Monday, April 8, 2013
The triplets walked into the dining hall. The King and Queen were already there and Ayo told them that their parents just returned from a hike.
"Where do we sit"
"Don't know Einstein, it's your uncle"
"Thanks Salk"
"IDK just sit where we did yesterday bro"
"Logical sis" the boys agreed with their sister and they headed to where they sat yesterday but three servants stepped in front and led them to the chairs right next to the queen and king.
"Okay. Okay. Don't be nervous. Just sitting next to a close relative who happens to be a King. No biggie" Xander sat next to his uncle while Ronnie sat next to him and Henry crossed next to the queen.
They sat in a not entirely comfortable silence for two minutes before T'Chaka decided that he still wanted to be a good host.
"I hope your stay so far has been pleasant"
"Of course King T'Chaka, I'm sorry that we caused that explosion yesterday." Ronnie smiled sympathetically at him and Xander gave her hand a squeeze.
Ramonda laughed a little. "Oh my girl, Shuri makes more of a mess eating American pasta than that explosion.
Smirks appeared on the three childrens faces, scaring the Queen and King a little. "We'll have to hear that story sometime" they say in unison and all take a slow sip of water.
Shuri chooses that moment to run in.
"Shuri! What has happened to your hair?" Ramonda yelled from her seat. Shuri's usually braided long hair was neatly sorted into two fishtail braids. Her hair was naturally long, but this made it look more thick. Earlier they had spent a few hours making large cornrows in Ronnie's hair. Shuri had invented a red hair dye so Ronnie's natural blonde hair was mixed in with a more blood red color. She honestly looked a lot more like her mom.
"Henry braided my hair. It looks so good" Shuri challenged and went to sit next to Ronnie. Xander could swear that Henry had blushed at Shuri's words.
"Um Tesla, did Salk just blush?"
"He totally did. Bro do you have a crush on her?"
"No I do not have a crush on her, she's not even twelve"
"Salk, that's a weak response and you know that" Ronnie rolled her eyes while the other three at the table just stared at the three siblings all staring into each other's eyes.
"Can they hear us?" Queen Ramonda asked her daughter.
"I don't know, I think so" she whispered back.
"We can hear you" the triplets spoke before the younger two stared at Henry with their mischievous little smiles.
Ronnie turned her head as she heard laughter down the hallway.
It was Okoye, Nakia, and Natasha all walking together and laughing. Steve and T'Challa walked in the opposite hallway.
"Is the Commander laughing? Now I've seen it all." T'Challa looked at her flabbergasted.
"Okoye what are the updates for the storm?" Nakia turned her head and sat down in the chair that T'Challa pulled out for her next to Ronnie.
"We have prepared the farmers, everything is set."
"Very good" T'Chaka turned to a servant. "Tell the chefs to bring the food in"
The table quieted as the servants brought out bowls filled with goat, rice, and cooked vegetables and were placed in front of each person.
"This looks delicious, my King" Nakia told him, taking a small bite.
"Yes, good after a hard day's work"
"What happened with the council today father?" Shuri asked.
"They have an idea that I am trying to put an end to" Steve and Natasha looked at each other before putting down their spoons.
"Your Highness I think that it's time." Steve told the King.
"I suppose it has to happen at sometime Father" T'Challa looked down at his lap. His whole life he'd been destined to be the Black Panther. He couldn't imagine anybody else filling that role. He has trained his whole life to be the Black Panther, to be King. It was unheard of for the Panther to be someone other than the ruler, that's why there was only one. But could he not allow this child, his cousin, his birthright?
"Xander, do you know what the Black Panther is?" the King asked the young boy next to him.
"Umm, your god?" It was as much of a question as a statement.'
This got a small chuckle out of the king. "No my child. He is the protector of Wakanda. Passed down through each generation. I was when I was younger, T'Challa has been training for it for years and he will become it when it is his turn to rule. Being the Black Panther has been passed down through my family since the creation of Wakanda. It is the birthright of any ruler. Only the ruler is able to become the Panther. Now my child." He looked into Xander's confused eyes. "You are not the future ruler, we are not sure how this has come to be. You have the sign of the Black Panther. It is only something that I and T'Challa have, now you do too"
"You mean..." Xander trailed off.
"You have the ability to become the Black Panther'
Xander bolted out of the room the moment he finished saying this. Steve and Natasha stood up quickly but Ronnie and Henry stopped them.
"He needs to be alone. He needs to figure this out by himself" they say together and resume eating like nothing happened. They both know that they will be alerted when he has made a decision and he's not there yet.
The two parents reluctantly sat back down and continued to eat their food that had somehow lost its taste.
Another fifteen minutes passed before the two remaining children abruptly stood up.
"Has he made a decision?" Natasha asked, letting a little bit of worry seep into her voice. She knew it had to be hard because they weren't figuring this out together.
"Yes" Ronnie says, opening her eyes.
"He wants to talk with Mom, Dad, the King, and T'Challa" Henry tells them.
"Will you be in there?" T'Challa asks, even he can tell them not being in the same room by itself is a strange occurrence.
"We already know his decision"
"Can you tell him to meet us in the meeting room down the hall?" T'Chaka wipes his lips with a napkin and stands up.
"Of course" they respond and close their eyes. "He'll be there in two minutes."
Shuri also stands up, wanting to get out of the tense environment. "Do you two want to go back to the lab"
"Sure" Henry says and Queen Ramonda walks out the other doorway, clearly not happy with what is going on.
The four adults walked silently through the hallway and found Xander waiting in the meeting room. Natasha rushed ahead.
She pulled him into a hug that was instantly reciprocated. She nuzzled her face into his hair. God she loved him so much.
"I love you Mom"
"Love you Einstein"
They pulled away and Xander looked into his Dad's eyes.
"Um King T'Chaka. I want to learn, if it's okay with my parents of course, but I have a few conditions."
"Of course"
The rest of the adults sat down at the conference table facing the boy.
"One, I don't want to have to move here on a permanent basis. Two, my identity doesn't come out. Lastly, you keep my siblings out of trouble, they'll want to help, and knowing them, they would find a way"
"I think we can handle that" T'Challa smiled at his father. "Are you fine with that?" he turned his head to the parents.
Steve wrapped his arm around Natasha's shoulders. "Yeah, we can do that."
"Shall we go tell your siblings?" T'Chaka suggested.
Xander smirked. "They already know"