26. Father/Seashell
Timbe had said he didn't have a dad, but that wasn't true. His daddy just worked a lot and had an underwater kingdom. And maybe a dragon too, but he couldn't remember if that was right. Amari was six years old now, but it had been a long time since he had seen his daddy. Or had played with his cape. Had held his hand and his mama's at the same time while they swung him.
He wasn't supposed to be here, but the seashell was on mama's nightstand hidden behind a speaker. He had once overheard mama telling one of the women warriors the way to contact daddy. That had been a million years ago, but it also still might work.
With fingers as quick as thieves, he took the shell and blew with all his might. But it was broken! No sound! Wiping the spittle off the opening, he tried again.
"Stupid stupitty!" He cursed.
"When a child is too quiet, he's up to no good." A strong but calm woman's voice shocked him. Where had she come from? She was so tall! Amari could see the light shining on her smooth head.
"Thank you, Akissi," she said, mama's voice coming from down the hallway.
The child quickly hid his hands behind his back, heightening suspicion. Amari was out of time and hiding it under his shirt didn't seem any better. He tried to slide the shell back into its space.
A sudden crack and then a whoosh and Mama appeared, towering over him. She could be so quiet sometimes. but her face was very loud.
"Little one, I've told you to stay out of this room. Mama has things that can be dangerous for you!" Shuri chided him, hands on her hips. She didn't need to yell for him to know he was in trouble. He hated that.
"I … I was just looking for the towels like you said!"
Shuri didn't miss the way he dragged some object closer to himself.
She told her him drily, "Towels are in the restroom."
"And eek!" Mama shrieked like a big kitty. "No, no don't play with that!" Snatching the shell from him, she thought, before he could blow through it.
"But why?"
"Because."
He hated that word. Mama had said it was a complete explanation, but it wasn't.
"Now come, baby boy. It's bedtime, and your bath is ready." She pressed a kiss to his forehead.
Recently, he had started sleeping better after soaking in the water. Sometimes, he just stayed there overnight. Comfier than his big boy bed.
"Can Tutu read me a story, Mama?" He asked, his small hand in hers. She led him down the long roads of the house. The women warriors saluted as they passed by.
"Toussaint has exams, but mama will tell you a grand story!"
He squealed. "About being the black panther? Fighting aliens! Traveling the world!"
Mama gave her businesswoman smile. "No, about how I use clean energy in all my products. No fossil fuels here!"
Amari rolled his eyes, pulling his hand away from her grasp. "Oof! Mama you're not funny. At all."
She picked him up. "Unamused child, okay, okay. There was once a great woman from the River Tribe. Her name was Ramonda, and oh, was she mischievous. One day Brother Zebra and Sister Hippo came requesting her help …"
Amari stood in the sand with his favorite red boots. He set his kimoyo beads to magnify mode. Aunty Okoye never noticed when he nabbed her beads. Mama didn't want him to use the beads until he was older. And that was fine. Once he turned ten years old, he would pretend to learn how to use them again.
When he saw a tremble in the water, he ran to the beach's shoreline.
First, he saw curly hair, a strong nose, then a soft smile.
All at once, Amari felt shy, wishing he had brought his cape with him. It was easy to feel brave dressed as a hero, and he loved heroes. His whole family were heroes.
"… Baba?" he whispered. He made a hesitant yodel in his voice, the only Talokan chant he knew. The only one his daddy had taught him.
Namor extended his hand.
"Come, my son."
Amari leaped onto him, but because of his height only got to his legs. He wanted to climb his father's robe like a ladder. Anything to get closer to his face.
Did he look like him? Maybe his ears. Everyone said he had weird elf ears. But his daddy had them too! Seeing that made him feel better.
"Baby?" Shuri cried, still searching.
Panther strength had thrown her closet door off the hinges. Bed sheets were rumpled onto the floor, and every conceivable hiding place for a child was upturned. She was frantic now.
The Dora Milaje had assured her everything was fine as they often watched him during her council meetings or extended lab times. But a mother always knew when something was wrong. Somehow that slippery child had evaded her warriors.
She rubbed her forehead.
"Breathe, Shuri. Wrecking your home won't find him. Griot, do a third scan for Amari. Tell me all results now!"
"Yes, Princess Shuri. Within 25 miles is a group of sea turtles ... a rusted piece of vibranium ... and prince Amari located at Sunshine Beach."
The ability to exhale seemed to return to her.
"...And he isn't alone. Should I expand the search parameters or would you like more details?"
Hearing Amari's laughter should have relieved her. But dashing to the beach from the palace had done nothing to calm her nerves. Like a sixth sense, she could feel her hair stand up.
"You!" She screeched.
Namor, cradling their son, had the nerve to look annoyed. He stood in the shallow parts of the water.
"Yes, you summoned me!" He told her.
"I did no such thing! You better have diplomatic reasons, or this is an act of war." Her claws unfurled.
"WAIT!" Amari shouted, startling his parents. "Mama, I did it. Timbe kept saying I didn't have a daddy, but I do."
