Hello, back again! Thankfully it didn't take me TOO long to get this out to you all. Again, if anyone has any ideas for things they want to see in this story set, I'm all ears. I have some ideas but am running a bit low. Especially after seeing Endgame and now needing a GAMEplan for how to proceed. That story will be forthcoming, I swear! But all in good time.

There's only a couple small language things that aren't translated. "Konele" means "Enough" and "mzungu" is a Swahili word for "white person" I'm using Xhosa for Wakandan but giving that Wakanda doesn't really have much contact with outsiders, it makes sense they would probably just borrow another language's word. "Mzungu" is a pretty neutral word, despite sounding like it could be an insult.

Chapter Two: Why You Should Never Flirt with The Dora Milaje

There was no denying it; Wakanda was beautiful.

Beautiful…and boring. At least if you were Pietro Maximoff.

He and Steve had returned from the Raft with Wanda, Sam, Scott, and Clint a few days prior. Wanda was still in shock, which he completely understood. He had basically been waiting on her hand and foot until she kicked him out of her room with orders to "go run off your energy" and a mental caress.

Everyone else had concurred. Christy, his usual partner in crime (despite being half his age), was busy doing schoolwork under Sam's watchful eye. Sam was always the one who ended up making Christy finish her online school, since he was immune to puppy-dog eyes.

Most other people, like Clint, Scott, or Bucky, were still in recovery mode. This left him alone to find his own amusement.

The tricky thing about being a guest was that he had no idea where he was allowed in the palace. So, his exploring to find amusement was a bit hampered by worry that he would be scolded and run out of somewhere for touching some sacred artifact.

Part of him was still in shock that he was in a palace. A futuristic palace with tech that he could have never imagined, even after seeing everything HYDRA had and living in buildings designed by Tony Stark.

After wandering aimlessly for what felt like hours, he came across a massive courtyard that reminded him of the training gym at Avengers HQ. About twenty women in red and silver ornamented armor were engaged in a variety of exercises.

Twenty highly attractive women.

Pietro swallowed hard. Back in Sokovia, he had been known as something of a skirt-chaser. Wanda had hated it and had called him out on it several times. He'd been good ever since joining the Avengers almost two years ago, but surely, he was allowed a little fun.

Smirking, he let loose a quiet wolf whistle.

At least, he thought it was quiet.

Two pairs of fighting partners stopped in their tracks and turned to face the sound as one.

"Um…hi?" he tried. "I-I was looking for a place to run some laps…can I do that here? The view is nice."

Four sets of spears were suddenly pointed in his direction.

Pietro had a sinking feeling that this had been a terrible idea.

Wanda is going to kill me…

A tall, regal woman with a shiny, bald head and a wicked-looking spear glided towards the commotion.

"And what is this?" she called out.

"He was hanging around, General, and distracting us from practice!" one of the women answered.

General?! O Bože, I'm dead. I'm dead! I'm gonna get kicked out of the country all because I had to be such an idiot!

The woman looked him over sharply. "You are a guest of King T'Challa, are you not? One of the Avengers."

Pietro gulped. "Y-Yes, ma'am…" he whispered meekly. This woman reminded him of Natasha.

She walked around him like a wolf encircling her prey. "And what do they call you? I have met Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes. They both had better manners."

"P-Pietro Maximoff…"

"You were not in Leipzig. His Highness would have mentioned you."

Pietro recovered a bit of his dignity. "I stayed in the United States. I looked after Captain Rogers' daughter, so he could go fight."

It might have been his imagination, but the General's eyes seem to soften the slightest bit.

"General, should we escort him out?"

The General paused for a moment, and then gave a grin that most certainly mirrored Natasha.

"Why did you come down here, boy?"

"Ah…to run? I can run very fast, see…"

"Very well, then." She smiled at the other women. "You see, we are members of the Dora Milaje. The king's personal guard. We have not had new blood to practice with for a while…"

Pietro silently promised never to flirt with girls ever again.

W'Kabi, proud leader of the Border Tribe, was headed for the training courtyard to find his wife. It was nearing time for lunch and they had made plans to eat together, once Okoye had finished morning training with the Dora.

