The Study Room Pt. 6 (Shuri x Black!Fem!Reader)
HBCU!Shuri x Black!Fem!Reader
Content: ANGST, mentions of nightmares, drowning, but turns into a good bit of fluff!
Babyboiboyega’s Marvel Masterlist
Babyboiboyega’s Masterlist of Masterlists
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
A/N: I didn’t forget! The day just went differently than I expected and then it took me longer to edit and revise because I changed an entire scene and had something completely different happen- you know what. Imma stop talking, go and read! go, go go <3
She grabbed the door handle and opened it before turning to glance one more at you. You’d never grow tired of the smile she reserved for you, and it’d always draw a visceral reaction from you.
You gave a small wave, reciprocating the farewell in a hushed tone. The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving you standing in a beautiful room meant for royalty and with a heart that belonged to them- her- as well.
As soon as the door closed behind her, a deep sigh was making its way from Shuri’s mouth. Unbeknownst to anyone but herself, her heart was pounding away, erratically, in her chest from the moment between you and her- the moment that had been interrupted yet again. The first time it had happened, in her dorm room, it had had the same effect on her: heart palpitations, literal heart eyes, the sudden desire to either make poetry or verbally express her feelings for you…the usual happenings whenever you were involved.
Even as she made her way to the throne room where the elder council waited for her, something that would usually put her on edge in just the slightest, she had to force her thoughts and affection for you behind a wall. Not because she wanted to, but she knew that as soon as she stepped into the throne room, the elders would be looking for a certain…version of her.
They had only ever seen the “ruling” side of Shuri; the one where she would hyper focus on her royal tendencies, wanting badly to live up to her mother and her brother’s legacies. Where half of the time, she was in her lab, thinking of more ways to keep her nation and her people protected. Where most of the time, her eyes only held enough emotion to reassure the elders that she still cared immensely for her home and the people that resided there.
They hadn’t seen the kind of person she was at school…and with you. They didn’t see how loud her laughing was; how she threw her head back, completely carefree at anything that she found funny or joyful. They definitely didn’t see, or hear, the small differences in her speech that she had adopted from you and her fellow classmates. They hadn’t seen the swirls of emotions that she felt deeply residing in her eyes- not like you had.
She reminded herself to put that first mask on as she approached the throne room doors. Her eyes flickered between the Doras that had been stationed outside, nodding in a respectful greeting. At the sight of Shuri, they bowed their heads, their arms raising quickly to complete the Wakandan salute.
Shuri took a deep breath, reciprocated the salute, and then pushed open the doors.
The light conversation in the room ceased immediately, all eyes in the room turning to rest on her as she walked towards the half circle comprised of the elders. She could feel the tension that usually came with a council meeting already blanketing the room as she stopped in front of them, bowing her head slightly in respect before looking at all of them.
“I apologize for my tardiness. I was making sure our guest was settled in.”
They all glanced at each other before the elder from the Border Tribe sat straighter in his seat, speaking towards Shuri.
“This meeting was called because the Council would like to know what you are doing in the face of this…stalker from your American University.”
She had to refrain from narrowing her eyes in the slightest. Ever since the first pictures had been sent, she had made sure that the Council knew of the events that took place. Every piece of information they had would also go to the Council for this exact reason; so she wouldn’t have to constantly call meetings to update them.
Her hands stayed by her side as she gave them every piece of information they had found out so far, no matter how badly she wanted to fidget slightly. She found that as she started relaying to them every event that had taken place so far, the acute feeling of anxiety grew. While she could recognize that it was important for them to know everything, she also recognized how important it was that they explain the true reason behind this meeting, which was something they had yet to do.
“While I respect and appreciate your desire to stay updated, I cannot help but feel as if this meeting was called for a different reason.”
She made sure to insert the same tone of authority she had heard in her mother’s voice while also incorporating the easy-going, calming tone of T’Challa. The last thing she needed was the Council thinking that she was becoming defensive; she wouldn’t get any real answers if that happened. No matter how many times they stated that they respected her and her rise to the throne, she could still see in their eyes how they viewed her as the princess who suffered tragic event after tragic event. They still viewed her as the princess who was willing to be consumed by her own vengeance- who even welcomed that feeling of vengeance.
They didn’t see her as the ruler of Wakanda who wanted to forge her own path while also honoring those who came before her. They could see that she still had a good bit of healing to do, and that was something she could recognize about herself; but they didn’t see how she was already on that journey of healing and how much she had improved since…since Talokan.
