Reflection

"Na', Máaxi' le ch'úupalo' wilik."

Mother, who is that girl I see?

Staring straight back at me?

"Wáaj ba'ax ch'úupalo', Ch'ah Toh."

What girl, Ch'ah Toh?

"Le chan, na', Il!"

This girl, mother, look!

Princess Fen of Talokan took the seashell her son handed her and Ch'ah Toh gleefully settled into her lap, guiding her to use the shell to reflect their two images. 

Fen watched as her reflection showed a woman with graying hair and a son who remained youthful despite the passing decades. 

What Ch'ah Toh saw, however, was a graceful and elegant woman with silver hair, wrinkles adorning her visage yet his mother's beauty enduring despite time's passage, and the girl he saw.  

"Máaxi' leti'e', na'." 

Who is she, Mother?

"Ah," Fen gently smiled, realizing what her son was referring to. Ch'ah Toh watches as her gentle smile reflects on the shell.

"Ma' je'el in ilej, in chan, teech le k'áate' tu yóok'ol kaabe' ba'ax je'el ilej…"

I can't see her, my baby, you are the only one in the world who could see her…

Ch'ah Toh suddenly realized no wonder he had asked so many people and they all said they hadn't seen any girl!

"Wáaj bix u yilik leti'."

What does she look like? Fen asked with curiosity.

"Hmm…" Ch'ah Toh doesn't know how to express the emotions stirring in his heart when he looked at her.

"Ba'ax ki'ichpam."

Is she beautiful? Fen murmured softly, caressing his face lovingly.

"Je'el ki'ichpam, na'! Bix ta wojeltaj."

Yes, she's beautiful, mother! How did you know? Ch'ah Toh joyfully agreed— Yes, beautiful, that's the feeling!

"Oh, Ch'ah Toh—" Fen couldn't help but feel relieved; at least, in this world, someone was waiting for him.

"Leti'e', a pixan gemela".

She's your soulmate.

"Pixan gemela?"

"Je'el pixan gemela. Táan destinado yéetel le ba'al jach kili'ich. Ma' tuláakal máak yaan jump'éel pixan gemela. Ba'ale' le ken le suumo' chak u le destino decida unir ka'ap'éel máako'ob, yaan atemporal. Ch'ah Toh, leti' le ti' teechi', leti' le uláak' chúumuk a pixan, tu k'iin u le conozcas, yaan k'iin ku a almas ku reúnan yéetel kuxkinko'obi' completas. Yéetel te'elo' ken finalmente wilik a leti'ob juul".

Yes, soulmate. It is fated and a very sacred thing. Not all people have a soulmate. But when the red string of fate decides to bind two people together, it will be timeless. Ch'ah Toh, she is a part of you, she is the other half of your soul, the day you meet her, it will be the day your souls reunite and be complete. And that is when you finally see your own reflection.

"Na'... Ba'ax ku yúuchul wa ma' le k'ajóol."

Mother… What if I don't meet her? He worries. What if they couldn't find each other?

Oh, and that is the tragedy of having a soulmate.

You may not find your soulmate until the day you die.

"Jay, Ch'ah Toh, lamento decírtelo, ba'ale' ma' tuláakal yaan u tojóolal u ojéeltbil ti u u pixan gemela ti' jump'éel kuxtal. Ba'ale', ba'ax je'elsik le ba'ala' je'el sentimiento ku mueva ichil a puksi'ik'al pakteche' kin le paktik."

Oh, Ch'ah Toh, I'm sorry to tell you, but not everyone is blessed to meet their soulmate in one life. But does this stop whatever feelings stir in your heart whenever you look at her?

"Ma'".

No. Ch'ah Toh said determination. 

Fen smiled, and she gently kissed his forehead.

"Túun, wa ma' ti' le kuxtala' xaan ti' u láak'" semana ".

Then if not in this life, maybe the next. She strokes his dark curls that are swaying along the water currents. Hoping—

The world would be kind to him.

Please be kind to my son, Chaac.

"Na', túun... Ta k'ajesaj wáaj a pixan gemela."

