You sigh as you look at the outsider and knows he's about to cause trouble. You fall in step with him and W'Kabi. With a single look, W'Kabi stops walking and glares at you.
"Eshe! Don't—."
"I will deal with him. Tell T'Challa I am handling it."
"Jaguars," he mumbles.
A sharp claw traces his neck and he swallows.
"I don't like you and the only reason I don't have your head is because of Okoye and T'Challa. Go and take them the body."
You pull the outsider to your private quarters and he whistles.
"Nice but I want to see the king."
"I'm afraid that will not happen. This is only a brief stop."
You step behind folding doors and reappear in satin black shorts, a matching top, and a gold sheer robe. You have on black sneakers. Your hair is gone and Erik sees you have some kind of design on your head.
"Name?"
"Erik."
"No, your Wakandan name."
"None of your business lady."
You smirk.
"It's fine N'Jadaka."
His eyes narrow.
"How...?"
"I am surprised you do not remember me. We did after all, attend MIT together and became black ops together. Or maybe I would be easier to recognise if I still had my hair."
Erik stares and gasps.
"Raven?"
You chuckle before pulling him after you. He follows as you take him down a torch lit path. You two enter a small sanctuary and you say something in a soft voice before golden fires light on their own. Erik sees pictures of gold and black jaguars on the wall before he sees a statue of a Jaguar who is snarling but curled around a man who wears a black suit with gleams of gold.
You bow before plucking a berry from a nearby bush and eating it.
"Erik your plan...it will do more harm then good. You know this."
"How?"
You sigh as you begin to explain. The man sits quietly, listening to you. He hates to admit it but you're right.
"Eshe!"
T'Challa runs in with okoye and two other Dora Milaje. He is in his suit, only his face revealed.
"I am fine my king. I was just talking with Erik. Sometimes, soft words solve more problems."
T'Challa smiles before giving Erik a weary look.
"Do you trust him?"
"Yes however, I do understand why you would not. I have already asked Shuri to send me a bracelet. I'll be able to make sure he stays out of trouble. Most of the time."
"He will stay with you?"
"Yes. You do need another Jaguar."
T'Challa chuckles before nodding in agreement. Erik wonders if he knows what he's getting himself into.
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Erik groaned as he lands on his back and you chuckle, holding your hand out for him. He takes it and you pull him off.
"T'Challa wants to talk to you."
"Just me?"
"Yes. I don't know why. I'll be in my quarters when you return."
"How you know I'll want to see you?"
"Well, in that case I shall go enjoy myself."
Erik smirks before walking off as you headed to your room to shower and change.
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Erik goes to your room and sees you aren't there. He frowns before he begins looking for you. He finally finds you and he frowns.
M'Baku is talking to you and he reaches out, fixing the robe you wear. You smile at him before laughing.
"I would love for you to visit. It's beautiful and you would really relax. No technology to get you excited."
"Is that the only way I'll relax?"
M'Baku smirks.
"Doesn't have to be."
"Eshe. We have a mission."
You turn and look at Erik.
"I will see you around M'Baku."
He grabs your waist before pulling you back. He grabs your hand and slips his ring on your finger. He kisses the ring and you blush. Erik growls and rips you away.
You yelp as Erik pulls you after him.
"Erik! What the fuck?!"
"I don't trust him."
You huff.
"Erik..."
"Look let's just...just go."
You nodded and went to get ready.
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"Eshe!"
You groan as you go down, a pain spreading in your body. Erik cuts the men down before scooping you up and praying to any god to hear you. He puts a kimono bead in your wound before holding you close as he runs with you.
"Erik..."
He looks down.
"Eshe!"
"The...ring...touch...gem..."
You blackout and Erik sees the ring and does as you say. He gasps as he and you are surrounded in a gold and black mist.
It clears up and he finds himself back in the palace. He takes off and ends up in Shuri's lab. She jumps and sees Erik.
"She's hurt!" He chokes out.
She quickly puts you on the table and sets to work.
