"If he touches you again, I will slam his head on the desk over there."
Shuri burst out laughing, and her lab assistants shared an amused look. She was so thankful for these new hearing devices she created, because now she could already prepare to be on stand-by for the next phase of their mission. T'Challa had told her the second the mission had gone awry, so for now, she was waiting in her lab, cracking up as she listened to Okoye and T'Challa talk about Klaue. But then, another voice came on the line loud and clear.
"See that? It's called diplomacy. And you're welcome."
She tilted her head. No accent, most likely midwestern American, and…fairly young. Maybe a bit older than herself. He had a nice voice, she decided belatedly.
Moments later, she picked up what sounded like a crazy person singing. There was the sound of someone clearing their throat, and then-
"Yeah, you really shouldn't trust the Wakandans, I'm much more your speed."
Ah, so that singing must have been Klaue. Shuri felt her blood boil, but she focused in on the nice voice that followed.
"I don't trust anybody, not in this job. But what I am interested in is that arm canon out there. Where'd you get that?"
"It's an old mining tool that I made some adjustments to, but I can get you one if you like."
"He has no guilt for his crimes," Okoye muttered bitterly, and Shuri found herself nodding in agreement.
"Why don't you give me the name of your supplier, and I'll ask them?"
Shuri was snickering now. This CIA agent was just like T'Challa told her— sarcastic and snarky, and always thinking he had the situation more under his control than he actually did.
She opened her mouth to tell to her brother her thoughts, but the next words out of Klaue's mouth made her freeze.
"They're right outside. Why don't you ask them yourself?"
"Wha- T'Challa? You're telling me that weapon on your arm is from Wakanda?"
The disbelief in his voice made Shuri's heart rate settle down, but not for long.
"Bingo. What do you actually know about Wakanda?"
"Um…shepherds, textiles, cool outfits?" was the ironic reply.
She could imagine the maniacal gleam in Klaue's eyes when he said, "It's all a front. It's what we've searched for for centuries— El Dorado, the Golden City. They thought they would find it in South America, but it was in Africa the whole time. A technological marvel, all because it was built on a mound of the most valuable metal known to man- ysepier, they called it, the gift: Vibranium."
"Vibranium, yeah, strongest metal on earth."
"It's not just the metal. They sew it into their clothes, it powers their city, their tech. Their weapons."
"Weapons?"
Shuri was gritting her teeth now, and one of her lab assistants was approaching her.
"My princess, are you alri-"
She waved a dismissive hand, trying to pick up what she'd missed.
"-a nice fairytale, but Wakanda is a third world country, and you stole all their Vibranium."
"I stole it?" Klaue laughed, sending shivers up Shuri's spine. There was a slam. "I took a tiny piece of it. They have a mountain full of it. They've been mining it for thousands of years, and they still haven't scratched the surface. I'm the only outsider who's seen it and gotten out of there alive. If you don't believe me, you ask your friend what his suit is made of, what his claws are made of."
There was silence…a rustle of fabric, the sound of a door opening-
"Your father told the UN that Klaue stole all the Vibranium you had, but now he's telling me you have more?"
Under normal circumstances, Shuri would hate hearing that accusing tone being pointed at her brother. But this time, she couldn't help but feel guilty. The guy with the nice voice was right— Wakanda hadn't been truthful with the world.
"And you believe the word of an arms dealer strapped to a chair?"
Shuri shook her head. This wasn't right— the lying, the secrecy, the isolation, all of it. If it was her on the throne, well…she banished the thought. It wasn't her decision to make.
"Where is that camera?"
The princess blinked. Wait, Nakia? Why wasn't she in on the investigation? What was she talking about?
"How much more are you hiding?" the nice voice questioned, then—
BOOM
"Get down!" the nice voice screamed.
Her heart was racing. She could hear the bullets, the sound of glass being shattered, and she knew something had gone wrong.
"T'Challa?" she called. "T'Challa, answer me! Brother!"
"Stay down!" he shouted, and Shuri clutched her heart. There was another bang, and she whipped around to face her assistants, all of whom looked worried.
"Prepare all medical bays for the injured, now!" she commanded. Her assistants nodded in sync, and Shuri turned back to listen.
"-jumped in front of me."
Shuri picked up labored breathing, and her eyes widened. If it wasn't T'Challa or Okoye or Nakia, then…it was the man with the nice voice! He had saved Nakia.
"I don't think he'll make it here, it hit his spine."
Shuri opened her mouth. "T'Challa, the beads-"
"Give me a kimoye bead," T'Challa instructed immediately, and Shuri let out a sigh of relief. That would stabilize the man…but for how long?
"He has to come here," she realized, not noticing that she spoke her thoughts out loud.
She could almost hear T'Challa's hesitation before he said, "Give him to us. We can save him."
The moment her brother rounded the corner, Shuri got up from her desk and rushed over. She noticed the patient floating on the bed, and unveiled his face out of curiosity.
"Great, another broken white boy for us to fix! This is going to be fun," she grinned, then took in his appearance with an approving nod. "And he's handsome, too."
"Focus, Shuri," T'Challa admonished.
"I am focused!" she retorted. "I'm just acknowledging that he's cute-" Nakia raised a knowing eyebrow, "-for a white boy."
Nakia rolled her eyes, and Shuri snickered as she directed the bed to her medical bay. "So…how did this happen?"
"He took a bullet for her," Okoye answered, her arms crossed in disapproval. "And apparently that means we have to be nice."
"Your position on the matter is known, Okoye," T'Challa said in a tone that ended the conversation.
Shuri nodded absentmindedly, pulling up a hologram of his spine structure. The area hit was lit up red, but she smiled when she saw that the bead was already doing its work.
"He will live," she assured them, placing a hand on his shoulder. He winced in pain, and she pushed a button for the bead to release anesthetics before her bracelet beeped. She looked down at it and blinked. "W'Kabi is here," she reported.
T'Challa kept his emotions masked as he turned and went upstairs, but the women in the room shared a look.
"Do we need to make sure your husband does not harm the king?" Nakia suggested.
Okoye allowed a rare smile. "Your intended husband can protect himself, Nakia." The general winked at Shuri, and the two laughed when Nakia stuck her tongue out at them.
Her hands flew across the keys as she typed, images and text appearing in droves on the screen before her. Shuri could hear footsteps approaching, and she turned off the display before she turned around.
One of the male palace servants she'd called in was in front of her at an appropriate distance, his head bowed. "Your patient has been dressed, my princess."
