Look at us, we're back!
I'm starting this after having seen Wakanda Forever. After no writing energy for months, I finally got some ... and lost it again for a few more months. (This was back in February).
Year Four: Wakanda After Hours
Wakanda's Palace - 7:47 AM
"You're seeing this too, right?" Imanu asks.
"I am," Iqadi states.
They're both looking up at projections of their schedules. They're scrolling through them and see nothing slotted for the whole day. They check the next days and there are events and meetings before going back to today and it's still blank.
"Is this a glitch?" Iqadi asks.
"Oh well," Imanu responds, swiping their schedules away, "we won't be doing anything today."
Iqadi shakes her head. "I cannot have a day where I do nothing."
Imanu laughs a little as he takes her hand and walks her outside for some fresh air. "Trust me, I know. According to royal protocol, you know the definition of my job title is to provide companionship and support to the royal I married."
Iqadi nods. "We've been married for a few years now."
"How many?"
When Iqadi hesitates, Imanu glances at her. He holds her hands tighter, grinning as Iqadi smirks, keeping her eyes locked with his.
"Are you being serious now?" He questions. "You don't joke so I'm concerned. Do you not know?"
"Of course, I know."
"Then what is it?"
Iqadi doesn't blink. She raises their intertwined hands but doesn't break eye contact. Instead, her eyes whiten into a deep opacity. She smiles as the winds pick up, roaring through their ears and making her hair fly around them.
"I can't hear you!" Iqadi yells, laughing.
"That's cheap!" Imanu screams back.
"You're supposed to support my actions and I chose this!"
"For the record, three years!"
Before Iqadi runs off, Imanu grabs her hand and pulls her close to him. She crashes into his arms because of her winds and he holds her close to kiss her. Imanu cups the base of her head, grazing her neck as her hair flies around her.
"Don't stop," Iqadi mutters.
Imanu smiles. "I was about to tell you that."
He's learned from three happy years of marriage that when she says don't stop, it means don't. He has to continue exactly what he's doing. The same reasoning applies when he says it to her.
Iqadi stops the winds and her hair falls down onto her shoulders as her eyes return to brown. Imanu fixes her hair as she pushes back some strands.
"Let's have fun tonight since we have nothing planned," Iqadi suggests.
"How so?"
"Go to a club."
Instead of responding, Imanu puts the back of his hand on Iqadi's forehead. Her eyebrows wrinkle as she looks at him.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"I thought you were winded," Imanu responds. "Why would you suggest a club? When have you ever wanted to go to one?"
Iqadi shrugs. "We should try one out. Let's go be the wild teenagers our parents never wanted because they got good children instead."
Imanu's still taken aback. Maybe he should've stopped. "Seriously? This is all coming from you?"
"We've been married for three years. And it's your job to provide companionship and support, as you have said. I don't want to go alone."
"I don't - you know what, fine."
Maybe they'll have fun.
-o-
Despite being the top of the class in Wakandan society, Iqadi has never been to any of their nightclubs. She has never been interested in the party scene, not even diplomatic galas where she's dressed up and expected to speak to anyone about anything at a given moment. (Although she prefers the latter if she had to choose). She prefers training, moving her body and breaking a sweat when she reaches that limit, not standing stiffly unless she's wound into a regimented dance to try and strike a diplomatic deal.
Even Imanu. As much as he had a mixed experience after working in the mines for years as a young boy, he would rather go back than into a club. Maybe that's why Iqadi married him: they would much rather be anywhere else. Maybe even she would prefer being in the mines.
Maybe.
But now they're deciding to go to a club. Because why not? Might as well see what the fun is about since even her friends in America would vouch for them, especially Emily.
They're out of their element and everyone knows. In the dark lights of Wakanda's most elite nightclub, music pumps and people dance. A lot of Dora Milaje off their shifts groove with each other or hang out at the bar. Top workers in the mines sit in booths, talking about their day over drinks. They even wave at Imanu when they meet his eye and he chats with them for a bit before returning to Iqadi.
More eyes are on her than on him. Despite them both being present representing a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, she has more of a regimented and socially aloof reputation than him. That, and she's wearing such an Emily Stark-approved outfit: an orange sheer halter top and a matching tight skirt with black sneakers. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail to show off her big gold hoop earrings (and because it was unbelievably warm in here). She doesn't understand how Imanu's wearing a dark blue jacket but a lot of his former work colleagues are as well.
Maybe it's a part of mining culture: covering up or being more prone to chills? She isn't sure.
"Hi," Imanu whispers when he approaches her again (although his whisper in this loud environment is normal register), "I don't know the rules here."
