#yasminsqueendom

He realized he was staring out the same window again, and decided to sit on his couch. He could still smell her there, so he went to his room instead. Should I call her? Vulnerability was very unusual for him. His family couldn’t even break through his walls as a kid. Somehow, Micky melted his icy ass and had him questioning parts of his life that he never considered. Several thoughts kept swimming around in his head. Does she love me back? Did I fuck up too many times? This shit never bothered me with any other women. Why does she have me like this? Should I just cut ties and let her go? Nigga stop being so paranoid! Sitting on his bed, staring at nothing wasn’t helping, he needed to get up and do something. 

The sun was almost down, but that wouldn’t stop him from jogging around the park one time. Monsters in the dark weren’t a threat to him. I’m way more dangerous. He found himself thinking about Clarence again. He’d seen on the news that Ms. Clarita Hayworth had reported him missing. Since Clarence was Black, the news had brought up previous sexual assault charges against him. There were short clips of his grandmother saying that he was a “good boy” despite the fact that he wasn’t invited to any family functions because he was “a little strange.” People always made excuses for things that should be dealt with harshly. Especially, if the nigga was family. He’d seen the same bullshit in the news any time a Black celebrity got in trouble, unless it was a woman. Erik was disgusted. 

He finished changing out of his work clothes, deciding on jogging the three blocks to the park. He never needed music. When Erik exercised, his mind naturally went silent without prompting. Just like when there was an important mission to be done. He could think and react still, but it was in a detached way. His body wouldn’t even register pain the same way. After a short stretch to loosen his muscles, he hopped up and down a couple times, then began his run. 

Ten minutes later, he was rethinking the lie he’d told Micky about the new scar on his left arm. Should I keep the truth from her? She’s understanding, but there is only so much I can throw on her shoulders. It was a hard thing to reconcile with. He’d gotten into this life because he was full of rage as a child. Then, he’d seen Wakanda, and it had made him even more furious than before. Staying there made him feel so much disgust for how isolated that place was from everywhere else. Yes, T’Challa did what he could, but he was only one man, and his morals stood between him, and following through on the mission. 

Erik’s responsibility as a Prince of Wakanda was to revisit the places that his cousin could not. Bad guys around the world were perfectly aware of how busy heroes could be. They knew the chances of being caught again were slim, especially not right after a recent bust. So, they went back about building their illegal enterprises slowly and more carefully. That’s where Erik got involved. He just killed as many as he could, leaving only the weak ones who would run poor operations. Occasionally, they would find a new leader, but he’d set up his own system of war dogs to monitor as much activity as they could. His special forces, that he proudly renamed Bloodhounds, were allowed to be more active in ways that War Dogs could not. War Dogs mostly just observed and didn’t act. Useful in some cases but not in the way that I need. The Bloodhounds would fight if they found it necessary. It was his proudest achievement. 

Erik’s mind continued to wander while he jogged. He thought back on the day his uncle, former King of Wakanda, had come to get him. He’d been out of school for a year, learning life on the streets. His father had taught him to fight, so he’d picked up a reputation for being fierce. Puberty hadn’t made him tall yet, so he’d picked up the name “Lil Kill.” It had bothered him a lot at the time, but it stuck until he hit his growth spurt when it was shortened to Kill. He was sitting in a jail cell, not for the first time, when a big dude in a catsuit showed up and sliced his way through the bars. That was the second most shocking day of Erik’s life. The first being the discovery of his father’s body in their apartment.

Bzzz bzzz. He checked his phone. Call me. Speaking of family, his Auntie was texting him. It was rare that she would message him unless she was being nosey or had something important to tell him. He hoped this wasn't an emergency.

Erik sighed. His relationship with his Aunt Ramonda was complicated. While they technically shared no blood, she’d taken over most of Erik’s care. Ramonda took one look at the angry boy and saw what he needed in that moment: a mother. His “Auntie” was the only one who could scold him and actually make him feel bad about the shit that he did. However, when Erik ran away one too many times, she began to pull away from him, feeling like he might be beyond help.

Erik found it hard to talk to her sometimes because he felt like he let her down. She was never rude, but her over-politeness made him uncomfortable. It was hard for him to explain his need to do what he did to anyone, sometimes even T’Challa. The stain of his father’s murder by T’Chaka sat heavy on the family, making it hard for all those who were old enough to remember him to deal with each other. It made Erik grateful that Shuri was so young when it happened. She adored him in ways that no other member of the family could. 

Erik finally gathered up the nerve to make the call. “Hey Auntie.”

“Hello, Erik. How are you doing?” He always loved the velvety sound of her voice. It caressed his ears and brought a smile to his face despite his nerves. 

“I’m doing good. How are you?” Even if it was an emergency, his Aunt required this formality from him. It was almost comical when he thought about it. Shuri would still be running her mouth about her reason for calling, not giving him the chance to speak until she ran out of breath.

“I’m doing well.” There was a hesitant pause. “Have you heard from your cousin T’Challa recently?” 

“No, ma’am. It’s been about a month. You probably would have seen him last.” Erik looked around himself at the park. It was dark, so he would only make himself more visible if he used his kimoyo beads out here. “Let me get back to my place and I will call you there.”

“Please do, Erik. It’s important.”

Now, he was nervous. Despite her formalities, Erik could hear the nerves in her voice. Something was going on and it involved T’Challa. She wouldn’t call him like this unless it was serious.

He began his jog back home. Micky probably won’t like this. I don’t like it either.

Micky went back and forth about whether or not she should call her mom. The lady had pissed her off so bad, she really wanted to stay away for a long time. At the same time, it felt weird being cut off from all forms of support except for Erik. He was likely to be getting a new mission soon, which meant that Micky would be alone again, and most likely would end up right back in the mix with her rude ass relatives. 

Just call the old lady. Micky dialed up her mother’s number, breathing deeply to calm her racing heart. When it went to voicemail, she almost fainted from relief. I wonder what she’s doing. She almost never misses my call. Deciding it wasn’t something to panic over, Micky went back to filling out job applications. 

Some time later, after sending off writing samples to multiple blogs and sites that discussed interesting topics and current events locally, Micky turned off her laptop and flopped back on her futon cushion. Erik better be quick about replacing my shit. He has way more money than me. Speaking of him, it was time to apologize for her shenanigans. Micky dialed him up.

“Hello.” He answered almost immediately. Alright then.

“Hey, Erik. I know it’s a little on the late side, and you had work earlier.”

“You know none of that shit matters, ma. Wassup?” 

“I’m sorry for cutting up earlier. I know you have your reasons for keeping some things secret. It’s only been a few days. It’s not an excuse, but I got other things going on and…”

“I know. It ain’t a thing, babygirl. I left you alone because I figured you needed a minute. We cool.” 

“You sure?” It seemed like this was too easy. There had to be more. Surely, he wanted to yell a little bit.  

“I’m sure. We need to have a talk, though. Where are you?” 

“I’m at home. You want me to meet you somewhere?” Anything to get out of the house for a little bit. It was late, but surely somewhere was open in the city. 

“Yeah. Maggiano’s in 20 minutes?” Damn, no time to get cute. 

“Ummm ok. Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll see you there.” 

After a quick hoe bath and some lip gloss, Micky was ready to go. Maggiano’s was a little hood pizza store that had space for people to sit, and it was quiet. One of their first dates was here, and the feeling of nostalgia made Micky long for how things were in the beginning. She spotted Erik’s truck outside of the pizza store, and parked behind it. He was already sitting inside with a large order of hot wings and fries. There was an empty cup for her to choose her own drink. Most of the other details were lost on her as she focused on Erik. He had on workout gear like the other day, basketball shorts and such. His shirt had long sleeves this time, though.

“What you staring at?” He noticed her wandering eyes.

“Uh, nothing. Sorry, I’ve been moving around all day. I’m tired.” Not entirely a lie. 

“Sit down.” Now, Micky felt her instincts kicking in. Usually, a hug or kiss would have followed his teasing. Why was he being so distant now?

