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Shaun knows he has got the confidence of someone who has far too much faith in the sense of humor of a candy wrapper, light and slightly misplaced, but endearing all the same. He fidgets with his bundle of flowers—his not-quite-a-bouquet that feels like it's trying too hard, yet not enough at the same time. In his hands, is a chaotic arrangement—though calling it an arrangement might be generous. It’s more like a collection of mismatched blooms, hastily thrown together, their stems bent in places they shouldn’t be.
The flowers are, in theory, heartfelt. They’re supposed to carry messages; the flowers, they’re supposed to giveway the unsent love note that lingers awkwardly in the air, stuck somewhere between his throat and the flower petals.
He’s been trying to come up with the perfect way to ease the tension that had been building between them. With Namor always lurking in the background and the weight of their responsibilities constantly pulling at them, Shaun decided it was time for a getaway. No Quinjet, no missions—just good food, a relaxed atmosphere, and a chance to remind Shuri of how fun life could be outside of saving the world.
The restaurant is buzzing—music playing softly in the background, the mouthwatering smell of sizzling meat in the air, and the warm glow of hanging lanterns casting a cozy, intimate vibe. It’s the perfect escape.
And as he hands the flowers off to Shuri, twisting a wilting daisy between his fingers, the bundle seems to represent more confusion than clarity.
He takes a deep breath and straightens his shoulders. The flowers crinkle softly, as if whispering reminders of all the emotions he's bundled into their fragile petals. His grin is wide but uncertain, like he's betting on a joke he hasn't quite finished telling.
"So...," Shaun starts, holding up the bouquet like an offering that’s been through too much, "I, uh, wasn’t sure which one this occasion called for, so I just kind of went with... everything."
Shuri’s eyes light up as if he ad presented them with a flourish She raises an eyebrow, amused "Flowers? Seriously?"
"Hey, I’m pulling out all the stops tonight," Shaun says, leaning back in his chair. "You deserve it. Plus, it’s not every day you get a date with a princess."
She laughs, her fingers brushing against the petals as she admires the bouquet. "You know, I wasn’t expecting this. But it’s a nice surprise."
The evening continues in a perfect rhythm. They laugh, share stories, and enjoy the feast of grilled meats and sides, the atmosphere warm and inviting. For the first time in what feels like forever, they weren’t talking about missions or politics or the pressures of their lives. It was just Shaun and Shuri, two people having a great time, basking in the simple pleasure of each other’s company.
At some point, Shuri leans back in her chair, her smile softening as she looks at Shaun. "You know, this was exactly what I needed."
"That’s the goal," Shaun says, trying to play it cool, but inside, he’s buzzing with excitement. "I just wanted us to have a night where we could… just be. No distractions, no stress."
And then Shuri just leans over and kisses him. Right there on the mouth. No buildup, no grand declaration, no carefully orchestrated moment where everything falls perfectly into place. Shaun hadn’t planned on some confetti and ticker-tape parade, or any of that cheesy romance novel nonsense. He didn’t expect candles or flowers petals or soft music playing in the background.
But it’s a trendy little barbecue restaurant somewhere in the bay area, smoke from the grill hanging in the air, and Shuri kisses him. Just straight up on the mouth.
Cupping his face with one hand, soft, lingering, and filled with warmth.
And Shaun kisses back, startled but not hesitating for a second. He feels it break something loose inside him, like a dam giving way to a flood. He’s swept up in it, carried along by the current of the moment, his heartbeat pounding loud enough to drown out everything else. His back is aching from the awkward angle, his neck bent just a little too far—but he doesn’t care.
He doesn’t care that the scent of grilled meat and hot sauce surrounds them, or that there are people laughing at the table next to them, or that the flowers in his hand are wilting slightly from how tightly he’s been clutching them. None of that matters because Shuri is kissing him, and in that instant, everything else just fades into the background.
It’s messy, imperfect, and completely unexpected—and it’s everything Shaun never thought he needed.
The taste of her is warm, sharp, and biting, like an ember flicked from the grill, lingering on Shaun's lips with a heat that feels both tender and fierce. Her lips drag slowly over his, a soft caress that deepens, deliberate and unhurried, before they part, her teeth catching just at the tip of his bottom lip, a quick, sharp shock that jolts through him. It’s a congratulations, a reassurance, or maybe just a long-postponed thank you wrapped in the bite of her kiss.
Shaun rubs the feeling away against the back of his teeth, his tongue trying to chase the sensation before it fades completely. There’s something electric in the way she kisses, a strange and beautiful mixture of tenderness and insistence that makes it impossible to think clearly. Shuri kisses like she’s daring him to keep up, and all he can do is surrender to the rhythm she sets. His heart races, not just from the kiss itself, but from the way it feels like she’s saying a hundred things in a language he’s only just beginning to understand.
And then, just like that, it’s over—leaving him breathless and aching from the angle, his mind still trying to catch up with what just happened. The warmth of her lingers, and Shaun’s pretty sure he’ll be feeling the sting of her teeth long after the moment fades, like a mark she left just for him.
Shuri pulls back, lips quirked in the faintest of smiles, her eyes bright with something unspoken. "Thanks," she says, her voice low but teasing, and Shaun can’t tell if she’s thanking him for the flowers, the conversation, or something else entirely.
He doesn’t care. He just knows that, whatever it was, it felt like everything.
"Hell yeah—" he starts, still recovering from the surprise.
Shuri is laughing as she settles back into her chair. "You earned that one."
Shaun laughs too, his face flushed but his spirits soaring. Flowers, food, and a kiss from the woman he was pretty sure was the most incredible person on the planet? Hell yeah.
They spent the rest of the night talking and laughing, the tension between them completely gone, replaced by something easy and effortless. Shaun can’t stop the huge, goofy smile that sticks his face.