#I know some people said he kidnapped Shuri but she asked to go there and they were treating her like royalty | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

killmongerskeepermain · 1 year

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Her Heart // Chapter 1 // Shuri

Summary: You left behind the life of a wardog and continued on as Y/N of Wakanda and the heart of the black panther. Your world is suddenly flipped upsiode down when an old target kidnaps you and the Queen of Talokan. Can Shuri keep her head on straight and get you back before it too late?

Pairing: Shuri x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Spoilers // Mentioned Character Death

Chapter 1 // Chapter 2 //

Today was supposed to be simple. Shuri would train with the Dora Milaje in the early hours of the morning. Becoming the black panther meant she had to train harder than when she would spar with you. Back when T'Challa held the mantle. You being one of the best spies in Wakanda meant you could put up a good fight. Then she would spend time with you working in the lab. You had some designs for some new weapons to show her. You were proud of them. So she was excited to see what you came up with. This was the last thing on her mind. Namor was the last thing on her mind.

"How dangerous are these threats?" Shuri asked as the council gathered in the throne room.

"Reports are telling us that Namor has resurfaced. With clear intentions of destroying Wakanda." Okoye said with her hands behind her back. Scared? No. Worried? Of course but she couldn't let the council know that.

"Namor? I thought there was a truce with Talokan?" Ayo questioned and Shuri began zoning out. Namor was still set on attacking Wakanda? After everything he's already done. Yes, Shuri demanded a truce but in the end, he killed her mother. Something she could not forgive. When will it end? Shuri refused to let someone else she cares about fall due to his actions.

"Princess." A voice tore her from her trance and she looked up to see all eyes on her.

"I'll go to the checkpoint with Okoye and Ayo. If he's planning something, I must stop him before any attacks happen. Even if that means killing him this time. We leave in an hour." The black panther sneered as she stood from the throne both her mother and brother once sat. The room remained silent as she walked out with a heavy heart. Everyone knew where she was headed. To inform her dearest of this mission. A mission she may or may not return from. Namor couldn't attack again. Hasn't Wakanda mourned enough? Buried enough. Lost in her thoughts she entered the lab, her eyes finding your form almost immediately as you talked to other scientists. A small smile appeared on her lips as you waved your hand over the floating screen.

"Good evening, Princess." You perked up upon hearing Grio announce her presence and you went up to hug her. You may be a trained spy but she's the only one to make you smile brighter than you have before. She hugged you back and you pulled back before your smile fell. Her eyes held sadness and you caressed her cheek.

"What bothers you my love?" You asked with concern laced in your voice and she kissed your palm.

"Everyone out! Now!" She demanded and all the other scientists scattered out of the lab. You looked up at her with confusion evident on your features as you sat down the clipboard in your hands.

"Why did you send them off? What's going on?" You were worried now as she took a deep breath. Whatever she was about to tell you, isn't easy for her to say.

"We've gotten reports that Namor is planning to launch another attack. Your body went still as you held the gasp that threatened to leave you.

"And who said that? Where did you hear that from?" You questioned and she held your arms.

"One of Talokan's people came to the river border last night. Told us to be ready. He wants to finish what he started." She told you and you had to hold back tears. You knew she was about to go out there. You wouldn't be surprised if she was still hell bent on killing him. After what he did to her mother.

"Are you-" you couldn't finish your sentence as she slowly nodded and a small whimper finally cracked. "Why? Why now? He has a family now, what could his reasoning be behind this attack?"

"I don't know. That's what I'm going to find out."

"You can't go out there. If any of this is true, he could very well be trying to separate you from the palace." You started to panic and she grabbed your hands.

"I have to sthandwa. I might be able to talk some sense into him. If he is planning an attack I need to know when and why." She pulled you closer by your waist, hoping to calm you down.

"No. No! What if it's a trap set for you?" You argued and she sighed. She knew you would not agree so easily. "If he does want to attack, taking you out first is a battle strategy. He almost took you from me once. I cannot bear that pain again."

"I'll return to you Y/N." She held your face and you shook your head. You closed your eyes as she rested her forehead against your own. "I promise you."

"If you die on me, I'll resurrect you and kill you myself." You stated and she couldn't help the smile on her lips. No matter how serious you were. You almost never had to use your abilities. You gave up training them after you failed to bring the queen back. Her lips found yours in a passionate kiss as if to seal the promise. Your fingers dug in her hair and her hold on your waist tightened. The kiss held much more than a promise. It meant, come back to me. I love you. Be careful. Everything you couldn't say without the dam breaking.

You didn't even hear Okoye enter the lab until she cleared her throat. "M'Baku and the Jabari tribe have been notified. It's time to go princess." The two of you parted and you bit your lips as you hugged her one more time.

"Please-"

"I know my love. I promised, didn't I? Keep the lab from falling into chaos until I get back." She asked before backing away from you. The two of you didn't release the hold on the other's hand until she had gotten further away. You felt empty when her hand slipped from yours but you held up. No more tears. She was gonna come back. You had to be strong. She was the black panther. Everything will be just fine. You still followed behind her as the two went to the elevator.

"I'm gonna see you off." You told her and she nudged you with her shoulder. You looked over at her trying your best to keep the tears in your eyes. She rested her forehead on yours and you sighed as you leaned into her. The doors opened and the wind from the royal jet had your curls blowing in the wind.

The aircraft had been prepared and you walked out with Shuri. Intertwining your hand with hers as you neared the landing dock. She squeezed your hand in reassurance which you greatly appreciated. On the outside you may have it all together. But you were torn apart on the inside. You can't lose her. Not now. She's to become your wife in a couple of months. And you hers. When the time came she turned to you before kissing your lips one more time. It was quicker than the one you shared in the lab but held all the same passion. You watched as she walked into the jet with Okoye and Ayo not far behind. Aneka walked up to you before putting a comforting arm around you. Just like you, her love was going on what could be a suicide mission. You leaned into her embrace as you watched the jet disappear into the clouds. A light hand on your shoulder tore your attention from the sky and onto Aneka. "They will be okay. She will be okay. I am here if you need anything Y/N." You nodded before turning on your heels to go to the room you shared with Shuri. There you changed into a black battle suit you had stored away in your closet. Shuri had it made for you after you fought off some mercenaries who came to steal vibranium. You let out a sigh as you prayed for Okoye, Ayo, and Shuri's safety. Your eyes opened and you quickly ran to the lab. Upon entering you clapped your hands and looked at all the scientists present.

"Okay. Wakanda might be in danger. Those weapon plans I went over with all of you. It's time. We need to get them prepared for Shuri to look at upon her arrival back to the palace." You grabbed your clipboard and turned to the page with the vibranium daggers you had drawn out. You weren't going to deem yourself useless again. "Starting with these."

// The River Border //

Shuri felt as if her heart was beating out of her chest as she used the conch Namor left behind to call to him. Her thoughts ran wild as they waited. Why would he attack now? Why does he want to attack? Wakanda hasn't done anything to Talokan to receive such threats. She just wanted this to be a bad dream so she'd wake up next to you in your bed. The sun beaming down on you making you look like an angel. You would kiss her good morning and the two of you would lay there for a while talking about the wedding. Who you wanted to invite. What type of flowers you wanted in your bouquet. All the small details.

"Princess." Okoye called out as the water rippled, showing he arrived. She balled her fist as he stepped out of the water with Attuma close behind. He seemed a bit confused with the call but stopped at the edge of the water upon feeling the tension in the air.

"Princess. To what do I owe this meeting?" He questioned as Okoye and Ayo stood on alert.

"Don't play dumb with me Namor. We heard about your plan." She spat and now he frowned.

// The Palace //

"Ms. Y/N. The queen of Talokan is here to see you and the princess. She is waiting in the throne room." You frowned at the announcement Grio made. What was she doing here? How dare she show her face in Wakanda. You shot up from the computer and walked to the throne room where Namora stood by her queen. The queen saw the way your brows nearly touched because of the frown on your face and she gave a slight bow.

"You seem troubled." She said holding a blue hand on her swollen belly.

"Why are you here?" You asked and she was a bit taken aback by the sudden outburst. You had always shown her with respect. "Shouldn't you be standing by your husband?"

"I am here because I was summoned here." She replied and now you were the one confused.

"Summoned by who?" You questioned and she was a little concerned by your lack of knowledge on the information.

"One of the Dora Milaje called from the river border. Said there was something you and the princess needed to speak to me about. But it seems you have no idea what I'm talking about." She stated and you slowly backed away.

"We didn't send anyone. It would've been one of us to invite you personally on important matters. Not Dora Milaje. Especially not a single Dora Milaje." You told her and you caught the way Namora tensed.

"Where is the princess?" Namora asked, holding her weapon. Her eyes scanned the throne room as you sped to the table and grabbed your kimoyo beads.

"The princess has gone to the river border to confront Namor. Someone from Talokan alerted us that Namor was planning an attack." You told her and she frowned.

"He has made no such plans. Someone from Talokan? That's not true." She said taken aback and you sighed running a hand through your hair. You didn't like where this conversation was going. Neither of you knew about what was just revealed. It couldn't have been-

"Shit. Namora I'm going to need your help. We both have to stay with her at all times. She cannot leave this palace! Grio lock us down!" You shouted and the queen had fear rush across her features.

"What's happening?" She exchanged looks with Namora who was prepared to protect K'uk'ulkan's queen with her life.

"This whole thing was a setup. Both Talokan and Wakanda are without their protectors. You were lured here. The queen of Talokan. Who is currently pregnant with the child of a God. Someone knows something." You told her and she froze. Fear for her unborn child's life rushing through her body.

"I'm going to do my best to keep you safe. With Namora here that's more than possible. Come, we have to get to the lab." You stretched out a hand to the queen and she took it before the two followed you to the lab. You reached the lab where the scientist seemed to be surprised that you brought the Queen of Talokan here.

"What's the progress on those weapons?" You asked and one scientist spoke up.

"98%! Finishing the last one now."

"Hurry and print everything!" You shouted as you reached for the vibranium daggers you had finished. The blades were sharp to the touch and you slipped them into your boots. The last weapon, a vibranium short sword, had finished printing as Grio spoke out.

"Palace is locked down Ms. Y/N."

"Good." You grabbed a spare kimoyo bracelet and slipped it on Amera's wrist. "This is how we communicate. If we were to get separated for any reason, you can use these to contact me. I have the earrings as well so it won't be too noticeable. They can also reach the princess. And I'm almost certain Namor will be with her."

"Grio! Try to get in contact with Shuri." A couple minutes went by and you could hear your heartbeat in your ears. The pounding sound of a drum causing you to lose your breath.

"She didn't answer."

"Try again!"

// The River Border //

"Plan for what exactly?" Namor asked and Attuma stood in front of him.

"Your plan to attack Wakanda a second time. You were bold enough to send a message through one of your people." Okoye spat and his lips went into a thin line.

"I did no such thing. Besides, how do I know you're not pulling something on me. After requesting my wife come to your palace after my so-called threat of an attack." He spoke and Ayo looked over at Okoye. Neither of them had knowledge of this.

"We have no knowledge of this."

"What are you on about?" Shuri asked as her kimoyo beads vibrated on her wrist. She pushed to answer them this time and Y/N was on the other end.

"Shuri! Shuri, where are you?" She asked. Her voice held panic and worry.

"We're here with Namor. He claims he doesn't even know what we're talking about." Shuri told her dearest and the other end was silent.

"It was a setup." She said and everyone's attention turned to the princess with shock evident on their features.

"What do you mean a setup? Y/N what is happening?" Shuri became confused as her dearest was panicking on the other end.

"Amera. Namor's queen, said that a Dora Milaje came to the river border saying that we requested her presence at the palace. Apparently someone from Talokan said Namor was planning an attack. When I mentioned it to her she didn't even know what I was talking about." Shuri felt her heart drop to her stomach. Everyone has been tricked. Both leaders were drawn out from their kingdoms. "My love. I believe it's best for you to return back to Wakanda for I fear-"

A/N: Her Heart!!! But I plan to condense to longer and less chapters. Hope yall enjoy!! New fics coming soon!!!

