WAKANDA WAS UNDER T'Challa's rule once again. The citizens within didn't have to fear any longer and worry about the tyranny of Killmonger.

The king decided to save his cousin. He was on the brink of death and the kimoyo beads barely kept him alive. He was now in a coma as Shuri and Wakandan doctors looked over him, anticipating his awakening. It could be weeks, months, or even years, but T'Challa hoped once he comes to that they can finally reach out to him as family. He didn't think he was too far gone.

In Oakland, California, T'Challa and Shuri stood in front of a fenced-off building as kids nearby played a game of pick-up basketball.

"When you said you would take me to California for the first time...I thought you meant Coachella...or Disneyland." Shuri said with a disgusted expression. "Why here?"

T'Challa leaned against the fence and looked up at the building. "This is where our father killed our uncle."

Shuri sighed and looked ahead at the building too, reading the sign on it.

"They're tearing it down. Good." She replied.

"They are not tearing it down. I bought this building." He corrected and looked at another structure across the street. "And that building. And that one over there."

Shuri wondered why her brother would purchase these complexes in a run-down part of Oakland.

T'Challa continued. "This will be the first Wakandan International Outreach Center. Nakia will oversee the social outreach." He turned to Shuri. "And you will spearhead the science and information exchange."

Shuri chuckled. "You're kidding."

"Eh?" T'Challa smirked and pressed a bead on his bracelet. A Wakandan jet above deactivated its cloak and descended onto the basketball court. The children nearby turned around and looked on in awe.

"Hey, yo. Man, what the hell is that?"

"That's like a Bugatti spaceship!"

"Bro, it came out of nowhere. Did y'all see that?"

Shuri smiled back and dapped up her brother. She then ran over to the kids by the aircraft to speak with them.

"Hey, yo!" One of the kids called out to T'Challa and walked up to him. He pointed back at the jet. "This yours?"

T'Challa didn't respond, but the kid's curiosity was still at its peak.

"Who...who are you?" He asked again.

The Wakandan king looked at the boy and simply smiled.

• • •

THE DOORS TO the throne room opened. Y/N walked inside and saw Queen Ramonda sitting in her own seat by the king's vacant one. Okoye, Ayo, and other Dora Milaje warriors along with the council and Nakia were in the room. T'Challa and Shuri weren't there since they were currently on their flight back from California.

The super-soldier walked up to the Wakandans, his hands folded behind his back in his attempt at a respectful gesture. He bowed slightly toward the Queen Mother.

"Lieutenant Y/N L/N." Ramonda greeted as she got up from her seat.

"Queen Mother."

She started walking closer to the man and began to speak.

"King T'Chaka, my husband, put his faith in you before he perished. You were among the few heroes he trusted in supporting his cause. That same trust he had...is what my son, T'Challa, has for you now."

Y/N stood straight up and continued to listen.

"With the removal of your mental restraints, you could have gone, but you chose to stay. You gave your mind, body, and soul to help Wakanda by your own merit. You stood up to N'Jadaka, fought alongside the great warriors of Wakanda, and helped save the throne."

The Queen opened her arms and the council-people stood up from their seats. She clutched an item and held it out toward Y/N. He extended his own palm and she placed it in his hand.

"This used to be T'Chaka's pendant, signifying courage and intuition." She said as she closed his hand. "You are an outsider no longer, Y/N. You are a part of Wakanda...and you will always be welcome."

Y/N smiled and nodded, opening his palm and looking at the pendant. He closed his hand again and pressed it against his chest. "It's an honor, Queen Mother. Thank you."

Ramonda smiled back and stepped away. She crossed her arms together in an "X", in which the rest of the occupants in the room followed suit. Y/N reciprocated the Wakandan gesture and left the room shortly after. 

Y/N was in Shuri's lab packing some of his gear. The case that contained his Taskmaster suit rested on the table, and he looked at it every time he passed by.

"It sucks to see you go so soon." Shuri said as she entered the room.

"Okoye told me that Rogers is on his way." He replied. "And with your brother planning on revealing Wakanda to the U.N in a couple of days, I think it's best if I go."

"As mother said, you're always welcome here."

"I appreciate that."

The princess walked over to the table that had his case. The soldier noticed Shuri admiring her own work.

"That suit is amazing. Thank you." He said as he finished packing.

"You like the color scheme?" She asked.

"Oh, it's my favorite thing about it."

