T'Challa was somehow alive.

As soon as M'Baku revealed the injured Wakandan king lying in a carefully erected bed of snow the Jabari had preserved him in, Nakia had moved toward her beloved. If there had been any doubt in Talia's mind about the woman's feelings for T'Challa, they were completely cleared as she watched the sheer relief break-out across Nakia's face when she saw her king. Ramonda was the next to move into action as she crushed the precious Heart-Shaped Herb into a pulp that they could feed to T'Challa. Talia and Everett stayed back, watching respectfully as Ramonda helped the unconscious T'Challa drink the mixture she created before she and Shuri buried the king deeper into the snow as part of their ancient ritual to pass on the power of the Black Panther. Of course, there was still every chance they were too late to save T'Challa. But at least he was still alive. And while he was still alive, there was still hope.

It was only once T'Challa was completely buried in the snow that the Wakandans relaxed. M'Baku remained standing outside, although not without several more curious and slightly wary glances toward Talia. The rest remained closer to T'Challa's body as the waiting game began. Ramonda and Shuri quickly started to doze a little bit as they sat around where T'Challa's head was as they waited for him to wake. Everett meanwhile moved to the far side of the shallow cavern they were in and he leant against the rocks. Talia soon followed him and settled herself down not far from Everett somewhere between him and the Wakandans.

After some time, Nakia wandered about before slowly approaching Talia and settling down beside the younger woman.

"I feel that I must apologize." Nakia began carefully. "We were very rude to speak behind your back, so to speak, and assume you couldn't understand us."

Talia just shrugged. "I don't blame you. I have done the same before and anyway, I too used your ignorance against you instead of just correcting your assumption."

Nakia hesitated while Talia made no effort to continue the conversation. At last, Nakia spoke again, not completely able to hide her own curiosity.

"You said you grew up in South Africa but you weren't born there. And now you are American."

Talia gave a short nod but nothing more. Nakia ploughed on.

"You do not have to answer if you don't wish to, but how did you end up in South Africa? And what brought you to America?"

Talia said nothing for so long that Nakia wondered if she had offended the young woman. At last, however, Talia seemed to decide something as she said quietly, "I suppose it's time for me to be honest as well. You'll probably find out somehow anyway if we don't all die first."

Her light brown eyes flickered to Shuri meaningfully. Nakia didn't bother to deny it or agree that Shuri's background search would only be possible if they succeeded in overthrowing Killmonger. Instead, she waited as Talia leant back a little bit and stared with unfocused eyes up at the rocks above their heads as she started her tale.

"I was born in Korea as Sun-Mi. I don't remember my surname anymore, I'm afraid, if I ever had one."

Nakia almost asked but she kept silent as Talia continued slowly, clearly not used to telling her history.

"I have very few memories of my childhood before I moved to South Africa. As I mentioned, I was very young when I made the change. I have a few memories of my birth mother teaching me - or rather, guiding me - but nothing else anymore."

This time, Nakia couldn't help her question. "Guiding you? How do you mean?"

"T'Challa has already told you about my enhanced abilities, right?"

At Nakia's nod, Talia went on.

"Well, not unlike T'Challa and even Steve Rogers, there's a reason for my enhancement. Unlike those men, however, I was not given my powers exactly."

As Nakia looked confused, Talia backtracked a little bit.

"Sorry, that was confusing. I'm not used to explaining myself. What I mean is that my codename, Kumiho… it's not just a codename. It is what I am, what I was born."

Nakia's expression flickered with surprise while Talia continued.

"In legends, Kumihos were nine-tailed foxes that seduced men and then ate them. Apparently there were many more a long time ago but they were slowly hunted into extinction. My mothers' mother was the last of such creatures, although to be honest I don't know how much truth there is to the whole eating people. All I know from what I remember my birth mother telling me is that my grandmother fell in love with a mortal man and so she became mortal too. Soon after, she had my mother. My mother couldn't become an actual fox, unlike pure Kumihos like my grandmother, but she had the powers of a Kumiho. Enhanced speed, senses, things like that."

Talia trailed off a little bit and Nakia finally asked the question that had been on her mind since Talia began her story.

