[CENTER][sup][h1][center][img]https://static1.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Black-Panther-and-Storms-Relationship.png[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] Black Panther & Storm[/color]
[color=lightgray]Black Panther & Storm[/color][/center]
[/b][/h1][/sup]
[color=silver][sup][i]"Do you feel safe?"[/i][/sup][/color][/CENTER]
[h2]Turtle Bay, New York[/h2]
The Wakandan Royal Car had changed a few times in recent years. With it becoming fashionable to suck up to any poor country by donating some big fancy car as a means of Armchair Activism from the big companies of the world, T'Chaka had been forced to accept a few new big name cars from big name companies who made a lot of products all equally inferior to the veritable starships that Wakanda's domestic vehicle manufacturers created. The Americans always gave them gas guzzling monstrosities which were far too big and had always managed to figure out the most ingenious ways of getting as little power as possible from the biggest, loudest engines imaginable. The British always tended to give Rolls Royce's which, while a good try, just made him wish he could ride in something from his home country, as it was essetially just a downgrade. The Germans always gave something meticulously over-engineered that looked more at home as a Nigerian Taxi than the state car of a member of a royal family member of a country people only ever pretended to care about.

Today, since he was in New York, his state car was a Lincoln. Again, a marvel of American Engineering. It managed to somehow feel both opulent and incredibly cheap at the same time. They probably thought he was so used to riding in the back of an old Mercedes that anything from the 20th Century would feel like the future as possible. But honestly, the car wasn't the major thing on T'Chaka's mind. As the car slowly moved along in the notorious New York traffic, he tried not to look out the window. It had been 5 years... 5 long years since he had been here.

[sup][i][color=black]"Do you feel safe in that suit of Compound 2187B?"[/color][/i][/sup]

His hands trembled a little as he remembered that day. His heart palpitating just a little. He may have been forced to give up the name of Black Panther, but his body still bore the gifts of Bast. Just because his knee had been...

[sup][i][color=black]"Strong, but you just need to know where... To... Push..."[/color][/i][/sup]

[sup][i][color=662d91]"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"[/color][/i][/sup]

[color=c4df9b]"My King?"[/color] T'Chaka flinched as he looked to the front seat to see his beautiful bodyguard turn to look at him with concern on her face. His adopted son was the one driving. Hunter looked him in the eye in the mirror. His son read him clearly.

[color=silver]"Father is simply disappointed by T'Challa's-"[/color] T'Chaka frowned at Hunter through the mirror and he stopped immediately. T'Chaka kept a strong look on his face, but frankly, it just made him feel worse. He wasn't some invalid old man. He was The Black Panther. Only 51 years old. And with the Goddess' blessings, he was still able to bench-press this whole car with the two of them in it.

[color=662d91]"Just... Bad memories."[/color] He replied. As the car pulled up to the U.N. Building, he groaned as he looked down at his ruined knee. He hated it. He hated this whole situation. He loved his son and he wanted nothing but the best for him, but what that black armoured alien had done to him... The press was abuzz around the car, by which i mean that there was about 7 reporters that had turned out for a press release from an unimportant world leader. Probably some famous actor showing off a dress down on Broadway that they had to see instead.

[color=silver]"Good, smaller crowds are easier to control"[/color] Hunter stated. T'Chaka finally cracked a smile. Of everything that had gone wrong, at least he could bank on the ignorance of Americans to help keep his country safely out of the limelight. As Okoye and Hunter stepped out of the front, Okoye slowly jogged around to open the door for him, while Hunter handed the keys over to a U.N. Valet that had shown up. The door opened and he stepped out, good knee first, a solid wooden cane helping him to walk with something resembling dignity. Okoye and Hunter were the only ones immediately with him. Hunter was already enough to take on anyone short of Superman. But with Okoye with him, anyone who knew anything about the Dora Milaje knew about them was that they were like Cockroaches. "If there's 1 your seeing, there's 20 you're not" And dammit, he was still king in their own borders, even if he was about to give up that from the rest of the world. The reporters sat in their chairs just outside of the U.N. building, a few office staff were also there making sure the chairs were set up correctly and a few of the building security armed with assault rifles to make sure that the non-existant crowd didn't get too rowdy. But it was standard protocol for any press release. T'Chaka stood up straight out of the car. A few flashes from camera's capturing his weakened state. His free hand almost instincitvely grabbed for one of his throwing daggers from his non-existant utility belt and he swore under his breath.

