•Night Angel•

CHAPTER XXI - SALA KAKUHLE, WAKANDA PT.II

4 weeks later. 29th November, 2006. 8:30pm. Wakanda. (Present day)

-You know I can walk on my own even with my eyes blindfolded, right?.- Sophia said as she was being guided by T'Challa through the hallways of the palace.

-Now, what fun would that be? It's a surprise party, Sophie. That's the whole point of this.- T'Challa said, while turning Sophie to the hallway on the right.

She had spent her day with T'Challa, Shuri, Okoye and Ayo, the last two guarding the prince and the princess. They took her to the city and spent the morning and evening with her. She had seen the traditional places of Wakanda, she had tasted their traditional dishes, she bought some amulets and hand-made crafts that the people from Wakanda did. They were beautiful things.

Even though this was not a vacation trip and something to buy gifts for, she got a necklace with the tip of an arrow for Clint, made of vibranium. Of course, she wouldn't tell him it was vibranium. For her parents, she got her mum a dissected flower native from Wakanda, and her father a black panther figurine, since it was the emblem of the country. For Pierre, she got a bracelet made of leather with the face of a panther on it. She also got something for Nick, which was another necklace with a panther eye. She enjoyed the irony of that. She knew Nick had a hard time coming to terms with the loss of his eye, but Sophia always managed to make him feel good again. He forgot about what he was missing because Sophia told him that he was still the same and I quote "Most badass one-eyed boss uncle ever".

And lastly, for Tony, she got him a necklace as well, but with more meaning. It was a vibranium star and she had it engraved with the word "Infinity" in the back. Only Tony and Sophia knew what it meant. And that was all that mattered.

After Shuri had taken her to all her favourite places in the city and pushed her to buy a nice dress for the party, they had gone to eat something and then they went back to the palace to get ready for the party.

Now, T'Challa was taking Sophia to her celebration for her 19th birthday.

Sophia had now been in Wakanda officially for one month. One month since she has been off the grid. Not because she wanted to, but because she had to, in a way. As they were walking to wherever T'Challa was taking them, these thoughts were invading Sophia's mind. How everything had happened so fast, how she had been missing for a month now, also how this is the most normal she had ever felt since she went into the academy almost 11 years ago.

She felt happy, in a way, about that. She was enjoying this time that she was having to be herself again, to not be a master assassin, but a normal 19-year-old. She was also taking advantage of this time, because she knew that sooner or later, this peace was going to go away and her agent life would go back to the way it was.

-How much longer to arrive, your highness?.- Sophia said in a playful manner to her friend after she had been walking for what felt like hours.

-For being a super spy/agent, you surely have no patience, Sophie.- T'Challa said to Sophia while he gave a last turn and stood in front of a big door.

-For your information, I have a lot of patience, it is just that this surprise is making me feel nervous.- Sophia said as she fidgeted with her fingers.

They had stopped in front of a huge door, only that Sophia didn't see it, yet.

-Are you ready, Ingelosi Yokukhanya?.- T'Challa said as he entered the room, draggin Sophia inside with him. Once inside the massive salon, he positioned his hands on Sophia's blindfold to remove it.

-Yes, I am T'Challa.- She said while she let out a laugh. She took her hands to the blindfold as well and held it to help her friend remove it.

-One, two, and— T'Challa made a pause, untying Sophie's blindfold.- Three!.- And just as he finished the countdown, he completely removed Sophia's blindfold, revealing the surprise.