Namor stared at her hard. She didn't miss the wave of emotion that flooded him at Amari's admittance. He always furrowed his brow when he didn't want to reveal how much something bothered him.
"Every time I ask to see him you say he's sleeping or eating." The question was directed to her.
Shuri was testy. Not backing down either. "Many times he is."
"Well, can I not see our child now?"
She visibly winced at "our." A reminder that he was as much Amari's parent as she was. But she could never in good conscience let their child be with a man capable of so much cruelty. He would never hurt Amari, but he might taint his worldview from a young age. Create a fire starter bent on the world's destruction.
"I … I could be better about scheduling visits," Shuri said, rubbing her neck. "Why don't you spend the day with him? We'll discuss more of this later. Preferably with the Dora around." But the last part was mumbled.
Namor regarded her slowly. His expression was unreadable until he gave a small smile. She could tell he was being civil for the sake of Amari being around.
The whole situation was awkward, but it was to be expected. It made Amari happy as a smiley face though.
"Yay! Baba, put me down! I want to swing," Amari ordered cheerfully. Once he stood firmly in the sand, he grabbed Namor's hand. Then, he reached for hers.
"Swing me higher!" He was in the middle with his parents on both sides of him.
"Little tyrant," Shuri murmured softly, bending down to kiss his forehead.
The father of her child spoke."A king has to make his requests known. Or others will decide for him." His dark eyes seem to peer holes into her, but she wasn't easily spooked.
To anyone else, they would look like the picture of the perfect family, walking on the beach. In another world, maybe they were. But Shuri now knew she would need to keep all seashells away from Amari if only to avoid a custody battle. Her child was hereby banned from her room!
27. Misunderstanding
Namor was at a crossroads, pacing in his room. Attuma had been with him as long as Namora. He was maybe even more loyal than her, having never talked back to him unlike his prickly cousin.
But, he couldn't wrap his mind around it. Yes, she was beautiful something everyone knew. Was it treason or did he have a right as any other suitor? Attuma couldn't even breathe air.
Namor still sharpened his spear as his stomach twisted in turmoil. As one of his children, he couldn't bear to hurt him. But as another man and a worthy opponent, he couldn't see any other way to prevent his death. How dare he marvel at the princess as he did.
The gall to desire her openly!
All at once, wet slaps of feet on the floor took his attention.
His once loyal guard made the Talokan salute.
"K'uk'ulkan, I've come as you summoned. Is my king well?"
Namor sighed, skipping the pleasantries.
"Attuma, truly I care for you. I'm giving you a chance: leave your affections for Princess Shuri, and I'll allow you to keep your lustful eyes. Never gaze upon her again, and you'll surely keep your life." There, the choice lay in Attuma's hands now. He loved him but would have no other man dare to make his desires known to Shuri.
Attuma looked incredulous. Blessed child, he wasn't the fastest swimmer in the sea as Namora had kindly put it, regarding Atttuma's intelligence.
"You can hide nothing from me. I know." Namor's tone darkened. "I saw as you salivated at her form during our alliance meeting. Your pathetic attempts to speak in English and Xhosa for her ears."
Attuma picked at something in his teeth. For a moment, Namor considered bonking him with the head of the spear. But, this was his child, and children were often stupid. Well, not the princess who had once been one herself, but she was exceptional in all ways. Of course, being fit for only him.
"I don't desire the Wakandan princess. She's not even the most beautiful among the average Wakandan woman. Many I saw were more eye-catching on the way to her country."
Namor snarled.
Some sense seemed to come upon Attuma suddenly, sensing his displeasure.
"Only I speak the truth. She isn't ugly but not for me. Her woman warrior though who stood behind her … So strong and beautiful." Attuma's eyes shined with emotion, and he murmured her name lovingly. "Okoye, I wish for her hand. May she bear our children — may they be like you. Breath of land and sea. For her, I would slay a fatted orca whale nightly for her dinner."
Namor wanted to laugh at his own absurdity. Had he really almost gutted his dear friend on a baseless assumption? When Shuri became involved, he lost all sense.
"'Tuma, you almost died trying to battle an unbothered orca in your youth. I was the one who fished you out."
Attuma puffed out his chest. "Puny I was before. I'm fully grown and ready to serve my wife. On land, it's customary for spouses to have surnames. We can become Attuma and Okoye Fishman. I'd be honored if you married us."
He wrinkled his nose. Attuma couldn't have been aware of the crude nickname, and he doubt he had proposed to the woman warrior. Or that she had accepted.
"Yes, if it comes to that, I'd make the exception for your land dweller to be married here. Only on account of your happiness."
Attuma smiled. He generally wasn't an expressive person, so Namor knew how touched he was.
"Besides, king, I know the princess is for you. I've noticed how you two look at each other. Never would I steal her away from you."
As if she would tilt her head in your direction, Namor thought but kept to himself.
Instead, he placed a comforting hand on Attuma's shoulder. His sharpened spear lay on the ground.
Perhaps, he was not the slowest fish in the sea after all. Either Attuma was more perceptive than he led on, or Namor's connection to the princess was blatantly obvious.
At least, all was right in his kingdom once again.