Talia buckled in the last strap on her armoured top, took a deep breath before she glanced at her companions.

Nakia was also taking steady breaths, getting into the right mental state before what was to come. Shuri meanwhile was adjusting her gauntlet to fit more comfortably on her hands; once she was done, the princess also looked up and caught Talia's eyes. Talia tilted her head questioningly, and Shuri nodded before she stepped out of the shadows and in front of the main hangar doors. Nakia and Talia followed suit, each powering up their own weapons before Talia hit the button Shuri indicated.

At once, the doors slid open to reveal the open hangar and the wide Wakandan plains beyond. But Talia immediately fired her gun as her eyes instantly landed on the guards standing restlessly before the royal ship. In the distance, a miniature war had broken out in the middle of the green plains as the Border Tribe and what looked like armoured rhinos attacked T'Challa and tried to prevent him from coming any closer to the Great Mound. It seemed General Okoye and her Dora Milaje however had elected to remain loyal to the Wakandan King as the fierce women took on both Killmonger and the Border Tribe who challenged T'Challa.

It was the battle with Killmonger, led by Okoye, that they had a better view of as the American took on Okoye and two of her Dora further down near the mouth of the hangar. And as Shuri and Nakia headed for the royal ship still parked at the back of the hangar, Talia moved swiftly toward the duel where the Dora were slowly getting overpowered by the enhanced male. She arrived just as Killmonger and the Dora looked up when the Royal Talon - now powered by Shuri's device and piloted by Everett - suddenly took off after the other Wakandan ships laden with weapons that were already headed for the border. And Talia used the moment to leap between the Dora and swing her spear-shaped gun down on Killmonger's helmeted head.

The former agent barely avoided getting his head clobbered as he just managed to block Talia's attack with his own short spear and sword.

"Go! We can't let those weapons get beyond Wakanda!"

Talia heard Shuri's voice come over her comms as she instructed Everett. Talia meanwhile swiftly kicked Killmonger in the stomach, forcing him to drop his arms as he automatically grasped toward the pain while she tumbled back and landed in a crouch at the same time that Okoye shouted.

"Now!"

The Dora jumped quickly on the opportunity Talia had created, snapping their long spears into place against Killmonger's torso and locking his arms against his body. Killmonger howled as the Dora charged up their spears, electrocuting him through his suit while he was unable to fight them as they kept him held firmly in place.

"Get him down!" Okoye barked even as she kicked Killmonger harshly on the back of his knee.

His knee buckled at once and Killmonger was forced down on his knees as the Dora shoved their full weight against him and kept him immobilized with their electric spears.

"Get the necklace!" Okoye ordered as the Dora moved their spears and locked it around Killmonger's neck.

Talia came over and she reached for the gold fang necklace around Killmonger's neck, which matched T'Challa's silver one and which she suspected was the source of Killmonger's new black and gold panther suit. But it was as she was reaching for the ex-agent's neck that Talia noticed the way Killmonger's suit sparkled with golden light. There was something familiar about the pattern and it was only a second later that she remembered seeing the same light appearing on T'Challa's suit after he'd absorbed the grenade blast in Korea.

"Get back!" Talia yelled in warning as she grabbed at Killmonger's neck with belated haste. But she was too late.

Talia's fingers had just curled around the necklace when Killmonger released the pent-up kinetic energy his suit had stored. Okoye and the Dora went flying, screaming as they hurtled toward the plains below the hangar where they landed painfully on the ground and rolled into the middle of a battlefield. Talia meanwhile was caught as Killmonger grabbed her by the wrist before she could wrench off his necklace and he twisted her arm at the very moment she lost her balance as a result of his energy blast. Talia screamed, her hand loosening automatically.

As soon as he felt her let go of his suit's source, Killmonger tossed her up and kicked Talia in the stomach. She went flying back and hit the ground painfully before skidding across the hangar platform. She barely stopped herself from toppling over the edge of the enormous hole in the middle from which the Wakandan jets had been launched - and which went all the way down to the very core of the Great Mound. A surely fatal fall if there ever was one.