The Council shared looks that practically broadcasted what she had already known: that there was an ulterior motive behind tonight’s meeting and they were hesitant to bring it up. The Mining Tribe’s elder spoke up, her voice strong and without an ounce of hesitation.
“We called this meeting to discuss the connection between your safety and the safety of your…guest that you’ve brought to the palace.”
Her eyebrows furrowed immediately at the elder’s words. Not simply because she had mentioned you, but because of the almost imperceptible tone of disdain that came with the mention of you.
“What about Y-Miss Y/L/N?”
“What about the potential risks of inviting her here?”
Shuri’s mouth opened and closed in acute disbelief at what they were implying. She took a breath before voicing her own question, making sure that her voice would still be seen as respectful.
“What exactly are we risking by inviting her into the palace? She was attacked because of her connection to me, and in order to save her life, I had to bring her here. What would the council have me do; leave her in the states while someone is after her?”
It was obvious that her words were making a few elders a little antsy; annoyed even, if their fidgeting and whispers under their breath were anything to go by. However it was the same elder who had started the conversation that spoke.
“Ubukhulu bakho, we are simply wanting to be cautious, as the last time an outsider was brought to the palace, we almost lost our city, we lost countless warriors…and we lost your mother-”
“Yes, I remember quite well. I was there.”
Shuri’s words echoed through the throne room, an underlying tone of pain and anger present.
At the mere mention of her mother’s death being used to justify the council’s fear of helping you, an innocent, Shuri’s façade almost broke completely. Her jaw tightened as she clenched her teeth in an effort to stop more words from spilling from her mouth. Instead, as she spoke, she channeled her frustrations into her words and the effect she wanted them to have on the elders sitting in front of her.
“The events that took place were of no fault of Miss Williams, nor was my mother’s death. If my mother were still here, she would agree that the safest place for Miss Y/L/N is here, behind these palace walls. She would agree that because Miss Y/L/N was targeted due to her connection to me, then it is only right that we work to capture the stalker that is after not only her, but me as well…which is what I plan on doing.”
Some of the elders had the decency to look abashed, looking away from Shuri as she mentioned her mother and what she would have wanted. She made sure to look at each of them, willing her words to reach them in a way that they’d understand.
There was a brief silence that settled over them after Shuri’s words; a silence that was filled with brief glances between the elders. At the realization that they’d have nothing else to say, Shuri once again bowed her head slightly.
“If you will excuse me, it is getting late, and today was a long day. I hope you all get to your homes safely and have a good night. Ulale kakuhle.”
She didn’t bother waiting another second before turning on her heel and making her way back to the door she had walked through. She knew that her mother and her brother were probably chastising her from another plane for turning away from the council during a meeting, but she also knew that they’d agree with her. The thought made it that much easier to leave the throne room, her head held high in confidence about her words.
She couldn’t find an ounce of hesitation in her as she quickly walked the familiar path back to her own room. There was no hesitation, but with the mention of her mother’s death and the comparison between the conflict with Talokanil and now, she could feel the memories that she had worked so hard to come to terms with…the memories she had worked her damned hardest on confronting, resurfacing.
It seemed that with every step she took, the more the memories thrashed against the barrier she had built. Memories of feeling the same responsibility for someone she cared about, albeit, in a different way. The guilt and blame she had placed on herself at the time of her mother’s death- the same guilt and blame that gave way to a vengeance so dark she shuddered when thinking back on it.
All of these phantom-like feelings from the past followed her as she arrived at her room. She had given your room a quick glance before hightailing it behind her own doors, nodding a quick greeting and farewell to the guards stationed outside. Had she not been plagued by memories that demanded to be acknowledged, she would have surely made her way to your room, even if it were just to check on your sleeping figure. Her mind had other plans.
Shuri’s hands raised, rubbing down her face roughly as she spun in the middle of her room. Her eyes flickered about, looking for something to ground herself with. It became very clear that the next best thing, other than going to your room and potentially waking you up, was to climb into bed with the hope that she’d be able to get at least a few hours of sleep.
But as she distractedly completed her nightly routine, she could tell that the night wouldn’t be as calm as she had prayed for. Her suspicions were only confirmed as she managed to drift off to sleep, and immediately entered a memory that quickly turned into a nightmare.
She felt cold. Not the kind that came from standing in cold weather for an extended amount of time, but a cold that permeated every cell of her being. It was a heavy coldness, making her limbs numb while also making her feel how heavy they were. She tried her best to move an arm or leg and quickly found the reason behind the heaviness in them.
