from_the_outside | [Leipzig AU] good for trouble

Busan glitters like a disco ball in the night, and no one gives them a second glance as they stroll through the fish market, Sharon in her white dress on Ross's arm, the rest of the team behind them. "Sophia," she says, warmly, and exchanges air kisses with the woman, her pink visor and plastic apron both bright. She knows to expect them, and after she pats Sharon fondly on the cheek, she nods them through.

They spread out through the casino, the team's voices low in her ear. She stays by Ross, playing the part of arm candy, applauding when he wins and consoling him when he loses.

There's no sign of Klaue yet, and the metal briefcase full of diamonds stays locked to the wrist of one of the other agents. "I'm going to get a drink," Sharon murmurs to Ross, and makes her way through the crowd to the bar.

The martinis here are fine, but not as good as Nat's.

Current Location: Busan / Wakanda

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From:

marvel_npc

"Hai, Ukumkani!" Okoye shouts as they race around the hood of Deputy Commander Ross's car. Nakia is grateful, because the sharp command in the general's tone draws T'Challa's attention.

"Ihlabathi libukele," she warns, desperate. If he strikes, all will be lost in the eyes of the world outside Wakanda, a world they cannot ignore, much though some would wish to.

From:

from_the_outside

From her spot in the passenger seat, she can't see Klaue well, but the worry in Nakia's face and voice are more than clear enough.

Next to her, Ross leans out the driver side window. "Come on, guys. Let's go, huh?"

A siren sounds, and Task Force vehicles come following behind as she and Ross get out of the car to take custody of Klaue.

From:

nerves_of_ice

Shuri breathes a huge sigh and her shoulders slump with relief. "He is captured," she tells Bucky. "T'Challa has turned him over to the authorities. Apparently there are many people around and watching."

"There would be," Bucky murmurs. "And if he'd executed him in public like that outside Wakanda -- it wouldn't have been good, Princess. Especially with his particular skills. Captured's better, he can arrange to have him brought here and dealt with. It'll be okay."

From:

marvel_npc

"T'Challa will bide his time," Shuri agrees. "He will not leave Klaue there, or with these other men. Not after everything Klaue has done to us, how Wakanda has suffered at his hands."

She removes her communicator from behind her ear and leaves the sand table with a reluctant sigh. "That was fun, though."

From:

nerves_of_ice

"Are you kidding? That was incredible," Bucky tells her, grinning. He can't help but be delighted by the technology, even without the slightest clue about how it could be possible.

Still, he'll feel better once he hears from Sharon. It's not hard to put together the fact that she'd been looking into alternate uses for vibranium a few weeks ago with her sudden trip on Task Force business with what apparently would have been a notable black market sale from a known vibranium thief.

From:

from_the_outside

Klaue turns out to be a singularly annoying captive. He doesn't seem to care that he's been captured and instead spends his time singing 'Don't Stand So Close to Me" at the top of his lungs.

As Ross grinds his teeth and the caravan winds its way towards the Task Force's safe room, she takes moment to pull out her phone to text Bucky. It's looking like it'll be a long night – what's left of it, the night is already hurtling toward dawn – and she doesn't want him to wait up if it'll take a long while before she can call.

hey, long night, might be a while yet before I can call I can call tomorrow if it's getting late there

From:

nerves_of_ice

They’d had to start the test series over, but it’s not like he’s in any hurry - and at this point neither he nor Shuri are worried about what the results might show. He’s perched on a stool nearby while she reviews the data, and his attention goes immediately to the tablet when it chimes.

A soft, amused breath escapes him as he looks at the screen. A long night, huh? He just bets.

as long as you’re ok
that’s all I need to know
call when you can
its fine

From:

from_the_outside

I'm okay at ease call you when I can

She slides the phone back into her pocket and tries to remember the time difference between South Korea and Wakanda.

The Wakandans, unsurprisingly, are grim and silent through the ride – aside from Nakia, anyway. She winks at Sharon when their eyes meet, and Sharon suppresses a huff of laughter as they pull in to the safe room. T'Challa and Okoye have a low conversation and the General glances over the Task Force personnel as they get out of their cars, then turns to leave.

"She is getting our things," Nakia whispers to Sharon, who nods.

"What?" she says, and gestures to her pretty white dress. "You don't want to stay in evening wear for this?"

From:

marvel_npc

"We are quite stunning," Nakia returns, dryly. "Including Okoye. And yet."

She hasn't had the opportunity to observe T'Challa with outsiders like this before, but cannot fail to notice that this, at least, seems more familiar to him than she might have expected. She is going to have to find out more about how things took place in Vienna and Berlin.

"You know we are going to have to come to an agreement, yes?"

From:

from_the_outside

"I know that," Sharon tells her. "And you know that."

She folds her arms and looks over to where T'Challa and Ross are talking. "Do you think they know that?"

From:

marvel_npc

"Yes, but I suspect they are in very different places as to what it must be."

The Task Force team brings Klaue in and secures him in the little interrogation room with its two-way mirrored window, while he pokes fun at them the entire time.

"He is very irritating," she notes.

From:

from_the_outside

"At least he's not telling us all about his evil plan," Sharon points out. "I hate a villain monologue."

She leans onto a desk and watches as the other agents set up monitors and start brewing coffee. "So I hear you met my special gentleman friend."

From:

marvel_npc

"Mm," Nakia agrees. "He is very thoughtful. I can see why you like him."

From:

from_the_outside

"I'm just in it for the good looks and charm," she says, then slants a half-smile at Nakia to let her know she's joking.

From:

marvel_npc

She laughs very softly to keep from drawing attention.

"Of course."

From:

from_the_outside

"Is he doing okay?" she murmurs, after a moment. "Really?"

By himself out there in Wakanda, now with Steve and Tony gone, too. She's absolutely certain he's been downplaying what he's been thinking and feeling, not wanting her to worry.

From:

marvel_npc

"He is," Nakia assures her. If her friend begins to worry too much, she will hound T'Challa for things he is not yet willing to grant, and that will be detrimental to Nakia's purpose as well as Sharon's own.

"He is very quiet, and has been keeping much to himself, but I believe Shuri is determined to see to it that this changes. T'Challa as well, now that he has more time to give."

From:

from_the_outside

"Good."

She lifts a hand and pats Nakia's arm. "I'm going to go change. Back in a minute."

From:

marvel_npc

"Take your time," she says, amused, and goes to meet Okoye as the other woman returns to the room with a pack in hand.

"This will be difficult," she murmurs, and Okoye nods. "Yes. But we cannot leave Klaue with them. Under any circumstances."

From:

from_the_outside

She finds a quiet part of the safe house and locks the door, then takes out her day clothes to change into before she dials Bucky's number and hits the speaker icon.

She's going to have to multitask if she wants to get a chance to talk to him.

From:

nerves_of_ice

Once Shuri had finished up the tests, she'd agreed to let him hang around in case of any word from the others - especially once he'd promised to share anything he could, too.

That doesn't mean she's not going to get everything possible out of him in the meantime, and he finds himself more than a little amused by the set of tasks she puts him to. Still, when the tablet chimes, he sets them aside immediately and goes to the little side room to take the call.

"Hi."

From:

from_the_outside

"Hi, baby."

She unzips the dress and undoes the halter, letting it fall in a whisper of material to the floor, then bends to undo her shoes. "I can't talk long, but I wanted to just check in."