"Thank you," she replied. "I don't need to remind you that this is to be kept a secret, yes?"
"Of course, my princess," he nodded, then crossed his arms in respect. She returned the gesture, and the servant turned on his heel and walked away.
The moment he was gone, Shuri reactivated her screen, but this time in the palm of her hand. She wandered over to the outsider, flicking through the data she'd found about him.
He was twenty three, which wouldn't have been surprising for a spy in Wakanda, but she knew that was uncommon for an American— especially one of his ranking. He'd been born into a life in the military, both of his parents serving in Vietnam before his birth in a small town in Nevada.
But looking at his picture, there was so much more. He was smiling— a confident, knowing sort of smile that she recognized in herself a lot. Dark brown hair swept to the side, slightly tanned skin, tall. His eyes were sure, and green, which was a color she rarely saw here in Wakanda.
She glanced over at him now, laying on the table in new robes, wishing he would open his eyes so she could see if they really were as green as the picture seemed.
Everett woke up feeling strangely relaxed, almost like he'd been sleeping for hours and hours on end. But that couldn't be true— there was rarely a night where he didn't wake up thinking he'd heard gunshots or being called to go on mission.
He opened his eyes slowly, grimacing at the bright white light above him. There was music, soft, but certainly there. There was a mechanical beep, and he turned his head before he began to sit up.
Then the memories hit him. The interrogation, the bomb, the shots— wait, his back!
Everett reached his hand behind him, trying to feel for where his newest battle scar should be, but- nothing. And that's when he looked up.
He was in a sleek environment filled with color and light. Not to mention his clothes were different— what was this, a black nightgown? He stood up from the hospital bed and spun around, taking in the room with wide eyes. What on earth-?
He was fascinated, enthralled, but his instincts were kicking in, and suddenly he felt open and exposed and weak. He spotted a woman sitting at a raised table, and he stepped forward.
"Alright, where am I?" Everett asked as firmly as he could.
She gave him an annoyed look. "Don't scare me like that, colonizer!"
He blinked at the reference, realizing belatedly that she was smiling to herself and…wait, was that a joke?
"Coloni- what, wha- my name is Everett," he stuttered.
The girl just laughed, "Yes I know…Everett Ross, former air force pilot and now CIA," she rattled off.
Caught off guard yet again, all he could say was, "Right." His eyes drifted back to what he assumed was a lab, still ever so curious about where he was. Suddenly, it clicked. "Okay, is this Wakanda?"
"No, it's Kansas," she retorted without giving him a single glance.
Everett took in a deep breath to calm his nerves. Did he do something to tick her off or was she like this all the time?
He decided to go with a different question. "How long ago was Korea?"
"Yesterday."
He shook his head in disbelief. "I don't think so, bullet wounds don't just magically heal overnight."
She finally turned to actually look at him, and he felt his mouth go dry. She was…wow, she was beautiful. There was a knowing smile on her face, and her eyes had this look that told him that she thought he was a little on the stupid side.
"They do here, but not by magic, by technology," she corrected, gesturing to a large window that he hadn't noticed before.
He tore his eyes away from her and let his curiosity get the better of him. He began to wander over to the window, and she gave him a look.
"Don't touch anything— my brother will return soon."
Again, he was so confused by her. Who was her brother? Was he supposed to know? Had they met before? What was going on?
But then the window was calling to him again, and he pushed aside his worried thoughts. When he finally met the glass, his jaw dropped in awe.
Before him stood an underground technological world. A glowing train flew by, and his mind was sent back to Space Mountain at Disneyland all those years ago.
A childlike wonder filled him, and he couldn't help but open his mouth to ask, "These train things…that's- that's magnetic levitation, right?"
She gave him a deadpan look. "Obviously."
"Obviously, but, I-I've never seen it this-" he stopped and gave a laugh, "-efficient." He gazed out at it in wonder. "The light panels, what are they?"
Her eyes were different now— they were lit up, just like everything else in the room. "Sonic stabilizers," she answered.
Everett tilted his head. "Sonic what?"
"Sonic stabilizers," she repeated. "In its true form, Vibranium is too dangerous to be transported at that speed, so I developed a way to temporarily deactivate it."
"There's Vibranium on those trains?" he questioned.
She smiled, looking up all around. "There's Vibranium all around us."
He turned to look with her, and she said, "That's how I healed you." Everett gave her a confused look, and she laughed again as she walked back to her station. A hologram was forming in her hand now, and she held up a finger for him to be quiet as though all of this was totally normal.
A woman appeared, looking stern when she demanded, "Where is T'Challa? His kimoye beads have switched off."
"Well we are not joined at the hip, Okoye," the girl replied, and wait, she was— was she T'Challa's-?
"A man showed up at the border who claims to have killed Klaue," the hologram woman said, and the girl's brow furrowed.
"What?"
"W'Kabi is transporting him as we speak to the palace- we must find your brother," the woman continued, and weirdly, Everett felt better now knowing that she was just his sister. But wait…that meant he'd been rude to the princess of Wakanda. He wished someone would put him back under again.
The princess was now pulling up yet another hologram, and Everett felt a second wave of shock hit him as a familiar face stared back at him blankly.
"An outsider?"
"No, a Wakandan."
Everett stepped forward. "He's not a Wakandan," he told her. "He's one of ours."
As they stood around the hologram with Everett talking about this new man "Eric Stevens," Shuri couldn't help but let her mind wander back to what happened about an hour ago.
Her patient had been so…confused. She supposed that should've been expected, and she probably shouldn't have given him the cold shoulder that way. But when she'd seen that his eyes truly were as green as she'd hoped, suddenly she felt like he was already living up to her expectations, and why shouldn't she trust this man? He saved Nakia, so it was the least she could do to be kind.
And then he was curious, so very curious. Not ignorant or stupid— that was the kind she hated the most. Not arrogant either— he didn't question her when she said that it was her who invented the sonic stabilizers.
His curiosity was…refreshing.
It was nice to have someone ask about her work. It was nice to answer questions, to explain things, to see the light go off in someone's eyes (especially when they were green).
Shuri finally snapped back into reality when T'Challa asked, "Did he reveal anything about his identity?"
"He has a war dog tattoo," Shuri replied, taking note of how Everett nodded in agreement. "But we have no record of him."
All of that felt like it happened days ago, not hours. It was all a blur…the outsider staking his claim on the throne, the battle, and now—
Shuri leaned in closer to her mother, fighting back the tears. Now they were hiding out in the forest, waiting for Nakia to return with any good news possible. Now they were running for their lives.
