Chapter 5: Water breathe.

Shuri opened her eyes and knew two things for sure.

One, she was not in her bed and two, the king of Talokon snored.

It took her a minute to gather her bearings and remember where she was and why. After a moment of lying there it all came back to her.

Last night she had gotten married! And the last thing she remembered was her husband telling her to breathe. Then it all faded to blue.

Shuri quietly untangled herself from what looked like a seaweed blanket and tried to find a bathroom. She desperately needed to pee. Did they even have bathrooms down here? It was obvious they all ate and drank so it had to go somewhere, right?

She traveled along the long hallways before she finally decided to open random doors. After the third time she finally found it and thankfully it was a real bathroom! The floor was made of marble and the walls were gold and teal.

There was a golden sink. A coral tub that looked like a jacuzzi. And a toilet! Shuri had never been so happy to see a toilet!

Once she was done, she noticed a mirror. Swimming to it, she looked at herself in the mirror and when she did, she had to hold back a shocked scream.

On her neck where gills! And that was when she came to her senses! She had awoken in her husband's underwater palace!

That's right! He did say I would be given the ability to breath underwater but why the gills!? She thought.

Not that she minded, it was just a surprise! In a way it was kind of cool. She poked and prodded for a minute before she looked at her body fully. On her hips were dark bruises. Handprints from her husband's grip.

Shuri wasn't surprised. One thing she did remember before she passed out was digging her nails into ch'ah's skin.

A blush covered her face when she thought about the waves of pleasure that filled her that night.

"Oh god! I think I bit him!" she said aloud as her mind was flooded with last night's memories.

A soft and throaty laugh filled her ears as she stared out in horror. She was quick to turn and see her husband in the bathroom doorway laughing.

"your teeth are quite sharp my Reina Pantera"(panther queen) he chucked as he swam and wrapped an arm around her. He buried his head in her neck and breathed.

It was then shuri felt herself relax. So, what if she had gills, she would it use for her scientific advantage.

"Oh no…" she heard her husband mumble.

He was looking down at her hips and rubbing gentle circles on them. However, it didn't stop there, his hands roamed upwards, where dark bruises spread over her upper arms.

"my queen..." he gasped in horror "I fear I have harmed you…i-I didn't realize ..i-"

Shuri cut him off with a kiss.

"Stop it. you didn't know and it wasn't intentional. Besides you are forgetting that I bit you and scratched your back. Look in the mirror."

Namor looked into the mirror and his eyes widened at the bite marks that lingered on his shoulders and neck. He then looked around in the mirror, his back showed light red lines.

"it seems we like to play rough…however that wasn't my intention for our first night."

Shuri turned to look at him and said "I enjoyed every bit of it. we have a lot of time to go slow…"

"What about now?" he questioned as he gently backed her up to the coral tub.

"I think now is a good time…" she laughed.

…..

"I have a few surprises for you." Ch'ah told her as they finally emerged from their second home. As much as she loved being able to breath underwater, it was going to take a while to get used to. She also might prefer to sleep in a real bed. Her back was a little sore.

"More surprises?" she questioned a little overwhelmed.

"It is only two my love. But you'll enjoy the latter more then this first one." He told her as they swam into the city.

Immediately citizens swam up to greet them and shuri was once again amazed by the people. They bestowed her with gifts, while many bowed in her presence. It was a lot to get used to.

"Mia amore. There are some important people I would like you to meet." Ch'ah directed her.

They swam up to his underwater cave and for the first time in hours, Shuri's lungs took in oxygen.

It was then she felt her body come alive. Almost like a small electrical current running through her body. Her mind spun and vision blurred.

Ch'ah was quick to catch her.

"Easy my love…" he said gently as he picked her up in his arms. "Your body had been under water for 24 hours. It may take a few minutes for your body to catch up, especially with your new mutation. Your body has to understand when its in water and when it's on land."

Shuri nodded slowly as her body began to adjust itself. She took long and slow deep breaths.

Once she was ready, Ch'ah helped her to her feet.

