"Mother, she is not pleased here" The King mumbled with a deep frown on his face. The Queen Mother sighed deeply, putting her face in her hand.
"Son, how many times am I going to tell you that she just needs to settle in. She will learn to love her new home, I promise you" The Queen Mother reasoned to her bull-headed son.
"I am going on a mission, I want her to come" He stayed, keeping his gaze fixed out on the view of his country. His country.
"You think she is ready for Korea? Okoye said she had a lot of work to do-"
"Her high school has a memorial dedicated to her grandfather" The King interrupted. The Queen Mother stayed quiet for a half-second processing what her son's motives are.
"You want to take her to see it" She stated softly.
T'Challa finally tore his gaze from the window and to his mother who's eyes followed him like a hawk. He didn't answer, but he didn't have to. She already knew. The Queen rose from her seat and stood directly in front of her son. She reached up and held his face in her hands.
"Promise me you'll keep her safe. Keep eyes on her at all times, you hear me?" She demanded. T'Challa chuckled softly and patted her hands.
"Yes mother"
"Umm, who is it?" Xureila asked hesitantly when someone knocked on her front door. No one answered, so she shrugged stuffing her mouth with another bite of her sandwich. She was finally comfortable with being alone in her home, so in between lessons and training, she would stay here and lounge for relaxation. After all, it is kind of draining following a busy schedule day to day. She plopped down on the couch and kicked her feet up, taking another huge bite of her sandwich.
The sound of more hard knocks at the door made her groan. "Who is it!!!" She yelled from her spot on the couch.
Silence. A few seconds later, there were more impatient knocks on the other side of the door. Xureila cursed to herself and stomped her way to the front door. Without asking again, she snatched the door opened. "You must be out of your damned mind if you-" She stopped when the familiar face stared back with an amused expression.
"Is that how you speak to royalty, Sister?" Shuri teased, pushing her way inside of the American born woman's home. Behind Shuri, of course, were two Doras- one Ayo, who she had already met, and another whom she had not. Xureila opened the door wider for them to enter, and they did.
"That is how I speak to anyone who interrupts my quiet time" Xureila responded, walking back to her spot on the couch. She took another bite from her sandwich, kicking her feet up and leaning her head back against the fluffy pillows.
The princess tapped her leg, making Xureila peek an eye open at her. "Whaaaaaatttt" Xureila whined.
"I need you to do something for me" Shuri grinned sheepishly. "Pleaseeee. I promise I'll make you something special in my lab"
That definately caught Xureila's attention. "Like what?" She asked, giving the Princess her full attention. Shuri shrugged.
"You'll have to do it first, then I'll tell you"
"Ok, what do you want?"
Shuri grinned and bounced in the seat. "I want you to convince Brother to let me accompany him on his trip to California!" She exclaimed. Xureila's brows furrowed.
"Princess" Ayo hissed sharply. Both Shuri and Xureila's heads snapped to her. "No one is going to California-"
"But I heard Mother talking about it last night in council" Shuri stated. "He said-"
"Shuri" Ayo warned. The Princess groaned loudly and stood up.
"Nevermind, Sister Reila. I guess there's no trip to California" She pouted. Xureila chose not to say anything, but from Ayo's tone, she knew there was definitely a trip to California. "So" The teen started. "I've heard all about you trying different hobbies, yet you have not been by my lab once. How do you think that makes me feel?" Shuri asked putting a hand over her heart acting hurt.
Xureila snorted. "I wouldn't even know what to do with half of the stuff in there, Shuri. I know for a fact that i'm not tech savvy like yourself"
"I heard Brother say you went to Oakland Technical High School... that means you did some sort of computer or engineering work, right?" Shuri pressed.
"What? How did he even know that... I don't even know that" She mumbled. "What is he, some sort of spy or something?" Xureila asked to her self then snorted.
"Well actually... he is" The Princess shrugged. Xureila looked to her all bug-eyed. What? "I sort of am too. See, you would know this stuff if you actually came to my lab, but whatever. It's fine. You don't have to. It's not like I was going to try to make something for you or anything"
"Shuri" Xureila responded in a bored tone.
The Princess made an eh face, shrugging again. "Who knows? Maybe I will find someone else that I was just starting to enjoy being around to give a tour of all my prized possessions. I'll just go find and befriend some other American girl who I can bring back here and steal my brother's attention. Oops" Shuri said teasingly. Xureila reached out and playfully swatted at the Princess' arm making the teen cackle.
"Shuri, stop it" The American born woman hissed, avoiding eyes with the smart assed teen before her. Suddenly, it felt like all eyes on her and she started to fidget in her seat.
"Oh look, she is flushed" Ayo finally spoke, making Shuri giggle again.
