There was more than one sound of dismay coming from those watching, but everyone watched was Romanoff looked down at Peter, a slight smirk making her eyes light up in humor, rather than concern.
"What was the first lesson I ever taught you?"
Peter rolled his eyes, tasting blood in his mouth, but a quick touch with his tongue confirming that all of his teeth were where they belonged.
"Don't allow distractions."
"Correct." She reached down, offering him her hand, and pulled him to his feet when he took it. "Lesson number two was something about women being just as dangerous as men, right?"
"Yes." He smiled. "Even pretty ones."
She couldn't help but smile, too.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm done, though."
Ned came out onto the mat, grinning, and took Natasha's left hand and held it up, presenting her to the kids watching.
"The winner and still the champion!"
They applauded and Peter blushed, looking at them, but his gaze lingering on Shuri, who smiled over at him.
"Speaking of dangerous women," Steve said, also stepping onto the mat and shooing Ned, Peter, and Natasha all away. "Shuri, here, has some mad skills, too, from what I've been told…"
The princess smiled, and Peter had a feeling that she was blushing – even though he couldn't tell, completely. Whether because Steve had mentioned her abilities, or because it was Steve who had mentioned her abilities, it didn't seem to matter.
"I have been taught alongside my brother," she confirmed. "And he is a very competent fighter."
"Perhaps a demonstration?"
The guard frowned, uncertain if she should intervene, but Shuri nodded, taking her shoes off and stepping onto the mat to stand in front of Rogers. She looked excited and pleased to have had been asked. Natasha pulled an instant icepack from a first aid kit and broke it open, shook it up and then handed it to Peter, but they were both watching as Shuri went into a defensive stance that was completely different from what Natasha had taught Ned – although Peter recognized it, immediately.
While they watched in silence, Steve made a move toward the girl, and without any swagger, Shuri's hand came up and stopped it. Peter couldn't help the smile, although he winced when it stretched the cut lip, and he shifted the icepack, a little.
"Wow," Ned said, softly. He turned to Peter, his eyes wide, as Steve drove Shuri back with a series of careful attacks that were designed to allow her to show him what she could do, but not hurt her if she missed a block. "Did you know she could fight?"
"No. It makes sense, though… she needs to be able to defend herself, right?"
"Why?" Flash asked. "She has bodyguards."
"Same reason Peter needs to know how to protect himself," Natasha said, quietly, to avoid distracting Shuri. "Because there's eventually going to be a time when the bodyguard isn't there. When that happens, she needs to be able to keep herself out of harm until help comes."
"Oh."
He clearly hadn't thought about that, but then, it was obvious that Ned and MJ hadn't, either. They were both watching, impressed, as Shuri ran Steve backwards with her own attack, and then smiled, broadly, when Rogers held up his hands to stop her.
"That was very good!" he told her.
The kids clapped, also impressed, and Shuri was looking pleased with herself when she stepped off the mat and joined Peter and the others.
"That was great, Shuri," Ned told her.
"Yes, it was," MJ agreed.
The other kids were swarming around them, now, crossing the mat and either talking to Steve, or coming to talk to Natasha, Shuri and the rest. Everyone suddenly wanted to learn to be a ninja, and everyone was challenging each other to sparring contests.
Before anything could get out of hand, Natasha brought her hand up to quiet them all.
"We've already been told no sparring," she told them. She looked at her watch. "What you guys all need to do is go back to your rooms and make sure all your things are packed. You'll want to bring your bags with you, since we're going to be heading into the city directly from brunch."
There was a lot of groaning, but they did as they were told. Shuri was the only one that didn't have to pack – her and Peter, of course – and they told the others they would meet them in the garage. With a knowing look, Natasha told Peter to keep the icepack on his face and that she'd see him later. She and Steve left to go get changed for brunch.
Alone – aside from the ever-present guard – Shuri stepped up to stand in front of him.
"Does it hurt?"
"No. Not too much."
She pulled his hand away so she could look at his lip.
"It is swollen and bleeding."
"It's okay," Peter assured her. "I'm tough."
Which made her smile. Shuri took his hand.
"Come sit with me."
He let her lead him over to the bleachers near Ironpig's enclosure, and they sat down. Peter noted, absently, that the piglet wasn't in his house. Not uncommon, but they'd want to find him before they left the compound – just to keep him out of trouble.
"I've never seen you fight, before," he said. "You're really good."
"Thank you." She raised an eyebrow. "Did you think about what we talked about, last night?"
"Oh. I mean, yeah. You mean the kiss, right?"
"The kiss, the fact that I am seventeen and much in demand in my country, but only wish to have you as my suitor, all of that."
Peter hesitated, but he nodded.
"Yeah. I thought about it. The kiss. And if you meant that you wanted to be my girlfriend…"
"That is exactly what I meant." Shuri was much better at being direct than Peter was. "Well?"
"Will your brother agree?"
She rolled her eyes, as if annoyed by the question. And then she shrugged.
"He likes you. And loves me. It is not tradition, but I am not asking to marry you, yet. I merely want to have a more formalized relationship with you than we have, now. It might be harder to convince him if not for your impressive background. And the fact that, technically, you are a Wakandan – and a noble. I will remind him of both, of course."
"Oh."
"You look nervous," she complained.
"I am," he admitted. "Not about you," he added, hastily. "I just don't want to do something dumb and make you mad at me and lose you as a friend."
"That will not happen." She assured him, squeezing his hand. "Our friendship is important to me, as well. But I want more." She smiled, amused. "Your hand is sweaty. Are you really that afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid of you," he said, quickly, taking his hand back and wiping it on his jeans. "And that isn't sweat, it's condensation from the icepack."
"Of course." She didn't mention the icepack was in the other hand. "Well?"
"I'd like to be your boyfriend," he told her, honestly. "If you want to try it."
"And I get to tell my brother?"
"He probably already knows," Peter pointed out, glancing over at the guard who was on the other side of the room.
"He already suspects my intentions, I am certain," she said with a smile. "As does my mother. I am not one to be shy about my feelings."
"Yeah. I can tell." He definitely was, though. "Tony knows. About the kiss, I mean. So does Ned."
"Please tell me you were commenting to them on what a wonderful kisser I am…?"
He smiled.
"No. I kind of freaked out and blurted it to Tony with Ned sitting beside me." He explained what he meant before she could ask, telling her about the near panic attack that he'd had in his room the night before, and how Natasha had talked him down from it – only to have another worrisome moment when he'd entered the lounge that morning to find Tony there. "So… I sort of blabbed the whole thing out to them."
She took his hand, again.
"I am sorry to have caused you concern. I needed you to know how I feel, though. And I need to know how you feel."
"I like you," Peter told her. "As more than a friend. I think. I know I want to be more than a friend," he added. "If you can put up with me, I mean."
"And you will kiss me?"
He blushed, looking over at the guard, again, but nodded.
"Yes."
"But not right now," she said. "Your lip is gross."
Which made Peter smile.
"That's fair."
"Do you need to have a doctor look at it?"
"No. It's not too bad. Besides, Stephen is coming to brunch, I think, and he'll take a look without being told – or asked."
"Good."