The King: T'Challa.

Chapter 13: New King, Old Problem.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, my King?"

He simply shook his head at me and sighed.

"First Shuri takes every opportunity she has to tease me over it and now you aswell. I fear you and my sister are more alike than people seem to think."

"Why do you think we are friends."

T'Challa nodded his head in agreement before speaking.

"You are quite an encouraging person, has anyone ever told you that?"

I chuckled slightly.

"Are you perhaps referring to a certain statement that was made earlier?"

"I quote, Miss Cassidy,"

He made a pose and started waving his hands in all directions while speaking in a feminine tone:

" 'T'Challa! Get off your royal ass and show him who you are!'" T'Challa mimicked.

I laughed at his failed attempt of impersonating me. I pointed my finger at the King.

"For starters, I don't stand like that nor do I wave my hands in all directions. Secondly I don't sound like the damsel you just made me out to be."

I sat down on my bed, pleased with myself, T'Challa just laughed at my little rant. He then walked towards me and took a seat beside me on my bed. There was a moment of silence before he spoke.

"He was there."

I looked quizzically at T'Challa, the atmosphere taking a jurassic change, and also wondering to myself who 'he' was and where 'there' was.

"In the Ancestral Plane, I saw my father."

My eyes softened as he continued to speak.

"He told me to surround myself with people I trust."

T'Challa sighed before continuing.

"He also told me 'it's hard for a good man to be king' "

He turned to look at me, my gaze never falling from his face.

"What if I fail my people as King because I am too good at heart? Or because I did not have the courage to take down a threat and finish it off?"

I placed my hands on top of his, as some sort of reassurance.

"You won't fail your people, T'Challa."

He looked down at our intertwined hands.

"You won't fail because you're good at heart, or because you can't stand the thought of actually killing someone, alright. T'Challa, there will always be obstacles along the way and yes, you may not be able to overcome them the way you may have wished for, but that doesn't mean you're not a good King or that you failed your people. The only way you will ever fail your people is if you hold back from your duty as King, because you're afraid of failure."

I got up from my bed, separating our hands, and stood only a meter away from the King. He diverted his gaze at my sudden movement. I sighed slightly and turned to face T'Challa.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, I would put Wakanda in your hands before anyone else's."

I walked over to him and grabbed his hands, pulling him to the center of the room with me. He looked me in the eyes, as I did to him. We were close, very close. The close proximity between us almost made me nervous, almost. I searched his eyes for any sign that could tell me what he was thinking, anything. I decide to finish what I had started.

"Then trust me when I say that you, T'Challa, will be the greatest King that Wakanda has ever had."
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The next time I saw T'Challa was when we had gotten the information of a misidentified Wakandan artefact stolen from a British museum. Okoye sent a signal to T'Challa and W'Kabi's Kimoyo Beads, when they had answered she informed them that they were needed in the Throne room.
T'Challa and W'Kabi walked in soon after their presence was requested, I greeted them as they did so.

"My King. W'Kabi"

"Miss Cassidy."

W'Kabi just nodded in response. Instead of wasting any more time I took my seat beside Queen Mother and Okoye got straight into it.

"A misidentified Wakandan artefact was stolen yesterday from a British museum. We have learned Ulysses Klaue plans to sell the vibranium to an American buyer in South Korea tomorrow night."

She let them absorb the information. When he was ready, T'Challa spoke.

"Klaue has escaped our pursuits for almost thirty years. Not capturing him is ,perhaps, my father's greatest regret."

He paused for a second. My mind went back to our conversation from last night. He obviously didn't want to fail his people by not catching Klaue like his father.

"I wish to bring Klaue back here to stand trial."

We were in thought for a moment before one of the tribe leaders decided to speak up.

"Wakanda does not need a warrior right now, it needs a King."

T'Challa seemed to tense at her words. He was deep in thought for a moments before glancing over at me. I just nodded at him encouragingly, while Okoye voiced her opinion, breaking the silence.

"It is too great and opportunity to pass."

T'Challa nodded. W'Kabi then turned to his King.

"Take me with you. We'll take him down together, side by side."

T'Challa merely shook his head slightly, having already making up his mind.

"I need you here protecting the boarder."

"Then I ask you kill him where he stands or you bring him back to us."

"You have my word. I will bring him back."

T'Challa looked back to the Council before standing up.

"We will proceed with the mission."
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