Dazed, Talia shook her head before she looked back sharply as she heard Killmonger launch her way; only for him to be knocked back as a ring blade hit him squarely in the chest.

"Wakanda forever!" Nakia bellowed as she ran at Killmonger, catching the ring blade as it bounced back to her hand.

Shuri remained where she was on the edge of the hangar platform, aiming her gauntlet at Killmonger as he leapt clear over Nakia and headed for the princess. Shuri fired at him, her blasters keeping the ex-agent at bay as Nakia turned and charged at Killmonger from behind.

"Okay, Shuri, I got 'em. What do I do?" Everett asked over their comms as Nakia engaged Killmonger.

"Shoot them down, genius!" Shuri shouted back, trying to aim around Nakia at Killmonger as the pair exchanged blows further down the platform.

Talia meanwhile pushed herself back onto her feet. Taking a second to catch her breath, she dashed back toward the fight as Killmonger kicked Nakia in the face. Killmonger heard her coming and he turned to block Talia with his claws as she swung her spear down at his head. He was unable to stop her as she swung her body around with the momentum of her landing, however, and her foot collided with his chest.

Killmonger stumbled back before he roared and swung his sword at Talia. She barely blocked the blow and her whole arm seemed to vibrate with the force of his blow as his sword hit her spear. She kicked at him but he just caught her leg and threw her over his head and onto the ground. Talia could hear Everett swearing in her ear like a mouthpiece for her own feelings, while Killmonger was distracted as Nakia swung in and caught his sword between her ring blades.

She tugged sharply while Shuri used the moment to fire at Killmonger's back. Killmonger released his grip on his sword under their dual attack. Nakia tossed the weapon aside while Killmonger backed away despite Shuri's relentless attack on his back. Nakia leant into the offensive as she swung at Killmonger repeatedly with her ring blades. Her blade caught him in the face, but Killmonger just growled before he swiped at her exposed leg with his claws.

Nakia screamed in pain as the vibranium claws ripped through her skin, before she was kicked in the stomach and she tumbled backward. Killmonger raised his knife to stab her through the heart when Talia jumped onto his back. She grabbed his arm, preventing him from harming Nakia, who had fallen off the edge of the platform where she rolled to an unconscious stop, and Talia jerked him away with her whole body weight. Killmonger stumbled under her sudden attack but his vibranium suit kept her from landing any successful, fatal blows on him.

And with the advantage that he wielded on her, Killmonger quickly tossed her about until she was dislodged enough that he could successfully throw her off. Talia landed on her feet, but Killmonger was already on the offense. His claw raked out toward her and Talia quickly moved to block him with her spear. But this left her exposed as Killmonger suddenly swung his short sword around from the opposite side, ducking his arm under Talia's defensive stance.

His blade struck true. And Talia gasped as the vibranium sword slid between the sliver of space between the armour she wore and punctured her right through the stomach. Triumphant, Killmonger tossed Talia aside and she crashed into the ground beside Nakia, who was still knocked out. From her place, Talia saw Killmonger approaching Shuri next as the princess tried to keep him at bay with her sonic blasts.

But he was too strong and Shuri was quickly overpowered. Shuri cried out as he tossed her to the ground, but there was no way Talia could get up anymore as her life literally bled out of her. With the last of her strength, Talia lifted her hand and fired her gun.

The bullet hit the Killmonger in the back and he howled before he swivelled around, unharmed. In the same second that Killmonger was distracted, T'Challa pounced on his cousin. Talia barely managed to see the black shadow that tackled Killmonger and dragged both of them over the edge of the vertical hangar. And then her eyes slid closed and her breathing grew shallow as her mind sank into the darkness that swallowed her.

January 2008

In the dim light of a perfectly ordinary New York apartment, Talia stood in the centre of the open living room area.

Stretching up, she raised her arms above her head as she lifted herself perfectly onto the tips of her toes. From there, she stretched forward, raising her left leg behind her. Her natural athleticism and pointe work allowed her to extend into a perfect arabesque. Her hand brushed the plant in the corner as she stretched herself to the furthest extent possible, before bringing herself back upright. Lowering her leg to her other knee as she went, she twirled seemingly effortlessly into a pirouette. Round and round she went, counting up until she hit twenty. And then she stopped, lowered herself back down… and repeated.

