A/N: Here's chapter two. hope you enjoy!
All Rights again to Marvel, Disney, Stan Lee, and etc to help build the MCU.
Everett awoke to sunlight beams that crossed his face. His eyes adjusting to his surroundings. He takes notice of the plush bed he seems to be occupying, not remembering exactly how he got there. He sits up delicately and moves his hands all over his body searching for any indications of injuries. He locates nothing but notice the soreness that's spread throughout his limbs. Puzzled at first but it soon washes away as he remembers he's in Wakanda and it's not what he or the world thought the country was. In addition to reel from that revelation he had to help fight for the throne from a secret rogue member of the royal family. Sometimes he believes that he doesn't get paid enough. He moves to the edge of the bed gently setting one gelatin-like leg onto floor after the other. His hand resting on the burgundy wall with gold trimming. Once he gains his balance he sees a restroom and uses that first before searching for someone. Particularly a genius who happens to be a princess.
Walking down the spacious halls he understands he's in the Palace and is dressed in the garb he was wearing when he first awoke in the lab. Distracted by the soft material his movement slows to a large portrait of the current royal family.
The tapestry was huge and seemed to flawlessly capture every detail and feature from the late King, to the Mother Queen, T'Challa, and Shuri. For whatever reason he couldn't explain why his gaze lingers on Shuri's for the longest. He isn't a blind man, she's a beautiful young women with her small frame that may brand her as a mere child is compensated by her intelligence and fierce there's so much he doesn't know that he'd like to. This person saved his life not once but twice. There's so much he needs to learn about this country he tells himself and a small part of him inside is specifically referring to the person that has him captivated for the time being. So lost into his thoughts about the Princess and why he feels so drawn that he didn't hear her walking towards him.
Shuri was heading towards one of the many guest rooms in search of her Colonizer.
She slows in her steps as she realizes the wording her thoughts categorized this Everett Ross. He's a handsome man despite his salt and peppered hair, but he has a mysterious aura to him. She believes his career as a CIA operative plays hand to this plus him being from the outside world. Mysteries, the unknown, these concepts interests her. A forbidden fruit she's never been able to resist. She decides she wants to know more about the outside world from a perspective of one who's lives it. Missing that a small part of herself is referring to a particular man than just his world. Not giving much thought any longer she merely reasoned the slip up as a mistake of her thoughts moving too fast. The man was willing to sacrifice himself for Nakia, who she considers a sister but also for a country that is not his. She deemed that a honorable feat. A courageous act for pure selfless reasons, a trait that many claim to have attained but rarely possess. Allowing any seeds of doubt trying to form still about the outsider to quickly die. So it's understandable if she may have used a determiner part of speech in an endearing tone she tells herself.
Continuing on her way to check on Agent Ross she rounds the corner and sees the person she was looking for admiring the family portrait. She walks up to him and murmurs
"Impressive isn't it?"
She sees him jump even though he attempts to hide how much she startled him but failing.
He turns and says
"Don't do that princess!" In the same tone she used with him only three days before.
"Did a little princess frighten you, Colonizer." she teased smirking at him.
He smiles and looks her in the eyes and says smoothly
"We both know you're more than a princess."
She smiles at this since it was refreshing to be acknowledged as more than the princess.
Seeing her smile he continues and before he could think otherwise he leans closer to her a whispers
"A genius and a hell of a warrior who saved my ass not once but twice. My memory currently fails me and things are a little disoriented so if I didn't say before I'll say it now, thank you Princess Shuri."
He steps back and bows.
She subtly shifts from one foot to another to calm her heart rate that unexpectedly elevated as he neared. Moving so she can reach, her hand touches his chin and raises him from his position
Her soft touch again resonates within him and causes his breath to hitch unexpectedly. He tries to pay attention to words she spoken to him,irritated that his body is reacting like a teenage boy.
"You did Agent Ross and you are welcome and in of the same token I thank you for your help to restore the rightful king and keep Wakanda and the world safe."
They both nod having gained a mutual respect for one another. They step back and Everett turns back to the tapestry. Silence settles between the to comfortably before he speaks in a hopeful tone.
"So Colonizer is a name of the past right?"
She laughs genuinely and he looks at her. That small part of himself once again chimes saying how he should make her laugh more often but he quickly dismisses that not wanting to address this new thought.
" Oh no. That's a name that will never become outdated, Colonizer."
He was about to say something else but was interrupted as Shuri's hand gestured to the painting
"You know this was first crafted ten years ago."
"Wow, it looks-wait ten years ago." He looks at her.
"You look identical to the painting, you look sixteen, no way it's a decade old. How old are you then?"
She smirks "I'm twenty-six and to disband your disbelief I believe your world terms it as Black don't crack."
She walks away leaving Everett with that. Before turning the corner she calls out
"Follow me so I can double check your vitals."
This new information about her age enlightens him and a worry he didn't realized resided him disappeared, though it adds more questions than answers about Wakanda. However, he knew there was only one way to find out. He moved from his spot and followed the Princess down the hall and around corner. Determined to get answers.
He catches up to her and they fall into a comfortable silence as they enter her private laboratory. He gazes around the room and is mesmerized by the grand of technological advancements that reside.
