Chapter 7: need you more.

"There is no way you're going to bed." Riri chided as she watched Shuri pull back the covers. They had finished dinner a few hours ago and everyone headed off to their respective rooms. Riri, however, had different plans.

"And why not? It's been a long day and a long trip."

"Oh my gosh, Shuri! can you please act like a nineteen-year-old and not a Wakandian princess?" Riri groaned as she threw herself on Shuri's bed.

"I am a wakandian princess." Shuri said as a matter of fact.

"Correct but you're also a young adult. Could you at least sneak out with me and Peter?"

Shuri sighed and smiled. She did want to discover the sights.

"Alright fine but we Cant look around for too long."

"Look around? Girl, we are going to the club! Come on, let me help you get dressed."

"I think I know something about fashion Riri."

"That may be true! But you have nothing worth wearing to the club. Come on let's go!"

...

Shuri resisted the urge to cover her ears as they entered the club. Riri put her in a gold sleeveless shimmer dress, with gold heels and gold earrings.

It was a little showy for her, but she put it up with it because of Riri.

Shuri followed the couple as they made their way through the throng of people. It seemed as if Peter and Riri were well known throughout the club as people shouted greetings toward them.

"Shuri want a drink?" Riri shouted over the music.

"Yes! But no alcohol!" she shouted back.

Riri rolled her eyes but ordered her a sprite.

It was then Riri, and Peter introduced her to their circle of friends. Many of them are scientists and mathematicians. Glad she was among young people who thought like her, Shuri allowed herself to relax and chat the night away.

However, whenever someone asked her to dance, Shuri was quick to decline and there had been many of them.

"You must really hate dancing." Mark a good friend of Peter said to her. they had spent the last hour talking about chemistry and the different chemicals used in some of their favorite foods.

"No, I love to dance. Im just not in the mood."

Mark gave her a goofy smile and said, "Can I convince you otherwise?"

Shuri shook her head.

"No thanks."

Mark was going to say something, but Riri interrupted them.

"Hold that thought mark!"

She then dragged Shuri to a corner and said "Shuri! you can't be this smart and yet be this blind! Mark is flirting with you! come on girl get your groove on!"

Shuri shook her head.

"I am not comfortable with this Riri."

Riri looked at her in surprise but relented.

"Ok. it's all good. No peer pressure here. Are you ok with talking to Mark or do you want to dance with me for a moment? I could use some girl time."

Shuri smiled at her friend. Taking her by the hand, she dragged her towards the dance floor.

After a while, Shuri was tired. She drank four sprites and danced with Riri until her feet hurt.

"Im going to the bathroom!" she shouted as Peter took over the dance with Riri.

It seemed as if Riri hadn't heard her but Shuri continued on.

The bathroom was surprisingly clean, and it didn't make her too squeamish. As soon as she finished her business, she went to wash her hands, and as she glanced in the mirror staring back at her, was Mark.

"Holy-What are you doing in here? Get out! "She yelled.

"Do you think you're better than the rest of us? too good to dance with us normal people?" Mark asked angrily.

"Get out," Shuri demanded.

"You think your too good for me, princess." Mark hissed as he crept closer to her.

Shuri was now backed against the sink. She had a small spear attached to her under her dress. However, she wouldn't be able to reach it.

"I suggest you walk away now before you get hurt." Shuri hissed.

Mark was now nose to nose with her, his hand was gripping her arm so tightly, it was going to leave a bruise.

"And what makes you think that you can hurt me...princess." He sneered, squeezing her arm harder than before. Shuri flinched but then didn't stall any longer. With ease, she pressed her beads behind his neck and electrocuted him just enough for him to let her go.

He screamed and let her go.

Shuri ran toward the door, her hand reaching out for the handle but a hand around her neck pulled her back, choking her.

"you whore!" Mark spit

Shuri couldn't breathe. With urgency, she flailed her legs making it look like she was trying to get away but in reality, she was trying to reach the dagger attached to her thigh.

Just as she managed to pull out her dagger, the bathroom door was kicked down and her brother was ripping Mark off of her.

Okoye and the black widow entered the bathroom behind him.

Shuri collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Princess. Are you hurt?" Okoye asked as she checked her for injuries.

Shuri didn't speak. She couldn't. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked around the bathroom.