From the front doorway, Everett watched her quietly. He knew she knew he had returned home, at least subconsciously. But she was too absorbed in her own quiet world for the moment to break away, and he was content to let her stay that way. Instead, he simply observed the girl he was slowly growing very fond of.

In the year or so since he'd adopted Talia, he'd learnt quite a few things about her. First, Talia's hair was not naturally dark but she apparently despised her natural hair colour so much she continued to dye it black. Even though the colour never stuck for very long before it started to wash out. Everett had lost count of the number of times he'd bought dye for her in just the last year; not that he complained, per se. It was the only thing she really asked for and it wasn't worth the panic that entered her eyes whenever she noticed how light her hair was becoming when she went too long without colouring her hair.

The second thing he'd learnt was that Talia loved classical music. Everett suspected she used it to drown out the world when things got a bit much; which was the third thing he'd discovered about her. In addition to the superhuman strength that he'd witnessed in their very first meeting, Talia had an unusually acute sense of sight, hearing and - if his suspicions were correct - smell. It would explain why she often wrinkled her nose in disgust upon stepping out into the city, even though Everett couldn't smell anything unusual until they'd walked at least three blocks away from their apartment building.

And lastly, something they had discovered together, was that Talia found peace in ballet. There was something about completing the difficult moves and sustaining perfectly still postures that challenged Talia's mind and kept her engaged… and distracted her from her own demons. It hadn't been until that fateful day when Everett took her to a ballet class at one of his coworkers' suggestions that Talia finally broke the silence she'd pretty much maintained since he brought her back to America with him. Everett didn't blame her - killing someone could do that to a person. And for someone as young as Talia…

Still, it wasn't like he could take her to a psychiatrist to talk about what was bothering her. Not that Talia had wanted to go either when Everett's concern for her eventually had him raise the suggestion verbally to her. But after she found ballet, Talia seemed to find a semblance of healing. Her forehead smoothed out despite the complexity of the moves she practiced with pin-sharp focus and she soon started to talk although he couldn't exactly describe her behaviour as opening up. But it was enough at least for now.

Meanwhile, Talia spun around and around again in yet another pirouette. Ten… Eleven… Twelve…

She knew Everett was home and watching her. He did that often, his relief at seeing her find even a little peace obvious.

Fourteen… Fifteen…

Talia wondered if that was what she really was doing, though. Was there such a thing as peace for a monster?

Seventeen… Eighteen…

Did he think she was a monster too? Of course, he would… He should, if he were normal.

Twenty.

Talia lowered herself back down slowly onto the flats of her feet, every movement of her muscles intentional and filled with purpose. Turning her head, she speared Everett with her eyes. He smiled sheepishly, like he did every time she regarded him with that look that said he had been caught spying a long time ago, before he walked further into his apartment.

"I'm home." He announced belatedly.

Talia simply regarded this man who had not only covered up what she had done but had even brought her into his home. He should look at her with fear and mistrust, he would if he were normal. But instead he now looked at her with a gentleness she recognized. The same softness she'd been accustomed to seeing in her foster parents' faces. An emotion that evoked an answering warmth inside her even though she shouldn't.

"You hungry, Tal?"

There it was again - the nickname only he had ever called her.

"I brought back some Thai. I know you're not a fan of curry, but at this hour, it was either that or the Chinese place you said smelt like old socks so, and they did have some pan-fried noodles..."

Talia continued to observe Everett. It was too hard to keep her heart locked against this kind man and at first, she'd resented him for it. He could have a sarcastic wit and sharp tongue at times, but his actions always showed how much he cared. And she hadn't wanted that. She had wanted her Mum and Dad. But they weren't ever coming back and this man was so warm. Like her Mum and Dad had been.

"Tal?" Everett questioned when Talia just continued to stare at him. "You not hungry?"

Talia gazed back at the man before she spoke quietly.

