Okay this was only like a quarter or so done this morning, but it being Pi day and the very day that Steven Hawking died (RIP smartest person on the real Earth) I figured I'd show my respect to the nerdiest of holidays and the death of such a great man by finishing and posting a chapter of my story that features a pair of geniuses. It may seem a bit rushed at parts and the tone may not be the most consistent, but it was written in like an hour and a half. If you like it leave a Review and be sure to follow and favorite it! Enjoy!
"This is where you will stay until Prince T'Challa comes for you." A tall shaven headed woman who they were told was a member of the elite royal guard told the Avengers. The room itself looked like a modern living room/ kitchen with two three seater couches, an armchair, a fully equipped kitchen and what looked like a box of black sand where a TV would normally be. "Do not leave before he comes for you outsiders, or you will not live long enough to regret it." The woman warned before briskly leaving them.
"Well isn't she a ray of sunshine." Falcon grumbled.
"At ease Sam, these people aren't exactly use to visitors." Captain Rogers told him.
"You don't think they'll actually kill us do you?" Peter asked nervously, "I mean we didn't do anything wrong."
"Well I did shoot some low grade explosives at their prince, and Cap there did fight the guy to a draw." Hawkeye said, "so we're probably a bit more at risk than you."
"T'Challa knows we had good reason to fight, I'm sure we'll be fine." The Captain assured Peter giving Hawkeye a dirty look. "Just be respectful and don't wander off before T'Challa gives us the all clear." The rest of the group nodded at the American icon's words and settled down on the various seats around the room to wait for the Wakandan leader to return.
Peter looked around the room nervously behind his mask. Here he was with the majority of the Avengers- all of whom were now unjustly considered international criminals- and they were acting like he belonged there just as much as the rest of them. Him, a nerdy high school kid who had never even been on a date before. Him, who dressed up in bright reds and blues to swing around New York city with synthetic webs knocking out car jackers and muggers. Him, who was considered a joke by the few people who actually knew about him before Iron Man got him to fight in the Avengers civil war. How messed up was that? He didn't belong here. He was a low tier vigilante with spider powers, not an enhanced war hero or a special ops soldier or a super spy or whatever Scarlet Witch was.
"There is no need to be so nervous Spider-Man." Said witch broke the silence, "You have proven you have as much right to stand amongst us as anyone." She told him in her thick Sokovian accent.
Peter's eyes behind his mask, "D-did you just read my mind?" He asked shocked and a little afraid, though he calmed down slightly when he saw the older woman shake her head.
"No. While I can if I tried in this case I merely sensed your emotions. Your self doubt, anxiety, and fear are clear as day." She informed him.
The spider themed teen rubbed the back of his head self consciously at the woman's words and the fact that the other heroes where now staring at him from around the room. 'Really wish there was a distraction right about now.' He inwardly bemoaned in his discomfort.
As if the universe decided to repay Peter's good karma, just such a thing arrived in the form of a shouted "The Floor Is Lava!" From a new teenage girl's voice behind Peter. Having a computer/meme nerd as a friend and being one himself Peter gave a high pitched- though he would later claim it was 'manly'- yelp and backfliped up to the high ceiling and clung there with his powers, facing the floor to see the actions taken by the others. Of the other Avengers only Hawkeye and Ant-Man followed his retreat from the ground, jumping on the coffee table and curling up in a chair respectively. Seeing as he had learned they were the ones with kids of their own on the team he shouldn't be surprised they understood the call.
From the doorway the voice that caused the five seconds of mayhem erupted into laughter. "Oh my god I did not think that would work! That was hilarious!" The girl's voice choked out between gasping laughs. Looking at the door Peter saw that the source of the voice was an african girl around his age with tightly braided hair done up in two buns and wearing a long sleeved white t-shirt with a black oval in the center and a pair of jean shorts. If Peter didn't know any better he would have thought she was an attractive New Yorker girl not a citizen of a super advanced hidden african kingdom.
Captain America- er The Captain- was both confused and a little put out that his friends and allies were apparently being used as some kind of entertainment and displayed his dissatisfaction promptly, facing the still laughing girl with crossed arms and a deep frown. "I don't suppose you could tell us who you are?" He asked the slowly recovering teen in a disapproving voice.
