Composure

Reprimand & Reparation

Tony lectured both you and Steve endlessly on the way back to the compound from Malibu; he seemed to have an innate skill at it, making the two of you feel like punished schoolchildren rather than members of the world's mightiest team. He had droned on and on and on, leaving you in a mind state comparable to a head full of mashed potatoes and staring out at the clouds of them as you floated past. It didn't take long for your potato brain to change your mood to hunger with all the food associations. Steve had tried to interject and explain the situation several times, but in an uncharacteristic shift, he deferred to Stark's berating, simply staring at his feet during the entire speech.

Your only hope of rescue was waiting for you at home; Tony had at least enough decorum to tell you that T'Challa had arrived to see you. Either that, or he knew that the consequences of not saying anything were likely more than he was willing to risk; you were handling his lecture well enough, but he knew that anything regarding T'Challa wouldn't be nearly as calmly received.

When the jet came to land in the hangar, the air around it hadn't even begun to settle before T'Challa ran to meet you at the end of the door as it lowered. He wanted to be sure that his was the first face you saw upon your return, after spending nearly a month with Steve Rogers at your side instead of him.

"My love," he sighed in relief at the sight of you, "how are you? You look tired. Are you feeling alright?" As it had been for so long, even the slightest, gentle touch of his hand as it met yours was enough to put your entire mind and body at ease. It was almost too relaxing of a sensation, leaving you stifling a yawn.

"I'm fine, but yes, I'm tired. Do you mind if I take a nap before we catch up with everything? I don't think that I could focus enough on what you'd be saying anyway."

"Of course, anything you need," he nodded, "but tell me, why didn't you sleep on the jet?"

"Tony wouldn't stop long enough to breathe between words. Did you know that one of Iron Man's skills is infinite oratorical reprimand?"

Tony wasn't so far out of earshot that he missed the reference to his alter-ego, bounding down the jet ramp to hurry to his own defense. "Hey, you brought that on yourself, missy."

"Tony, you grounded us."

"Wait, like children?" T'Challa knew that this was a serious moment for you and that you didn't find humor in it, but he certainly did. He was finding himself eager to hear how you would handle this, and excited that he would be there to witness it.

"Yes," Tony answered for you, "exactly like children. That's how they behaved, so that's what they get. They got themselves into things that weren't theirs, and they need to be taught a lesson."

"Oh my god, Tony, you've been around Parker too much."

"What does that tell you if I'm treating you the same?"

"That you need a new hobby," you scoffed, turning away and back to your real focus. "I'm going to head upstairs. Meet me when you're done here?"

"Yes, of course." T'Challa took your hand and gently pressed it to his lips, holding it against them for a few seconds more just to prolong the sensation of having you so close to him again. "I will follow shortly." He stood silently and watched you make your way to the elevator, waiting with a complacent smile until the doors fully closed; once you were out of sight, his demeanor shifted and his posture became rigid. He spun on his heel to face Steve now, any hint of levity or contentment stripped away. "What do you think you were doing?" he hissed through clenched teeth. "You looked me in the eye and promised me her safety and you do something so reckless-"

"Hey, it was her idea-"

"Are you afraid to tell her no?"

"Aren't you?"