Firstborns
Shuri remembered that first kick of their babies, making her and Namor gasp in happiness in each other's arms and sending them crying like a baby for the rest of the day.
One day, she accused him, half-annoyed and half-amused. "They are not even born yet! And you already built cradles! A changing table with all the baby supplies, ordering the seamstress to make dozens of baby clothes and blankets, crafting baby toys and even books, covering every inch of the ground in the cenote with quilts and now making a safety gate at the pool! Ah! And also building a baby pool and water slides!!!"
Namor watched his wife as she spoke a string of words in one breath, admiringly asking, "Aren't you tired?"
"Not at all!" Shuri huffs unbelievably.
Namor looked at her and chuckled with a triumphant smile, "I'm not even halfway there yet, Shuri, you might want to save your breath~"
He gently kisses her not-so-flat-anymore belly, laying his face on it softly, Shuri's pregnancy is four months and 5 days now, her baby bump starts to show way more obviously and Namor stares at her softly.
...
There were countless times that Shuri caught him staring at her belly in a daze, his face painted with awe and disbelief. Shuri was sure that she mirrored him…
And she was being caught by Namor that she is staring at him when she's having a little meltdown inside… Shuri kissed him eagerly, stopping and encouraging him to open that sinful mouth of his, saying something like,
"I will put more babies in you, Shuri, two is never enough, I will give you everything, until you are surrounded by our children, one after another, calling you Mama~ You'll chase them around, and I'll be there chasing you—" She rubbed their faces together and chuckled sweetly. She would love to see that happen—
...
"—Then you're not alone anymore, we are your family."
...
Namor turned his face to kiss her forehead, her reddened eyes, her moist cheeks and her trembling lips, sealing his promise firmly on Shuri's lips.
...
"I've only completed less than half and I have a lot more things to prepare and make for you all," Namor declared energetically.
He didn't wait for Shuri to argue and continued to speak cunningly, not sparing her as Namor exposed her secret, because he wasn't the only one there, excited and blissful.
"I saw your bassinet sketch scattered around here. I also heard you instructed everyone in the lab to gather baby supplies and come up with the best baby gear. I think I peeked at you drawing a mini sunbird blueprint model just seconds ago, Shuri, are you halfway there yet or just getting started?"
Shuri looked at Namor's smug face in disbelief as he systematically unraveled all her secrets. Annoyed yet amused, she pointed at him and accused, "You peek at the sketches of my babies' crib! I wondered how you were so coincidentally into green and purple decorations too!"
"No, I didn't, it's just that great minds think alike, you know?" Namor smoothly changed the subject, "I gave both sides the sketches for the babies' clothes, so they can collaborate on making outfits with different styles. Yours is almost ready, I'll go check on it in a few days. I'm just debating what colours to use for the babies' clothes. It can't all be green and purple, can it?"
Namor asked with a sly smile, successfully diverting Shuri's attention as he saw her contemplating the colours for their babies's clothes rather than listing one by one all the things he was preparing for their babies and her, he wanted to give them a surprise, and Namor wanted to give them the whole world.
"Pffttt, let them choose their favourite colours when they grow up. Why bother so much now, for Bast's sake!"
Namor was going to nod and agree and make each outfit with every colour possible—
"…How about blue and orange…?" Shuri sheepishly added.
Namor bursts out in chuckles, and Shuri looks at him embarrassingly.
"What!? I'm just coming up for them now, better than your green and purple! Lack of creativity!" she swats his arm annoyingly.
"Okay~ blue and orange? Sounds perfect to me, princess~"
"Hmm, you think so too? Blue for boy… blue like the sky and the ocean. Orange for girl… or yellow? Like the sun. I always like the orange colour though…" Shuri beams. She hopes their daughter will like the same colours as she does…
Namor looked at Shuri's dazzling eyes, his heart melting miserably.
"Orange it is. I feel like our baby girl—"
Shuri suddenly felt a gentle tap, a flutter in her belly— She instinctively touched her belly, wanting to feel the ghostly sensation again.
"—will also like orange just like her mother." Another gentle tap in response — Shuri looked down in disbelief…
"Our baby girl will be as beautiful as you—"
Shuri suddenly let out a small gasp of shock mingling with immense surprise, looking at Namor in disbelief.
"I— What's wrong- Shuri?! Is it the babies—?!"
Nervously, Namor tightly embraced her and quickly called GRIOT to check on her.
"Shuri—"
"I… I think your daughter just… kicked me…"
Shuri murmured in disbelief… They looked at each other in complete surprise, Namor's brain short-circuited. "...What? Are you sure? I-Is there something wrong? I thought the healers said it's still early…"
To feel them.
" My King, it's just normal fetal movement. My Queen , the little princess and prince are fine, there is nothing to worry about. " GRIOT reassured him.
"Say that again…" she whispers.
"I… our baby girl—?" he murmurs.
Tap. Shuri nodded excitedly while encouraging him.
"Our baby girl—" Tap.
Trembling, Shuri grabbed Namor's hand and placed it on her belly, eagerly asking,
"Can you feel it?"
Shuri looked at Namor with tears of joy in her eyes as their hands rested together on her belly. His palm was warm but trembling with rumbling excitement.
"Call her, Namor, call her… " Your daughter.
"Our baby girl…"
"Baby, our baby girl, say hello to your Baba —"
Then Namor felt it, a tiny sensation, a gentle pat in the palm of his hand.
Namor looked up at Shuri, exclaiming in surprise and then breaking into a radiant smile, tears of happiness streaming down his face.
"I feel it- I feel her—!"
They held each other close, their foreheads pressed tightly together, basking in the euphoria of this moment. Namor quickly caressed her belly and spoke tenderly,
"And what about the other one? Baby boy, say hello to your Mama—"
On the other side of her palm, Shuri felt another pat and she cried in ecstasy, nodding at Namor excitedly, their baby boy kicked her too.
Shuri's voice cracks, "Ah? Have you both finally woken up? Give Mama and Baba a high-five, would you two be so generous?"