'Yeesh it's like pissing off your grandfather.' Peter thought as he watched the scene play out below him, 'though seeing as the guy is like ninety years old or something I guess it makes sense'. He mentally shrugged.
The still unnamed teenager's mood sobered instantly at the Captain's chastising tone, being replaced with a more formal one, " *Cough* Yes of course. I am princess Shuri of Wakanda." She introduced herself with a slight bow.
"Wait!" Peter exclaimed letting go of the ceiling with his fingers, his upper body quickly swinging to face the now named Shuri while his feet stayed firmly attached to the ceiling effectively leaving him standing upside down on it. "You're T'Challa's sister?" He asked her getting a nod in response, "He told us you were a multiple doctorate… and not a teenager."
"To be fair," Ant-Man cut in, "All he said was that she was older than you Spider-Boy."
"First off, it's Spider-Man. Seriously how hard is that to remember? Second, I'm sixteen and T'Challa said she was a few years older than me. Ergo not a teenager."
Falcone raised an eyebrow at the inverted teenager, "You're really sixteen? You really are a Spider-Boy then." He told him.
"I beat you and the Winter Soldier in a two-on-one fight, I think I earned the 'man' part thank you very much." He huffed not turning around.
Sensing that the argument would not be settled anytime soon if left to the heroes Shuri cut back in, "Yes I am T'Challa's sister. And if you are sixteen as you say we are in fact the same age. My brother obviously got your age wrong." she told the Spider themed vigilante. "Now if you do not mind my asking, I saw the video of your battle against each other and I wanted to know what you all could tell me about the shrinking technology used along with the Iron Man suit and your 'webbing' Spider-Man." She asked them obviously intrigued by the unknown feats of science.
"Why is everyone always so interested in the kid's webs?" Falcone asked. Seriously the girl asked about two of the most advanced technological things on Earth and then finishes it off with a high schooler's sticky fluid… thank came out wrong. Thank god he didn't say that out loud.
Shuri looked at the winged soldier with a raised brow, "A chemical compound that not only is stronger than spider silk despite having the same texture, appearance, and weight, but is also completely biodegradable, and capable of extreme compactment. It is a marvel of chemical engineering to be sure even if it is not on the level of the Iron Man armor or your shrinking technology." She complimented the other teen's achievement, "Though I have to ask if you came up with it before or after you decided to build a suit that emulates the capabilities of a spider. The technology used in your gloves and boots must be something if it lets you stick to both glass and concrete with such ease and whatever you did to emulate enhanced strength to prevent your knees from giving out or your arms ripped off is impressive. I can't even see irregular bulges along your limbs" She asked Peter, gesturing to his costume.
The brunette awkwardly scratched the back of his head, "Uh, that's because the suit is actually just spandex. Other than my webs all you see are organic capabilities. Like I told your brother on the way here I've had some… genetic enhancements." He admitted, leaving out this time that they were completely accidental.
Shuri looked disappointed, "Really?" She asked him getting an affirming nod in return, "Damn. And here I was hoping I could make use the tech to make a suit for myself." She pouted.
Peter looked at the other teen in surprise, "Wait, y-you wanted to make a suit that would give you my powers? Why?" He asked her.
"Are you kidding? Make the suit a darker color and you could sneak up on anyone. No one ever looks up. And don't even get me started on being able to swing around the city, the rush must be insane!" She told him ignoring the others in the room.
Despite himself Peter smiled under his mask, "Well you aren't wrong about that." He said, the presence of the Avenger's splinter group also fading from his mind, "It's like a mix between flying and constantly falling. To be honest it still kinda freaks me out." He admitted.
"Not that this isn't a riveting conversation" Hawkeye interrupted, "But why exactly are you here?" He asked Shuri, "Did your brother send you?" If he did it must have been a quick meeting with their country's council.
The teenage genius shook her head, "No, I was just curious about the new arrivals." She admitted, "Unlike my brother I've never had the opportunity to travel outside of Wakanda and you are the first visitors we have had in centuries." She told them.
"Well then it is a good thing that Spider-Man here will be your new student." Wanda spoke for the first time since Shuri arrived, "Your brother does not want us to wander the kingdom and has recommended you to be his instructor." She told the younger girl.