"I am. Thank you."

Surprise flickered across Everett's face when Talia tacked on the two extra words, before he smiled.

"Okay, then do you mind grabbing some plates for me? I'll start unpacking the boxes."

Talia walked over to fetch the plates from the cabinet as Everett rustled through the bags of food. Talia glanced back at the man. She couldn't stop herself from growing attached to him but she swore to herself, in that moment as Everett glanced up from the takeaway food and grinned at her, that she could do everything in her power to make sure he wasn't ever taken away from her. No matter what.

She wasn't going to lose her family again.

Present

Wakanda

T'Challa emerged from his duel with Killmnoger, victorious but regretful.

His cousin's decision to choose death rather than what he'd called bondage weighed heavily on T'Challa's heart. And more than the fact that a civil war had almost broken within his borders, Killmonger's last words and the undeniable restlessness amongst his people that had allowed for the almost war in the first place struck T'Challa hard. It was time for a change, he realized - felt it in his very bones. It was long past the time for them to change.

As he stepped back out into the sunset that basked the airship platform in an orange glow, T'Challa raised his head tiredly. He'd intended to first thank M'Baku whose appearance had definitely helped turn the tide of the battle in their favour. And, he'd intended to seek out Okoye and W'Kabi to discuss how to deal with the injured and the consequences of what had happened that day.

But all such plans flew out of his head as soon as he saw what awaited him on the plains outside his palace.

T'Challa heard Everett stumble out of the palace just behind him, and the way he screeched to halt when his eyes landed on the same sight T'Challa's had. The king of Wakanda meanwhile slowly walked forward to join his sister as she stood beside the prone figure of Talia Ross lying in Okoye's arms.

"She protected Nakia." Shuri explained quietly while Okoye stroked the pale young woman's raven hair.

"She fought like a true Dora." Okoye added, her tone heavy with respect and regret for the loss of a life so young.

T'Challa turned to Shuri.

"Is there anything you can do?" He asked in a low voice. Shuri shook her head.

"My lab is too damaged. And she does not have time." Shuri replied sorrowfully. T'Challa's heart sank as he looked back at the face that looked far too young to die. And how must her father feel-

"Wait." Everett spoke up hesitantly and T'Challa turned to the other man curiously.

There was a surprising lack of sorrow in Everett's expression and although he looked uncertain, there seemed to be… hope brewing in his eyes.

"There… may be something else. Another way."

T'Challa frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, Agent Ross?"

Everett cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, Talia… she has the ability to… I guess, take another person's energy or-or life force, or whatever. Basically, it drains the other person but lets her heal. Or, you know, gain their energy so that she can heal."

"But it drains the other person?" T'Challa checked.

Everett nodded. "Yeah. And if the contact is maintained too long, it would kill the other person."

Everett thought grimly of the scene he had come across in LA back in 2009; the murder he had covered up for his daughter. It had been the second time since he'd first met her and the last time that Talia had killed someone (however accidentally) using her powers. She hadn't even realized she could drain a person's life force until that fateful night when Talia had almost ended up a casualty of Tony Stark's battle against Obadiah Stane. But instead, another life had been lost when Talia, on the brink of death and barely conscious, had fallen back on her instincts and kissed the man who had tried to help her.

T'Challa pondered Everett's words for only a second before he spoke again.

"I will do it."

Everett shook his head quickly.

"Er, no. Thank you, but I will." Everett said firmly. "The reason I explained all this wasn't to ask you to do it but because… the most effective way to do this is… through a kiss. Although to be honest it's the only method tested so far, but now's not really the time to be looking for alternatives."

There was a beat of silence while Everett continued rather awkwardly, "I just didn't want you guys to all think of me as some pervert for kissing my own daughter."

T'Challa recovered first and he repeated just as firmly as before, "I will do it."

As Everett started to protest, T'Challa cut him off not unkindly.

"It is more than a potential question of morals. I am physically stronger than you are thanks to the Heart-Shaped Herb. It therefore stands to reason that I will survive more of Agent Ross taking my energy."