“Oh. Yes, sir.” She planted herself in the dingy booth across from him. It never ceased to amaze her that this fine specimen of a man enjoyed eating at some of the unhealthiest places. Everything about this place screamed “HEALTH VIOLATION” but he loved it here. They’d come here multiple times while they were dating before. 

“We need to talk.” Micky’s heart fluttered a little. She couldn’t decide how to feel about this. Erik knew she had anxiety, so he shouldn’t be using open phrases like that. 

“Please just say it. You’re leaving again, aren’t you?” Unwanted tears made her vision blurry. Her mind told her that she was overreacting, but her emotions weren’t in her control anymore. 

“Babygirl, please don’t cry.” Concern wrinkled his brow. “It’s about my family. My cousin is missing. They need me there now. I have to help find him.” 

Micky’s emotions were all over the place. His cousin is missing? He’s leaving me? His family needs him. Shuri needs him. But I need him, too. “Alright. Yeah, you should be with your family. I understand that completely. I will miss you, though.” She meant every word, even if it tore her to pieces inside.

“I’m glad that you understand. But I don’t want to leave you here alone. I know you got a lot of shit going on with your family.”

“I’ll live with it. I been doing that for 25 years. I’ll be okay.” At least, Micky hoped so.

“You shouldn’t have to deal with all that bullshit, though. Listen, I had an idea.” He looked at her hopefully. Micky nerves were a wreck and she was trying not to snap at his incomplete phrasing. She needed him to just say what he wanted from her, rather than saying that he wanted something.

“Please, just come out with everything. Stop leaving it open. My anxiety can’t take all that.” This was driving her insane. 

“Okay, damn. Here’s the deal. I want you to live at my place while I’m gone. 

Well, then. “I….uh….don’t really know how to respond to that.” 

“I’m not gonna have time to get you a new futon. I’ve been so busy with work and everything. I would rather just have you live there. Shit, somebody has to use the space. I don’t have anyone here, but you.”

Micky felt a weird mix of feelings. She had a lease at her current place, so she would have to break it if she moved. There was also the fact that Erik probably didn’t want Rufus tearing shit up in his place. The biggest problem was that Micky was currently unemployed, so how she would afford anything there was beyond her. Another thought occurred to her while she went over the possibility of living with Erik.

“What did you do with that review that I wrote about Minxie’s?” She thought about it periodically throughout the day, but was more worried about making sure that she apologized to him for snapping before. 

“That’s not what we’re discussing at the moment.”

“I know, Erik!” 

He sighed in poorly contained frustration. “I can show you that when we get back to my place.” He glanced away. “Or yours.”

“As in, my current place?”

“Tell me what you wanna do? I’ll go with it either way.” 

“I still have a lease.” 

“I’ll buy it out. My condo is paid for. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything like that.”

“Your cousin is missing?” Now, more details were starting to filter through her first wave of shock. 

“Yes.” 

“And you’re worried about me having a place to stay.”

“My family is sending transportation for me within the next two hours.”

“Well, that’s fast.” 

“None faster. Not on Earth, anyway.”

“Not….on….Earth.” Micky felt panic starting to rise in her chest again. She focused on her feet, the way they were placed on the ground. She needed to be aware of her physical self so she didn’t get caught up in her emotions. She concentrated on wiggling her toes, flexing her calf muscles, tensing and releasing her core. This went on until she felt her spirit settle a bit. 

“Better?” Erik waited patiently as ever for Micky to get herself under control. Micky nodded that she was okay. “You can refuse the offer if you want. It was just an option that would benefit both of us. Someone would be keeping up my place while I’m gone, and you would have less expenses to worry about.”

“True. I just don’t know what to say.” 

“Keep my keys. If you decide to move in, you’ll already be that much closer.”

“But what about the people who own the building? What will they say about me just showing up randomly?”

“My family owns the building.”

Micky wasn’t sure if she heard him correctly. “Your family…..?”

“They own it.” Erik’s gaze was intense as he fought to get her to understand how serious he was. “I’m leaving in less than two hours, babygirl. That’s a fact. How long I’ll be away is undetermined. I have to find out what happened to my cousin. But, I need to make sure you’ll be alright while I’m gone. Don’t tell anyone about my place. Let it be somewhere you can go where no one will ever bother you. Don’t bring anyone there. Do you understand?”

Micky nodded slowly at him. This was a little too much for her. Erik was leaving, and giving her a condo at the same time. There was nothing normal about this conversation. 

“Eat.” It was a quiet command and she obeyed it without further comment. Every time I get a handle on my feelings about him, things change again. Why couldn’t I have dated a normal man? Why did I respond to his text the other day? I knew I should have blocked his number. 

Micky finished off the last of the wings, eyeballing the fries as she realized she hadn’t eaten the entire day. Erik pushed the plate toward her as an invitation, one she accepted with enthusiasm. When she finished, she felt less lightheaded. Erik was polite enough not to stare while she ate, but his eyes were focused on her intently, now. “We should go back to my place.” He said after a few moments. I need to show you something." 

Erik was fully aware that Micky was having a hard time processing all her emotions. Life had been unkind to her these last few days, but she was going to have to push through it. He needed her to be alright, but his reasons for giving her his place to stay at went deeper than that. If T’Challa was compromised, then so was Erik. Their organizations worked in tandem, and only they had full access. That meant that a lot of things would be changing fast. Had someone spilled on them? This was going to be tough, but she was strong enough to take it.

Back at his place, he handed her a parking pass to keep inside her glove box whenever she entered the garage. It was keyed to her alone. She already has his key card for the door, but he wanted her to have the access codes to change the information should the card get lost. He’d also had a set of kimoyo beads made for her, but he wouldn’t have time to teach her the basics of how to use them in case of emergency. Those would have to be typed up.

He’d already put Shuri to work getting a secure phone for her to use. The number wouldn’t change, but it wouldn’t be hacked easily as long as she was careful. Shuri would also be securing a laptop for Micky. Any person that he cared about needed to be protected, and that included Micky. 

As Erik explained all of this to Micky, he could see that much of it wasn’t sinking in just yet. He’d typed up basic instructions to help her later when reality set in. He was pissed that he didn’t have the time to go over everything in great detail with her. By the time he was finished, another hour had passed, and they had maybe forty minutes left with each other. 

“Listen.” She looked up at him. “I love you, and I’m saying all this shit because I want you to be okay.”

“I know.” She looked so sad, but not broken. There was more of a look of resignation on her face, as though she had already accepted how fucked up everything was. “Show me what you did with the stuff I sent you.”

It took him a moment to understand what she was referring to. “You mean the video?”

“What video?” That got her attention. 

He pulled out his phone and loaded it up. It was at an awkward angle, but there was Kelly’s greasy ass face in all its ugly ass glory counting money as a very courteous Erik asked for her attention multiple times. It was a short clip, but it was damning enough, and by now would be on several sites that carried customer reviews of stores. 

Micky gasped as she looked up at him. Several seconds ticked by before she spoke. "Petty Wap." A hesitant smile curled the corner of her mouth. "You really did this?"

“Yeah. It’s really small. I been thinking about making some other things happen, too.”

“Like what?” She looked concerned, but curious.

Should I do it? Should I tell her how badly I wanted to put sugar in Kelly’s gas tank? Should I tell her my other thoughts about Kelly? “I thought about a lot of things. Sugar in the gas tank. Or even sending a more direct message, but I didn’t want her trying to retaliate against you when I wasn’t around.”

Micky thought about his words for a moment. “Sugar in the gas tank is actually a cool idea. I just don’t want her children to be without transport. If that bitch was single, I’d even go with you when you did it so I can learn.”

Erik was shocked. He stared at Micky for a solid 10 seconds before he was able to speak again. “You think that shit is cool, huh?” He felt himself getting hard at the thought. “You feel like cutting up a little bit?” 

“I feel like setting up boundaries and making sure there are consequences when people don’t listen.” She said it so smoothly, but there was no joke in her voice. She meant that shit. 

“Okay, babygirl. Remember you said that shit for when I get back.” If I get back.

She looked sad again. “Okay, Daddy.”

