t'challa likes cats (wakandaforever) wrote in thedisplaced, @ 2018-08-28 12:12:00 |
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It had been a few days since their return from Zimbabwe and already T’Challa was feeling the urge to return out into the world. He had struggled through his arrival into this new world and situation, without the backing and support of Wakanda and its people. His country had given him a sense of self, a sense of purpose, especially after the turmoil of his cousin N'Jadaka showing up and shaking up the core beliefs of Wakandans everywhere including T’Challa’s. But whatever sense of self and purpose he had then, it didn’t translate over to this new world very well. At first he had attempt to gain allies, to create a council where all members of the Displaced would get a say. But given the immaturity of some of the other groups and the lack of leadership in others, very few groups would have worked well in that sort of system and he took Okoye’s council and let that idea settle, for the moment. The Displaced were better off serving under this wild wild west system of ideologies. So he went and sought out more to do, to find something that would make a change for the better in this world. Because without that, he had nothing to do than meddle and plan and wait for things to happen instead of making them happen. Reactive instead of proactive. That wasn’t in his cards though, it had never been, and quickly, he found his passions again - animal conservation and projects to help members of humanity better their lives. It had started with the water project, which then became saving Zambezi elephants, which was now becoming saving animals from illegal auctions in the Philippines. The future only knew what else would come after that. And what little of his family and people he had here, they seemingly were flourishing in this new direction they were going in. And finally, T’Challa was at peace. Well, almost. There was still the matter of his ever complicated feelings for Nakia. Since even before his arrival among the Displaced, he was no longer sure of his feelings for the woman. She was his love from a young age, always ever present even when they were no longer together, because they always managed to find themselves drawn back to one another. But over the last two years, those feelings had started to change and he couldn’t exactly pinpoint when and why that happened, but it had. There was no doubt in his mind that he cared for her a great deal, felt love and affection toward her, but was it romantic? It was starting to become obvious to him that maybe it no longer was. He had spoken to Okoye about it, to a degree, but it was obvious to him that the woman he needed to speak to about this wasn’t her, rather, it was Nakia herself. With a sense of purpose, he sought her out and wasn’t surprised to find her in the backyard with her Pokemon, a Meowth. Smiling as he watched her, he approached. “Molo!” It would be obvious to anyone in that moment that if there was anything in the world that had Nakia’s heart right now, it was the animal that batted at her hand as she teased its belly with rubs. Nazihah was already one spoiled Meowth since the day Nakia had brought her back with her. When she heard T’Challa, it took her a second or two to be able to tear her eyes off of the animal to glance over her shoulder and return the greeting. “Slept well?” she asked, bringing her attention back to the Meowth. Nakia sat in the grass, her legs tucked under her. When she straightened up, bringing her hands away from the feline, it followed, crawling onto her lap. “Are you already thinking of the next cause you’re going to pack for?” It was partially a tease and partially genuine. Nakia knew him well enough to be certain that T’Challa was running his mind through what else could be done to help this world. It was a part of him that she always would respect and admire. No matter how close or far they drifted. “As well as one can while being away from Wakanda,” T’Challa offered in answer, as he took a seat across from Nakia. He hadn’t brought his Pokemon out often, preferring to let his Aerodactyl fly free in whatever Poke dimension the Pokemon went to when they lived in their Pokeballs, but he did play with the others’ animals as often as they allowed. “I think I’ll wait until we stop this auction before I start looking to future missions,” T’Challa said with a smile, as he reached out to pet the Mewoth. It was obvious to anyone with eyes though that the animal preferred Nakia as it shied away from T’Challa. “I actually had other thoughts on my mind,” he started, peering at Nakia, as his hands absently picked at the grass they were sitting on. “I was thinking of us.” Nakia’s hands stilled at that comment. It wasn’t exactly “we need to talk” but it could potentially carry the same weight. Those words could have brought anxiety to anyone in a relationship they thought was running smoothly, but on the other hand, it could have also been a thrill and uplifting sensation. Nakia felt neither anxiety nor thrill, but slight wariness. Truth be told, T’Challa would be the only