Chapter 6: Frustration.

"Sister? What are you doing?" T'challa asked. At the moment, shuri was in her small lab on the royal talon fighter. Her nose scrunched in frustration. She was trying to create a small replica of the protective dome that she would place over Talokon. She was also working on a new version of kimoyo beads. However, this new version was for the guards of Talokon and her husband. It was a thick gold bracelet, and it would match well with their armor. It would do the same thing as the beads but a little different.

"Nothing too important right now brother. Something I can do for you?"

"How did everything go at the center?" he asked as she put her work away.

"Everything worked out smoothly. We started a community farm. The students gathered a few chickens, and I think three pigs and a few sheep. The high schoolers are in charge of the animals while the middle schoolers are in charge of the garden. A few members of the border tribe offered to help them maintain the farm."

"That is a wonderful thing. I am glad they are improving. "he told her.

"Mmmm but you did not come in here just to talk to me about the improvements of our center. What do you really want brother?" she questioned with a smile.

"I guess I am checking to make sure you are not angry with me."

"Im afraid you'll have to be more specific brother..." she smiled as she began to clean up.

T'challa grinned at her game.

"I want to make sure you are not angry with me about sending Nakia and Toussaint away. You know you are free to visit them any time you like. They will visit from time to time. The council was furious with me, but I had to make the right decision."

Shuri shook her head, as she led her brother out of the miniature lab.

"I am not angry at you brother. Do I miss my sister and my nephew, of course I do but I understand why you did it. You want Toussaint to grow up away from the pressures of royalty until he becomes of age. You want him to choose his own path. We never got that choice..."

Shuri saw her brother relax. He decided the week that Nakia, Toussaint, and herself left, that Nakia and Toussaint would stay in California at the center permanently. They would travel between California, Wakanda and Haiti but a majority of their time spent in California. T'challa wanted his son to grow up without the pressures of royalty and not being forced to take the throne. He wanted him to grow in his responsibilities. At least giving him a somewhat of a normal childhood with plenty of friends. She had to admit. As children, they were often isolated and didn't get to play much. Toussaint would not have to bear that weight.

"You are a good father brother. Do not stress."

Her brother grinned at her.

"I appreciate that. Now will you come with me to the cockpit, we should be arriving in New York very soon."

...

Shuri fidgeted with the collar of her jumpsuit as the hangar opened. When out of water, her gills laid flat against her neck. It almost looked as if she had scars on neck. However, she was still uncomfortable with the thought of someone looking at them. Therefore, she covered herself with neck high outfits. The good thing about them is that they can be versatile for any weather.

But she wouldn't be able to hide them for long. if she was being honest with herself, she longed to get back in the water.

She missed it but most of all she missed her husband.

The hangers doors opened with a clang, taking her out of her thoughts.

The avengers stood before them, ready with excited smiles.

"Princess shuri!"

Before she could step off the ship warm arms encircled her.

"Hello Riri!"

...

"Kukulkan! Look out!" Namor ducked as the lion's mane jellyfish swam just a few inches from his face.

He wasn't scared but he had been distracted. He was quick to tell it to go away before it stung him.

At that moment, he, and the best hunters he had were out in the depths of the ocean. Krill and shrimp tended to hang around here the most. They also had a group of gatherers and sea healers with them to assess the situation.

So far, they found a few sea turtles and dolphins wrapped in plastic and injured from nets. The higher they got the more coral reefs he found damaged or dying.

Rage filled his body. The surface dwellers had no respect for the sea. They dumped their trash and oil in the depths and didn't think of the consequences of the lives of the creatures that lived in those depths.

"Are you alright Kukulkan?" Yunuen, one of his best hunters asked.

"I am my child. Proceed in what you were doing." He instructed.

Namor swam a ways away from the group. The hunt was going well and so was the rescue effort for some of the sea creatures. However, his mind was not fully present. His thoughts often drifted toward his queen. He would only admit to himself that he missed her. He wasn't pleased with their last conversation.

Flashback:

Namor dropped his paint brush immediately when he heard the sound.

His wife was calling him! It had only been three days, but he missed her so much. Besides, his people were getting a little restless wondering where their new queen disappeared to.

Within minutes his head was above water, as his eyes landed on his queen. He flew to her without thought and took her in his arms. His lips pressed against her sweet-smelling skin.

"Mia amore, I have missed you."

She laughed and said, "it has only been three days, but I have missed you too."

"Your gills look good." He told her as he stroked her neck. A moan escaped her lips, and he arched an eyebrow.

"Sensitive, are we? I think I like that."

His bride blushed and gently pushed away from him.

"Stop it. not now." She scolded me with a smile.

"Give me a good reason before I take you right here on the sand..."

Her dark skin turned a shade of red and he couldn't help but rush to kiss her again.

After a moment, she pushed him away.

"Ch'ah...im trying to talk to you and your distracting me!" she complained.

He sighed as threw his hands up in surrender.

"Alright mia amore. I'll be good. Tell me the song of your heart."

"Well..." she began. As she tried to find the words. He took in her appearance. Her hair was still in long braids, but her clothing was different. She wore a black jacket and black pants to match. On her wrist was his mother's bracelet.

"I want to introduce you to my sister."

His eyebrows scrunched.

"I was not aware of a sister. I thought you only had a brother."

She shook her head.

"she's my brother's wife but we are close."

He nodded and waved for her to continue.

His wife turned to the forest and gave a low sound.

Immediately a women with dark skin and long braids walked out of the forest.

"My love this is my sister Nakia. Sister, this is my husband Kukulkan."

Namor nodded to her.