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universeofdreams · 10 months

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Mission failed successfully

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Shuri Udaku x Fem!Reader

Genre: A bit of action, romance, fluff

Warnings: slightly mature language, a bit of kidnapping

Wordcount: 3011

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Summary: You decide to visit Wakanda and end up getting kidnapped by someone who tried to hack Griot but the badass bitch you are, you fight them off and teach T'Challa how to play a game. Shuri and you get closer.

A/n: this took me long enough ngl and I'm kinda happy but also kinda not but I still wanted to give you guys some content. Hope you enjoy it.

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„Don’t you think we need some help from one of the avengers?“ asked M‘Baku T‘Challa while they were looking over some plans.

„They don’t prioritise issues around Wakanda, sadly.“ T‘Challa said, shrugging.

But right in that moment, T‘Challas kimoyo beads started to vibrate. He picked up and saw the projection of your head.

„Hey T’Challa my brother, I had the feeling you guys need help?“ smiled the girl at him and made the king laugh.

„Indeed, sisi. Someone stole some of Shuri‘s plans for vibranium weapons from us and they’re trying to recreate them and hack Griot. So someone should be near to spy on us, you know?“ he answered your question and made Shuri and M‘Baku nod.

„Okay, that sounds like quite a big issue. I’ll tell Tony about it and then come see you as soon as possible, okay?“ was the answer while you were already assigning jobs and tasks to people.

„And by the way, how’s my favourite princess doing?“, you asked while handing an assistant some files and T‘Challa pulled Shuri into sight. She only laughed and waved at her friend.

„Good to see that she’s okay. Okay, I’ll have a quick talk to Tony and then message you, yeah T’Challa?“ He nodded and hung up, only to tease Shuri about what just happened.

„Sisi, you’re her favourite princess. I’d be tomato-red if I were yo- oh.“

He looked into her face and realised-

She was tomato-red.

„Does little Shuri miss her so much?“ teased M‘Baku and made her blush even more.

She didn’t answer, was too scared that it would be obvious for her brother and his friend.

After some time, you and your assistant arrived and were greeted by the king, the Dora Milaje, the eldest of the Jibari tribe and T'Challa's mother and queen Ramonda. When the heroine left the jet, she greeted the king with the typical wakandan greeting.

You even learned that for your friends, living in America usually has its effect on people.

Your assistant, Marc, did the same and then you two went to have a little talk to T‘Challa where he informed you about the fact that Shuri is in her lab, if you as an Avenger want to check up on Griot.

When you were walking down the hallways, you even received a light smile from the general of the Dora Milaje, Okoye.

„Good to see you, Y/n. Shuri is still down in her lab.“

„Thank you, Okoye, good to see you too. I hope we can have a talk later tonight.“

You smile at the Dora Milaje and go further your way until you reached the lab, connecting your phone to Griot.

„Princess-“ started the AI to announce but you silenced it just to pull the princess by her waist in a warm and loving hug.

Shuri was very surprised about that but swung her arms around you.

„Hey.“

You gave her a smile when you let her go to what she muttered a small ‚hi‘ back and got comfortable in your presence.

„Are you okay, my friend?“ Asked the older one while eyeing everything she was working on right now.

„It just been a little tough, I’m all good.“ She answered and smiled.

„I’m here for a reason. People want to hack Griot?“ you revealed your matter of concern to her.

„Yeah! Let me show you. I don’t know why I’m not able to fix it but it smells like a bug.“ She explained and showed you the codes on her phone.

„That code looks faulty.“ You explained and started writing new components inside it, same as she scanned the other codes for security breaches and fixed them.

„I think Griot should be safe from hackers from now on, but we still we should find out who tries to get to him from outside the palace.“ You offered.

The questioning look on Shuri’s face told you that the princess didn’t know about this.

„Okay, look. Do you see this code here?“

„Yes! And I didn’t write it. Faulty codes don’t exist for me.“

The way the princess furrowed her brows told the avenger that she really has no idea where it came from.

„I know, someone tries to connect to Griot with modified kimoyo beads. Did you gave some to someone else?“ You asked her while going through all the options possible how someone would hack into the AI but Shuri just shook her head.

„Okay, I will have to talk to Okoye if she‘d be kind enough to send some of the Dora Milaje with me.” While you told her this you stuffed your iPhone back into your pocket and smiled at her.

„You look stunning today, princess. As always.“

The black girl just smiled and some blush crept into her face as she went in for a hug. You took her acceptingly into your arms and caressed her back.

After looking at her kimoyo beads she once again spoke up. “Are you staying for dinner? My brother asked if you want to eat with us.” And when she received a nod from you, she laughed and let you go.

On your way to Okoye you met Aneka and also had a short talk with her, mostly about Ayo and her, how she was doing and if she’s seen her general.

You and Aneka were getting along very well since you did a first visit in Wakanda and she definitely was some kind of best friend you had here.

She was amazing. Showed you around the country, introduced you to amazing people and you had a lot of fun with each other. She was also the one to introduce you to Shuri.

When she opened up to you about her relationship with Ayo she was extremely happy to meet your excited face when you hugged her with the words “I’m so proud of you!”

Little did she know that you also took a liking to women but never mentioned it, people should still be interested in you because of the good things you do and not because of the gender you like.

A bit further in time, you found Okoye in the throne room together with Ramonda and king T’Challa himself, explaining your suspicion to them.

“Then I will join you to make sure you’re not alone.” T’Challa agreed and looked at his mother as if he was waiting for approval which he, after all, got.

Together you once again went down into the lab and started to suit yourself. T’Challa was getting his last upgrades for the suit and you were just mentally preparing yourself with some meditation before you actually suited up.

“Are you ready to go?” now asked the king and meant you to which you agreed. “I’m totally ready” You laughed at him and took your weapon from one of Shuri’s desks and attached it to your leg.

T’Challa was waiting for you in the elevator while you said your goodbye to Shuri, who was now looking at you awaitingly.

You forgot the hug.

After a long time of searching around the city they decided to split up and look in the countryside, which wasn’t the best idea after all. Didn’t they both learn from what we see in horror movies?

I mean okay, T’Challa was safe with the Dora Milaje but the fact that you were alone because you insisted on them staying with their king was just hella stupid.

And you agreed to yourself.

“Stupid decision, Y/n, well done dumbass.” You said to yourself while kicking a rock into what it seemed to be bushes. You used your powers since no one was around to judge you except for the bush, that made a little pained noise.

“Eh- what the fuck, am I mental?” The green scrub moved around and two red eyes focused you.

“Oh holy shit!” came a screech from you as you jumped away from hit. “What the fuck are you now?” It was more of an ironical question because the red eyes implied that the creature you accidentally awoke wasn’t really happy about exactly this. Grabbing a stick that lay next to you, you tried to “defend” yourself with this and waved it back and forth in front of its face.

But the bush’s reaction wasn’t what you thought would happen. “And you call yourself an avenger? You don’t even recognise a villain when he’s standing right in front of you!”

The scales fell from your eyes. You and T’Challa were looking for someone who tried to hack Griot and was a little tech-genius but this creature looked nowhere like this.

All you could do was give the thing a questioning look and hold your stick up high but he slapped it away like nothing.

“You’re not scared? Good, because you’re coming with me.” The person or thing chuckled and pulled you into them with arms that were covered in leaves. The laugh echoed through your head when you tried to get free from the bush with arms and feet, throwing punches here and there and wiggling around like a worm but their hold was firm and strong.

You bet your screaming was heard miles away, loud cries for help when your kidnapper muffled them with some duct tape with which he glued your mouth shut and - as fast as he could - tied your hands together so you wouldn’t be able to use your powers.

You could’ve facepalmed yourself when you remembered that you actually had those powers but couldn’t really use them now. Why were you this clumsy that you forgot about this? It was a misery.

T’Challa was wearing his panther suit just as if it was his daily outfit and that’s what made him hear your scream, his super sensitive panther ears.

He shot up from his crouching position where he was investigating some footprints and looked alarmed around, especially to Okoye and Aneka. They heard the scream too and Okoye was the one to confirm that it was you. As soon as the king saw her nod, he started running, followed close behind by his guards and made his way to your position.

But you were gone.

The only hint he got were the leaves on the ground which they started following.

Your opponent definitely wasn’t afraid of your wiggle in their arms when he pulled his hood off, revealing a man with a beard and the same red eyes that shocked you the first time.

Another man joined him and they laughed before covering your eyes, exchanging a few whispered words that sounded like “I hope the king and princess come get their little special guardian.”

Good for you that your ears were still functioning perfectly but you whished that you could’ve warned Shuri and her brother before they’d fall into the trap just like you did.

And T’Challa wanted to help you but he simply couldn’t because there wasn’t anything expect for the trail of leaves that stopped right in front of him.

His hands brushed over his face and he signed.

“How am I going to tell Shuri?”

“Brother, where is Y/n?” The female spoke as he entered the lab without the avenger by his side and immediately feel guilt spring up in the pit of his stomach.

“I lost her, Sisi.” His head hung low and he didn’t look her in the eye because he was totally aware of the feelings the princess cherished for the other female but his instinct told him that she instantly was worried.

“Listen, Sisi, I’m so sorry. We need to find her.” He exclaimed and took a halt next to her to see if she was furrowing her brows, which she did.

But Shuri was a genius in every way, of course she gave you kimoyo beads. It was easy for her to locate them. She flicked switches and swished her hands up and down on the holographic screen until she stopped.

“The beads are in Tokyo, Japan.” She announced while checking a few stats like your health data and if you were conscious or not, which disappointed her, because you were not. She was worried, hell was she worried about you.

Ever since you came back to Wakanda you were all she could think of, every time she was working on something you came to her mind and she wasn’t able to focus anymore. It’s like a curse and she firstly didn’t know why she would feel this fuzzy and comfy inside every time she saw you but soon she realised, what it was.

The feelings got worse but she never took the chance to confess them to you, which might end to her dismay. All along, when she told her brother he wanted to encourage her about giving it a go and telling you about it but she always refused to, thinking you might not reciprocate and break her heart.

Shuri was always very reserved when it came to her feelings. She buried them deep inside her and she was sure that she wasn’t going to let them out soon but to be honest, T’Challa had her thinking about a confession more than usual. And right in this moment, she regretted not telling you.

Who knows if she’ll ever see you again?

But the amazing brother he was and the fact that he basically had to help you out made T’Challa light up and give out commands to the general.

“Sisi, I’ll find her, I promise.” His smile was wide and true when he opened his arms for his sister to hug him, which she gladly did while muttering a small “thank you.”

But little did he know that you were stronger than what he thought of you since he never worked with you, only met you on a couple of meetings. He didn’t see you in action and he also didn’t know that you were kind of a hot-headed person that would break everything in pieces if someone would enrage you.

Yes, that’s what he indeed saw when he arrived in Tokyo, exactly at the location where Shuri last saw your Kimoyo beads. But the fun thing was that the house you seemingly stayed in was simply blown up. There were bits and pieces of concrete, corpses laying around but T’Challa still hadn’t the slightest idea of what happened and felt a bit guilty.

But when you rounded the corner, wiping some dust off your shoulder, he laughed.

“Something in my face?”, you asked amused.

“Now I know why you’re a part of the Avengers.” He gave you the same smile Shuri saw just some time ago and took you into his arms.

“Glad you’re alright.”

“You shouldn’t worry about me, maybe worry about them.” A chuckle left your lips as you pointed to one of the (almost) dead guards and made him laugh even more.

“Let’s get back home, someone’s waiting for you in Wakanda.” He hinted and you basically assumed it to be Tony Stark, your “supervisor” or what he called himself. But he was just the guy that gave you one of his flats in exchange for you being an Avenger (but mostly because Fury requested it).

The flight was pretty calm and you taught the king how to play UNO!, which was one of your favourite games on long road trips in your childhood. He was fairly amused even though the fact that he wasn’t able to win against you and asked for more and more rounds. He was the brother you never had but always wished for.

The moment where he played his last card and won the game, he told you that you both had to talk about something rather important.

“Are you single?” His sheepish smile was a little anxious, as if he feared the answer the same way his sister did. But your nod made him sigh happily.