"I wanted to add something from your previous suit to this. Since you like black and red...I thought why not?"

"Aside from that, the collapsible weapons, the retractable mask, the armor plating...you're a genius."

She chuckled. "Yes, I know. Enough with the flattery." She paused for a moment. "I'm just kidding, keep it going."

They both laughed before there was a brief silence. Y/N closed the case and looked at Shuri.

"You said I should make my own destiny..."

"Ever since HYDRA first eyed you as a toddler, they wanted you for one thing. The label they gave you, the mimic, has cast a shadow of doubt on you mentally...but it shouldn't. You shouldn't see it as a curse. I think you should show the world that it isn't. But that's your choice."

Y/N listened to Shuri's words, understanding her point and what she was inferring. Like Natasha, she didn't want him to see his ability as a curse...but a gift. And now that he was free of the programming, nobody can exploit him. He was free to be his own person. And the name he was given as an image of fear could now be used differently.

"You think I should continue being Taskmaster?" He asked.

"As I said, that's your choice." She replied. "But if I were to give my two cents...it sounds way more badass than Freedom Fighter."

Y/N chuckled. "Come on."

"Like...what made you name yourself that?"

"I had just come out of a 40+ year sleep and loved Captain America comics."

"So if you loved Batman instead you would've named yourself...Night Fighter or something?"

He nudged her on the shoulder. "Okay, okay."

Everett Ross came into the room and the two immediately noticed him. He gave a smile. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything."

"Agent Ross." Shuri greeted.

"I'm on my way out. I just wanted to thank you...not only for saving me but for everything else."

"My pleasure." She replied. "You can thank me by purchasing my tickets to Disneyland."

Ross chuckled, not knowing if she was joking or not. He looked toward Y/N. "Lieutenant."

"It's good to see you back on your feet, Ross." The soldier said. "And don't think I didn't notice your piloting skills a couple of days ago. Damn good work."

"I thought those days were long gone. But I'm glad I was able to help." He replied.

There was a brief silence before the agent spoke again.

"Take care of yourself, L/N. You're still a wanted man, but I'll keep my lips sealed."

Y/N nodded. "Good luck, Everett."

Ross gave a nod before leaving the lab.

Y/N, Okoye, and T'Challa walked out of the palace and toward the area where the landing pad was. As they waited, they conversed amongst one another.

"So you're saying you bested her in a fight?" T'Challa asked after Y/N briefly explained the event when he faked being under the protocol's control again.

"He did not." Okoye interjected before Y/N could answer. "I let him win. It was all part of the plan to convince Killmonger that he was good enough to keep around."

"You thought I was good enough to keep around." He said. "You stopped Erik from killing me."

Okoye didn't respond and Y/N simply chuckled.

"You like me."

The general scoffed. "Please. It was all strategy."

"If you say so." The soldier shrugged. "So the strategy was for you to also be on your butt on the floor."

"Oh? You want to challenge me for real this time?" She shot a look toward him.

"Pick the time and place." He said with a chuckle.

T'Challa laughed at their banter. "As much as I would like to see it now, we'll have to wait for another day."

The three looked up to see an incoming Quinjet. It descended onto the landing pad where it settled down and the airstair opened. The first person that walked out of it was a familiar-looking blonde, wearing a vest over her scuffed black suit.

Y/N gave a beaming smile as he put down his case and ran forward. Natasha reciprocated the smile and the act, running ahead as well until they met in the middle and embraced.

Natasha placed kisses along his cheek before finally planting one on his lips. She held his head in between her hands as a tear rolled down her cheek. Y/N kissed the tear that ran down and smiled. "Моя любовь (My love)."

"Моя сияющая звезда (My shining star)." Natasha said as she ran a finger through his hair. "I've missed you so much."

He gave two quick kisses on her lips. Seeing her and being able to feel her lips again was the greatest gift he could have.

"I'm free, Natasha." He said referring to his programming. "Nothing can take me again...and I won't let anything keep us apart."

His lover nodded and hugged him tightly. While in the embrace, a gust of wind hit them as a blue blur stopped beside the couple.

"It's kind of awkward standing over there and waiting." Pietro remarked with a smile.

Y/N pulled away from Natasha and hugged Pietro next. The speedster pat his back before parting.

"Where's Wanda?" The super-soldier asked.

"Back in Italy at our safe house." He answered. "She wanted some alone time with the robot, but she sends her love. Here." Pietro hugged him again on behalf of Wanda.