“Aht Aht. I don’t have enough time to play with you tonight. I gotta go in…” He checked his phone time. “...15 minutes.”

She sighed. “Alright. So, do we just sit here and wait, then?”

“Nah, I wanna tell you something else. I wasn’t born in Wakanda, but all my family is there.” There was only fifteen minutes to get it all out. “My father was murdered when I was young. My mother’s been gone so long I don’t remember what she looked like. Several years after my father’s death, my uncle came and found me, offering me a place in his home in the African nation of Wakanda. He was the king there, and as his brother’s son, that made me prince. I started working for him at a young age, since I could never listen to anyone else. He was killed by a high level fence, called Klaw. My cousin is king now. Shuri is a princess. There’s not enough time to tell you anything else, but I will tell you when I get back. I promise. If I come back, I’ll take all my time telling you anything you want to know about me.” There it was.

“So, that’s why you have all this shit?” Micky looked around the living room.

“No, my family owns the building, but I work for my shit. Just like you.” He wasn’t sure how to feel about her reaction. 

“I believe you. You can’t sit still too long to let someone else take care of you.” She smiled at him slyly. 

“Kiss me, babygirl. I gotta go.” He reached across the couch and pulled her towards him. She squealed at the sudden loss of balance, eventually settling in his arms. Her lips were so soft, and slightly spicy from the hot wings. It didn’t bother him. He wanted this moment to last forever, and nothing mattered as much as the feeling of her body against his. Erik wanted to savor the taste of her for as long as he could. Micky matched his enthusiasm, gripping the back of his head to deepen the kiss. 

At the precise moment that Erik was about to throw caution to the wind and strip both of them down, he felt his wrist vibrate. Fuck. Of course he would be cockblocked by the goddamn Dora Milaje. It was time to be a prince. He felt himself going cold as he pulled away from Micky. 

“It’s time for me to go, babygirl.” It was hard to focus on her face right now. The tears she was fighting back were so close to falling, and he hated more than anything that he was the reason for them.

“Be safe. Come back, okay?”

He nodded to avoid the need to speak again. He wrapped her in his arms one last time before heading out the door. He never bothered packing, since his transport would be well stocked with anything he needed. On his way up to the roof, he felt his heart freeze solid. T’Challa didn’t need Erik right now, he needed Killmonger. And that’s exactly who was coming to save his sorry ass. 

Micky felt hollow. He’d walked out of her life again, and now that she knew the severity of the situation, it felt like maybe he wouldn’t make it back. She began to wonder why she’d asked so many questions before. Maybe not knowing was better than this. 

Who the fuck am I kidding? This has been one the wildest rides of my life and well worth it. I’m a different person than just a few days ago, and have access to so much more now.

And it was true. Micky was more confident, more assertive, more inspired than she had ever been. Even with Erik gone, she knew she would ultimately be alright. It would be lonely, unless she decided to date someone else, but she could handle that. That wasn’t unusual for her at all. She had a lot of hard decisions to make in a relatively short amount of time, but she would make them. Rufus was probably staring at his food bowl, angry at the world because he could see the bottom of it. There was also the matter of her family for her to deal with, but that could wait until she figured out where she wanted to live. And who the fuck wouldn’t want to live here? 

But there was also the issue of whether or not Erik would still want her when he got back, and if she could live with him leaving for long periods of time. I suppose this would be a good test of whether or not I can make this work. There was much to do and little time to do it.

Erik frowned in his sleep from all her sudden movements. “You good, ma?” He yawned and stretched, taking up the majority of what was left of the futon. “Sleep good?” 

Micky wanted to hit him for looking so damn good laying there, but she didn’t have time. No one had called her from her job, which was a bad sign. She dialed in, and listened to her pulse raise in her ears as the phone rang. 

“Minxie’s, this is Stacy. How can I help you?” 

“Hi, Stacy. It’s Micky.” There was a pause on the other end of the line.

“Oh. Hi Micky.” She sounded royally pissed.

“Hi, I’m really sorry. I oversl-” 

“Don’t bother, Micky. Don’t worry about coming in. Ever.” Oh fuck.

“Stacy, I-”

“All your things will be left at the cashier’s station by the door. Goodbye.” She paused again. “And good luck.” Stacy hung up.

Micky felt devastated. She’d never been fired from a job, even one she hated. And now, here she was. Assed out, and jobless. She sat there for a minute, trying to understand what she’d done to have such a fucked up week, and it was only just beginning.

A warm hand caressed her back. “What happened?” Erik’s voice sounded concerned, but she knew he probably guessed what happened. 

“They let me go. Told me to get my shit at the cashier station.” Her voice sounded empty in her ears.”

“Aiight. Let’s go get it.” 

“What?” Surely, he didn’t mean to go right this instant. She watched his face carefully, but there was no hint of a joke. 

“I don’t have any clean clothes here. We gotta go to my place first. Bring some stuff with you. It’s gonna be a few days until I can replace your futon.” She froze at that. 

“You want me to stay at your place? For a few days?” She needed to confirm what he said. 

“You got somewhere else to be?”

“Well, no.”

“Then, bring yo ass. We got shit to do before I go to the office.”

Erik wanted to laugh at the way Micky looked with her backpack in her lap and her hair tucked into a small puff at the top of her head. It had taken a little more convincing, but some well placed kisses helped move things along. She would be staying with him for a few days. He knew she loved having her own space, so he would make sure to replace her broken futon. 

He pulled into the garage underneath the building where his condo was located. His mind momentarily wondered if Shuri was watching as both their phones arrived at his place. Of course she is, bad ass. Erik didn’t mind that too much. As he parked and grabbed up Micky’s bag, he thought about all the ways it would be beneficial to have a way to track Micky in case of emergency. It may actually be good to have someone else looking out for her. Shuri would love having someone else to talk to, or harass. This could work in his favor. 

“You know what?” Erik let Micky walk into the elevator ahead of him. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you and Shuri got to know each other.”

She glanced over at him. “I thought it didn’t matter.”

“It didn’t before when I ain’t know if you would tell me to leave you alone forever.”

“I still might.” Erik couldn’t tell if she was serious or not. She threw him a look with a little smirk on her face. “You did break my damn futon, after all.” Both of them chuckled at that. He felt relieved that she wasn’t still mad at him. It would take time for everything to be right again for her, but he wasn’t going to be a source of stress for her anymore. 

“Alright, goofball. I’ma hop in the shower and change. We’ll go get your stuff after, okay?” He passed her in the hall to unlock his door. 

“Yup. I will behave until it’s time to go.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him. “Promise.”

“I will spank that ass if you cut up.” He left her in the main room flipping through his streaming accounts for something to watch. He deposited her bag just inside his bedroom door, and proceeded to the bathroom.

Micky must have dozed off while Erik showered. He startled her so bad when he tapped her on the leg that she nearly kicked him. His sharp reflexes kept him out of harm’s way, but he still teased her a little bit. Micky didn’t mind it, though. He looked so good standing there in front of her in that cream colored polo, and patterned slacks. Her eyes traveled up and down his body, stirring up memories of their night together. 

“Damn, you look thirsty as fuck right now.” He looked more smug than ever. Micky didn’t care. She liked how good he looked and wanted to take all his clothes off ASAP. And then the smell of his cologne hit her. She knew it must have taken her too long to respond by the way his eyebrow twitched up. She still didn’t care. She was going to enjoy this sight like it was the last time she would ever see it. 

He cleared his throat. “You ready?” 

“Yeah, I’m ready. Let me just run to the bathroom right quick.” 

Back in the car, Micky watched Erik as he drove to her former job. She still wasn’t sure why he insisted on taking her back there. She didn’t really have anything valuable there. Just an old pair of sneakers, and a hoodie that she left for those days when the AC was blasting.

“Why you keep staring at me?” Of course he would notice.

“I just don’t know why you wanna take me back there right now. It’s the last place I wanna be.” Well, the second to last. “And, you have no right to look so much better than me. I’m offended.”