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Erik has showered and changed clothes but he refuses to leave the lab. He sits next to you, looking at you. All the memories he has with comes back like a flood.
Flashback
Erik whistles as the woman with killer curves walks into the classroom and takes the last available seat which happens to be next to him.
"Hey Ma," He says, a smirk on his lips and his eyes playful.
She looks him over before smirking right back.
"Hey Pa."
Erik laughs and she laughs with him.
"Erik Stevens."
"Raven Black."
"Maybe this political history class won't be so bad."
You smile before looking at the professor who has begun lecturing.
End Flashback
Flashback
Erik grabs your arm and yanks you into the hall.
"How are we getting out of here?!" He hisses.
"We are ghost Erik. Remember?" You say with a smirk.
He feels his confidence return and he follows you through the hall. You both have your guns ready just in case. He hears a crunch and instantly you both are in position.
It's Derek.
He holds his hands up and you all begin moving again, not a sound heard. You all make it out and to the dark forest waiting.
You hit a button on your watch and they watch as the large mansion explodes. Erik smirks as you stare blank face.
"Let's go," you say, already walking away.
Returning to the base, Erik is in the locker making another scare for another kill.
"Killmonger."
He looks up at you and you raise an eyebrow before throwing a salve at him.
"To keep it from getting infected."
You walk off and Erik smiles. So you do care for him.
End flashback
Flashback
Erik stares at the spot where you used to sit during mission debriefs. It's empty and Erik feels a lump in his throat.
You died in an explosion. You hadn't made it out in time when Derek hit the button. Erik had screamed at him to stop but he hadn't listen. You were gone. Lost in the rubble.
He barely listens to the mission before he leaves the room when Everyone else does. He returns to his room and for once in years, Erik cries into his pillow, wishing you would come back and give him that playful smirk and bright eyes.
End flashback
"How close are you two?"
Erik blinks before looking at Shuri.
"We went to college and the army together. We became ghosts together. I thought I lost her on a mission...I don't want to lose her again."
Shuri squeezes his shoulder.
"Eshe is one of our best soldiers. She won't die."
Erik looks at your peaceful face and he prays Shuri is right.
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You wake up and see you are in the plane. You are in traditional priestess clothes and you lick your lips. An array of animals who glow sit looking at you.
"Eshe," the golden jaguar says.
"Jaguar."
"You are dying. We can help you live but you must take the gift."
The Gift.
You always rejected it, afraid of being an outcast who's powers did not come from science or at least a blessed fruit. A gift from the gods.
You see the box with the gift. All you have to do is open it.
"Do you want to live?" The silver gorilla asks.
"Yes...I have so much to do..."
"A man to love," a Panther says with a small smirk.
You blush but nod. You had fallen in love with Erik in college and it broke your heart when you had to fake your death to return home.
Him coming back brought those old emotions back. They came back stronger and deeper. They scared you but you just let them be: never allowing them to cross the line but not burying them.
"I accept."
You open the box and it goes white.
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You wake with a start and the group there jumps before rushing to you. You are glowing gold and T'Challa grabs Erik to keep him from hugging you. You look at yourself and they gasp. On your skin are white and black tattoos, all ancient and meaningful. Your Dora Milaje tattoo is gone and is replaced by pure white hair (thankfully short). Your eyes are gold, bright and alert.
You get off the table and instantly the gown disappears replaced by a simple black two piece short set. A golden kimono robe covers you and it seems to glimmer on its own. You look down and gasp.
You look up and instantly see Erik. You hear Bast in your head.
A man to love.
You all but tackle Erik, making everyone (everyone being T'Challa, Shuri, Okoye, W'Kabi, and M'Baku) jump.
You kiss Erik and he kisses back, holding you close like you'll disappear if at any moment.
"Don't do that ever again," he whispers in your ears as you hug him.
"I won't. I promise."
Tchalla helps you two off the floor and Erik hugs you again, holding you close.
In another plane the gods smile.