28. Apology
The quiet was wearing on Namor's nerves. He didn't like to be ignored. How unbecoming was it for him to be expected to grovel at her door? Like, a dog begging for scraps.
"Itzia, enough of this foolishness." He knocked once more. "Come out."
The door swung open furiously.
"No!" Shuri screeched. She was still in the beautiful black dress and had gold beads adorning her hair. His vision of beauty was upset. "How dare you turn the Avengers' dinner into a mockery! First, your people burst in, chanting, interrupting the agenda, and then taking all the food! Uninvited I may add."
His reasoning of "What if it had been poisoned? Your ogre of a king was chomping away so merrily, I'm sure no one checked" was ignored.
"What if this had been a United Nations gala? Do you know how embarrassing that would have been? Thankfully, the Avengers have a sense of humor."
He twitched his nose. "The United Nations is an embarrassment by itself. The Avengers—this oddly dressed team of heroes—don't have the wherewithal to enact true justice or protection. Though you seem to think so."
Shuri seethe between her teeth. "They try. And that's more than anyone else. But they have alien attacks and New York collapsing daily to steal their attention away. Also, my brother was closely affiliated with them. Watch your mouth!"
Namor opened his mouth and then thought better. T'Challa was a sensitive subject, and he was here to lower himself to apologize.
"I'd rather you watch my mouth for me though your tongue might get tangled," he said cooly, his attempt to lighten the mood.
Shuri wasn't amused by the innuendo.
"If you're going to continue being insufferable, then stew in your own delusions elsewhere." She turned away. "Do you realize how long it took me to find catering, arrange travel, and invite guests? Just for you to bulldoze in? Great, make the princess of Wakanda look more incompetent than I already feel."
His good-winged foot stopped the door from closing.
Namor frowned. "Princess, forgive me for the intrusion on your dinner. I know you worked hard to coordinate it. But when your attention is elsewhere, with horrid men in tacky outfits in tow, I cannot help myself."
She snorted, impressed he was capable of apology though not where it really mattered. She wasn't satisfied.
"Did you think the Hulk was going to sweep me off my feet? What was your expected outcome?"
"I wanted to see you. I wanted to see you smile. And, I wanted it to be because of me."
Shuri looked at him. Some of the fire burning out of her.
"You also wanted to ruin the event." She played with the earring in one of his ears absentmindedly.
"Yes, I wanted to ruin your king's event—not your planning and not your day." He reached his hand out to smooth the crease at her brow.
Humming, she let him pull her forward. She always said his eyes were intense, all-consuming black holes, but hers were simply just beautiful. He rested his forehead against hers.
"Well, you failed!" Shuri taunted, a surge of pettiness bubbling up. Then, all at once, she pushed him away. And slammed the door in his face, and the tip of one of his wings was caught in the doorframe. "Beg harder and maybe I'll forgive you!"
Namor cursed and gingerly nursed his foot. But he could hear her laughter through the door, knowing she was a little less angry.
29. Shy
The two lounged on the bed. Their plate of mangos finished, and his love that much sleepier after a good meal. He loved to see her look sated.
Without opening her eyes, she asked, "How long are you going to keep staring at me?"
"Until you become repulsive to my gaze."
Shuri snorted. "So never?"
He thumbed at her cheek.
"You've only 80 lashes on your right eye. You lost two today, haven't you? It's the not same count as yesterday."
"Okay, that's enough!" Shuri scrambled to get up, no longer being able to withstand his lovesickness. But the sheets were too ruffled, so she fell back down.
"You'll have to stop being shy, eventually." Namor cooed, cupping her face. "Will you be this flustered when the evidence of our children is around? Maybe once you're carrying one you won't be so modest."
Shuri huffed, wanting to turn away. "I'm not shy! But you say these things with such a straight face. Anyone would be like this."
A soft smile. "Ahh, but I only say the truth. If you want me to say sweet nothings, then I don't know if you're ready for that. Already you want to jump out of this beautiful skin of yours when I speak of your eyes, your hips so divine, your breasts, or your lips. Both sets if I may add."
Shuri tried to hold his gaze, but eventually, she had to cover her face. She felt like such a schoolgirl with all his adoration.
"Enough, K'uk'ulkan! Turn those love beams off," she cried, referring to his gaze.
He blinked confused before rolling onto his back. His hand languidly rubbed her back as she was on her stomach.
"I think ... I'll have to teach you to enjoy compliments. My declarations of love don't penetrate as well as I can."
"K'UK'ULKAN!"
Shuri tried her hardest to suffocate him with one of the pillows.
30. Freeze
Breathe, Shuri, she told herself. Trying to still herself, her thoughts, and an overactive beating heart.
"We welcome the Talokanil delegation to Wakanda," M'Baku's voice boomed, but Shuri felt like cotton balls were in her ears.