Mother, then… Did you meet your soulmate? He was curious.

"Desafortunadamente, ma', in chan, ba'ale'..."

Unfortunately, no, my baby, but— Fen pinched his cheeks, earning a gleeful smile that shines through the darkness of the ocean.

"Ba'ale' tin k'ajóoltaj a taata. Je'el u páajtal u ma' seamos almas gemelas uno ti' le uláak', ba'ale' lelo' ma' k impide u enamorar k ka yaantal teech. Teech jump'éel siibal, Ch'ah Toh, a taata yéetel teene', a amamos seen, seen".

But I met your father. We may not be each other's soulmates, but that doesn't stop us from falling in love and having you. You are a gift, Ch'ah Toh, your father and I, we love you so, so much.

Ch'ah smile.

"Na', je'el in boon le! Bey u podrías wilik bix u yila'al pixan gemela! Ki'ichpan."

Mother, I can draw her! So you could see what my soulmate looks like! She's beautiful! he declared. Getting up from his mother's embrace and gathering his tools. Ready to paint his soulmate and show how beautiful she is to Mother.

Fen looked at him fumbling and tumbling around in their underwater hut, she smiled through her happy tears as her silver hair swayed along the gentle waves, feeling relieved.

One by one.

It's taking apart.

It's taking a part of me.

The painting wasn't finished, and my mother passed away. At least… she saw her silhouette.

She said she is beautiful. I think so too…

…

He left home to bury his mother in the soil of her homeland as she made him promise to.

And he came home as Namor.

One by one.

It's taking apart.

It's taking a part of me.

One by one, everyone around him falls…

They passed away, they died, they left him.

They were in their old age, blessed to grow old in this life and rest to meet their loved ones.

But not him.

Not ever.

Not this life.

One by one.

It's taking apart.

It's taking a part of me.

His reflection, his soulmate…

No longer smiled at him.

Namor looks at her, he resents her.

A part of him that will never be reunited.

Namor looks at her, he feels sorry for her.

The part of her that will never be able to find him.

Now, he couldn't even remember the way she smiled at him.

One by one.

It's taking apart.

It's taking a part of me.

But who would have known…

Centuries past…

She was a part of him that not even the gods could take away from him.

She was there, all this time. She remains.

Namor doesn't know whether she is still alive, as he paints her in a white and jade dress with soft brushes.

She must be dead, he thinks. But although his reflection reminded him he was not able to find his soulmate in this life… maybe the next. 

If there is a next life for him.

How are you?

If you are alive, I hope you are well. Namor asked her through the mirror.

Why you? 

Suddenly, his conversation took a turn, and he asked curiously, over and over again for centuries…

Where are you?

Namor gently caresses his face, and she does the same. He wonders what the feeling of her palm feels like when she cupped his face.

When will you?

If you are not dead, which is a miracle if that happens. Namor scrunches his face, and she does the same. He chuckled lightly.

What are you?

Namor curiously strokes behind his ear, there were markings there, and she does the same.

Who are you?

Namor tilts his head, and his reflection does the same. Like all these years, she was there…

Even though he couldn't meet her. For centuries, she had always been there, accompanying him through this long and solitary life, never leaving his side.

She will forever be a part of him. And no gods shall be able to take her away from him.

Namor smiled.

And his reflection, smiled back at him.

Shuri.

Shuri—

Shuri…

"—Brother!" Shuri aroused abruptly from her deep slumber. Her sudden movement caused the hammock to sway incessantly, intensifying the dizziness in her already heavy head. She tumbled out of the hammock, clumsily attempting to stand, her legs giving way and forcing her to kneel repeatedly, anxious to find her brother.

What met Shuri's eyes was a halo of blue light and a cave that seemed like a different realm altogether. The walls were adorned with symbols and the tranquil sound of flowing water filled the air. She found herself in a hut.

With company.