Upon arriving in the courtyard, he saw a strange sight.

Wakanda was an isolated country. Strangers very rarely made it inside the border; he saw to that. Even less did they make it inside the palace.

Yet the man who was currently being chased by five of the Dora Milaje was certainly not Wakandan.

He knew from T'Challa that there were currently several outsiders residing in the palace. He had met Captain Rogers and found him to be a very polite and conscientious individual. There were two others, as well, besides the little girl.

That is not Sergeant Barnes. So, it must be the fast one…something Maximoff. What did he do to anger Okoye?

He spotted Okoye, surveying the scene with a small, proud smirk, and walked over to her.

"My love, what is this?" he asked.

Okoye's smirk grew. "Better to ask who, W'Kabi. This is Pietro Maximoff, one of the Avengers. This is also a boy who has learned why you should never make eyes at the Dora Milaje."

W'Kabi's eyebrows shot up. "He dared?"

"He is a boy. Young, most likely bored. He meant no harm. And he has learned his lesson. The girls enjoyed using him for endurance training. He runs quite fast, especially when prompted by spears."

"If you say so, my love…if he is so bored, perhaps he would enjoy taking care of Thandiwe for a day. She does eat a lot. Which produces much…"

Okoye swatted at her husband. "Konele. You can ask him if you like. Practice is nearly finished."

Pietro had never been so hot in all his life. It seemed that Wakanda had a much higher humidity level than New York, or Sokovia.

He had his hands on his knees, panting, aware that the Dora Milaje were all watching him.

Finally, he managed to straighten up.

"Ej…Sorry about that. Earlier. My sister is going to slap me later."

One warrior nodded. "So long as you have learned your lesson."

"…could I maybe do this again? Without my life in danger?"

There was a long pause.

"Perhaps."

"He was fun to chase."

"And cute when flustered."

Okoye caught the tail end of the conversation, and she and W'Kabi walked over. "And what is this? You wish for more punishment?"

Pietro gave his most winning, cheeky smile. "It was very good exercise, General."

W'Kabi rolled his eyes. "That smile does not work on her, mzungu. Believe me, I have tried. But I have another proposition for you, if you are so bored."

"Yes, sir?"

"How do you feel about taking care of a rhinoceros?"

"He did what?"

"I know! I nearly killed him! I could not believe he would jeopardize our position like that!" Wanda looked across the couch at her newest acquaintance—the princess of Wakanda! —and gave a pleading look. "We know we are only here because your brother is very kind."

Shuri waved her hand. "T'Challa wouldn't kick you out of the country because your brother did something stupid. Besides, I think Okoye likes him now. She treats him like a puppy."

"He is a puppy…" Wanda muttered, half exasperated and half fond. "That is why he gets along so well with Christy."

Shuri laughed. "She's adorable! Like a serious little shadow. She idolizes all of you."

Wanda sighed. "Yes, she does. She is going to want to fight, soon. Steve cannot put her off forever."

"I can make her a suit, like my brother's. A little panther. Maybe lion. She is much lighter."

Wanda laughed, a sound which made Shuri very satisfied.

These people have been through far too much sorrow lately…it is good to laugh.

"She is a lion cub…a very fierce little thing that also responds well to love and attention."

"And how are you feeling?" Shuri asked, giving Wanda a once-over look that was eerily like T'Challa's.

"I…I sleep well enough. Lots of nightmares. I think they will fade, eventually. Clint likes to check on me at night."

Shuri smiled, a bit sadly. "Baba used to check on me, as well. Or tell me to go to sleep, if he thought I was in the lab too late."

"You miss him." Wanda said. "I am so sorry…for Lagos, for what happened in Vienna. For so many things." She twisted a bit of red energy between her fingers, as she always did when she was nervous.

"You did not kill my father. And you did not start a fight in Lagos. There is nothing you need to apologize to me for." Shuri eyed the glowing red energy. "Could I run some tests on that?"

"I…suppose." Wanda shifted nervously. "It would depend on the test."

"Yeah, a bit careful if you please, princess. None of us are exactly fond of being used as lab rats. Been there, done that, wasn't pleasant."

