Children tittered around us, kicking around a ball and calling out to individual players. The sun's heat shone down on us and birds chirped a pleasant melody. To some, it might have merely been another day in the River Tribe Providence. However, to me and many others who fought the war against Killmonger, it was a symbol of our success and the enemy's defeat.

T'Challa's hand cradle the crook of my neck while I leaned on the stone wall on the exterior of my parents' apartment. "Thank you," he began and I looked over to him. His voice and smile were sincere, eyes tender. "You saved me. You saved my family. Our nation."

"There is nothing to thank me for. It is our duty…" I paused in my speech for a moment, apprehending that not everyone aligned with my morals. "It is my duty to fight for what I love. I should have..."

I'm taken off guard when suddenly the King's lips collide with mine; rough at first before he softened the kiss. His plump lips are soft and brush over mine with precision and a contained fervent passion. I coiled away from him, putting a meter or so between us.

"You cannot blame me, I almost died," he said, a shadow of a grin crossing the same full lips he had just kissed me with. I looked away and felt him studying my expression. "...Nakia?"

Slowly, I shook my head. "T'Challa, I love you, but I cannot be with you."

"Because your duties as a War Dog come first?" He questioned, seeming like he already suspected the answer. That used to be my answer, though not anymore. Now there was a whole new reason why I could not be with him, and he would like it even less.

"No. Because there is someone else."

Just as I suspected, his eyes widened in shock and for a split second I felt guilty, but like the fierce, independent warrior my Mama taught me to be, I straightened my spine and spoke the truth. "There are different types of love, T'Challa; platonic, romantic, the love between a father and son. And where I still love you, it is not romantic anymore. We broke up so long ago, and though I will still treasure you as a friend, I cannot be your queen or the mother of your heir."

"I worked for five years to get out of the friend-zone with you," T'Challa said slowly; so slow that I could not decide what his tone indicated. "And I was heartbroken when we broke up. I guess I had not moved on after all these years and still held hope that you would be my queen, even after you told me you didn't want that. It is my fault for clinging onto that fantasy." Then to my surprise, he cracked a small smile. "Good luck, Nakia. And if this person mistreats you; I'm only one call away to beat them up if you need it."

I rolled my eyes, giggling. "I do not believe that will be an issue, and unfortunately we both know you are no match for Okoye."

Author Notes: Hello my peeps and happy Early Valentine's Day to those who celebrate the fake holiday. I'm writing this as a gift for my friend .Ashes because Nakia and Okoye (coined Nakoye by us) is her OTP. Hope you all like it!