46. Festive

Namor held Shuri's hand until they reached his quarters, only releasing her hand to make the Talokan salute to his guards as they entered his bedroom.

She was breathless and giggling. So divine in his eyes.

"Princess, was the festival to your liking?" He asked, putting away the bag of goods Shuri had gotten from the many vendors. If there was something she wanted, how could he not get it for her?

"It was beautiful, Ch'ah Toh!" Shuri grinned. "All the lights under the sea are … marvelous. And the food, and the dances, and the … everything!"

He rubbed her back, wanting—needing to be near her.

"It's a lot to take in all at once, but next season you'll be more accustomed to it," He began. "I'm honored to see my world anew in your eyes. You're a part of my people, Shuri, so you will enjoy all that I have."

Shuri turned to him slightly, grasping his hand. "Next season?"

"As long as I reign, you're welcome here. Forever even." He meant every word.

Before he could gauge her reaction, Shuri walked to his nightstand. Pulling out some type of planted red berries, she held it in front of his face.

"I didn't want to get this soggy, so I didn't bring it with me," she told him.

"What's that?"

"A gift from the surface world, a mistletoe."

He questioned. "A fruit? Vegetable?"

"No, something else. You can only use it during the winter holiday season on the surface world."

She pressed a soft kiss against his lips. Shuri pulled back with low-lidded eyes, giving him the signal there was potential for more.

Namor took her chin in his hand, ready to deepen the kiss. "Should I ask what that was for?"

"I'm feeling festive, so I wanted to give my boyfriend a gift!"

He swept his mouth near her ear. "Then, princess, how I wish it were a holiday every day. Don't tempt me, or I'll make it so."

47. Gift Exchange

Shuri stared at the small, wrapped box apprehensively.

With only the twitch of his eyebrow alerting her to any unease, Namor stared back at her. It was afternoon and as chilly as Wakandan weather would allow—a moderate breeze and no beating sun rays.

She rubbed a blade of grass between her fingers still not making any movement toward it.

They were quite the pair – two royals sitting cross-legged in the grass. But the open-wide space of the park was neutral ground. In less confined spaces it was easier to breathe around him. To be herself. To be at peace.

Namor cleared his throat.

"Yes?"

"It's a gift, princess." He folded his hands and then unfolded them. Finally, he placed them upon his thighs.

She rotated the box in her hands. It was light and thin like a box holding a gift card.

"I can see that," she said, shaking it. There was a shifting noise.

Namor readjusted his Santa hat and the scarf at his throat. His Talokan jewels were hidden snugly underneath the yarn. Despite the oddness of it, he looked cozy. It almost made her smile.

Her therapist had encouraged her to pick up a hobby. Science was her love but also her work, so crocheting was the new thing Shuri enjoyed. She had only made him the scarf for practice, of course.

"Usually, gifts are opened in Talokan, but I don't know the ways of your people," he said. She could catch a hint of annoyance in the otherwise friendly comment.

"No, opening gifts is very much a thing here, but you know it's so much pressure." She gestured towards him.

He was charming in moments like this. A gentle grin spread across his face.

"As the giver, I should be anxious for your acceptance." Namor played with the ball at the end of his hat. "Yours was exquisite. I'll always cherish this handmade scarf. This hat warms my ears and is a built-in game. My children would never tire of it."

"The Talokan babies or Attuma and Namora?"

He laughed. "Princess, please. The latter you know that."

Not even she could refuse to return his laughter.

The idea to do a gift exchange had been Toussaint's. He couldn't stop raving about the gifts his schoolmates had given him in Haiti. From the mouths of babes! She had been joking when she suggested an exchange would be good for Wakanda-Talokan efforts.

Of all the times the council shot down her ideas, they unanimously agreed to this one. She reasoned the elders just liked gifts. Namora was paired with Ayo, who both gifted the equivalent of socks, Okoye with Attuma, who gifted her a shark carcass and received a practical bowl, and random Dora Milaje matched to Talokan guards. Namor had only agreed if he could be matched to her. Shuri relented because she didn't care and knew he wasn't above manipulation or intimidation to get his way. Save some poor soul from his wrath because he wanted her attention.

Namor had announced he could only give his gift in private. It had made her stomach churn in anxiousness and excitement. It had also made the Dora threaten to brandish their weapons. After much prodding and a promise to have Griot alert any shenanigans, the two royals were left alone.

Besides the few elderly couples walking through the park or the lone group of kids playing soccer, it was just them. One reason she had given him the hat was to hide those elf ears. She was kidding, but he attracted less attention outside of being non-Wakandan.

Shuri sighed, half amused and half serious. "It's pressure, Namor because you're eyeing me so intensely—rapt with all the attention in the world for me." Shuri placed the box in her lap, releasing the bow. He had probably wrapped it himself.

"I always look at you like this."

She swallowed. Yes, that was very true. Shameless fish man.

"You know Santa is supposedly a magical white man that gives gifts to good children and coal to naughty ones." Shuri tied the bow around her wrist.

He toyed at her bow, absentmindedly, pulling it loose. "Hmm."

"Don't believe in him?" She teased before shaking his hand off.

"Tell me which is more believable—a magical white man or a generous one who doesn't steal and appropriate from others."

"Oof, you're hardcore."

Namor rolled his eyes. He re-tied the bow on her wrist before giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm not against Santa. Let the children have their fun. I'm more interested in the gifts we give each other."

"But the real question is are you naughty or nice?"

"Depends. Which side do you desire of me?" His voice was low, and his eyes were too. Shuri's face felt heated. She covered her low-cut shirt and zipped her jacket up.

Sputtering, Shuri said, "I was just joking!"

"Enough Shuri," Namor replied. "You're stalling."

She hoped he had listened to her for once.

Finally, Shuri lifted the lid.

The lovely necklace was lightweight and expensive. She fingered the loop. This fishman had a mighty penchant for jewelry.

"NAMOR, this is actual GOLD! What part of $5 or less did you not understand? Everyone else abided by the monetary limit. If you needed help with the conversion rate, Griot would've assisted."

He snorted. "This was the cheapest of Talokan jewels I could find. Be pleased I left the vibranium jade earrings for another time. And no less could be given to—"

"To a princess?"

Shuri narrowed her eyes at him. Intense Shuri eyebeams to melt him. He held her gaze, unbothered until he coughed sheepishly.

"No, to you Shuri, my dear friend."

Oh!

"What insidious charm," Shuri muttered, but she couldn't find it in her heart not to be pleased. Neither could see fight the flutter in her stomach or the sudden wave of affection that flowed through her. Thankfully, he didn't have to know about that.

Uncrossing her legs, Shuri got up. She swiped dirt off her pencil skirt. Putting the necklace on would only serve to maximize his ego. So, she replaced the bow on her wrist with the necklace as a bracelet. Compromise.

"I'm still telling the council you failed to give an appropriate gift." She gave a wicked grin. "There were bets of how terribly you would do."

"Is it so cruel to adorn you with the finest jewels?"

"Uh, yes!"