Ithemba - Rayne_NeonRyu - Black Panther (Marvel Movies) [Archive of Our Own] (2024)

“You get what he’s been yapping for the last two hours?”

“Not a f*cking word.”

“Then stop staring like you want to eat him.”

“...I can’t.”

Shuri sighed softly, as if waking up from a dream.

She looked towards the name tag of the speaker, who had been chattering away tirelessly for the last two hours. The man who had such a magnetic and honeyed voice. He has a voice full of disdain for the injustice in the world, and he dares to speak out for it. Ripping apart every ugly truth that society has died to hide.

“Na-mor… Al-me-hen…”

Even though she didn’t understand a f*cking word he said…

“A rebel, ” Shuri whispered softly.

…she received all the emotions in them.

“—Last but not least, I’m Namor Almehen from Talokan, thank you for coming to my talk today.”

“f*ck,” Shuri cursed. “Buddy could speak English all this time???” She was so ready, planning to take courses to learn his language, like right now.

Whatever language he was speaking, she’s going to make it the only language her tongue knows.

“Duh, when he wants too, I guess,” Riri couldn’t help but burst into an incredulous grin when the speaker, Namor—

The man’s deep eyes looked in their direction. Among the crowd leaving the venue, he was looking straight at her best friend, Shuri—

DAFUQ, this sh*t ain’t happening right in front of her f*cking eyes!!! Riri huffed out in disbelief when she couldn’t tug her best friend away, the girl was rooted on the spot!

“Seriously, Shuri? Stop eye-f*cking each other right in front of me!” Riri laughed, guessing her best friend just had a little lovestruck moment there.

“...You go first, Riri… I’ll… catch up later?” Shuri co*cked her eyebrows at the man staring at her. He did the same playfully.

Oh, f*ck.

“Gimme a boost, Riri, COME ON. Your best friend’s lifetime happiness depends on this.”

And Shuri was gently shoved away from her spot. Like a pretty flower blooming with fruits being plucked out of the earth.

f*cking Namor Almehen plucked her soul.

“You don’t even speak Mayan, Shuri. You better come up with other tricks, like right NOW, to leave an impression if you want to—” Riri continued to nudge Shuri from behind, down the stairs, towards him. Namor was packing his stuff in a painfully slow manner.

Oh. So he was speaking Mayan all this time? Breathtaking.

“Why do I feel like I’m walking you down the aisle? Goddamn it, Shuri, move your ass! He’s leaving!” Riri bumped into her, and her best friend turned around to face her.

Shuri stared at her, her eyes shining like crazy, and told her, “You know what, Riri? I get it now…” As she stepped backwards, she pointed at Riri confidently and declared,

“Rebellions are built on hope.”

Shuri smiled like a rogue.

Turning around, she heard Riri laugh and shout, “You hoped you could speak Mayan right now, RIGHT?!”

Riri watched as Shuri made a beeline and accidentally bumped straight into an awfully slowed leaving Namor, headstrong.

“Wow, wow, wow, slow down, princess,” he said.

Oh, f*ck.

His things scattered to the floor as Namor steadied her. Shuri quickly picked up his books, reaching out for him, but when he reached out to take them, she retracted her outstretched hands and hugged them tightly to her chest.

Shuri beamed unapologetically.

“Sorry for bumping into you, but not really~ cuz can you teach me how to say “I’m your future wife” in Mayan?”

Riri almost screamed in amazement at the back when she saw Namor visibly freeze like an antelope in headlights at Shuri’s bold question.

Shuri witnessed with her own eyes as his stunned stare turned to surprise, and his eyes slowly, gradually, and immensely looked at her with more and more shimmering joy. He looked at her as being so straightforward and smiled.

She could drown in his beautiful brown eyes.

Shuri witnessed Namor, who lowered his gaze as he smirked wider, nodding his head in surrender, with the corners of his mouth raised crazily.

He stretched out his hand without saying anything. Instead, Namor met her gaze, indicating he wanted his things back with his soulful and rich eyes. Shuri swiftly gave them back.

Thinking it’s never too late for her to excuse herself and run now—

Namor took his things, and then, with an absurd level of silky smoothness, he held her wrist.

She didn’t dodge or take her hand away.

Shuri smiled, not so secretly, as Namor faced her, bending down slightly. He looked into her eyes and asked in a demanding yet soft whispering tone with that magnetic voice of his.

“I think you should first teach me how to say them in your mother tongue, like, “Hello, what is your name? You beautiful woman who stole my heart from so far away.”

Shuri thinks she’s going insane, and she loves it. “It’s just a few steps down the stairs.”

He couldn’t help but tease, “Took you long enough. I’m Namor, I guess you already know that.” He shrugged with mischief. “Are you free now? There’s a cafe around the corner here, and it’s really good.”

Shuri stretched her nervous palms a little too excitedly. “You mean Con La Brisa? I heard it’s quite famous. I uh… I really wanted to go with you, but I had a date with my friend—”

Shuri turned around to look for Riri and found her talking on the phone, waving her to go first. She waved her away like a plague.

“Oops, it looks like you are mine now.” Namor grinned at her.

Shuri grinned from ear to ear, her eyes twinkling at him. “Guess I’m yours now~ I’m Shuri, nice to meet you!” She reached up with her other palm, his hand still around her wrist, and she wanted to politely shake h—

Smoothly, Namor took her hand, holding her carefully within his very palm, with questioning yet unwavering eyes. “Nice to meet you, Shuri. ” His thumb rubbing gentle circles at the back of her hand as he w—

And when her fingers were tightly intertwined with his, Namor’s face mirrored the same sweet smile as hers. The rising corners of their mouths were curved up high into the sky, their eyes blazing just like the sun.

Shuri tightened her grip, waving their intertwined hands. “I can teach you everything, sithandwa sam,” she giggled in happiness.

Namor led her the way out, smiling, “I am very honoured, princess. Then let’s go to the cafe and catch up. Ah, in Mayan, I would say…”

Hand in hand, they walked together.

“What do you say?” Shuri asked curiously, her big, beautiful doe eyes were not helping.

Namor thinks he’s f*cked.

“Ko’one’ex, in atan.”

…

When Shuri turned around and gave her a victory sign, Riri saluted her bestie with her arms crossed in front of her chest, amused and wondering—

She’s going to be a bridesmaid very soon, RIGHT???????