Chapter Text
Back inside the young royal’s room, Riri was nestled into Shuri’s arms again listening for her heartbeat. Mindlessly making figure 8s along her bare abdomen. Ensuring that the woman with her was indeed real.
There lying in Shuri, Riri felt something pulling on her heart. 'What good was just holding Shuri?' she thougt to herself. She wanted to have her. To be able to own all their kisses. To be promised more slow, romantic ones.
Shuri looks over and sees Riri’s brow laid in thorn. It was clear she was deep in thought, and unless she was resolving the Collatz Conjecture in her head, Shuri couldn't pin point what was so heavy on her mind.
Shuri continues eyeing Riri for more hints. Then it clicks. She was wondering what they were. What they would become outside these walls. Outside Wakanda.
Simultaneously, the two start talking. While Shuri starts with “Ri-” the woman curled into her tries breaking the silence with, “Shu-”
As if nothing was just weighing heavy on their minds, the room fills with fits of giggles. It was refreshing how she was able to not be a princess or the Black Panther here in her bubble with Riri. Once they subside, Shuri tries again. Desperately trying not to look too close at the grin set into Riri’s features or else she would forget what she was gathering courage to tell her.
“Ri, I want more movie nights.”
“Aight, I mean I’m here for two more nights so-”
“Riri.”
She stops at the interruption and sits up to look Shuri in her eyes. Wondering why the way Shuri said her name that time called for her attention.
“I don’t just want movie nights. I want more nights like this.” Shuri confesses.
“You’re saying…”
“That I’m willing to try a relationship with you if you want it.” she takes a deep breath tilting her head up to the ceiling. Then she continues,”Riri. You get me. I can name other geniuses. But they’ll never be like you. I think I…” Shuri’s sentence trails while tears threaten to escape her eyes as she continues to make eye contact will the ceiling rather than the brown orbs looking into her.
Riri reaches across to lay her hand on Shuri’s knee. Among the people that Riri’s lost they all had the one thing in common. She loved them. Both platonically and as family. Riri understood Shuri’s struggle to finish her train of thought aloud.
How do you say that you think you might love someone when those that say, "I love you" keep leaving? Left to feel as if love is cursed for you. Something you've come so close to keeping yet it keeps slipping out of your reaches. Riri understood how scary it is to say 'love'
Riri pulled Shuri into an embrace.
"Me too."
Their comforting hugs turned into sweet, nippy kisses. In their own way, were confessions themselves.
Shuri and Riri continue to christen each other’s lips again and again. Hopefully they'll get to for a long time. Maybe even forever.
Seeing as that’s what they both dream about, it might just mean they love each other.