"First Baba…and now my brother," she thought aloud, her throat tight. Finally, the tears poured over, and she wept, "We didn't even get to bury him!"
Her mother held her close, shushing her soothingly. She took in a deep breath to speak, but suddenly, her mother was upright and alert.
The foliage rustled, and Nakia came out with her hands up. "It's me!"
"Nakia," her mother whispered, then raised her weapon when Everett appeared alongside her. "Who is this man?"
"He's a friend of T'Challa's, he saved my life," Nakia assured her. Shuri dared to look up with her tear stained eyes, and she was surprised to find that he was staring right back at her.
"Where's Okoye?"
"Okoye's not coming-" Nakia said, and Shuri's heart dropped. "Wait here."
And just as quick as she came, Nakia was gone.
The former queen stared after her, whispered, "What is happening to our Wakanda?" Then, she shook her head. "Stay here— I must find out what she is doing."
Her mother left in search of Nakia, and thus, Shuri and Everett were left alone. She stared at the ground, feeling his eyes on her and not knowing what to do or say.
"Hey are you, ah…" he stuttered, and she looked up. "…are you okay?"
The wince on his face told her that he immediately knew his mistake, and under normal circumstances she would've laughed, but now, she just tightened her hold on her blanket.
"I saw my brother get pushed over the side of a waterfall," she replied thickly. "How can I be?"
He swallowed and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I uh," he started, kicking at the rocks on the ground. "I understand how you feel."
She tilted her head at him, and he looked bashful under her gaze. "Not entirely, I didn't lose my brother but, um-," he cleared his throat. "He was like a brother to me. We trained together, lived together, fought together…we were as close as could be," Everett chuckled.
That's when she noticed it— the pain in his eyes. They were glassy, shining in the moonlight.
"It was a standard operation, nothing should've gone wrong but-" he paused, and for the strangest reason, Shuri reached out and took his hand. He gave her an appreciative smile. "I heard the gunshots, and I just- I knew it was him."
Everette straightened his shoulders suddenly, and his kind eyes stared into hers. "We all lose someone in war…that doesn't make it okay, but it does mean you're not alone."
Shuri's eyes darted down to where their hands were connected, reveling in the fact that his story somehow made a little of the pain ease.
All of this felt like a dream, and Everett still wasn't one hundred percent sure that it wasn't. He watched them now, as the family surrounded T'Challa. He picked up Shuri's voice, desperate and sweet as she chanted their prayer.
He looked up to the sky and joined his voice with theirs, repeating the words in hopes that maybe, just maybe, it could turn everything around.
Suddenly, there was a gasp, and he turned around to see that the former king had awoken. They were all smiling, and then, Shuri turned around and beamed at him. Everett smiled back.
"Do you have a blanket?" T'Challa joked, and Shuri laughed. She got up and took a brown robe from one of M'Baku's men, then returned to her brother's side to put it around his shoulders.
At this point, Nakia and T'Challa were whispering about something, and Everett saw the bright look in Shuri's eyes as she stepped away from the couple. She wandered over to him, and he met her eyes.
"I'm glad you could get your brother back," he told her genuinely.
At first she smiled, but it faded. "I am sorry yours cannot be returned to you." An understanding silence formed between them, and they watched the scene unfolding before them together as her mother helped T'Challa to stand.
"I want to thank you," Shuri said. "Your attempt to stand up to M'Baku for me was…bold, to say the least," she laughed.
Everett's mind went back to not thirty minutes ago, to when they were in the throne room, to the way his blood boiled when the tribe leader dared to call the intelligent woman in front of him "girl."
"It's, ah," he cleared his throat. "It was nothing."
Shuri smiled at him, and he knew that the embarrassment had been worth it.
"Go, go go go go go!" Shuri whispered harshly. She rolled her eyes and took hold of Everett's hand. "Come on, Ross!"
They rounded the corner to her lab, and she sealed the door behind them. Sighing with relief, Shuri threw off her disguise and ran over to her station. A button push there, a switch flip there— the armor she desired rose up from the Vibranium sand.
She picked up her holoflyer remote and turned to face Everett, who was surprisingly closer than she expected."Nakia and I will get control of the royal talon with this," she explained quickly.
"So what do I do?" he asked.
"You have to fly it," she replied, taking a kimoye bead bracelet and putting it around his wrist. Their skin touched just briefly, and she wondered why her face felt hot when she turned away to grab an earpiece.
"W-What?"
Shuri glanced back at him. "You were a great pilot— don't worry," she said, and now her face felt even warmer as she gently tucked the earpiece behind his ear. "I'll guide you through it, it's just like riding a hoverbike."
"Wha- you guys have hoverbikes?"
Grinning, she ran back around to the armor. "Hey, Nakia! Take that!"
"I'm not a Dora," Nakia retorted.
Shuri rolled her eyes as she grabbed her arm canons. "Just put it on, it's armor!"
"Are you on your way?" T'Challa asked over the line.
"Coming!" Shuri replied. "Good luck, agent Ross!" she called behind her, but then there was a hand grabbing hers. She spun around, and there he was, looking oddly confused and worried.
"Wait, you- you're going there? Into that mess?" he asked.
Nakia's eyes passed between the two, and Shuri looked at her. "I will join you in a minute." Nakia nodded, then continued on up the stairs.
Shuri's eyes met Everett's green ones, and she frowned. "Yes, I am," she said, pulling her hand out of his. "You said it yourself— T'Challa is going to need all the help he could get. Now why is that different when it comes to me?" she challenged.
He looked frustrated. "It's just, I don't want-"
"Is it because I am a woman?"
"Wha- no! No, that's not it, you're not-"
"Good," she cut him off, chin raised high. "Because I am going out there whether you like it or not, and you are staying here whether you like it or not. Is that clear?"
His eyes were wide, and suddenly she realized that maybe she had been presumptuous. Maybe he didn't think she was weak like most men did. Maybe he was actually concerned for her safety. Maybe…maybe he was different.
But instead of fighting her command, Everett just nodded. Shuri turned away from him, partly because she felt ashamed for assuming his character and partly because she didn't want him to see her blush.
"Good luck, Everett," she repeated from earlier.
"I don't know what I'm doing," he laughed awkwardly.
She managed a glance back at him, then she saw the fear in his eyes. She really had thrown him into the deep end with this.
