross turned to the direction of the East wing his eyes widened at who he spotted. It was none other than Barton and Wilson. Neither of the fugitives had spotted Ross yet so he shuffled back into the previous corridor as quietly as he could and peeked around the corner. Both men were heading in the opposite direction.
Ross frowned as things weren't adding up. He managed to pick up part of the conversation that seemed to have Barton in a snit. "...Can you believe Stark?!" Barton had grumbled loudly. "That interview with Everhart was just a load of rubbish!"
"He's the media's darling. What do you expect?" Wilson could be heard muttering as they were getting farther away.
"I expected the man to have some common sense." Barton could be heard angrily shouting. "How… How could he come to the defense of Loki of all people! That guy's nothing more than a mind-raping piece of….." Ross didn't hear anymore but he found the whole thing to be somewhat hypocritical. Didn't the Avengers already take in someone who could manipulate minds? But that was beside the point right now. Ross did an about-face and made his way back towards T'Challa's office.
The King was surprised to see Ross back, this time watching him with a somewhat suspicious look. "Why did you lie?" Ross asked and T'Challa frowned because he had no idea what he had lied about.
"About what exactly?" T'Challa prodded.
"The fugitives! They're still in the palace." Ross uttered.
"What?" The King asked, his brows raising almost to his hairline. "That's impossible!"
"I just saw Barton and Wilson in the corridor but they didn't see me," Ross explained. "You can check the security feeds if you're still skeptical."
T'Challa blinked for a moment before he turned to his computer. It was easy to call up the security feeds for the palace. He watched the one where it showed Everett leaving his office just moments ago and followed the cameras from there. Ross was leaning on his crutches and was watching T'Challa. He didn't know what to think right now. "There's nothing here agent Ross." T'Challa finally spoke and now it was Ross' turn to be surprised. He ambled forward and around T'Challa's desk so that he too could see the footage.
T'Challa rewound the feed and played it back. "Right there!" Ross said and pointed at the monitor. Both Barton and Wilson were clearly visible but T'Challa just frowned and then looked back at the CIA agent.
"I see nothing," The King muttered. "It's an empty hallway Ross,"
"What, no!" Everett uttered as he looked from T'Challa to the screen. "They are right there!"
"If you want I could call Shuri or Okoye here. One of them could take a look and tell you themselves." T'Challa offered. "Maybe you got more concussed than we thought."
"My eyes and ears are fine," Ross retorted. "I know what I saw and heard. Why don't you call both women here? You'll see!" He didn't know what was going on but something was seriously wrong here.
Okoye and Shuri came within minutes of the call and T'Challa explained why they were needed. Everett was still muttering that nothing was wrong with him as Shuri and Okoye both watched the hallway video.
When the women looked up they frowned at Ross. "Nothing is there," Shuri stated. Even General Okoye was shooting Ross a somewhat contemplative look but also stated that she saw nothing out of the ordinary either.
"Maybe you should go lie down?" The Princess suggested.
"This can't be happening," Ross murmured. "Has someone messed with your minds?" He asked aloud and then his eyes widened. Of course that could be the reason. "That's it isn't it?! Someone's been messing with your minds!"
"Agent Ross, maybe you should take a seat and calm down," T'Challa now suggested.
"Oh, no no no," Ross backed up. "I'm not taking a seat. I'm going to the East wing to find out just what's been going on!" He started making his way to the door but Okoye blocked it.
"Look, what's the harm in taking a look?" He turned back slightly and asked. "If there really is nothing then I'm clearly hallucinating and need to go back to bed. If they are still here then someone messed with your heads and it's a serious breach of security." That seemed to have Okoye stiffening. She surely wouldn't like such a breach to occur.
"Your Highness, maybe it wouldn't hurt to check." Okoye offered. "Mind control, as we have already seen, is not out of the realm of possibility." The siblings looked at each other for a moment before both followed Ross and Okoye out of the office.
The corridors of the East wing were quiet as the four made their way through. Shuri was explaining to Ross that this wing was mostly guest suites that housed dignitaries and their families during nights of celebration.
"And you housed the Ex-Avengers here as well?" Ross asked T'Challa. The King nodded and then the agent muttered "No one told me that so why would I specifically lead you to the East wing?"
The muttered statement got T'Challa frowning and he adopted a pensive look until they reached the suites that used to house the Rogues. The suite had a thick ornate wooden door and Ross held up his hand as he leaned a bit closer. "Do you hear that?" Ross whispered as Okoye now did the same thing.
"Voices," The General confirmed. "There shouldn't be any here."