Erik laughed at that. “Well, I can’t do anything about the second problem. I’m just built like that.” His expression got more serious. “As far as taking you back there, I just figured you wouldn’t want to go it alone. That shit can be mad awkward, and I don’t want you feeling weird. Shit, I might even buy something since them bitches need to pinch they pockets so bad.”

“Oh.” Micky didn’t really have an answer. She really didn’t want to be there by herself, and she appreciated Erik for being supportive. 

When they finally arrived, he smiled his award worthy smile at her and tweaked her nose. "Let's go." He sounded more confident than Micky felt, but she wasn't going to back down now. They were already walking toward the front door.

Since the store had only just opened at 9, there were no customers yet. Micky was grateful for that. Her hands shook as she walked in before Erik. She stopped short in the door as her anxiety began to overwhelm her. Erik pressed in behind her, placing his hands on her arms. She felt his well-groomed beard against her earlobe as he spoke quietly in her ear. "Let Daddy handle it. I got it."

He moved around to her side and grabbed her hand. "Okay, Daddy." It felt nice to shrug off the responsibility. Erik would take care of her, if only for the moment. 

He walked them to the register where Kelly, a part-timer with an attitude, was counting her till. Micky swallowed to moisten her throat. Kelly had a mean streak as wide as her forehead was long. She never washed her uniform, which currently had stains from yesterday’s lunch on it. There was always an odor that hovered around her, forcing Micky to find something to do in the store to avoid having to stand behind the counter with her. Kelly’s hair was greasy and unwashed as usual, pushed up into a ponytail without being smoothed down. All the knots and tangles were visible. Her skin was the color of fried chicken with how much bronzer and tanning spray she used. Rumor had it she was trying her best to get pregnant by her Black boyfriend, poking holes in condoms and whatnot, but it wasn’t working in her favor. His pullout game must have been immaculate. Micky was suddenly relieved she hadn’t made it in to work today. 

Erik walked right up to the gum popping, unkempt cashier, with Micky at his side. "Excuse me…" Erik read her name tag. "...Kelly. I'm here to pick up Micky's things. She was told they would be left up front."

Kelly never looked up from her counting. She was always rude to customers and her coworkers. Micky never liked her. 

"Kelly…" Micky began to speak until she felt Erik squeeze her hand lightly. He clearly wasn't finished. 

"Hey uh, Kelly? You might wanna pay attention to what's going on in your store." Erik never liked being ignored. He wasn't going to keep being nice.

Kelly still wouldn't look up from her counting. Micky was starting to feel nervous again, as she watched the warmth melt off of Erik's demeanor. Things were about to get bad for Kelly. 

Erik glanced around the store, clearly checking for anyone watching. "The only ones that work are pointed at the door." Micky spoke quietly, but Erik got the message. He nodded to himself as if making a silent decision. He began doing something with the hand that wasn't holding hers, but Micky couldn't see around him.

"Go get your stuff. I'll be right here." He spoke firmly.

"But, I don't work here anymore. I'm not allowed." 

He squeezed her hand again. "Now, babygirl."

Kelly finally finished counting, loudly slamming the till back into place. "She's not allowed back here." She glared at Micky for a solid five seconds before she looked over at Erik. Her mouth popped open at the glorious sight before her. 220 pounds of muscle packed in a 6 foot and 1 whole inch frame glared down his nose at her. Honestly, Micky could relate to the feeling. 

"Then go get her shit for her. She's a customer now. And you work in customer service….so get to serving….Kelly." Poison dripped from Erik's lips. A visible chill rocked Kelly as she backed away from that murderous glare. She hurried to do what Erik told her, damn near hurling a Minxie's shopping bag filled with Micky's things across the counter at them. Her face was twisted with irritation. How dare they come and make her do her job?

Micky reached for her things, but Erik put out a hand to stop her. "Nah. Pick that shit up, Kelly. You don't throw my girl's shit." He sounded like he was holding something back. The hand he held in front of her shook with poorly suppressed rage. 

Kelly looked like she was about to refuse, but she paused for a second. She threw another dirty look at Micky as if she was to blame for everything. Erik shifted his weight slightly, forcing Kelly to look back at him. Micky felt like she was watching a tamer break a particularly willful beast. This was fascinating. She wished she could look at people and make them jump like he did. 

Kelly eventually picked up the bag and held it out. Erik still hadn’t moved his hand, so Micky didn’t reach for it. After a moment, Kelly started looking confused. She glanced up at Erik. He just watched her hold the bag. Kelly opened her mouth to speak, but Erik cut her off.

“Now, apologize to her for being a rude colonizing bitch.” 

“What?” Kelly gaped at him. She still held the bag, though. Micky was stunned.

“You heard what the hell I said. Repeat after me, ‘I apologize for being a rude bitch to you, ma’am.’ Say that shit.”

“What?” Micky almost laughed at the frustrated glare on Kelly’s face. Erik had a petty streak like no other. This was only a taste of it. You have no clue how bad he can get, bitch. 

“Awww, Micks. You ain’t tell me your coworker was dumb as hell, too.” Erik glanced at her sidelong.

Micky played her part. “I’m sorry, E. I never mentioned it because she isn’t important enough. Look at her. She still holding that bag like a good dog.” This was a weird feeling. It felt wrong in a general sense, but this specific situation called for it. Micky would never dream of mistreating another service worker, but this one was a terrible person. This one deserved a little needling. 

“Damn. You got a good point there, babygirl.” Micky knew she’d done a good job by the way he smiled at her. Kelly, on the other hand, looked offended. “Apologize like a good dog, and hand my girl her bag.” 

Kelly looked more deflated than Micky had ever seen her. She looked back and forth between Micky and Erik a few times before she finally opened her mouth to speak. “I’m sorry. Here’s your stuff.” Micky reached for it, but Erik told her to stop again.

“I gave her the line and she still fucked it up. You see that shit, ma?” His face was the perfect image of sadness. This man deserves a fucking oscar. By this point, Micky was starting to get what was happening. Erik was showing off, yes, but he was also teaching her how to command respect. He was leading by example. Micky would have been long gone by now, and probably cried in her car the whole way home. Erik would never tolerate anything that didn’t satisfy him. Especially, when it was coming from a raggedy bitch like Kelly. “I’ma say this shit one more time for you, Kelly. Say, ‘I apologize for being a rude bitch to you, ma’am.’ It’s simple. Now, you try.”

Kelly looked utterly defeated now. Her hand must be tired. I know mine would be. Micky observed as the last bit of fight left the other woman’s body. “I apologize for being a rude bitch to you.” She hesitated on the last word. Erik lifted an eyebrow threateningly. “Ma’am,” Kelly squeaked out. 

Erik moved his arm so that Micky could grab her things. Kelly dropped her hand like it weighed a ton. “Let’s go.” Erik moved toward the door, pulling open as a woman with a young child entered the store. Micky scrambled to follow him, throwing a last glance back at Kelly, who looked like she wanted to scream. 

“Oh, I forgot the key!” Micky pulled the store key out of her pocket and went back to the counter. She dropped it there without saying another word. Kelly wouldn’t even look at her. 

On the way out the door, Micky heard the other customer speak. “Hi, are you guys hiring?” She considered telling the other woman not to apply, but she realized it wasn’t her problem to solve. Professor Erik was getting it through her skull at last. She didn’t have to be super-bitch. 

During the drive back to his place, they didn’t speak much. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was a little weird. Erik almost never went an entire car ride without saying something silly. Micky wasn’t going to ruin it, though. She had plenty of her own thoughts to chew through. He pulled into the garage, and parked by the elevator.

“Hey, babygirl.” She turned back as she stepped out of the car. “I got homework for you, okay?”

“Okay…” What did he have in mind now?

“Write up a review of that place. Get real detailed about all the bad practices and shady shit that goes down there. Then, send it to me. Can you do that?”

“Yeah.” That wasn’t hard at all.

“Don’t forget to write up that bitch’s stank ass attitude today, too.” He put his car back in drive, a clear signal for her to close his door. “You got free run of the place. Don’t break my shit.” He handed her his home key with a wink. “Call me if you need anything.” And just like that, he pulled off, leaving Micky with a lot to think about. 