"What happened to her?"

"She died when I was three. Or, I suppose the more accurate term is, she was murdered." Talia said shortly. "As you can imagine, someone with abilities like mine… once discovered, we are targeted. Some want that power and others… others want it dead."

Nakia hesitated. "Did you see…?"

"She died in front of my eyes." Talia confirmed Nakia's suspicions. "She hid me deep so her pursuers couldn't find me but I could still see her."

Talia paused as though recalling the brutal moment. Nakia pondered comforting the woman, but before she could, Talia was already continuing rather briskly.

"Not long after that, a South African couple found me. I had been wandering the woods by myself for a few days, alone and hungry. They just happened to have been on holiday and hiking a bit farther from the mountain path than they should. They felt so sorry for me being all alone that they adopted me and brought me back with them once they realized I had no family. They'd been trying for a kid for years so it all felt a bit like fate that we met."

Talia faltered a little while Nakia watched the younger woman. There had been a warmth in her tone as she spoke of her adoptive parents that had been missing when she spoke of her birth mother. Clearly she remembered them well and had loved them. And as she trailed off slightly, Nakia realized with dread what might have driven Talia to a second change in her life; to America.

As if confirming her thoughts, Talia finished abruptly, "Then they died as well. Agent Ross happened to be there and he adopted me next."

It was Talia's tone that told Nakia that Talia's prior parents hadn't died from natural causes. That they must have met a grisly end like Talia's birth mother. Suddenly, the younger woman's stand-offish aura and the odd distance in her interactions with Everett made a lot more sense. As did her panic when it looked like Everett was going to die after he saved Nakia in Busan.

"I am sorry." Nakia murmured sincerely.

Talia just nodded shortly and the pair lapsed into silence for a moment.

"I have a question I've been meaning to ask as well."

Nakia was startled by Talia's abrupt remark but she nodded anyway.

"Of course. What is it?"

Talia seemed to weigh her words carefully (something Nakia had noticed the younger woman did a lot) before she started to speak slowly.

"After my father was injured in Busan… you advocated the decision to bring him to Wakanda. Even despite your general's objections."

Not understanding what the problem was, Nakia nodded again.

"I guess… I wanted to know, why?"

"Why what?" Nakia questioned, puzzled.

"Why did you help us?" Talia elaborated.

Still bemused, Nakia asked in return, "Why wouldn't I?"

A flash of emotion crossed Talia's face, too quick for Nakia to fully understand. And then the blank mask was back and Talia got to her feet.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Nakia asked, surprised and confused. Talia shrugged.

"For listening."

Something told Nakia that there was more to Talia's words than she was saying but Talia said nothing else as she moved over to join Everett. He saw her approach, having been watching her and Nakia from the corner of his eyes, and he shuffled over to make space for her. Talia settled down beside him in one fluid motion although she didn't touch him at all as she sat back with her knees tucked in front of her.

Everett noticed but didn't comment; instead, he asked too quietly for the Wakandans to hear him, "How're you holding up?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Talia asked in return. "You were shot just a day ago."

"But I'm not the one who thought the worst of Africa and Africans." Everett answered softly.

Talia turned her head away but Everett placed a gentle hand on hers where they rested on her knees.

"Remember what I told you. You have to let go of your anger. Once T'Challa wakes - if he wakes - we'll need to make a choice, Talia. And you can't go into whatever is going to happen from now with your head not in the game."

"I know that." Talia grumbled.

"I know you know it. But what concerns me is that you might not be able to control it. Or that you'll fall back to your old habit of locking your heart and closing your eyes to the truth these people have shown you."

Talia's eyes shot up to Everett's. He just regarded her with kind eyes, the mask of the strict CIA agent gone for the moment as he instead took over the role of father once more.

"Remember, Tal, a cool head is not the same as being unfeeling. What's really important is that we keep a cool head but that we keep a warm heart as well."

Talia pondered his words for a beat before she huffed.

"You're a failure as a CIA agent." She told Everett.

