They didn't dance for too long.

For one thing, it was hot and the Americans weren't used to the hot African sun. Especially, they weren't used to a lot of physical activity in it. For another, it was also very late – their time – and they were all feeling the difference in the time change before too long. Some feeling it a little more than others. Besides, Peter wasn't good at the dance, and was somewhat self-conscious about that fact.

He was the first of them to step out of the ring of dancers and move to the sidelines, smiling politely at the greetings of those who had been watching, and moving to stand next to Steve, who was still filming the others.

"You're still terrible," Captain America pointed out.

Peter rolled his eyes, good-naturedly.

"I have other talents to fall back on, luckily. Besides, no one ever saved the world in a dance-off, now did they?"

Steve smirked at that, and they watched as some older people joined the children, Shuri, and the two remaining Americans in their dance. Ned had matched his rhythm to Carol, but now they were dancing with a few young women who formed on one side, while a young man about Peter's age sidled up to Shuri with a smile and danced beside her, matching her steps with more grace than Peter could ever hope to.

The princess smiled her approval, and clapped in response to his actions, which – of course – made him redouble his efforts. More joined in the dance as Ned finally bowed out, as well, wiping his face in the hot sun as he walked over to stand by Peter and Steve.

"This is too much exercise in this heat," the boy complained. "I'm ready for a break."

"We can head back anytime," Peter agreed, watching Carol, but always going back to watching the boy that was dancing with Shuri.

He wondered if T'Challa would approve of the young man being so close to his sister. None of the other dancers were so close they were almost touching those beside them, after all, but the guy beside Shuri would occasionally reach out a hand and touch her arm when their dance brought them close enough.

And she didn't seem to mind.

"Why do you look so annoyed?" Carol asked, walking over to Peter who hadn't even realized she'd finished dancing as more people joined in – including even more young men, eager to dance with their princess.

He frowned, turning to her.

"What?"

She smiled, also wiping her face after her exertions.

"You look upset."

"Oh." He shrugged. "I'm not."

"Peter doesn't like it that he can't dance," Ned said, accepting a drink of water from one of the guards. "He thinks he should be able to do anything."

"I can dance," Peter objected. "Just not the fast stuff."

Carol looked at Steve, who was done filming by then.

"You want to try it?"

"Nope. I already know that I can't dance, either."

She looked at Peter, but the boy had turned his attention back to Shuri and the young men all dancing around her. Danvers smiled, knowingly, and put her hand on Peter's shoulder.

"We're going to go find something else to do. Are you guys okay?"

Peter nodded, forcing himself to give her his attention.

"Yeah. We'll be heading to the palace soon. Tony and Pepper wanted us back by dark."

"Stay out of trouble," Steve said, taking Carol's hand and leading her through the crowd.

Peter turned back toward the dancers, and Carol hooked her arm through Steve's.

"What's the protocol for dating an African princess?" she asked.

"What?"

"Are there any rules?" Danvers clarified. "Do you have to be a prince?"

"I don't know." He hadn't given it any thought. He only knew one African princess, after all, and she was much too young for him. "You'd probably need to ask T'Challa. Or Ramonda would probably know. Why?"

"Just asking for a friend."

OOOOOOOO

"Steve and Carol left?"

Ned nodded, handing Shuri a cool cloth to wipe her face.

"A little bit ago. You were really good out there."

The princess smiled.

"Thank you. You were, as well." She glanced at Peter, misinterpreting his moody countenance. "You were getting better, Peter."

He nodded with a shrug.

"Thanks. Are you ready to go back? Or is there something else you'd like to do, today?"

They had most of the next day to explore the markets, as well, after all.

"No. You two must be dragging. I am ready." She put an arm through both boys', and turned them toward the palace, which was still a ways off and with the distractions it would be very close to dark by the time they returned. "We will have to ask the organizers what else there is to see," she said, cheerfully. "So we know where to look, tomorrow."

"We should find the Jabari," Ned suggested. "I'd like to see Azoru, and maybe find another wooden carving. Or one of those shirts like Peter got when he was here for Tony and Pepper's honeymoon."

Shuri looked at Peter to see if he agreed with the plan, but he wasn't paying attention.

"Peter?"

He started, looking at her, and his grip on her arm tightened, slightly.

"What?"

"Are you alright?"

He nodded.

"Yeah. Sorry."

"What are you thinking of?" she asked, curiously.

He had been in such a good mood, but now it seemed he was preoccupied – by something that troubled him.

Peter shook his head.

"Nothing important. I'm just getting tired, is all."

"We were talking about finding the Jabari, tomorrow," Ned said, rolling his eyes at having to repeat himself. "I want to see if I can find another wood carving and maybe a wool shirt."

"And Azoru," Shuri added. "He is coming to the formal dinner, tomorrow night, but it would be good to see him before then. Perhaps he can show us around his tribe's market area."

"Yeah. That sounds good."

Peter didn't say anything else, but Ned and Shuri chatted as they walked through the market about all of the specialists and master craftspeople that the Jabari had brought – as well as the art, foods and materials that they were passing as they walked.

OOOOOO

"There they are."

Tony looked up as the teens walked into the room. Ned and Shuri were grinning, cheerfully, but he noticed, immediately, that Peter seemed subdued. The boy smiled, though, when Shuri stopped to greet her mother and brother, while he and Ned continued to the other side of the room where Tony and Pepper were talking to a couple of palace officials and two tribal leaders – including one that Peter recognized, immediately.

"M'Baku," he said, nodding a greeting as soon as he was close enough to be polite. "How are you?"

"I am well enough, Peter," the Jabari leader assured him. "And you? Your parents tell me you are well healed."

"Yeah, I'm good." Peter raised his hand for proof. "You remember my friend, Ned?"

"I do." The other teen received a nod, as well. "I would stay and converse with you, but I have much to plan for tomorrow's ceremony."

"Anything I can help you with?" Peter asked, hoping to get an idea of what was happening, since Shuri hadn't been willing to tell.

"I appreciate the offer, but no."

The Jabari nodded a farewell to Tony and Pepper, and then walked away, stopping long enough to exchange a few words with T'Challa and Ramonda before he left. Pepper and Tony turned to the two boys.

"Did you have a good time?" she asked them.

Ned nodded, enthusiastically.

"We did. There were all kinds of things to see and do – besides the rhinos, I mean."

"Which you didn't ride once we got off the phone, right?" Tony asked.

"Yeah. Of course not. I wouldn't do that." He went on to tell them about the things that they'd seen, and showed them a few little souvenirs that he'd picked up – mostly for his mother, but for MJ and a few of his friends at school, as well. "And then there was this group of dancers. We stopped and gave Peter a chance to make a fool of himself in front of them, and we saw Steve and Carol, there."

"Did you see Stephen and Natasha?" Pepper asked.

"No."

Peter shook his head, as well.

"Not since a lot earlier."

"Are you alright?" Tony asked, deciding that he didn't look as cheerful as Ned – of course, not many did, really.

"Yeah. Just too much sun, probably. I'm a little tired."

"There's nothing going on tonight," Pepper told him. She knew, because she was tired, too. "You could turn in early – after dinner – and get some rest."

"I think I might."

"I don't have to, though, right?" Ned asked. He wasn't tired, yet, but he and Peter were sharing a room rather than staying in the suite with Tony and Pepper. "I was hoping to look around a bit. Maybe see if Shuri will show me her workroom, again."

"No." Tony glanced at Peter, but turned his attention to Ned. "Just don't stay up too late. I don't want you to be a zombie, tomorrow."

"Yeah. I won't be."

Before Tony could say anything else to either boy, dinner was announced and everyone in the room headed toward the next room.