Erik had plans. He had a lot of plans. First, he was gonna tank that fucking store, or at the very least get all the people that worked there fired. Second, he was gonna find new work for Micky. He remembered that she loved to write. Surely, there was someone he could put her in touch with to get her going in the right direction. Oh, and I have to replace that damn futon. If her place wasn’t so small, I’d buy her a whole bed set. I’d let her keep staying at my place if I thought she would want to. At least, someone would be using it when he was gone for long periods of time. Micky was always good at accepting his gifts, but she liked having her own space, and he wouldn’t step on her toes. She enjoyed the independence, and he enjoyed anything that made her happy.

The day dragged on, work as usual. There were a few meetings, a luncheon, and multiple phone calls. He responded to multiple emails, confirming dates and times for private events that needed discreet security. Hours and hours of busy work was giving Erik a headache. He checked his phone. 6:30pm. Eight hours had gone by since he left Micky at his place. They had left the food at her place the night before, and he was hungry as fuck. Do I go home, and take her back to her place? Or do I just go and get the food? He decided to call her.

“Hello?” She always answered like that. Like she was asking permission for something. 

“Yo. I’m hungry. You tryna go somewhere?” He knew it was going to take forever for her to decide, but he asked anyway. 

“Ummmm. I’m not really hungry. I ordered a few hours ago, so I’m good.” 

“Damn, you ain’t get me nothing?” He faked hurt. It was mean, but sometimes he liked to tease her. He would make it up to her later. “That’s fucked up, ma.”

“I got a meat lover’s pizza. There’s some left.” Oh, she on point today. 

“Oh, aiight. I was gonna get the food from your place, but I guess we good tonight.” He loved when things came together. 

“Actually…” Aw shit. “I was wondering if you could take me home.”

“But, you don’t have nowhere to sleep. I still owe you, remember?” He tried to hide the disappointment in his voice.

“Yeah. I don’t mean for you to leave me there. I just wanna be able to drive. And there’s Rufus.”

He’d forgotten about that. “Yeah, I’m leaving now. Be there in 10 mins.”

Micky spent the entire day writing. It had only taken about ten minutes to write up the review for Erik. He’d sent a ‘Thanks’. But, that wasn’t the only thing that had her mind racing. Inspiration had hit her like a freight train on the way home from Minxie’s. It seemed so perfect in her head, but it wasn’t coming out exactly right on her laptop screen. Reading through the ten pages she had typed, it felt like something was missing. Her eyes roved over the screen, searching for what piece was missing. 

So far, her main character was a secret agent, with a mysterious past. Her name was Erin. She saved a man from being killed, and was in the process of figuring out what was so special about him that someone would want to kill him. There was obviously a connection between the two of them, but Erin wasn’t giving in yet. Micky still couldn’t decide if she wanted to go the way of romance, or let them just have a mutually beneficial relationship: she keeps him alive, and he keeps her from feeling too lonely.

There were a few things that still eluded her, though. She hadn’t settled on a name for the male character, for one. A few possibilities bounced around in her head for that. She’d nearly peed her pants laughing when ‘Erik’ crossed her mind. No, he’d be so mad. Then, there was the issue of why someone was trying to kill him in the first place. She couldn’t really think of a reason for him being a target. Unless it’s a case of mistaken identity. But then, what would be the point? Maybe I should make him another agent? Or better yet, he could be the son of some wealthy person. I like that. He could have a hefty inheritance that a jealous relative is trying to keep him from claiming.

Then, there was the issue of Erin’s background. Who was she before she got involved in the spy business? It was only just starting to come together in Micky’s mind. She could see little Erin growing up in a wealthy home, receiving all kinds of training, learning all kinds of languages. Her story wouldn’t be motivated by her own suffering. Nah. I’m not writing that for her. Erin would be empowered by her loving and supportive family. She would be enraged by the injustices she witnessed in the world. She would resolve to do something about it. That made sense in Micky’s mind.   

Micky thoughts were interrupted by her phone buzzing. Erik must be outside. She was surprised to see an unknown number pop up on her screen. “Hello?” 

“Hello, this is Shuri. Erik’s best cousin! You remember me? We spoke just last night. Is Erik there with you?” She has a lot of energy. “I see you are at his place now. But his phone says he is at work. What are you doing there? Do you live there now?” The barrage of questions threatened to overwhelm Micky’s brain. How does this girl get anything done if she is this all over the place?

“Well, ummm. My bed is….” How does one say this without traumatizing a kid? “...I need a new one. The old one fell apart because it was cheap.”

“It just fell apart like that? That is very unfortunate.” Shuri paused on the phone. “I realize that I have been rude to you. What is your name?”

“Mikaela. All my friends call me Micky.”

“I would like to be your friend, Mikaela. You seem really nice. I believe that I know of you from before. Erik talked about a nice woman he knew in the States who he broke up with. He was sad about it for a long time. He seems happier now.” Really? Because he seems mad every time he talks to you.

“Well that’s good to know, Shuri. May I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Where does the nickname come from? Why does he call you that?” Micky just had to know. There was a long pause on the phone. Micky checked to make sure that Shuri hadn’t hung up. The timer was still counting up on the screen, so the younger woman was still there.

“When I was a little girl, it was my older brother’s birthday party.” She spoke so quickly that Micky struggled to follow Shuri’s accent. “There was cake, as such events tend to go. They were waiting to present it to him in the main room, but when they came I had already taken a large chunk out of it. I was covered in icing. It made me so sick, all that sugar. I couldn’t have been older than three years old at the time.”

Micky barely managed to mute her phone before she hollered laughing at the absurdity of the story. This genius child, with an unstoppable mouth and brain, managed to do something so adorably ordinary. She may be smart as hell, but she’s still just a kid. Suddenly, several things made sense to Micky. Shuri clung to Erik because he treated her like what she was: a kid. He had no expectations of her except to be healthy, happy and free. Yeah, he found her annoying, but little cousins were supposed to be that. It just made her cuter, and him sexier.

“Mikaela? Are you still there?” Shuri sounded a little irritated by the prolonged silence. “You better not be laughing at me.”

“I would never even think of laughing at you, Shuri!” Micky unmuted the line, and lied through her teeth. Shuri had her pride to maintain after all. While Micky pacified Shuri over the phone, the door buzzed and Erik walked in.

“Who you talking to like that?” So fucking rude.

“Shuri of course. I can’t talk to my family so I’m talking to yours.”

Erik responded “What?” just as Shuri asked “Why?” Micky almost had another laughing fit.

“I can’t answer you both at the same time.”

“Put her on speaker.” Micky obeyed.

“Hey, Shuri I’ma put you on speaker, okay?” 

“Wassup, little girl? You still up to no good, I see.” Erik teased his little cousin. It seemed to be the normal form of communication between them.

“Just the everyday things, cousin. I was getting to know Mikaela.”

“Oh word? And why would you wanna do that?”

“You spent a month poking out your bottom lip because you thought she hated you. But now, you two are together again?” Shuri sounded genuinely curious. Micky felt slightly embarrassed to be having this conversation with her ex’s little cousin.

Erik looked furious. “Why are you putting all my business out here? You just reminded me, I need to tell your mom you minding grown folks business again.”

“But Erik, I just wanted to know. You were really sad before. I hated to see you that way.”

Now, Micky felt like an outsider. This conversation was between family, and she didn’t feel like she qualified to be involved. She put her phone on the coffee table, and got up to go to the bathroom. I should give them some privacy. 

Micky hadn’t showered all day, so she took this opportunity to do a little maintenance. One of her favorite features of Erik’s condo was the bathroom. The countertops were granite, the tub was deep and had jets in it that could massage all your pain away. Then, the best feature of all, the walk in shower. It was so spacious, with a little stainless steel bench set just outside the water stream. Oh the water stream. Water could come from three different directions: overhead, and both sides. If you stepped out of that shower with a speck of dirt on you, you were trifling. And there was a switch by the bathroom door to warm the tiles on the floor so that you wouldn’t have cold feet. If Erik ever sold this place, this room alone would fetch a high price. 