The cold she was feeling had to come from the water that surrounded her.
It was almost unnaturally still, not a single bubble or current as she moved her limbs in the slightest. She couldn’t feel a shift of the water around her as she worked to turn in a circle, only seeing endless water in every direction.
Shuri took a deep breath to calm herself in the face of such endless oblivion only to immediately panic. Her mouth opened in a gasp, waiting and expecting to feel the agonizing sensation of water filling her lungs, but they only filled with air. It was a weird sensation; feeling the water against her skin and her clothes, but also being able to tell that she was dry. She had only ever experienced something like this when she had crossed to the Ancestral Plane.
What she had experienced then had been a heartbreak so vivid and blunt, the only thing she could do to stop it from consuming her was feed into her cousin’s anger and vengeance. She had felt panic then; panic at the prospect of her own version of the heart shaped herb not working. Panic that none of the family members she loved and cherished had showed up.
This nightmare, though, put her through a different type of panic; especially as she trailed her eyes up, looking for a surface she could swim up to, only to see a sight that both froze her and kicked her into action.
In the distance, also surrounded by the endless, dark water, she saw her mother’s struggling figure as she tried to swim herself and another person to the surface…a surface Shuri couldn’t see. A surface that wasn’t there.
There was no indication that her mother was swimming in water, as there were no bubbles or rippling currents, or anything that would allude to it. She looked as if she were suspended in air, struggling against an unknown force to save herself and the person she held onto.
Despite not seeing a surface that would serve as a saving grace, Shuri tried her hardest to swim in their direction. She gritted her teeth against the pressure pushing against her limbs, moving them as fast as she could in order to get to them. It seemed that with every pump of her arms and every kick of her legs, the distance between her mother and the other person grew larger.
As she opened her mouth, calling out desperately to her mother, she could hear her own agonized, breaking voice echoing around her. There was something off about the echo; almost as if it was tinted with a hint of…laughter.
If she hadn’t realized that she was in the midst of a nightmare, the sight of her mother stopping and turning to her, expressionless, would’ve made it clear. There was something nagging from the deepest confines of her mind, yelling at her that it was a nightmare and that she just had to wake up. She clenched her eyes shut, willing herself to wake up lest the nightmare become worse.
When she opened her eyes, she wasn’t looking at the ceiling or wall of her room; she was still in the same spot in that endless body of water- at least she thought it was the same spot. The only thing that had changed was she was now closer to where she had seen her mother and the other figure; though upon closer inspection, she was almost mortified to see that the spot where her mother had been, now resided someone else. Someone with a startlingly familiar face; one that simultaneously made her heart pick up in…fear. Anxiety.
Shuri’s eyebrows furrowed as she looked into her own eyes. The version of herself that floated across from her regarded her with a hard, judgmental sneer in her eyes and on her face. In her hand she clutched someone else’s, and as Shuri followed the arm up to the person it belonged to, she quickly shook her head in denial.
You floated beside the other version of herself, face slack and lacking emotion. Where your melanin usually resided, bright and warm, there was now a paleness to your skin. The sight of it paired with the milkiness and lifeless look in your eyes made Shuri’s face twist into a soundless cry. She managed to raise her hands and place them against your cheeks, her thumbs rubbing against your cold skin in an effort to bring back some sort of semblance of life.
She stared in horror as the motion made you blink, your eyes remaining milky…glassy, almost. Despite this, she could feel your gaze on her face. It was heavy, and it didn’t bring with it the usual feeling of warmth and comfort. Instead, it only brought a feeling of deep dread that permeated her bones. Your name left her lips as a desperate, whispered plea.
“Please…come back to me. I can’t lose you, too-”
She abruptly cut her words off at the feeling of a harsh grip landing on her arm. The hand seemed to siphon the small amount of energy and nonexistent warmth she had been harboring the entire time, and against her wishes, her hands fell heavily from your face. It only took her a quick glance to see that she was being grabbed by…herself. The hand that grabbed her had been the same one holding onto you, but now that there was nothing keeping you close, you started to drift away; deeper into the water that showed no sign of ending.
Shuri felt herself being pulled, but she didn’t care where. All she cared about was that she was being pulled away from you- that the two of you were being pulled away from each other. Without even thinking, she reached out, seizing hold of your wrist in an almost bruising grip. She gritted her teeth at the sensation of your wrist slipping from her grasp, an invisible force pulling you deeper while a malicious one pulled her further away.