And then, they were both kicked so, so lightly by their two babies in their palms.
...
Namor and Shuri held each other tightly, squealing in joy and blissful tears for the rest of the day, cherishing this precious moment that had come so unexpectedly.
...
As Shuri's pregnancy progresses, the twin's kicks and movements tend to become stronger and more noticeable. Now, they could easily see the shape of their little palms and feet when they tried to push through her belly. Every time, when Namor coos at them, they show up with their little palms and feet.
And with each growing and strong kick that sent Shuri off the edges every time. Making her jolt wakes from her sleep, wanting to go to pee desperately, crying in pain and turning her on crazily.
And the only thing that could soothe her and their babies was Namor's cock and their father's voice.
"Please come out soon, both of you! Mama can't take it much longer. You two are too mischievous—"
"You should save your breath, Shuri." Namor coaxed tenderly, "In bebés, be good, don't trouble your Mama anymore, she's tired."
Shuri's seven months pregnant now, reaching eight, and he doesn't let her do anything. Unless it's something urgently important that needs his presence, otherwise, he's been by her side day and night, never leaving her alone. They just came back from Wakanda after a checkup and ensuring everything's going well as M'Baku has been regent since a month ago.
They had decided to give birth to the children in Talokan. But both the doctors and healers said the babies might need a few more weeks before arriving. The news made Namor worry himself to death, the doctor mentioned that the babies' development was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, so they might be around seven months now, but they were still quite small, still developing.
He knew all of this, what he knew about pregnancies with twins usually involved early births and they are born prematurely, not as long as Shuri'd been carrying them.
Namor was scared, so scared— That if anything happened to Shuri or their babies, he wouldn't be able to bear it.
"Don't worry, Shuri, they're coming to us soon. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere—" Namor comforts Shuri with all his might, wishing he could share her pain.
Another sleepless night had begun, as they noticed their babies seemed to be most active at night, as if they wanted Mama and Baba to play with them, making it impossible for her to sleep. Shuri curled up in discomfort in Namor's arms, softly whimpering, wanting to focus on his voice and distract herself, but the babies were truly too restless, leaving her incredibly aroused.
Shuri tugs Namor close, kissing him feverishly, transmitting all her pain and desire through their lips and tongues.
Namor cradles Shuri tightly, massaging her delicate waist as if he could never quite understand how no matter how much he fed her, Shuri never seemed to gain a lot of weight, she did get heavier and yet her small frame was somehow strong enough to carry two miracles.
"Please, Namor, please, please—" Shuri pleaded, "I want you now- Please... I need you- I love you…" Shuri yearned for him, calling out to Namor, longing for his love.
Shuri calls him wildly and passionately, taking Namor's hands to cradle her face, to touch her breasts that had changed due to pregnancy. She shakes sensitively as his hand massages her larger and tender breast, ready for breastfeeding. Sliding his burning palm to her pregnant belly that was pressing against his lower abdomen, she let him feel the babies' strong kicks and punches. Namor could feel it all with his wet palm stroking between her rubbing legs and Shuri couldn't help but cry and beg for him desperately.
Namor watches Shuri cry until she gasps for breath due to the babies' wild movements, feeling both heartache and sorrow for her. He tenderly comforted her, kissing her and never ceasing to help her undress and free her from his embrace for a moment.
He followed her desperate calls— and the emotion of being needed, longed for, and deeply loved by Shuri made Namor more and more emotional.
Carefully, Namor positioned Shuri to lay on her side and gently, yet urgently, unfastened her nightgown.
Although they knew they had to be more careful as they were nearing the birth of their children, their emotions and love were still deeply expressed to each other intensely.
They held each other tightly, their bodies writhing with the intensity of their love. Shuri clings to him, her soft, satisfied moans filling the wet air as the feeling of being completely filled to the brink by Namor's burning and thick desire overwhelmed her.
Namor cradles her with utmost care, his breath quickening with just a few thrusts and Shuri's fiery heat quickly consumes him, drawing him to give himself entirely to her, giving her all he had.
Yet, it was never enough.
When Shuri, his heart and soul, the person he loves most lies in his arms, calling out for him, craving him, and her radiant torso blossoms with the weight of their children they both grow, contentment washing over her as her whole being flush and glows, adorned with a soft, adoring smile on her face as Shuri looks at him…
Namor just wanted to meld with her forever, never to be apart.
He gently rocked his hips and swayed his waist, giving her the most comfortable yet most intense lovemaking. His rhythmic movements were like ocean waves, making Shuri feel like a drifting and lonely ship on the sea, finally merging with the ocean, rolling and surging with intense passion.
Shuri was willing to die in his tender embrace, willing to be cherished and loved by him every day, carrying his child within her at all times, letting the whole world know how much Namor loved her and how much she loved him.
She was willing to give her life for their little ones, lives that would be a fusion of their love. A piece of him and a piece of her exists in another two beautiful little souls. She felt incredibly grateful, and Shuri's weak yet strong heart swelled with their blazing love, a love that only Namor could quench.
Namor tirelessly rocked his hips and gently patted Shuri's back, rocking both the mother and the children to sleep. Wrapped Shuri in soft and warm blankets, letting her leg rest over his hip while the other entwined with his, hugging her tightly and calming his desire.
He kissed her wet forehead, kissing away her tears softly and slowly caressed her pregnant belly that had finally calmed down and now peacefully resting babies.
Namor fell asleep with Shuri contentedly, looking forward to waking up together each day and eagerly anticipating the arrival of their children.
First kick & rockabye
"Le na' jach Mantats' le primera tu sostener u chan paalo'."
...
The mother is always the first to hold her baby.
...
The cries of their newborn child echoed through the water, jolting Shuri from the brief lapse of lost consciousness, she was almost carried away by the gentle currents. Following that, her ears filled with Namor's calling, gradually bringing her back to the present— she is giving birth.
Shuri is so exhausted that she could hardly move, leaning on Namor with a vacant look, still mustering the strength to push for their—
"Le le príncipe! Yaan u beel jump'éel suku'un asab."