Micky turned on the tile warmer and got ready for her shower. No sooner than she was about to step in, did Erik knock lightly on her door. 

“Hey, Micks. Shuri wanted to say bye to you.” Awww how sweet. I love this girl already, and I don’t even know what she looks like.

She wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door, grabbing the phone from Erik. “Hey, Shuri. I was about to hop in the shower. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Okay, Mikaela! Don’t let Erik get into any trouble. He’s a good person, but he just gets really angry sometimes.” Tell me about it.

She glanced up at Erik, who was looking particularly mischievous. “Yeah, I’ll keep him safe for you.” She almost laughed at the way he frowned at that. “You behave, alright?”

“I will try. Bye, Mikaela.”

“It’s Micky. Bye, Shuri.” She hung up the phone. “Hey, E. I just wanted to freshen up a little. I’ll be out in a sec.” She moved to close the door, but he pushed it back open again.

“This trip back to your place, is it an emergency?” He was looking just over her shoulder at the shower.

“What do you mean?” 

“You need to go like right away? Or can it wait an hour, maybe two?” He brought his gaze back to hers. His pupils were dilated, and he wasn’t blinking. She felt like she was in the crosshairs of a sniper rifle, or a very hungry predator. Oh my.

“It’s not an emergency, I just wanted my car for errands tomorrow. I have laundry, and Rufus…..” Her voice trailed off as he smiled down at her. Those dimples were deep and those gold slugs were damn near glowing in her face. “Uhhhh.”

“What’s wrong, babygirl?” He still wasn’t blinking, and it made her slightly uncomfortable. 

“Look at yourself in the mirror.” She moved away from the door to let him pass. He looked at his reflection with open curiosity. She didn’t think he’d ever realized how he looked sometimes. The way his eyes made him look almost inhuman. The intensity of his gaze could peel paint.

“Damn.” Micky waited for him to elaborate. “I look like a demon.” He smiled at himself. “Huh.”

“You never seen yourself look like that before, huh?” Micky asked quietly. It was fascinating to watch him engage with himself in this new way. Almost like watching those cute videos of animals squaring up with their reflections, but a lot more dangerous.

After a moment, Erik turned back toward her. He still looked wild, but at least he didn’t look like a threat anymore. “Sorry, babygirl. You was looking so good in that towel, I wanted to eat you up.” He really looked apologetic, too. He also looked like he wanted to devour her whole. “My offer stands, though. I know you love it when Daddy washes that ass.” He moved toward her, tugging the towel off her body. “That sound good to you?”

Now that she wasn’t terrified, Micky was horny as hell. She wanted to put that bench in the shower to good use. She turned her face up for kisses, earning a moan from somewhere deep in Erik’s chest. 

“I asked you a question.” His hands gripped her ass hard, as he deepened the kiss. “You want Daddy to eat you up? You know you my favorite snack.” He gripped her chin, making her turn her head while he kissed down her jawline. 

Speaking was difficult with how he squeezed her face. “Mhm.” His hand moved from her face to the back of her head as he kissed the hollow at the base of her neck. She had to wrap her arms around his waist to keep from falling. “Yes.” She finally managed to organize her thoughts to form words. “Yes, please.” 

“Please what?” He left a trail of kisses from her throat to her shoulder. Micky lost focus again.

“Uhhh.” He had to know that it was impossible for her to think when he worked her like this.

“Speak, babygirl.” The iron in his voice sent a shiver through her entire body. His fingers twined through her hair. “I need you to say it.” His lips pressed to her neck made her skin tingle. It’s not fair.

“Can I do something for you first, Daddy?” She finally got it out.

He pulled away a little, gazing deep in her eyes. “What you wanna do for Daddy?” His voice poured like honey over her ears. 

“I want you deep in my throat. Let me taste that dick, Daddy. Please.” The desperation in her voice didn’t bother her at all. She meant every word she said and had no qualms about asking for what she wanted.

“Damn, you feeling bold today. Sit in the shower, and wait.” She obediently walked over to the bench and waited. 

She watched him meticulously remove his clothes, torturing her by moving slowly. He smirked at her when she poked her bottom lip out. “Don’t be like that. I’ll put all this shit back on and walk the fuck out.” That made her fix her face real quick. Once he was completely undressed, he stood there watching her react to him.

Micky took the opportunity to drink in all the details of his body. His little baby dreads were neat and oiled on his head. His beard perfectly framed his chin, making his lips pop. They looked so full and juicy, slightly parted to give her a small peak at his pearly whites. His shoulders were broad and muscular, looking like they could carry the weight of the world. They probably do. His hands weren’t large but the fingers were thick from all the work he did with them. His chest was smooth, but his forearms were dotted with keloids. When she first met him, the rows were only two inches wide. They’d spread up his arm slowly each time they’d hook up again. She noticed a fresh one this time. 

“Can I ask you something?” Hopefully, he wouldn’t be mad at the change in subject.

“What?” He started walking toward her. His hardness bounced in her face as he came to a stop in front of her. He tilted her chin up with his hand, making his dick jump on her lips. “I ain’t hear you.” With the bathroom light behind him, his eyes looked completely black. Almost more terrifying than before.

She figured there were two options here. Get to sucking, or try to ask her question while his dick sat on her face. “It can wait.” With that settled, Micky went to work.

I should ask her how she’s doing. 

She probably hates that she had to come fetch me when there are more important things going on. 

But what happened to Erik? Is he hurt? 

And her brother? Is he still missing?

“You know, Micky… I am sorry for being harsh to you. Erik told me before he went on his mission that things had been difficult for you with your family. And that you had lost your job.” Shuri’s features softened while she spoke, but the sadness lingered. “I’m sure you have questions.”

“How are you?” Micky was overwhelmed by the hollowness in Shuri’s voice. The normally vibrant sharpness in her eyes was dull, and she looked like she hadn’t slept in weeks. 

“How am I?” Shuri paused for a moment. “I’m….” 

Micky waited patiently. It seemed like Shuri hadn’t considered this question at all. Just because she’s a genius doesn’t mean she’s not still a kid. Has no one checked on her?

“I’m tired, Micky.” Suddenly, tears poured down her face. Weeks of fear and sadness came rushing out of the teenager like a broken dam. Micky got up from her seat to crouch by Shuri’s feet. “MY BROTHER IS GONE, MICKY! HE’S GONE!” She balled her fists up, pressing them to her eyes as she fought her way through emotions too big for anyone to take. 

Micky was stunned into silence, placing a comforting hand on Shuri’s knee while allowing her to cry herself out. Glancing toward the front of the jet, Micky made eye contact with the pilot – a beautiful bald-headed woman dressed in a regal gold and crimson uniform. The woman gave a slight nod of approval, and then turned back to the controls. Oh. Things are worse than I feared. This child is capable of so much, but she’s still a child.

Shuri wasn’t sobbing anymore, having lowered her fists. It looked like she was trying to disconnect from the pain.

“Hey, Shuri. Look at me.”

Shuri kept her gaze straight ahead. 

“Look at me when I’m talking to you, little girl!” Micky hoped she wasn’t overstepping, but she would do anything to keep Shuri from shutting down. Better to get it all out, now. I suspect there is much to do when we land. 

“What do you want?! WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL, EH?” Shuri shot up from her seat, glaring down at Micky. “Don’t look at me like that! Don’t talk to me like he would. My cousin is in a coma! MY BROTHER IS GONE!” She was breathing hard, face twisted in anguish. Micky’s heart ached, but she wouldn’t allow herself to falter now. Better she takes it out on me now. It’s the least I can do to help.

“I’m not special, Shuri. I’m just me. Let me be a friend to you. You gotta let that shit out, or you’ll drown in it. Don’t be like me. Cry, yell, scream, hit things….but don’t hold it in. Do you understand me?” Micky didn’t know where this protective side of her came from. It didn’t matter. She loved this girl no matter how grown she acted. 

____________________________________________________________________________

N’Keesa sat quietly, listening to the theatrics taking place behind her. She could hear the woman, Micky, standing up and offering to hug the princess. It gave her a great sense of relief that someone saw the child, and not just the royalty and genius. The only people who ever treated Shuri like a person was her family, and right now, they were all too deep in their own grief. 