T'Challa gripped the door handle while telling Shuri and Ross to hang back slightly. Okoye had her spear ready while she used her Kimoyo beads to call for backup in case they would need it. When T'Challa opened the door his eyes widened at the sight. "What are you lot doing here?!" He demanded as his eyes narrowed. Ross didn't comment on it but he was sure he saw some red mist leave T'Challa's eyes.
"Huh?" Scott mumbled as he looked at the King and the entourage.
"What is he doing here?!" Sam asked as his eyes narrowed when he spotted Ross. He still remembered Bucarest and the man having his wings impounded.
"He is my guest. You all however are not," T'Challa stated as he looked around the room. Barton stared at them with a glass in his hand. He was obviously on the way to the pitcher of water in the corner. Wilson still glared at Ross, Lang looked confused and Rodgers wouldn't meet his eyes. Wanda however was staring at him without blinking.
"What do you mean?" Scott asked with furrowed brows. "You gave us asylum."
"And then my brother rescinded it when Rodgers and the Witch went on a foolhardy quest to tamper with Sergeant Barnes' mind." Shuri cut in as she glared at the group.
"What?!" Now Sam nearly shouted and then looked at his friend. "You told me Barnes went into cryo again!"
"And you had the Witch tamper with our minds to make it seem like you left when you really hadn't?!" T'Challa accused as several Dora arrived. "You all will leave my country this instant!"
"Wanda why?!" Clint now asked as he backed up a step. The archer had been nervous about mind control powers ever since New York but he did trust Steve's judgement when he brought Wanda on board.
"I didn't use it on you Clint," Wanda muttered as if that would make it all better. "Just them,"
"Why?!" Clint now looked at her. "You didn't ask for permission. We talked about boundaries."
"I had permission," Wanda stated and then looked at Steve. It was quiet for a moment before everything clicked.
"What the actual fuck?!" Clint shouted as his eyes now narrowed at the Captain. Sam said nothing but the look he shot Steve and Wanda conveyed just how disgusted he was. Scott backed away from the couch he was on when he saw Wanda's hands tingle red.
"Don't worry, you won't remember any of this," Wanda said as she stood up and used her magic on T'Challa just as Steve called out for her to stop.
T'Challa closed his eyes when a massive headache hit him. He vaguely remembered falling to his knees but not what happened afterwards.
He was in the prison under the palace, down on the ground, unmoving as the Witch had her red-tinged hands around his temple. He could see several of the Dora also unconscious on the ground near him.
"Wanda we shouldn't be doing this," He could hear Steve's voice.
"Don't you want to find your precious Bucky?" Wanda asked innocently.
"Yeah, but…." Steve was hesitant.
"Look, if he banishes us from Wakanda we'll be without resources. You'll never find Bucky then." Wanda could be heard arguing.
"I don't want you to hurt any of them!" Rodgers said adamantly.
"And I won't," Wanda muttered. "I'll just make them forget that we're here." She said. "We'll just be background noise to them while you try to locate your friend."
"What if they break your spell?" Steve now asked.
"Only if someone comes looking for us directly. That's the only way we'd be noticed." Wanda stated. "But no one is even going to remember that we stayed."
T'Challa woke up with a gasp and a serious migraine. "My King," A female voice said and he looked up from the bed he was in to see Ayo bowing to him by the door to his room. "I am so glad to see you awake."
"What happened? Where are Shuri, Okoye…." He mumbled as he accepted the glass of water Ayo brought.
"Everyone is fine your Highness," Ayo stated. "It was in fact Captain Rodgers who got the Witch to stand down, though you were already affected by her magic. The Dora apprehended all of them and Princess Shuri gave the order to expel them from Wakanda's borders. She even came up with quite a creative fashion."
"What did Shuri do?" T'Challa had to ask even if he was afraid to know. Sometimes his little sister scared him.
"She had Okoye and the other Dora's strap the Rogues into one of the Royal Talons and then she gave the keys to Ross and told him to go wild," Ayo, while normally as stoic as Okoye, gave a small smile.
"She told Ross….. To go wild?" T'Challa repeated with a frown.
"She may or may not have also shown him on how to disable the inertial dampeners on the Talon." Ayo stated. "Agent Ross is quite an accomplished pilot and while you were knocked out the Talon did several death-defying loops and barrel rolls in the sky before ejecting all the rogues into the marshes outside the borders."
T'Challa blinked for a moment and then asked "Shuri had them ejected mid-air?"
"They had parachutes of course," Ayo stated. "But their landing would not have been pleasant."
AN: Welp, this chapter got away from me. I never intended it to be this long. Only two more chapters to go for this story and then I can write the next parts. Which will involve magic, mice, Deadpool, more magic, a crab, and a very confused Thor.