"No," Everett shook his head again more resolutely. "It's too risky, there's every chance she might still, however unintentionally, kill-"

"Enough." M'Baku announced. "There is no time for this."

And T'Challa started while Everett's jaw dropped as the Great Gorilla stooped down and with an almost clinical detachment, pressed his lips against Talia's. At once, the Wakandan stiffened. Everett was about ready to pull the man off his daughter before something happened that they'd all regret - when Talia sighed.

Instantly, Everett zeroed in on his daughter, watching Talia carefully. Her breathing strengthened and evened out almost instantly and it was not a few seconds later that her eyelids started to shift. Her hand lifted to touch the back of M'Baku's head and Everett quickly reached forward to pull the other man away before Talia could hold him deeper against her.

M'Baku fell away without a fight, staggering slightly as all the strength left his legs. T'Challa quickly supported his fellow Wakandan while Everett bent over Talia as her eyes fluttered open.

"Tal? Tal, can you hear me?" Everett called.

Her light brown eyes focused on him and Everett sagged with relief when he saw the recognition glow in her eyes.

"Dad?" Talia croaked, starting to sit up - only to fall back with a pained groan. "Ow."

"Don't force yourself." Everett warned as he reached down to help his daughter up. He then lifted his gaze to M'Baku, who was watching them with faint amusement.

"Thank you." Everett murmured. M'Baku simply inclined his head while Talia managed to settle into a sitting position.

"What happened?" Talia grimaced as she felt her stomach tug, feeling the sensitivity around the newly healed muscles and skin.

"You were stabbed." Everett reminded his daughter before he shook his head. "You know, when I said it's important to keep a warm heart as well as a cool head, I didn't mean you should sacrifice yourself at the earliest opportunity, Tal."

But his tone was so steeped with relief that the sarcasm was lost. Talia scoffed at him but her brows were still pulled together in confusion.

"I remember being stabbed, but how-?"

"Lord M'Baku saved you."

Talia's head snapped up to stare at her father.

"Lord M'Baku did?" Talia repeated somewhat incredulously. Her eyes flickered around before they landed on the Great Gorilla. The others silently admitted they were just as shocked as the kumiho, but M'Baku merely shrugged his thick shoulders in answer to Talia's questioning gaze.

"You showed great strength and bravery when you stayed to fight for justice even though this was not your battle." M'Baku replied. "Your words and the fact that you, an outsider, would lay down your life for my country eventually reminded me that I could not simply turn a blind eye. I owed you a debt for that. Now, I have repaid it."

Talia looked surprised and thoughtful, but she nodded to show she understood although she didn't look like she necessarily agreed. Still, as they were all learning, there was something in knowing when to agree to disagree.

"Thank you."

Her eyes then flickered to the side as T'Challa stepped forward to speak to her next.

"You lied to me, Agent Ross." T'Challa joked accusingly although the relief was clear in his voice. "You said you had never lied to me before, but you never told me you could do that."

He gestured to the way she was sitting up, almost completely fine after literally being at death's door.

"You never asked. So, technically, I never lied." Talia answered primly, although she couldn't stop the smile that was tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Ah. A liar's defense." T'Challa chuckled and Talia's smile widened and turned a little wry.

"Well, you knew I was a CIA operative. Besides, I wasn't above using every dirty trick I knew if it meant I could follow wherever my dad went." She answered, glancing almost shyly to her side at Everett.

His brow rose and he felt her forehead.

"Are you sure you're my Talia? My Talia's not usually this sentimental." He teased. Talia swatted his hand away with cross embarrassment and Everett grinned.

"Ah. There's my girl."

Talia rolled her eyes while T'Challa chuckled, before he looked out toward the setting sun. Another day was closing and falling to darkness. But at the end of every dark hour, there came light. And T'Challa believed, as he watched the sun's rays streak across his land, that the next dawn would be brighter than ever before.

*A/N I know there's been a lack of Bucky, but he'll make another appearance soon! And who knows, maybe it will be a more permanent appearance…? In the meantime, thanks for all the continued support from all my readers, you guys are amazing!