-"It's the prince! He's going to be an older brother!"-
The healers place their newborn son directly into her arms after they ensure their newborn prince is healthy and strong, and surprisingly able to breathe underwater, just like the rest of them.
And even in her drowsy state, Shuri instinctively and eagerly reaches out to take him. Her son. She had a son. Their son.
The firstborn son of Talokan and Wakanda.
And when their son was placed against her chest, Shuri felt that all the pain was insignificant.
Namor and Shuri both gazed at their son in her embrace, his tears floating alongside the crystal water, carried away by the gentle stream. Her breathing apparatus was misted with moisture and haze, and Shuri gasped as she called out, "...our baby boy…"
Their newborn son whimpers and Shuri doesn't have time to look closely at him before intense pain surges. Amidst the pain, Shuri managed to chuckle behind her mask… Oh, their daughter is still inside her, feeling jealous already.
"She's coming, Shuri, push, my love. Our baby girl is about to meet us—"
Gripping Namor's hand haaaaard as Shuri brings their daughter into this cruel yet beautiful world. Their daughter's cry echoed through the depths of the sea, bringing a wash of relief to everyone. She was healthy and the same as her brother, she could breathe freely in the water, their precious little Princess of Talokan was born, "...our baby girl…" her voice choked.
The firstborn daughter of Talokan and Wakanda.
The healers place their newborn daughter in Shuri's arms, side by side along with her brother, Shuri and Namor sobs in tears of joy as they watch their babies with their teary eyes, both healthy and strong, wailing loudly in their mother's arms.
Shuri floats in the water, letting their people fuss around her as she softly gazes at their babies contentedly, their little eyes open slightly, gazing back at her.
She exhales a shaky breath— did she just give birth to two little half-mutant, half-superhuman enhanced beings? Yes.
It all felt like a rollercoaster ride, from her water breaking suddenly, to Namor holding her down to the water, to everyone gathering around to help deliver. Shuri didn't quite grasp what was happening, but she could feel his heart pounding behind her, synchronized with her own heartbeat.
Shurie keeps her head lowered, tightly embracing their children, gently nuzzling their small faces with her own. Warm clothing enveloped her and everyone was prepared.
Namor was waiting for her.
"Come on, Shuri," he whispered.
Shuri weakly nodded, one hand cradling their children, the other wrapped around his neck, allowing him to carry the three of them back to the surface. Before they broke the water's surface, they pressed their foreheads firmly together, reassuring each other that everything's gonna be alright.
Regardless of the outcome, they were ready. Namor and Shuri are ready for any possible outcome that may slap them in the face, and the challenges and hardships coming their way, waiting for them to overcome them, hand in hand. Together.For better or for worse.
They are ready. Namor and Shuri nodded to each other softly, their eyes radiating determination and hope.
Ready for their children not able to breathe underwater, ready for them not able to breathe on land, ready for the possibility that one could only live in water while the other on land. They were prepared for any mutations that might come their way and braced themselves for the worst.
As a new life was born, one life ended perfectly.
Breaking the surface together, Namor and Shuri keep their heads lowered, never taking their eyes off the children in their arms.
He held them, and she held them.
The children's cries echoed throughout the entire cenote. They waited for a while, and the people around them watched nervously, observing and monitoring the children's vital signs. Everyone was prepared and— they are okay.
Everything's alright— Just like their father, they can freely soar in both worlds.
Namor removes the rebreather mask from Shuri's face and kisses her with happiness. Shuri weakly but joyfully embraced him and kissed him longingly, all the lingering worries melting away.
I love you.
I love you.
They felt blessed by the gods, and the world welcomed their children with tenderness. They expressed gratitude for each other's selfless dedication and love along this journey. They were going to be the most awesome and badass parents in Talokan and Wakanda!
Namor securely carries Shuri and their newborn twins back to their hut. Everyone around them continued to act with precision and dedication, there were Talokanils and also Wakandans. Strict control and execution were in place, with K'uk'ulkan orders clear— any mishap would lead to dire consequences.
Okoye, Namora and Attuma were close to them all the time along with their people. They closely monitor the condition of their queen and the little prince and princess, ensuring their stability. Fortunately, their queen was strong and didn't need any stitching, all while they were all waiting for a nod of approval from their god-king.
Namor nodded towards the only three persons whom he would trust Shuri and their babies' lives with, including his own.
Okoye, Namora and Attuma nodded and left their hut.
The news of their queen and the birth of their royal heirs quickly spread across the ocean and onto the surface. Soon, the deafening celebrations nearly reached their hut. Namor and Shuri were finally left alone, finally able to feel the serenity amid the commotion, cradling each other's restless hearts.
It was only out of the water that Shuri truly felt the presence of their children, their tiny weight, so light yet so heavy in her arms.
She gazes down at them, caressing their wrinkled little faces…
Beautiful.
They are beautiful. Their children.
Such beautiful children, of course, they are, these are their children they are talking about! Two beautiful souls, a living proof of their love.
Shuri softly kissed her daughter's forehead, and she wriggled in response. She gently kissed her son's head, his small fist tightening. And Namor tenderly placed a kiss on Shuri's forehead, filled with boundless affection.
"Namor…"
Shuri gently called to him, softly cooing,
"You haven't held them yet."
Her mouth curves widely, and a sweet smile arches high, reaching for the sky.
"Come on, Ch'ah, reach out your hands," Shuri says with tender joy.
Namor releases the hand that had been supporting Shuri's arms and realizes that his hands had been trembling non-stop from the moment her water broke until now.
He had held countless newborns in his arms when his people asked for his blessing. He welcomed them with open arms, giving his blessing that they grow up strong and be whoever they wanted to be.
But as he looked at the two babies cradled in front of him…
His children. Their children. His and Shuri's children.
His family. Their family. Their kin.
His heart and soul. His flesh and blood.
Their flesh and blood.
He had children with her.
Namor of Talokan had children with Shuri of Wakanda.
Namor of Talokan and Shuri of Wakanda had children.
