Italics are in Xhosa .

Ellie Bishop: Yep. Did know about that and while I can't say I'll use it, wouldn't be opposed to it.

Wakanda

Morning

At the home of the Border Tribe, Killlmonger walked up as W'Kabi and some of his men walked forward. Killmonger stopped, dropping the bag at W'Kabi's feet.

"What is this?" W'Kabi demanded.

"Just a little gift," Killmonger said with a smirk.

Killmonger bent down, opening the bag. The Border Tribe drew their weapons but W'Kabi signaled for them to stop, curiosity outweighing caution. Killmonger stepped back and W'Kabi stepped forward, looking into the bag. W'Kabi was stunned to realize he was staring at the lifeless body of Klaue who had a bullet in his head. He then looked back up at Killmonger, who smirked at him.

"Who are you?"

Washington DC

Not long after

"So what is this place?" Tony asked, carrying a briefcase into what seems to be an underground building.

"This is one of several facilities Hydra operated out of before the Uprising. After Project Insight became a failure, Hydra fled. No one will look for us here," Bucky told him.

"You're sure any Hydra cells won't be coming around here?" Tony asked wearily and Bucky nodded.

"After my fight with Steve on the Helicarrier, I came back here a few weeks after lying low, see if anyone was still here that could help me get answers. They cleaned out everything and bailed. They won't be back," Bucky said firmly and Tony nodded.

"Good enough for me. Time to set up shop."

Finding a table, Tony set his briefcase down and pressed a button. Looking over, Bucky watched as it transformed into a computer with an antenna on the side.

"You brought a laptop? Thought that was one of your suits," Bucky noted and Tony shrugged.

"Have that back at the car. Right now, we need to find a way to contact Cap and the others. Then, we fight back," Tony said as he narrowed his eyes.

Elsewhere in Washington, Steve was driving a car, Natasha in the passenger seat, her feet on the dash. If Steve closed his eyes, he could almost imagine it was two years ago, when he and Nat were on the run from Hydra. Except-

"Why did we have to come?" Hunter complained from the backseat, Bobbi giving him an annoyed look from where she sat next to him.

"Because Ross is going after civilians now, we need to stop him," Bobbi said slowly and he scowled at her.

"I know that, but I thought we were out of the game? Besides, what can we really do?" Hunter asked doubtfully.

"Every man or woman who offers to help can. Don't sell yourself short," Steve told him.

"Hunter, I know you're worried about this giving Ross ammunition against SHIELD, but we have to. We can't let someone like Ross stat in power. Think of what he could do to SHIELD," Bobbi told him.

It took only one second to imagine what Ross might do to their friends at SHIELD for Hunter to close his eyes, steeling himself.

"Okay…okay. So, what do we do?" Hunter asked.

Before anyone could answer, there was a ringing sound in the car. After a moment, Steve reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out his Avenger phone.

"What's that?" Hunter asked curiously.

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you," Natasha said as Steve answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Cap," Steve was surprised to hear Tony on the end.

"Tony?" Steve said in surprise and everyone stopped to look over at him. "I thought we agreed it was supposed to be radio silence between us."

"When we were in New York. But I decided I didn't like Ross stalking me, so I bailed. I'm in DC," Tony said, surprising Steve even more. "I'm planning on fighting back. Care to join me up here?"

"We're in DC too." It was Tony's turn to be surprised. "Nat and I picked up some friends who might have something for us to go on with Ross."

"Good. Let's meet up and compare notes. I have someone here who I think you'll want to meet."

In her apartment, Elaine Bishop was getting ready for work, putting on her jacket when she heard something. Turning around, she cautiously walked out of the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary when she heard the click of a gun.

"Don't move, Fury said as he stepped into view. "Cooperate, and you get out of this relatively easy."

A beat passed before Elaine tried to strike Fury with a blow meant to knock the gun out of his hand. However, barely a second passed before her entire body was covered in red energy and she froze. Wanda then stepped into view, forcing Elaine to step back into a chair. Clint and Hill then emerged, tying up Elaine's hands and feet.

"Help! Somebody-" Elaine tried to shout before Clint placed some tape over her mouth.

"You talk too much," Clint said as Wanda released her hold on Elaine.

"We're not gonna hurt you. But it would have been easier to cooperate," Fury said, looking at Elaine with a blank look as he lowered his gun.