She didn’t know what she was pleading for you to do; fight against the invisible force, fight to stay with her; all she knew was that if you were to disappear into the abyss surrounding them, she’d never see you again, and she’d never know what to do with herself.
Pain radiated up her arm as the hand continued to pull forcefully, every tug making your wrist slip further out of her grasp…but she never loosened her grip.
She watched, mouth agape, as your lips parted. Your voice sounded croaky- breathless, even- as it left your mouth. The words you said made violent chills wrack through Shuri’s body as they seemed to surround her, pressing in on her until her chest heaved from the pressure.
“You can’t save us both.”
With a final tug, your wrist was wrenched out of her hand, and she could only watch and call out desperately to you as you were dragged deeper until you disappeared completely.
Shuri’s eyes snapped open as she shot upright, her chest heaving and eyes darting around the room. Her room was cloaked in a darkness that only reminded her of the nightmare she had just wrenched herself out of. With a shaky voice, she called out to her AI.
“Griot, turn on the lights.”
“As you wish, your highness.”
Her room was quickly bathed in a soft light, though it did nothing to calm her nerves. She pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes, trying her best to push the nightmare to the darkest confines of her mind to no avail. The hopeless, panicked feeling she had felt in said nightmare transferred to real time, making it a challenge for her heart to slow down. Her breathing was loud to her own ears as she hunched over, taking deep gulps of air.
She didn’t know how long she sat in that position, hands against her eyes, back hunched. It evidently wasn’t long enough, as the nightmare was still at the forefront of her mind when she pulled her hands away.
Her nerves hummed with panic, making her restless. The feeling prompted her to throw her legs over the side of her bed, her hands clenching at the sheet covered edge. She hung her head, focusing solely on drawing deep breaths into her lungs and convincing herself that she was no longer submerged in that…place.
“Your highness, I couldn’t help but notice that you’re under distress. Do you require assistance?”
So distracted by her own fear induced thoughts, she jumped slightly as Griot’s soothing voice sounded from her kimoyo beads. She rubbed a hand down her face, releasing a shaky sigh.
“No. No need to alert the palace because of a…a nightmare.”
She stood up, taking a few steps across her room before turning around and re-tracing them. She pressed her hands together, hoping that the pressure could stabilize or ground her in even the slightest, but let out a soft groan as it did the exact opposite. If anything, it only reminded her of the feeling of your hand slipping from yours right before you were pulled away from her. The warmth in her own hands was a huge difference from the shocking cold that enveloped your skin in the dream. The way her chest rose and fell, still a little too quickly, was a vast difference from the way yours had stayed still in the dream.
Your lifeless eyes, the sickly pallor of your skin, your words-
She hurriedly grabbed a hoodie from her closet as she made her way to her door, moving quickly before she could talk herself out of what she was about to do. She honestly didn’t think she’d be able to talk herself out of it if she tried, or anyone else for that matter. It was easy to figure out that the only way she’d completely calm down was when she laid her own eyes on your alive, healthy, and safe figure.
Opening her door made her come face to face with the two Doras standing guard outside of her room. They instantly turned to her, eyebrows furrowing in question and concern.
“Ubukhulu bakho, is there something wrong? Do you need something?”
Shuri shook her head quickly, trying to seem unrattled and as nonchalant as she could. She had absolutely no intention of telling them what had happened, for the last thing she needed or wanted was to have to answer questions about the nightmare when all she wanted was to see you.
“No, nothing’s wrong. I was only going to take a trip to Miss Y/L/N’s room and check on her. I failed to do so after my meeting and only just remembered.”
She wondered if they could see the poorly concealed anxiety and tiredness in her eyes; judging by the way they glanced at each other before nodding in tandem, they definitely noticed something was off. What were they to say, though? They couldn’t stop her, and while they held a great respect and fondness for their queen and vice versa, their formality wasn’t as familiar as her and Okoye’s.
Shuri nodded in response, stepping between them and walking down the hallway to the room you were in. There weren’t any guards outside of your door, something you had begged Shuri for, and something she had very reluctantly agreed to.
“I’m already in the safest building that’s in the middle of the safest, most secretive nation in the world. I don’t need guards outside of my door, Shuri. I’m safe enough being in the same building as you- let alone, the same hallway.”
“…Alright! Alright…but if anything happens, I will have the entire Dora Milaje outside of your door.”
She raised a hand, getting ready to knock when a small bout of hesitancy went through her at the prospect of waking you up at such a hellish hour of the night. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly and she closed her eyes momentarily only for a quick flash of your lifeless eyes to flash through her mind. The reminder prompted her to knock lightly on your door.