Shuri knelt on the ground, head bowed low, tightly shutting her eyes in an attempt to dispel the dizziness. She heard footsteps and instinctively started to kneel backwards but it was too late. Before she could react, she was being lifted, more accurately, carried, and then gently placed onto a stool…

Too frightened to move, Shuri felt the warmth of a pair of hands carrying her. She clutched onto the broad shoulders that were embracing her small frame. Her eyes were met with pearls set in a golden-armored collar. The person who had come gently lowered her down and her forehead lightly grazed a cold texture, instantly snapping her back to reality. 

Suddenly, a seashell with corals in it was extended before her. Just as Shuri realized she shouldn't inhale its scent, she became instantly awake, the dizziness gone.

…

Namor walks away and leans on his mural walls. Waiting for the princess to realize what situation she was in. While his fingers continuously play with the bracelet in his hand.

She had slept for a day and since yesterday, the bracelet had started glowing as if activated. Namor's curiosity got the upper hand as he continued to explore their technology. After a period of study, he speculated that this was their communication device. If it was a distress signal, her people would have found them long ago and his people would have killed them.

But the situation didn't seem that way, so he refrained from destroying the bracelet. Since her slumber, one bead had lit up with a red hue and shortly before she woke, the second one had illuminated.

The red halo flickered like a slow heartbeat, illuminating and fading, as if revealing a life lingering on the edge of the realm of the dead, with only a few moments left, gradually dwindling away.

…

Finally, Shuri looked up at the man before her. It was the same man she had seen before she passed out and the one who held her down. The same wristband. He leaned against the wall, dressed in a hand-woven cape from linen yards, the pearls she saw adorned on his golden-armored collar, along with metallic gold beads. His shoulder was covered in golden-armored as well, the shape as if the jaw of a dragon. 

With two red tassel fringe that traced along his robust physique, down to his lower half clad in… shame shorts... Hmm. Isn't he cold? 

Shuri politely averted her gaze, the fringe falling to his feet. It was then that she finally noticed, his calves were also adorned with armor similar to the wristband that is adorned in jade-like vibranium, but what amazed and thrilled her beyond words were the... winged ankles…

Shuri thought nothing could pique her interest after encountering aliens, yet this man had successfully captured her attention. 

Namor's wings spread and fluttered as she fervently watched. He shifted his posture, the princess's gaze lingering all over him as she stared. 

Finally, her gaze traveled upward, from his toe to head, arriving at his face. Namor restrained himself from ensuring his headdress was on because he felt… seen by the eyes of the princess.

Shuri rolled her eyes behind her helmet. Oh, he had an enormous feathered headdress and a concealed visage, of course, what did she expect? Most people do respect the sacred belief. Not like her.

Bast, Shuri swore this was the most extravagant headdress she had ever seen. Dude must be dramatic enough to wear this around!

Until Shuri saw him fumbling kimoyo beads in his palm, she reached for hers and found it was gone. It provoked her. Shuri quickly stood up and walked towards him, only to come to an abrupt halt.

She saw it.

Her beads are glowing red.

It means T'Challa's heart rate is dropping fast—

If the third bead is lit up, it means he has not much time left—!

"My beads— I have to go! You have to let me go! I can't stay here! My- my brother is sick, look at the bracelet in your hand, two beads are lit up in red, I have to go, you—!!!" Shuri anxiously paced in place, looking around frantically, searching for an exit. Walls and water surrounded her everywhere.

There is no way for her to escape—

The man with the feathered headdress leans on the wall, clearly not buying her plea.

Shuri look around in frustration, her hands clutching to her wound to find—

Nothing. Her wound was healed completely. Not even a scar left.

Again. Vibranium. The only way they could have achieved this. Like how she healed Ross from the bullet.

They are the same.

And the world is coming at them. For vibranium.

"Let me go… I'll give you my word, your nation will remain a secret."

As Shuri could see, the man tilted his head just slightly.

"I will not reveal you, and your people to anyone."

Shuri said with determination. She knows she got him, even though she can't see his face. He remained still, while she could feel his gaze behind the mask.

Lingering and roaming all over her, his stare— stops at her face. He lingered briefly and started roaming his eyes all over again.

Shuri trembled imperceptibly, feeling as if he had seen through her. 

Even the mask couldn't hide his bold gaze.