N’Keesa wondered if this Micky could make a miracle happen, and help nurse Prince N’Jadaka back to health. Shuri and the doctors had done all they could, making him stable and comfortable, but he would not awaken. Apparently, this was the woman he could not stay away from. N’Keesa would reserve her judgment until she understood the dynamics better. 

“Princess and honored guest. We have arrived.” 

“Thank you, Keesie.” Shuri responded with the nickname she’d used for N’Keesa since she was a toddler. 

N’Keesa already felt better about bringing Micky to their homeland.

“Welcome to Wakanda. Welcome home.” N’Keesa spoke warmly to the women behind her. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Shuri watched Micky from the corner of her eye as they prepared to disembark from the jet. She knew that the older woman was scared and worried about Erik, but she hadn’t asked about him outright. She suspected that Micky, for all her advice about not holding in her feelings, was avoiding the topic. 

Either way, Shuri knew that they would address it soon enough. She waited patiently as she watched the wave of awe wash over Micky’s face at seeing Wakanda for the first time. “It has that effect on everyone.” she said, lightly teasing her friend. “Pick your jaw up off the ground.” 

Micky’s jaw snapped shut with an audible click. 

“Princess?” N’Keesa – her favorite watcher as a child – gestured ahead toward the entry of the palace where Queen Ramonda stood.

Shuri stepped forward briskly. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Wakanda was the most beautiful and futuristic place Micky had ever seen. From the flight deck, she could see the street below. Everyone wore kimoyo beads. Kids rode on actual hoverboards that floated a few inches off the ground. Every Wakandan looked regal and divine. Not an ashy lip or knuckle in sight. There were drones navigating delivery routes. The greenery was rich, and flowery making the air smell fragrant and light. There were a lot of people wearing white around the palace and down on the main street. 

“Micky?” Shuri beckoned as she moved toward a woman that looked like an actual goddess among humans. 

As Micky approached, the older woman held out both of her arms in welcome. “Greetings and welcome to our home. I am the Queen Mother, Ramonda of the Panther tribe.” It seemed exceedingly formal given the circumstances, but royalty worked differently than regular families. The image had to be maintained through all the pain and suffering of the humans who wore it. 

Upon Queen Ramonda’s head sat a tall white headdress adorned with white pearls set in a lined pattern from the base to the upper crest. Her gown was strapless, but lacked no class as it hugged her bosom and flared out around her in countless loose strips. Her cleavage – if such a word can be used for one so divine – was decorated with white dots shaped vaguely like a low hanging necklace. Her sandaled feet sported white toes that matched her short and practical fingernails. Micky noticed the callouses on her knuckles. This woman is a warrior. I wouldn’t want to piss her off on the street, let alone in a palace full of bad bitches with spears under her command.

Micky wasn’t sure if she should bow or reach out for a handshake. As she stood in front of the woman who had helped raise Erik, she squeaked out a shy “Hi, ma’am.” Trying her best not to completely shrink in front of the intimidating figure standing before her. 

Micky almost fainted when the Queen reached out and hugged her in one arm, gripping Shuri tightly in the other. Unsure of what else to do she wrapped her arms around both of them, feeling more supported in this moment than she had most of her life. She almost burst into tears when she felt Shuri’s arms complete the embrace. This is how this should always feel. Whatever formalities that felt wrong before no longer mattered. The emotions, however unspoken, were fully expressed in this tenderness and strength radiating from the Queen. 

“You will call me Auntie, Mikaela.” Auntie Ramonda’s voice felt like actual satin and velvet and honey and every nice thing at the same time as she spoke. She must know the effect she has on people. There’s just no way she doesn’t. “I’m sure you must be worried about Erik.” She pulled back enough to look at both younger women with a serious, but loving, expression. “There is much to explain. Come, I will talk as we walk to his rooms.”

“I’m worried about him, yes.” Micky hesitated a moment. “And I’m sorry for your loss…Auntie. Please call me Micky. Everyone else does.” 

The Queen smiled and nodded as she turned to escort them into the palace. She spoke as she walked. “Erik was in South America after chasing a distress signal from my son’s suit around the world for weeks. It was a trap. Erik and two others were captured after they managed to fight their way to the center of an abandoned village. That’s where they found…” 

“Mother?” Shuri’s voice shook. 

“Aht aht, Shuri.” This interaction would be cute under other circumstances. “Let me finish.” Ramonda took a deep breath. “Immediately before their capture they reach an entrance to an underground laboratory. Within, the body of King T’Challa lay in the early stages of decomposition. To be precise ‘Tell Auntie we found his body.’ was the last thing Erik said before all communication was cut off. It was enough to convince the counsel to send a small army made up of Erik’s beloved Bloodhounds and several War Dogs to retrieve the heir.” 

This last part was spoken in a cold tone. Erik is the heir? Somehow I think he likes his space and privacy a little too much for this. And somehow I don’t think the Queen likes that either.

“Ma’am….Auntie?” Micky wasn’t sure how to pose her question. “Are you saying that Erik would be the king, now? And Shuri said he was in a coma. But what does that mean? What did they do to him?” Now that the shock of the moment was wearing off, the panic was setting in again. There was no way the protective, charming, powerful man who would burn down the world for his loved ones was taken down like this. I need to see him. I need to see it to make this real.

The Queen glanced over her shoulder. The depth of emotion in her eyes nearly stopped Micky in her tracks. Shuri shot a disapproving glare for the rudeness of the interruption, but didn’t speak.

The ladies stopped in front of an ornate door, whose frame was painted gold with intricate spirals and designs carved into the surrounding wall. The handle itself showed an image of a boy standing beside a large man with a cat suit on. The angry look in the boy’s eye was all Micky needed to see to recognize Erik’s scowl. As the gravity of what she’d learned and the anxiety in her chest sent ripples of intense terror through her body, Micky felt her hands tremble.

“He is in here. The sight may be shocking at first. He was badly injured before our people were able to retrieve him and our general.” While Micky couldn’t imagine this regal woman crying, the pain in her face was undeniable. “Shuri..” She spoke to her daughter in what Micky assumed was Xhosa. The two women walked down the hall a bit to continue their conversation. 

The guard at the door looked at Micky with a muted expression. He was the first male warrior she’d seen since they’d arrived. His uniform, she noted, was not crimson and gold like the elites from earlier. There was an emblem on his shirt pocket that bore the image of a large dog – Erik’s beloved Bloodhounds.

“Can I see him?” Micky asked the guard politely. He nodded, pushing the door open before stepping aside. 

As she entered, the first thing Micky noticed was the sterile chemical smell that accompanied all hospital rooms. But underneath it, there was the unmistakable scent of Erik. The bed in the middle of the room was so large that Micky wasn’t certain there was an official name for the mattress size. The frame had translucent fabric hanging down all around it, somewhat obscuring the figure within. 

Micky glanced around nervously, immediately noticing the wall covered in weapons. Many of them she couldn’t name. The opposite wall opened up to a large balcony with lounge chairs and a small table – all painted white with gold trimmings. 

At the moment, she couldn’t appreciate the view. I’m not ready to see him like this. She walked up to the bed, trying her best to ignore the low beep of the heart monitor. I can’t do this. She reaches out to push aside the curtain. Oh no.

As soon as Micky’s eyes landed on his face, her stomach dropped. The long gash splitting Erik’s face from his forehead, down between his eyes, and across the bridge of his nose was stitched closed. While it seemed mostly healed, the scar would remain for the rest of his life. How is it healing this fast?

She reached out her hand to touch his cheek. Most of his body was covered in small scratches. Those aren’t his keloids. His trophies.There was a small breathing apparatus feeding him air through his mouth. It looked similar to the throat tubes they used at American hospitals, but way more efficient and less bulky.

“Oh Erik. I’m sorry.” Her vision blurred as hot tears poured from her eyes. “Baby I’m sorry.” Micky didn’t know what else to say. She knew there was no way she could have been there to save him, but it didn’t matter. Somehow, she was at fault. She let all her pent up anger and sadness out until she felt hollow inside, and then she cried some more. So much had gone right in the last month, and so much had gone terribly wrong. 

