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It was midafternoon closer to noon, the sun shone bright as it sat high in the sky; but its heat wasn’t as shearing as previous days, the warmth from it was comfortable and soothing. The soft winds cascaded over the ocean bringing its moisture inland giving off a tranquility setting.
Her thoughts ran deep, in reminiscing about things of the past and how much her world had changed. Some for the good but as much for the bad. The nation endured the loss of one ruler after another, the royal family slowly diminishing before their eyes from one event to another. The last just a little over a year after the second, all tragic deaths.
The discovery of a nation of people from the sea started a chain reaction. The taking of the princess, the loss of her rank and position as the general of the Dora, war waged on Wakanda, the death of the Queen mother and the making of a new Black Panther. Yet, her people survived; an alliance put in place with the defeat of the underwater world’s leader.
Now, here she stood poised on the beach awaiting the commencement of a meeting way overdue since its development. It was his head that popped through the waters first and floated towards her as his full body gradually emerged and sauntered up to her, stopping within a foot of her; and towering over her like a menacing giant.
But she never flinched, staring out to sea eyes shielded by the dark glasses that covered them. Only the movement of her torso inhaling and exhaling the ocean air gave evidence indeed she was alive and not some statue erected in the spot.
He stared at her momentarily, before stepping alongside her looking off in the opposite way to the background of their presence. He waited to see if she would start up the conversation and when he saw he would have to initiate it; after all, he created the necessity for the discussion.
“I want to first thank you for agreeing to conference with me and understand your hesitation. Our history of events has dictated your uneasiness due to the conflict between our nations, and what my people has cost yours.” He paused to give her time to respond at this time if she chose to do so; but she remained silent. He breath in and out knowing this wouldn’t be easy.
“I discovered after the bridge you were stripped of your rank. That had to have been devastating to endure, I do not think I could have. But you did by reinventing yourself in a different branch of your defense.” He spoke partially in his language and hers, as he had spent most of the last several months learning hers, so he could speak it to her. She never replied but continued to stare into the vast ocean as it roared.
“But I am not here to rehash the invents that has brought us to this time and place,” he turned his head to look down on her, and saw she wasn’t outwardly responding but he knew she was feeling something, and restraining herself as he would have done the same.
He turned his head looking once again towards the humongous trees that stood as a barrier from whatever was on the other side of them, giving them the seclusion so needed. He searched for the words he had practiced over and over for months, but they seemed so inadequate for what he wanted to express to her.
“When I saw you walking into the room where the negotiations were going to take place for the alliance, it surprised me, and I was taken aback. I did not know that you would be present, or I would have requested to take my leave and allow another in my place instead.” Again, he allowed her time to interject and as before, she refrains from doing so. “It would mark the first time since our battle on the ship, we would see each other and seeing you took my breath away. You were all I thought about afterwards.” He glanced over at her to see her reaction to his declaration, and thought he saw her clenching her jaw.
“I had hoped at some point in time you would look my way, but you never did,” he confessed. “I couldn’t blame you.” He recalled her coming in and he did quietly gasped, becoming weaken at the knees. Visualizing her in this aspect had a different feel. He could admire her without trying to attack or defend.
The day after their encounter on the warship and her sending him flying into the ocean, something was planted inside of him, and she became his obsession. So, yes when she walked in with her King and the other guards with the counsel, it threw him off.
He did not want to go into detail how he studied every inch of her. Her slim athletic frame, which he could pick out in a crowd. Her soft dark silky skin he wanted to feel next to the palms of his hands. Her distinct markings on her head he had memorized. Her big beautiful brown eyes he had hoped would stare at him one day without the hatred of the past. Those soft plush lips he longed to feel pressed against his own.
“Maybe I shouldn’t be saying these things to you considering,” he conveyed. “But I must let you know what is festering inside of me; inside of my heart. Because you see; it is growing and the only way to keep it front tearing me apart is to reveal it and hope you can help me with it.” He closed his eyes, thinking of how vulnerable he was now; knowing at any time she could turn on him and cut him to his soul. But he had to continue and see this through.
What he didn’t know, and she did; she had noticed him staring at her from the very start. It was training they went through to throw their opponents off, giving them the advantage. She felt he would be presence as the ruler’s general, so she was more prepared than him to come face to face for the first time since their encounter on the warship.
“Is it love? I do not know,” he expressed. “I have never been in love, so I can’t say. All I know, this is the biggest emotion I have harbored for anyone ever. I ache every time we part, and overjoyed when we were in that room. Even now, just being so close and being able to speak to you is overwhelming.” She shifted from one foot to the other. He heard it and looked at her checking out the tattoos on her head.
She has been in love before and knows the ins and outs of it; the ups and downs, the joy it brings as well as the heartbreak that accompanies it. And from what he is expressing in his voice and what he is saying, he has no idea what he has gotten himself into. The question remains, is it something she would want to revisit? Especially, with the one who once tried to take her life, not once but twice. Can he be trusted?
“If you give a chance, I promise I will love you forever, you will never know unhappiness from me,” he says, then realizes what he had proclaimed. “Love? Well, I guess this is love. Whatever you ask of me, I will do it without question.” He declared. A huge sigh flowed from her.
“If you are finish you can have this back,” she handed him the conch he had given her a couple of months ago, requesting her to summon him when she is ready to speak. “I won’t be needing it after today.” He stared at her as she never looked at him. He reluctantly took it from her.
“Yes, I guess we are done here,” the sadness in his voice could not be denied. He turned away from her to walk away.
“Attuma,” she calls him by his name. A shockwave courses through him hearing her. He stopped and looked over his shoulder.
“Yes, Okoye,” he replied.
“Are you a man of word?” She asked. He turned to face her confused by the question. She had removed her glasses, which revealed her brown eyes as she stared him in the eyes.
“Yes, I do not play on words,” he informed her, getting lost in those big brown circles. She made a few steps towards him with inches separating them.
“Everything you said about loving me and making me happy?” She more stated than asked.
“I meant every word,” he confirmed.
“I need to ask something of you that will bring me some peace,” she says. “Can you do that and bring this ordeal to an in?” His heart began to sink.
“Yes, I will do whatever you ask,” he said this while closing his eyes expecting the final blow.
“Then stay with me.” His eyes flung open speechless; she placed the palm of her hand over his chest where his heart beat next to it. “I want you to stay with me.” She couldn’t tell what his facial expression with his mask on, but his eyes said it all.
He was overcome with joy, and gently wrapped her in his arms, solidifying their newfound relationship and what it would take them. He knew it would have to be small steps, but just the fact, she wanted to give them a give it a try; was more than he could ever hope.
“Stay with you?” he whispered. “Yes, my darling, for an eternity.” A smile of contentment etched across her face. Her decision stemmed from her knowing they were a match, because they were similar. She understood what motivated him, as he did her. Never would they find anyone more like each other.