"Sit." she orders him and he places himself on a examination table. Through a small tablet she looks over diagnostics that were kept on hand since he was first brought to Wakanda. Then she steps closer to him, so close you'd think she didn't understand the concept of personal space and a small device scanned over him.
Feeling a bit nervous the Agent asks
"What is your tablet checking for?"
Smirking Shuri responds
"Hmmph, Tablet. Such an outdated term.
He rolls his eyes and then raises his eyebrows, expressing he's waiting for an answer.
"In the simplest tems, this "tablet" is like a mini MRI machine. It's linked to your medical history and recent medical activity over the last two days."
She lowers the device and steps back and turns to her desk and analyzes the screen in front of her. Her fingers flying over the screen.
"Wait. Two days? Have I been asleep since the battle with Erik Killmonger." Agent Ross asks her confused by her words.
"Yes. When we found you amongst the destruction of my lab which I told you to get out while you had the chance-"
"I had to stop the final aircraft from reaching the borders with vibranium weapons-" he says before being interrupted by the Princess giving him a fierce, piercing gaze.
"Before I was rudely interrupted...I was about to once again express how honorable your actions were no matter how foolish it was also. Anyway when you were discovered, you were conscious briefly before we removed you and arrived at the lab which I was able to detect you had internal bleeding which with the use of the kimoyo bead stop the bleeding and slowly heal your body."
Shuri turns away from Everett once again, her focus captured once more by the device in her hand.
"Wow. I feel like a man can cheat death only so much."
Agent Ross spoke softly
"Some are born to do great things and destiny keeps them here on this earth and from time to time those who are chosen dance with death occasionally.
She looks back and looks directly in his eyes and says
"From my experience it seems like you're one of them."
The two stay locked gazing at one another. Both trying to read what the other isn't allowing to show to the naked eye when the doors to the lab open and T'Challa enters. His presence breaks the trance that Shuri and Everett were in, leaving both to wonder what was meaning of what was happening thirty seconds ago in their minds.
T'Challa notices how both parties seemed rather antsy at the sight of him but decided to dismiss it for the moment,but noting the behavior between these twos.
"Hello sister."
He then turns to Everett.
"Hello Agent Ross. It's pleasant to see you awake and active however I'm saddened that you are already taken as Shuri's latest labrat."
He says knowing his words will rile his sister.
"Labrat? Please I only have one of those and if it's anyone, it's you dear brother." Shuri says without looking up from the device and with one of her hands flipping of the King.
Agent Ross couldn't help but smile at the antics of the two siblings.
"Well as it's always a pleasure with you princess, I have matters to discuss with Agent Ross."
Hearing this Everett perked up to a more business-like posture.
"Since you mentioned your highness, if Erik Killmonger's is in custody I must take him back with me and have his crimes handled with my jurisdiction."
"I believe that won't be necessary Agent Ross. For you see, he's dead."
Everett's face expresses confusion before settling with understandment.
"He's been since buried and the people of Wakanda are healing and rebuilding. Which brings to the matter of me deciding to reveal ourselves to the world,how that introduction will happen and returning you back to your country."
Hearing her brother's last words made Shuri freeze and without processing the words that left her mouth she said
"He can't leave, brother."
She raise her head towards the two and silently curses herself trying to come up a excuse to cover her slip up.
T'Challa quirks his eyebrows at his sister's outburst.
"And why is that dear sister?" He asks.
"Because…he's body is still recovering from shock and our technological advance medicine not to mention he needs a few more days to fully recover according to his results."
The King eyes her. His look saying he doesn't fully believe what she says.
Rolling her eyes she continues, annoyed at how perceptive her brother was through her thin lie and praises the ancestors that Agent Ross hadn't saw through it.
"Also brother. Agent Ross could help be a bridge to connect Wakanda with the outside world, but he knows nothing about our culture or our way of life. While stuck here for the time being, him learning could ease our introduction to the rest of the world."
T'Challa thinks over what his sister says and responds
"You're concerns are sound sister. The only question is who will be his guide?"
"Well I don't have much to do until my haven is completed and their isn't much to keep busy with in the lab here, so I can."
Everett speaks up at this moment
"Well since I'm going to help get Wakanda recognized as one of the big powers of the world, I should know how powerful it is. Despite first hand experience."
The King looks over both before speaking
"I guess it's settled then. But before you enlighten Agent Ross, let me speak with him alone for a few minutes."
Shuri nods her head and turns back to the device in her hand and sits down in her chair and pulls it to her desk to continue her work.
T'Challa turns to leave and Everett follows, but not before gazing at Shuri one last time and fighting with all his might the joy he feels at the thought of spending more time with the genius by himself. Not knowing as he steps out the door, the Princess turning towards the direction Everett walked out of and how the thought of spending time with him brings warmth to herself. Yet quickly trying to dismiss these recurring feelings and thoughts. She shakes her head and says aloud
"What did I get myself into?"
A/N: I'm not sure how long until I update but I plan to soon and i see this fic going no more ten chapters. SO whoever enjoys please review, like, etc. Thanks! Until next time!