Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Marvel.
Chapter 13: When It Hurts
Ashtyn smooths her dress as she stares at herself in the mirror. She isn't showing yet, but she smiles, knowing that she's carrying Erik's child. Today is the formal announcement of her a T'Challa's faux engagement. She is nervous but hopeful their plan will work. She misses Erik. The sooner the madness of war begins, the sooner they can return to normality.
There's a knock on the door.
"Come in," Ashtyn answers.
It is T'Challa he enters with confident strides reserved for nobility. It is within him to be this way like it is within Erik to be crass, but the two are similar. Though Erik would never admit it, he has an ethical code. Even if it is extreme, it is there just the same.
"Are you ready for this?" Ashtyn asks.
"I have always imagined the announcement of my engagement. I never thought it wouldn't be real," T'Challa answer. There's a hint of sadness within his voice.
"One day, it will be. Be patient." Ashtyn says. "Do you know if word has reached Nakia?"
T'Challa sighs. "It may have. However, we haven't heard anything for sure. There hasn't been any sign of her since the last attack."
As if his words had spur events into motion, Okoye is suddenly at the doorway. Her expression is one of urgency and T'Challa looks to Ashtyn for permission for her to enter. After all, they are in her private quarters. Ashtyn nods and is appreciative of T'Challa respecting her wishes.
Okoye enters and addresses them with the signature greeting of cross arms over her chest. "My king and future queen," Okoye acknowledges. Though, Ashtyn is kingly aware that Okoye doesn't care for her, due to her association with Erik. Okoye has been nothing but respectful, especially since the charade of her being T'Challa's betrothed. Yet, there was still an underlying discontentment between them.
Ashtyn nods respectfully to Okoye, wishing that in time they can be more than superficially kind.
"Kil-" Okoye begins to say, but then corrects herself. "Prince N'Jadaka encountered Nakia, just outside of W'Kabi's village. W'Kabi was injured," she paused. There is a flicker of emotion upon her face, but she quickly composed herself to finish her report. "They request to speak to you."
"Permitted," T'Challa grants. Okoye pulls up her armband, a hologram of Erik appears.
Ashtyn's heart skips a beat. She hasn't seen or spoken to him in over a week. Appearances had to be kept up, especially considering Nakia's unnatural gift of spying on them undetected. Yet, this is an emergency; they must know what happened. Thankfully, Erik looks well, unharmed by Nakia. His eyes bore into hers. No words are needed to express the hell they have been going through without each other. Codependency, perhaps? Unhealthy, most likely. Helplessly devoted to each other, absolutely, and she has no desire to learn another way to be.
She doesn't speak, knowing that the mission comes first.
"Cousin, what have you learn?" T'Challa questions. Ashtyn smiles, loving how the two have bonded.
"It's hairy as fuck here," Erik says. "Nakia attacked us in broad daylight. She has gotten stronger. She took W'Kabi down in one hit."
To this, Okoye sucked in a sharp breath. Erik looked over to her and says, "He will be okay. I promise." Okoye nods in appreciation. Erik continues, "I have seen her invisible friend too. A tall, dark, red-eyed son-of-a-bitch. T'Challa, I don't use this term likely, but he is a monster. He created a force field that threw me back several feet and then vanished like a fucking ghost! I have never seen anything like him."
Ashtyn's eyes widen at this tidbit of information. Erik, to most, is a monster. For him to describe another as a monster is not to be taken likely.
"Do you need reinforcements, medical aid?" T'Challa asks.
Erik paused for a moment before saying, "Yeah, maybe some extra security is in order."
"I volunteer," Okoye offers. Her eyes bore into T'Challa's a silent plead for him to agree.
"Very well, Okoye will come to assist. Is there anything else I can do?"
Ashtyn's chest rises and falls as Erik's gaze lands on her. She wishes they were alone. So, she can say to him all the things that have been on her mind. She misses him, longs for him. Nevertheless, the hoax is a must. Not even before Okoye, or in the relative safety of her bedroom could they let their guard down. Erik is very aware of it when he cut the communication without so much as a goodbye. No one else is affected by his callous demeanor, at least not as much as Ashtyn.