Y/N simply chuckled, also wondering what he meant by Wanda and the robot. He'd have to ask again later.

In the distance, Sam Wilson walked out of the airstair and smiled at Y/N. Wearing his Falcon attire, he held out his arms.

"Sam." Y/N greeted his friend.

"Hold up. I gotta make sure." Sam said as he took out an MP3 player. He pressed a button and a song played. It was Fortunate Son.

"You're an asshole." Y/N laughed and punched his shoulder.

"It ain't me. It ain't me." Sam sang mockingly before laughing as well. He shut off the player and pulled his friend in for a hug.

"I'm glad you're okay, man." Sam said in a sincere tone.

Y/N spoke with his chin on Sam's shoulder. "It's great to see you again, brother."

The last person out was none other than his father, Steve Rogers. His suit looked a little more darkened and scuffed. The stars on his chest and shoulders also looked blacked out.

"Cap." Y/N called out as the older soldier walked up.

"Son." He greeted back and placed a hand on his shoulder. They looked at each other for a moment before ultimately embracing. T'Challa stood nearby, smiling at the sight of the father and son.

Rogers and Y/N went up to the king shortly afterward and spoke with him.

"Thank you once again." Y/N said.

"I should be the one thanking you, Lieutenant." T'Challa replied. "You fought for Wakanda as if it was your own home. I will never forget that."

The king smiled and shook hands with the soldier. He then looked at Okoye.

"Will you stab me if I hug him?" Y/N asked.

"Make it brief." Okoye joked.

Y/N smiled and embraced T'Challa. The Wakandan pat his back before pulling away.

"It was an honor being here, Your Highness."

"Please, let's drop the royal jargon. It's T'Challa from now on, Y/N. And you'll always be welcomed here."

"I appreciate it, T'Challa. Thank you."

The two bid farewell before Y/N and his friends started to board the Quinjet. T'Challa and Okoye watched as the aircraft ascended into the sky and flew away. The king and his general smiled at one another before walking back toward the palace.

The jet soared above the clouds toward their destination. Rogers put the aircraft on autopilot as Y/N finished explaining to his colleagues about what transpired the last few days in Wakanda.

"So his cousin also liked cats?" Sam asked about Killmonger, in which Natasha nudged his shoulder.

"I don't think he cared about the panther and its symbol. He just wanted revenge...and power." Y/N replied.

"So they gave you this?" Pietro asked in the corner as he picked up the case.

"Careful with that."

"I'm caref—"

As the Maximoff twin held the case, it opened and his suit fell out of it. Pietro grimaced. "Oooh, sorry."

"Shuri modified the armor?" Natasha asked as she looked at the suit on the floor. Pietro continued fumbling with it as he picked it up.

"She did." He answered and smirked. "That's good because I know you think I look hot in it."

"I never said that." She chuckled.

"I kinda got the hint back in Belarus. The way you looked at me."

"Oh? How about you put it on right now and see if you're right?"

"I'd be happy to."

"All right." Sam got up from his seat. "If you need me, I'll be throwing up by the airstair."

Y/N and Natasha laughed amongst each other. After a brief silence, the soldier asked a question. "What are you guys doing in Italy anyway?"

"Well, the States are off-limits because of obvious reasons." Pietro answered.

"We are in the process of taking down a human trafficking cell there." Steve answered truthfully. "We've been tailing them for a couple of weeks now."

"Really?" Y/N raised a brow. "What's your angle on that?"

Natasha turned to him. "There isn't one. We're doing this because we want to. Even with the Avengers disbanded...the world shouldn't have to worry."

Y/N nodded, immediately understanding.

"Because we are still there for them." Y/N said.

"Exactly." Natasha replied.

Steve leaned against the wall and placed his hands near his belt. "People still need us, Y/N. Even if the work doesn't come with the comfort of a compound...or tech from Stark...it's still my mission to help." He looked at his son. "Question is, are you up for that?"

Y/N looked at Natasha, at Sam in the corner, at Pietro, then back at Steve. Along with Wanda, they were going to keep the mission of the Avengers alive. It didn't matter if some world governments still saw them as criminals. That shouldn't keep them from doing their part, and if that meant doing so in secret...so be it.

The young super-soldier nodded and looked directly at Rogers.

"Let's go be heroes."

END OF: BLACK PANTHER