6. Honeypot (inspired by "The Water Cure" on AO3)
Nakia's gentle but firm voice repeated in her head. Her red box braids were bundled upon her head, and she looked at Shuri with a serious expression. Adorable Toussaint was napping in the back of the house after a day full of playing with his favorite aunty. The tea on the kitchen table was now getting cold.
"He's obviously... smitten with you." Nakia had begun, swallowing back disgust. "It's in those eyes. You've found favor in the king's sight."
Shuri scoffed. But she couldn't deny it. For a man (god?) so ruthless he could be like a lovesick schoolboy. These days he was always finding an excuse to bubble up to the surface. After all he had done, she found she could be civil with him. She somewhat enjoyed his company. Even acknowledging within herself if things had been different, she could have truly fallen for him. But not anymore. There are some actions you cannot come back from.
Nakia laid out more evidence. "Y'know he stormed out at the last council meeting when he realized you weren't going to be there. M'Baku kept calling for "Fish Man," but once he knew you'd be in your lab, he said the meeting was worthless."
"That bastard! He literally wrung Wakanda's neck for this alliance. And that's how he acts." Shuri threw her hands up before slamming a fist onto the table. Nakia's beach house in Haiti was built well to withstand the strength of her panther abilities. Immediately, she regained control of her annoyance.
"No, Shuri. The only alliance I think he wants is with you," Nakia reached across the dinner plates and grabbed her hand, a sisterly gesture and an emphasis on what she had deduced.
"If it's a marriage in name only, then fine. I don't care. It's not as if I'd live my life underwater."
"Be realistic, sister. You've seen that demon react when he doesn't get his way." Shuri heard Nakia's voice clearly as the woman went rummaging around for something in her kitchen.
Nakia had to shuffle around some dishware, but she returned with a pair of dazzling green earrings. She smacked away Shuri's hand when she tried to see the earring's underside.
"What? It's mine, isn't it? Can't I see if it has an earring back? I've so many earrings that I can't wear for having misplaced the stupid backings." Shuri huffed, a resurgence of the bratty little sister showing up for the first time in so long.
"The earring tips are coated with poison. They're jade earrings, which Namor seems to fancy. His favorite colors are green and brown after all."
Shuri's eyebrows lifted. Nakia was so perceptive. You had to be as a spy. She wondered what the woman knew about herself but didn't voice. Shuri suddenly sat up a bit straighter.
"The next time he invites you to Talokan. Find a way to rid us of him permanently. Use your beauty if you have to."
She didn't know why her throat suddenly went dry. For all his mayhem, she didn't doubt how much he cared for his people. "Will it kill him?"
"Hopefully. The full dosage is both earrings, but for you ... just use one."
Shuri didn't know what made Nakia relent or why her expression saddened as if she knew something. Knew Shuri wouldn't be ruthless enough to kill him completely.
"When?"
"I... I don't know. We don't have Google Calendar invites. I usually just blow the shell he gave us. There's never a set time."
"Tomorrow."
Shuri could only sigh, wary.
"You know what you must do."
7. Puzzle Piece
She was such a lithe thing. Graceful and long like a ballerina. His big hands could envelop her whole waist. And she loved to lay her head in the crook of his neck – it was as if his Adonis body had been carved out to fit hers perfectly.
8. Joy
"What are these?" Shuri grinned. Talokan was like one huge fish tank. "This creature resembles a scyphozoa, but with all its internal organs outside of its body. Griot, zoom in and take a 360 picture."
"Yes, Princess Shuri!" Griot replied.
Namor looked almost confused. "Surely, you've seen fish, princess?"
"On the surface world, I don't know if this creature has been discovered. Many deep-sea creatures are lost to us due to limited human capabilities and technology. Talokan has remained untouched, so who knows what creatures are around you. I would love to talk to your scientists." Shuri continued, for once getting in his personal space. Warmth stirred in his gaze. Embers of gold and oranges seemed to glow in his dark eyes. "I'm a scientist, but I focus on biology the least. I've always been more inclined to chemistry because hello, explosions and other reactions! I want to take pictures of this. I want to study it." She was rambling on.
"Lovely."
"Huh?" she tilted her head.
He reached a hand to tip her chin. "Lovely to see what brings you joy."
"What brings you joy?" she asked while trying to will herself to push his hand away, then relenting. The cycle continued.
She saw the answer in his eyes.
9. Wakanda
Namor had seen few beautiful things in the years he had accumulated: his mother, the world before soulless colonization, enslavement, and racial genocides, jade jewelry, the Wakandan princess, their tethering, and his biggest love of all, Talokan.
But Wakanda in the daytime, with him as an invited guest and not an antagonist, was breathtaking. For one thing, the colors and the smells were vibrant. He had passed two outdoor markets already, marveling at the yards of fabric, food cooking, and locals haggling and sellers acquiescing. Little kids wavered between giggling at him or staring curiously. Only some adults showed fear.
Shuri looked at him knowingly with a sweet smile.
"You once showed me what you had to protect. Now, let me show you mine."
The exchange wasn't lost on him. She handed a pair of kimoyo beads to him, and he fastened them onto his wrist. His mother's bracelet was still adorned on hers. She grabbed his hand and led him through the streets.
10. Insomnia/Pillowtalk
They were in bed together. His to be specific. The hammock was confusingly contradictory. They were cramped, but it was large enough for two full-grown adults to move about. It was also comfortable. Her head was supported with soft pillows and her body was covered with a hand-knitted blanket.
If anything, Namor was shameless. It was said as you grew older, your confidence grew as well. With his situation, he was drowning in it. He knew that he watched her greedily.
Her eyelashes were so long. Her beautiful brown face was angular but soft somehow.
Shuri had a war within herself. Wanted to be close to him but was also repulsed. When their marriage alliance between Talokan & Wakanda had been sealed, she had dutifully signed. But nothing close to intimate had happened besides the clasping of their hands at the altar. She had made sure of it.
He no longer required as much sleep as a mortal, so he could only wonder how she kept tossing and turning. Many times, she kept brushing against his thigh. He had started to mentally count if only to keep focused on less sensual things.
During the day, she had so many questions for him, his people, or Talokan in general. And he didn't mind answering. But at night, she was almost silent, save for loud mortal breathing.
"Why do you wear that?" He tried to make conversation. He lay facing her, leaning on one arm. Namor pointed to her head.
"Hmm?"
"The hat."
"It's a bonnet. It protects my hair."
He tried once more.
"Why can you not sleep?"
"I'm talking to you, am I not?"
With this, she turned her back to him. The Talokan nightgown fit her beautifully but was becoming wrinkled with her insomnia. He wished he could've slowly and purposefully smoothed out the wrinkles with his hands. But he wanted her consent and desire first. Otherwise, it would only invite disdain and a fight.
"Why don't you call me by my name?"
"I do, Namor."
"My name. Not the filth of those colonizers."
"You said your people, those who love you call you K'uk'ulkan ... There's no love here with me." Her voice was clipped. The tired edge made her sound snappy when she was usually so reserved.
For a long time, both of them were quiet while he brooded.
Finally, he tried for the last time.
"Your brother—T'Challa, was it? Tell me about him."
He knew she was awake, but she gave no response.
"What was he to you?"
"Everything." Her back still turned, but her head shifted closer to him on their shared pillow.
"And your country? What is it from your eyes?"
Shuri lay on her back now, staring not at him, but at the ceiling.
"Wakanda is also everything. It's the music, it's the way the elders are tough but childish with their grandbabies, it's in the Wakandan football games that go all night, the yams so sweet your teeth hurt ..."
Namor didn't know how long she reminisced about her country before falling asleep in his arms.