They had a family together.
He cried silently.
Namor trembles, with a hint of hesitation, as he reaches out to take them from Shuri.
Would he be able to hold them properly?
Would his hold be too much?
Would he accidentally harm them?
Shuri softly placed her babies into their father's arms, and Namor nervously cradled them, making sure he held them securely, but his trembling hands couldn't be stopped—
Shuri reached out, steadying his arm and embraced Namor. Watching him hold their babies so stiffly and seeing tears stream down his face, she couldn't help but feel both heartache and tenderness.
She wanted to make him smile; she loved seeing him smile.
So, she playfully and lovingly teased her love, her husband, the father of her children.
"Have you never held babies before? It seems like I did a pretty good job so far as a first-time mother holding not one, but two babies!"
Of course, Shuri knew he had held countless children in his arms. But now, Namor is holding his blood, his children for the first time. Of course, he is nervous and doesn't know what to do—
Namor burst out in chuckles, startling the two babies in his arms and they began to cry loudly. He looked at his wife with a mix of helplessness and indulgence, and responded to his Shuri's merciless teasing about him being a real first-time father,
"Well, these little ones are already melting my heart and putting me on my knees, Shuri. Maybe you can show me some tricks later?"
"Huh? I thought you were going to teach me all your baby-holding secrets…" Shuri raises her chin at their babies, their crying stops gradually when Namor instinctively sways them in his arms, so naturally, a father.
"I don't need to teach you anything, Shuri. You've been amazing since the moment we found out you are pregnant with them," Namor said gently, lowering his head to nuzzle her forehead. Their breaths mingled and they couldn't be separated anymore.
"No~ I may still need some practice, you know… but I've got the best teacher by my side— Let's learn together… shall we?" She leaned against his chest, her eyes struggling to stay open. Shuri felt so tired, and all she wanted was to sleep. But she wanted to comfort Namor first more than anything.
And Shuri's bright smile illuminated his soul, Namor gazed directly at her, needing no shield from her radiance.
"Yes, my love, let's learn together."
"Welcome to the journey of parenthood, Namor of Talokan~"
"Congratulations on becoming a mother, Shuri of Wakanda~"
First hold
Shuri is awakened from a deep sleep by the cries of her children. She groggily rubs her eyes and anxiously tries to get up to check on them, but his large hand gently presses her down, guiding her hand to touch their babies in his embrace.
"They're fine, just... hungry…" Namor sighs softly, feeling helpless already on their first day, "But I didn't want to wake you up," he whispers. He didn't want anyone else to feed their children, yet he also didn't want to burden her.
The instincts of a mother kick into Shuri immediately. She anxiously reached out for her babies, holding them close to her chest, afraid that someone might take her children away.
Shuri was grateful for all the preparations and fuss Namor had made in their hut and cenote during these past few months, ensuring that everything the babies and she needed was readily available. She could stay here to recover fully after giving birth before returning home.
Their cribs were placed right beside their bed, a table stuffed with a mountain of supplies, baby clothes like the onesies they debated about the designs, a vibranium-made twin baby carrier whenever they wanted to bring them back to Wakanda to meet everyone, all the feeding supplies and a breast pump.
Namor and Shuri also built a nursery with baby monitors clad in and ensuring everything in the cenote is baby-safe furniture. They also prepared the baby bath supplies, crib sheets and swaddle wraps to wrap them up like now. Along with a big box of baby first aid kits, and nursing supplies gifted by mothers all over Talokan and Wakanda.
Besides the baby toys and books they kept away to wait until they were old enough to play and read, the baby gate in their hut was the last thing they installed. They have come prepared— Like Namor bringing her to those baby classes during her pregnancy was a good idea.
Shuri remembers the awkwardness and fluttering of being pregnant among other mothers with their babies, feeling unsure about why she needed to learn about breastfeeding, diaper changing, baby bathing and anything else about babies when she could simply ask GRIOT for guidance.
She remembers sitting awkwardly among a group of mothers, feeling shy, embarrassed and a little touched as she watched them breastfeeding their baby, wondering again why she needed to attend baby classes.
However, when she saw Namor fumbling and struggling to change diapers for the babies of their people, she felt like maybe it was a good idea that he had brought her to these classes after all. It made her realize the value of those classes because they prepared them for the arrival of their babies and gained valuable knowledge and skills to provide the best care for their children too.
Shuri remembers she gently patted the baby's back, grateful that the baby she got was well-behaved and didn't pee all over her hands. Namor, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky, covered in pee and tired, with his people constantly apologizing to him. Namor waved it off, his hands on hips and looking so annoyed at Shuri, who was six months pregnant at the time, laughing so hard she was out of breath.
Well, making a god-king change diapers does seem a bit challenging for him, but who can Namor blame when he's about to be the father of two children? Plus, it seems like he's actually enjoying it, especially during couples' yoga practice!
And everything paid off for this moment, still, Shuri struggled and fumbled, but Namor was there to assist and support her along the way.
Namor puts the children back in the crib and carefully helps Shuri sit up, arranging pillows behind her sore back. Then, he helped pull down her dress. Shuri stares blankly at the two crying babies, she can't decide who to feed first!
She looked at Namor for help with a pleading gaze, and he returned a "H-E-L-P" face too...
The two of them sat there, a bit shy and awkward, looking at each other with amusement.
Namor makes his move, trying to soothe the two crying babies, cooing, "Bebés, bebés, Mama is very tired. Can you take turns coming?" Their daughter suddenly stopped crying so loudly and he immediately picked her up and handed her to Shuri.
Namor assisted in supporting her feeble hand and the soft head of their daughter while Shuri tried her best to remember the steps for feeding, what was it? Oh, get a good latch.
Shuri sits comfortably, cradling her daughter against her chest, ensuring her head is well positioned with her little chin touching her breast. Supporting her baby girl's neck and shoulders with her hand and her hips with her forearm.