Shuri walked up to him and tapped the earpiece on his neck. "Just ask for me, and I'll be there," she told him, not realizing that her fingers lingered for longer than necessary.
He couldn't take this. He couldn't stand just sitting around, having no idea if she— I mean, if they were okay or not.
Everett had been pacing back and forth for what felt like ages now, when suddenly, a light flickered on.
"Remote piloting system activated," a bodiless voice stated, and a chair formed out of Vibranium particles right before his eyes.
He stood back in shock, watching as a whole world appeared around him.
"I made it American standard for you, get in!"
Wait, was that Shuri in his ear?
Shrugging, because honestly, these last few days had been insane anyways, he sat down in the chair.
"Right," he breathed, looking around and seeing— yes, there was a stick for him to grab. He swallowed before he grabbed it, muscle memory taking over from there. He guided the fighter jet up smoothly, vaguely impressed with how easy it was to maneuver. He put on full thruster, and-
"Yes!" Shuri shouted, and Everett laughed. "Go! We can't let those weapons get beyond Wakanda!"
"Alright, I'm on it," he said, and he was off. A map of the land unfurled before him on the screens. He was in his element now. The skies were his, and if there was one thing that Everett Ross did well, it was win. He would fight for these people, fight for his people, and maybe, just a little bit, fight for Shuri.
He reached the city, and there he spotted several fliers up ahead of him. Everett made to push a button to fire off missiles, but panicked. The panel was different here.
"Shuri, I got 'em, what do I do?" he asked.
There was a grunt, "Shoot them down, genius!"
A targeting triangle came up on the screen, and he blinked. "Alright." He locked it on to one of the fighters, and it turned red. "Here goes nothin'."
He pulled the trigger on the control stick and—
One fighter down, several more to go.
"Alright, got 'em," he told her, but then the others were rounding back on him. "Oh great."
Everett punched his fighter forward, redirecting the fire away from the city and toward the mountains. Maybe he could get them to follow him, get them out into the wilderness where they could crash without causing more casualties-?
"Rah!" Shuri shouted angrily in his ear, and his heart filled with anxiety.
"Shuri? Shuri, are you alright?" he called. She was yelling, almost like she was struggling to hold something down.
"Shuri!" T'Challa screamed.
Everett mouth went dry. "Shuri, what's going on? Are you-"
"You'll never be a true king," she said calmly, and Everett's eyes widened. Wait, she was with Killmonger?
"Shuri-?!"
"No!"
"Brother!" she called.
"Shuri, please, answer me!" Everett begged.
"T'Challa, he- he saved me," she gasped. "Eric, he had his sword at me, and-"
"Are you alright?" he asked.
There was a pause. "I think so," she whispered.
"Good," he sighed. Suddenly, the ship rattled, and Everett shook his head. He'd been so distracted by his worry, he didn't notice the fliers were engaging on him now.
He whipped his fighter around, firing off shots faster than he could count. He did this systematically for several minutes, one after another…so why was the rattling getting worse? He ignored it, glancing at the visual coming from the monitors.
"Shuri, I've lost one of them, but two are on my tail," he reported. Then the entire ship was jilted, and he blinked. "What the heck was that?"
"The lab is under attack," the bodiless voice said.
"What? Where?" he demanded.
"Deactivating hologram."
The screens faded away, and Everett's eyes widened. A ship was inside the mountain, firing shot after shot at the beautiful glass window.
"Ross! You have to get out of there, now!" Shuri commanded.
He swallowed hard, staring down the fighter jet. "How long have I got?"
"Glass integrity is at fifty percent."
He nodded. "Put me back in."
"Ross!"
The screens came back to life.
"Everett!"
He charged forward. The blasts continued.
"Glass integrity is at fifteen percent."
He was being pulled back. Monitors reported that the two fliers behind him had some sort of hold on him.
"Critical weapons failure."
He pulled forward, but it was of no use. "Shuri! The last cargo ship is almost at the border, but they got me trapped with some kind of cables!"
"Make an x with your arms!"
He did as he was told.
"Sonic overload initiated."
"Now break it!"
He did.
And now he was falling, falling…
"System rebooting in five…"
Everett gritted his teeth.
"…four…"
"Are you okay?!" Shuri called.
"…three…"
The ground was close.
"…two…"
He grabbed hold of the stick.
"…one."
The fighter came to a startling halt, and he put the stick in gear.
"System rebooting."
He flew forward, gaining on and crashing into the flier in one fail swoop.
Suddenly, he was falling out of his chair and back onto the lab floor. "Yes! We did it!" he cheered.
"Great, now out of there!"
Everett ran. He ran and he ran with one thought in mind: find Shuri.
"And the traitor?" the queen mother asked.
T'Challa's eyes filled with tears. "He is…no more."
Shuri placed a comforting hand on her brother's shoulder. She knew he never wanted to take another's life. It was not the Wakandan way to spill blood, but…
"You had no choice," Nakia reminded him gently.
Shuri looked up and took in the throne room. It was fuller than she'd ever seen it before. The leaders and elders of each tribe were gathered together, not to mention the injured that had been brought in for a ritual of healing and forgiveness.
"Shuri! Shuri!"
All eyes turned to the voice, and a gasp ran through the crowd.
It was Everett, his eyes wide and his clothes all a mess. "Shuri!" he called again, then his eyes found hers, and he smiled. He rushed through the crowd toward her, not seeming to be at all aware of the shock his appearance caused.
"You're okay!" he laughed, picking her up and spinning her around.
The princess tilted her head at him in confusion. "Why would I not be?" she questioned.
The joyous expression on his face faltered. "I, well, I was worried, and it was dangerous, and I, ah," he stopped, finally setting her down and letting her go. He took a step back and inclined his head. "It's just nice to know that you didn't get hurt."
If you asked her at that moment, Shuri couldn't have told you what she was feeling. Embarrassment because of Everett's open display of (very American) affection. Defiant because why should she care what everyone thought? But then overwhelmed, because he touched her, and while she knew she should be appalled at his boldness, she found that she was rather accepting of it— welcoming, even— and that didn't make sense.
She could still feel eyes on her, could hear the whispers starting, but she smiled and nodded her head. "Thank you, Everett. I am glad you are safe, as well."
He gave her an awkward smile, and his eyes darting around told her that he was suddenly aware of the attention he was garnering.
"Agent Ross," T'Challa called, and the room fell silent. Everett turned, and Shuri had to fight back a laugh at the concerned look in his eyes. T'Challa must have seen it too, because he cracked a smile before he said, "I am grateful for your service to Wakanda. We are not your people, yet you fought as though we were. Enkosi."