Riri and Peter had entered and stood in the doorway. Both look guilty. Her brother was shoving Mark toward one of the bouncers while Okoye and black widow were looking at her in concern.

Not being able to handle the aftermath of her attack, Shuri stood quickly and booked it out of the club.

She didn't make it too far before strong arms grabbed her. She knew who it was just from his touch.

"Let me go." She demanded.

"So, you can run away from your problems?" her brother questioned.

They were on an empty sidewalk with a few cars driving by. Her brother was no longer wearing his suit but a simple black shirt and tan pants.

"I am a princess of Wakanda... I ...should have been able to beat him. I am not some defenseless little girl! I am not a damsel to be rescued! Im not weak." She explained to her brother without looking at him.

"There is no shame in being overpowered Shuri. it happens to me all the time. This man attacked you and overpowered you. but you fought back, that is what matters. You were able to hold him off until help arrived."

"But I've been in battle before brother! I know how to fight!"

"You didn't come here to fight Shuri. you came here to have a good time. He surprised you."

"And I should have been ready."

"You were and you did the best you could."

Shuri refused to look at him.

"it is alright to be scared..." he told her softly. "I get scared often."

It was then Shuri felt her brother bring her a little closer and hug her. She buried her head into his chest.

"I was so scared." She admitted. "I thought he was a friend."

And there it was. The truth. It wasn't that she thought she wasn't strong enough, but the feeling of being betrayed.

"I let my guard down so easily."

"You didn't expect an attack like this. You're not me Shuri...you don't have to be the hero..."

Shuri looked at her brother through her tears.

How did he know? He was right, she was always trying to live up to her older brother. To have the approval she desperately wanted to see in his eyes.

"How?"

T'challa laughed.

"Your my little sister. Your smart, you're brave, your strong. You would follow me everywhere I went when we were kids. And it doesn't make it any better, that Mama and baba, would put so much pressure on us. ever since Baba died, I feel...a strong sense of protectiveness for you. not saying it wasn't there before but it had doubled over the years. I knew something was wrong when I went to check on you and you were not in your bed. I was going to call you, but your beads alerted me to your heart rate. It was out of control. Shuri, I want you to be yourself. You have always been yourself. There is no point in changing now. Don't let the pressure of our family change you."

Shuri look down and blushed. She then punched her brother in the arm and said, "Enough with the mushiness...your highness."

T'challa rolled his eyes.

"Stop it. now, let's go. We need to have a long discussion about you sneaking out young lady."

"What are you going to do? Ground me?" Shuri teased.

"I might have to" T'challa joked.

With that said the siblings made their way back to the Avengers compound.

...

It was three am when Shuri put the conch shell in the water.

She couldn't bare this any longer, especially after her attack. Her skin felt like it was fire.

She needed her husband. She needed his comfort, and she needed his reassurance.

But most of all she just needed him.

She missed him and she knew he missed her.

She had no idea what he would do when he saw her bruises, but she would do her best to placate him.

She stood there in silence for five minutes before her husband emerged from the water with urgency. Attuma and Namora are behind him.

"Mia amore!" he greeted her, as he brought her body against his.

His kisses were light and comforting yet filled with yearning.

"Ch'ah..." she greeted softly as she leaned into his touch.

She desperately just wanted to stay in his embrace, but she couldn't. they needed to get off the street.

"I feel like it's been forever," Shuri told him when they finally broke apart. She smiled and waved at Attuma and Namora.

"Who hurt you," Ch'ah demanded to know as he ignored her comment. His eyes were furious, as he looked at her bruised neck.

Shuri sighed.

"I can't explain here. Will you come back with me? just for the night...please...I miss you."

Ch'ah still angry but needing to spend time with her just as much, waved his guards away with instructions to find him if they needed him. Before they could leave, shuri however gave them think turquoise and brown bracelets.

"It's a communication device. You will be able to reach me or Ch'ah if you need us. it will pull up a live feed of where we are."

Namora and Attuma bowed and dived back into the water.

Shuri turned to her husband who was still angry, but a softness was in his eyes.

"I made one for you as well. This way, we will be able to contact each other at all times."

He let her put it on his wrist, but his focus was on her bruises.

"Come with me and ill explain. I promise..."