A Panther's Purpose

Confessions

T'Challa walked with Erik to his room, where now behind closed doors.

"What do you wish to discuss?"

Erik looked down at his feet, then back up at T'Challa. "Well..For starters. What's the real reason you didn't kill me? It ain't because you felt sorry."

"It is." T'Challa assured. "But you are somewhat right. That is not the only reason."

Erik stepped closer to him. They were inches apart.

"Well. Tell me the other reason."

T'Challa's chin raised. "Why should I?" He asked in a low tone.

"Why else would you kiss me?"

They were dangerously close now. To the point T'Challa's heart started racing.

"My king..-"

"Stop it." T'Challa ordered, lightly pushing Erik away as his hand was flat on his chest. "Do not call me that.."

"Why? Everybody here calls you that. Why's it so bad when I do it?"

Erik grabbed onto T'Challa's wrist. Instead of moving it away, he moved it up to his neck.

"What are you doing?" T'Challa asked.

"Choke me." Erik demanded. T'Challa's eyes went wide. "What?"

"You can put me through near death, but you can't choke me?"

T'Challa removed his hand, pushed Erik down onto the bed as a grunt escaped his lips. "N'Jadaka."

He looked down at Erik. "What has gotten into you?"

He shook his head. "Nothin." He breathed out, sitting up. "I'm just comin to understand what you meant. Your interests.." They kept their eyes on one another.

T'Challa went silent momentarily. Then he looked away.

Erik's eyes narrowed. "I knew I wasn't wrong.."

"It is a mutual feeling." Said T'Challa. "Or you are just playing me for a fool."

Erik shook his head, leaned forward and gently took T'Challa by the arm. "C'mere.." He said ever so softly, pulling him towards him in a way it forced T'Challa to crawl on top of him.

"I came on too strong..My bad." Said Erik as T'Challa looked down at him. "You are confusing."

"You confused me." Erik claimed. "When you kissed me and ain't even address it after."

"I am sorry." T'Challa turned his head away. "It was involuntary, really. I wanted to be gone as soon as possible before we could discuss it."

Erik cupped T'Challa's cheek in his hand. And he looked up at him.

"Then kiss me again..And I ain't talkin' bout no kiss on the cheek. A real one."

He was taken aback by the given permission. For a moment, he only stared down at him.

Erik was patient.

He couldn't believe his own cousin was asking him to do this. He also couldn't believe how long he's been waiting to oblige.

Seconds later, T'Challa leaned down to do what Erik wished. Their lips pressed together and their eyes fluttered closed.

Erik's arms found their way around
T'Challa's neck. His fingers tangled in his hair.

T'Challa spent every second trying to believe this was actually happening. As well as savoring the taste of his lips.

He was first to break the kiss, looking down at Erik. "Does this not feel wrong to you..?" He asked as he looked Erik in the eyes.

Erik shook his head. "Nah..You..?"

T'Challa felt obligated. Then he smiled. "No..But I do have to ask..What brought you to share the same feelings for me..?"

Erik smiled just the same. "To be honest..I hated your fuckin guts two days ago..But you showed me you ain't mean know harm..And how wrong I was.."

T'Challa hummed, lifted Erik's hand and kissed it gently. "I never meant to upset you..To hurt your feelings during your first trial session..I felt terrible after."

"Don't." Erik intertwined their fingers. "I'm pretty sure everyone would agree I deserved it." He chuckled.

"Except for me.." T'Challa smiled. "I embarrassed you."

"Serves me right." Erik lied his head back. T'Challa couldn't help but laugh. "You said you'd rather die than to change."

"Shut up.." Erik looked away. "That was before you knocked some sense into me."

T'Challa hummed, leaning his head down and pecking Erik's lips once more.

After he did so, their Kimoyo beads lit up in unison. T'Challa went to answer until Erik stopped him.

"Uh..You think that's a good idea?"

He referred to the way they were positioned. T'Challa chuckled. "It is only Shuri. How do you think she'll react to this?"

"Hella weird."

T'Challa laughed. "Shall we answer and see what happens?"

Erik smiled. "Yeah. But hold on."

Erik gently pushed T'Challa down onto the bed beside him. Erik moved closer to him, his arm around T'Challa's waist.

He pressed a kiss onto T'Challa's jawline. "Now we can answer.."

T'Challa smiled and chuckled. "You really want to go all out." He stated as they raised their wrists.

They answered the call, Shuri's face appearing in front of them.

When her eyes laid on them, they widened and her hands flew over her mouth. "Oh nkosi yam!" She exclaimed.

The two couldn't help but laugh.

"Brother you scoundrel!" She shouted as she lowered her hands.

"Relax, sister."

"Please do not tell me I called right after-"

T'Challa's eyes widened and he blushed. "Goodness no! We have done nothing."

Shuri narrowed her eyes, then she crossed her arms. "Now I know why you spared him!"

He looked away, causing Erik to give a light chuckle. "Your brother ever tell you why he broke up with his girl?"

Shuri suddenly grinned. "You left Nakia to be with a man! How mischievous~" She teased.

T'Challa smiled and looked away. "Geez, Shuri..How do you think mother will react?"

"To you liking men? She'll support you 100%. To you liking N'Jadaka in particular, she will absolutely lose her mind."

T'Challa only sighed. "As I thought..Telling everyone will not be easy. They may even separate us."

"We ain't gotta tell em." Erik said quickly, dismissing the thought of them being separated. "Let's just keep it to ourselves."

"They will get suspicious sooner or later." Said Shuri. "If this is truly the route you are choosing to take, I have an idea for the second half of the trial."

T'Challa tilted his head. "What would that be?"

She smiled a suspicious smile, humming to herself. "You will see."