Everett's brow furrowed, and Shuri leaned closer to whisper, "That means thank you."
A smile came onto Everett's face now, and he bowed his head at the king. "It's an honor to serve any people who are fighting for the good of the world as a whole," he stated succinctly. "I think…" he paused, and T'Challa nodded for him to go ahead.
"I think that Wakanda could be a light for the rest of the world," Everett told him. "And if, at any time, you decide it's time to come out of hiding…well, you know where to find me."
Shuri watched as T'Challa and Nakia shared a look, and she knew immediately what that meant.
She smiled and bumped Everett's shoulder. "And I'm in agreement with this guy, so-"
T'Challa and Nakia chuckled, and Everett gave her a bashful grin.
Everett knew he shouldn't be down here— probably mainly because everyone kept giving him weird looks on his way down to the lab, but also because he had a plane to catch soon. But he knew he wanted to say goodbye, and maybe apologize for his behavior the day before.
He hadn't realized what he'd done until she'd looked at him with so much confusion that he'd nearly dropped her. Then it didn't hit until hours later why they'd been staring at him so much— after all, she was the princess, and he was the outsider. He probably broke a law being so candid with her like that.
The sound of a door opening above him broke him out of his musings. Everett stood up from his chair and smoothed out his clothes, taking note of how different the Vibranium weave they'd lended him really felt. The sound of his own heart beating filled his ears, but then he noticed something.
There were two pairs of footsteps.
Everett tilted his head. Maybe it was a lab assistant? No, he could hear Shuri speaking in English, and why would she need to speak English to a fellow Wakandan?
He was curious, but he knew that he shouldn't stare, so he turned to look out the newly restored window, trying to act as casual as he could.
Her laughter was echoing down the staircase now, and he heard her say, "Easy, mister white wolf, you have been asleep for quite some time. Do not try to walk so fast."
There was a masculine chuckle, and Everett felt a flash of jealousy run through him. "I'm fine, princess, really."
"And yet that is what you said last time, but I do recall you falling- oh, Agent Ross!"
Everett turned around with a smile, but it went away as quick as it came.
She was smiling at him, but he barely took notice. All he saw was the way their arms were linked together, and more specifically, the fact that one of the arms was metal.
"Everett, this is-"
"I know who he is," Everett interrupted cooly. "And I know what he is- dangerous."
Shuri just laughed, and Everett felt his stomach twist. "Oh please, you look at him right now!" she said brightly. "Does he look so dangerous to you?"
Everett stepped forward to her other side, eyeing the man he knew as the Winter Soldier warily. "He's a killer, Shuri-"
"Well that makes two in the room," she replied frankly, and Everett felt like she'd shot him in the heart. "Besides, he does not live that life anymore."
The man they were talking about was staring at the ground wordlessly, and Everett felt sick. How could she stand here, arm in arm with this, this- this murderer? Didn't she know? Couldn't she see?
His mouth was dry, and he knew he wasn't thinking straight, but he just shook his head. "No, no, see, you can't- you can't just hide him from us," Everett insisted angrily. "There are laws, there are regulations, there are penalties to be paid-"
"He is not your property!" Shuri bit back. "He is a human being!"
"He is a monster!" Everett shouted. It echoed for what felt like an eternity. She was staring at him with wide eyes, and he knew he'd messed up, oh he knew.
Then the man looked up from the ground. "Shuri, please-"
"No, Bucky," she said gently. "Go to your examination room. I will meet you there shortly." He nodded, not making eye contact with Ross before he walked away.
The moment he was gone, Everett opened his mouth to apologize, but Shuri cut him off.
"Yes, I know all the things he's done," she whispered harshly, her eyes never wavering from his. "I know what he was then, and who he is now." Everette made to speak, but she held up a hand. "Don't forget that I know the same things about you…or at least I thought I did."
She walked away before he could find the words to say.
"-as if we were one single tribe," T'Challa finished. An approving hum ran through the crowd at his words.
The silence was broken by a UN officer. "Excuse me, but uh…what can Wakanda offer the world?"
Everett smirked from his position in the back. And to think that would've been him asking that question a month ago. Now, he'd been secretly working out new protection deals with Wakanda ever since he'd gotten back, aiding T'Challa in figuring out how to create a more open world for his country.
He noticed how the young king smiled knowingly, as did the women at his side. "You will see in time," T'Challa answered smoothly, and with that, he exited from the stage.
Everett met him around back as planned, offering his hand to shake as he approached the king. "I think that went very well," he stated, and T'Challa took his hand.
"Many thanks for arranging this, Agent Ross," T'Challa nodded. "Though I doubted you at first, I am now grateful for your partnership with us."
Everett smiled reassuringly. "The feeling's mutual."
Nakia and Okoye shared an amused look, and that's when Everett felt it— this weird emptiness that was in the group. There was a lightheartedness that was missing, a brightness that could be caused by only one person. It had been that way for several weeks now, and he finally had the courage to address it.
"T'Challa, if I may ask, ah, a more personal question," Everett said in a lowered tone, and T'Challa's eyes seemed to register what he wanted to know before he asked it.
The king turned to his general and his wife to be. "I will meet you at the car in a moment," he dismissed. The women nodded, and T'Challa made sure to kiss Nakia's cheek before she left.
When he turned back to Everett, there was something chilling in his eyes. A silent warning, almost. "You may continue."
"Right, ah, I, uh-" Everett stammered. "Well, I was wondering if Shuri would be joining you? Us? At some point? Today?"
"She is in LA, working on the layouts of the new buildings we have bought," T'Challa replied without hesitation.
Everett nodded his understanding, but his heart was sinking. "Of course. I, uh…I guess I'll be on my way then." He made to leave, but he could feel the king's eyes on him.
"Agent Ross?" T'Challa called.
Everett practically whipped around. "Your highness?"
There was a beat of silence. T'Challa was sizing him up, he could practically feel it. Had Shuri told him about their argument?
Finally, he said, "Might I give you some advice?"
Everett inclined his head. "Of course."
A grim smile crossed T'Challa's face. "Do not bother with her. She is more than a man like you can handle."
Everett felt his mouth go dry, and he could hardly process what the king had just said, but when he did, he managed to get out, "O-Of course, your highness."
"Trust me," the king started as he approached him slowly, "many men like you have tried."
Everett blinked. "Wait, many-?"
