TW: Glad to hear it .
Wakanda
Morning
In the med bay, T'Challa stood silently, watching Killmonger's sleeping form, trapped in a medical bed that also had his limbs bound to each corner, preventing him from escaping.
Not that T'Challa believed his cousin was capable of escaping that bed anyway. M'Baku's men had found his broken body below the castle, towards the river. According to the medics, he was lucky to be alive. Men were known to die from injuries such as his. But T'Challa mused that Killmonger would only die on his own terms.
"My King," Okoye said gently as she walked up behind him. "It is time."
T'Challa nodded, knowing she was right. The Council wished to speak about what had happened last night. And they were right too; T'Challa knew this had to be addressed.
T'Challa sat on his throne, every member of the Council sitting down, save for one. W'Kabi's seat was noticeably empty, as W'Kabi had been sent to the dungeons, along with all his co-conspirators, all under heavy guard from a mix of Dora Milaje and Jabari.
"First, I wish to give thanks to M'Baku and the Jabari for standing with us, without whom I do not think we could have prevented W'Kabi's coup," T'Challa started and M'Baku, sporting a smirk, merely nodded. "With that said, we all know why we are here. The treason of W'Kabi and the Border Tribe must be addressed."
"You know the penalty for treason, my king. You must uphold the law," The River Tribe Representative pointed out and T'Challa nodded.
"I know. But The Border Tribe has also stood with us for centuries. Many of them were merely following W'Kabi's orders. We cannot punish the entire tribe for the actions of one man. W'Kabi must be punished. The rest will be put on probation, reduced in status and standing in the guard until such a time they can prove themselves. W'Kabi's punishment will be decided tomorrow, when he is brought before us to explain his actions," T'Challa declared, seeing that the council wasn't entirely pleased with this but were pacified. "Until then, we have one more matter to address. Father, step forward."
T'Chaka, who had been standing with his wife and daughter, walked forward, knowing what was coming. Telling Shuri and Ramonda their plan had not been easy, but he knew it would be harder for T'Challa. But he would bear his punishment to make up for his mistakes.
"I love you, Baba, but I cannot deny that it is your actions that have put us in our current position. I cannot allow it to go unpunished. Baba, You are hereby banished from Wakanda," T'Challa said and the room was silent as the council stared at T'Challa in shock. "You are forbidden from involving yourself in Wakanda affairs. Any violations of these terms will be considered treason and I will send the War Dogs to find and execute you. You have two days to gather whatever belongings and supplies you may need before you are escorted to a place of your choosing."
"I understand, my king," T'Chaka said, bowing his head slightly.
"Meeting adjourned," T'Challa said gruffly before they all got to their feet, exiting the room and going their separate ways, all processing what they had just witnessed.
Idaho
Same time
Two cars drove down a highway, stopping on an abandoned intersection. Tony and Hunter got out of one car while Steve, Natasha and Bobbi got out of another.
"So, we're sure Fury said to meet us here?" Tony asked as he looked around.
Before any of them could respond, the group beneath them moved. Tony gave a startled yelp as the ground turned into a platform that lowered at a fast pace, taking the five of them and the car down as steel covered above their heads, making sure no one above ground noticed.
"Well, I guess that answers that question," Steve said, grabbing Natasha's arm to steady her.
Within seconds, the platform stopped, leaving them in a room that reminded them of a hanger. And standing in front of the platform was Clint, who looked at them with a smirk.
"About time you showed up," Clint quipped with a chuckle.
"Clint," Bobbi said in relief.
"Hey Bobbi. Nice to see you," Clint said warmly as Natasha walked over.
"Was about to say the same thing," Natasha said as she shared a hug with her best friend. "How are Laura and the kids?"
"Safe, as much as they can be. I had Fury send them somewhere Ross couldn't get to them while we deal with this," Clint said as they released each other.
"Probably the best you could do in this situation," Steve noted as they all got off the platform.
"Only thing I can do," Clint said before noticing Hunter. "I don't think we've met."
"Lance Hunter," Hunter said stiffly and Clint raised an eyebrow.
"Your ex-husband?" Clint asked as he turned to Bobbi.
"Current boyfriend," Hunter said before Bobbi could.
"We're…figuring it out," Bobbi said lamely as Clint looked like he was trying not to laugh.
"Well, good luck with that. Come on, Fury's still going over what we got from Ross," Clint said, gesturing for them to follow him.
In a room that resembled Fury's former office at the Triskelion, Bucky and Wanda watched as Fury and Hill were going over what they had gotten from Washington.
"You have any idea what they're doing?" Bucky asked Wanda.
"No. But Natasha and Stark are the ones who usually handle this kind of stuff," Wanda said with a shrug.
"Well, I am the tech guy," Tony said as Clint led them all in.
"It's about time," Fury said as he looked over at them. "Morse. Good to see you again."
"Sir," Bobbi said, staring at him in a bit of a daze. "Coulson told me you were alive but…"
"Had to keep a low profile, but that's not here or now. We have a problem," Fury said as he turned back to the holographic screen.
"Ross mega encrypted what was on that drive. It makes what Natasha did to the SHIELD files seem amateurish by comparison," Hill explained as Tony and Natasha walked over.
"Son of a bitch. I've even heard of something this encrypted," Tony said as he stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Ross is pulling out all the stops, making sure it's next to impossible to get what was on that drive," Natasha noted before glancing over at Tony. "Think you can crack it?"
"It'll take me some time, but I think I can. Just might need some help," Tony said, pulling out his phone and pointing it at the screen. "FRIDAY, up for breaking an encryption?"
Wakanda
Later that morning
T'Challa was staring out at Wakanda from a window, deep in thought when someone walked up beside him. They didn't say anything for a long moment.
"You made the right decision today," M'Baku said and T'Challa smiled tightly.
"I am not so sure about that. I know it was the wisest decision, but it hardly feels right when it tears my family apart," T'Challa said with a heavy sigh.
"Your father made his choices. He thought he was above the consequences of those choices, but you and I know that every ruler must face the consequences of their actions, good or bad," M'Baku said and T'Challa smiled tightly.
"Perhaps you are right," T'Challa acknowledged and it was silent for a moment. "I never imagined you of all people would be offering me advice."
"And I never thought I would be here, part of your Council, but I am. Things change, we cannot stop that, we can only fight or accept it," M'Baku said wisely and T'Challa frowned considering the other man's words.
Unspecified location
Same time
Ross stood in front of Toomes and Marko; both of them were waiting silently.
"I've sent you both after Spider-Man separately, and you failed to bring him in. I'm hoping that, together, you'll have better luck," Ross told them. "Your mission is to target someone that Spider-Man has protected more than once. Your orders are to take her and use her as bait to draw out Spider-Man."
"How do you know he'll take the bait?" Toomes asked skeptically, his blood going cold when Ross smirked and brought up a holographic screen.
"Oh, he'll protect her, won't he Marko?" Ross asked mockingly with a glance at Marko, who was suddenly staring at the screen with interest.
Because on the screen was a picture of Gwen Stacy. Toomes's hands clenched into fists as he stared at the screen, horrified at what he was now forced to do. That girl was around Liz's age.
"Is there a problem, Toomes?" Ross asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"No…no problem," Toomes said softly, feeling his hatred for the man increase, something he didn't know was possible.
He didn't want to target this girl…but he would. Because if it was a choice between her or his family, his family would win every time.
Not a long chapter, but I hope you guys enjoyed it anyway.
And, after a long absence while I focused on the Ross and Killmonger arc, Peter will be returning next chapter as we get back to him for a bit.