"Neither do I, especially teetering the line of us being royal," Iqadi responds, leaning closer to him. "How much can we dance and have it not be scandalous."
Imanu glances around before holding Iqadi by the waist and leading her onto the dance floor. She smiles as he holds her body against his and rests his head on her shoulder, leaning into her. Their bodies intertwine as Iqadi laughs as she kisses his jaw. Imanu kisses the side of her neck and smiles as he takes a whiff of her jasmine perfume before she spins out of his hold and walks towards the bar. Iqadi orders a drink and looks over her shoulder to see Imanu grinning as he walks up to her. He slides into the seat next to her despite her still standing but he sits facing her and she rests a hand on his leg.
"Companionship and support," Iqadi says as she offers her drink to Imanu. "I don't think that's why normal people do this, though. Emily and Angela were right. It's fun to go to the club as a taken person. When you dance, people can only watch. You know they will inform my mother."
"I guess I won't be in the palace tomorrow," Imanu jokes, "I don't need your father glaring at me more intensely than usual. So if I vanish, I might as well make it worth my night here."
Iqadi nearly spills the rest of her drink as Imanu wraps his arms around her waist again so she puts the glass back on the bar. Imanu presses Iqadi so close to him that she's nearly on his lap and she loves it. Forget professionalism, forget being a Princess. She's in a club. Iqadi rests her head in the space between his shoulder and head, looking up at him. Imanu kisses her along her jawline and down her neck, stopping when something else in the club catches his attention.
"What?" Iqadi asks. "What is it?"
Imanu repositions Iqadi's head to look at what caught his eye and it's Kili with her friends. She's dressed a little too light for any situation.
"Fancy seeing her here," Iqadi states as she orders two more drinks from the bar.
Imanu already starts walking over to Kili but Iqadi waits for her drinks before following. She caught up just in time to see Kili's eyes widen at the sight of her brother. As with the other club patrons, nobody expected to see them there. Her friend scatter within the club but Kili stays on the spot, smiling nervously.
"Funny running into you two here," Kili says.
"Kili," Imanu says, pulling her off to the side, "I don't know what to ask first."
"I told our parents that I was hanging out with Hadiza tonight and her brother got us in," Kili explains. "I'm not drinking any weird drinks nor planning to go home with strange perverts."
"Kili!"
Iqadi nudges him with one of the drinks. "Imanu, dear-"
Imanu ignores her. "And what are you wearing?"
"She's showing skin too!" Kili argues, pointing at Iqadi.
Iqadi and Imanu look down at her outfit. She traces her fingers along her exposed midriff. When Iqadi looks at Imanu looking at her, their eyes lock and he winks at her. Iqadi's heart stops and she hides her grin and blushing by sipping a drink.
Kili gags to grab their attention again. "For your information, I got this from her closet!"
Imanu shakes his head. "No, you did not."
Iqadi purses her lips as she looks at Kili's short yellow dress. "Actually, I think those are the clothes I wear in America. I was wondering where that dress went."
"Iqadi, be serious, please."
Iqadi looks him dead in the eyes and clears her throat before lowering her voice an octave. Her best American accent. "Sorry, my tone caught up with my bitch face."
She nearly laughs at Imanu's appalled expression but Kili laughs a little.
"Can you take this seriously?" Imanu asks.
Iqadi nods. "I am. At least we were here to watch her."
"What happened to companionship and support?"
"That's your job, not mine." Iqadi grins as Imanu glares at her. "I'm joking. You know, I joke now. Here." She hands him a drink. "Kili, we're heading out. Your brother and I have had enough clubbing for a lifetime."
"But-" Kili attempts to argue.
"Now."
Kili pauses a bit before nodding. "Fine. Can I just go tell Hadiza?"
"You have five minutes."
Kili scurries off. Iqadi sips her drink and Imanu keeps his eye on Kili before downing his drink in one go.
"I am so sorry about her," he says.
"Why?" Iqadi asks. "She's living our wild teenage years for us. How can we live vicariously through her if she's not living?"
Imanu smirks. "I was having fun for a bit."
"See, I told you." She looks down at her drink for a moment. "You, Imanu, will be an amazing father one day."
He looks at her and smiles a little. "You believe that?"
"I thought I would be the strict parent."
Imanu eyes her as he takes off his jacket and wraps it around Kili when she approaches them again. He holds it on her as they make their way out for the night.
"Why are you wearing a jacket in a club, you weirdo," Kili mutters.
Iqadi squeezes his arm. "I love you, you weirdo."
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