Mistress of the Elements: Storm/Ororo fanfic

Chapter 16- empathy

Okoye tried not to look smug, but was largely unsuccessful. The hint of a smile played on her lips when Storm relayed the information she gained from the Yaxola. A portion of the mutants lived under the channel, and still another were being trafficked elsewhere. Ororo had been found and rescued by Okoye herself. Not the Black Panther or the Wolverine, or any other ridiculous man. Okoye alone brought her back to the blackbird, and (for the first time in her life) she was proud of the power she bore.
"Well, we can't leave them down there," Jubilee had been busy preparing for return and refuel in Wakanda but when no one spoke after Ororo completed her report- she felt it necessary to weigh in.
"But those who are there, have reason to stay—" Okoye countered and continued her counterpoint. The missing young people were now coupled. It would be difficult to ask them to leave, and she knew the futility of trying to stop loving someone. It was a cross that everyone in Wakanda knew she bore- and, of course, Jubilee was so young and American as well. She would not know of such things.
T'Challah remained quiet and seemed unusually restless as he sat lost in thought. The goddess enjoyed watching the wheels turn and could not help from raking her eyes over his body. Memories of the plane ride to Wakanda came into view and her mouth began to salivate along with the quiet murmur of a long slow burning heartache that never seemed to cease in his presence. She had been so wrapped up in the events of the day, she had almost relieved herself of that familiar feeling... almost.
"Really?" A voice sounded in feigned surprise. "He just seems soooo-" Jongikhaya stepped in front of her in the dream world, "serious."
"What do you want Warrior?" She tried to sound annoyed, but in fact, Ororo was confused at her response to seeing him again. She felt a combination of desire and repellent. Her body must have given her away again, however, because Jongikhaya seemed to be smirking in her direction.
"Only you."
She looked away and smiled- at least he was clever... Why would his god make him so handsome? Jongikhaya in the dream world wore only loose fitting pants - and his stature stemming from them could be described only as otherworldly. Yes, he was handsome enough- and Ororo did not typically censor herself when it came to sex and taking what she wanted- but this was much more complicated than mere satiation.
"-right Ororo?" Jubilee looked to the Witch for agreement.
Before Storm could reply, Logan came into view with his nose in the air. He sniffed the open space and walked toward the group.
"So it returns," Okoye murmured.
"Logan!" Jubilee exclaimed, "Storm found the kids! Well, some of them-"
Logan put his hand up to quiet the younger woman and continued to sniff around. He hovered near Ororo, where Jongikhaya stood in the dream world and then moved closer to the Goddess.
"Something ain't right." Storm stepped back and her face became a mask.
He pointed his body in her direction and inhaled, "people don't change their scent overnight, Goddess- so you wanna tell me what really happened?"
The witch gathered the winds to her body. Damn the animal! she still had not decided what she would do about her knowledge of the Yaxola or "fated" practice, and so she countered flatly. Logan's sensitive ears would pick up any emotion in her voice, so she needed to become the void he knew in order to keep her thoughts and feelings private.
"I can tell you that I was held prisoner in an underwater secret society until Okoye's rescue." Okoye bowed seriously at the compliment. And while it flattered the Dora Milaje, it undoubtedly miffed the cats- reminding them of their shortcomings. She let her previous statement sink in before she added a little more quietly, "I learned something else about the Yaxola as well..."
Ororo looked at the women in the cabin with whom she had shared so much. She didn't want to keep them in the dark. so many things were bringing her down since she resurfaced and she longed to share the weight with them. So she heaved a heavy sigh and decided to share selected details of her discovery.
"The Yaxola- they... they look like me...Not just my facial features, but they are also of white hair and blue eyes accompanying the skin of an African- no matter the age..." she looked over to Jongikhaya and he nodded. "They told me I may be one of them..." she looked at T'Challah pointedly, "that perhaps I am a lost member of their tribes."
Logan backed up to give Ororo space. Despite her obvious attempt to withhold herself, he could smell the edge of confusion and sadness. Not one for consolation or even empathy- he gave her what he could; room to feel.
The King, Okoye, and Jubilee all looked at her solemnly.
"Is it true?" T'Challah asked, remembering too well the Goddess's struggle to piece together her past. He and Shuri spent months helping her track down anyone who may have known her as a child. They did DNA analysis, interviews, checked records and databases for thousands of area hospitals. They even had her meet with the medicine woman to try and gather her long forgotten memories from her subconscious. They followed every lead, and each one sent them to a dead end.
T'Challah would not have admitted it out loud, but he believed it was the stalemate of her past that eventually caused part of Ororo's heart to harden towards him. And in some small way, this new news reminded him that the resentment he held for her was equally to blame. He came from a bloodline that could be traced through each family side for generations- as all Wakandans.
He could not support her in her grief because he did not know how, and neither did his people....it was only  in that moment did T'Challah realize their collective folly.
They stood in silence a few moments more as Okoye and Jubilee stood closer to Ororo. It was an intimate gesture- with emotions communicated beyond words or touch. Ororo's face went from blank to grateful in a moment as she smiled at her confidants.
"We must return to Wakanda to give our intel to the prime minister and to consider our next steps," declared the King as he looked at Ororo pointedly. "If such a society has warriors powerful enough to entrap our Goddess, then we must tread carefully." The others looked back at him in consensus.
"I changed my mind, I like him" Jongikhaya added. "He's smarter than the others....I would undoubtedly kill him on sight."