Sunlight on your face (Shuri x reader)

Chapter 15: destruction

"We are home," Okoye announced, as we passed Wakanda's borders. 

I looked out of the window, barely believing my eyes as I saw the destruction in the city. There was water flowing through the streets, buildings destroyed, and people running around trying to help. I heard Shuri mutter something next to me, and I could see the guilt in her eyes.

"I should've been here, to protect my country," she said, her voice getting louder.

"There was no way, we could've seen this coming," Okoye stated from the steering board.

"I don't care, I am the queen of Wakanda, the black panther, I'm supposed to be the protector of this country... but I was fucking celebrating at the other end of the world, this trip was a stupid idea," Shuri punched the window with anger. In a normal situation, I would've been hurt by her words, but I was too shocked by the events.

As soon as the jet landed, Shuri hurried off, telling me to go to the palace and not go outside. Those were the first words she had said to me since we got on the jet, and she didn't even look at me. She had slowly started to open up, but now her wall was back up again. 

I couldn't just sit at home without doing anything, so I asked Aneka, the Dora Shuri had ordered to escort me to the palace if I could do anything to help. She said that I could come with her and the other Doras, to distribute care packages. I texted Shuri, informing her that I was going with Aneka, without waiting for her response, because I knew that she wouldn't be happy about it.

The city looked even worse close up. There was an emergency tent set up, where people could get help. We spread out over the city, to distribute the care packages and to help wherever we could. I went with Aneka, feeling my heart sink at the sight of the destroyed houses. 

Aneka was talking to a woman whose house was flooded when I felt something tugging on my shirt. It was a little girl, looking up at me with teary eyes.

"Hey, are you alright? Do you need help?" I asked, crouching down to be on the same level. She didn't answer me, but tears started rolling down her face.

"Shh, Shh, everything is going to be alright, I promise," I said in a soothing voice.

"Do you know where your mom and dad are?" I asked. She shook her head, her lips trembling.

"Oh honey, I'll help you find them, don't worry." I took her by the hand, standing up to ask Aneka what to do. She said that we should take her to the emergency tent and find out who her parents are. The woman still needed her, so I went alone, after promising Aneka to be careful. I picked the girl up, making my way toward the tent.

"I'm y/N and what's your name?" I asked her, trying to get some information to find her parents.

"Nia." She mumbled against my shoulder.

"That's a beautiful name, I promise you Nia that we'll find your parents."

When we arrived at the emergency tent, there was a long line of people waiting to get help. I spotted Okoye next to the tent, so I went up to her, hoping that she could help me.

"Y/N what are you doing here?! Didn't Shuri tell you to stay inside?" She asked when she noticed me.

"I wanted to help, I couldn't just sit around, doing nothing," I explained, "I'm with Aneka, but she was helping another woman, when Nia came up to us, so she sent me to bring her here..."

"I have to tell Shuri that you're not inside, but we need all the help possible, so you can stay here with the girl and wait till we find her parents," Okoye announced, typing something on her bracelet.

I sat down with Nia, trying to distract her by playing some games when my bracelet vibrated. It was an incoming call from Shuri.

"Y/N I told you to stay inside, for fuck's sake, why can't you listen... I don't have time to worry about you right now," she said as soon as I picked up.After I told her the same thing, I had already told Okoye, she calmed down and said she'd come by later.

Two hours went by, and Nia's parents were still not found. Shuri dropped by to make sure that I was alright. Before she left, she talked to a Dora standing next to us in a hushed tone, but I knew she probably told her to look after me. It was starting to get late, and I could tell by the look on her face that Okoye was getting worried.

"We'll wait for another hour, and if her parents don't show up, we'll have to figure out where she can stay until tomorrow..." She whispered, making sure Nia couldn't hear her.

The next hour went by painfully slowly, and after 45 minutes there was still no sign of Nia's parents. My heart hurt, knowing that I probably had to explain to her that she'd have to sleep somewhere else tonight.

There were only five minutes left when I spotted a woman hectically running towards us. She was yelling something, but I couldn't understand her. When Nia spotted the woman, a huge smile appeared on her face, and I knew we had found her mom. The woman picked Nia up, tears streaming down her face as she squeezed her tight. She thanked me a million times after I explained how her daughter had asked me for help and how I stayed with her.

I had been home for an hour when I heard the door closing and Shuri's steps on the stairs. She entered the living room, looking exhausted. I got up from the couch, walking over to her. She didn't say a word as I wrapped my arms around her. I knew she needed that hug, resting her head in the crook of my neck, her arms around my waist.

"Everything is going to be fine," I whispered into her hair. We just stood there for a while, our arms around each other without saying a word. 

"I should've been here to help," Shuri mumbled as she pulled away.

"Shuri, as Okoye said, no one saw this coming, don't blame yourself."

We sat down on the couch, and she told me what happened when we were in New York. She explained the events of last year and how she had defeated Namor, making him surrender. I noticed how Shuri's face dropped for a second when she talked about the war in which her mother was killed, but it was obvious that this was not the time to talk about it, so I kept quiet.

Apparently, there was a small group of Talokans, that weren't happy about their leader's decision to stop the war with Wakanda, so they took matters into their own hands and attacked the city. Shuri hoped that Namor could help, but he refused to get involved because he didn't want to act against his people.

"I have no idea what to do..." Shuri sighed, resting her head on my shoulder.

"I wish I could help you, but I just hope this won't happen again," I mumbled.

"I'm quite sure it won't be, this was just a warning," she lifted her head to look at me, "and honestly, I don't know if it's a good idea for you to stay here..."

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Heyy guys, I hope you're all doing alright. I know the last two chapters were quite short, but tomorrows chapter will be longer again :) Hope you like it, xx