She held her breast while gently stroking her baby's lower lip with her nipple to encourage her to open her mouth wide, and the moment she opened her mouth wide, Shuri brought her chest to her baby and let her mouth cover as much of the areola of her breast and then flipped out her little lips, allowing her to suckle slowly.
Her short, rapid sucks gradually becomes longer and rhythmic sucks as she starts receiving milk from Shuri. It wasn't as painful as she had imagined… Shuri feels a gentle tugging sensation but not pain, instead she gazes lovingly at her baby, marveling at the wonders of life.
She lifts her eyes to look at Namor, and he also looks at the mother and daughter with affection, gently patting their son in his arms to comfort him. Watching Shuri breastfeeding his baby, Namor hums slowly,
"Hmm, watching you breastfeeding our baby… is doing things to me— "
Namor gazes at her with an increasingly playful and teasing mischief. His expression and entire being completely relaxed now, his face was incredibly soft,m and beaming with love, filled with affection as he watched her and their daughter. Shuri felt herself flush and held their baby girl a bit closer, trying to block his wandering eyes,
Although Namor had already seen, touched, felt, and experienced every quiver of her body, every cell of her was burning— raging and roaring for him.
"I think we need to establish some ground rules for what we can and can't say in front of the kids." Shuri glares cutely at him.
Namor chuckles softly in amusement, his eyes twinkling, "Oh, princess~ you can take your time figuring that out." He continued to guard and watch over her as she breastfed their little princess.
Shuri pauses and remembers to burp her between feedings. She remembers to pay attention to baby cues. While she takes her time to feed and let their baby girl be nursed as long as they want. Her eyes wandered on her softy, it was her pointy ears that stood out first, she gently stroked them, doing the same to their son, then towards Namor's, making him huff in amusement.
Then, it was her little mouth on her breast, sucking firmly and calmly, to her little nose buried in her chest, and her beautiful eyes, opening slightly, Shuri can't wait for their baby girl to look at her truly and smile one day.
Then, to her soft dark strands of hair, and down to her tummy, and ohhhh~ those strong legs of hers, kicking her senseless all the time with the help of her little winged ankles. Shuri swears it's the cutest thing she has ever seen, she tickles her little feet, making their baby girl kick in response. Their skin-to-skin contact makes her poor heart flutter miserably.
Shuri playfully pouts at Namor, "I seem to have given birth to a mini-girl version of you, what do we do?" Oh, Bast, their daughter is going to be Daddy's girl, she just knows it.
Namor grins smugly, Shuri watches him radiating with pride and girl dad energy already.
"A mini version of me? Great news~ Now you have two of us to spoil with love and affection. Together, we'll make sure she gets the best of both worlds."
Shuri shakes her head amusingly, "Well, it seems we've doubled the trouble, but also doubled the joy. Our little 'you' is definitely going to keep us on our toes~" Namor chuckles softly, "And you have me wrapped around your fingers, I'm sure you can handle her easily…" Shuri greatly appreciated his explanation.
Their daughter seemed a bit fussy and disgruntled as her parents were engrossed in their playful banter, but Shuri was sure she had her fill, so they finally switched to their son when she was detaching herself from her breast. They exchanged babies, Namor offers their daughter his finger to suck on while Shuri feeds their son with her other breast.
"I don't even need to see with my eyes to know that our son is a spitting image of you too."
"Ha~ Team 'Mini-Me' all the way." Namor sways the little bundle of joy in his arms, cooing at his daughter softly.
"Our genes really knew how to collaborate, didn't they? Our little ones are proof of that~" Shuri teases.
They huddled together, guarding their little growing family. Basking in the presence of the miracles of life.
Shuri gently scratches her son's tiny feet and curiously touches his wings, she voices out loud,
"They look so much like you, not even a trace of me..." she playfully pouts and complains, "I carried them for more than eight months, almost nine— and here they are, two mini-versions of you! Not fair..." She jokes affectionately because deep down, she is indeed delighted.
Yes, her dreams of him holding their children overlapped with the sight before her… the sight of Namor holding their daughter made her immensely proud.
Shuri's heart was ready to burst with joy as she basked in the happiness he brought her, unaware of the significant change in Namor's expression.
"Baby, baby, my baby boy, grow up quickly... oh wait, no, don't grow up so fast. Mama wants to experience what it's like to raise a mini version of your Baba. Hehe~" Shuri giggles adorably, she can't wait to witness their children grow.
She began to feel tired again after feeding their son and placed him softly into Namor's arms as well, letting him hold both of their children. The sight before Shuri melts her heart even more. But at this moment, she noticed something amiss in Namor.
He's crying.
Perplexed, Shuru tremblingly reached out, wiping away tears that were not shed out of happiness.
She couldn't speak loudly at all, her heartache made it hard to breathe. Shuri slowly… whispers ever so softly, calling out to him, trying to bring his lost soul back to her side, no matter where it had wandered—
Come back to me.
"What's wrong? Namor? Talk to me, please—"
"...What if they turn out to be just like me?"
Namor's broken voice utters from a far-distant dream he is trapped in, as if he were in another dimension, drifting farther and farther away from Shuri.
His tears fell, drop by drop, onto their two children, who squirmed uneasily, as if sensing their father's breakdown.
Shuri doesn't understand.
But she quickly got up, ignoring the pain, and knelt in front of him, reaching out to touch his face, to rest their foreheads together, letting him feel her presence, asking anxiously,
"What are you saying? Isn't it a good thing that they resemble you? I'm so happy they looked like you— I was just joking earlier..."
Namor slowly, gently shakes his head, tears continuing to fall, his heart breaking more and more.
He refused to accept it, shaking his head in denial, and looked at the love of his life.
He refused to accept it. He refuses—
"What if you don't get to see them grow up?"
Reality hits Namor.
On the verge of breaking down— no, he was already breaking apart long ago…
Shuri understood everything now—
Shuri witnessed Namor's breakdown, his emotions spiraling out of control in an instant, and all the intertwined threads holding them together seemed to unravel, they snapped and broke apart— everything was breaking and shattering in the blink of an eye.
