Title: "You have been compromised." (Chp 5 / ?)

Chapter Title: "Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun..."

Fandom: Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever (MCU)

Pairing: Namor/Shuri

Words: 2384

Rated: M overall for sexual situations

Chapter Rating: E

Tags: Drama, Grief

Summary: "I want to be where the people are..."

It was night fall when the Wakandan ship touched down into the front lawn of the Alexandria, Virginia home. The only light in the dark were the lights from the home and the bright porch lights. Agent Everette Ross placed his hand below his brows to shield his eyes from the glare of the lights as he watched the ship's hatch open. Escorted by two Dora Milaje on each of her sides was Shuri. Everette walked up to greet them.

"Queen Shuri." He addressed. "I was made aware of the situation. I'm more than happy to have you stay here." He said to her and to the Dora Milaje.

Shuri was angry. More than angry. She was also concerned.

"Then you know that I must go back! Wakanda is under attack! I have to go back!" She yelled and with that turned towards the ship.

Both the Dora Milaje stopped her by crossing their spears into an X, denying her entry back upon the ship. She glared at them.

"By order of the Queen-" She started to command.

"Sorry, Princess Shuri-" One started.

"PRINCESS!?" Shuri shouted in shock.

"There have been emergency preparations. In case of attack and you having to leave Wakanda, someone has been appointed Ruler in your absence. You are ordered to remain here under the protection and care of Agent Ross until Wakanda is safe. Under NO circumstances are you to try to come back, communicate with anyone in Wakanda or find information about it. You are not safe. You could be traced. We will come for you." The one continued.

Shuri stood in silence. The Dora Milaje nodded to them both, did the X and left in the ship to return to Wakanda. Shuri watched the ship as it disappeared almost instantly with it's cloaking technology. She sighed when all that was left in view were the stars in the night sky. After a few moments she turned to Ross.

"Now what?" She asked admittedly defeated.

Ross motioned for her to follow her inside of the house. As they walked, he spoke, trying to soothe and comfort her.

"Well, I can take you to Stark Tower. I'm sure they have a bunch of tech you can work on, upgrade and do stuff to keep you busy." He said.

Shuri rolled her eyes as she listened.

"Primitive. Everything he has is so primitive. Just like this place. I bet your internet is dial up." She scoffed.

Ross chuckled. "I have you know, I have high speed internet thank you very much."

Shuri walked around the home and into the kitchen. Ross watched as she looked around. Shuri sighed again. Ross, watching her questioned.

"What are you looking for?" He asked.

Shuri frowned. "I was sure I would find a Nokia or pager. Maybe even a newspaper. Some old Dell or Gateway computer that has Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator." She answered.

"I'm not that old!" Ross said with a frown and went to the kitchen cabinets to pull out some coffee cups. He sat them in front of her on the marble kitchen island. Then he pulled out some tea bags and a kettle. Shuri settled in on one of the bar stools at the island.

"I guess I better make myself at home. Hopefully all of this will be over quickly." She said as she watched him make the tea.

It wasn't quick. It wasn't quick at all. Weeks became months. Months became years. No word from Wakanda. The news in the US didn't give much information. Every internet site, every news media outlet had no idea that there was ANY conflict in Wakanda. There was no news. None.

She had to hand it to them, she was impressed at how hidden every thing was. Even from her. Any dark web search she did, any sort of hack, nothing. Even Griot, her AI was unresponsive. Shuri figured it was for the best.

She settled into life living with Agent Ross. There wasn't too much to worry about since the Talokanil didn't have technology. Yet, they both were still paranoid. If they could take over a ship, steal a diving suit and steal a machine, what else could they do? What else could they hear? What else could they see?

Avoid bridges. Avoid crossing bodies of water. Shuri did all of this out of precautions since that seemed to be their main mode of transportation. Ross acted as delivery man for things that required any travel over bodies of water.

Shuri still kept a low profile. Yet she missed Wakanda. She missed her people. Did she have a people? Were they ok? Why has it taken so long? Why haven't they contacted her?

