Fun fact: Before I came up with the idea to write Iqadi's story, I was going to make it a short one-shot or a few chapters that would've been published during this whole arc. Looking back, I'm glad I made it its own story. I think I've mentioned it before but it's worth knowing.

Chapter 137: Old-Fashioned Whims

Wakanda's Palace - 15:45 PM

Out of all the royal tasks and responsibilities Imanu had to do, this is his favourite. The royal portrait. All he has to do was look pretty and stand completely still beside his wife who sat in a chair in front of him with her ankles crossed together. Nobody's eyes were on him except for the painter's and his eyes were only on them for a few seconds at a time before going back to the portrait. Below him, Imanu can feel Iqadi growing restless. Her breathing was sharp and irritated because she couldn't move. She liked being busy, doing something, anything, and since this would be going on for hours at a minimum, she wasn't amused.

Despite all the technology at their fingertips, there's the traditional aspect that keeps this painting going. There's something more authentic about a real person brushing the colours across a canvas. It's the only part of tradition Iqadi would admit hating.

"How long has it been?" Iqadi asks, despite being told not to talk during the portrait.

"Fifteen minutes," Imanu responds. A wonderful fifteen minutes.

Iqadi groans. "It's felt like fifteen years."

Imanu smiles lightly. Since his hands are on Iqadi's shoulders for the portrait, he gives them a small and reassuring squeeze. Iqadi slightly breaks her posture and leans against his torso. She doesn't understand why she was sitting on a chair if it was positioned sideways and the back was against her arm. Nobody sits on chairs like this. Still, she could feel her husband so she didn't complain.

"How long were your parents married when they got their portrait done?" Imanu asks.

"At least a decade," Iqadi mutters. "Wait, my mother told my father she was pregnant with me during the painting so it's a little over a decade. Why?"

"I was looking at it earlier and couldn't pinpoint a time. They looked young but seemed like they were ruling for a while."

"It feels like we'll be here until our tenth anniversary."

"I thought you loved tradition."

Iqadi wants to look up and glare at him but she can't. "Stop."

Imanu smiles brighter. "Why stop? We'll be here for a while."

"Emily and Daniel are getting married next week and I want to be there."

"You're being dramatic."

"Me? Dramatic? Never."

Imanu laughs a little, feeling Iqadi's body vibrate against him with her small laughter. Once they relax, they sit silently except for the sound of brush strokes.

"My parents fell in love almost immediately," Iqadi says. "You and I fell in love with each day after facing life together. Choosing you and marrying you got me to love you. Does that make sense?"

"It does," Imanu responds. "Fall in love with a whim and watch it grow. Makes a lot of sense to me."

"So, you know that my whim was the night I made the plans. What was yours?"

Imanu sighs. "Honestly, your beauty struck me first."

"Wow."

"I wasn't finished. I always thought you were beautiful, even before we met. It was unbelievable to see you in person as my princess and possible future wife, let alone be in the same room, make eye contact, and talk to you. But that was all infatuation because I eventually fell for your heart. I didn't want to because I didn't think I had a chance at marrying you but then you put your tiara on Kili's head and showed humility towards your status. I promised myself that I would never fall in love with you to save myself from the heartbreak when you picked someone else, but it was early in the morning and you were crying so much before smiling immensely. You looked so happy and relieved and overwhelmed, and that's when I knew I was in trouble. During that night with your contingency plans, you wanted to save and protect your friends. When Wakanda was under heavy storms, you protected Africa and your mother. You rule and fight with a heart I'm still in love with. The adoration I have for you surprises me every day and I know that we'll be okay because we're together."

Iqadi forgets about the portrait for a second. She breaks her pose and looks up at him with pure awe. That's her husband, her prince, her future king to her future queen.

If he gave up on her during her worst moment, then he never loved her. Those words would not only get her through the portrait but through the rest of their lives.

Imanu glances down at her and smiles before repositioning her head for the portrait.

-o-

The moment the portrait was done, Iqadi ran to her room to do something. Anything. For the first time in hours, she was allowed to move. She wanted to be busy and still had Imanu's words about his love for her running on a loop in her head. Being overwhelmed by joy and relief was the moment he knew he was in trouble. She didn't see that coming. He's still surprised by this life, by his adoration to her while she was struck by his love for his family and different thinking to hers.

Iqadi can't imagine being married to someone else, sitting through that portrait with someone else.

Not that she ever wants to.

Iqadi stands in the middle of her room, changing the linens on the bed and curtains (if one was being changed, everything had to go to match). She has to pack for the flight to the wedding but had too much energy to expel. As she sorts through her options, Kili sits crossed-legged on a bedside stool that was pushed off to the side amid the redecorating.

