The sunset was beautiful as the battle for Wakanda came to an end. King T'Challa was the ruler of Wakanda once more. The country celebrated together that N'Jadaka's tyranny lasted only a day.
There were fireworks, and dancing broke out in the street and at bonfires. Religious groups joined together to praise Bast and the ancestors. It was a time of celebration.
Upon T'Challa's request, those in the battle gathered in the Royal medical center. The Border Patrol, who was in custody until further notice, were all being treated on a separate floor, their wrists chained together.
Shuri sat on a cot, getting treated for minor bumps and bruises. She fidgetted with a piece of technology she was working on while the doctor spread a thick, sweet-smelling paste over her arm to rid it of the bruise.
Okoye stood guard of the princess. Shuri was not used to fighting. And although King T'Chaka had insisted she learned how to defend herself, everyone knew Shuri was a scientist first, not a warrior.
Not only that, but Okoye knew that Shuri had been struggling with her father's death. She had watched her sneak into the Queen Mother's quarters with teary eyes many times at night during her patrols. During the day, she spent so many hours in her lab, more than she used to. She was perfecting technology that she would use to keep her brother and others safe. Things that would have saved King T'Chaka's life had he had them in Vienna.
But now her lab is gone too.
"Thank you for your aid, M'Baku," T'Challa's voice came through the privacy curtain. "I am glad my speech was able to change your mind."
M'Baku's bellowing laugh followed. "Your speech did nothing. It was your mother who convinced me to bring my men down. She is quite persuasive to tell you the truth."
Okoye could not see T'Challa's expression, but she could imagine the frazzled look. She could not help but chuckle. "The Queen Mother is certainly a national treasure of Wakanda. King T'Chaka did well in choosing her."
"Have you been looked over, Okoye?" T'Challa questioned, eyeing her wounded, exposed skin. "I will sit with my sister. You should have your injuries healed."
She shook her head. "I'm afraid I cannot do that, my King. We lost one of our Doras today under my leadership. For Xoliswa's sake, the least I can do is wear the battle scars."
T'Challa tsked. "I know the Dora Milaje is a sisterhood, Okoye, and the loss of a Dora will be heavy on your hearts for a long time. Refusing medical care is not the way Doras grieve; please get checked out. If you choose not to listen to me as your friend, then I will have to order you as king."
Okoye sighed, annoyed. "If it means so much to you." Everyone had all experienced their share of losses the past week, and T'Challa seemed to become more protective of his friends since his father's death. It was pointless to argue with the King.
She departed the royal siblings, finding a medic who could look over her injuries. As General, she had survived many painful repercussions. Bruises, cuts, and scraps came daily during sparring sessions with the other Doras. She even had broken ribs once. She had no broken bones from this battle. She knew that for sure.
She assumed the medic would scan her body, she that her only injuries were mild bruises, apply cream and then send her on her way.
Five minutes later, she realized it would not be that easy.
"You were in the fight today?" The medic asked while she looked at the results of the scan. Her brows were furrowed inwards in concern, which caused Okoye some alarm. If Bast were willing, T'Challa would not have the opportunity for a 'told you so'.
"Yes, of course, I was," she frowned when the medic pulled a small device out of a drawer and stuck a strip into it. "What is that?"
"I'm just going to prick your finger to draw some blood," the medic explained. She completed the process and remained quiet until a hologram appeared above. The results read 'positive'.
"Positive?" Okoye read allowed. Had she contracted some disease while in Busan? "What am I positive for?"
"You are pregnant, General," the medic answered.
Okoye gawked at the news, dumbfounded for much longer than she would like to admit. Of all the things that had happened in the last week, being pregnant was the last thing she expected she would find out. She and W'Kabi had spoken about children many times, but neither was ready. And after the stunt he pulled today, she was not sure how their marriage would survive, let alone that he was fit to be a father.
And now she was pregnant.
"We will have to run more tests to make sure the fetus is well. Considering the stress you have been under, we have to take precautions. Trusting this is something you wish to pursue. I can call your husband if you would like and-"
Okoye interrupted her. Her child did not need to have a criminal of Wakanda as a father. "My husband is currently downstairs in chains. He will be coming nowhere near me, or this child until I approve it. Now, about these tests?"
Still shaken by the news, Okoye bid goodnight to Birnin Zana and returned home to the Border Tribe. Unlike the streets of the golden city, which were full of parties and dancing, her tribe was eerily silent. Word got out of what the Border patrolman had done. The families of the patrolmen do not feel like celebrating.
Okoye stepped into the small hut she shared with W'Kabi, drawing the curtains closed and locking the door with the touchpad on the inside. The Border Tribe was much simpler than the rest of the tribe. Since they were required to preserve the secrets of Wakanda, most families lived in huts. They held careers like farming or animal breeding. Every season, members of the Merchant Tribe came to purchase the Border Tribe goods and sell them to the country.
But despite their simple ways of life, they still lived in Wakanda. They still benefitted from the technology, just like the lock Okoye just used to seal herself into the hut for the night.
Once in the privacy of her own home, she stripped from her armor and hung it up for the next day. Her undergarments were tossed into a basket and her shoes were left by the door. Finally, she changed into comfortable sleepwear and climbed the ladder to the loft.
W'Kabi's side of the bed was colder than usual. Okoye had spent many nights alone while he patrolled the midnight shift. This was different. When he patrolled during the night, she knew he would be home that morning. When she woke up, they would share a quiet breakfast before she left for the palace, and he went to bed. He would fix her tea while she got ready for the day. He always put far too much sugar in it, but Okoye found it too kind to complain.
Now she did not know what would become of W'Kabi. Or what sort of a person he was anymore.
Under the blankets, she climbed, her chest heavy with emotions. Last night, she laid in this spot and grieved T'Challa's death. W'Kabi had joined her after his shift and had whispered sweet, reassuring things to her to calm her. He promised that they would make it through together.
How could she believe the words of such a man? A man who would turn his back on his oldest friend for a single mistake? Why had she thought it would be any different with her. T'Challa had done nothing but support W'Kabi all their life. At the young age of twelve, he had treated W'Kabi as a brother after his parents died. He supported him through school, helped him study and train for the Head of Patrol position, he even introduced him and Okoye. W'Kabi had T'Challa standing right beside him at their wedding. Yet somehow, at one inconvenience, he chose to support N'Jadaka.
Was that truly the sort of person he was?
He still suffered from nightmares of Klaue's attack. He'd wake Okoye up screaming in the middle of the night, his body drenched in sweat as he clung to the bedsheets. It shook her to her core every time. Calming him afterward was nearly impossible. Capturing Klaue would have been the closure he needed to move on from his parent's death. It's why he joined the Border Patrol in the first place. He would always say that when Klaue came back, he would be ready.
No one expected N'Jadaka to drag his corpse to the border like Klaue was nothing but cattle going to the slaughterhouse.
Okoye thought he was loyal. She knew he wanted to avenge his parents' death, but she thought he still cared about their country. About her. Was she just always a side piece to his revenge?
And now, what about their child? How could she have carried their baby into a battle like this? Not just the physical fight for Wakanda, but the battle she faced now with W'Kabi. Their family was broke. How could she bring a child into it?
With her heart heavy, she rolled over in the cold bed. She stared at the photo of her and W'Kabi, that sat on the bedside table. Tears rolled down her cheeks, clouding her vision.
How could the smiling man in that photo be giving her so much pain tonight?