“What about Nakia, my king? I thought you still had that liking for her?” You asked, relatively unbothered by his personal question. “Nakia? Oh! No! It’s not for me, it’s for-“

‘Don’t pass on more than she needs to know, T’Challa, don’t.’ He thought to himself.

“-A friend. Yeah, a friend. They were wondering if you’re still on the market.”

And another nod made him the almost happiest man on the planet right now. His sister had an actual chance of courting you.

“Tell them I’m not single but not free, expensive girls, you know?” You smiled to show him appreciation and that he wasn’t too bold with the question.

Shuri had an chance.

And what of a chance she had.

The arrival was pretty common and usual for you, since coming back from missions mostly looked like the team greeting you and being happy about the succeed and even Ramonda took a liking to you so she had to hug you and show you how happy she was about your return.

Shuri was late again since she caught herself up into work as long as you weren’t around but when she got the message that you and her brother returned safely from the mission, she sped up and ran to the hangar, just to greet you.

You looked a little exhausted but still amazing and how she missed you, how she missed the feeling of your arms around her. She started to run into your arms just so that you could catch her and laugh.

While you were having your arms around her waist, she breathed your scent in and let it sink into her core. Here arms were dangling around your neck and her body was warm on yours.

‘This your “friend”?’ you mouthed to T’Challa who just shot you a little smile and left the scenery.

Yes, that’s his “friend”. And how proud he was of himself the entire day after he heard that you spent the night with Shuri-

You could’ve read it off of his face. He was so happy for his sister and knew that you’d take care of her.

Yes, you would. No matter what’d happen.

#black panther #wakanda forever #letitia wright x reader #shuri x reader #shuri x fem!reader #shuri udaku #tchalla #avengers x fem!reader

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killmongerskeeper · 1 year

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Her Heart // Chapter 1 // Shuri

Summary: You left behind the life of Y/N the wardog and continued on as Y/N of Wakanda and the heart of the black panther. Everything was peaceful until an old target kidnaps you and the Queen of Talokan. Can Shuri get you back in time before its too late?

Pairing: Shuri x POC Reader

Warnings: Spoilers // Mentioned Character Death

Chapter 1 // Chapter 2

"How dangerous are these threats?" Shuri asked as the council gathered in the throne room.

"Princess." A voice tore her from her trance and she looked up to see all eyes on her.

"Good evening, Princess." You perked up upon hearing Griot announce her presence and you went up to hug her. You may be a trained spy but she's the only one to make you smile brighter than you have before. She hugged you back and you pulled back before your smile fell. Her eyes held sadness and you caressed her cheek.

"What bothers you my love?" You asked with concern laced in your voice and she kissed your palm.

"Everyone out! Now!" She demanded and all the other scientists scattered out of the lab. You looked up at her with confusion evident on your features as you sat down the clipboard in your hands.

"Why did you send them off? What's going on?" You were worried now as she took a deep breath. Whatever she was about to tell you, isn't easy for her to say.

"We've gotten reports that Namor is planning to launch another attack. Your body went still as you held the gasp that threatened to leave you.

"And who said that? Where did you hear that from?" You questioned and she held your arms.

"Are you-" you couldn't finish your sentence as she slowly nodded and a small whimper finally cracked. "Why? Why now? He has a family now, what could his reasoning be behind this attack?"

"I don't know. That's what I'm going to find out."

"You can't go out there. If any of this is true, he could very well be trying to separate you from the palace." You started to panic and she grabbed your hands.

"I have to sthandwa. I might be able to talk some sense into him. If he is planning an attack I need to know when and why." She pulled you closer by your waist, hoping to calm you down.

"I'll return to you Y/N." She held your face and you shook your head. You closed your eyes as she rested her forehead against your own. "I promise you."

"Please-"

A/N: My first Shuri fic! I'm excited. I'm going to open my ask box in case you guys have any questions or want to know about a taglist. Hope you all enjoy reading this one!

#black panther shuri #shuri x reader #shuri x you #shuri fanfiction #wakanda forever #namor #poc reader #her heart fic #mcu shuri

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wakandaiscoming · 2 years

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Wakanda Forever, second viewing

Here are some things I'd like to discuss

-- The parallel between Ramonda's speech at the UN when she says "now is our time to strike" putting words in the mouth of the US and France, compared to when Shuri says "now is our time to strike" about Talokan.

-- Okoye's "we are home" to Ramonda just like she said to T'Challa in the first film. I said out loud, "This never gets old." People looked at me funny.

-- How Ramonda is trying to get Shuri to go back to research on the Heart-Shaped Herb. I think she is trying to get Shuri ready to be the Black Panther, and trying to get her to do the emotional work necessary, but it's so sad that it's only her death that makes Shuri go back to it.

-- Okoye calling MIT the equivalent of a "Wakandan village school." I'm never going to get to go to Wakanda, guys, I got rejected from all but my state school. Ack.

-- Both Ramonda and Shuri seem to see Nakia as almost kin to them. They both go to her when they feel totally alone (Ramonda after Shuri is kidnapped and Shuri at the end).

-- Namor's description of his childhood is kind of scary. People thought he was a god since he was a child? No one seems to be providing any sort of parental guidance after his mother passes. I think he's gonna need all the therapy.

-- I notice all of the Talokanil drink their blue herb (it's like the Heart-Shaped Herb but all I don't know the name, just that it's blue not purple), and then seem to pass out or pass away. I wonder if they go to their version of the ancestral plane? We don't see it but it seems to be put there for a reason. Wakanda is powerful but it's not like all its citizens take the Heart-Shaped Herb. Only the Panther. They really can't survive a war with Talokan, unless Shuri starts growing a LOT more of those Herbs.

-- Disturbing to see how planned the attack on Ramonda is. The Talokanil draw defenses (Ayo) away from the Throne Room specifically so Namor can kill her, and she seems to know it because she tries to make Riri leave. (Angela Bassett's face when Dominique Thorne askes if she can call her mom!) And then Namor waits there, while Ramonda drowns, to tell Shuri she is Queen now.

-- Is Killmonger's sweater the same one he wears in BP1 just in white not black? I love the detail on these things. He doesn't seem to understand why Ramonda died for a girl from the "Lost Tribe" when T'Chaka killed his own brother. And I'm like, "Cuz Ramonda was fucking great, that's why."

-- I do wish Angela Bassett got some fight scenes. I'm an iffy on her white wig and usually I love the hair in BP movies compared to the terrible, terrible wigs in most MCU projects.

-- I want to talk more about Ayo being the General of the dora milaje now!! When Okoye is there, she wears the gold adornments, and after, it is Ayo who has gold. so clearly she got promoted in Okoye's absence. But how does she feel about that? Aneka seems to have left the dora also. What is that relationship like? Guys, I need more. I feel like there was more Aneka that was cut, because all we see of her leaving the dora is her giving those daggers back to Shuri?

-- I wrote a whole post about the parallels to the Challenge Day from BP1 and this film and didn't notice Shuri quotes M'Baku's line from BP1, "Your technological advancements have been overseen by a child" back to him and that's what prompts the line about her not being a child anymore. Sob.

-- I would be interested in a post about Shuri's hair journey. There's definitely an evolution from the first scene to the last.

-- Namora is such a badass. She takes a blast right in the chest from Riri and is not deterred in the slightest. I think she's neat.

-- Ryan Coogler said W'Kabi is in exile, but where do we think he went exactly? Ramonda suggests somewhere Okoye can visit. I wonder if they are trying to make it work still. She is very loyal, I guess. Usually putting a spear to your husband's throat ends a marriage.

-- Griot addresses Shuri as "princess" but in the scene where she says goodbye to Riri he calls her "Panther". She levelled up.

#black panther: wakanda forever #queen ramonda #princess shuri #okoye #ayo #m'baku #namora #griot #ryan coogler #queen angela bassett #w'kabi #aneka #ayo x aneka

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neptoons1998 · 1 year

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For You, I'll Do Anything

Summary: Shuri finds out her girlfriend has been kidnapped. So she goes to the only people who can help her.

A/N: Here's another one.

It was like any other night in Delacroix, Louisiana. The boys and Sarah were already in bed asleep. Sam and Bucky were outside enjoying the light humidity and enjoying the quiet scenery. Bucky and Sam came back to the small town from a recent successful mission. This was supposed to be their time to relax before they made there back to DC.

Keyword supposed.

Bucky and Sam saw a hovercraft making its way to the small farmhouse. As Sam got a closer look at the air flight it wasn’t just some hovercraft. It was Wakandaian hovercraft which could only mean one thing.

“Shuri,” Bucky whispered out in disbelief. He didn’t think he would’ve seen the former princess so soon. Bucky continued to look at her as she got out of the hovercraft. She was different from the spunky teenager teasing him and her brother. She had a look in her eyes where her innocent was at was replaced with something else. Bucky heard the news about the late queen’s passing and rumblings of nations wanting more Vabrium by any means necessary. Bucky couldn’t image dealing with a nation and losing the last family member.

Shuri gave a small smile at her friend,” Sergeant Barens, it’s been a moment hasn’t it?”

Bucky could only nod at her statement. Sam was taking hold of the one side conversation, “ Not that isn’t a pleasure seeing you, your majesty. but why are you here in Delacroix?”

Shuri’s eyes shifted to Sam, “I request a favor.”

“Which is?”

“You were on Raft. I ne-” Shuri started. Sam shook his head,” No, no.” Captain America stood up from his rocking chair and rubbed the back of his neck. The whole point of his being back in Louisiana was for him to relax.

“Do you know how dangerous that place is? It was a miracle that Steve was able to pull us out of that death trap. Who’s in there that has Wakandains?” Sam said letting the royal speak.

“Her name is Riri Williams,” Shuri started, “She has been taken.”

“Taken? Maybe she went home. Or drop out?” Sam asked if he remember he drop out of college and join the air force before telling his parents. Who says this college student didn’t do the same?

“SHE WOU-” Shuri’s range flickered before coming down,” She would not do that to me.”

Silence swept in again, besides the light sound of crickets making their music.

“She’s a very important person. I know she was placed on the Raft. I just need to know the layout of the ship,” Shuri said. The queen was above begging she would do what she had to in order to save her love.

“I’ll go,” Bucky said taking some steps to Shuri. “It’s the least I can do.”

Sam shook his head already accepting his fate,” Which means I’ll have to go. Someone needs to watch over cyborg here.”

Shuri could only give a tired grin, “I’m glad.”

"But you said that it worked, "Riri hissed at the director. Valentina shrugged her shoulders, "And now I'm telling you it doesn't work."

"No, that can’t be right,” Riri accused as she pressed herself in her glass prison, "I know it right because I use the same formal for the gears. You are using it wrong.”

Valentina gave the young woman a stiff smile as she watched her with her cold eyes, "I think you are forgetting who's the boss here.”

The woman pulled out a tablet Riri looked closer at it she saw her mother unaware she was being watched. In her scrubs

"Now it would be a shame if something happened to your mom,” The director spoke as she slide her finger across the screen showing Sharon, Riri's younger sister. “Or your sister," Val continued showing Riri's sister laughing at whatever her friends were telling her.

"Please don't hurt them,” Riri pleads to the woman. Valentina gave a knowing smile, “That’s why I like you. You know to quit while you’re head, Ms. Williams.”

And with that, the director left the small prison, "I'm glad we came to an agreement."

Once the doors closed, Riri ripped her blueprints off the walls. Why isn't it working? Riri wanted to bang her head against the wall. With each tear, she gave to the blueprint the more frustrated she got. She needs to figure out how to escape from whatever place they put her in. What then? her mind argued the CIA is a part of the government you can't escape anywhere. They will find you and drag everyone you love with you. No, I can't think like that, Riri thought as she sat on the ground, she’ll find me she always does.

“I’m sorry who are you?” Riri asked

Bucky pointed at himself, “Bucky.”

“You aren’t here to kill me right?” Riri asked not trusting the strange man.

Bucky shook his head,” No, I’m here with Shuri.”

“Shuri’s here?” Riri’s ears perked up. She did come, after all, Riri’s heart fluttered.

