Unyana

"Shuri, go put your child to bed," you exclaim, bouncing down the stairs.

"Huh?"

"He won't sleep for me, My Queen. So I'm tapping out. Your turn."

"He's never had trouble getting to bed. Why is he not sleeping?"

Your exhausted body plops onto the plush couch and sinks in, throwing your feet into your wife's lap. With a meaningless chuckle, you respond, "Oh, you're gonna be amused when he tells you." Your head nods in the direction of the steps. "Go on; up you go."

Shuri's brows could not be raised into any higher of a question mark. 'Mm,' she hums, planting a kiss on your feet before standing and starting up the stairs to your son's room.

"Taj," Shuri begins. The young boy is standing atop his bed, posed and ready to pounce. Shuri's taken aback by the child's silliness, but stifles her laughter, knowing that at this moment, serious Mama is called for. "Taj," she starts again. "Why will you not sleep for Mommy? It is past your bedtime."

"The future Black Panther has no bedtime!" he exclaims.

"The what?!" Shuri's serious demeanor melts as she shrieks. From the first floor, your laughter can be heard echoing off the walls.

"You heard me," lisps from the child with no front teeth, and his poised ambush follows through, leaping from his bed and darting through the air toward his mama. Taj is quick, but of course, Shuri is much quicker. She plucks the boy from the air and holds him underneath her arm. He is thrashing under her hold as they make their way back to the ground floor to you.

"What have you been telling this child?" Shuri accuses through your giggles. "Me," you shriek. "What have you and Okoye been telling him?"

"Not this!" the laughter escapes your wife as well and you both are unable to hold back. Taj breaks hold from his Mama's grip and bounds over to you. "Mommy, you disrespect the protector of Wakanda?"

"Shuri," you gasp through the chuckles. "Your son."

"Taj, sthandwa, come here, my child," Shuri picks herself up from the floor and with open arms, welcomes the young boy into them. He accepts, running to his Mama and jumping straight into her. 'Oof,' releases from your wife's chest. "You're so strong, unyana."

"And you are going to be the greatest Black Panther to ever live one day. But right now, it is not your worry. Not your burden to carry." Taj opens his mouth to protest, but with a finger held to his lips, Shuri continues. "Right now, your job is to have fun. Enjoy being a kid with no responsibilities. Let Mama worry about defending Wakanda, okay?"

"But when it is my turn, will you teach me, Mama? You and Auntie Okoye? You'll teach me to be the best fighter?"

"Of course, I will, mhlobo wam!"

"What about you, Mommy?"

You join your family on the floor and pull your unyana into your lap while Shuri pulls you both into hers. "Mommy isn't a fighter, my love. But I will share with you all the knowledge I have."

Taj's bright brown eyes grow three sizes. "That's all the knowledge in the world!"

Shuri beats you to laughter. "Yes, little one. You'll be the most powerful fighter in the world with all the knowledge it can offer you!"

You pepper his head in kisses and though he tries to hide it, he rubs his exhausted eyes. Shuri catches it too.

"Now, my little panther. Let's get you in bed."

Her Majesty scoops the child into her arms. "Give Mommy a kiss 'goodnight'."

"Goodnight Mommy," the tiny hand waves and Taj plants a too-wet kiss on your cheek.

"Goodnight little prince. Sweetest dreams."