The Outsider: Shuri x OC

2016: The Rise of Killmonger

Akoni sat down in the area where he had previously witnessed T'Challa defeat M'Baku. "What is going on?" Akoni asked Okoye. "This man, N'Jadaka, challenged T'Challa for the throne. They are cousins. He is of royal blood. T'Challa accepted." N'Jadaka snapped a spear in half to make it easier to use. That made Akoni angry. The sword and spear were his two best weapons, and to see him defile one of them in such a way...

"He'll never beat T'Challa. He should've just come to the first challenge and it gotten it over with," Shuri said. It was dark. The sun was setting. The mood was completely different from T'Challa's first challenge, which was set at noon. "The king will now have the strength of the Panther stripped away," Zuri said.

"Where is Ross?" Okoye asked. "I locked him in the office. He's not going anywhere," Shuri reassured her.

"This is your last chance. Throw down your weapons, and we can handle this another way," T'Challa warned. "I've lived my entire life... waiting for this moment. I trained, I lied, I killed... just to get here. I killed in America, Afghanistan, Iraq. I took life from my own brothers and sisters right here on this continent! And all this death... just so I could kill you," N'Jadaka ranted, pointing his sword at T'Challa.

"Let the challenge... begin."

This time, N'Jadaka made the first move, hurling his blades at T'Challa, who blocked with his shield. N'Jadaka kept up with the attack, but T'Challa hurled him off of his feet and pointed his blade at him.

"Yield!" he yelled.

But N'Jadaka did not yield. He got back up again, and fought more furiously. This time, he cut T'Challa across his arm. "Snap out of it T'Challa!" Shuri yelled. T'Challa charged again, but N'Jadaka cut his leg this time. "Come on, get up," he taunted. "Come here." T'Challa took one last swing, but was stabbed in the stomach.

N'Jadaka took out his blade, and held it overhead. "This is for my father," he said.

"Erik!" Zuri yelled, blocking the attack.

"Zuri, no," T'Challa said weakly.

"Stop!"

"Zuri, don't!"

"I am the cause of your father's death. Not him. Take me."

"I'll take you both, Uncle James!" N'Jadaka yelled, stabbing Zuri through the heart.

"No!" Akoni cried.

"Zuri, no! No! No! Zuri! No!" T'Challa exclaimed, getting up. He threw another punch, but N'Jadaka got under him and picked him up. "Is this your king? Huh? Is this your king? The Black Panther, who's supposed to lead you into the future?"

"Come on, Brother!" Shuri shouted, on the verge of tears.

"Is there nothing that can be done?" Ayo asked.

"Him? He's supposed to protect you?

"No!" Ramonda cried.

"Nah. I'm your king now."

"No! No!"

"We have to go now!" Nakia urged. "Queen Mother, let's go!" Ramonda and Shuri cried at the loss of T'Challa. "No," Akoni whispered to himself.

~~~

Deep in the jungles of Wakanda, Ramonda cradled her daughter in her arms, as Akoni leaned on a tree, looking at the ground. "First Baba, and now my brother. Mama, we didn't even get to bury him," Shuri cried. Akoni had never seen her so broken before. There was rustling in the bushes, and Ramonda pulled out a Dora Milaje ring.

"It's me."

"Nakia. Who is this man?" the former queen asked, pointing her weapon at Ross. "He's a friend of T'Challa's he saved my life," Nakia assured her. "Where's Okoye?" Ramonda asked. "Okoye is not coming. She and the Dora Milaje will serve the new king. Wait here."

"What has happened to our Wakanda?"

"Queen mother we must remain strong. It's what T'Challa would have wanted," Akoni said. "Akoni, I have always thought of you as my own child. You've been loyal to our family for years... but I cannot ask you to do this," Ramonda said. Akoni let out a sigh. "I have been told that many times. It's as you said, my loyalty is to you, not that monster. When the time comes, I will have justice for my king," Akoni swore.

"Akoni," Shuri whispered to him. "I'm scared. For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do," she said, trembling. "I won't let anything happen to you Shuri," Akoni promised.