Dragons & Panthers (T'Challa Udaku)

Chapter Thirteen

Erik is walking home from Jelani's place. He is walking through the park because it is a mild winter day and he needs some fresh air. He looks up in the sky and sees the stars twinkling. He has been feeling better since his talk with Jelani. The two, along with T'Challa, began making plans for the move to Wakanda. A twig suddenly snaps and he looks behind him, hand going for his gun.
"Who's there?"
"It's me."
Erik looks at the man who is white as snow with pure black eyes. He is in a suit and licks his lips, revealing long white fangs. Erik's eyes go wide as he backs up. He quickly sends an SOS text to Jelani from his watch as he breaks into a run, running as fast as he can. He hears the man chuckle and goes faster. Something tells him that a gun will be useless against this man.
"You can't outrun me."
Erik doesn't even reply or look back as he sprints. Suddenly, he smells smokes and he looks back, seeing a large black dragon. His eyes widen as he sees Jelani jump down from the dragon, her eyes matching the dragon which stands between him and the unknown man. Her rod materialises out of blue flames as she flies forward, fighting the man. Erik watches wide-eyed as she delivers the killing blow to the man and he disintegrates into ashes, a piercing scream leaving him. Jelani walks towards Erik and helps him up.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine...what was that?"
"I don't know. Come on. I'll drive you home."
"Boss that's no-- I'm not winning this argument am I?"
"Nope."
Erik sighs before following his boss back to her place. They get into the shiny black Infiniti QX30 and she pulls off.
"Put your address in the GPS."
Erik obeys and she begins the drive to his place.
"So you have a dragon?"
"I have three. You saw Siamak tonight."
"Three?"
"Yes: three."
"Is that why your eyes change colours now?"
"Yes."
Erik nods.
"I don't know much about you boss."
"Ditto."
He blushes as she turns onto the highway.
"So you live in the Bronx?"
"Yeah...you really didn't have to drive me boss."
"Erik: say it again."
"Sorry."
They drive quietly. Jelani looks over at one point and sees Erik sleeping. She follows the GPS and notices that the place has seemed to become more unkempt. Almost like they had crossed a line they weren't. They're still on the highway but she doesn't understand.
Take the exit right
She obeys and looks around. There are abandoned buildings and a shitload of people on the street.
In 0.5 miles you have reached your destination
Jelani drives before looking at the screen and pulls over. She shakes Erik who jumps.
"Oh...sorry...thanks for the--"
"Erik where the fuck do you live?"
"In the building right there."
She looks at the building and blinks.
"Erik...forgive me...but what?"
"My apartment is on the top floor."
"Erik...Let's go."
"Go where?"
"You're showing me your apartment."
"Boss there's no--"
The look she gives him tells him there's no arguing. They get out and she locks her car before she follows him to the stairs.
Siamak. Protect my car.
Yes my queen.
They walk up the flights of stairs and Erik knows Jelani is quietly judging. They reach his apartment and he unlocks the door.
"Welcome to my home. It's not much."
Jelani looks around and blinks. It's a studio apartment that clearly screams a man lives here alone.
"Erik...what do you do with the money you make from the jobs?"
He's quiet as Jelani looks around before jumping and shooting a flame.
"Boss!"
"Sorry...saw a roach."
Erik blushes as Jelani looks at him with a look that says "Explain yourself and do not make me force you to explain".
"I put aside enough to buy groceries and pay rent, enough in savings, and the rest to charity."
"Erik...You make nearly half of million dollars a year. This apartment looks like it costs $700. Do you know what apartments cost $700 that aren't Housing?"
"This," he says quietly.
"Erik--"
"Why do you care?" He snaps. "I'm just an employee!"
Erik gasps as he's slammed to the wall and Jelani's eyes are sapphire blue.
"You are not just an employee! You are one of my men! I care about every single one of you. And that includes you!"
"I'm not important!"
She slaps him across the face and Erik holds his face as he looks at her.
"Erik, you may not believe me, but you are important. You are important to me. I don't break my back taking care of each and everyone of you for you to live like this!"
"There is nothing wrong with how I live?"
Jelani pinches her nose as she looks out the window.
"Do you remember Rebecca?"
"Black? Yes. Why?"
"Her apartment looked like this before she..." Jelani swallows before looking at Erik. "Pack a bag."
"What?"
"I said Pack a bag."
Erik obeys.
"Come on."
They go back downstairs and get into the car. Jelani pulls off and Erik holds his bag looking like a scolded child.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologise Erik. I'm not mad at you."
"I feel like you are but okay."
She rolls her eyes as she drives back to her house. They get back in record time as they get out and go back to her place. She leads him to the guess room.
"You can stay here until you find a new apartment."
"What? Why?! Aren't we going to Wakanda?"
