Title: If only things were different

Fandom: Wakanda Forever (Black Panther/Marvel)

Pairing: Shuri/Namor

Words: 1345

Rated: M

Warning: Sexual content

Summary: "If only things could have been different." Were the words he uttered that day. What if they were between them?

A/N: I left the theater shipping it so hard. Him with the dripping water, slicking his hair back and those damned chesticles. I just wanted to see him come out the water and they have sexy time. I had to write something.

The beaches of Wakanda were secluded, peaceful. Shuri often found refuge there. Refuge from her duties. Refuge from her grief. Refuge from her thoughts. Or at least, that's what she wanted. Every night, every night she would find herself back upon those beaches. Back upon those beaches where she sat along side her mother.

The camp fire was growing dim. Dim from a night of burning. All night. Seemingly every night. The air was growing cold. Soon the sun would rise. Soon she would return home like she did every night. Empty. Unresolved. Lost.

"Why here?" She wondered out loud. "Why come here every night?" She looked down as if turning towards the sands for answers. They didn't answer. Nor did the cool wind on her face. Nor did the sounds of the crashing waves in the distance. She sighed to herself and then looked towards the ocean. Looked over the water blackened by the night, speckled with stars.

She remembered him. HIM. The color of his skin. The soft way he spoke when he told the story of his birth, his homeland. The soft way he spoke, the reverence, the admiration when he talked of protecting his people and their new home.

She remembered him. HIM. His eyes dark with pain. The pain of loved ones being taken away. The very same pain she was all to familiar with. The pain. The grief. The hope.

Hope.

She remembered him. HIM. The tone in his voice when he spoke of alliances. Of a partnership. How things could have been different.

Different.

Shuri's mind held onto that word. "Different." She stood up and let her bare feet guide her to the water. She walked until it met her ankles and she knelt down. Shuri reach out into the water, placing her fingers into the wet sand. The water threaded the sand in and out of her fingers and she waves came and went.

A voice broke through her thoughts. Broke through the silence of the night. Broke through the stars, the air and the water. A voice. A familiar voice. A seductive voice with an accent so thick, so distinctive. She could feel her heart beat accelerating.

"Why do you come here?" Was all he asked as he made his ascent from the water to the shore. The water and fire light made his skin shimmer as if he were covered in gold. Gold from a lost city. A mythical city of his people. He ran his hand through his dark hair to move it back from his face. To see her. To look at her. HER.

HER.

Full of compassion. HER. Her with the fierce desire to protect her people. HER. Her who knows the pain of loss. Her who knew loneliness. Her who longed for something. Her who knew anger. Her who knew the want for vengeance. Her who listened. Her who smiled. Her who was so welcoming of his people. Her who was so….

Beautiful.

Beautiful. His thoughts held onto that word as he walked towards her and stood beside her. He watched as her feet and ankles parted the water. Watched as her fingers threaded through the sand. Why didn't she answer. What was on her mind? He wanted to know.

She stood up and stood next to him. Both looked out to the ocean. The vast ocean. The vast world full of life. The ocean that seemed endless. The ocean, much like the world that held so many secrets and unknowns.

"I'm glad you are here." She said softly, still staring at the water.

"I…" Namor paused. He shook his head. There was no need for pride. No need for lies or hidden truths. Let it all flow. Flow like the water, like the seas, like the oceans, like the rivers and streams, like it all. "I wanted to see you. I've longed to see you. Ever since we first met. Even after everything…" He looked at her then. "I wanted to see you."

She finally looked back to him, her dark eyes meeting his. There was an intensity in his eyes. A fire. Not like the fire from the campfire. Not like the fire in the desert sands that was full of rage. This was something else. Burning. A burning but not through her. This fire was something else.

Shuri turned her body towards him and he took a step forward. Close. So close. Close as if there were no personal space. Close as if he were breathing her in. Taking her in.

Taking.

Wanting.

So so beautiful.

Things could have been …

Different.

He didn't hesitate. He cupped the back of her neck and leaned forward, kissing her aggressively. Kissing her passionately. All of the passion and admiration he had for her, towards her, unleashed with his tongue, unleashed with his lips. Consuming her. Taking her in. Taking her.

Shuri wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, hugging his body closer as he devoured her. Feeling the cold metal of his jewels in contrast to his heated skin. Each of them moaning into each others mouths. Each of them not wanting to stop. Shuri was the one who pushed him away. Gasping for air. Holding a hand on her chest with ragged breaths. Namor smiled then.

"I forgot you can't take in oxygen like I can." He placed his hand gently over hers that was still upon her chest. "Catch your breath because I still want to kiss you. I still want-" He stopped himself then. Stopped himself from speaking. Stopped himself from saying another word. He yanked himself away from her. Storming towards the waters as if he made some huge mistake. Some dire miscalculation.

"Namor!" She shouted after him. His back was still towards her when he stopped and spoke to her.

"Do NOT call my name again! Do not shout at me as if you want me! Do NOT call my name again!" He then turned his head towards her but not in a way to look at her. Just a pointed ear in her direction. "For if you call my name again….." He paused. "I won't be able to stop myself from making love to you Shuri."

He closed his eyes, trying to calm his breath. Trying to steady his heart. Trying to pray to every god, ancient and new to give him the strength to keep walking. To walk and disappear into the depths. To walk and stop visiting these shores every night. Watching. Wanting. Waiting. Longing.

He heard the water move and ripple around him. He heard the movement of a body stepping through it as the water was disturbed. He heard the still and calm when the movement stopped. He opened his eyes and there she was.

Beautiful.

There she was right in front of him.

Different.

There she was and it was as if he was watching her lips part in slow motion.

"Namor."

And everything just broke.

It was like in the desert by different. It wasn't the Black Panther's claws digging through his back. It was hers. Hers accompanied by her moans in his ears. From beatings and punches in the desert sands. Full of hatred. Full of rage. To gasps. Not gasps from him clinging to life as he stumbled towards water. Gasps of pleasure. Of his cock being buried deep inside of her. Gasps from her touch, of her fingers along his skin, of her hands through his hair, his lips on her neck.

Different.

Things could have been different. This is what he wanted. This is what he had in mind when he uttered those words that day.

Her.

To be his Queen.

Her.

To rule the seas and the land side by side as a partner. As an alliance. As a lover.

Her. Her whose shoulders he buried his head into as he yielded to her body. Yielded to the pleasure. Yielded as she made him cum.

"I yield." Namor whispered as he looked upon her face. "I yield." He said again within a kiss.

END