He chuckled and didn't miss the faint smile that played across Talia's lips. His gaze softened. It had been a very long time since Everett had seen Talia smile, and he was glad to see it now even if it was only the ghost of one. His heart tugged as it always did when Talia almost smiled; and like always, he wished quietly in his heart that she would one day learn to laugh again as she hadn't since the day they had first met many years ago.

Almost ten years ago

Cape Town, South Africa

"Happy birthday, my girl. Cheers!"

Talia beamed as her foster parents raised their glasses to celebrate the anniversary of her adoption. She hadn't known her own birthday, having been far too young when she lost her birth mother. Ultimately, her foster parents had decided that the day their lives were all changed when they discovered her wandering in the South Korean forests was symbolic of their starting a second life together as if she had been born from her foster mother's womb and selected that as her birthday. Talia agreed, and in her mind she was her parents' child. Ten years after the traumatic experience of seeing her mother's murder, Talia could barely remember her birth mother anymore. She had never known a father either and now, her parents were hers as much as she was theirs.

"Happy birthday, my Sun."

Her mother hugged her and Talia closed her eyes as she wrapped her arm around her mother's contently.

Suddenly, there was a bang like a car backfiring. Talia jumped at the sound while her parents whirled around in shock. Screams suddenly broke out all around, followed by more bangs. At first, Talia didn't understand what was going on. Her mother grabbed her and pushed her quickly under the table while her father yelled.

"Melisse, get down-!"

Her father cut off abruptly while her mother screamed as she ducked down and covered Talia. Talia clutched her mother's arm in terror, and she shied away as the bangs continued while her mother suddenly slumped over her heavily. She huddled into her mother's warm weight while the screams all died down at the same time. An icy feeling slid down Talia's back at the abrupt quiet that was only broken by a male voice calling over a few more odd gunshots being fired.

"Get to the till. You lot, start gathering."

Footsteps and rustles started to sound from near the restaurant doors. Talia lifted her head fearfully and she looked toward her mother for help. Her eyes widened, however, when her mother simply slid off her as Talia moved and remained curled awkwardly down on the ground.

"Mum?" Talia asked, frightened. She tried shaking her mother, but the woman didn't move from where she was slumped over. "Mummy?"

"Hey! We got one alive!"

Talia jumped as a feminine voice shouted from nearby. She looked up in fear as two figures wearing black masks and armed with handguns appeared around the table and stared down at her.

"What are you waiting for? No witnesses; shoot her." A male voice ordered just as a third figure appeared behind the others.

Talia's eyes went wide with terror as the female lifted her gun toward Talia's face. There was a bang, making Talia flinch - but it was one of the thieves who fell.

The others turned while surprised yells sounded throughout the restaurant as more bangs sounded yet again. Talia just managed to see a short blond man before he dove for cover as the thieves opened fire back at Talia's saviour.

"Kill this Chinese brat and let's go!"

Talia's mind went white as she saw a gun swinging toward her once again. She screamed at the top of her lungs and pushed the man who was about to shoot her. Talia had no idea how it happened, but the moment she did, the man went flying as though he'd been hit by a truck instead of a young girl. The others turned to stare at her in shock; the blond hiding behind the kitchen doors used the opportunity to fire at the thieves again, dropping one and injuring another before they started to fire back at the only other survivor from the initial attack.

As she saw a bullet just miss the blond before he ducked back for cover, Talia screamed.

"NO! STOP!"

Her voice shot through several octaves, and yet it still came out sounding like the loveliest operatic as she continued to shriek at the top of her lungs, alternating between English and Xhosa in her desperation.

"Stop it, stop shooting! Don't hurt us, shoot each other if you must shoot something!"

As soon as she started speaking, the men stopped mid-action.

But as she finished, to Talia's horror, the men slowly turned… and opened fire on each other. She screamed, this time wordless, but her eyes were unable to tear themselves away from the horror in front of her as the thieves all dropped dead in front of her. Surrounded by the corpses of her fellow restaurant-goers and her attackers, Talia started to cry as she suddenly felt like she was suffocating. Her breath came in faster and faster gasps, when suddenly a stranger appeared in front of her.

Talia shrieked but the blond man held up his hands quickly.

"Hey, hey, it's only me. Just me."