One clear starry night while Agent Ross was sleeping, Shuri snuck out of the house. She was surprised his SUV wasn't loud when she turned it on. She drove to DC, it being a short drive away from Alexandria. She parked the SUV in a parking lot near the Tidal Basin. The night was cool. She walked until she reached a bridge. She leaned against it looking over the Potomac River. The sound of the water was peaceful and soothing. She could hear cars in the distance of travelers in the night and workers getting an early start.

What's going on with Wakanda? Who is protecting it? Are they protecting it? Why haven't they come for her? So many questions ran through her mind. Shuri looked around. Looked at the bridge. Looked at the Washington Monument she could see in the distance. Looked at all the historical buildings all around her.

"I don't belong here." She whispered.

Shuri looked towards the sky. "I want to go home." She said and with that, returned to the SUV.

When she arrived to the shared home with Agent Ross, all the lights were still off. She turned off the SUV and as quietly as she could, closed the door. In the dark she made her way to the house. Shuri opened the font door which she left unlocked and closed it, this time locking it behind her. Locking it would have set off the alarm that would have demanded a code as soon as she came into the house. Something that could possibly wake him so she didn't risk it which is why the door was unlocked in the first place.

She turned on some kitchen lights and turned on the tv down and proceeded to make herself some peppermint tea. She reached into the cabinet for the kettle and suddenly lost her breath.

There was a loud boom. The whole portion of the house was ripped apart as if it had exploded. It DID explode. Pieces of the house lay splintered upon the lawn and kitchen. Shuri couldn't breathe. She couldn't breathe.

"FOUND YOU!" The voice said, dark and menacing. A growl.

Shuri punched at the strong forearm as a hand gripped around her neck, choking her, closing her ability to breathe. Her eyes watered. She gasped and gagged as she fought her attacker. Her feet dangled from the ground. Her eyes focused and widened when she recognized who it was.

Namor.

His eyes were dark and filled with rage. His whole body towered over her. He kept squeezing despite her fighting and kicking, trying to break free.

"YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME." So much venom in his voice when he said his words.

He hated her. He purely hated her. The words 'MUTANT' , 'TERMINATE', the screen with all the 'abominations' flashed before him as he drained the life from her. Squeezing it out of her. Chocking it out of her.

"Momma?"

Namor froze upon hearing the little voice. He turned towards the direction of who made the sound and released his grip instantly when he saw who was there. A curly haired little girl in a Little Mermaid nightly came out wiping her eyes. Shuri coughed as she caught her breath and fell to her knees upon release.

The little girl looked around confused. She was still sleepy and hadn't fully awakened.

"Momma?"

The little girl asked again. Shuri went to her and picked her up in her arms.

"Momma's here." Shuri replied soothingly and kissed her cheek.

"I'm thirsty." The little girl said as she rested her head upon her moms shoulder as she carried her back into the bed room.

"You have water next to your bed silly. I'll take you to it." Shuri said as they walked.

Once inside the bedroom, Shuri sat her down upon the bed and watched as she drank. "All better?" She asked.

The little girl nodded and turned her legs into the bed to lay down.

"Momma? Tell me a story." She asked.

"What story would you like to hear?" Shuri asked.

"The little mermaid." The girl said eagerly.

"Again? Why that one?"

The girl replied. "Momma, you know it's my favorite story. I want to be able to swim and play in the ocean like Ariel. I want to be friends with all the fishes and collect pretty sea shells like her. We can sing and dance. I would be under the sea all the time Momma."

She then stopped and frowned. Her eyes looking sad. She continued.

"I just wish I had a tail like her. A pretty shimmery tail."

Shuri leaned down and ran her fingers through her curly hair. She listened to her little girl.

"When can I swim in the sea momma? I'm a good swimmer." She asked and said proudly.

"Yes you are." Shuri assured. "We will go to the indoor pool again. I promise." She said.

