Black Panther: Rise of the Princess (COMPLETE)

Chapter 46: Peter

I wasn't sure how D'Arku would act after the trial, but he just walked back to the cell we had brought him from. No struggling, no talking, just trying not to lose it in the palace, I think. I kept trying to steal glances at Shuri to see how she was doing, but her face was set, and her pace was even. 

Everyone around the throne room had thought that he words had been a bit harsh, it seemed like, but Shuri had done what had finally made him see exactly what he had done. It was after she mentioned D'Arku's father that he finally stopped trying to justify himself and started confessing. In the long run, his tears might even save him from a longer sentence. T'Challa was a reasonable King, if not a just one. He wouldn't want to punish D'Arku, just for him to take accountability for his actions.

If I was being honest, I felt bad for the guy. Unfortunately, these kinds of things happen more often than they do in Wakanda, and not just by HYDRA. At this point, it was somewhat normalized, being manipulated and whatnot. 

D'Arku walked right back into his cell and let the doors close him in. The Dora Milaje started to walk away, and I made to follow them, until I saw that Shuri was hanging behind. I figured that this was between the two of them, so I decided to just watch.

"Your Highness," D'Arku began, "Please, I know that I've....I know, but I have to be there for the ceremony, for my-my father." He sank to his knees, kneeling before her. "I don't deserve your pity, but could you advocate to the King, just to let me say go-goodbye?"

Shuri looked down on him, and I think it was that moment more than anything else that reminded me that she really was a Princess. This was a criminal, a traitor to the throne of Wakanda, and he was begging to his Princess for mercy, for grace.

To my surprise, she nodded. "Justice will be carried out, but it is not our place to stand between a son and his father as he passes away. It may not be the sendoff you desire, but it will be one nonetheless."

She walked away without looking back, and I followed her down the hall, away from the cells. The guards locked the doors behind us, and without anywhere else to go, I just kept following Shuri. 

"Well, that was..." I trailed off, and let Shuri finish my thought. 

"Interesting?"

I scratched the back of my head. "I've never been to a trial before, especially not like that."

She snorted under her breath. "I imagine American trials are much different than ours."

"No kidding," I agreed, looking over at her. "You okay?"

"I will be," she answered, nodding. She glanced my way. "Do you think I was too harsh on him? Perhaps that wasn't the best time to tell him about his father."

Looking forward, I thought about what I wanted to say, how to best say it. "You did what you believed would produce the best outcome, for everyone. He finally started listening to himself after you told him."

She looked down at her hands. "That does not mean it was a good thing to do. I'm sure you have some kind of phrase for that, Americans have a one-liner for everything."

"The ends don't always justify the means," I told her, laughing a little bit. "You do what you have to do to make sure people get what they deserve."

Shuri stopped and looked out a window. Wakanda was starting to return to normal, since people were coming out of the evacuation bunkers and back into their homes. Everything was starting to reset. It was because of Shuri that they could, but she was still clenching her fists.

"That can't be right in every situation," she argued quietly. "Maybe people shouldn't always get what they deserve."

"Maybe," I conceded, "but sometimes they should, and that's why people need you. It's what makes you a good fighter, a good Princess." And a good Avenger, hopefully, one day, but I didn't say that.

She turned to face me. "And when it isn't?"

I grinned, slightly. "Well, that's when you need people around you, to balance you out. Everyone keeps everyone else in check."

"You mentioned a team, earlier, before the airfight," she remembered, staring off into space. She thought for a minute, then figured out what I had been trying to say. "The Avengers?"

"We're trying," I admitted, not wanting to get her hopes up just yet. "Director Fury is trying to put together a second generation team. There's a few technical issues, I don't understand them, but Raven is trying to help him piece everything together."

"Agent Raven is on the team?"

"No one is yet, technically, but yeah."

Neither of us spoke for a second while she thought about the offer. After a long silence, she looked back out the window. "I assume the 'issues' would have to be worked out before we can do anything."

I nodded, leaning on the window sill. "SHIELD is working with the United Nations to iron everything out. Mind you, we only have two people at this point, so you would be the third."

A grin fought its way onto her face. "Well, you will need someone to keep up with you. You cannot be the only smart person on the Avengers."

"I don't plan to be," I said, smiling for all the world to see. "Welcome to the team."

~

Shuri had to go off and take care of her royal duties, which gave me a few minutes to myself. I went back to the quarters I had been given in the palace and pulled out my phone. May, MJ, Ned, and Tony had all texted me, but I sent Raven a message first. All clear in Wakanda, you'll probably want to tell Fury.

She replied back quickly. Glad to hear you're still alive

Any chance you could somehow fill out an Avengers recommendation for me? Or is there an online version or something...?

The Princess?

Yeah, you'd be surprised

Captain America is a cyborg and was under the control of HYDRA. You'll have to do more than that to surprise me.

True XD

I'll fill it out. Want me to tell Fury, or should we wait for now?

I stared at the screen, hesitating to respond. If the Director found out, it was going to be a lot harder for Shuri to back out, if she decided to change her mind. 

Wait for now. Wakanda is still recovering, we'll figure it out later.

Your call, Spider-Man.