[color=c4df9b]"My King, please."[/color] Okoye said under her breath. [color=c4df9b]"The press does not take kindly to you murdering their members.[/color]

[color=662d91]"I am sick and tired of being treated as a feeble old man."[/color] He grunted as he slowly hobbled towards the stage, attempting to stand tall and proud as he walked.

[color=silver]"Let them think as they please, Father. Your humiliation is our peoples shield. It is what all kings endured ever since the outside world invented mass media. Your leg does not make any difference"[/color] Hunter stated. He was right, of course. The only reason the Kings of Wakanda ever did these press releases was in order to go "Oh, look how poor and pathetic Wakanda is. No oil, no cobalt, no mountain of magical space rocks, just a bunch of cows, poverty and drought. Definitely not worth invading or looking into." And for 100 years, now, it had worked like a charm. While the rest of the world continued to murder each other over petty things, Wakanda sat safe within its borders continuing to develop the finest technologies, culture and arts the world had never seen. As he got to the steps to the stage, the 3 small steps looked more like Everest to him. Not that Everest used to be difficult to a Black Panther. Count have scaled it in an afternoon before the incident. He slowly raised his good leg, Okoye grabbing his arm to steady him. He almost instinctively wrenched it free, but stopped himself. He needed to look weak, he knew this... But dammit, he still had his pride. He did wrench his arm free and gave her a scowl. Okoye backed off a step and continued to look around for any potential threat.

As he finally made it up to the podium without incident, Okoye stood at the far right side of the stage, she was wearing a black suit that matched most other security teams from other countries... Of course, the hairless head making her look striking. Hunter, on the otherhand, stood only 5 steps away from him at any given moment. He wore a pair of sunglasses as well as a pure white suit. His eyes behind the glasses scanning everyone and everything in the crowd. Finally, T'Chaka slowly reached into his breast pocket.

[sup][i][color=black]"The human heart is on this side, isn't it?"[/color][/i][/sup]

[sup][i][color=662d91]"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"[/color][/i][/sup]

And retrieved the speech he had prepared and his reading glasses (Once again, primarily for show) he took a few seconds to skim-read the first few lines and then licked his lips. [color=662d91]"Good day, esteemed members of the press. I am King T'Chaka, Leader of the Royal House of T'Cha, champion of the People of Wakanda. I come before you today to make an announcement to the world and the United Nations as a whole."[/color]

[sup][i][color=black]"I will enjoy the look on your peoples face's when i throw your severed head into your throne and tell them they belong to The Reach now."[/color][/i][/sup]

[sup][i][color=662d91]"I am not dead yet, Beetle!"[/color][/i][/sup]

[sup][i][color=black]"An oversight quickly remedied."[/color][/i][/sup]

[sup][i][color=662d91]"AAAAAHH!!"[/color][/i][/sup]

[color=662d91]"I would first, however, like to give my heartfelt condolences to Mr Stark's friends and family. I had the good fortune of meeting him at a fundraiser event for the droughts in middle Africa. His kind donations saved the lives of many of my people. And as is the tradition of my people, i wish to send his immediate family one of my prized cattle."[/color] He could always count on the ignorance of outsiders to think of his people as just farmers who sat around all day, dying of drought, posing for charity donation commercials and worshipping cows as if they were sacred. [color=662d91]"His loss will be felt and mourned by the rest of the world along with America."[/color] He then got back to his prepared speech.