"I will leave immediately," Okoye announces.
T'Challa nods before saying, "Safe travels, my friend."
"My king," Okoye says. Then look in Ashtyn's direction, "And my queen."
"Tell W'Kabi I wish him a speedy recovery. He has been nothing but a friend to me," Ashtyn says.
The corners of Okoye's mouth curve upwards. It is not a full smile but the closest thing to it she has ever thrown in Ashtyn's direction. Okoye hurries away, leaving T'Challa and Ashtyn alone once more.
"Are you alright?" T'Challa questions, ending the silence between them.
"Yes," Ashtyn replies in a cheerful voice. The last thing she wants to delve into is her fickle feelings.
T'Challa rests a hand on her shoulder. She jumps at his touch.
He tsk, "You must learn to be at ease around me. Ashtyn, you can trust me. You know that don't you?"
Ashtyn chuckles, knowing that he is right. She can't be jumping at his touch, especially if they are to pull-off they are a pair of lovebirds. She rests a hand on top of his and pats it.
"I'm good, seriously. I am stronger than I look."
"Indeed, you are. Shall we?" T'Challa holds his arm out for her to take; she loops her arm within his as they walk towards the balcony. It is time to kick their plan into action.
Standing next to T'Challa gives her courage. Gazing upon the citizens of Wakanda, she cannot help but recall the announcement of her engagement to Erik or lack thereof. He didn't bother with such formalities, seizing her much like he had Wakanda. She chuckles, thinking how he had kidnapped her. How screwed up is she that is now one of her fondest memories, but she wouldn't take away anything he had given her...not even the pain.
"Are you sure you are good?" T'Challa asks once more before calling the attention of the crowd below.
Ashtyn inhales, then breathes out, "Positive."
Erik screams obscenities within his mind as he paces the infirmary. W'Kabi is still unconscious, though Erik is concern about his friend, seeing Ashtyn had withered away his resolve.
Suddenly, he isn't sure about the plan. Furthermore, he isn't even sure if it will work if it all rests on Nakia's jealousy. Perhaps she has moved on? Though he only got a glimpse of Nakia and her companion, he would bet they are more than just friends.
The way the red-eyed man hovered over her, spoke to her, reminded him of himself. Too poisonous, too messed up to be anything but toxic, even towards those you care for. Erik maybe can only speak for himself, but he has hurt Ashtyn. He knows he has, but it was without malice. It was his nature to hurt people, hell glancing down at his scarred arms even he wasn't immune.
Yet, that all is in the past, for the sake of his unborn child. He must find a way to be a better man. Perhaps him learning how to trust his kinfolk is the first step? If he could stick with the plan, maybe there's hope for him to change?
"Prince N'Jadaka," the nurse calls out. "W'Kabi is now awake and wishes to speak to you."
Erik nods at her. Then heads to be at W'Kabi's bedside. Since his reintroduction, after being cleared of his treason charges. Most of the kingdom began to refer to him by his Wakandan name. Honestly, he isn't sure how he feels about it. True, that is who he is; it is what drove him to come to Wakanda in the first place. However, the name is foreign to him.
Though Killmonger, and Erik Stevens, are tied to death and destruction, they represented his nature. Nevertheless, with growth comes a natural change. He questions if those names still suit him. He halts his thoughts as he gazed upon W'Kabi, who straightens himself upright on plush pillows in bed.
"How are you feeling?" Erik asks.
"Like I got ran over by a rhino," he jokes. He laughs but quickly ended the actions with a grimace.
"Is it your ribs?"
W'Kabi nods, "Among other things. Nakia moved so quickly. I cannot fathom how either of us would have seen her coming, but somehow my rhino reacted to her presence."
"You shouldn't have tried to protect me. You're all busted up because of me."
