Can’t Stay Away’s Fic Rec Friday #3 (06.30.23) - Where the Sunbirds Nest by @urulokid
Title: Where The Sunbirds Nest (ao3) |
Author(s): neonheartbeat (ao3)Â |Â @urulokid (Tumblr)
Fandom(s): Black Panther Wakanda Forever
Pairing/Ship(s): Nashuri (Shuri x Namor)
Type: Western AU | Alternate History | Non Canon Compliant
Rating: Explicit
Status: Unfinished (updating weekly)
Updated: 06.27.23
Summary: THE YEAR IS 1880. THE ISOLATED NATION OF WAKANDA, IN THE HEART OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, HAS BEEN THRIVING FOR MILLENNIA, HIDDEN FROM THE GREEDY EYES AND GRASPING HANDS OF THE OTHER POWERS OF THE WORLD AS THEY BUILD THEIR WEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY BEYOND THE WILDEST DREAMS OF ANY OUTSIDE NATION, USING THEIR OWN NATURAL RESOURCES AND A RARE, POWERFUL METAL KNOWN ONLY TO THE WAKANDANS, WHO CALL IT ISIPHO. THEIR RULING FAMILY, THE GOLDEN TRIBE, HAS STAYED SAFELY PROTECTED WITHIN THE WALLS OF BIRNIN ZANA, THE MIGHTIEST AND MOST SECRET CITY IN THE WORLD. NO MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS VENTURED INTO THE WORLD OUTSIDE IN GENERATIONS. UNTIL NOW.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Why I Love It: This is yet another masterful work from one of my favorite writers. This story actually came at the perfect time, although I don't know if it was planned that way.
Letitia Wright just released a film called Surrounded, wherein she portrays a cowboy-type - actually an ex-Buffalo Soldier turned bounty hunter of sorts. But she’s a gunslinger, dressed up like a man for the time, and a general badass. The movie is awesome, highly recommended!
But, it ties in here because the gist of this story is that our Shuri has to disguise herself as a young male horsehand in order to get close to Namor, who is himself disguised as a rancher, in order to figure out the mystery of the hidden, secret nation of Talokan and their source of vibranium.
Picture something like this. Shuri in disguise, Namor falling in love, bed sharing, action, humor and angst all rolled into one extremely well written package. This is a slow burn, but it doesn’t burn too slow. Shuri is clever, proud, and good. Namor is haughty, but with a heart of gold, and a fiery protective streak that extends to Shuri the minute she shows her loyalty to him in disguise as the young boy he takes under his winged feet.
I just love this story, please give it a read!
Where The Sunbirds Nest