[color=662d91]"It is no secret that our country suffered great damage during the Reach invasion."[/color] This was not really true, but every other country around them had been hit and their defenses held. So they had faked a LOT of footage to convince the rest of the world that they were just as helpless.

[color=662d91]"During the devastating bombings, my body was badly damaged. My knee specifically was shattered beyond the ability of the best doctors and scientists to potentially repair. I have done my best to carry on for the sake of my people. But im afraid that my failing mobility no longer allows me to continue representing their interests across the world. And so, with a heavy heart, i announce to the world press that as of 3pm, 2 days ago. I have officially abdicated the throne in a private ceremony..."[/color] There were a few flashes of cameras from the press. They believed he had paused for dramatic effect. However he paused to have to quickly come up with a new ending for it, as the rest of this speech talked about him introducing T'Challa... However, his son had failed to show us to the meeting today. Frankly, he was furious at him for this, but he still knew how to keep his game face. He looked up and smiled. [color=662d91]"The new King T'Challa is currently at home, building his new Political Cabinet and performing the last rites of succession to be crowned as the new King.[/color] He folded the piece of paper and put it back into his pocket. [color=662d91]"I will take questions now."[/color]

The few reporters around looked at each other, before one of them stood up, a younger, black reporter with glasses stood up and raised his PDA pen. T'Chaka pointed at him.

"Ron Troupe, Daily Planet. Wakanda is one of the least developed African countries as far as export and import trade is concerned. Does the new King T'Challa have plans to increase trade so that Wakanda can finally join the global community. Also, do you think that your abdication will have far reaching consequences among your people and the rest of the African political landscape?" He asked. T'Chaka had to mentally scrunch up his lip. Again, T'Challa SHOULD have been here to answer these questions.

[color=662d91]"My King will announce any such changes to foreign and domestic policy when the time comes. But our friends in bordering Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan have had nothing but respect for our borders and i see no reason why that should change."[/color] Primarily because every expedition that was sent into their territory never returned and they all kept quiet in order to save face. [color=662d91]"I believe wholeheartedly in My King's leadership. I would never have dreamed of putting him on the throne until he was ready."[/color] This was also true. Ron sat down and quickly began typing up the notes he had taken. Another reporter stood with hand in the air. He pointed to the older man with square glasses.

"Ben Urich, Daily Bugle. What do you say about the allegations of Wakanda having the charity funds given to it from the people of the world funnelled into dummy corporations filed in America to be used for tax and other fraud purposes?" T'Chaka let out a long laugh at this. He was playing it across as amusement at the ridiculousness of his accusation, but actually it was because of just how close Mr Urich to the actual truth. Tax Fraud? Wakanda mostly used the charity money for supporting other charities that alligned with their agenda's around the world.

[color=662d91]"Mr Urich. I can assure you that not a single Americans Tax Dollar goes into my country. 
Might i remind you that we have refused USAID grants on a number of occassions due to our people's determination for self sufficiency. We simply do not refuse the money for Charitable Aid donations due to not wishing to offend the good people of the world who wish to see our beautiful country flourish."[/color]

"But what about Munroe Industrie-" Urich was cut off by a hearty belly laugh from T'Chaka

[color=662d91]"Please, Mr Urich. I am sure that that kind of Tabloid gossip makes for excellent headlines. But Mr Jameson's illustrious paper should strive to be better than all that."[/color] The laugh was more to hide the concern than anything. Munroe Industries was one of their dummy companies and it seemed Mr Urich had in fact hit the nail on the head. He'd need to have that company dealt with immediately. He continued laughing as he looked at Okoye, who subtly nodded to him, indicating she understood to quietly liquidate that company.

[color=662d91]"Are there any questions that I may answer that are not to do with wild gossip?"[/color] A pretty young ginger-haired reporter stood up.