Stuffing her hands in her hoodie’s pockets, she rocked lightly on her feet while her eyes focused on the door handle for any movement. She supposed she could have just asked Griot for a status check, or even called the kimoyo beads you had been given. But something told her that she wouldn’t have been satisfied with either of those. So waking you up and potentially facing the wrath of your tired self was the next best thing.
Right as she raised her hand to knock once again, she heard the lock on the other side of the door being fiddled with. It only took a second for you to unlock and open the door, and then you were standing in front of Shuri in all of your half-asleep, groggy, and confused glory.
It seemed to take a second for you to register who exactly it was, your eyes squinting against the light that flooded in from the hallway. Your mouth twisted in confusion as you spoke, voice slightly hoarse.
She wanted to respond right away, but she couldn’t help but let her eyes run over your figure a few times, reassuring herself that she had left that horrifying version of you in her nightmare. Your eyes, albeit half closed and squinted, were still the same color she admired whenever looking into them; your skin still held the melanin that the sun had the privilege of kissing every time you stepped outside; and your voice still sounded like…you; calming and reassuring with every syllable that passed from your lips.
“Shuri, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
She blinked quickly at your questions, her eyes widening slightly. She nodded quickly.
“Uh, y-yes, everything is okay. I just wanted to check on you since I didn’t get a chance to do so after my meeting.”
You leaned your head against the door as she spoke, eyes unwavering from where they connected with hers. There was something that resided in your expression as you regarded her, and she had half a mind to ask you what was wrong. But knowing you, it wouldn’t be surprising if you had picked up on the barely imperceptible tremor that still resided in her voice.
“The, uh, meeting went well. We can discuss it further in the morning, but like I said, I just wanted to come and check on you.”
Her words stayed suspended in the air between the two of you as you let your eyes take note of the different indicators that something was bothering her. Fidgeting hands, anxious eyes, slight tremor in the voice.
“Thank you for coming to check on me, but is everything okay with you?”
Shuri’s eyebrows furrowed and she shrugged one shoulder lightly, though she didn’t bother lying; she knew that you’d see right through her. Her actions made you straighten, your head coming off of the door frame. Your eyebrows furrowed in worry.
“I am…okay now. It isn’t anything you should be worried about.”
She received your signature ‘I know you’re lying’ look paired with one of your head tilts that always made her slightly weak. Your eyes glanced quickly at the two Doras standing not too far behind Shuri before you stepped back, opening your door more. You motioned for Shuri to step in, offering a reassuring smile.
“You show up at my door in the middle of the night, looking as if there’s something wrong and like you need to talk to someone. I’m already worried. Please…come in.”
Shuri let out a sigh, but not at your request for her to enter; it was more so at herself and at having woken you up to bother you with her own worries and troubles. As she stepped past, she sent you a small, apologetic smile. Your worry only increased at seeing how her smile seemed a little tight around the corners, and you wasted no time in nodding to the Doras before softly closing the door behind Shuri. You had barely turned around before her arms were wrapping around you and crushing you against her body, making a light gasp leave your mouth. Despite the slight surprise, your arms immediately wrapped around her as well, hugging her tightly.
Instead of talking, the two of you took the time to just feel the other’s presence, one of you needing it for reassurance while the other was more than happy to give it, despite not knowing the reason why. You found yourself rubbing her back slightly, the other hand lifting until it could land lightly on the back of her head. When you took a breath, your chest brushed against hers, wordlessly prompting her to do the same.
“Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
Shuri’s arms tightened around you, momentarily stealing your breath, before releasing you completely. She pulled back, though she kept you close enough to rest her forehead against yours. The action told you that she either didn’t want to talk about it just yet, or she didn’t have the words to do so right now.
You were immediately transported back to only a few hours ago when you two had been in this exact position, her lips brushing against yours. But this action had been made with attraction and adoration then; now, it was obviously made with something else if the slight tremor in her hands were anything to go by.
Shuri’s eyes were closed yet you continued to look at her from your close proximity. Her eyebrows were scrunched together, making you physically restrain yourself from reaching up and gently massaging the affected area. She bit the inside of her lip nervously, and you could feel her fingers clenching and unclenching around the fabric at your waist.
Without a word, you set a hand on top of hers before pulling back. A small groan left her as you did so, but you were quick to intertwine your fingers. With a squeeze of her hand, you turned and started leading her to the bed you had just crawled out of.
The two of you moved synchronously, both of you knowing what the other needed in that moment. It was only after you two had settled in the bed and pulled the covers up did you break the silence.
