11:30pm, Wednesday, April 11, 2013
The family all sat in the palace living room that they were told to wait in by T'Chaka while he talked to the council about this. Xander was drawing on a notepad, Ronnie was sitting next to Henry and her mom while Steve read a book. It had been hours without a word and they had to wait for T'Challa to come back before any official thing could be decided. Ronnie had long forgotten about her birthday and just wanted to be with Henry. Whenever he is close to getting a panic attack, it means that something must be really wrong and stressful. Ronnie's phone lifted up from where she was cuddling with her older brother.
"It's Grandpa" She set out her smartphone in front of her. The rest of the family scooted over so they could be in the shot.
"Hello triplets, Rogers, almost-Rogers" Fury nodded. "How's vacation"
"Kind of stressful" Ronnie answered truthfully.
"Good, now where the hell are you?" Fury looked at Steve and Natasha with a look that could kill.
"Classified" the five say together.
"How are you Gramps?" Xander asks.
Fury rolled his eyes, he always told them how much he hated being called that. "Rumlow is sticking his nose up everyone's ass since you left, thinks that you are in deep. Anyway, now two of you are thirteen and the third a few days away, ready for that Romanoff?"
"I already have to deal with Clint and Stark, how bad could these three be." Natasha looked at Steve for a moment before continuing. "And we have a surprise."
"I don't like surprises Agent"
Natasha held up her left hand and showed her engagement ring in all of its glory. If Fury was surprised he didn't show it.
"Good, she said yes" Fury tells Steve. Natasha looks from Fury to Steve, who was blushing furiously.
"Umm I kinda asked or his permission, you know chivalry and all that" Steve smiled sheepishly at Natasha who had tears gleaming in her eyes.
"That's-I" she leaned in and kissed him. He didn't know how much that meant to her. Natasha's whole life had been full of death, a life drawn in blood, Steve had given her a chance to escape that. He gave her a chance of a new life, he gave her a family. Nobody had ever been as amazing to her as Steve, he was her life. Without him, she wouldn't have adopted the triplets, she would still only be 'Auntie Nat' who spent time with her best friend's family instead of having one of her own.
"EWWW Mom, we're still here ya know" the triplets tell their mother while Fury chuckles in half disgust half happiness.
"Sir, we have a situation" The family can hear Maria walk into Fury's office.
"Of course" he says and she walks out "The storms have been sending some of our agents crazy, congratulations, Happy Birthday, behave for your children, they're smarter than you."
"Bye Grandpa""Bye Fury"
They turned the video call off. They all snuggle for a few more minutes before T'Chaka and T'Challa walk in. Steve stood up while Natasha just moved closer to Henry.
"Steve, we have spoken to the council"
"What did they say?"
"Our workers have gone over the notes a few times, Xander was correct, not even vibranium should have that reaction" T'Chaka explained, making the children stand up.
"Don't try to experiment, we don't know what it is." Ronnie tells him.
"We are aware, our scientists will deal with this, Xander needs to prepare." T'Chaka tells the children who should never have been anywhere near this substance.
"Uncle, what do you mean prepare?" Xander asked.
The King and the Prince exchange a look.
"When you turn thirteen, you get all the powers of the Black Panther, we need to prepare you and walk you through the ceremony." T'Challa explains, having gone through it himself, "usually one would have weeks to prepare so we must work."
Xander looked at his parents. He was getting in real deep really quickly.
"It's ok, we'll catch up" Steve looked his son in the eye.
"I love you" Xander hugged him and looked at Natasha who nodded. Xander went with T'Challa down to the ceremony hall.
The five stood in silence.
"I know that this is all moving very fast and I apologize if you feel we are taking him from you." T'Chaka apologised.
"Xander is our brother, we wouldn't let anyone take him" Henry and Ronnie smiled threateningly. T'Chaka looked at Steve and Natasha because he felt that if he stared at the two children any longer he might have a heart attack.
Ayo walked into the room swinging her spear around.
"My King" she said to get his attention. "The storm has started again, it is threatening the main city, it has breached our barriers"
"Ayo lock down the tower immediately, get the people to safe locations, shut down the lab."
"Yes my King" she crossed her arms over her chest and speed walked out of the corridor.
"I must go" T'Chaka called Ramonda on his kimoyo beads and walked to his chambers
The rest of the family huddled together as they saw the first lightning strike. Next there were multiple strikes coming from the same place. The lights were slightly dimming. U'Wasi came running in, a fearful expression on his face.
"Captain, Agent, I'll take them to their rooms, get Xander to safety." U'wasi commands them.
The two parents look at each other skeptically for a few seconds.
"Ok, we love you" Steve gave both of the kids a kiss on their heads.
"Bye Dad" they replied though they doubted anyone could hear it.
The lights turned off and the whole room turned pitch black.