one who had been doing the thinking. Nakia’s mind had been preoccupied with virtually anything and everything else since they had landed in this world. Before this discussion, she wouldn’t have thought much of it, but now that she had realized this… did she want that? Did she want there to be an “us”? What did it mean when one had been perfectly content about not thinking about any of them for several months at this point? Nakia blinked up at him once and attempted to mask any sign of wariness of her face. “Oh? What’s up?” she tried for a casual tone as she scooped up Nazihah in arms, protectively. They had, for years, been together on and off. They would go years without seeing each other, seeing others in the meantime, and then picking it back up like it was nothing. But this last time? After arriving in this new world? They hadn't drifted back together like they always had. So it finally felt like maybe they had finally reached the final stage of their relationship - at least, to T’Challa. “For years we have been in each other's orbits. Friends, lovers, and counsel to each other. I think I'm ready to close one aspect of our relationship, however.” It was obvious where this was going, though T’Challa was gentling his words. “Things have been different this time around. I'm sure you've felt that as well. There will never be a time where I will ever stop loving you, but I think I am ready to admit that I will never be the one to make you settle down.” Nakia was silent for a moment, long enough for it to just start to become uncomfortable, though she hadn’t intended it to be. She was a pro at talking. Give her a mission and she can speak to the right people in the right manner to get what information she needed. She always had a charming quip at the tip of her tongue. But T’Challa would always be different. He wasn’t her mission. He was home for her. Or a part of it, also made up of Shuri, Okoye, the other War Dogs, and the other royalty of Wakanda. So, that meant coming up with diplomatic words to say to him weren’t usually as easy. Really, though, he was right. She was hardly one to ever settle. In another life, she would have loved to be his queen and spend the rest of her life with him, but that Nakia wouldn’t have been a War Dog and would have been ready to stay in one spot and start a family with him even. The Nakia in this reality just couldn’t see herself sitting still for long. “I feel the same,” she finally said with some sad resignation in her voice. “I would not stop loving you either, of course. You are my confidant, my best friend, for as long as I can imagine… but…” She likely didn’t really need to add to that statement because T’Challa had said it all well enough. T’Challa reached out for her hand, to hold it. The smile on his face was small and a little sad, but it was accepting of what was going on. “I will always love you, Nakia. That will never change because I don’t see my life without you in some fashion and I hope you feel the same.” The mood was somber and there was a faint ringing noise in his ears, but there was a weight being lifted off his shoulders, knowing that this uncertainty was dealt with. Nakia would always be a part of his being, of his life, of his past, and his future. But now he knew he wasn’t holding her back or putting expectations on her. “I can’t exactly say that I’m glad about this, but I will admit that I’m finally content to address this with you.” In those seconds of talk, the feline Pokemon had taken the opportunity to slink off, so Nakia was left with two free hands, and she sandwiched T’Challa’s hand in between her own. “We are human, T’Challa. Seeking companionship will always be in our nature.” Nakia didn’t mention that in some cases, that companionship meant physical intimacy. The last time she and T’Challa had shared anything like that was the kiss before the UN meeting. Could she live without the physical aspect? Perhaps. Keep herself busy in missions long enough and she might not have to ever dwell on it. It helped that she only ever felt sexual attraction to someone she had a strong emotional and mental bond with. But, she certainly felt the same way, that she couldn’t live without having him in her life. “I do feel the same,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “I want you to know, however, if anything changes in the future, you will always have my shoulders and ears to rely on, and my support.” Squeezing her hand back in response, T’Challa smiled at her. “I never thought for a second that I had lost your ear.” As far as break ups went, especially after such a long time of orbiting each other’s hemispheres, this was pretty amicable. He gestured toward the house. “Join me for a meal? We can speak of Indonesia and you can catch me up on what else has been going on in your life.” He knew that there was something about a black ops group, but given their need for secrecy and trusting Nakia to make the right choices for her, he wasn’t planning on asking her about it. But he was sure that there was more than that going on in her life. Maybe now they would have an easier time of talking to one another. |