It was Ramonda who decided that Steve and T'Challa were evenly matched enough that their bout would continue all day if the two men weren't brought up short. Using the authority she carried naturally from being Queen, herself, and the automatic authority that comes with being mother, she finally stepped up, lifting a hand to get the attention of both men – who stopped, and looked at her, curiously. Both of them were sweating and breathing heavily, but neither looked winded.

"I am declaring your bout a draw," she told them – and those watching. "You both fought well and are a credit to your tribes." She smiled. "But there are other competitions that must be completed before the day is finished, and I know that many who are watching are anticipating the demonstration of the Ironman suit – and that would be better done while there is still daylight. Do you accept the draw?"

This last was a formality – especially with a bout during a gathering and not one to the death over some issue of honor – but it was important that both men concede.

"I accept the draw," T'Challa agreed, nodding, and then bowing, low to Steve. "Do you?"

"Of course." Rogers bowed, too, and then offered his hand to T'Challa, who shook it. "Well fought."

"You, as well."

The king of Wakanda smiled at his mother and then looked at the watching crowd.

"There are more competitions. Let us finish them so we may enjoy the rest of our evening."

The crowd nodded their approval of the idea and began to drift away, still talking about the incredible display of fighting that they'd witnessed. There was swimming and archery, both still on the program, and while none of the men from the Avenger tribe were swimming, Wong was going to compete in the archery. Stephen had other things to take care of, he said, and he headed back to the ferry.

"Why wasn't M'Baku here?" Peter asked Azoru.

He'd expected the Jabari leader to be one of the top competitors, really – although he was loyal to Steve, of course.

"He does not compete unless there is something to be gained from it," the other boy said, shaking his head, and shrugging. He brought his hand up to brush his fingers against a bee sting on his neck, but was careful not to actually touch it, since it was still somewhat painful. "He says he has nothing to prove to anyone."

"It's pretty true," Peter agreed. "He's a badass."

"Indeed." Azoru was proud of his uncle, and it was obvious. "I am going to go watch the archery competition. My father is competing." He gave Peter a look. "Now might be a good time to show Shuri what you got for her."

Shuri looked at Peter, curiously.

"You got me something?"

"Yeah. I mean… it's not anything amazing. Just a –"

"Show her," Azoru interrupted, amused – despite the fact that he didn't even have a girl, and he'd been stung several times by the angry bees in the tree hive. "It will be better, that way."

"Okay." Peter turned from his friend to Shuri. "Are you busy, right now?"

"I have nowhere that I need to be."

"Can you come back to my camp for a minute?"

"Of course." She looked over to where Steve and T'Challa were talking with some of the other people who had been in the crowd, accepting their congratulations for the bout that they'd given. "Will we be gone, long?"

"No."

"If your mother or brother asks, I will let them know where you have gone," Azoru told her. "Do not forget to come to my bonfire tonight," he added. "I am the storyteller."

They both knew that, of course, but since it was Shuri that he was looking at, she was the one who nodded.

"I am looking forward to it."

"So am I," Peter added. He was still trying to work his own story out in his head – although he knew what he was going to talk about. It was just a matter of how it was going to come out – and what all he wanted to share. He was hoping that listening to Azoru might help him. He looked at Shuri. "Ready?"

"Of course."

They said goodbye to Azoru and headed for the ferry. As they walked, they greeted several people who were heading to various other competitions – although some were also securing the best spots for the demonstration of the Ironman suit that Peter knew everyone was looking forward to seeing. The boy knew that Tony had only offered to get out of fighting, but it was going to be popular, and he was glad that Tony had thought of it. Why not let the tribes see what the Ironman suit was capable of? It wasn't like most of them were every going to get a chance to see it in action with the rest of the Avengers, now was it?

"Are you going to give me a hint?" Shuri asked, bringing Peter's attention back to her.

"About what?"

She rolled her eyes, amused rather than annoyed.

"What you got me."

"Oh. Um… it's yellow."

The princess frowned.

"There are many things that are yellow…"

"it's not really yellow," Peter admitted. "More of a gold, maybe…"

"That is the worst hint, ever," she complained. "I need a different one."

"I had to steal it."

Now she looked shocked.

"You stole it?"

Peter nodded.

"Yes."

"Because it was so expensive?" Shuri asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"Because it wasn't for sale by the owners. So I grabbed it and ran."

"I am confused."

She knew he wouldn't really steal something, but he wasn't smiling, as he would be if he were making it up.

"You'll understand when you see it."

OOOOOOOO

She did understand.

Shuri smiled at the sticky mess that Peter pulled from the bag and set, carefully, on a paper plate on the camp table.

"Where did you get that?"

"Stole it."

The princess shook her head.

"I have not seen any hives around here."

"Runai discovered it in a dead tree," he explained. "Some of the other guys were going to go get some honeycombs and I was invited. Azoru said that honeycombs are something of a treat, here, and that you'd probably like some."

"He is correct," she confirmed. "In the past, boys would prove their daring by breaking honeycombs from a hive and then present it to the girl that they favor, in order to impress her."

Peter pushed the plate across the table so it was in front of her.

"Are you impressed?"

"Did you get stung?"

"A few times," he admitted. "Azoru and I jumped in the river."

"And you still managed to bring me some? That was very nice of you."

"And brave?"

"Bees are not without their defenses," she agreed, smiling. She looked at the plate. "This is all for me?"

"You can share it with your mom, if you want," Peter told her. "Or anyone else who would want some."

"You do not?"

He reached out and picked up the plastic bear that Natasha had held up, earlier.

"We have honey – and I don't really like it, anyway. I just got it for you. Because that's what boyfriends do, right?"

"It is." Her expression was pleased, and something else that Peter couldn't recognize – and she reached out and pressed her finger against the honeycomb, then stuck it in her mouth. "It is-"

There was a sudden motion at the entrance of the tent, and Peter realized that he could feel a familiar tingle. He realized that he'd been feeling it for a while, but he hadn't noticed during his conversation with Shuri. He had a moment to see Stephen walking in through the tent flap, and then he felt a surge of cheerfulness, and was immediately swarmed by a piece of happy, heavy fabric as the cloak of levitation greeted him in its usual fashion.

"Ah, Shuri," he heard Stephen say – although he couldn't see anything, just yet, since the cloak was wrapping itself around his head, neck, and shoulders to confirm that he was just fine, even after a few days of camping. "I see Peter gave you your honeycomb."

The princess nodded, smiling at the doctor, and then stifling a laugh at the sight of Peter wrestling the cloak to try and be able to see.

"He did. What is your cloak doing here?" she asked, curiously. She knew it was an alien artifact, and that it was sentient – and that it loved Peter – but she also knew that the man had left it at his sanctum while he made the journey to the gathering. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course," Stephen assured her, walking over and seating himself at the table. He, too, smiled when Peter finally got his head free of the cloak – although the thing continued to caress his ear. "It's my surprise guest for the bonfire story, this evening."

Oh.