Wakanda

Afternoon

T'Challa sat at the table in the family dining room, enjoying breakfast with his parents and Shuri when Okoye entered the room. Her grave expression had T'Challa immediately on edge.

"I'm sorry my King, but an urgent matter has arisen," Okoye said and all conversation at the table stopped.

"What is it?" T'Challa asked and nearly jumped to his feet as Okoye held out her Kimoya Beads and a picture of Killmonger appeared out of them.

"This man appeared on the edge of Wakanda earlier, bringing the body of who has been identified as Ulysses Klaue," Okoye said, stunning T'Chaka, Ramonda and Sherri.

But not T'Challa. When the War Dogs he had placed in the Great Museum had reported that no heist had happened, he had feared what his cousin might do next. Him coming out into the open had clearly spurred Killmonger into aggressive action with Klaue.

"An outsider?" Shuri asked stunned.

"No, Princess, a Wakandian," Okoye disagreed.

"He is an outsider…but he is also Wakandian," T'Challa said, looking over at his father, who had paled at this. "I told you Baba, he would come to make you answer for your sins."

"What is he talking about, my love?" Ramonda asked and T'Chaka didn't answer.

"Call the Council and have this man brought to the throne room," T'Challa told Okoye before he turned to his father. "It is time for you to tell them all the truth."

Washington DC

Late morning

"Strange place Stark asked you to meet," Bobbi mentioned as Steve, Natasha, Hunter and herself walked through the seemingly empty building. "Reminds me of my time undercover in Hydra."

"Makes sense. This used to a Hydra base," Hunter nearly jumped as Tony walked into view. "Figured no one would think to look for us here."

"You sure Ross can't trace you?" Steve asked and Tony almost laughed.

"I sent Ross's goons on a wild goose chase. It was hours before they even figured out I was gone," Tony said gleefully before looking over at Bobbi and Hunter. "I don't believe we've met."

"Bobbi Morse," Bobbi introduced herself and Tony's eyes lit up.

"The SHIELD agent who used to date Clint," Tony noted and Hunter whipped his head towards Bobbi.

"You dated Barton? You never told me that!"

"It was over 15 years ago Hunter, don't overreact," Bobbi said in exasperation.

"Why didn't you ever tell me!?"

"Because of this exact reaction!"

"How'd you find this place?" Natasha asked, ignoring the bickering Bobbi and Hunter.

"I had some help," Tony said looking over as someone else walked into the room.

"Specifically, one semi-stable hundred year old man," Bucky quipped as they all stopped to stare at him.

"Buck…" Steve said in shock.

"Figured it would be a bad idea for Ross to get his hands on him," Tony said by way of explanation.

"Probably a good call," Natasha noted, nodding at Bucky. "Good to see you, James."

"You too, Natalia," Bucky said before turning to Steve, smirking at the dumbfounded look on his face. "You should see your face right now."

This finally spurred Steve out of his surprise, walking over to his old friend and they shared an embrace for the first time in decades.

"How you doin' Buck?" Steve asked as they pulled back.

"Not too bad, all things considered. So, let's compare notes," Bucky said with a grin.

At Elaine's apartment, Wanda stepped out dressed in a business suit with a red tie. Clint was in the room, waiting.

"Well, does this look like something she'd wear?" Wanda asked uneasily.

"She's a powerful business woman who works with Ross. Yeah, I think you got it down. Don't be nervous," Clint said as he walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Were this nervous your first time?" Wanda asked after a few moments.

"Terrified. I'd been a soldier for a few years, but being an Agent of SHIELD was a different ballgame. And I didn't have Cap and Nat teaching me for a year. You'll do fine. And if anything goes wrong, I'll be in to get you out," Clint promised.

"I thought there was no extraction with a Steranko," Wanda said confused and Clint smirked.

"Kid, you have no idea what I'm capable of. This Steranko hasn't met me yet."

Wanda merely laughed as Clint held out the keycard.

"You ready for this?" Wanda paused, staring at the keycard as she considered Clint's question.

"I think I have to be. We have to stop Ross, and this might be our only chance," Wanda said before picking up the keycard. "Let's do this."