"Old habits die hard," W'Kabi says with a smile. "Besides, it is repayment for freeing me from prison. You could have been selfish and concerned yourself with winning your and Ashtyn's freedom. Part of me assumed you would have forgotten about me, but you didn't. You stood by me when no one else did. Friendships like that are worth dying for, don't you think?"
"Indeed, they are," Erik replies. "Hopefully, you won't mind. I invited Okoye to come to help maintain the village's borders."
W'Kabi's face lights up. Yet he masks his excitement and asks, "Did you speak to her? How did she seem?"
"Worried, she might be a hard-ass, but she still loves you, brother."
A small smile teases the corners of W'Kabi's mouth. Erik isn't much for mushy affection, at least not involving anyone else other than Ashtyn. However, seeing W'Kabi's mood lighten, made Erik's day.
"Get some rest," Erik says to his friend before departing.
He walks to his villa, deep in thought about his future and his current circumstances. He finds himself standing on the sandy beach, where he proposed. By now, T'Challa has announced his engagement to Ashtyn. It is only a matter of time before word gets out to all the corners of Wakanda.
He knows, Ashtyn only has eyes for him. Being secure in her feelings for him is the only thing keeping his internal storm from raging. When he saw her, there were so many things he wanted to say.
First, how much he loves her. If he wasn't certain before, he is painfully aware now. Second, how's the pregnancy going? He can only hope she is taking care of herself for their baby's sake. Thirdly, can she forgive him for his ways? Something about being alone has Erik remembering all the fucked-up things that have happened between them.
He knows he was never worthy of her love. The blessings bestowed upon him isn't something he's accustomed to, but he will greedily hold onto them. He will fight for them and possibly die if it means a better future for their child.
I love you, Ashtyn. Erik speaks to the wind, hoping it will carry his words to his beloved.
T'Challa has set his plan into motion. He never imagined the emotional aspects that would come with telling such a lie. People have been congratulating him. The pang of sadness hits him every time they do so, is becoming unbearable.
Like he told Ashtyn. He has imagined the day he would tell all Wakanda he has found his queen, but this falsehood...grieves him. For the sake of the public, their sham wedding will not be open for them to attend. If Nakia shows, there will be bloodshed that T'Challa didn't doubt.
He no longer loves Nakia, but he does not want to see her dead. He thinks about ways to safeguard her, about reinforcements. Yes, there's Erik and possibly W'Kabi who will join the fight, per Erik's encouragement. Of course, he will have Okoye and the royal guard in place, but will they need more help?
Perhaps, he should call on the Avengers. Yet, he doesn't want to involve them in Wakanda's affairs. Besides, they must protect their regions; it would be selfish to pull them away. No, this is his regional issue; only those who will be immediately affected should be involved.
Then a name pops into his head. A name he hasn't call upon even in memory since he was a young boy. He remembers when his family traveled to Kenya to visit an ancient tribe. Back then, T'Challa was unaware it was to see a prospective bride for him. Arranged marriages so prevalent back then.
He remembers playing with a young girl, her hair stark white. They ran around the village playing a game of tag. A smile spreads across T'Challa's face at the thought. Yet, that was the first and last time he saw her. Civil war broke out in the country. His father had refused to get involved. Ultimately that is what ended any talks of blending of the two tribes.
Nevertheless, the young girl was stripped from his life only to reemerge as a greater force. If he could convince her to come to their aid, then they would have a chance. Yet, he thinks of the sweet girl he met back then and recalls her lovely name, Orono Munroe. However, that is no longer the name she uses. With a thought of her incredible power, he says her name, "Storm."
A/n: I want to say thank you and welcome to all the new readers! Also, to my long-time supporters I appreciate your patience for this chapter. However, I must say I am so excited to write about Storm. She is my favorite superhero, and I just don't think the movies have done her justice. So, to write for her in all her badassery is going to be fun! Anyway, thank you all! Blessings ~Concrete Lily.