Bucky quickly walked to the control panels, that kept Riri locked in her glass prison, “You probably have to use a special com-”

Bucky used his left arm to pull out the inner wires of the control panels. The glass of Riri’s imprisonment went down, “Or you could do that.”

“Come on,” Bucky grabbed Riri's hand as they raced to meet up with Shuri and Sam. Riri barely kept up with the super soldier's speed. “Slow down,” Riri panted, “I have short legs.”

As Riri was about to complain that she didn’t have long legs again. Riri caught sight of Shuri, who kicked one of the agents out cold, Riri raced to see her love, “Shuri!” Shuri commands the helmet off, “Riri.”

Shuri tightens her hold around Riri’s waist. The royal did a careful once-over look at her love, “Did they hurt you?”

“No, no I’m okay,” Riri said her eyes couldn’t escape the sight of Shuri’s. God, how she missed this woman. Riri could help but do her once over on Shuri, “Did they hurt you?”

Shuri could only give a huff of amusement. As if the black panther could be hurt by CIA so call agents, “Who cares.”

She’s important, Sam recalled the anguish on Shuri’s face when she plead for his help.

“I do!” Riri proclaimed pressing her whole body weight into Shuri.

“Shuri, stop you’re embarrassing me,” Riri chided not really caring who sees her and love her. Shuri pressed her kiss, “Never.”

#shuriri #shuri x riri #shuri x riri williams #ao3 #fanfic #my writing

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uzumaki-rebellion · 1 year

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Now that I’ve seen the move...

I’m reading so many hot takes on Twitter regarding Talokan fighting with Wakanda. The worst are people saying Shuri isn’t good enough to be BP because she doesn’t have the skills... completely forgetting she made all the suits/tech, fought alongside the soldiers and her brother, and guided a shitty CIA op to help them in the middle of fighting during the last move. Fuck outta here. Shuri held her own. That mantle belonged to her.

Spoilers ahead...

The other take I found funny (and ignorant to the reality of the WF worldbuilding) was folks mad that Wakandans were getting their ass beat by Namor’s people. #1 Namor told them people he had more Talokanil than Wakanda had blades of grass, and #2, imagine an entire nation filled with the properties of the heart-shaped herb in their DNA. Every Talokanil has the strength and healing powers of the BP, and only the BP is blessed with that compared to regular Wakandans. So unless Shuri is going to mass produce 3D printed herb for everyone in her nation, the Wakandans were going to get washed fighting Namor and ‘nem.

For my own two cents, I ain’t mad at Namor for doing what he said he was going to do to protect his people. This man saw first hand how colonizers act. Witnessed the brutal changes in real time for 500 years. He is not going to fuck around with Wakandans who have lived secure in a bubble all their lives. The climate, oceans, and marine life are already suffering due to colonizers neglectful/selfish behavior, so of course he’s going to come hard to keep his people hidden and keep white folks from getting his vibranium deposit. He held out an olive branch with centuries of experience backing him as a ruler of his people. Ramonda messed up by not heeding his warning. She of all people already knew how these white folks were acting with her (that whole UN scene showed the treachery of the French and their American ally--The CIA). For her to not recognize a powerful ally to keep her own people safe too was a political and tactical error on her part. You got through a technologically advanced nation’s security system? Bay-bee, we about to sit down and talk in a diplomatic way first.

Namor had every right to clap back even if that meant taking out Wakanda first, (Ramonda included). Sucks for Wakanda and Shuri, but again, this is a man who has lived through the worst of white nonsense (unlike Wakanda whose only bad thing ever experienced was T’Chaka being killed). He knows where it will lead if they are discovered again because history backs him up. An old head is not about to have a repeat of these bitches coming for their people and resources once more. Shuri recognized that when she asked to go to Talokan (she wasn’t kidnapped, RiRi was.) Namor heard her talking to her mother before, that’s why he was willing to allow her into Talokan... the only surface dweller to ever go there.

Now I’m not a fan of fridging characters to motivate other characters to act on something or grow their arc (especially if the character is male and the fridged is female--an old tired trope), but I decided to let Ryan Coogler tell the story he wanted to tell because of all the stuff he went through with the cast to get this film made. I hope people don’t lose track that White supremacy/White Imperialism/Capitalist bullshit is the root cause of everything in that movie. Ross and his people being the main villains. (Ross will stay on the hook because he knows what the CIA is all about and he perpetuates their violence with a milqtueoast appearance making people think he is a cute/nice ally. He isn’t. He represents the White Supremacist machine fully. Any dude once married to Val is just like her. Some of the most racist people (co-workers) I have ever met were nice, helpful, and pleasant-looking, but did horrendous non-violent things to perpetuate white supremacy when no one was looking.

People can go back and forth all they want about whether Ramonda sacrificed herself, or Namor killed her. I mean, both things can be true. He caused the water sinkhole she jumped into to save RiRi where she drowned. We can also argue that Nakia didn’t have to kill those two women in Talokan even though she was there to save two other women, but she did what she needed to do in that moment to protect a loved one. Again, white supremacy and the white military industrial complex started all this shit. They used a Black girl genius’s invention in the hopes of extracting a resource they would use to exploit Black and Brown folks globally. Namor came back to tap that ass. I can’t be mad at him too much. War sucks for everyone. He said what he said. Ramonda dismissed it.

Of course, my thoughts are based on a one time viewing of the film. I saw the first one 7 times (might’ve been 8, lol!), so I may have to do more viewings later as things I missed the first time will come to my attention. Heck, I may change my mind on some things later. For now, whew...the takes are all over the place regarding Shuri.

#bpwf spoilers #bpwf

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evita-shelby · 1 year

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Of Gods and Witches

Chapter 17

Gif by @unicornspwnall

Taglist: @thegreatdragonfruta @v3d3rl1cht @urgonnaneedabiggership

“They say yuum wants war with the surface.” Itotia is strangely quiet.

Her teenage daughter was brash and outspoken even in ways Eva had not been at her age.

Took after her husband in that, she thinks. That man was raised to believe himself a god and even age had not bothered touching some of his arrogance.

“The surface wants war with us, we are just ensuring we have allies.” Eva corrects.

Humanity was always greedy, when the Abrahamic God placed Adam and Eve in Eden they decided it was not enough and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Even gods were greedy.

“By kidnapping the Wakandan Princess and the American engineer?” Itotia asked thinking it was a stupid idea. “Did yuum even think before he acted so stupidly?”

“Totia, watch your words.” Her mother warned. “The Queen of Wakanda refused to work with us and now we have to force them into doing as we asked.”

“Why didn’t you do it, mamá? Even yuum knows you are better at talking.”

Because I am dying.

If she could bring herself to say it, Eva would and stop this headache from turning into a full-blown war.

Then she sees it, the Black Panther tearing K’uk’ulkan’s wings from his ankles in a deserted island.

They fight, Eva feels her throat as dry as his in his weakened state and feels his spear go through her abdomen as if she were both contenders.

Shuri will not die, instead her technology allows her to make herself equal to Namor.

Namor who for all his strength and experience, has never fought someone who could bring down gods even without the vibranium flower.

“Mama, Na’, wake up!” Itotia cries as she holds her mother who is gasping for air and water.

For a brief second, the glamour falls and the girl sees the truth only for the Witch Queen of Talokan to rise from the cenote as healthy and beautiful as she always looks.

“Is Na’ dying, yuum?” Itotia asks after her father joins her at the edge of the water.

She was the most like him, in temperament and appearance.

For all her strength and invulnerability, she is still the little girl who would come to him when she had nightmares.

Eva’s death would hurt her just as his mother’s death did centuries ago.

“She is ill, but she is not dying. The Wakandans will cure her as part of our alliance, ki’ichpan.” Ch’ah holds his eldest, his firstborn child whom he met and loved even before she was conceived.

“You kidnapped their princess; how will they help us now?” Itotia looks at him in earnest, anger in her dark eyes because they both know Eva’s life depends on Wakanda and in her mind, he’s killed her already.

“She demanded to come here, your mother foresaw it and I acted accordingly, Itotia.” He answered disliking how quickly his own heir has turned against him.

She had changed after the chasquido.

His little dancer questioned him at every turn, thinking herself grown even if she was denied five years of growth and remained sixteen while her friends and her ba’al had matured into adults.

Why didn’t you avenge us, father? Why didn’t you fight Thanos like the Avengers did?

Were you too much of a coward to leave the ocean?

Two years ago, he had been faced with the truth, he cannot pretend the troubles of the surface no longer stay there.

To protect his kingdom, he had to sit on his hands and let the surface-dwellers avenge their fallen and try to fix everything.

His own people were loyal, but even then they questioned why their god and king had not fought for them.

Coward.

His own child, the child he met in a vision and sired on his throne had said then and said it now with her eyes identical to his.

She stalks off in her anger and Ch’ah Toh Almehen goes to his wife.

“Give her time, in kuxtal.” His wife looks better than she had in days, and yet the shadow of death lingers on her like a fine cloak.

Namor has lived alone for centuries and K’uk’ulkan ruled by himself for just as long, but Ch’ah Toh Almehen does not think himself strong enough to be in a world without her.

“She is right, you know, had I faced Thanos then you would not have been gone for so long.” I was a coward, he meant to say, but he could not make himself speak it aloud.

He was no coward, even if he had fought the Titan, his people would have suffered.

“It was not your destiny, the time will come when you join them, but it wasn’t then.” She extends her hand to him and he takes it gently, kissing it with the love and devotion he only has for her.

Whatever she saw made her melancholy, worried enough to send for him in the middle of a meeting.

Eva’s commands were never ignored.

His people knew their lives depended on what she sees, when he heard her calling to him, he knew whatever she has seen is not good.

“What did you see?” he asks, coming close, taking her face in his hands, and seeing the truth written there before she can voice it.

“War, you against Shuri, Wakanda against Talokan. If you do not yield to her---” her voice breaks off as a tear slid down her cheek.

She had seen him die.

It would not happen, of course, the Lords of Xibalba took pity on her and gave her a chance to outwit them like the Hero Twins did.

“Ye of little faith.” He tries to assure her, Shuri of Wakanda was too young, too grief stricken and lacked the one thing her brother had: the vibranium that made him the Black Panther.

“The cure to my disease is the flower, she will make it and take it herself as well.” Eva shook her head. “She will be as strong as you and she will tear off your wings even after you drive your spear through her.

Promise me, Ch’ah, promise me you will yield.”

He cannot do that, Shuri is a child. Like the Surface dwellers like to say, the devil is wise by age not for being the devil. Five hundred years of fighting and training have made him unstoppable.

Eva with all her magic could not come close to him, what makes her think a fucking child younger than their youngest daughter would be able to defeat him?

“What makes you think she can kill me? I am as powerful as a god, in watan, even if she were as strong as me, she does not have the experience I have.” He argues, softly in hopes she doesn’t move away.

Eva stands her ground and steps away slightly, making sure he is aware how dire the situation is.

“Your arrogance will be the death of you, Namor.” She warns and he knows she means it.

He hates it when she calls him Namor, he makes exceptions from time to time, but he loathes it when she goes against him like this.

First, Itotia now her.

“Tell me why I should deny myself the chance to die in battle?” he will yield, of course, he is not an idiot and knows too many people depend on him to let himself die.

Besides, if being defeated by a mere child of twenty is a shame amongst them, then being killed by one would dishonor his bloodline forever.

“Because I cannot live in a world where you are dead, Ch’ah. Because you have three children who need you alive. Do you need more reasons, because I have them, in wíicham!” she answers with tears, not caring if anyone hears them.

“I know you do, wàay, I will yield to her.” K’uk’ulkan relents without a fight. After a century, the king of Talokan should know better than to argue against her.