Suddenly, T'Challa chuckled. "Come, my friend," he said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "We have much to attend to."
"Yes, yes, that will do, thank you," Shuri said, and finally, all of the contractors left her alone in some semblance of peace. "Oh sure, just plan out all the buildings yourself, it'll be easy," Shuri mumbled to herself. Sighing, she looked out the window at the old dingy part of town she was in, wishing now more than ever that she was back in her beautiful Wakanda.
Working on the new science facilities had been fun, sure, but lonely. A few Wakandans were sent to check up on her every now and then, and of course T'Challa or Nakia would call to ask how she was doing, but she missed the vibrance of her mother country.
Suddenly her kimoye beads lit up, and she forced herself to put on a happy face. "Hello, brother," she greeted formally. "What can I do for the king today?"
T'Challa looked vaguely amused, but she could tell that there was something else on his mind. "Can I not call because I wish to speak to my sister?"
"You can, but you rarely do," Shuri replied frankly. "There is always something else to discuss."
His eyes spoke of a silent apology, one which she accepted readily. "My apologies, Shuri, but…" he trailed off, looking over his shoulder. "This matter does concern you."
She tilted her head, and he continued.
"Agent Ross is with us today," T'Challa informed her, and she tried to cover up the anxiety that crossed over her face. "We will be at the facilities within an hour. I can get rid of him, if you want."
Shuri hesitated. They'd been playing this cat and mouse game ever since Everett left, with T'Challa always covering her tracks or making up reasons for her absence. If she was honest, she wasn't sure why she was avoiding Everett in the first place. She could say that she was still mad at him, but she knew that wasn't true. While she may not agree with him entirely, she could also see why he was angry at her for hiding Bucky away for so long. Neither of them were entirely in the right nor entirely in the wrong.
Swallowing, she said, "I am leaving soon anyways. Tell him I had urgent business to attend to."
T'Challa gave her an admonishing look. "You cannot avoid him forever, Shuri."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "And you cannot play both sides forever, T'Challa. Do you want me to talk to this white boy or not, I cannot tell!"
"I want you to do what you feel is right in your heart," her brother corrected, and Shuri sighed, wishing that it was only that easy.
She stared out the window again, and this time, all of the trees reminded her of someone's eyes.
The moment the news broke, Everett's heart sank. He'd been hearing rumors for a while now— something about stones and power and the world ending, but it all sounded too crazy to be true. Now, as he watched a giant alien portal circling above New York City, he knew it'd be the last time he doubted what could and could not happen.
But then the kimoye beads on his wrist lit up, and his heart fell even further. Everett found the first office he could and locked the door before he answered the call.
He opened his mouth for his typical formal greeting, but T'Challa cut him off.
"Shuri is in New York City," the king said. "The Avengers are on their way to Wakanda now, and you must get her to safety."
Everett wanted to scream, punch the wall, or do anything other than act like all of this was totally normal, but he forced himself to calmly say, "Where is she?"
"The Bronx High School of Science," T'Challa informed him. "She was giving a lecture."
Nodding, Everett left the room and headed down to the garage. He spotted Agent Carter on the way and gave her a signal to meet him downstairs. "We're on our way," he assured.
T'Challa's brow furrowed. "We? Agent Ross, you are the only outsider the Wakandans trust with their princess. You alone will be allowed to escort her in the royal talon."
Everett gritted his teeth in frustration. "Duly noted." The hologram shut off, and he rubbed his forehead as he made his way to the arms room. He made quick work of pulling on his usual bullet proof clothing before he hurried down to the garage.
Agent Carter was there waiting by an armored SUV, and Everett shook his head. "Boss man says you can't come," he reported with a shrug. Carter gave him a lifted eyebrow, and he simply shook his head. "Don't blame me- I'm just doing my job."
Carter opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment, there was the sound of familiar engines outside the garage, and Ross smirked. He gave the signal for the hangar doors to open, and there it was— the royal talon in its full glory. It settled down on the concrete gently, and one of the Dora exited. She nodded to Everett silently.
"You know, sometimes I feel like you work for their country more than your own," Carter commented dryly.
"Yeah, me too," Everett chuckled, then gave her a glance. "I'll call in once the princess is safe."
She nodded, and Everett turned to jog over to the fighter. He raised his arms in a symbol of respect to the Dora, and she returned the gesture.
"ETA to the princess is fifteen minutes," she reported as they boarded the ship. "Her guards will keep her safe until then."
Everett gave a confused look. "If she's safe right now, then what is the rush to get her out?"
The Dora gazed at him with grim eyes. "If T'Challa dies in combat, she is next in line to the throne."
Suddenly, he felt like he had to sit down. Here he was, flying into an intergalactic war zone to save a princess who he may or may not have unrequited and stifled feelings for. This was not how he planned on seeing her after all these months. He'd wanted their reconnection to be romantic, like surprising her with a rose or something cheesy. But who knew if that was even something she'd understand in her culture— maybe he'd just confuse her again, like when he picked her up and spun her around after the battle.
Everett sighed, sitting down in one of the chairs and letting the ride pass in a blur of worry and impatience. He'd just have to deal with it, he decided. Be professional, get the job done, and walk away afterwards with no hard feelings. Maybe then he could get her out of his brain.
"One minute out," the Dora reported, and Everett stood up to take a look out the window. The visual before him was one of pure chaos— or at least, it had been for a short time. The portal was still up, but it seemed unused at the moment. The streets were filled with rubble and debris, and Everett had to look away.
The Dora guided the talon down onto the roof of a tall building. The second they touched down, the steps unfolded, and Everett jogged out to the rooftop entrance was. He knocked five times (something that he'd discovered was a signal often used among Wakandan spies), and the door opened.
Shuri was there, looking angry (but still undeniably attractive) at the fact that she was surrounded by a small army of men, and Everett felt his face flush.
The apparent leader of the group stepped forward. "Who are you?"
"I am Agent Everett Ross, sent by King T'Challa to get the princess to safety," Everett rattled off, and the leader nodded in approval, stepping out of the way so that Shuri could pass through.
Everett came forward and instinctively began to offer his hand, but then took it back when he saw that she wasn't even looking at him. "Princess," he cleared his throat. "We have to go."
Twisting her face up in annoyance, she brushed past him and walked onto the royal talon herself. Everett accidentally sighed out loud.
The leader gave a hearty slap on Ross' back. "You will have your hands full with her," he chuckled.
