"That's a Kapok tree, right?" Eva asked, scrambling up the sloping forest floor to get a closer look at the massive trunk. "It's bigger than I thought I would be."
T'Challa followed her up with impossible lithe grace. His movements were oddly cat-like, in fact; she got the impression he would land on his feet no matter where or from which height he was dropped. "It is indeed," he said.
"And the ones all around it are mahogany. I'm amazed you've got any left, what with the demand for the wood."
"My people have great respect for the environment," her companion explained, "and not so much for corporations seeking to exploit it."
"Good for you," she said vaguely. "Hope you don't mind me saying, your almighty sovereignty, but you don't act much like a king."
"My father filled the role much better than I ever could," T'Challa admitted, twisting a heavy silver ring around his finger. "I am not suited to politics."
"I'd say that's a good thing for a king to be," Eva replied, continuing up the jungle path. "Can I make a suggestion, though?"
"Of course."
"Build a damn road to this place from the city, preferably by the time I leave. Helicopters are terrifying and evil."
T'Challa laughed. "This is a sanctuary," he said, "making it easily accessible would somewhat defeat the point. Besides, Wakanda would much rather remain difficult to navigate."
"Right," said Eva, "mind you, being next door to Mugabe would put anyone off talking to the neighbors, I guess. I got the impression that you're not really eager to improve your international relations, huh? Getting permission to travel here was a nightmare - Alvie ended up getting written permission from you, right? That made me feel important."
"It makes it easier to maintain our tribes' integrity. If it were not for the UN attack, then -"
"Wo ke o!"
T'Challa grabbed her waist and pulled her aside as a coconut plummeted from the leafy ceiling at terminal velocity, landing with a think precisely where Eva had been standing half a second ago.
I just avoided death by coconut, she thought vaguely, and then became aware of the king of Wakanda's arms still steady around her.
"Are you alright?" he asked her, concern etched into every line of his extremely good-looking face. On the one hand, Eva was recently out of her first long-term relationship, and wasn't entirely sure where she stood with Sam. On the other... well, he was a king. It would certainly be something to tick off the bucket list.
"Never better," she said, steadying herself by placing her hands on his shoulders. "Thank you."
"That is the first time you have not spoken to me as a king," T'Challa said. Now she was safe, he was smiling again.
"I was distracted," she said.
"What by, may I ask?"
"The trees," Eva replied, "they're very interesting." She leant in closer. "Lovely eyes."
"The trees?"
"What?"
"Sorry?"
"You sure you can't stay any longer?" Alvie whined, grasping Eva's hands as they waited for the helicopter to gear up. "I miss you somethin' awful."
"I'll be back next year," Eva told her, "cross my heart. But I need to go home, and see my cat, and rebuild a bit of Central Park." She pulled Alvie into a hug. "I'm happy you're happy."
"Me too," Alvie mumbled, gripping her tightly. "Have you got all your tree seeds?"
"Yep." They released each other, and T'Challa stepped forward. Eva found she could not look him in the eye without blushing. "Thanks for having me, your highness."
"It was my pleasure, Miss Kresk," the king replied, kissing her cheek. Out of the corner of her eye, Eva saw Alvie mouth "I told you so". "I wish you the very best in your endeavours."
"Um. You too."
She climbed into the helicopter and waved goodbye to her friend as they took off, then tried to turn her brain off for the rest of the flight. Before she knew it she was back at the tiny Wakandan airport and the Dora Milaje escorted her straight past security and onto the plain. Soon she would be back in New York, with its own rainforest of concrete and glass. She loved the jungle, but it was vast and untameable; in the city, green spaces were as precious as emeralds in rock. That was where she belonged, that was where she could work. A flower growing out of the sidewalk was all the more beautiful because of where it came from.
She made the executive decision not to tell anybody that she had kissed the Black Panther and king of Wakanda. Otherwise, she would never hear the end of it.
A/N never did I expect to love Eva Kresk as much as I do. Also, all of you are pretty great too.