Without Question
Shang-Chi x Reader
(Word Count: 2.3k)
The morning was just starting, but the city had been awake for hours now.
From the window, you could see the constant flow of bodies moving from sidewalk to sidewalk. You gulped your tea, the warmth traveling down your whole body. San Francisco was always so cold, you thought, but really, everywhere was cold compared to your home.
BEEP! BEEEEPPP! BEEP!
Shaun’s hand was shutting off his alarm as quickly as it went off. You watch him groan and pull himself upwards. There was no shiver on his body as he pushed the blankets back, not even when his bare chest was out.
“You’re the one who forces yourself to get up this early, you know.” You said, watching him wipe the sleep from his eyes.
Shaun held out his arms for you, and you took them, setting your tea aside. The heat from his bare chest warmed you up better than any tea or blanket. You could feel his heart beating, the steady rhythm a dull morning comfort.
“I do like my job, you know.” He says, pressing his head into the crook of your neck, his hair brushing against your skin.
You took a breath as he kissed your forehead, getting all the way out of bed and into his workout. You headed to the kitchen to get ready for the day. Your scarf had fallen off, and it had still taken you time to get used to wearing it again. It had grown out in the three years you had been stateside and away from Wakanda.
…
“I’ll meet you after I get Katy, yeah?” Shaun asked, but he was already halfway gone.
You knew it would make more sense to go with him and you all go together, but Sean and Katy had been friends for so long, you had no desire to step into that time. They’d have to double back to get to the bus stop, anyway, and that'd mean more alone time. A vibration rattled on the dresser, snatching you out of your thoughts. You closed the curtains and locked the bedroom door.
Bitterness sat on your tongue. When this was all over, Shaun would need Katy to get through it. You’d be long gone by then.
“General,” you said, bowing your head in deference.
“(Y/N), report.”
Your General’s face was a welcome sight. And you felt yourself slipping into your own Wakandan accent with the familiar sound of hers. It had been so long since you had been home.
“How is the West?”
“Cold.”
Okoye gave a slight smile, her dark eyes playful, but tired.
“The people still struggle here for the basics. Shelter, food and water, even. Those who were here do not wish to make room for those who were not, and those who were not here, do not wish to accept those who were.”
The General nodded gravely, knowing all too well the problems that have come since Thanos. You and the General were not snapped, and in seeing the world be ravaged with suffering—she sent you and others around the world offering aid. But as no country would want such threats on their own soil, you live in secret, hiding in plain sight.
“And the Outreach Center? How are the children across the water?”
You smile at that. And though your windows and doors are closed for security, you imagine the city on the other side of the bridge—of Oakland and its children.
“We accommodate many there, General. And we will continue to.”
It was true—the center was more important now than ever. When the world was thrown into crisis, no one seemed to wonder about the families and the people suffering and forgotten. Sometimes you’d look at the apartment building of that Erik Killmonger, step into the room where he and Prince N’Jobu watched and lived for so long. All the good of the people, but all the neglect laid at their feet.
You did not like going up there after Thanos. It was all too much to see. And you were all at once grateful for the sound of Okoye calling your name.
“…General, would…Nakia be available for a word?” You asked.
Okoye frowned and looked off towards the side.
“No,” she said, but then she seemed to take in your surroundings a bit more. At your afro, put up in a puff with your curly wayward edges out and free. At the soft t-shirt too big to be your own.
“Report on Shang-Chi?”
The General’s expectant stare was worse than anything your own mother could have done. You swallowed the taste of the leftover sweetness from your tea, still echoing on your tongue. Hearing his true name sent reality crashing down.
“A card. From his sister.” You tell her.
There was a knot in your stomach, twisting and flipping so bad you wanted to vomit. But you knew even that wouldn’t solve the problem.
“ (Y/N). I want to be kept informed… If there is a moment, and you cannot do what is necessary, you will call and I will come.” Okoye declared.
Only the sound of your breathing and the General’s piercing gaze filled the space.
“I did what I had to when my love became my enemy. For Wakanda.”
And you realized then that the General knew exactly your predicament. And that she had lived it—her weapon poised against the man she loved. And through the hurt was unwavering loyalty—for her country, she would act. You wanted to ask her when that man became just a man.
It was unlikely.
“For Wakanda, General.” You replied.
The call clicked off, and you took a breath. He would be back soon, and everything had to go back to the way it was when he left.
But you couldn’t get the look on his face as he read his sister’s postcard. You wondered if it was the same face he would give you if he found out.
…
The bus ride was the same as any other. Katy had been going on about the girl in front of y’all, but you were too busy trying not to look Shaun in the eyes. As if he could see the betrayal written on your face.
A group of men walk up to the three of you expectantly. Not you and Katy, but Shaun. They spoke in Mandarin, but you had to pretend your ears didn’t prick up at it. But they came for Shaun’s pendant, the one his mother gave him.
They grabbed his arms when he stood up. You felt the familiar weight of him drift away as he stepped forward, his body a barrier between you and the newcomers. Katy was on the other side of you, and you could hear the nervous hitch in her breath. You took her hand reassuringly, the other on your sleeve, where your spear sat sheathed and hidden.
Not yet. Not yet. Not yet.
You itched to do something. Shaun could handle himself…but everyone on this bus wasn’t so lucky. The General would pull you the second she knew you blew your cover.
It all went out the window when Katy stood up, outrage flashing.
“C’mon bro—”
Before she could get her words out, one of the men mushed Katy’s head into the bus window. You pulled back to stay out of the fray, eyes darting at every burst of movement.