Just seeing him in person again was so surreal. He had existed in her bittersweet memories and nightmares for so long. To see the twitch of his jawline, the flutter of his cape or the brawn of his arms had her stung.
Namor was adorned in his headdress, royal robe, and a spear in his hand. His intense eyes were dark as ever, and he stopped to hold her gaze for a moment.
The memories flashed at warp speed. Him emerging from the water. The tying of his mother's bracelet around her wrist. Their almost kiss. Him flooding Wakanda. Piercing her with a spear. The two of them coming to an agreement.
"Princess," one of the Dora Milaje began, whispering in her ear.
Shuri blinked, snapping out of the flashbacks.
"Wha-what, Akissi?" She hissed to the warrior, trying not to draw attention to them.
"You froze. Like an antelope."
Before Shuri could utter a befuddled response, another Dora Milaje member ran to the middle of the room, ringing the alarm.
"We're under attack!"
The team-up was awkward at first. Namor wasn't used to taking orders, and Shuri had to steel herself to work with him. A few times they collided both in leadership and physically. He had taken to the air and she jumped off buildings to build momentum. But sometimes, their pathways collided and they pummeled into each other.
But once he put his ego aside and she had gritted her teeth, they made a startlingly well team. Experience met youth and ingenuity. Power met agility. Claws met feathers.
The princess was a wildfire. Jumping off the intruder with such ferocity, it was easy to forget her act of mercifulness, sparing his life. Truly a fuse waiting to be lit.
As she let her panther mask retract, he focused intently on her face. The sweat on her brow, her determined look.
Shuri remarked, with her foot firmly on the cowling intruder's head. "May you think again before stepping forth on Wakandan land, you agent of chaos."
Namor watched the princess along with his best guards, Namora and Attuma.
"K'uk'ulkan," Attuma started.
But Namora cut in tactlessly. "You froze." She eyed him. "Like a shy stingray."
"Enough." Namor held up a hand, his expression stern. But his face felt hot. His hands were sweaty for the first time in so many years.
31. Interrogation
"Where was y'all going off to? You just got back!" Riri cried while Shuri rummaged through the assortment of dresses on the bed. She had been bored out of her mind while the princess was ushered off to see this and that. The magical wonders of his underwater kingdom, blah! "You're decked out every time like it's a ballroom. Draped in his jewels and everything."
"Riri, it's called negotiations. I'm wearing these things to not offend him, "Shuri told her in a measured tone. Riri didn't miss the way she fondly picked at the bracelet on her wrist.
"What were you doing?"
"Learning. Of his ideology. It's slightly warped but noble in a way. And seeing his kingdom. Oh Riri, it's so beautiful—" Shuri grinned wide.
"I bet it would be if I weren't behind bars. And—oh no!" Her voice went shrill. The Talokan guards only flickered their gaze in their direction before deciding to leave them to their surface foolery.
"Wha—what?" Shuri asked panic rising up.
"Is that a hickey on your neck?" Riri grabbed for her and Shuri tried to maneuver out of her hold. But Riri was strong. "Don't tell me you smashing a king while I'm in a hostage situation!"
Shuri finally spun out of her grip. Her eyes were huge with shock. "I did no such thing! We just talked."
Riri bit her nails, thinking. "But seducing a king would get me out faster. Never mind, carry on."
"I've been trained in negotiation practices since I was a child. I don't need to do that!"
Riri scoffed. "You don't have to. He's already down bad. You see his big 'ol eyes, looking like he wants to eat you." Her voice took on an overly girlish pitch. "And you're like spreading your legs 'oh yeah, baby, start here."
Undeterred by Shuri's frosty reception, Riri continued, "Tell him you'll ride him to the sunset. Betchu he'd let us go right after! He would probably send a league of dolphins to escort us back."
The Wakandan princess stumbled over her words. "You—you are so vulgar!"
"But I'm factual too."
Riri sat down on the jail floor. Then, her eyebrows lowered in a perplexed expression.
"You're a princess, right? Do you even know how to seduce someone? Have you ever had a relationship—that wasn't family or friends?"
Shuri narrowed her eyes. "Riri—"
As if already seeing the answer, Riri shook her head. "Well, that's a bust! Girl, you supposed to be turning him out. You don't know nothing either. That man is experienced. He look like he been blowing backs out and licking kitties for years. Whatchu gon' do with that? Lord, where is Wakanda when you need them."
"RIRI!" She hissed. She had to calm herself before the thought of physically fighting Riri manifested. But why? Because of her embarrassment? Because some of it, not inappropriately stated, was true?
Shuri sighed and said softly. "Forgive me, for how long it's taken. I'll not let him kill you, sister. We just need time."
Riri nodded, holding the princess' gaze. But she still believed that was a hickey on her neck.
idk why, but i feel like namor's a fashion king. have you seen his robes?
Alexa play "They Want It, But No"