"Are you pregnant?" Kili asks.

Iqadi drops everything she's holding which was thankfully linens and starts at Kili in shock. She knows that Kili is more upfront than her brother when it came to asking things but she didn't expect that question. She was only a teenager.

"Why would you ask that?" Iqadi asks, crouching to pick up the pillowcases from the floor.

"Mothers crave food but you may crave linens instead," Kili responds. "Also, mothers tend to nest…"

"That's ridiculous."

"Mother says that when she was pregnant with me, she repainted Imanu's room."

"Because that became your nursery."

Kili pauses. "True but she didn't have to do that and you didn't answer my question."

Before Iqadi could answer, Imanu walks in. He looks around at the redecorating, nodding before standing by his sister to watch his wife work.

"What question?" Imanu asks.

"I asked Iqadi if she was pregnant," Kili responds.

Imanu raises his brows, looking at Iqadi. Kili's smiling excitedly and Iqadi only sighs.

"I'm not," Iqadi responds, tossing a pillowcase at him.

"We could try again if you want?" Imanu teases.

Iqadi blushes, eyes widening as Kili gags which makes her and Imanu laugh. Imanu nudges Kili before walking over to Iqadi to kiss her cheek.

"Before I forget," Iqadi says. She runs over to her vanity and takes out a small box for Imanu. "This is your birthday gift."

"Oh…" Imanu mutters. "Iqadi, you didn't have to get me anything. You were out -"

"Nonsense. I got that before I left. Take it."

"I can't."

"Because you don't want it."

"I never said that."

Kili peeks over at the small box. "I'll take it. What is it?"

Iqadi Imanu opens it and can't believe his eyes. He pulls out a finished bow tie in a dark shade of purple that showed when the light hits it. From the distance, it looked black.

Imanu looks at his smiling wife who's excited for him. "Iqadi, you didn't have to get me a bow tie."

"But I remember your first trip to America," Iqadi says. "You said you loved them, that they were a geometric masterpiece of an accessory. A long strip of fabric with points at the end becomes something so small with clean edges."

Kili stares at her brother weirdly. "You said that? How are we related?"

Imanu ignores her, keeping his eyes on Iqadi. "I love you."

Iqadi kisses him and Kili almost leaps out of her seat.

"And that's my cue to leave," Kili states. "Remember to bring me something back while you're in the States."

"As if we ever forget," Imanu mutters.

Iqadi nods. "And remember, you're in charge of Wakanda while we're gone."

Kili pumps a fist. "I'm so sitting on your father's throne while he's out."

-o-

They're leaving in a few hours. Iqadi packed some necessities for the wedding. She packed some toiletries and causal Western clothes but she was stumped on her dress for the main event. The wedding. She looks over all her dresses that vary in colour and style, unsure if she should pack many and pick on the day. Iqadi could go ask her mother what dress she's planning on wearing but knows she's going through the same dilemma. She's been to many weddings before but they were for other royal families or diplomatic families so she had to dress to match.

"Has Emily picked colours yet?" Imanu asks. He finished packing a while ago.

Iqadi shakes her head. "No."

"You could also go for something that fits all possible themes or buy something there. Thank Western tradition for generic tuxedos."

Iqadi shrugs. "I'll figure it out there."

Imanu nods as he watches Iqadi zip up her bag. "You know, you didn't answer me."

"On what?"

"When I said we could try again."

Iqadi looks up at him. "Your sister was right there."

"She isn't now."

"I thought you said that to pester her."

"You know I meant it regardless."

Iqadi knows he has a point and nods, rubbing her hands on her pants as she thinks. The first time she got pregnant and miscarried, she didn't think she would recover. It took forever and it put a strain on herself, Imanu, and their relationship. And then everything was fine until the catastrophe with The Contingency Plans brought back all those horrific memories of blood and screams.

But now? She's a different woman. The plans are out, for the most part, and that's enough. She explained herself and apologized. She was forgiven by the people she needed it from most. Her guilt has subsided.

And Imanu's still here with her. Still here because, in his words, his adoration for her always surprises him. If he didn't stick by her side through their pain and suffering, he didn't love her.

"Can I be honest with you?" Iqadi says.

"Always," he responds.

"Earlier today, when we were getting our portrait painted and you told me your whims, plural, I couldn't think about much. Whenever you say something like that, something that makes me wonder if I'm even worthy to be your wife, the first thing that comes to mind is that I want to have your child. If you're ready, then I'm ready."

Call this ironic timing on my part but I recently wrote Iqadi and Imanu's miscarriage in SHIELD Academy so this chapter was enlightening.