"But I want to swim in the ocean. I want to swim under the sea. I want to swim in Wakanda. When can I see your home Momma?" The little girl asked.

Shuri leaned down and kissed her forehead, tears in her eyes. "When it's safe, my life. When it's safe. We can't go back there. Not yet but soon. When everything is safe. I promise" She comforted.

"It's because of the Bad Fish Man isn't it Momma?" The little girl asked.

The little girl sat up when she heard a thump. Namor had fallen to his knees in the door way of the bed room. Tears streamed from his eyes. He had heard everything. Listened to everything. But the last part. What she called him was his undoing.

The little girl got out of bed quickly and made her way to him. The little girl reached out with her tiny hand and touched the cheek of the crying man. She moved his face left, then right, looking it over. She then smiled and pinched his ears.

"You have pointy ears like me. Momma said it's because I'm special. That means you're special too." She said and smiled at him. The girl continued to look him over.

"What's that in your nose?" She asked curiously.

"Stop bothering him and come to bed." Shuri said loudly towards the girl.

The little girl sighed and came back to the bed. More like fluttered if that's what you want to call it. Gliding across the floor powered by little wings. She hopped in to the bed and got under the covers. She looked at her momma and did the X. Then she did the Talokanil gesture. Shuri smiled and did them back. She leaned down and kissed the girl again and tucked her in. Once the girl turned over and closed her eyes, Shuri stood from the bed.

She didn't even look at Namor as she left into the the kitchen.

"My house! What happened to my house!" Ross said in a panic, gun in hand aiming around the kitchen.

"I'll get you a new one." Shuri said and painfully rubbed her neck.

"What happened to you. How-" Ross stopped as soon as he saw who emerged from the child's bed room.

Without hesitation Ross fired. Namor with his vibranium arm gauntlets swatted the bullet down as if it were a fly.

"ROSS!" Shuri yelled. "You just fired towards my daughters room!" Shuri shouted outraged. "And I thought we said no guns in the house!" She continued to yell as she stormed towards him.

"He's going to kill you!" Ross yelled, gun still aimed at Namor.

"No he's not!" She said and stood besides Ross.

Ross looked at Namor. Instead of the fierce warrior that he saw pictures of thanks to the Wakandan intell, there in front of him stood something else. Something….. broken. Pale. Almost like a zombie. It walked towards them, shoulders dropping. Empty looking. It fell to it's knees again in front of the two.

Namor placed his spear down in front of them. He held up his hands, holding his wrists up to them and together as if waiting for some kind of shackle.

"I surrender." He said in a broken voice. "I surrender. All of my land. All of my people. All of my riches. We will stop our attack. We will do anything. I will do anything. Just please…" Tears falling from his eyes. "Don't keep her away from me." He begged and lowered his head.

A loud click was heard as Ross put him in hand cuffs. Shuri looked at him and the useless gesture.

"What?" Ross asked, proud with himself as if he'd done something.

Shuri didn't bother responding or telling Ross that Namor could easily break out of something like that. She looked at Namor. Looked at the man who tried to MURDER her. Looked at the man who drove her away from her home. Looked at the man who she has no idea what he did to her people. Looked at the man who waged war upon Wakanda. Looked at the man who murdered her mother. Looked at the man that made her have her child alone. Looked at the man.

She lifted his head with her hand and looked him dead in the eyes.

"No." She said coldly.

His heart shattered into a million pieces. Tears continued to fall and he lowered his head once more. She turned to Ross.

"Arrange for my arrival home. Tell them to send a ship and that I will be transporting a PRISONER." Shuri ordered.

Ross hurried out of the room.

CHAPTER END

A/N: Ooooh, Namor is in trouble.

The story is 'to be continued (WIP)' despite it marked as complete. Just like my other fics. I feel bad marking it as WIP with no idea of when the next update will be. I feel bad having you wait so I just put it down as complete.

Poor Namor. Jumping to conclusions like that.

Ty for the comments. Loving your ideas.