"you said I have been down here for twenty four hours! That's means a whole day has gone by! I didn't realize how long it was. They are probably worried about me in Wakanda!" she exclaimed.

She was quick to check her kimoyo beads, however, to her surprise she had no miss calls. No notifications and no one seemed to be intentionally tracking her.

"this is so strange..." she said aloud.

"Do you wish to return to the surface?" he husband questioned.

His voice was monotone. No emotion involved.

"I must. I've been gone for too long…last thing we need is someone trying to come after me. I don't want you to get hurt." She told him softly.

"Very well let introduce you to our guards and then I can take you back up to the surface."

Ch'ah bent down and twirled his finger in the water.

A minute later three blue Talakonians emerged from the water. Two were women and one was a male.

The first women had a spear and wore a green and turquoise top made out of beads. On her shoulders were orange feathers on her head, shoulders, and hips. It was obvious she was a warrior.

"This is Namora, my right hand, bodyguard and my cousin."

The women scrutinized shuri with a look but gave her the customary greeting. She knew it was only out of respect for her king.

"The man next to her is Attuma, he is my general. The leader of our army when neither of us are around."

Attuma wore a brown belt with red feathers down the side. He also what look like some kind of aquatic animal bone on his head.

"And finally, this is mitnal, Attuma's daughter."

Mitnal wore a red and orange dress that stopped at her ankles. In her head were a few feathers.

"Children, this is my bride and your queen. Princess shuri of Wakanda."

All three bowed and didn't move until Ch'ah granted them permission to rise.

Once they did, Namora was the first to speak.

"Kukulkan, we have much to do today. The hunters are waiting for you and we have a group of orcas trapped in nets that need to be examination and –"

Ch'ah silenced her with a wave of his hand.

"I will there momentarily Namora. You are dismissed."

Shuri watched namora's eye twitch in agitation but left non the less.

Ch'ah then motioned for Attuma and Mitnal to come closer.

"my beauty, Attuma and his daughter have volunteered to serve you whenever you are and if you ever need help on the surface if I am not around."

"My queen it is an honor to serve you..." Attuma said in perfect English as he bowed low.

"His Daughter mitnal will be your personal servant, anything you might need she will accompany you. This is one thing I ask that you do not fight against. I completely trust your abilities; however, random acts of danger do occur. Will you submit to this?"

Shuri nodded. As much as she wanted to disagree. He had a point.

"Only if you allow me to help update your technology. Wakanda uses spears as well, but with some readjusting... they will be able to do more." She challenged.

Ch'ah laughed.

"Only you would challenge me in acts of science in return for your protection. Alright my queen, you have a deal. Attuma, mitnal. You two are dismissed. Your queen must head back to the surface."

Shuri smiled kindly at the two and then watched them both disappear into the sea. She suddenly felt a sadness fill her.

"Is it strange I am already feeling sad about leaving?" she asked as they made the trip back to the surface.

Ch'ah squeezed her hand. A sad smile on his face.

"Not at all mia amore. You haven't even left yet, and I miss you terribly."

"I will introduce you to my family soon. It will take a little bit of time though. I don't want to overwhelm them." She said as her head emerged from the water.

Once again, a short but strong dizzy spell hit her. However, her recovery time was much faster.

Looking at the sun she could tell it was about noon. Good god, what time did arrive in the water last night?

"When you are ready, I will present Wakanda with a dowry so large they cannot refuse."

Shuri's eyes widened.

"Dowry? How did you know?"

"Our kingdoms are not too different. But before you go…are you alright? I put so much on you in such a short time." Ch'ah asked with a concerned tone.

"It is nothing I cant handle. I will just have to find a way to hide my gills. I was hoping they would disappear with oxygen, but it looks like they are staying." She told him.

"They are beautiful …" he told her.

Shuri was quick to give him a passionate kiss before she playfully pushed him away.

"I must go and so do you."

Ch'ah put something big and spiky in her hand.

Looking down she saw it was a conch shell.

"When you want to see me, blow into the shell, and put it in the water. Someone will always come if I cant. Stay well my queen."

Shuri could only kiss him again before she ran into the forest, her white and gold wedding dress trailing behind her.