As she clipped the keycard to her suit jacket, Wanda looked up to see Clint looking at her with a strange look on his face. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No, nothing like that. I'm just…I'm so proud of you. You've grown up a lot since we first met and have become…someone who is truly remarkable. I don't know, I'm just feeling old I guess. I just want you to know how proud I am of you," Clint said with a smile.

Wanda merely stared at him for a moment, not trusting her words, not knowing how to put it into words. So she grabbed Clint and pulled him into a hug. And, as Clint wrapped his arms around her in a hug, Wanda buried her face in his shoulder, wondering if this was what it felt like to have a father who believed in you.

Wakanda

Same time

"And then…we came home."

T'Chaka didn't look at anyone as T'Challa sat on the throne, having ordered T'Chaka to confess the truth to the council. Shuri and Romanda looked at T'Chaka, horrified as the council all looked at him with blank looks, save T'Challa, who merely looked at him in disappointment. After several moments, the silence was broken.

"I see. So this is how past kings have done things," M'Baku said, looking torn between amusement and disgust. "You all have looked down on the Jibari for centuries. Yet we would always bury our dead, even the traitors. What does that say about you?"

"You dare-" Ramonda started but T'Chaka shook his head.

"He is right, my love. I…am not the man you thought I was, that any of you thought I was," T'Chaka said, looking around the room in guilt and shame. "I am sorry. You must now suffer for my sin."

T'Challa, who had remained silent once his father had begun his confession, spoke then.

"My father will be dealt with in time. But regardless of his crimes, we now have a new problem. I have done my research into this Killmonger," T'Challa spoke and they all looked over at him. "He is a criminal. A madman and a murderer. Can we really trust this man, welcome him into our country? Should we?"

A beat passed before the doors opened. They all looked up, seeing as Killmonger was led in by W'Kabi and a few members of the Border Tribe, handcuffs around his hands. T'Challa saw his eyes flicker around the room, stopping on his father. He could see the hate welling up in his eyes as his cousin looked at the man who killed his father. Hate that didn't disappear as they looked to T'Challa.

For a moment, it was silent.

"Speak," T'Challa said, holding up his hand when W'Kabi went to translate. "He understands me well enough, W'Kabi. Speak."

"I'm standing in your house, serving justice to a man who stole your Vibrainum and murdered your people. Justice that this man couldn't deliver in over twenty years," Killmonger said with a glare at T'Chaka.

T'Challa got to his feet, walking over to Killmonger, Okoye and her fellow Dora Milaje following him.

"What do you want?" T'Challa demanded, already knowing.

"I want the throne," Killmonger said bluntly and the council laughed at his audacity. "You're all sitting up here, comfortable. Must feel good. There's about two billion people up in the world who look like us, but their lives are a lot harder. Wakanda has the tools to liberate them all."

"You speak of Liberation, Killmonger. Yet your reputation tells another story. One of killing and power. You are a radical, one who wishes to be the oppressor that you hate so much. I am truly sorry for what happened to you, cousin," T'Challa said and Killmonger merely glared at him. "What my father did to yours was wrong. But that does not entitle you to the throne, to our weapons."

"As Prince J'Nobu's heir, he is within his rights to challenge you, my king," W'Kabi pointed out and T'Challa shot him a look.

"It would take weeks to prepare," T'Challa said evenly.

"I don't need weeks," Killmonger said and T'Challa smiled, confusing him.

"You say you want to lead Wakanda. Yet you have no respect for our ways, for the traditions of the people you wish to lead. Why should I entertain this challenge when you have no respect for our laws?" T'Challa asked before he turned, walking away from Killmonger and sitting back down on his throne. "Cousin or not, I will not accept this challenge. Take him away."

"You'll get what's coming to you, cousin! You and your pops!" Killmonger ranted as he was led away.

"Are you sure that was the wisest action, my son?" T'Chaka asked softly.

"Wise? Perhaps not. But I do know it was the right decision. I will not hand the throne over to a madman who would see billions of lives wiped out in the name of 'Liberation'," T'Challa said, knowing this was not over.

Not by a long shot.

Mostly set up for the next chapter, but I hope you all enjoyed it anyway.

T'Challa has had his confrontation with Killmonger, although understanding his cousin a bit more, T'Challa is able to play things a bit differently. But it's not over just yet.

And next chapter, we finally get the break in. OR, in Leverage terms, The Ross Job. Here we go.