"Definitely" Shuri grinned. "Well, Sister, see you sometime-hopefully soon. Thanks for the hospitality... and the sandwich"
"You definitely owe me, Shuri" She mumbled, walking the Royal and her guard to the front door.
"No, you owe me. "
With that, the door was slammed in the Princess' face. Instead of getting mad, Shuri laughed loudly again before heading down the street.
When Xureila was sure that they were gone, she sat back down on her couch and lifted her left wrist. Still not quite getting the hang of using her Kimoyo beads for communication purposes, she fumbled with some buttons and screens until she reached the number she wanted to call. Her finger hovered over the call button for a moment, but she decided she didn't want to do that quite yet. She sprung from her spot on the couch and rushed to slip on her jean jacket and a pair of simple black Nike slides that shoed her painted bright yellow toe nails. She made sure to grab her key and she headed out.
Well, here goes nothing.
She pushed opened the doors of the throne room, the loud creaking noises interrupting the small council band there. Ignoring them, she set her gaze upon the King and stalked forward to him.
"Excuse me, we-" She heard a male voice call, but she quickly cut him off.
"Why didn't you tell me you are going to California?" She asked standing before him. The King rose his eyebrows in amusement before pushing himself upwards and towering over her petite, yet shapely frame.
Ok she thought. He is more intimidating than she thought.
"I do not know what you are talking about" He lied effortlessly. So smooth.
"Do not stand here acting like you don't know what the hell I'm talking about" She hissed lowly while jabbing her pointer finger into his chest. "Shuri said you're going to California. I didn't think anything of it until she brought up my high school then revealed to me that you are both spies. So," She paused crossing her arms over her chest. "Tell me what business your are doing in California"
T'Challa chuckled at her before taking his seat. His eyes stayed on hers as he scootched down and got comfortable. His knees fanned for a second before he simply turned back to the council members who stared at her like she was a green faced alien. He, then, picked his conversation back up in his native tongue, ignoring her harsh stare.
"T'Challa" She spat. Her jaw uncharacteristically clenched as she fought to hold her tongue. His eyes flickered to hers once again and he held up his index finger telling her to wait. She rolled her eyes so hard she thought they would roll onto the floor like dice.
She was sure he was going to make her wait until his little boys club meeting was over so she spun on her heel and sauntered to the door. Before she could open it, she heard his voice ring out. "I said wait a minute, not that you may leave" He commanded.
The American woman snorted and turned to face him, crossing her arms again in defiance. "I am pretty sure that my legs carry me on my own terms, so I am clear to leave whenever I please" She sassed.
T'Challa said something to the present men, and he pushed himself upwards one more time. He walked until he was face to face with the scowling woman. "Walk" He demanded. Her face pulled into a sneer at the sudden demand.
"You don't get-"
"I will ask you again" He cut her off raising a hand to reach around her and push open the heavy door. Xureila stomped her foot childishly before turning to head into the hall. Before she could get too far, T'Challa clamped a hand down on her arm, stopping her.
"What you just did was extremely disrespectful. You are lucky I dont arrest you like they advised me to" He spoke down at her, but grinning at the end.
What the hell is so funny? She asked herself.
"T-"
"I am speaking" He cut her off again. She cut her eyes at him, yet stayed silent. "Now, it was not in Shuri's jurisdiction to tell you about that because it was a surprise" He admitted. Xureila's jaw almost dropped, but she held her composure. Oh shit. "I was preparing to ask you tonight, an we would go sometime next week or so, but now you know"
Xureila sighed, bringing a hand up to rub at her temple. "I have got to stop doing this" She mumbled to herself before looking at him. "I am sorry, T'Challa. I really am, I promise i'm not like this Im just kind of... desperate I guess" She confessed, shrugging.
"I understand, Miss Xureila. However, next time, I might have to arrest you" He joked. She chuckled at his terrible attempt to make her laugh.
Her freckled brown eyes rose to meet his and it seemed like time slowed. Suddenly, the King's hands got comfortable on her hips and hers on his arms. T'Challa's head craned down and her lips absently parted. After a desperate intake of breath, the King's lips pressed against her glossy flavored ones.
Their lips moved together for what seemed like an eternity before she had to pull herself away from him. Suddenly, a brown hand flew up and connected with the side of the King's face. T'Challa, who was not expecting to be stuck, stood frozen in a moment of shock. Xureila, who was shocked herself, gasped loudly.
"Shit!" She hissed loudly. "I'm so sorry! Oh my God I'm sorry, T'Challa I didn't mean it I swear" She rambled frantically.
T'Challa cleared his throat and shook his shoulders a little bit. He didn't know what to say. He was never so out of his element like that to not catch a hand flying to him. "I umm" He started, but never finished.
Xureila cringed and just walked off muttering a quiet "See ya". When she turned the corner, she repeatedly smacked herself in the forehead at her stupidity. Great she thought. Just great. Now I'm really going to jail.