…

Nakia pov:

Nakia tapped her fingers on the nearby chair as the sun was at it brightest.

It was 12:30 and she didn't know how much longer she could cover for her younger sister.

She had no clue where shuri went but she knew two things.

One she wasn't in danger and two, she had to be with her lover. Unbeknownst to shuri, Nakia had silently followed her out the palace and saw her jump into the arms of the strange man. She almost went after her when she went underwater but stopped when she realized shuri hadn't struggled.

From then on, she knew shuri probably wouldn't be home any time soon.

So, she chose to cover for the young girl. As far as anyone was concerned, shuri was sleeping off a stomachache and Nakia was keeping her company.

A few people tried to check on the princess, but Nakia made sure to say she was in the bathroom and didn't want to be bothered.

She groaned wearily as she leaned back in the chair. She was exhausted and surprisingly it wasn't from her newborn child. It was from the stress of life. Currently, she was the head of two projects Wakanda had going on.

One was an orphanage in Haiti and the other was the Wakadian International Outreach Centre. She was in charge of the organization and shuri was in charge of the science department. However, they had closed for three weeks to prepare for the recent ceremonies. To be honest, Nakia was looking forward to it. She loved Wakanda but she couldn't impact the world the way she wanted. Being away from her country gave her room to breath and to help others. She and shuri would leave in two days and it became even busier from there but not for her, for shuri.

Sitting on the bed, was Shuri's list of events and appearances she had to attend to.

Obviously Wakadian International Outreach Centre was first. She was going to be there for three weeks.

Next, she would spend a week in New York helping the Avengers with their scientific improvements.

The week after that she would head to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and teach.

Shuri would be traveling so much, that three Dora milaje would have to accompany her.

As she picked up Shuri's itinerary, just to review it again, the sound of climbing and heavy breathing met her ears.

She stood and turned to see shuri. The princess's long braids were strewn about and wet. Matter a fact, Shuri's whole body was soaking wet. She wore a long white and gold dress, but it wasn't what shuri was wearing that made Nakia laugh.

"Nakia!? What are you doing in here? And why are you laughing at me?"

Nakia continued to laugh harder as she approached her sister-in-law.

"Because sister…. I thought I had rough sex but you… your covered in hickies! And you have this I just got ravished glow about you!"

Her younger sister stood their in shock not knowing what to say.

Nakia gathered herself together before she pulled shuri into a hug, the water dripping all over her.

"my, my little sister, I hope you mysterious water man is worth it."

Shuri looked up in shock.

"You knew!"

"Oh yes, I saw you two on the beach. I followed you when you left last night. I saw the way you looked at your mystery man and I knew. I could see the love you tow held for each other."

She saw her sister relax in her arms and say "…it feels nice to have someone to char this with."

Nakia smiled.

"Why don't you wash up and come tell me everything. at the moment, the palace thinks you are suffering from a stomachache, so we have the rest of the day before reality sets in."

As soon as her sister was clean and in fresh pajama's the sister snuggled n the bed as shuri told her everything that happened.

Nakia wasn't too happy to hear her sister rush marriage, but she would hold her tongue.

"I want to meet him." she declared.

Shuri hesitated.

"Think about it shuri. if I meet him first, when you introduce him to T'challa. You'll have me to back you up."

"You would do that?!" shuri asked her.

"of course. That's what sisters are for. Now queen shuri of Talokon, continue to tell me about your new kingdom."

Before the sisters fell asleep, shuri confided in her.

"I'm afraid to leave him. We just got married and I already have to leave him for a month." She lamented as she looked over the schedule. "Besides I thought I told the X-men, I would call them."

"Blame the queen mother." Nakia laughed.

Shuri chuckled along and then said, "Im afraid to rule over a kingdom I don't fully understand."

"I completely understand. technically I am queen of Wakanda however, I refuse to …be the queen that the council try to mold me to be. I will be the queen the people need. one true thing about a queen is that she serves the people."

Nakia wrapped her arms around her sister as she took comfort in her words. Before they knew it, they were sound asleep.