Nashuri Collection (Namor x Shuri)

The Eyes are the Windows to the Soul pt.4

The Eyes are the Windows to the Soul (4.)

They didn't pay M'Baku enough for all he did. Despite wearing the finest furs, sitting on the council was unpaid work. As prosperous as Wakanda was (and he always hoped would be), they could never afford him and by extension Jabari land.

He sacrificed so many things for the good of Wakanda: his time, his resources, and recently, his sanity.

His mouth felt dry at what he needed to do. He wasn't afraid to speak though the potential reactions worried him.

But M'Baku liked to get to the point. He wasn't long-winded like his wife Maryam or overly analytical like his other wife Patience. Both were lovely, but one talked too much and the other overthought.

No, he called it as he saw it. Took the meat, and left the bones.

He sat on the throne as interim king and current leader of the council. The Dora Milaje was stationed to the left and right of the room and at each exit. Each Wakandan tribe had its leader and up to two representatives present at the meeting. Any royal family member, extending to M'Baku's, was also invited as a principle, but his wives didn't care for politics. Besides, Maryam his first wife had once said she saw enough of him at home.

Namor sat in his special chair adjacent to the first row of Wakandan leaders. The one he had imported from Talokan to the Wakandan conference room. He had vehemently balked at the kiddie pool Elder Marwa offered to install, a bit of teasing on his part, as condescension. And in front of Shuri too. No one else had witnessed the sting of embarrassment in his eyes back then except M'Baku.

Marwa hadn't returned to council in weeks, and no one had heard from him in a while. He hated to think of what had been done in retaliation for an ill-timed joke.

The leader of Talokan was a very unfunny man indeed. His doctor must have forgotten to put his funny bone back in after the surgery.

M'Baku cleared his throat. "Council, I regret to inform you of one last-minute change. I bring to your attention a capable suitor for Princess Shuri. He should be added at once."

Some of the voting elders looked around as if expecting the suitor to materialize from a puff of smoke.

Namor was practically preening. His jewelry shined, his chest was oiled, and his headdress adorned his body. Had he been expecting to see her there?

If he had listened, then he would have known Shuri preferred to avoid the preliminary marriage discussions. She only focused on the actual interviews.

M'Baku swallowed thickly, wondering how she would react to Namor's candidacy. Was he doing right by her? He was supposed to care for her in her brother's stead. The least he could do was vet a man who would love her especially since he wasn't allowing himself to be an option.

"That fish man," he started, gesturing toward Namor. He rubbed the phantom pain of his upper chest with his free hand. Before he was prone to curse, he finished. "He's fond of her, Princess Shuri."

The Mining Tribe representative's face was contorted in disgust. Her red clay hair swung as she shook her head. "Lord M'Baku, you ask a lot of us. You ask us to follow a leader who doesn't descend from the golden tribe, even Killmonger had that at least. You ask us to align with one who sought to destroy us." She pointed at Namor with disrespect.

To his credit, Namor stayed silent, but his face showed no remorse.

"And now you ask us to accept him for our princess? To let him merge his bloodlines with hers? To not only become of our people but she of his? To let a murderer have a claim to the throne?"