"Erik..."
"Yes Boss."
She walks over and kisses his cheek.
"You'll thank me in the future."
"Okay...if you say so."
She walks out as Erik settles into the nice looking room.
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"How soon can we come to Wakanda?"
"Uh...maybe another week or two. What's wrong?"
"I saw Erik's apartment..."
"And?"
"T'Challa...I'm scared."
"That bad? I thought your people make good money?"
"They do. Apparently, Erik has a huge heart for orphans."
T'Challa blinks.
"I don't see it."
"I am offended."
They both look up to see Erik who walks over holding a comb and various hair products.
"Can you re-twist my hair boss?"
"Yeah. Come."
She moves the phone call to the living room as Erik sits between her legs. She dries his locs before beginning the process. T'Challa does some work and Erik takes in what he can see about the office. It's modern--very modern--but he can see there is some traditional aspects in it.
"Your office is very modern."
T'Challa looks up at Erik.
"Oh yes. You'll see Wakanda is nothing like the media portrays us."
"That is an understatement," Jelani says making T'Challa chuckle.
"Oh. by the way, I told the council that Erik is your cousin."
"What did you tell them I was?"
"My girlfriend."
"How did they take that?"
"W'Kabi wants to collar you."
"W'Kabi can kiss my ass."
Both men laugh. T'Challa notices the chain around Erik's neck.
"Is that...that a ring?"
Erik looks down and touches it.
"Yeah. My pops gave it to me. It's one of the few things I have left of him."
"I have the same ring."
If a record was playing it would now have been scratched. Jelani puts the last loc she re-twisted down.
"Excuse me?"
"I have the same ring. My father gave it to me. He got it from his grandfather."
"Erik?"
They look at him as he bites his bottom lip.
"Fine! My daddy is Prince N'Jobu who your" he points at T'Challa but it's rather hard to take him serious since he has a few locs sticking up like a damn porcupine. "Father killed!"
"Erik. Calm down."
He takes deep breaths and T'Challa watches as Jelani calms the man who seems to curl close to her.
"And before you ask T'Challa: I did not know."
"Well, Erik...is that really your name?"
He gives T'Challa a piercing glare.
"Its N'Jadaka but don't call me that. I don't want you calling me that and you damn sure don't have the right."
"N'Jadaka."
Both men look at Jelani who has said the name with ease.
"It's a beautiful name N'Jadaka."
Erik blushes.
"Only she can call me that."
Jelani chuckles as she kisses his forehead. T'Challa is slighty jealous at the simple gesture.
"Is that going to prevent Erik from coming to Wakanda."
"Not at all. If anything, it makes it easier to bring Erik here."
Erik grins.
"I can't wait."
T'Challa smiles.
"Jelani when you get a chance...can I speak to you privately?"
"Of course my king. When I am done with N'Jadaka."
Erik smiles, feeling warm at hearing his native name roll off her tongue.
"I look forward to it my queen."
The call ends and Jelani continues her task.
"So, you're a prince?"
"Yeah..a prince...to a country that abandoned me."
"Do not be angry at the country or T'Challa for the actions of his father. He did not know."
"I know but...I could've been in Wakanda."
"But then you wouldn't have met me. Or the crew."
"True...and you are my favourite person."
Jelani smiles as she braids the locs back.
"There."
Erik looks at his reflection in his phone and smiles.
"Thanks Boss."
"No problem."
He gathers the items before standing and begins walking out the room.
"Hey Boss?"
"Yes N'Jadaka?"
"When I get better, could I have chance at courting you? Since I'm a prince and all...I'm royalty."
Jelani chuckles at the shy smile Erik gives her.
"Sure you can court me. We better get you to Wakanda soon."
Erik smiles as he goes back up to his room and Jelani calls T'Challa back. He answers.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing...Okay I'm lying."
Jelani chuckles.
"I know."
"Are you and Erik..."
"Dating? No. He did ask if he could court me once he's better."
T'Challa pouts as Jelani laughs.
"What's wrong Panther? Scared of the leopard?"
"Leopard? I fear no leopard. I never freeze."
"He always freezes," Okoye quips as she comes into the camera view and she chuckles. She had met the woman the last time she saw T'Challa. The two clicked instantly and even though Okoye said she wanted to hate Jelani, she couldn't because the woman was just perfect.
"I do not freeze Okoye!"
Both women chuckle.
"Boss! I'm running out to get food. Do you want anything?"
"If you're stopping at the Trini spot tell Ms. Jones I want the oxtail dinner. Tell her Miss Dragon asked for it."
He nods as he leaves, nodding to Okoye and T'Challa, before exiting.
"So when can we show up?"
"With N'Jadaka being a prince: anytime."
"I'll tell him two weeks."