She stared at him, wide-eyed, and her gasps started to come quicker than ever. Her lungs burned and her shoulders ached as they moved desperately to try and suck in air through her tight throat and the man grasped her gently.

"Okay, easy, easy. Just breathe, okay? Like this, follow my lead."

The blond that Talia belatedly realized was the man who had saved her earlier started to take deep breaths. She tried to mimic him, but it was hard. Her tears fell faster and she shook her head in despair, but the man just tightened his hold on her arms.

"Come on, just take it slowly. Copy me."

He continued to inhale and exhale deeply. Talia tried to copy his movements and slowly, she felt her breathing slow. When she had managed to breathe deeply four times in a row, the man stopped and he watched her as she trembled and sniffled. But when Talia's eyes started to drift back toward the dead bodies behind him, the man called her attention gently back to him.

"Hey, hey, don't look over there. Just look at me, okay?"

Talia's light brown eyes flickered back to him and the man placed a hand carefully over his chest.

"My name is Everett Ross." He introduced himself.

"Ta-Talia." Talia whispered.

Everett nodded and as she trembled again, he said soothingly, "Don't be afraid."

But Talia's shaking started to get worse as she glanced over his shoulder again and she said frantically, "I-I… I don't… I..."

"You've never done something like this before, have you?" Everett guessed.

Talia's lips wobbled as she shook her head, and her tears started again.

"Hey, hey. It's not your fault." Everett hastily patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her. "Okay? They were going to hurt you like they hurt all these other people. You were just trying to defend yourself."

The preteen shivered but did her best to stem her tears. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, curling into a small ball despite Everett's words.

"What… What'll happen to me?" Talia whispered. "My mum and dad..."

"I'm sorry. But I don't think anyone's made it out of this besides us." Everett admitted as he glanced around the restaurant.

Talia shivered again and for a moment, Everett was at a loss. He'd quickly noted that the girl looked nothing like the couple whom she called her parents, which led him to suspect she had no other family. If she had been a regular girl, the simple answer was to leave the child in the equivalent of state care and hope that maybe some relative would come forward. But that didn't sit well with Everett. And even if it did, she was clearly not a regular girl. He hadn't missed the way she had somehow thrown a full grown man across the room. And of course there was the way she had somehow compelled an entire group of armed robbers to shoot each other.

But then what to do?

The answer was right in his face but still he hesitated. As a single man, could he care for a child, especially a supernatural one? But as Talia tucked her chin despondently against her knees, Everett knew. He couldn't just leave the girl to an uncertain fate. At least with him, she would be guaranteed some security. He glanced around again as he made up his mind. Luckily, the men had already shot out the security cameras on entry and with no witnesses, he was the only one who would know the truth about Talia.

Turning back to her, he suggested, "You can come with me. If you'd like."

Talia lifted her head to stare at him incredulously.

"Really?" She asked, looking torn between hopeful and wary.

"Really." Everett nodded. Only to be thrown again when Talia started to cry once again.

"Hey, don't cry. Come on."

He wiped her tears, and cautiously tucked her against his side. She seemed just as wary as she eyed his arm before she dropped her head against his shoulder. Taking this as a good sign, Everett patted her continuously as she continued to silently shed a few tears.

"Don't worry, you're not alone." He murmured, placing his chin on her head as he let her cry into his shirt. "And I'll help you. I promise."

Present

Wakanda

It was almost dawn when T'Challa shot upright with a gasp, breaking out from beneath the snow he'd been buried in. Instantly, Ramonda, Shuri and Nakia were on him, hugging him and helping him stay upright and Nakia kissed his head fervently. Everett and Talia turned sharply as well, and Talia dropped down from her toes mid-stretch while Everett took a step forward in his sheer relief to see T'Challa alive and apparently well, his injuries apparently healed with the help of the Heart-Shaped Herb.

T'Challa looked around a little dazedly before a smile of his own broke across his face like the African sun rising above the plains. He glanced warmly at the familiar and friendly faces around him as he relaxed, his eyes resting briefly on Everett and Talia before looking back at his family.

Finally he opened his mouth and croaked out laughingly, "Do you have a blanket?"