She shakes it off and tries further.

"You are the one who attacked us— and the mining ship. I know you are after the scientist," The man raises his chin as if to admit her accusation. "—But I cannot give her to you." Shuri voiced and the man snorted.

Not so clever. Namor scoffs behind his headdress.

"Then keep me instead." 

Shuri breathed out. She gently exhaled a breath and expressed her sincerity.

Namor finally raises his head to look at her straight at the eyes of her helmet, shocked and surprised.

Shuri continues to push when she finally gets a reaction from him. She looks around the cave, murals, artifacts, paint brushes, seashells with paint, the sound of the water, the glowing worms, the hammock she's slept in and him . 

The tip of an iceberg. She presses—

"I'd love to see your nation…"

Shuri trusts her gut feeling. Somehow, this man… wants to keep her here.

Shuri tilts her head to the right, and the man mirrors her. He's waiting—

Smart guy. Shuri finishes her sentence…

"But before that, I have to tend to my brother. That's all I ask. You have to let me go before my people come for me—" Shuri pats on the side of her helmet, they will come for her.

"I will hate to see if they expose your nation in an attempt to rescue me."

Namor huffed in amusement. The surface world would have to go through him first before reaching Talokan.

"I will meet you again, anywhere you want, after I have taken care of my brother's wellbeing. You have my word." Shuri tried everything she got. And she meant every word of it. Although they captured her… they did not harm her, instead they saved her.

If there's someone in the world who could understand what Wakanda has been or is going through and what's to come— 

He could.

And so does her to his. 

They are the same.

She will not risk the safety of Wakanda. She will not screw this up with a nation that possesses vibranium, Shuri knows what they are capable of.

But the man is not letting his guard down.

Shuri sighs. Brainstorming what else she can come up with to persuade him so she…

"Oh, by the way, I'm Shuri. Princess of Wakanda. Nice to… meet you…?" She said it real quick at the start, but it ended sloppily.

The air was so still that she could almost hear her own awkward, stagnant breath.

Shortly after, the man started moving. Shuri took a few steps back in response. Backing to the edge of a water pool, one more step and she'd fall.

The man extended a finger towards her. 

One, and her mind raced quickly.

"One day is not enough! I don't know how long I have passed out and how far it is from here to Wakanda. One day is not—"

The man tilted his head to the left, still pointing with one finger, while his other hand quickly reached out and grasped her wrist firmly, preventing her from falling into the water. One. 

"...One week…?" Shuri's eyes widened behind her mask. She couldn't believe it. 

Finally, the man nodded and the feathers on his head swayed colourfully with his motion. His proposal seemed too good to be true. Yet Shuri chose to believe. "Shall we go then?" She's eager to get home.

The man pulled out a mask that resembled a respirator and held it close to her face. Shuri hesitated but ultimately trusted him, leaning in and allowing him to place it over her mouth and nose, outside her helmet. It blends immediately with it. Soon, Shuri started to lose consciousness slowly. It was vibranium , and then she finally could look closer at the man's masked face since he stood close, staring at his overly regal feathered headdress.

It was breathtaking— Upon closer proximity, the headdress was so beautiful that it took her breath away. What feathers are those? Are those kelp? Are those.. vibranium too? His headdress masked his face along with golden… fish scales? Covering his whole head, his ears are pointing out… oh Bast, the whole thing does look heavy to her. She stared at his face, the same as her black panther helmet, she couldn't capture any facial motions from it but…

As if hypnotized, Shuri extended her hand, gently suspending it not far from his face.

Then, he resembled a curious, eager-to-be-touched little creature, gently placing his face into the cup of her palm. The chilly touch caused Shuri's hand to tremble slightly, and then his warm hand covered hers. The scales etch into her skin, giving her a weird but soothing feeling.

He tilted his head playfully, as if asking, are you satisfied now?  

Shuri chuckled, realizing they were incredibly close, their foreheads barely grazing in a ghostly sensation. Leaning back a little, she glanced over his entire headdress, and just before slipping into slumber as he held her…

Shuri saw it clearly— it was a serpent.