The panic in Namor's eyes, the shattered heart, the despair, and the desperate cries that choked his throat, unable to be utter, left him clinging helplessly to the children, unable to exert any force, he would kill himself before harming their children, causing his entire body to tremor uncontrollably.
"Namor, Namor, Namor, look at me! Look at me, Ch'ah! Breathe! Follow my breathing! Yes, look at me, you just need to look at me! I'm here! I won't leave you! I won't leave you and the children, I'm here, don't be afraid- don't be afraid, Namor, please, come back to me, I'll always be with you, I'll always love you… We love you- Come back to us—"
All Shuri could do was only hold him in a crushing embrace, cradling Namor in her arms desperately, calling out to him again and again, calling out to him with each of her own heartbreaking sobs, wrapping and enveloping him in her trembling embrace, yet Shuri couldn't shield him from the deadly, devastating, fatal wounds Namor inflicted upon himself.
Love.
It's the thing we love most that destroys us.
He's screaming—
He pours out his grief, his loss, his regret, his despair, and his love, all of it tearing at his heart as he screams out in desperation and heartbreak within the embrace of her arms.
Namor clings to Shuri, desperately gasping for breath and convulsing with choked sobs. The children had long since joined in with him, wailing loudly, as if their cries could deafeningly convey the despair he couldn't vocalize; as if their cries were trying to awaken their Baba from the depths of despair, along with Shuri's heart-wrenching pleas.
"Namor—" chokes, "Namor…" sobs, "Namor— come back to me—" breaks.
Namor suddenly took a deep breath, clawing his way out of this madness. He crawls frantically, reaching for her hand as Shuri holds onto him tightly, pulling him out of the darkness, out of the abyss.
The fire and flames burning out his sorrow—
Shuri lay on the edge of the cliff, diving into the inferno, yet she still held onto him without letting go. Even as she was kissed by the flames, licking her charred skin, devouring her blood and flesh, and sucking her life essence, she clings to Namor's hand, intertwined in the same bloody struggle, pulling him back with all her might.
No. No no no no NO
Namor couldn't afford to lose himself. He still had them. His family. He had not truly loved them enough yet. He had not cherished them properly. He had not loved Shuri deeply enough. He had vowed to spend the rest of his life loving her wholeheartedly—
No matter what.
"...shu- ri…" chokes, "Shu…ri…" sobs, "...Shuri…" mends.
Gradually, Namor begins to regain his consciousness, continuously calling out her name. He's slowly calming down and recovering his composure…
"It's alright now, Namor— it's okay, I'm here, I got you, it's okay, Ch'ah, babies, don't cry, Baba is okay, don't worry, he's fine, Baba is alright—" Shuri never stopped calling out to him, holding him and their children tightly, offering strong reassurance and comforting words in a gentle voice.
Shuri tenderly kisses his trembling lips, planting gentle kisses on the crumpled faces of their babies as they cry. She continues to shower them with her love. Gradually, both the father and the children grew calmer. Their babies ceased their weeping and instead whimpered in sadness, gradually subsiding under the comfort of their mother's kisses.
He is kissed by her so tenderly, in an endless, gentle embrace. Gradually, Namor reciprocated Shuri's kisses, holding her tighter and tighter, trying to meld her into his own body. Finally, his voice choked with hoarseness as he choked out,
"—I'm sorry, Shuri—" Namor murmurs in the crook of her neck, desperately breathing in her scent to calm himself,
"...All I have brought you… is pain — All your suffering… was caused by my own hands. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry— I made you bear so much, yet you still choose to love me… You still choose to… love me. I— I…"
He choked back tears, the urge to cry like a baby embarrassed him and Namor could not help himself, but Shuri gently kissed his red and swollen eyes, slowly kissing away each teardrop until she firmly sealed his lips with hers. With her tongue, she conveys her love, her understanding, and her forgiveness. She had forgiven him long ago, and she had forgiven herself too. Leaning against his forehead, their breaths intermingling, entangled for an eternity.
Shuri firmly tells Namor,
"I can endure your love, what else can't I endure?"
It's watching your heart broken, Shuri knows.
Namor gazes at Shuri, unable to stop his own tears, and begins to speak incoherently but he kisses away her tears, making solemn vows.
"Shuri— I swear, I will love you. I will love you more than anything, more than our children. I love you, forever and ever—"
Shuri looked into his eyes, and smiled.
"Alright… I'll wait for you to love me properly for the rest of my life, Namor—" Shuri whispers, holding him tightly.
Namor locked his gaze with hers, and smiled.
He gently wipes away her tears, and she tenderly brushes his tears away with her fingertips too. Then, Shuri carefully takes the sleeping babies from his arms, and Namor lets go.
Suddenly, she let out a soft chuckle. "Well… these two babies have a bright future ahead for them... They can even still sleep through all this." He chuckles softly too, watching as she settles the babies in the crib they made before returning to him.
Anxiously, Namor reaches out and pulls Shuri into his arms as she settles on his lap. The two of them nestle together in silence, their hearts throbbing with both pain and tranquility, and gradually calming down due to each other's presence. They lean and snuggle against each other, quietly gazing at the two little ones in their cradle.
Slowly, Namor began to open up… baring his soul to Shuri, laying everything bare before her, revealing everything he held within.
"What if they are just like me?... I don't want them to be like me…"
Shuri holds Namor close, gently guiding him to lie down, and then nestles herself beside him, allowing him to curl up and find solace in her embrace.
"Why?" she asks.
Namor caresses her face, his eyes filled with undeniable sadness, bearing the weight of sorrow.
" Time, has not been kind to me, Shuri…"
He nestled close to her, taking a deep breath. "But from a different perspective… if my long life was meant to wait for your arrival, wouldn't it seem as though the pain and loneliness I endured for centuries… have lessened?"
Shuri shakes her head in sadness, his words are the heavy burden he carried for centuries, alone. "No— No. It's not like that… It's not fair to you…"
"This world… has always been cruel, Shuri. I realized that from the very first time I set foot on the surface."
