𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐙𝐄 | 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑

- CHAPTER FIVE

CON LA BRISA: NAMOR

             Namor mainly chatted to himself, picking up random plant life as Mawu ignored everything from his mouth. How quickly he turned from a brooding man to an annoying leech, felt so strange. She expressed how much she loathed him. Why wasn't he affected by that? Why would he believe she felt the same for him? Hadn't she made it clear that she did not trust him, nor had she felt any warm feelings toward him? There wasn't any reason for him to feel so comfortable after that conversation. And for him to believe she secretly felt the same for him was blasphemy.

Finally, a dirt path appeared, and Mawu stepped upon it. Looking up the road, the sound of villagers could be heard off in the distance. Namor stopped shy from Mawu, holding a few flowers as he studied the path.

"What is this?" Namor questioned.

"It's a road," Mawu states, and she continues the walk.

Namor rolled his eyes, picking up his pace to keep up with her.

"I know it's a road! But where does this lead?" Namor spoke between gritted teeth. This time, he is the one annoyed, and Mawu is the one to smirk with amusement. It's the little things.

"To the outskirts of the Hidden Tribe village," Mawu states. Namor gripped the flowers in his hands as he eyed the location. The Hidden Tribe was once independent of Wakanda and thrived without help. However, after Ororo married T'Challa, the Tribe united with Wakanda to keep the peace. Peace that seemed shaky from Namor's standpoint.

Further up the road, a small village appeared, and they started their way in. The people of the town were happy to see Mawu. The children ran to her as she smiled gracefully at those around them. But as she picked up one child, the excited talk and greetings paused as the realization of who followed her sparked through the groups of people. Namor looked around slowly, his brows narrowed, giving him a threatening appearance.

Mawu turned, holding the child as her pleased expression fell. Of course, Namor would make himself look big and scary. Everyone knew who he was, but to glare at the villagers as if they were threats is uncalled for.

"Why did you bring him here?" spoke the elder of this small village in Swahili. The crowd moved to the side, allowing the older woman to shuffle into the opening. Namor snapped his attention onto her. She had to be over 100 years old. She had shrunk due to her age and appeared frail but strong enough to get around with a vibranium-carved cane. Her glossy eyes watched Mawu.

"Mother Njeri," replied Mawu, placing the child down to move closer to Namor. "I'm Sorry to come so suddenly with—"

"With the enemy?" Njeri continued to shuffle to them until she reached Namor, poking his stomach with the end of her cane. Namor flinched, surprised by her strength. His hand touched his belly button, conflicted by this older woman.

"He's here to help," Mawu tells Njeri, placing her hand on Namor's arm as it appears that he may go at the elder for poking him. She wasn't sure, but anything was possible with this man.

Namor snapped his head at Mawu as he didn't quite understand what was being said. He knew many languages, but Swahili was not one of them. The Hidden Tribe began in Kenya centuries ago, and although they had migrated due to war and famine over time, they still spoke their native tongue alongside Xhosa. The primary language of Wakanda. It felt strange to see a group so close to Wakanda speak a foreign language. Their culture is deferred as well, along with their gods, who are mostly celebrated in the West.