Notes:

Yuum: father/dad

Na': mom

In kuxtal: my life

Chasquido: the snap (technically its Le Chasquido

Ba'al: boyfriend, male companion

Lords of Xibalba: twin rulers of the underworld/gods of death, Hun Came and Vucub Came who in the Popul Vuh were defeated by twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque aka the Hero Twins

#of gods and witches fic #kukulkan my beloved #kukulkan x oc #namor x eva #namor x mexican!oc #eva x kukulkan

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spooderman04 · 2 years

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Forewarning: this reeks of 2012 avengers fan fiction but just roll with it alright

Also it’s not a coherent thought but that’s besides the point

So you remember 5+1? Yep your right here’s another one

5 times Tony surprised the avengers with languages, and one time …

1. Tony can speak Russian.

2. Tony knows ASL

3. Tony speaks Dora

4. Tony knows Arabic (idk some kidnapping language

5. Tony speaks Italian (idek)

+1. I have no idea please repost and help me figure out

1. Tony walks into kitchen ethier early in morning or late at night. Nat is also there. Nat is venting in Russian. Include self doubt or background reference. Maybe both. Tony walks in purposely making his footsteps heavy so he doesn't get a knife to the skull, and responds in Russian. Nat is obviously surprised and they talk. Or not. They could just watch a movie and never speak of it again idk.

2. Clint tries to hide the fact he's deaf so they don't see him differently. Yes, Nat knows. She always knows. Clint had it taken out of his shield file a long time ago. He can lip-read and has basically invisible hearing aids. An emp takes out Clint's hearing aids during some small fight or something. Clint doesn't have a spare and has to last through briefing and life at the tower until they can give him a new pair in the morning. He just wants a bagel in silence and runs into the team in the kitchen cuz Tony never sleeps, Steve, Nat, and Bruce get up at the buttcrack of dawn, and Thor just likes poptarts. But anyways the team finds out, Clint's tired and can't lipread 6 people at once. And Tony kinda emerges from the shadows like finally I have some hearing aid designs I want you to try out… but in ASL. Nat also knows ASL. Cuz why the freak not. And Clint's kinda like, what? how did you know, and how do you know ASL?? (In ASL btw, just to confuse Steve) and Tony kinda shrugs it off and says he hacked shield remember (but Clint knows better. He knows he's just as observant as him and was probably just waiting for Clint to willingly tell the team (yes he's made 7 prototypes already)) and Clint kinda drops that one in favor of asking where he knew ASL from. Tony says the original Jarvis taught him some, and learned everything after hiring a deaf employee. Or maybe he learned it after he found out about Clint. Nat respects him for respecting Clint. She talks to Fury about changing her recommendation.

3 ok so basically after Afghanistan Tony learned as many languages as he could, especially the less common ones typically used but potential kidnappers. So he learns Dora (similar to the wakandan language) uhhh idk team goes to wakanda for some reason, maybe Bucky, Bucky's a good option. anywaysss. idk someone talks in wakandan, maybe like the guards or other people walking around, maybe okoye to techalla or shuri. He ends up in shuris lab cuz they're science nerds do you expect otherwise. And shuri kinda just says ethier smarter than he looks or another white boy for me to fix. If it's the latter Tony can respond with and a nerdy teenager in need of a father figure for me to adopt. Or something like that whie in wakandan and he gets a shocked look and a smile before shuri says “a competent white boy for me to fix”

4. Team gets kidnapped. Kidnappers speak some wierd language not even natasha knows, and clint dosnt even know how to ask “can i pet your dog” in said language, and the kidnappers think no one knows what theyre saying because everyone just looks confused as all get out, or drugged out of their minds ie. bruce and thor, and once they spill a location or the evil plan or somthing tony can use he responds in this random language no one knows, the kidnapperslook shocked, and a few seconds later a suit breaks in with shield on its tail rescuing them. Yeah i know not as funny but im tired okay

5. Yeah the rest idk what to do with

If u got ideas add em cuz I'm bored and don't know where to go😂

5. ??? I need help guys

If u got ideas add em cuz I'm bored and don't know where to go😂

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wienerbarnes · 3 years

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A Certain Romance (2/6)

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Word Count: 1,685

Warnings: not rlly anything

A/N: a lil bit of a deeper dive for these two’s relationship👀... enjoy!

MAIN MASTERLIST | A CERTAIN ROMANCE MASTERLIST

Your apartment is nice. Very you.

Sam invited him out to some restaurant, but after the last one he suggested, he decided to pass. And when Sam asked him what he was doing instead, if he was seeing you, Bucky lied and said yes. It made Sam happy and got him out of going to another ridiculous restaurant, so he saw it as a win-win.

Once Sam left, though, his thoughts did drift to what you were doing.

You two exchanged numbers at the pizza place after your date, but you two haven’t texted much. He texted you making sure you got home safe, which you did, and a day or so after, you texted him a picture of some advertisement with an awfully cheesy pick-up line written on it, which even he agreed was awful.

But that’s about it. So, he texts you.

Hey. What are u doing?

About to make dinner. Y?

Told Sam I was seeing u. Wanna hang out?

Come over.

Simple enough, he thinks.

You two haven’t had the most meaningful text conversations, clearly, but it’s still nice. No flirting, no typing and retyping messages in order to hook, line, and sinker, no ghosting. No relationship texting.

It was a dream for him. To have a new friend. He’s made plenty of friends, both in New York and in Wakanda. But it’s all under the same… umbrella. Always an agent, a fighter, an analyst of some sort. Someone to train with, to fight with, to fight for. Never someone like you. Someone that works a mundane job and lives in a mundane part of New York where her weekends are filled with going on mundane blind dates or otherwise cooking dinner for one.

It’s a breath of fresh air to not talk about fighting or missions or press or media or anything else he has to hear about at work. The only connection you have with Sam is that you met in a coffee shop a few years ago that has since closed down. He was one of your first friends here.

You could care less about Captain America, too. Which hurts Sam’s ego, and in turn, makes Bucky smile.

So, he goes over to yours.

He’s not sure what you’re making, but he brings a bottle of red wine as a courtesy. You are making dinner after all. Besides, women love wine, right?

Your apartment is nice. Very you.

Enough going on to show that someone does indeed live here, but also enough to show that you’re not exactly swimming in riches, like most people that live in this city.

The place smells like garlic and basil, and he’s glad that he brought the wine.

Shoes discarded at the door, he helps chop up the rest of the ingredients while you put a pot of water to boil. He chops up mushrooms, onion, pancetta, eyeing the bottle of vodka out on the table and tube of tomato paste next to his hand.

It's an understatement to say he’s excited. Most of the pasta he makes is from a bag of precooked noodles and a jar of tomato sauce.

Basic small talk floats through the air as the two of you dance around one another in the kitchen. Even though you’re “dating”, you don’t know much about each other. This isn’t too uncommon from how dating was for Bucky when he was a teenager; you’d marry women knowing very little about them.

Your favorite color is orange. You played violin in grade school. You had a childhood dog named Chowder. Bucky tells you his favorite color is green. He played a little bit of piano when he was younger, but did boxing in his late teens and early twenties before the war. You poke fun at him when he can’t remember the name of his own childhood dog.

“He’s probably rolling over in dog-heaven.”

“Good boy; he’d deserve a treat.”

You laugh.

Easy conversation continues on the couch as bowl after bowl of pasta is eaten and replenished. As fun and seemingly simple questions are asked, like each of your favorite movies or whether or not you pour the milk before the cereal, the room that’s left is used for deeper questions.

“What’s your most embarrassing moment?” You ask him.

He thinks for a moment before opening his mouth, only to close it again. “One time when Princess Shuri was fixing my arm it wasn’t secure completely, so it flew off while I was playing with some of the children.”

“That’s not your most embarrassing moment. I know it’s not, now you have to tell me what it really is.” You tease him.

He’s never been the best liar.

“You’re right, it’s not my most embarrassing moment. My actual most embarrassing moment is just kind of… sad. And I didn’t want to ruin the mood or anything.” He explains, hoping you’ll accept that but instead you give him an encouraging smile to hopefully give him some comfort that whatever it is he wants to tell you is safe in your apartment.

“Okay, uhm. So, in the 40’s, after I was rescued by Steve, but before we shipped out again where I was recaptured for the second and final time. We were all holed up in this little dance club, all the soldiers and their gals. And in walks Peggy Carter in a pretty red dress,” He begins, only glancing at your eyes periodically as if to make sure you’re still there.

“I know she’s Steve’s gal, he told me all about her. I wasn’t flirting with her because I wanted her, I was flirting with her… to make sure I still could. I mean, after being held in that… place… they injected me with stuff, told me things that weren’t true, I mean Steve told me I was repeating my number over and over again when he found me, I didn’t even remember doing that. I felt… violated, used, not like myself. I felt like I wasn’t me anymore.

“So, when Peggy walked in, I thought about how everyone always called me a ladies man, how good I was with women, I mean, I’d take girls out about every damn weekend, you know? I wanted to feel normal, so I flirted with her, tried to get her to dance with me. And she completely ignored me. She never even took her eyes off of Steve. It’s like I was invisible. And it just sort of felt like the nail in the coffin for whoever James Barnes was before the war. It was a realization that I’m never going to be that person again. And it was embarrassing for me.” He explains.

He hasn’t looked up at you again, but he heard your fork stop moving around your bowl a minute or so ago. He feels a lump in his throat thinking about that time, how he knew he’d never get back the man he was, even before knowing what was in store for him after falling off that train. How he used to be this man that wanted a long, happy marriage, six or seven kids running around a big backyard, a white picket fence surrounding a big two-story house in a neighborhood of identical homes. He wanted the cheesy life, at one point. But the same man that wanted that life died falling off a train many years ago.

All of that’s forgotten, though, when you open your mouth, and seem to say the perfect thing to make him feel better.

“One time in the third grade, this girl pulled my skirt down in front of my crush, and I wasn’t wearing any undies.”

A snort escapes his throat as you, somehow, after he’s shared something so deeply personal, something he never even told Steve or Sam about, still found a way to make him laugh. Which is what he wanted, he realizes. The comfort of moving on from that confession and not having to wallow in it like other people would try to. His hand leaves his fork to cover his face as tears threaten to leak out from how hard he’s laughing.

He took that secret to the grave, even if it wasn’t his own. He told himself he’d never tell Steve about how he felt in that situation, and he never did. He never told Steve that he didn’t enlist, either. He couldn’t imagine how Steve would’ve felt knowing that the army would’ve rather taken men that didn’t want to go to war, men who were terrified to go to war, had too much to lose and wanted to be selfish and stay home, than men like Steve who would do anything to enlist. Including lying on the damn enlistment form.

He wonders if Steve is looking at him now. Watching over him as he shares something that he never did with his best friend, with you, a girl he’s met barely a week ago, on your couch over bowls of pasta while he points out leftover sauce on the corner of your lip.

“What’s your greatest fear?” He asks you next.

“Dying alone. Actually, no. Getting kidnapped, probably.”

“Oh, mine’s spiders.” He shares.

It’s so easy to laugh with you, he finds. He jokes with Sam a lot, all the bickering and teasing all in good fun at the end of the day, and it’s mostly pretty funny. But laughing with you. He feels like a teenager again. Somehow, everything is funny; he doesn’t remember the last time he’s laughed so much, especially about things that aren’t even that funny.

It’s raining at the end of the night. Early morning, rather.

“You can take the couch, if you’d like.”

“Nah, I don't mind a little rain, and I like the ride home.” He fed Alpine before he left, but he imagines his cat misses him, even if she’s probably busy licking herself to even notice he’s left.

“Suit yourself.”

You don’t push him. A simple pleasure that’s more of a luxury for him. There’s no pushing or convincing or Are you sure’s with you.

Certainly a luxury, you are.

#bucky barnes #bucky x reader #bucky barnes series #bucky barnes au #marvel

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tchallasbabymama · 3 years

Text

Make it Better

Heyyy y’all! Here’s Ch 8 of Playlist. Check out my masterlist HERE to catch up and read my other stories. This is a long one....

Check out the actual Playlist HERE

Word count: ~10k

CW: Smut

“What?!” K’Hari yelled at his only child as she cried at the kitchen table. Tamala had sat both of her parents down to tell them the news and so far her father was not taking it well. “Say that one more time so I know I understood you. You’re what now?”

“I’m calling off the wedding,” she said through her tears.

“What happened, busi?” her mama asked softly as her baba continued to seethe next to her.

“What happened doesn't matter, Aja. What matters is your daughter has lost her fucking mind if she thinks-”

“Baba, he loves someone else!” Tamala yelled as K’Hari’s eyes rolled in exasperation. “He’s always loved someone else.” She hung her head and berated herself for not seeing it sooner when her mother’s hand reached out to tip her chin upwards to meet her gaze.