Shuri raised an eyebrow at the witch before looking back up at the still upside down Spider, "While I'm sure that would be fun, I am Wakanda's head scientist and don't really have time to do that." She said sadly, obviously wanting to have more opportunities to talk to the outsider teenager. "Besides, if the Spider here really created his webbing like my brother claims I don't think he even need's a teacher."
Peter blushed at the Wakanden princess's complement, "Oh stop it your making me blush." He tried to play off her words. "Making synthetic webs is nothing compared to being the head scientist of an entire nation." He told her getting a smile in return.
Seeing an opportunity to get back at the younger man for the airport battle Falcone smirked, "Is this how nerds typically flirt or are you two just special?" he teased the two.
Under his mask Peter's blush went atomic while Shuri's face gained its own red tint, "W-what?! We are not flirting!" Peter squeaked embarrassed.
Pretending to look insulted the royal genius put her hand on her chest and asked the teenaged mutate in a scandalized voice, "Are you saying that I'm not worth flirting with?" She asked the inverted hero.
Not realizing that he was being joked with Peter quickly tried to run damage control, "Wha-?! No! I mean yes- I mean- your very flirt worthy it's just-!"
At this point the whole room couldn't help themselves and began to laugh good naturally at the spandex wearing sudo-member of the Avengers. "You are so easy to mess with." Shuri laughed, "I get the feeling that we could work well together." She told him.
For a second Peter just looked at the other teen in silence, but after seeing that she appeared to be honest with her words he willed his feet to unstick from the ceiling, finally returning to the floor and walked up to the princess stopping in front "You know what? I think you have a talent for understatement." He told her happily extending his hand to shake hers.
Her smile growing Shuri grasped her fellow child prodigies hand firmly, "Then I look forward to working with you Spider-Man." she told him.
"Right back at you Shuri."
"Ahem." A new presence made themselves known from behind Shuri. Looking over the princess's shoulder Peter saw that it was the guard that T'Challa had had show them to the waiting room.
"Prince T'Challa has arranged transport to more permanent lodgings for your stay." She told them, "Princess, you are needed in the labs. Your brother will soon be going on a retrieval mission and requires some equipment." She informed her soon to be king's sister.
With a sigh Shuri turned away from the genetically modified teenager she had been talking to, "Right, I have some things I wanted a field test for anyway." She told the Dora Milage member before leaving the room with a backwards wave and a parting farewell to Spider-Man.
Giving one more look at the outsiders that remained in the waiting room the Wakanden special forces member turned away and walked back out the door, the unspoken order for them to follow her obvious.
The Avengers gave the Captain a look waiting to see what he would do. With a quick set of glances around the room the World War Two hero followed the shaven woman out the door the others following behind him. Good news was they weren't going to be kicked out of the one safe haven they had while on the run from basically the entire world, bad news, it felt like they were in hostile territory regardless. At least the royals didn't look like they wanted to gut them, that had to mean something right? As long as their king didn't order their deaths they wouldn't have to fight the admittingly intimidating royal guards. They just had to make sure not to step on too many toes during their stay. Should be easy enough right?
Okay so some of you may be wondering why this took so long to come out, well there are a few reasons: 1) Writer's block 2) This is not my main story and I wanted to focus on the one that is 3)I posted this the day I saw the Black Panther movie and wanted there to be a little more time from the release day to avoid spoiling the movie (Which I give a solid 8-8.5/10, it a pretty damn good movie, top notch directer and actors with great visuals and a compelling and organic story. I bit heavy handed with the Killmonger hating of white people and blame of slavery, but he didn't sound too preachy just dedicated so I can't complain to much there).
As for why I'm now posting this: 1)Pi day, 2) Steven Hawking died today (RIP) 3) Writer's block is finally gone, and 4) This story blew right up, almost a hundred favorites already and the #1 story for Black Panther crossovers as of when I'm typing this. Thank you all so much for that, I hope I can keep it up.
If you liked the chapter please follow, favorite, review, check out my other stories and maybe support me at P at re on or Ko-fi. Screen names for said sites on my profile along with a Pole for the genres for this story. Check it out!
Wingd Knight out.