"Vicki Vale, Gotham Herald. What are your plans for your retirement years?" T'Chaka nodded approvingly at the question.

[color=662d91]"I plan to assist my King in anyway i may, but mostly, i plan to help tackle the current famine in my land. I will retire to a farm i have purchased and focus on growing crops and raising livestock that can be used to feed my people. Just because i no longer serve them as King, does not mean i will no longer serve them at all."[/color] He replied. A few more flashes went off from Camera's. All the while more questions poured in and all T'Chaka could think of was what he was going to do with T'Challa when he saw him next.

****

[color=6ecff6]"What am i going to do with you, Beloved?"[/color] Ororo smiled, looking down at T'Challa, post coital episode. They had snuck off to a Wakandan Safehouse in New York in order to be away from prying eyes.

[color=bc8dbf]"My Goddess, if it were up to me, you and i would never leave this bed again and this world would be entirely populated by our beloved children."[/color] He laughed, rolling over to look at his Kimoyo Card and saw the time, before his heart sank into his feet. [color=bc8dbf]"Oh well..."[/color] He grunted, before turning back to Ororo. [color=bc8dbf]"It appears that we have missed Father's press conference."[/color] Ororo didn't seem to disappointed.

[color=6ecff6]"You didn't want to go anyway. Plus, we have another matter to attend to. We need to meet Evan on the corner of Seymour and Mace in 30 minutes. We'd never have made it in time if we went."[/color] T'Challa rolled over and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek, before rolling off of the bed and began putting on an unassuming civilian attire. Beige tee-shirt, checkered shirt, jeans. Nothing that would make him stand out. Ororo began dressing herself much the same, although it was hard to go unnoticed with her cascading blizzard of hair flowing down her back. T'Challa approached her from behind and pulled her hair up and out as she pulled a tee-shirt down.

[color=bc8dbf]"You know, my Goddess, i believe you would look good-"[/color] He pulled her hair up high [color=bc8dbf]"With a Mohawk."[/color] He laughed. [color=bc8dbf]"Strike awe and fear into your enemies.[/color] She looked thoroughly unamused.

[color=6ecff6]"Beloved..."[/color] She scolded him as she pulled her hair down. [color=6ecff6]"Come, we need to get going."[/color] T'Challa kissed her on the neck, before walking to the window and looking out. He could see all of the people walking by at once... And he could tell by the way one old man drinking his coffee in a small shop down the street was walking that they were watching this place.

[color=bc8dbf]"I suggest we go out the roof."[/color] He sighed.

[color=6ecff6]"You know, they do work for us. You can tell them to just... Ignore you."[/color] She replied. T'Challa turned to her looking almost offended.

[color=bc8dbf]"And where would the fun in that be?"[/color] He asked. He finished putting everything on, before opening the door to see 3 bald warrior women with Vibranium Spears pointed at him.

"My Prince. Your King requires your presence." The head Dora Milaje ordered.

[color=bc8dbf]"Ah..."[/color] He replied. [color=bc8dbf]"Just mine?"[/color] The three warriors watched Ororo walk up behind T'Challa. [color=bc8dbf]"Your Princess has a prior engagement elsewhere."[/color] He replied. The head guard nodded to one of the others who walked into the appartment to take T'Challa's place. He turned to Ororo before giving her a kiss on the lips. [color=bc8dbf]"I will deal with father. Go see Evan, my Goddess."[/color] The guards spears retracted into bracelets on their wrists and T'Challa walked with them.

[color=6ecff6]"Be safe, beloved."[/color] Ororo replied. She looked at her new bodyguard. [color=6ecff6]"So, do you drive?"[/color] Her bodyguard stared at her.

[color=f9ad81]"I am Nailah"[/color] She replied. [color=f9ad81]"And my life is yours."[/color] Ororo smiled as best as she could.

[color=6ecff6]"Well... Let's see if we can keep it that way."[/color]