“Sithandwa, he could learn to love you,” Aja said softly while using her other hand to wipe the tears from her daughter’s eyes.

Tamala moved away from her mother and looked at her in horror.

“I thought you would be on my side! He doesn't love me, mama, and he never will. He said so himself...he only loves her.”

“Who is this elusive love of his?” K’Hari’s voice took on a sinister tone.

“H-her name is Ashanti, she's from the Merchant Tribe-”

“Owns an art store?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Y-yes, how did you know?”

K’Hari sighed and his head fell back. He should have known all along.

“She’s the girl that got herself kidnapped by Princess Zenzi, but the king never said why she was the target. Demethi!” He struck the table, shocking Aja and Tamala. “Does he still see her?”

“No,” Tamala sniffled, “I put the fear of Bast in her and told her I would have her exiled if she contacted him again. It must have worked, I’ve never seen T’Challa so angry before.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, mama, not physically anyway. He told me...he told me I would be his queen but she would always have his heart and that this was just an arrangement. What does that even mean?!” Tamala broke down crying as her parents gave each other a look.

K’Hari and Aja Obu had wanted nothing more than for their daughter to marry well, so when the opportunity to have her marry the king presented itself they took it. In council meetings K’Hari and several of the other elders voiced their concerns about the king not being married. He would always brush it off until K’Hari had the idea to align himself with the Border tribe and not allow his immigration proposal to pass. He knew the king would want to speak with him one-on-one about it, and during their meeting he insinuated that his vote could be bought if the king would marry his daughter. Three birds, one stone. They didn’t expect the king to be so cruel and tell Tamala about their deal though.

There was a long silence as K’Hari shook his head frantically at his wife, knowing she was on the verge of telling Tamala everything.

“Busi-”

“Aja, no-”

“Thula! This was all your idea anyway,” she snapped and K’Hari shrunk into himself. Aja wiped Tamala’s tears and held both of her hands. “Honey, your father made a deal with the king-”

“What kind of deal?” she asked through her stuffy nose and freefalling tears.

“My dear, I-” he cut himself off with a sigh. He never imagined his plan going south, so he had hoped that he would be able to get away with not telling her what he did, but all of that got thrown out the window the minute she showed up at their house in tears. “I made a deal with the king. He wants to open Wakanda even further to the Lost Tribe and allow them to immigrate here. It is a good proposal, but I split the vote and convinced Hodari of the Border Tribe to follow my lead. The king came to speak with me about it and well, uh, long story short I promised him my and Hodari’s votes if he would take you as queen. I knew how important his proposal was to him, and how the rest of the council had been pushing him to find a wife. It was the perfect plan.”

“No it wasn’t! You used me! And mama, you knew about it!” She snatched her hands away from her mother and stood from the table.

“Busi, we-”

“No! You basically sold me to the king! Actually, nevermind, because in order to sell something the buyer has to actually want it! You pushed me onto him and you thought that was ok? You thought I wouldnt eventually find out?!” She quickly gathered her things and ignored her parents’ protests as she stormed out of their home.

Tamala had nowhere she could go and be alone away from everybody, so she retreated to her temporary quarters in the palace. She stayed in there for a week, only letting kitchen staff in and out, but she was upset even more by the fact that nobody came to check on her wellbeing. She already knew she wasn’t wanted by the king, but it wasn’t until then that she realized how much the rest of the royal family never seemed to like her either. She knew she could be abrasive at times, but for them to be so cold? Then it dawned on her that they must have all thought she was involved in her father’s schemes.

“I wouldn’t like me either.” she mused to herself and decided she would go set the record straight at breakfast.

The next morning Tamala was so anxious that she almost couldn’t make it in time, but she was able to pull herself together at the last minute. She emerged from her room and made the long walk to the elevators that would take her down to the dining area. The butterflies in her stomach flew faster and faster the closer she got, and she was sure other people could hear her heart beating out her chest. By the time she reached the door she had forced herself to calm down again, knowing that what she had to do required a clear head and an unwavering disposition.

The palace guards opened the doors for her and when she saw them she immediately lost all of the confidence she had worked so hard to build. She had expected to just see the four of them there, but for the first time since she moved into the palace a month ago they had several guests at the table as well.

M’Baku and his chieftess Shani were seated next to each other across from Queen Mother and Shuri. N’Jadaka sat next to his little cousin with Okoye to his left. It was her off day so they had invited her to join them for breakfast. Her ex-husband W’Kabi was nowhere to be seen, but instead there were two colonizers at the table next to M’Baku. One that looked like a human version of a golden retriever and the other seemed to be part robot. The empty seat at the foot of the table was her only option, so she sat down and tried to drum up the courage to make her announcement.

“Tamala, we have barely seen you this week,” Ramonda remarked, without looking up from her food, only partially interested in her response.

Tamala cleared her throat and when everyone reluctantly turned to look at her she locked eyes with the king. She could still feel how cold and detached he was towards her, which only solidified her decision.

“I needed some time to myself, to think. I have decided to...to call off the wedding.” Everyone was shocked. They all knew of the arrangement since they had each cornered T’Challa at some point to try to talk sense into him. None of them liked Tamala. She was rude, she was entitled, and she had a jealous streak that rubbed them all the wrong way. Worst of all, they thought she was only with T’Challa because she wanted the throne. “I didn’t know about my father’s plan, but I do now and I can’t go through with it. I can’t spend my life with someone who doesn’t love me.”

She kept her eyes on T’Challa and saw his face fall when he found out she was unaware of her father’s plan. He immediately felt bad for what he said to her when he realized her feelings for him were real.

“Tamala, I-”

“I know. You thought I was after the title. I wasn’t, but my father was.”

“That still doesn’t excuse what I said to you.”

“No, it doesn't, but I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

A silence fell over them and she looked around at the guilty faces surrounding the table.

“Did all of you know?”

Everyone nodded or grumbled their response and she felt even more embarrassed knowing that everyone knew it was a lie but her. She sat back in her chair in disbelief.

“If it helps, that’s not the only reason we didn’t like you,” N’Jadaka stage whispered to her from across the table. Shuri and M'Baku snickered as Ramonda reached behind Shuri’s chair to hit her nephew upside his head.

“That does help, thank you N’Jadaka,” Tamala said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

“Could someone fill me in on what just happened?” the blonde colonizer, Steve, asked of his friends after another silence filled the table.

“I got you, man. So basically T’s been trying to make it so Black people can move to Wakanda, but her daddy is head of the Mining tribe and won’t let it go through unless he marries her.”

“What happens to the proposal now? Will he still block it from going through?” Okoye asked.

They all turned to look at Tamala.

“I-I don’t know.”

“Have you told your father about your decision?” Shani added.

“Yes, a week ago.”

“So you decided to wait until the wedding was damn near upon us to let us know?” Queen Mother was getting a headache. “Come with me after you finish eating, we have to call the press and cancel all the vendors and-”

“Mama, I will handle whatever needs to be done. Tamala has been through enough in regards to the wedding.” Ramonda wanted to argue with her son, but she knew he was doing the right thing.

“Very well then,” she gave in.

“So what are you gonna do now?” Bucky asked Tamala and everyone’s ears perked up in curiosity.

“I’m not sure, but I definitely can’t go back to my parents’ after this.”

“That is understandable. You are welcome to stay as long as you need to.” T’Challa said across the table.

“Thank you, T’Challa.”

“It is the least I can do.”

-------

With three weeks left until the wedding, Ashanti was finally leaving for her month-long trip to New Orleans. She had purchased a cell phone and linked her beads to the archaic device so she wouldn’t have to use them in public. She had done her research on the city and even though her itinerary mostly involved just letting her creative juices flow, there were a few things she knew she had to see and do before she left.

When Chidi and Bisa dropped her off at Wakanda International they were still a little uneasy about Ashanti’s plan. She had never left Wakanda before, but here she was flying across the globe by herself to a city where she doesn’t have any friends or even extended family to look out for her, but they were supportive because they knew it was her dream. When she was young she always wanted to explore the world, but Wakanda was still closed to the outside so she let the idea slip away. She thought the only way she’d get to see it is if she became a War Dog, but Ashanti never had any interest in being a spy. Now her dream was finally coming true, and despite the anxiety twisting her stomach she couldn’t be more excited.

Her flight only took about 7 hours on the Wakandan jet, and when she touched down and stepped out of the airport she was met with the wet heat of the southern United States. The temperature wasn’t too different from what she was used to, but the humidity made her feel like she was under water. She summoned a Lyft and people-watched as she waited for it to arrive.

She was relieved when it finally pulled up, looking forward to what she hoped would be an air conditioned ride.

“How’s it going ma’am?”

“Hi, uh, it’s good. André, right? How are you?”

“Yes ma’am. Here picking up,” he looked at his phone for confirmation, “Ashanti, but uh, I’ve had better days. Where you from? I hear your accent.”

“Do you hear yours?” she asked playfully as she slid into the back seat while he put her bags in the trunk. He laughed and the warmth of it brought a smile to her face. “I’m from Wakanda.”

“Ohhhhh, Wakanda huh? What made you leave paradise?” He asked as he plopped into the driver seat and closed the door.

“It’s not a paradise.”

“For those of us out here it is.” He looked at her through the rear view mirror for just a second. Her face fell, forgetting how privileged she was to grow up where she did. She had been so focused on getting away from the king that she forgot just how beautiful her homeland could be. “You should be careful out here, I’m sure it’s pretty different than what you’re used to. Crazy folks out here...you going down to Bourbon at any point?”

“Most likely, I’ll be here a while.”

“Hm. Well if you do please, please be careful chère. People get real stupid when they drink.”

“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. Are you from here?”

“Born and raised. I moved up to Memphis for a while, but came right back. Always on the Mississippi though. What brought you here? You don't seem like the partying type and judging by all that luggage you’re planning to stay for a while.”

She sighed, not sure if she should get into it with her driver, but decided there was no harm in talking to him.

“My ex is getting married and I just needed to get away for a while.”

“Still love him?” he looked at her through the mirror again and she looked back at him before nodding.

“Yeah I do, it’s complicated…”

“Sounds like it. I been there though. My babymama moved on a couple years ago and I still ain't over it. He’s a nice guy though so I can’t be too mad about it. As long as my girls are taken care of, that’s what matters.”

Ashanti listened and nodded along, watching the city pass by as they drove down the interstate to her new temporary neighborhood. She knew they had arrived when he turned off the exit and she saw a mural painted along a wall that read “Tremé” in colorful letters. They drove a few more blocks before André stopped the car in front of a house with a colorful, plant filled fenced-in courtyard. There was a fat tabby cat lounging in the walkway by an adorable little iron bistro set. Before getting out of the car she used her iphone to review the instructions the host sent her, then she swung the door open, ready to see her living space in person. André grabbed her bags out of the trunk and placed them on the sidewalk for her.

“Could you help me carry them in?” she asked of her Lyft driver who turned to look at her like she was crazy.

“Ma’am, you sure are trusting. I’ll help you, but you can’t be out here just letting people in your place like that.”

Ashanti blushed, she hadn’t even thought of the danger she was putting herself in and she was thankful that André seemed like a good man. He brought her bags into the living room and took a look around, whistling at the sight.

“I’ve never actually gotten a look inside one of these new Air Bnb’s, these are niiiice. Ruining the neighborhood though, but what can you do?”

“How is it ruining the neighborhood?”

André chuckled a little at her naivety before concern crept up on him, too. This girl had let him into her home, alone, and he wondered what other stupid things she might get into.

“You know, how about I show you around. I’ll be your personal chauffeur while you’re here. For a fee, of course.”

“Of course. That sounds like a good idea...ok lets do it.”

“Great, did you want to settle in or go out now? I can run some quick errands while you rest up”

“I’ll be hungry in about a couple hours. Come back then?”

“You got it miss lady, see you later,” he turned to leave the house but turned back with a serious look on his face. “Make sure you keep these doors locked, you seem like the type to just keep them open.”

“I will.”

He squinted at her, not believing a word she said.

“I said I will, Bast!”

