It was a gift really, to be able to make the ones you loved happy, and to see Nakiaâs response made it seem like everything will work out just fine. He didnât ask for safety much, as the Black Panther and King, it was his job to provide that after all, but Nakia gave that to him, that sense of security that he didnât have to shoulder everything alone, and that should he lose hope, hers could carry them through til he found it again. They were here, together, and together theyâll get through it all.
After so much time apart, he was all too happy to wrap her in his arms again to just let everything sink in, stay in the moment with each other, as they watched the last rays of sunlight fade into the night. He gently worried away at her fingers as he told her everything that had transpired in their home since her absence, but this time he didnât choke up, but he had her comfort now, and he could reassure himself that the worst was in the past and they only have to future to consider.
It was honestly a huge relief that her parents had made the smart choice and fled when the infection first hit the city, he doesnât think he couldâve protected them otherwise and he couldnât bear the thought of Nakia losing her family after everything thatâs happened. None of those back home were out of danger just yet, but theyâve rebuilt, just like Haven here, and he will make sure they had the resources to survive all of this.
âAye, that she is,â he chuckled in response to Nakiaâs jibe. âThat is why she is our general. And why I can trust our people to be safe, even with me here.â He patted her hand. âShuri and I should be able to reach her soon. We were only able to amass enough resources to bring forty nine people here, including myself. There are more vulnerable ones that we will have to go back for, the zombies in Wakanda are not like the ones here. They are much more calculated and lethal.â
Nakia suppressed a shudder at the thought. She still had a hard time wrapping her head around it, their home being gone, even after TâChalla had told her. And of course the virus at home had been more deadly, they were just that lucky. She took comfort in the solid body around her, snuggling against him and burying her face in his neck, a hand coming to rest on top of his heart. The slow and steady thrum soothed her, which prompted her to let out a content sigh. âIâm sure you will. Both of you.â she reassured him, sensing his worry for those he left behind.
She twisted slightly in his arms so she was resting with her back to the window and her shoulder leaning against his chest. His hand, which had been against her stomach moved along her midriff as she turned, ending by her ribcage. She stiffened slightly, shooting a quick look towards his face to see if the damage was done. She knew heâd not appreciate her newly acquired habits, or lack of necessary ones, for that matter, but she didnât want him to see how much sheâd cracked in his absence. She needed to distract him. A hand moved subconsciously to the chain around her neck, fingering the ring anxiously as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation.
At the mention of his sister she moved back slightly to be able to see his face, rearranging her know pointier limbs so they wouldnât dig into his body without conscious thought, and took her chance. âI take it youâve seen your sister already?â she asked, a genuine smile conquering her face. The siblings had always been very close despite their age difference, and she was sure it must have been quite the reunion. Nakia had watched how her husbandâs absence had affected Shuri, sheâd missed her big brother terribly. She was glad sheâd also gotten to have him back. Hopefully the joy of seeing his flesh and blood again would distract him enough of what she didnât want him to see, didnât want him to know. He had enough on his plate, he didnât need anymore coming from her.