Everett gave a small smile back. "Trust me, I know." They raised their arms in respect, and with that, Everett boarded the fighter.
"-cannot even finish talking to the children because oh no T'Challa might die, and you have to take the throne!" Shuri was ranting when he walked on. "As if! T'Challa is too stubborn to die, and even at that, I upgraded his suit two weeks ago, and there is no reason that he-"
"Ehem," Everett coughed, and Shuri stopped suddenly. Her eyes were still blazing, and her arms crossed even tighter when she took in his presence. He swallowed nervously. "Look, I- I know this isn't ideal, but you have to be kept safe during all of this. I'm just doing my job."
She scoffed. "More like doing my brother's bidding." Shuri turned away from him, and he held in a sigh. Even the Dora flying the ship gave the pair a quizzical look. Seems like this was going to be even harder than he imagined.
Everett settled back down in his previous spot, watching as Shuri paced back and forth muttering angrily to herself about T'Challa and "stupid royalty rules." It went on for what felt like an eternity, and then finally, she plopped down several feet from him, refusing to look in his direction.
Awkward silence filled the cabin immediately. He could hear every whirl of the engines, every tick of the control panel. He couldn't stand it, he really couldn't.
He glanced over at her as subtly as he could. She seemed…calmer now. Still frustrated, but not to the point where she'd punch him if he dared to speak a word. He opened his mouth to say something, anything really just to break the silence, but suddenly her eyes darted to him.
"What?" she asked, and his mind went blank. "What do you want? I know you've been watching me."
Just like every other time he was around her, his mouth went dry, and he was caught completely off guard. She always did that— said something unexpected, said something maybe a little too honest, said a joke that took a moment for him to recognize as a joke.
He thought that maybe after a few months away, she still couldn't do that to him. But no, she still had this power over him, this ability to make him forget everything he knew and have to zero in on just her.
"I, uh," he stammered, then swallowed. "I was, yeah. W-Watching you, I mean."
Shuri's face was deadpan. "Obviously."
He looked away, staring at the ground as he tried to formulate what to say. "Look, can we just…talk? About what happened before?"
She shifted uncomfortably next to him. "What is there to talk about? From my perspective, we hardly know each other-"
"Have you been avoiding me?" he cut her off, and he knew by the way that she crossed her arms again that he was right.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "It's been pretty obvious, you know." Shuri didn't look like she was going to admit anything any time soon, so he kept going. "I'm sorry for what I said before I left. I wasn't thinking straight when I said those things, and I was…I was worried about y- your safety. So can we just-" he sighed loudly, "-talk, please?"
Her eyes slowly drifted up to his. "Yes, we can," she whispered softly, and she eyes the Dora. "But I forgave you a long time ago, so there is nothing to discuss."
Everett blinked. "Wait, you- you did?"
She nodded. "Yes, I did."
"Then why were you avoiding me?" he questioned, hoping his voice didn't sound as desperate as he thought it did.
"ETA two minutes," the Dora informed them, and silence took over again.
After a moment, Shuri stood up. "Well…" she trailed off as she stared out at the safe house location they were approaching. "I am glad that my brother sent you," she stated, then turned to give him a small smile. "You are better company than my guards."
Everett had never felt so confused in his entire life. Here she was smiling at him, avoiding the question, and yet…it felt like suddenly, everything was fine.
She wanted to slap herself, but she knew that he would notice, and then those green eyes would be staring into hers, and she would say something stupid again.
What was it about Everett that made her forget how to function? She lost all sense of eloquence around him, her royal training for tact and precision with words fleeing for the great mountain. All it took was one look of those kind, green eyes, and she could not think.
They were in the safe house now, and she had hardly said anything since they got there. It was quiet and peaceful here— completely off the map on a remote Canadian island. She looked out at the lake and wrapped her coat closer around herself. As nice as it was here, she wanted to be home. She wanted to be with her mother, to be in her lab, to be helping T'Challa and Nakia and Okoye.
But no, she was stuck here with the one man that made her lose all common sense.
He was across the room from her on the phone with his superiors, and it gave her a nice view. He'd shed his bullet proof armor and settled for the standard Vibranium weave clothing that he wore around the Wakandans out of respect. And while Shuri had never been one to shy away from the male variety, she had to admit that she blushed when she noticed the way the material stretched nicely across his broad shoulders.
"…right, uhuh," he was saying now. He turned to glance back at her, and she looked away. There was a sigh, and he continued, "Yes, I understand, but I…yes, sir. I'll be there as soon as I can."
A small beep told her that the call was finished, and she turned her head back to look at him. He was running a frustrated hand through his hair— the hair that she'd noticed looked incredibly soft, and she almost wanted to touch it.
"They're calling me back to headquarters— apparently the fight moved back New York City," he told her, his face a mixture of exhaustion and annoyance.
Shuri stood up from her bed, protesting, "But you were assigned here-"
"By your brother," he reminded her. "I work first and foremost for my country." The way he said it, it sounded like even he wasn't happy about that fact.
She frowned deeply, and Everett sighed. He walked to stand in front of her, hesitating before he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"You'll be safe here, Shuri, and that's what matters," he whispered softly, and she cursed those beautiful green eyes for looking so deep into hers. "I have my orders. I have to go."
Shuri wanted to demand that he stay with her. She wanted to tell him to forget his orders, to side with his heart, to side with her country, to side with her. But she knew she couldn't. So instead, she closed her eyes and focused on his energy, trying her best to ignore the way his thumbs were rubbing circles onto her shoulders.
"Give me your hands," she instructed. His hands slipped away and into her awaiting palms. Her eyes opened when they touched, and she lifted his hands to her lips.
"I give you strength, I give you courage, I give you hope, I give you wisdom," she murmured in her mother tongue. When she released his hands and finally looked back up into his ever so green eyes, he was gazing down at her so gently and so kindly that she felt her heart begin to melt.
His hands cupped the sides of her face, and he said, "I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise. After all," he chuckled, leaning down and pressing his lips to her forehead. "I think we still have a lot to talk about."
Shuri laughed and pushed him lightly. "Such as?" she asked teasingly, and he rolled his eyes with a smile.
He was so nervous, he felt like he was going to fall through the floor.
Everett's eyes were scanning the large ballroom every minute, but there was still no sign of her. Sure, the party had just gotten started, but Shuri didn't strike him as one to be late. His mind flitted back to their last encounter, and his nerves struck again. That was a week ago, and while he'd been informed that she was safe (and vice versa), he knew his heart wouldn't feel completely settled until he saw her again.