Shaun was…impressive. Landing blows and dodging the reactions. He made quick work of them, and while there would be a time for talking later, your secret was safe. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding.
Until, it somehow got worse.
A big man, bigger than Shaun, shrugged off his coat. He revealed an amputation where his forearm should have been. A long, thick blade unsheathed itself, and it was charged with some kind of energy.
He made to swing at Shaun—the nagging voice in your head told you to stop, but you couldn’t. You branded your spear, blocking the attack just in time. You heard Shaun’s breath hitch and had to ignore it, realizing the sword cut through the roof! You cursed, breaking the hold and swinging for his head. He blocked again, but this time Shaun was there, fighting alongside you.
The first round of men were beginning to recover when the bus swerved—the driver had been knocked unconscious. In your distraction, the man kicked you, knocking all the air out of your lungs. You wheezed for breath, catching a glimpse of Shaun in the driver’s seat. The familiar metallic taste of blood and a throbbing pain in your cheek brought you back, knocking down the men as they all converged on Shaun.
The man with a sword tore through the bottom of the bus, at the part where one half connected to the other. Immediately you began ushering the riders to the front, dodging the ever widening gap. Katy was driving, somehow. The last one, who had recorded the whole thing, only barely made it.
Shaun was sending men flying from the growing gap, but sword remained a problem. Bracing yourself, you spied your target and jumped into the front car. By the time you landed, Shaun had kicked the one armed man to the second half of the bus. You seized the opportunity, using your spear to cut the connecting bolt.
Enemy dealt with, but the bus was still going uncontrollably. You planted the spear in the floor and stood in the open gap so no one would fly out. Thank Bast Shaun and Katy had figured out how to slow down—using other cars to do it.
When you finally skidded to a stop, you retracted your weapon, and began checking on passengers. You could feel Shaun’s eyes on you, and heard Katy’s terrified voice. But you couldn’t look. At either of them.
There were retreating footsteps and a shaking female hand holding yours—Katy. You blinked in surprise.
“You, too.” She said, wide eyed and panting. Katy dragged you along after Shaun, dread building in your stomach.
…
You and Katy caught up to him at the apartment, where you had so much peace only a few hours before. Shaun was a blur, throwing clothes in a suitcase haphazardly. The postcard his sister sent him in his hand.
“Everything will be fine—”
“No Shaun! A guy just chopped our bus in half! Tell me what the hell was that!” Katy cried out. Shaun seemed to consider answering, but stopped what he was doing to stare at you.
“My dad’s men. But you knew that already, (Y/N)?” He replied, as if the words took him aback as he said them.
You pulled your bottom lip down, the dark tattoo shining in otherworldly light. Shaun—Shang-Chi— that was his name, and you would call him by it. You had to call him something other than what you had been because the way he was looking at you was…not him.
“I knew Shang-Chi was living in San Francisco, but that attack was unexpected. I blew my cover in this country to protect you.”
There was pain and anger in his eyes, so much of it… and hearing his name, his true name did something to him. Shame burned through you—at the lies and the games. But then you remembered you were not the only one with false pretenses.
“You are the son of a dangerous man,” you said quietly, emotion caught in your throat, “My country has decided the world has had enough of dangerous men since the Snap.”
You lifted your gaze to his defiantly—at the man who you wanted to run to and hold and love, who now wanted none of those things with you. You were loyal to your country—to protect the people who had already been dealt enough. You imagined the congested streets, and clusters of people who always looked lost and alone.
Shang-Chi still hadn’t spoken.
“I was…an assignment?” He broke his silence, crestfallen.
“I was only meant to keep tabs, periodically, not—“
“Us. Because ‘I’m the son of a dangerous man’,” He concluded with a bitter bark of laughter. Tears threatened to spill but you wouldn’t let them.
“And would you have told me the truth? You certainly didn’t tell Katy.”
Katy, who had been watching the two of you unfold for a while now finally stepped in.
“Where are you going?” She asked, pointing at the suitcase. You wanted to know, too.
“My sister. They were after my necklace, which means they’ll go after hers, too.” He let out, lost in thought. He hadn’t even mentioned a sister before.
“I’m going with you,” the words flying out your mouth instantly. Shang-Chi shook his head—venturing towards you. His firm no didn’t match the gentleness of his hand on your wrist. Still upset, very upset, but not hateful. He didn’t hate you.
“I came to the West to offer Wakandan aid and sanctuary in a country that was too proud to accept it. I’m so sorry—“
He cut you off with a kiss. A hard, passionate kiss with his hands pulling you as close as you could be. Forgiveness in every lingering touch motion.
“Hi. Still here. Yeah, I know you’re in a moment and this is not at all awkward,” Katy chirped.
You pulled away as heat burned your cheeks, grateful he couldn’t see it. You had honestly forgotten she was there.
“I’m sorry, too. I..never wanted either of you to know.” Shang-Chi admitted, lips a little swollen.
“Plane tickets. The next flight out.” Katy added, heading for the door, probably to get packing. She left and you meant to do the same, but Shang-Chi caught you between the bathroom door and the wall. His hands roaming wherever they pleased.
“My dad. He…”
The story poured out of him, of his parents, his sister, running away. Becoming Shaun. Tears finally fell, and you hugged him as tight as you could. What a lonely, lonely life he’d been living all this time.
“Don’t cry,” Shang-Chi said softly.
“I’m going with you.” You announced, meeting his gaze.
Those soft doe eyes sparkled with emotion. And the balled, shaking fists at his sides. You took them both, waiting for the anger and the hurt to pass.
It would be a long ride when everything came crashing down.