“You better,” he pointed at her as he closed the door behind him.

She plopped on the couch and she was thankful to have the space all to herself, but the vibe was quickly ruined by him yelling at her from outside.

“Lock the door Ashanti!”

She scrambled from her spot and locked the door.

“Happy now?” she shouted at him.

“Thank you!” she heard him say right before the car door closed and he drove off.

She was finally alone and could really feel the energy of the place. It would be perfect for her little artist getaway. The south facing windows let in so much natural light that she wouldn't even need to turn the lights on during the day. She had already scoped out where she would set up her easel, and she made a mental note to ask André about art supply stores since she could only bring so much on the plane.

She made her way to the bedroom and plopped down on the bed, testing its softness. Once she was satisfied she rolled off and went to the bathroom to set up her toiletries. When she opened the door she was thrown back in time to when T’Challa first invited her to his quarters after their first date. The monstera in the corner and the ivy draping down the walls reminded her of what she always called his “jungle chic bathroom”, but she quickly shook the thought out of her head. She stripped down and stared at herself in the mirror as the water heated up, but ran back to her suitcase to grab her kimoyo beads. They were synched to her phone, but she thought the sound quality was better on the beads..

“Hey Kim, play music.”

How do you mend when you worlds apart?

Ooh, carry on

Ooh, from the start

Somehow, we fell in love, then fell right out of touch

And ooh, that was hard

But ooh, here we are

And it's easier to walk away

Than to look for what would make you stay

“Next song please.” she grumbled, not in the mood for a love song. Thankfully the next song was anything but.

“There’s some whores in this house, there’s some whores in this house…,” she sang along loudly while scrubbing down.

When she was finished she got out and did her usual routine before laying down to take a nap until André came back. When he did, she was excited to see that he brought gumbo.

“I wasn’t sure if you were too tired to go out or not. Either way, this’ll heat up pretty good tomorrow. I made a big pot yesterday, figured you’d like some authentic ‘Nawlins’ cuisine.”

Her eyes lit up and she dug right in, obviously hungrier than either of them thought she would be.

“Mmm, this is amazing. You made this?” she asked, having yet another flashback to her first date with T’Challa.

“Sho did, my daddy’s recipe.”

“Well tell your daddy I said thank you.”

“Tell him yourself. We having a fish fry this weekend, you should swing by. His place is just a few blocks from here.”

“I’ll be there! It’s not like I have any real plans or anything.”

“Yeah, what you gonna do while you're here?”

“Walk around, explore, paint, take in some sights, do some touristy things.”

“Let me guess, voodoo museum and cemetery tour?”

“That’s on the list, yeah.”

“Nah, my granny can probably tell you all that better than some tourist trap.”

“Will she be there this weekend?”

“Oh she never missed a fish fry in all her 79 years.”

Ashanti laughed

“Good. So about our chauffeur situation, how about $2,000 a week?”

He stared at her in disbelief.

“What? I’m sorry, is that too low? I’m not good with the conversion rate-”

“No that’s way more than I been making, you got yourself a deal. Hell I’ll be your protection detail too if you need it.”

She giggled a little bit and finally felt her shoulders relax. As much as she knew she needed this trip, it scared her to be so alone so far from home, but André’s warm aura made her feel safe in his presence. As far as she could tell, he was a Bast-send.

The two stayed in for the night, talking and getting to know each other until André left around 9. Ashanti locked up behind him and carried herself up to bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

-------

The king chose to take the day to himself, and he decided to spend it the same way he spent his favorite off-day, with Ashanti at her shop. She had to have seen the news by now and known the wedding was off, but she was still not answering his calls. He grew concerned and decided to use his day off to try to make things right.

As he walked through the market with his Dora, waving at the occasional excited passerby and stopping to talk to the children that wanted his attention, he felt lighter than he had in a while. He was finally free of Tamala and once her father’s scheming was revealed to the council, he and Hodari were replaced by their second in command. The proposal to open Wakanda to the Lost Tribe had passed and now they could start prepping for the day when their doors would truly open to the world. His plan had gone through, he wasn’t being forced into marriage, and the council had even backed off of their incessant need to marry him off. All he needed now was his lady.

Chidi was the first to see him round the corner and he waved the king over, saluting him to keep up appearances in public.

“What are you doing here, my boy?”

“I wanted to see Ashanti, do you know if she’s in?”

“She’s been gone for about three weeks now, she needed to get away from all the wedding coverage. She’ll be back next week unless her plans have changed. She barely calls us so I have no idea. Can you believe it, my only daughter goes halfway around the world and can't even call me to say she’s alive! Don’t have kids, T’Challa, they’ll rip your heart out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Where did she run off to?”

“New Orleans.”

“That fits her,” T’Challa smiled fondly while picturing her painting on an old balcony with jazz musicians playing down below or eating beignets and sipping coffee at Cafe Du Monde.

“Not enough to forget about her parents, it doesn’t!” Chidi fussed, causing Bisa to stick her head out from the back. Her face lit up when she saw the king.

“Oh hi T’Challa dear.” She came out from the kitchen and gave him a hug, surprising the few customers Zana Cafe had during the after lunch lull.

“Bisa, a pleasure as always.”

“I’m sure he told you Ashanti is off galavanting around the world avoiding your wedding. By the way, congratulations on being single again. I could tell you hated every moment of being with that woman, she seemed too clingy for you.”

“Thank you, it is good to be single again.”

“Not for too long, I hope,” Chidi’s eyebrow raised as he stared up at the king.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Good.” Chidi clapped him on the back and the king said goodbye to who he hoped would be his future in-laws.

As he crossed the street to Taj’s his nerves picked back up.

“She’s not even here man, chill out.” He spoke to himself softly and took a couple deep breaths before entering the store.

The doorway chimed every time a customer passed through, so when Zina heard it chime and looked up she nearly dropped the beads she was sorting.

“M-my king!” She saluted him as Jafari came from the back room to see what all the commotion was about, before stopping and saluting him as well.

“Please, no need for that.”

“What can we do for you, your highness?” Jafari asked since Zina seemed to be stuck in a trance staring at the handsome king.

“I was hoping to place a custom order.”

“The jewelry artist is out of town currently, but we can still take your order. It probably won’t be ready for another month or so. She doesn’t allow special orders to skip the line.”

“That is fine, I can wa- is your friend ok?”

Zina was still glued to the spot, staring at the king.

“Z, why don't you finish the beads in the back, I’ll handle up here.”

“Yeah. Ok, yeah, sorry, heh.” She shook herself out of it and rushed towards the back to get away from the king so she didn't embarrass herself further.

The two men shared a knowing look and the king chuckled, used to that reaction by now. He had, after all, been fine as hell his whole life.

“So, what would you like?”

“First, I would like it to be anonymous.”

After about 30 or so minutes of finalizing the design, the king left the shop still feeling light, but now with a tinge of anxiety. He wasn’t sure how she would feel seeing him again, but the one big obstacle keeping them apart had finally been removed and he hoped she saw it that way, too.

-------

Ashanti’s time in the Crescent City was coming to an end, and she didn’t want to say goodbye to André and the rest of the François family. She invited them to come visit her in Wakanda and she was sure at least a couple of them would actually take her up on her offer. Saying goodbye to everybody had been rough, but she was more than ready to go back home. She even said goodbye to the fat cat that laid around in her courtyard most mornings. When André dropped her off at the airport they were both misty-eyed. They had become the best of friends and he was already planning to come visit Wakanda during the summer with his daughter Désirée, who simply adored Ashanti. They hugged and kissed each other's cheeks before he sent her on her way through security.

The flight back seemed to take a whole lot longer than the flight there, but she still made it in about the same amount of time thanks to the jets being infused with Wakandan tech. As they got closer to the border, she could feel the tattoo on her inner lip start to tingle, and when they landed it finally subsided. She nearly ran off the plane when she saw her parents and roommates waiting for her at the gate, and she attacked all four of them with a giant hug.

“I missed you all so much!”

“Chile no you didn't, you barely texted me.” Kwame joked as she hit his arm.

“And you barely called us. Must have been some trip!” Chidi added.

“It was! I have tons of pictures. I met this guy who-”

“A guy?” her mother interjected, concern written on her face. Ashanti misinterpreted it as concern for her safety but she was actually concerned about the state of her and T’Challa’s possible relationship.

“Yes, mama, a guy. He was my driver and we became friends and his family sort of took me in for the month. It was great!”

The five of them made their way to Zana Cafe and were met with Zina and Jafari, who were both ecstatic to have their boss back.

“Bosslady! You look well-rested.” Jafari pulled her in for a hug before Zina could do the same.

“That’s because I am. I need to do the whole vacation thing more often. Travelling is so cheap thanks to the conversion rate. Did you know our money is worth five times as much as American money?”

“Can’t say I’m surprised. Why don’t you go ahead and start telling stories and I’ll bring the food out?”Chidi suggested.

Ashanti had them hanging on her every word all night long. She told them about everything, from the cemeteries to the swamps to Bourbon street to the history of Marie Laveau. She told them about the jazz musicians and what she learned about the effects of hurricane Katrina and gentrification. She told them about the François family and the kindness they showed her, and even pulled up some pictures of her work on her beads to show them.

“I’m definitely going back at some point.”

“Don't you want to go somewhere else instead?” Zina asked, stuffing her face full of food.

“I want both,” Ashanti said with a laugh. She had missed her friends and family, but wouldn't trade the last month of her life for the world.

It started getting late so Zina and Binta left to go be with their respective significant others, while the others cleaned up the table. Jafari was the next to go, and after he left the remaining three descended upon Ashanti too quickly for her comfort.

“Do you know already?” Kwame asked her suspiciously.

“Know what? You’re freaking me out.”

“About the king.”

“Why would you- I left to get away from him, I don’t want to think-”

“Intyatyambo, they called it off weeks ago,” Bisa added.

Her whole world stopped, but she was too tired to process the information they had just given her.

“I-I don't...why?”

“Nobody knows, but the king came down here looking for you the other day.” said Chidi.

“He did?!” Ashanti asked, looking to her mother for confirmation.

“He did.”

“Well, um- that’s cool I guess. I-I need to get some rest, it’s late and my brain hurts.”

“Get home safe sithandwa,” Chidi ordered.

“I will baba, bye. Bye mama.'' She hugged them both before she and Kwame drove home in his new hover car.

“So this André guy?”

“Just a friend, Kwame.”

“Ok but is he cute?”

“You know that American show you like to watch? Oh, what’s it called...Insecure! He looks like the light skinned guy on there.”

“Nathan?! Girrrrl and you didn’t hit that?”

“No, ew, he felt more like a brother.”

“Mmmhm, so you didn’t go get your groove back?”

“Meaning…?”

“Did you get that back blown out in Nola or no?”

“No.”

“Girl I swear, the wrong one of us is doing all the travelling.”

The two laughed as they entered their home and said good night before going their separate ways.

As comfortable as her bed back in New Orleans was, it pales in comparison to her bed at home. She knew not to even sit down until she was ready to pass out. She quickly showered and threw on a big t-shirt before hopping in her bed and drifting away to dreamland.

Mmm, Ashanti.

Come sit on your throne, kitten.

Ride me just like that.

Bounce on it.

Cum on my dick.

Nah-uh, don’t fucking move, I’m cumming in this pussy. My pussy.

“Your pussy, baby,” Ashanti whimpered in her sleep just moments before her eyes flew open. She hadn’t had a dream like that in months, now all of a sudden her body was acting crazy just because she heard he was single again. As far as she knew, the council could have another wife lined up for him so there was no need to even get excited. Apparently, nobody told her pussy that.

She looked at the clock and was surprised it was well after 10am, until she remembered she probably had jet lag. Her thoughts were interrupted by a light knock at the door.

“Oh good you’re up, I was just checking to make sure you were breathing,” Binta joked as Ashanti threw a pillow at her from the bed.

“I’m alive, just jetlagged. I don't think I’ve ever slept this late in my entire life.”

“Yeah girl that's why I came up here to make sure you were ok!”

“I guess it’s something I’ll have to get used to if I’m going to be travelling a lot.”

Binta sat on the end of the bed.