T'Challa chuckles as he nods.
"I can't wait to see you."
"You as well my king. I have missed you."
He smiles as the call ends.  He looks at Okoye who gives him a smirk.
"Okoye..."
"I said nothing."
"Say it. You know you want to."
"I have nothing to say."
T'Challa shakes his head as he returns to work and Okoye goes to find Shuri.
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The next two weeks is filled with packing for Wakanda (even though T'Challa said there is no need: they would provide them with everything they need) and doing two jobs. By the time Jelani and Erik get on the plane they are ready to sleep the entire ride home.
"You look exhausted," T'Challa says with a soft look.
"I am."
T'Challa pulls Jelani into his lap and kisses her temple as she curls close. Erik glares at T'Challa who gives a smug look as he holds her.
"Panther. Leopard."
The cousins look at her.
"Behave."
"Yes Jelani."
Okoye gives a smile from the front as she pilots the ship home.
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"Welcome to Wakanda," T'Challa says as they step off the ship and the two look around.
"Wow..."
"I am impressed."
"That's it?" T'Challa says and Erik chuckles.
"Boss always has a calm demenaour. It takes a lot to make her lose her cool."
"I know that."
"T'Challa your mother is right there."
He puts his hands up and she chuckles. They walk down the path to where Ramonda and Shuri are.
"Mother. Princess. This is our cousin, Prince N'Jadaka, and my.."
"In westerner terms, Girlfriend," Jelani says.
Ramonda smiles.
"So you are the woman who is clouding my son's thoughts."
Jelani blushes and rubs the back of her neck.
"I guess."
"And what is this about cousin? Prince?"
"Hi Auntie!" Erik says with a smile.
"You?"
"Yeah. I have the ring, journal, and letter."
"I checked with Zuri Mother. He's Uncle N'Jobu's son."
Her eyes widen.
"N'Jobu had a child?! Why wasn't I told?!"
"Zuri and Baba made a pact."
"Pact my," Ramonda takes a deep breath as she catches herself. "How about we have this conversation over dinner?"
"Sounds lovely," Jelani says. "I need a shower anyway."
Ramonda smiles as T'Challa escort the two to where they will be saying. N'Jadaka is in awe.
"Because N-I mean Erik is a prince, he will have my former quarters."
They stop and Erik looks at them.
"You're not..."
"I would like to speak to my queen alone. If that is fine with you Prince."
Erik growls.
"N'Jadaka."
"Sorry Boss."
"It's fine N'Jadaka. I will see you at dinner."
She walks off with T'Challa as Erik enters his quarters. T'Challa and Jelani enter his quarters and he is on her in an instant. She kisses him, holding his face as he picks her up and carries her to bed.
"I have missed you so much," he murmurs as he kisses her neck.
"Show me then My King."
"With Pleasure."
Meanwhile, Erik has explored his quarters enough before walking out. He sees the bald woman he saw on the ship.
"Uh...Okoye?"
She looks at him with cool eyes.
"Yes Prince?"
"Is Jelani..."
"She is still with the King. Is it urgent?"
"No. I'll wait for her to finish."
She nods as Erik walks off, going to explore the palace.
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Jelani rides T'Challa, hands on his chest as he holds her waist. He pulls her down for a kiss, holding her close as he rolls over. Jelani's eyes flash red.
"Oh no: you are not catching on fire again."
She laughs as T'Challa smiles.
"Would you prefer coldness?"
"Coldne--oh!"
Jelani smirks as her eyes flash sapphire blue and T'Challa gasps.
"You...You can do that?!"
"Amazing what one can do when they have dragons."
T'Challa smiles as he kisses her and she moans, feeling the coil in her stomach tightened.
"T'Challa...Close."
He thrusts faster, harder, niping a trail down her neck and collar. She gasps before giving a strangled scream leaving her as she cums, T'Challa following close behind. They lay together and T'Challa rolls off of her as he goes to the bathroom and grabs a rag. He wipes her clean and she smiles before going to the bathroom. He kisses her as he cuddles up with her.
"Were you serious about Erik courting you?"
"Yes. Why?"
He looks at her.
"I'm jealous."
"Why my king?"
"It's just...Well...you know Erik and I know you but you haven't worked with me for five years."
Jelani kisses his cheek.
"Well, there is a catch to Erik courting me."
"What is it?"
"He has to get better which means going to therapy and applying what he learns. Do not sabatoge him."
"I would never!"
She looks at him and he laughs as he kisses her.
"I promise I won't My Queen. Shower?"
"You mean shower sex?"
"I mean if you want that..."
"I do. Now shower before I set your room on fire."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me."
His eyes turn cat like and she screams as she runs to the bathroom, T'Challa chasing her as they laugh.
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I will be updating "Pray for Me" soon!