There was a shift in the air, and now, James Buchanan Barnes was standing at his side. The two men had met on the battlefield, and while Everett still wasn't entirely comfortable around him, they had an unspoken agreement to not argue for Shuri's sake.
"She'll be here soon," the colonel assured him. Everett hummed, and James raised an eyebrow. "You're terrible at trying to act calm."
"Well aren't you just the master of reading people," Everett stated dryly.
James gave a light sigh. "I had to be," he replied. A feeling of understanding passed between the two men. Different their pasts may be, they also held a lot of similarities.
A flash of bright yellow caught Everett's eyes, and he turned, his eyes widening at the vision before him.
She entered with all the grace and poise that she'd been taught all her life, but then he noticed the silly, self assured smirk on her face and found himself smiling, too. Her dress caught every curve, falling to the ground breezily from the hips down. He recognized the Vibranium weave instantly, self consciously smoothing down his own Vibranium shirt under his suit.
"Well? Are you gonna stare at her all night?" James queried, startling Everett out of his reverie.
Everett didn't even say anything back— he just walked forward in a daze.
She noticed him immediately, of course. Her face broke out into a wide smile, and she waved through the crowd. He was in front of her in a heartbeat, crossing his arms in an x and inclining his head.
"Oh please, what's with all the formalities tonight?" she laughed.
He eyed her security detail and lowered his voice. "I think the Dora would kill me if I wasn't formal," he said with a wink, and she swatted at his shoulder playfully.
Shuri turned to face her guards, and he listened patiently as she spoke to them in Xhosa. It must have been a command, because they raised their arms in sync before they filed out.
Everett raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her, and she just looped her arm through his. "I told them that I was safe with you," she informed him casually. His heart warmed at her words, and, if it was possible, his smile got even bigger. "And besides, I believe you promised me a conversation, and we can't have that with the Dora around."
His heart skipped a beat, and he laughed. "Did I?"
"Mhmm, you did," she nodded. "And a dance."
Everett tilted his head in thought. "…wait, I did?"
Now Shuri laughed, turning in his arms to settle into a classic waltz position on the dance floor. "No, I just made that one up!"
Chuckling, Everett held the quirky princess close as they swayed back and forth, stopping in time with the music to give her a little twirl. She laughed, and he grinned.
"I think you're trying to distract me, now," Shuri snickered.
"Oh? From what?" he asked innocently.
She gave him a dubious look. "From the conversation we need to have."
"Hmm…" he breathed. "And here you were the one trying to avoid it before."
She looked a bit shy suddenly, but she looked up into his eyes with her usual bravado. "Things changed. I was…I was worried about you," she confessed. "And I missed you much more than I thought I would."
Everett gazed down at her softly. "I missed you too," he murmured, then chuckled. "I was also terrified to see you tonight."
Now, she burst out laughing. "Why?"
"You're intimidating," he joked truthfully. "Plus, I can never seem to say words coherently around you."
Shuri shrugged. "And I always get defensive around you. We are even."
He rolled his eyes before he gave her another spin. "No, you? Defensive?"
Giggling, she reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. "You…confuse me, Everett," she admitted slowly. "You're…different."
"I believe the word you're searching for is 'American,'" he teased.
Her hand fell back down to his shoulder, and she shook her head at him, smiling. "You sure are bold tonight, Agent Ross."
Everett let out a happy sigh. "It's because I know you're safe…and because you're here, with me."
She gave him a curious look. "And what are we, here, in this moment?"
That was the question, wasn't it? His heart was leaping with a mixture of anxiety and excitement, and his mind was a mess of trying to find the right words.
Finally, he looked straight into her eyes and said, "What we are, I have no idea. All I know is that I'm a man who can't get you out of his head, and all I want to know is if you feel the same way about me."
Shuri gave him a little smile. "You're always so dramatic, Everett," she hummed, leaning in and settling her head on his shoulder. He felt her breath on his ear, then she whispered, "And the answer is yes— I can't get you out of my head, either."
Everett's brow was furrowed more than usual, and therefore, it kept making Shuri laugh more than usual.
"You need to stop being so worried," she told him, walking over and straightening out his collar.
"Maybe I wouldn't be so worried if you told me what I was here for," he grumbled.
She just smiled at him and took his hands in hers. "You will find out soon enough," she promised. "Come— it is time."
She heard him mumble something along the lines of "time for what?", and she laughed to herself. Shuri lead him out of her chambers and down the hall, to the secondary throne room that was often used for smaller ceremonies or requests to the king. She felt like skipping, jumping, or maybe even shouting with joy. But she kept it all in, knowing that Everett would get suspicious if she gave away her intentions. And besides, this was a serious occasion— she had to keep her act together.
Finally, they reached the doors, and Shuri nodded at the guards. They opened them, and before her sat the queen mother in the throne. Shuri took in a steadying breath, squeezed Everett's hand, and walked forward.
"Mother," she greeted, bowing her head formally. Everett followed her lead, though he still had a befuddled look in his eyes.
The queen mother raised an eyebrow. "What is on your mind, my darling daughter? It is rare for you to request a hearing."
Shuri took in a deep breath. She could feel Everett's questioning gaze on her, could feel her mother's wise eyes staring her down, but that didn't make her question her decision.
Straightening up, Shuri met her mother's eyes. "I have chosen this one."
She looked to the side just in time to see Everett blink. "Wait, what?"
"I'm the princess," she reminded him in a whisper. "I must propose to you."
He stared at her blankly. "Wait, what?!"
"Are you sure of your decision?" her mother cut in calmly.
Shuri nodded. "Yes."
There was hesitancy on the queen mother's face. "Shuri, a…white man?"
"No, Umama, a good man," Shuri corrected.
Understanding came onto her mother's face, and she smiled. "Then it is settled. What is your betrothed's word?"
"M-My what?" Everett stuttered.
Shuri turned to face him now, blocking out all the world around them and staring into those green eyes she'd come to adore. "The question is, do you accept my hand in marriage," she clarified gently. "Do you…accept me?"
His eyes softened now. "Of course I do, I just-" he chuckled bashfully. "I didn't think you'd move so fast."
She smiled up at him sweetly. "We can wait as long as you like," she told him. "But…" she trailed off mischievously, taking hold of his hands. "I do intend on having you for myself."
Everett smiled now. "You guys really are crazy," he teased.
"No, we just don't drag our feet like you Americans," she replied, and the pair shared a laugh.