“You really did love it huh?”

“I did, and there are so many places to see!”

Binta laughed and was about to say something when her beads rang.

“Oop, gotta go. Mrs. Obi is going into labor, but her doula came down with a stomach bug this morning so I get to step in.”

“Good luck!” Ashanti shouted at Binta as she frantically ran down the steps to grab her work bag and go.

Ashanti sat up in bed and stretched her arms out wide before swinging her legs over the side and standing up, stretching even further. She padded her way to the bathroom and checked herself out in the mirror while brushing her teeth. She decided to shower again since last night was more of a quick rinse, so she cut the water back on and got naked.

“Hey Kim, play music.”

How do you mend when you worlds apart?

Ooh, carry on

Ooh, from the start

Somehow, we fell in love, then fell right out of touch

And ooh, that was hard

But ooh, here we are

And it's easier to walk away

Than to look for what would make you stay

This time she was in the mood for the love song, so she allowed it to play all the way through.

Remember when we first met?

We were having so much fun

So, now, how can we both forget

Telling each other, "We're the one"?

We would make love (We would make love)

At the drop of a hat

Remember that?

(Yeah)

I remember you and me (You and me)

Close as any two can be (Two can be)

Now we're strangers in the night (Strangers)

Awkward in the tight

Oh baby, do you want to make it better?

Do you want to stay together?

Hey, if you do

Then let's please

Make some new

Memories

The song was cut off by her beads ringing. She finished rinsing off and hopped back out the shower to see who was calling her. She threw on a robe, then answered the call. She was surprised to see Zina on the other end.

“Hey Z, how’s it going?”

“Hey Shanti, so um the shop is really busy and Jafari got that stomach bug that’s going around and-”

“I’ll be there in 30, no worries. Breathe Zina.”

She took a deep breath and was able to destress a little bit.

“Sorry, I just get a little tense sometimes.”

“I understand. If it's too busy for you to handle, just close the doors and we can reopen when I get there. See you soon.”

She ended the call and searched for something to wear. She threw on a white t-shirt and colorful joggers with sneakers before grabbing her bags and heading out the door.

When she arrived at Taj’s the customers had died down so she was able to work in the back and look through her commissions. There was one that stood out to her, it was an anonymous client who wanted a very simple necklace. They could have bought one like it at the front of the shop, but she guessed this person wanted it made just for them. Looking at her calendar and other commissions she guessed it would be ready in a month or so, but with it being such a simple design she decided to go ahead and make it to get it out of the way.

-------

The king was surprised when Jafari called him to come pick up his order. It was way earlier than he had expected, but he would never complain about getting to see Ashanti sooner rather than later. T’Challa decided to take the day off again, and he knew his sister wouldn’t take too kindly to it so he decided to make her favorite breakfast for her. When his mother and sister rolled into their en suite kitchen, following the delicious smells wafting through the royal wing of the palace, Shuri immediately knew something was up.

“Unyana, shouldn’t you be working?”

“Oh no. Is this a bribe?” Shuri asked, eyes scanning over the American-style breakfast and mouth watering at the fluffy golden pancakes. She wanted to stand her ground, but they called to her. T’Challa knew what he was doing.

“Don’t think of it as a bribe, think of it as a thank you in advance,” he said with a sly smirk on his face.

“Let me go clear my schedule-” she sighed.

“No need. Already done,” he smiled at her as he shovelled scrambled eggs onto her plate.

“You’re the worst. This better be for a good reason.”

“It is.”

“Are you going to tell us what it is?” Queen Mother inquired.

“No, not yet.” T’Challa didn’t want his family to get too excited.

“Ugh, I deserve to know since you're making me queen for a day.”

He stared at her, deciding between telling her and keeping it to himself. His decision was cut short when his kimoyo beads rang and he answered to see Nakia looking very excited.

“N’Jadaka told me everything! How did it go?”

“Oh so you told him but won’t tell us?! Your own mother and sister? Your own flesh and blood? How rude.” Shuri said, crossing her arms and giving him a look of disapproval, making him roll his eyes at her dramatics.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to start anything, I was just so excited. You know the prince can’t hold water, I don’t know why you ever tell him anything.”

“You are right as usual, umhlobo wam.”

“Well, I’ll let you go since you obviously have some explaining to do,” she looked behind T’Challa at the princess and Queen Mother who had looks of displeasure on their faces. “Call me after!” And with that she ended the call and her hologram disappeared from his hand. He took a deep breath and turned to face his family.

“So?” Ramonda asked impatiently, Shuri nodding along.

“So...I am going to see Ashanti.” He paused as their faces lit up and he couldn't help but smile, too. “I went to see her on my off day a couple weeks ago, but she was out of town. Apparently she left to avoid the wedding coverage...but she’s back now, so I took the day off to go see her.”

Their smiles were up to their ears despite the silence that followed T’Challa’s explanation.

“I haven’t seen you look this happy in a long time, unyana wam.”

“Thank you mama, I’m hoping all goes well.”

“Bast be with you, dear.”

“Ugh, I guess I’ll do your job for you. Tell my sister I said hi and I miss her!”

Ramonda smirked at her daughter’s choice of words, and T’Challa fought to keep a smile off his face.

“I’ll do just that.”

“Well, go ahead and eat so you can get out of here,” Ramonda encouraged her son.

T’Challa chuckled at his mother’s insistence, but did what she said. He tried his best to not rush through the meal, but his excitement took over and he inhaled his breakfast before kissing Shuri and Ramonda on their foreheads and running out the door.

As soon as he left the kitchen his nerves kicked in and he decided to smoke a little something on his balcony before heading out. The royal grower had left him a nice hybrid strain, and after a couple of hits he felt calm enough to do what he needed to do. He ashed his blunt before making his way down the palace elevators and out the front entrance.

He strolled through the city with Okoye and three other Dora, standing tall and smiling at the few other pedestrians when they caught his eye.

“You’re in a good mood today. Is it the weed or our destination?” Okoye teased him.

“Yes.” he responded and chuckled as she gave him a knowing glance. She hadn’t seen her king this happy in...well it’s been a while.

They stopped just around the corner from Taj’s and T’Challa took a deep breath before walking forward. Thankfully it was still early and the market hadn’t livened up yet, so Taj’s would most likely be empty or at the very least not busy.

The Doras stood watch at the open doors and he stepped in, causing the chimes to ring out once again. He was met with the same smiling faces as before and he immediately deflated since he had been hoping he would get to see Ashanti.

“My king.” Zina and Jafari said in unison, saluting him in the process.

“Hello, I received a message that my order is ready. I would love to speak with the artist if she is in.”

“Sure, I’ll go grab her. She’s just in the back working on another order, I’ll be right back,” Zina said before hopping off her stool and disappearing behind a multicolored curtain that had been dyed by children in one of their art classes.

By the time Zina reached Ashanti’s workstation, she was overflowing with excitement.

“The-anonymous-client-is-here-and-they-want-to-meet-you!” she rushed out.

“Zina, breathe. One more time, please.” Ashanti looked up from measuring the pair of pendulums that would become pearl drop earrings when she was through with them.

“Just come out front and see for yourself.”

Ashanti sighed and set down her tools, brushing off her clothes as she stood and following Zina out to the front. She figured the anonymous order was either from someone she knew or from someone of nobility from one of the tribes, but nothing had prepared her to see T’Challa standing in her shop just like he did almost two years ago. She froze on the spot when she saw him and her two employees snickered at what they assumed was her “starstruck” face, not knowing it was anything but.

“Hi.” he said softly with a smile.

“Hi. So you’re my anonymous client?” her voice softened as she took in his form. T’Challa was many things, but he was not someone who repeated outfits, yet here he was in her shop wearing the exact same clothes as the day they met.

Zina and Jafari’s jaws fell to the floor as they both realized that Ashanti knew the king.

“That I am. I hope you don’t mind, I needed a way to see you. I didn’t want to just pop up at your home, but you blocked me, so...I understand though-”

“Holy shit-” Jafari said under his breath but much louder than he anticipated, causing Zina to elbow him in his side.

“W-we’ll just be in the back,” she stuttered as she pushed Jafari into the back room to give them privacy.

There was a tense silence for a moment before T’Challa spoke.

“I heard about New Orleans. How was it?”

“It, uh, was great. I was there about a month and met some really great people. Got a lot of painting done-”

“Hm” T’challa nodded with a warm smile on his face.

“What?”

“When Chidi told me you were in New Orleans that’s exactly what I pictured you doing. You, on a balcony, painting, with Jazz musicians playing on the street below.”

“So you pictured me, huh?” she teased.

T’Challa laughed. “Yes, quite often I’m afraid,” he took a step forward. “And you? Do you still think about me?” he asked her while moving closer so that the only thing between them was the counter.

Ashanti’s heart beat faster and her palms got sweatier with every step he took.

“All the time.”

“Do you have someone special in your life?”

“No. Any more arranged marriages on your end?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “No.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“Mhm.”

“Ashanti,” he took a deep breath. “I really am sorry.”

“For what?”

“I should have never let you go-”

“I needed to go, T’Challa. If you had chased me I just would’ve run further away.”

“Ok,” he nodded. “However, I know that if I had to see you with another man it would tear my heart to pieces, so I am sorry from the bottom of my heart that you had to experience that pain.” His big brown eyes twinkled with sincerity and her nerves simply melted away.

“Eh, I’ve had worse,” she joked, shrugging and holding up her pinky.

The two of them stared at each other in silence with small smiles plastered on their faces.

“Ashanti,” he began as he grabbed her hand and kissed it, feeling the cold metal of her robotic pinky beneath his lips, “I know it’s been a rollercoaster, to say the least, but my heart will always be yours.”

Tears welled up in her eyes and one escaped, prompting his thumb to reach out and swipe it away.

“Please don’t cry, kitten.” he said as tears threatened to escape his eyes, too.

“I’m sorry, I just-”

“Don’t be sorry, my love.”

She looked at him in that moment and took in his face that she missed more than her heart could bear. She missed his deep dark eyes, his broad nose, his bushy yet tamed eyebrows, and that lopsided gap toothed smile. She missed scratching his beard when they kissed and oiling his scalp with him seated between her legs. She missed the little things about him and their time spent together, and she was tired of running. She was tired of letting her fear dictate her happiness. She was tired of other people standing in their way, but now there was nothing in their way but a wooden countertop.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

He quickly rounded the counter and pulled her body in close, planting his lips on hers. She melted into him as they both finally let their tears fall. They stayed in that embrace for Bast knows how long, taking in the moment and reacquainting themselves with the feel of each other.

T’Challa had missed the smell of her perfume and the pomegranate leave-in conditioner she used in her hair even more than he realized. Her soft body conformed to his and it took all of his willpower to not explore her body more, so he leaned back to untangle himself from her momentarily only to be pulled back into her embrace. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the comforting sound of his heartbeat.

“Not yet,” she whimpered as she pulled him in tighter. He chuckled and rested his chin on top of her head after placing a light kiss on her crown. He saw the curtain ruffle slightly and knew her employees were eavesdropping.

“I think we have an audience.”

“I figured.” She refused to let go. “Can we go somewhere else?”

“Anywhere you want.”

The wheels in her head turned and turned. She didn’t want to be bothered by either of their loved ones, but she wanted privacy.

“Take me back to the lake.”

“Anything for you.”

She looked up at him with a twinkle in her eye. This time it was true, he really would and could do anything for her. There was no fiancee or council standing in his way.

“Zina, Jafari, you two can come out now,” she said as she pulled only halfway out of the king’s embrace, his arm still around her waist. Her two employees tripped over themselves from behind the curtain and emerged with guilty looks on their faces.

“I’ll be gone the rest of the day. If it gets too crazy I trust you two to handle it on your own.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Of course, bosslady.”

She momentarily left T’Challa’s warmth to grab her bag from the back before they sauntered out of Taj’s hand in hand.

-------

When you take somebody for your own

It can't survive on history alone

Meet me at the hotel, motel

Though we got a room at home

Go to a place that we don't know so well

It be nice, add a little spice

Try some new seduction

Show each other how

Give each other new instructions

On what makes us

Feel good

Now

I just wanna make you feel good now