"My sister has spoken highly of you. my hope is that you are taking care of her. or you would have to face Wakanda's wrath."

"Nakia!" his bride scolded.

Namor however brushed the comment aside.

"There is no offense taken my beauty. It is obvious your sister cares for you. now, what else did you need to say?" he questioned as he ignored his wife's relative and brought her into his arms.

"Nakia, I'll meet you in a little bit. I wont be long." she dismissed her sister.

Namor waited until the sister was out of sight before he spoke.

"tell me the song of your heart my queen. What bothers you? you've been tense ever since your sister appeared."

His bride sighed as she leaned in his arms.

"I have ...international responsibilities to attend and I will be gone for the rest of this month. Three to four weeks essentially."

Namor pulled back. Frustration cutting through him.

"a month? But we just married. It is really important for you to leave so soon?"

His bride sighed sadly.

"Unfortunately, it is. We have a community center in California where we help the neighboring children. we also have an orphanage in Haiti, we are also visiting some of our allies. I have been asked to teach at various locations. I know this is sudden but I must fulfill my duties..."

Your duties are towards Talokon! Towards me! he thought. However, he knew these thoughts were selfish. He understood the demands of a ruler. His real frustration was just how long she would be gone.

"Will you at least allow me to show you how much I will miss you?" he questioned.

His bride opened her mouth to reply but her sister was quick to interrupt.

"Shuri, I am sorry but have to go the Dora are looking for us."

"can't you distract them?" his bride pleaded.

Her sister shook her head.

"We must leave...now."

With a grunt of frustration, his bride stepped on her tippy toes and kissed him passionately.

"Im sorry Ch'ah. I will be home as soon as I can. I will miss you so!"

And then she was gone.

End flashback

...

Namor sighed as the memory flashbacked in his mind.

He hadn't gotten the opportunity to tell her goodbye. As soon as her lips left his she was gone.

"Ah Kukulkan, missing the queen?" a voice inquired behind him. He turned to see who was talking to him. He was surprised to see eleuia.

"Eleuia!?" he greeted "what are you doing out this far?"

"I came to see you." the elder greeted.

Namor's brows furrowed as he swam to the elder and tucked the man's arm in his.

"Your too old to be out in far sea Eleuia." He gently scolded.

However, the elder let out a roaring laugh.

"Me? old... your one to talk Kukulkan, your older then all of us combined. Now is it to much to ask for my lord to take a swim with me?"

Namor obliged the elder and the duo swam to gather in silence before eleuia spoke.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe you should continue to prepare for our queen before she comes back. Have dresses made and anything that will bring her comfort as she journeys between the surface world and ours?"

Namor looked up as the sunlight from the surface shined through to where they were.

"I did not expect her to have to leave so quickly. I thought we would have a bit more time."

Eleuia snorted.

"Says the one who got married over night!"

Namor smiled at the mans candor. Other than his wife, Eleuia was the only one that would tell him the truth. The man had known him since he was a child and while he honored him as his leader, the honesty was always there.

"i knew who I wanted."

"Indeed, you did. However, you cannot fault the queen for still serving the surface world. It's not like you introduced yourself to her people yet."

Namor pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tread lightly eleuia." He warned.

"All I am suggesting is that you have a just a tad bit of patience. And when our queen returns home, tell her you wish for her to be near the kingdom a little more."

"I will ask her people for her hand as soon as she returns... if that's what she wants. I bow to no one, and no one will stop me from being with my wife."

Eleuia bowed low.

"As you wish Kukulkan."

...

Shuri wasn't surprised by how large tony starks' lab was. It was the first place Riri dragged her too as soon as she stepped off the plane. Matter of fact her former student hadn't stopped talking about the lab and about tony stark. She was just so incredibly happy, shuri couldn't bear to interrupt her. Riri had been one the first students admitted to the wakadian outreach center. She was smart! Ridiculously smart! However, that intelligence was overshadowed by the poverty she lived in. Riri lived with her grandparents who were barely making it. when they received her file, shuri already knew. She wanted to mentor the young girl. And now a few years later she stood here, one of tony starks apprentices and in college at the university of New York. Studying science of course.

"oh and check out these blasters! Aren't they cool! Mr. stark has them full of-"

"Babe? are you really going to sit here and talk a princess's ear off about blasters?" a male questioned behind them.

Shuri turned as Riri ran past her and into the unfamiliar males arms.

"Peter! Your back! Did your mission go well?" she greeted as she gave the guy a kiss.

"I am and it did. Nothing, a few web blasters couldn't fix. And you must be the famous princess shuri of Wakanda, that ri, has been talking about for weeks!" He greeted her as he bowed.

Shuri let out an uncomfortable laugh and said "please stand up. We don't bow in Wakanda. A simple handshake will do. And did I hear you say something about web blasters?"

And that's how the three of them were found, shuri enhancing peters; web blastrs while riri and peter helped.

"See now when you shoot. The web will be stickier. And then these vials here, have web acid, to melt things and web nets!" she showed peter excitedly.

"what's going on here?" tony asked as he and T'challa walked through the door.

"she's making me cool!" peter exclaimed as he showed tony his new web blaster enhancements.

"Wow! That's amazing! How did you do that?" tony asked as he shot an acid web.

However, before he could get an answer, T'challa interrupted.

"I believe it is time for dinner. We do not want to keep the others waiting. Im sure you all can play with your toys later."

The four science nerds groaned playfully.

T'challa laughed as he guided his sister out of the lab. Riri hot on her heels.

And even though she was glad to be among friends. Shuri still missed her new husband