Shuri looked up as Bucky entered the living room area. "Sargent Barnes. I was not suggesting anything I have not attempted on my own brother. Perhaps a weapon to help channel the energy more effectively."

"That would be interesting." Wanda sat forward a bit, as Bucky sat on the edge of the couch. "Thank you." she added, looking back at him. "It's alright."

Bucky softened a little. "If ya say so. But why is everyone here callin' me Sargent? I haven't been a Sargent in over seventy years!"

"Did you ever formally resign?" Shuri asked. Her face was poker-straight but there was a mysterious twinkle in her eye.

"Well…no, not exactly. Bit hard to resign when HYDRA conscripts you against your will."

"Then technically you are still a Sargent." Shuri snapped a salute, sending Wanda into another fit of giggles at Bucky's annoyed face.

"But I... fine." Bucky decided to surrender gracefully.

Wanda's laughing, that's all that matters. She deserves to be happy.

Shuri watched the two of them with narrowed eyes. Most of the Avengers she had seen had a familiar grace with each other and were used to each other's presence. But these two…

T'Challa acts like that whenever Nakia laughs. And Nakia is equally as oblivious. Bast, I hope she can come back soon. It's always more fun when she's around. More fun to tease T'Challa, anyway.

Out loud, all she said was, "Are you looking forward to your new arm, Sargent?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Yeah…an' no. Lookin' forward to bein' able to walk straight, for sure. But it also means I'm a threat again…I'm a little sick of bein' a threat."

"Panthers are threats, but they also make fierce protectors for their cubs." Shuri replied.

"Is it a Wakandan trait to be able to give sage parables as advice?"

"Is it an American trait to avoid truth with humor?"

"Yes!" Wanda cried. "Yes, it certainly is!"

"Hey!"

"Not just you, Bucky! Tony does it, and Clint, and Natasha—."

"Natasha isn't technically American!"

"She has lived there long enough to be infected."

"Infected! Infected! Why I oughta…"

Shuri, for once, did not try to insert a snappy comment. Instead, she sat very still and watched Bucky and Wanda dissolve into bantering.

I wonder how long it will take them both to figure it out.

"What's her name again?" Christy asked, petting the massive rhino gently on the forehead.

"Thandiwe." W'Kabi replied.

"What's it mean?"

"Loved one." W'Kabi patted the animal on her flank. "It was Okoye's idea."

T'Challa snorted. "It was your idea. You were being lovestruck. Saying it was your first child."

"It is! Practice! Besides, rhinos take much care. Is that not right, Pietro?!"

Pietro, who had been put to work hauling dried grass and branches to the feeding trough, simply grunted. "She's cute."

"Cuter than the Dora, hey?"

"I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

"Nope." Christy replied, deliberately keeping her eyes on Thandiwe and not on her 'cousin'.

"I'll deal with you later, Christy."

Christy folded her arms. "You'll have to find me first!"

"I'll just put on Disney music and wait for you to sing."

W'Kabi glanced at his old friend and raised an eyebrow. "For centuries, we hide ourselves from the outside world, and these are the ones you choose to let inside?"

"They come without guns and weapons, and with no delusions that they are better than us." T'Challa said simply. "They come looking for peace. What is the point of having a refuge if you cannot share?"

"Your father did not think that. And many of the elders still do not."

T'Challa watched as Christy continued baby-talking to Thandiwe, and Pietro mumbled something about "smartass children".

"No, many of them do not. And my father did not. But I am not my father."

W'Kabi nodded slowly, looking troubled. "I understand your heart, my friend. But if you let these ones stay, then what of others? What of the problems they could bring?"

"Perhaps that is the price we pay."

"But are our people ready to pay it?"

Both men stood in silence for a moment.

Christy tapped on T'Challa's arm. "Umzala? Can we go back to the palace? I think Pietro needs a shower."

As Pietro lunged for the smaller girl, who danced out of his reach, T'Challa couldn't help but laugh.

I don't know if our people are ready to pay the price for allowing others in our borders. But I will pay it for myself as a test run and reap any riches that may come.

What the future holds, we will see.

Reviews are a Lion-Suit for Christy.