“You wanna talk about it?”
Instead of replying, she continued shifting slightly even after you had already settled. You watched her patiently until you could figure out what she was doing, shifting to make her task easier.
You scooted further under the covers, laying on your side and facing her. She copied your actions, lowering herself until she was at the same eye level as you. One of her hands landed in the space between your bodies, palm up, and seemingly asking for something. You took her actions as an invitation and set your hand in hers, intertwining your fingers.
Her other hand lay under her head, allowing her to prop herself up in just the slightest. Only after she was comfortable did she let out a long sigh, her eyes never leaving yours.
Admittedly, your curiosity and worry grew at her request to not speak about what was obviously bothering her, though you wouldn’t think about pressuring her to do the opposite. Instead, you nodded wordlessly, squeezing her hand once.
“Of course we can. Do you want to talk about…something, or do you just wanna go to sleep?”
As she continued to gaze at you, you could see unspoken words and feelings swirling behind her eyes. You wanted desperately to ask how her meeting went- the meeting that had pulled her away from you at what you considered to be a very important moment. But it wasn’t what she needed right now; in fact, it became very clear what she needed with her next actions.
Without giving any warning, Shuri shuffled closer to you, using the hand in your to prompt you to do the same. Your eyebrows furrowed slightly as you waited to see what she would do.
Shuri’s hand left yours before her arm was being draped across your waist, and that sensation combined with the warmth from the blanket across you both made you relax immediately. The yawn that you stifled, and that Shuri saw, served only as a reminder that it was either very late or very early.
“Please, go to sleep. I apologize for waking you up so late.”
Shuri’s voice was quiet and slightly hoarse as she spoke, but the tremor that had been in it earlier had smoothed out slightly. She knew it was because you were finally in her arms, the only thing that could have possibly reassured her after the night she had just had.
“There’s no need to apologize,” you started, placing your head under her chin and letting your eyes close. “I’m just glad you’re here and that you know you can come to me for anything.”
Shuri stayed silent, letting your words soak in and trying to convince herself that you weren’t just saying them to make her feel better. Your actions had definitely proved that you meant the words you spoke, constantly making sure she was okay despite the scary position you had been put in, and she wished that she could do the same; but when it came to her and her own worries, thoughts, duties, concerns…she didn’t want to dump them on you. She knew exactly how stressful it all could be, and she didn’t want to feel as if she were adding onto the stress you were already experiencing by…dumping her troubles onto you.
She decided not to acknowledge the small voice in her mind that insisted there was another reason- another fear of hers- that stopped her from being so open and vulnerable with you; and that fear was that the more she confided in you, the more you’d realize that being around her only resulted in stress, danger, and more stress. The fear that it would all continue to build until you would feel the need to escape from what she brought into your life; escape from her.
But then there was another voice, one that was more insistent; one that taunted Shuri by using the words said to her by the Elders and the nightmare version of you.
“… The last time an outsider was brought to the palace…we lost your mother.”
That was no one’s fault but Namor’s and the forces that started the entire conflict.
“You can’t save us both.”
I will save us both. We’ll both make it out of this-
Your voice calling her name softly made her blink, snapping her out of her own thoughts that were quickly spiraling. She took a breath and nodded slightly, not wanting to jostle you in your comfortable position too much.
“I know. Thank you, that…means more than you can know.”
There was something in her voice that made your thoughts pause and made you want to look up, wanting to try and gauge her real thoughts. While you could tell what she was thinking most of the time, if she truly didn’t want you to know her real thoughts, it’d be a challenge to figure them out.
If she didn’t want you to know her real thoughts right now, then you’d wait until she was ready. You had no problem waiting- not when it came to Shuri.
Shuri could feel you relax more into her as the minutes went by until you were breathing deeply and evenly. She didn’t have to look to know that you were fast asleep.
As she let her own eyes close, she couldn’t help but pull you closer. The feeling of you breathing, warm, and alive in her arms would be enough to keep the nightmare at bay; at least she hoped so. She’d certainly find out sooner or later, but for right now, she enjoyed the peace and reassurance that your presence brought her.
ubukhulu bakho - “Your highness”
Ulale kakuhle - “good night”
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this part! I know it was mostly angst, but I fully plan on part 7 being just a lot of fun and fluff (mainly because after that chapter is when shit gets real for both reader and Shuri)!
I hope y’alls holidays were safe, warm, and full of love and celebration! If you didn’t celebrate anything, I still hope life has been treating you well lately!
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