War. Massacre. Disease. Colonization. Slavery. Bloodshed.
"Time hasn't been kind to me, Shuri... When I was still a child… my mother had already passed away… she never had the chance to see me grow up…"
And the thought of not watching their children grow up, kills Shuri from the inside.
What if she doesn't have the chance to witness their children grow up? Now she truly understands everything. The love of her life, broke down in pieces because of—
"I don't want- I don't want our children to be like me," Namor murmurs with anguish etched in his eyes as he looks at Shuri. "I don't want them… to be like me…"
"Namor…"
"If- if they were like me, I would have taken away your chance to watch them grow up, and once again, I have taken everything from you. I…"
Mother— Namor pleads to her. Mother, look after them—
—Praying to his mother that Shuri, and their children, would be treated kindly by time.
…A little longer, let them be with me a little longer.
"Stay with me a bit longer— " he pleads to her.
But Shuri knows, she doesn't get to choose her time.
"And you have given me everything, Namor…"
Her time is short.
"You have given me everything."
Death is not the end. So does death, is what gives life meaning.
"If that happens—" Shuri's heart was in pain, but…
"No. We don't know that yet, Shuri—" Namor denies her.
"You will watch them grow for me…" IT HURTS, but she knows, without her, her children will have their father.
"No—"
"You will be there for them, you will love them for me, alongside with me in your hearts…" Shuri's expression softens, she believes him.
"NO. You don't get to do this to me, Shuri- Not even you, Shuri— not even death can do us apart—"
Namor denies it over and over, his words squeezing out through clenched teeth.
"Even if I am no longer here, there will still be our children, to accompany you, to love you—" Shuri reaches out to touch his face, wiping away his tears.
"It's different-"
"Our children will be there for you. They will love you for me, their mother—"
Namor looks at her in disbelief, "—You can't be this cruel to me, Shuri-"
"And their children too…"
"Different." Namor denies.
Shuri murmurs, "After I die—" she wonders, does that mean she could finally meet her family… but…
Namor pulls Shuri fiercely into his arms, kissing her desperately, refusing to let her utter one more word about leaving him.
Meanwhile, she embraces all his love and heartbreak, kissing him back with a tight heart. She doesn't want to leave him alone…
With tears welling in his eyes, Namor made a promise upon her lips.
"When the day comes that you die, it will be the day I die."
"No." Yet, selfishly, Shuri hopes for him to live.
She selfishly hoped for Namor to live, and after everything, she wished for him to find happiness beyond all that transpired.
"Live." she pleads.
The birth of one life, the passing of another.
Namor had held countless newborns, welcomed numerous lives, and also been personally involved in the departures of many who didn't get to see much of this world. He celebrated their births and also their deaths. Death was a gift, something he had once yearned for but now kept at more than one arm's length. He didn't want to die; he wanted to live and watch their children grow. Yet she couldn't be with him forever.
But as he looked at the two children sleeping soundly in their cribs, his children, he mourned.
He had only just welcomed them, and yet he was already afraid of losing them. Five hundred years of life couldn't truly ease his heartache over the birth and passing of life.
He could not even bear the thought of losing them, how could he endure the pain of losing her?
"You are gone, what's there for me to live?! Will I be happy without you?! Will I find happiness, when you have taken all that away with you?!" Namor's questioning words effortlessly shattered Shuri's supposed determination.
She knew too well that without her, he'd be a living corpse.
Namor suppresses his anger, lowering his voice in wrath, and looks at Shuri in disbelief as she utters such words. How could she dare to abandon him and walk away like that? How could she dare?!
"How dare you?" he questions her angrily, "How dare you leave me— how dare you abandon me, thinking you can leave everything behind— you can't, Shuri- not even you—"
"I know I'm being selfish, Namor— but the people I loved are all gone. They're all gone, and I... I can't bear the thought of losing you too. I want you to live, to live well, live while you can— while you're still alive."
Life… is precious. Shuri hopes Namor understands, it's not that she's abandoning him. But too, Shuri knows Namor had lived too long… he had been living long enough—
That death is a gift to him.
Namor cruelly sneers at her.
"You are dead, who can stop me?" he mocks at Shuri's face.
Declaring, "—Nothing…" he shakes his head smugly, "—No one could stop me from dying with you."
And Shuri knew that everything he said was true. She was making one final struggle, like a moth drawn to the flame.
"Our children. My love. You will live for me—"
"NO! I would die for our son, I would kill for our daughter, but I cannot live for them."
Namor shakes his head, cradling her face and pleading with her.
"You are… the other half of my soul. Without you, Shuri, I am not… whole. Let me die with you, please, Shuri, please, if we can't live together, let us die together—"
He didn't even need to ask her, and he had already given his life to her.
"—At least when you die, you know I'll be right there behind you, Shuri— Will you wait for me? We'll go together, okay?"
In the end, Shuri cries in his arms, her heartbreaking—
…but she nodded, agreeing to him.
Shuri chokes, "...okay… when the day I die… we'll die together—" she promises him.
Namor smiles happily, like a child, feeling loved for the first time.
Years later, she almost broke her promise, but he never did.
After a whole day of physical and mental exhaustion, along with their emotional meltdown, they slept heavily.
However, when the cries of the babies ring out, they jolt up. Shuri anxiously wanted to get up but couldn't, Namor lifted her up and then got up to bring the children over. It was time for another feeding; the babies were hungry.
Everyone has told them what to expect when they have newborns, they are experiencing it now.
Shuri feeds their son groggily, and Namor, with a sleepy gaze, holds their daughter and then wraps his arms around Shuri and their son to support her while she nurses.
For a moment, they gazed at each other and then burst into adorable giggles together. Who knows who asked first,
"...Is it funny?"
"...Hilarious~"
Shuri holds their son, looking at the little bundle in her arms, wrapped in blue blankets, then at their daughter, wrapped in orange blankets, and then at Namor, wrapped in— oh no, she was the one wrapping him all the time.
Shuri questions from the bottom of her heart honestly…
"Did we just give birth to them today?"