A warm hand gently squeezed Micky shoulder, followed by another handing her a box of tissues. Turning, she saw Auntie Ramonda standing next to her with a look of concern and pure empathy. 

“There is more you should know, Micky.” An attendant brought a chair over for the Queen to sit next to Micky. “He sustained multiple broken bones, all of which have been reset by advanced medical technology here in the capital of Wakanda. Herbs from the mountain tribes were used to cleanse his blood of any infection. Nanobots were injected into his brain to help repair damage to his spinal column including his central nervous system. We used vibranium to fashion a new right lung for him, as his own lung collapsed.”

Micky felt her soul shrink with every word the Queen spoke. 

“Wakanda’s royal medical team can work modern day miracles, and have saved Erik’s life, but the road to recovery for him will be long and painful as his body adjusts to the changes.” Ramonda paused to take a deep breath. “As far as we knew, you were his closest loved one outside of Wakanda. We felt you should be here. We all want him to wake up soon, and I think he will be happy to see your face on that day.” 

Micky felt too empty to be appreciative, but she nodded her gratitude. “I’m praying he will wake up soon, too.” 

“I’m told that speaking to people in comas is good for them. They can hear some of what’s being said to them.” Ramonda turned her face away for a moment, clearly fighting back tears. When she turned back, her face was neutral again. “Maybe you can do the same. It can’t hurt.” 

And with that, the Queen stood and left with her personal attendant in tow. 

Micky took a moment to think. What could I possibly say?

____________________________________________________________________________

Erik felt like his skin was on fire. Everywhere he looked, bullets were flying. When he tried to throw a punch to stop an attacker, it felt like he was underwater. When he looked over at Okoye, swinging her vibranium spear, he felt pride in his homeland despite the intense exhaustion that weighed him down. 

‘GET DOWN!’ 

A smoke grenade popped in the bunker they’d fought their way into. He reached down into his thigh pouch for the glasses that would allow him to see heat signatures through the smoke. The moment his eyes adjusted, he brought up his arm to block a downward swing at his head. The lightweight vibranium armor under his clothes kept him from losing an arm to the very sharp blade pressing toward his face, but his tiredness allowed his assailant to push downward. He roared as he felt hot blood pour from his forehead down his face. 

Kicking out, he felt his attacker’s knee give out under his boot. Pulling a long blade from the sheath on his chest, he returned the favor 10-fold as he repeatedly stabbed the soldier in front of him.

He’d noticed early on that none of these cronies wore any identifying articles of clothing. They were all matching and very well trained. They must have had voice distortion of some sort, because the ones that screamed all sounded the same as they died. He couldn’t tell their sex or disposition. This was a highly professional operation.

As he shifted his weight to move toward Okoye’s position, he felt heat at the back of his skull that sent lines of fire down to all of his limbs. 

“My Prince!!” Okoye’s scream was the last thing he heard before he fell.

“Baby, I’m sorry.” 

I know that voice, he thought to himself. 

____________________________________________________________________________

A week had gone by since Micky arrived in Wakanda. After the first day, she’d texted her family to let them know that she had taken a trip on her own to Africa. 

“I’m healthy and safe. I’ll keep you updated.” She’d even sent a photo of the view from Erik’s balcony and a selfie to keep them pacified. Naturally, her mother had tried to call her, but Micky always declined. She would regularly send updates, but she still wasn’t ready to talk to her mother yet. 

Satisfied with the content of today’s update, she hit send and went back into Erik’s room. He was in the same position as before, but now he looked mostly healed. Occasionally, a nurse would come in to clean him and check his reflexes. He would hate that so much. That nigga has too much pride.

He had begun to lose weight, and it worried Micky to no end that her lover was withering away in front of her. She felt powerless to help him, even though both the Queen and Shuri believed she was a necessary part of Erik’s recovery. It felt like an absurd amount of pressure, but she would do whatever it took. 

Every day, she fed him fruit and vegetable purees with the nurse’s supervision. They would inject him with other vitamins and nutrients that were more easily processed through his blood. Once, a doctor came in with Shuri to add a gentle electrical current to different parts of his body in the hopes of causing a reaction. Micky thought it was oddly archaic for such a technologically advanced place, but she was no medical professional and kept her mouth shut. 

Erik’s room had all the facilities Micky needed, so she rarely left his side. The bathroom here made the one in his U.S. condo look decidedly low class. The place felt like a built in spa, and the tub was basically a heated pool. Nothing needed to be turned on – the water temps were preset and each spout was motion censored. Micky had almost jumped out of her skin when she leaned into the shower searching for a handle and it automatically came on at the perfect heat. The bathroom mirror somehow remained clear no matter how steamy the room got, and the towel rack was automated to push out the freshest warm towel – or cool towel if you changed the temp settings. 

Out of curiosity, Micky looked through his drawers one day, finding elaborately detailed garments fit for a royal prince. His life here is very different. Somehow, it feels like he likes it better out in the world. He likes having his feet on the ground where real shit happens.

A knock came at the door, startling Micky. Up until now, everyone just came and went as they pleased. The knock felt out of place. 

“Yes?” Micky said nervously.

A beautiful woman with tightly coiled hair and deep brown skin smiled brightly as she leaned into the room. “Hello, ma’am. I am Tetea. I will be your personal attendant.” The woman – Tetea – blinked expectantly at Micky. 

My what?

“Excuse me? What does that mean?” Micky wasn’t sure how to react to what she was hearing. “My attendant?”

Tetea, to her credit, maintained a pleasant demeanor as she explained. “Yes, ma’am. I am here to assist you with any necessary tasks, and to acclimatize you to life here in Wakanda. We do not know the length of your stay, but you should feel at home while you are here.”

“We?”

“Yes, ma’am. Her Royal Majesty has assigned your care and needs to my humble self. May I start by helping you orient yourself around the palace?”

I have a personal attendant to help me get familiar with this place. And help with anything else I may need.

She looked down at Erik’s face, feeling conflicted between staying with him and exploring the palace. She kissed him gently on the cheek before gathering herself up.

“Umm. Yes….I guess that would be very kind of you.” Micky stood to follow Tetea, glancing back at Erik’s sleeping body before closing the door behind her. “Please, call me Micky.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

____________________________________________________________________________

He felt soft lips caress his cheek. The sensation almost made him cry. Now, more than ever, he wanted to be with Micky. He missed the wrinkle in her brow when she was thinking hard about something. The way she snorted when she laughed about something especially funny. How she would hum off key while she typed up a new story for her blog. 

Babygirl, I’m coming.

When he could feel again, everything was pain. His left eye was crusted shut and the smell of dried blood made him nauseous. The way his forehead and nose stung, he knew there must be a cut there. He could only hope he hadn’t lost his eye as well. Forcing his head to move to one side, he could see Okoye’s face contorted with grief and pain. He couldn’t see what she was looking at, but he knew deep in his soul what it was. 

My cousin is dead. T’Challa is gone.

He took a quick inventory of his body. Legs, numb. Arms and chest hurting bad, probably shattered bones. Facial injury, probably bad. Eye, stuck shut. Kimoyo beads, gone. Inner ear, also confiscated.

What else do I have? Looking over at Okoye, he turned his head back and forth a few times until the motion caught her attention. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted in surprise to see him alive. 

Rather than speaking to him she bared her teeth, clicking them together several times. Erik didn’t know what to make of the gesture at first. Then, she did it again, this time touching her tongue to her canines before clicking her teeth again. 

OH SHIT! She’s right!

Summoning all the strength he had left, Erik moved his tongue around his dry mouth. His gold slugs were still there. They were more than just an enhancement to his aesthetics. They served a very real purpose.

Concentrating with what little energy he had left, Erik clicked his teeth together in Morris code. The same message over and over again. He prayed it would reach who it needed to. 

He wasn’t sure when he lost consciousness, but his last thought was of Micky and the feeling of her kiss on his cheek.

I’m coming, babygirl.

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