Black Boys Bloom Thorns First: Volume 1 (A Black Panther FanFic)

Black Boys Bloom Thorns First Chapter 28

"Lord knows I gave it my all
I couldn't save us from falling
Cause some people aren't meant to be together forever forever

'Cause forever, doesn't last too long forever
Doesn't last too long forever
Doesn't last too long forever these days
And I try to believe that we could make it
But trying don't work, so I just have to face that forever
Doesn't last too long forever these days..."

Jazmine Sullivan- "Forever Don't Last"

He couldn't take it.

N'Jobu and Califia took a taxi together to the Sáo Paulo airport alone when it was time for him to return to the states. The night before he had made love to Califia, and that morning they had a lovely breakfast with Soleil, Lia, and Bakari out on the patio. Things were going well until they approached the airport and Califia began bawling uncontrollably.

He held her in his arms and felt his throat constrict and his own eyes waver with tears, but he held it together as they arrived at the terminal. When he dropped off his luggage and they had a few minutes to spare before he had to board, he realized at that moment that he would not be able to leave her again in Oakland like this. He was going to have to slip away from her. The pain on her face and the anguish heaving from her chest crushed his spirit.

He found an empty seat and literally cradled her like a baby in his lap, cooing to her, trying to kiss away her tears.

"Califia, I don't want you to be like this when I leave. I'll see you in two days."

Her breathing calmed and she wiped her eyes with her hands. Her face, nose, and eyes were red, and her cheeks were damp. He stroked her chin.

"We still have time left together," he said rocking her on his lap.

"I don't want to see you go," she stammered.

"Let's do this. You go to the bathroom and wipe your face with water, and I'll just go, and we won't have to say goodbye. It'll be more like, 'See you soon'. How about that?"

She swiped her hands across her eyes again and nodded her head.

"Give me a kiss," he said.

She sat up in his lap and pressed her lips to his. Her softness and the damp tears on her face unnerved him. His tongue probed her mouth and she held onto his neck. He pulled back from her.

"Go to the Ladies room. I'll see you in two days," he said.

She slipped down from his lap and he watched her walk to the nearest restroom. He made swift work of his legs to get through the checkpoint without looking back.

When he was in a section she couldn't get to and one where she couldn't see him, he felt his chest ache.

"Bast, give me strength," he said clutching his passport.

His flight into Oakland was uneventful, and his Lyft ride to the apartment was quiet. When he stepped into the unit, it was all so clear how he was already gone from the space. The apartment looked sterile, more like a bland motel space without his books and art and personal touches. He texted Califia to let her know he made it back safe.

The next two days were spent writing and sketching in his journal, coming to terms with his final departure and readying his spirit for all the work that stood before him back home. T'Chaka sent messages on his kimoyo beads that he was to meet with the current Ambassador of Wakanda to begin a short internship right before his military service. His new military uniform was already in his suite waiting for him in the palace. His mother sent him new pictures of T'Challa, and Zinzi was ready for his return.