"Hmm."
She makes an unbelievable face at him, he chuckles softly and whispers,
"My Shuri, princess, Welcome— to the life of being a parent~"
*Smack*
Their daughter waves her hand furiously, annoyed that her father's voice startled her and her tiny little fish smacking his chest.
Namor looked at her heartbreakingly, looking back to Shuri for some comfort, but she was giggling in no way in return, squealing—
"Congratulations on becoming a father, Namor!"
And she earns a loud wail from their son, clearly startled by his mother's late-night shenanigans already. Poor little guy.He had no idea what he had signed up for.
"Oops, sorry, baby boy, Mama is just too sleepy and excited right now, forgive me~" Shuri coos at him ridiculously.
"Lesson no.1, Shuri, we will love them— and worry about them for the rest of our lives…" Namor worries for their children already.
"And headaches." Shuri laughs, she can see these two are going to give them some serious headaches!
"And headaches." Namor agrees with her all the time.
And so, they look at their babies, and back at each other, and they both smile.
First breastfeeding, heartbreak, and rebirth
After much prodding and urging from everyone, especially their councils, Namor and Shuri finally remember and decide to name their children during their now everyday routine feeding session. The babies were a month old, and they still called them 'Baby girl and Baby boy'.
Their people were exasperated! Outrageous! They couldn't believe that their king and queen hadn't named their little prince and princess yet!!! It was such an important matter, and they seemed so unbothered— it was infuriating!!
So, when Shuri nurses their baby while Namor holds the other. She asks him cheekily,
"Do you have any good baby names in mind for our baby boy and baby girl?"
Namor smirks at her, "What? Did the elders chase you into naming the children?"
Shuri rolls her eyes fondly, "Like you weren't pestered by the council asking for their little princess and prince's names too!"
"To be honest, I haven't really thought about it." Namor shrugs casually.
"Really?!" Shuri gasps at him! "You are joking! You must have names! You've been naming newborns since forever!"
Namor rolls his eyes fondly, "Really. And no, not much, actually. I haven't really thought about it because— I thought you could name them. Shuri, I want you to name them…" He said sincerely and gently poked his son's little face.
"Ha! You're putting all the responsibility on me now! What a genius you are—" Shuri exclaims in frustration! She's the best at coming up with names, but all the names she came up with for various inventions have been either side-eyed or despised!
Namor smiles smugly, "Well, it's all on you now. So, you might want to start thinking now, In yaakunaj." My love. "Why don't you start with our baby boy?" he points at his precious little son.
"You're impossible…" Shuri groggily complains but starts thinking for real.
Aaaaaand it was quick.
Way too quick. Way too simple and straightforward. Shuri hopes their son won't side-eye her in the future.
Namor watches her adorable face light up, "You have a name for our baby boy?"
"Yes…?" But she wasn't sure would he be okay with it…
"I'm all ears." He looks at her with a playful grin, thinking she would come up with any strange names. "Well, if our son ever complains when he's grown up, I'll have your back. No worries~"
...
"I was thinking… T'Challa…"
Shuri whispers softly, her gaze fixed on Namor, her eyes glistening…
The moment she mentioned her late brother, her face lit up with tenderness… her eyes filled with longing.
"I was thinking, could we name our son… in memory of my brother, T'Challa...?"
Shuri asked Namor attentively for his opinion, and all she saw in his eyes was a soft, loving gaze with affirmation.
"Yes, I'm okay with it," he said gently. "It would be an honour for our son..."
Yet, Shuri hadn't finished her sentence… Happy tears welled in her radiant eyes, Shuri was touched and smiling.
"Alright, then our son shall be named…"
...
"T'Amor."
...
"..." Namor looks at her with confusion. Wasn't it T'Challa?
Shuri softly repeats…
"T'Amor— T'Challa, and Namor. "
...
And Namor looks at Shuri… he slowly, and tenderly smiles in the end. He gently nods and then softly calls their son's name.
" T'Amor… It's perfect, Shuri… thank you… "
Shuri beams, she is brighter than the sun.
"Now, would you do me the honour of naming our baby girl? I want you to name her… Since I already named T'amor." Shuri switches their babies, holding her daughter now, and faces the father and son.
"Okay…" Namor yields. "Any ideas?"
"Hmmm…maybe start something with your name? K'uk'ulkan?" Shuri grins.
"Ha…" his godly name. Namor can't believe it.
But a name popped up to him, this should work.
Namor softly tilts her chin, cooing at both mother and baby,
"Baby girl, this is your brother, T'Amor…"
"And T'Amor, this is your sister—"
...
"Kiri."
...
"Kiri…" Shuri repeats, "I like it… I love it." She smiles with joy, now their babies have names, finally! "How did you come up—"
"Shuri…" Namod purrs… making her shiver when he calls her in that tone. He knows it.
"Shuri…" Namor takes her hand and places it in his heart. And then,
"Kiri." Looking at her when she's his world.
Suddenly, Shuri gets it and she's frozen.
"K'uk'ulkan and Shuri. So, Kiri…" Namor whispers softly their daughter's name.
"Shuri." "Kiri."
"Kiri…" Shuri smiles back widely at him. Oh Bast, this man does know how to play this game.
"Uh-huh~" Namor raises his eyebrows cockily.
"Yeah, yeah, you got me. You win, Namor~" They giggle together, in happiness and bliss.
"It's perfect. Their names are perfect…" Shuri exhales softly.
"Kiri, T'Amor, and my Shuri. I never thanked you, Shuri, thank you, for bringing our children into the world, and building a family with me… Thank you for loving me and being here with me. All of this… it's like a dream. It's like—"
"No, it's not a dream…"
They both lean their foreheads together, smiling happily at their babies.
"Hi, T'Amor and Kiri. I'm your Mama, Shuri~ and this is your Baba, Namor~ aka K'uk'ulkan and Ch'ah Toh Almehen~"
"Welcome to our lives, Kiri and T'Amor, Princess and Prince of Talokan and Wakanda."