You're the one I Dream of
Namor had just entered the Capitol when he saw Maczil, swimming very fast towards the caverns. She appeared to be very upset. “Maczil,” he called to her. She stopped, and searched where the voice came. She saw him, then quickly came and fell into him. She broke down crying, as he put his arms about her. “What is it my daughter?”
“Attuma,” she revealed and continue to sob.
Shuri stood in the doorway of Okoye’s room, watching as she rested. She wishes she was able to speak with Attuma. She knows he would want to know about Okoye. But the blue demon and his little minion, won’t allow that. And she’s not sure, the extent of Okoye’s memory loss. Is it physical or mental? Okoye stirred a little, turning over from one side to the other. Shuri sighed quietly and turned to leave.
“What is troubling you so, little sista?” She looked back, to see Okoye’s eyes locked in on her. She came to her.
“I thought you were sleep,” she sat in a chair next to her bed.
“I was, but now I’m woke,” she replied. “Now, answer my question. What are you upset about?”
“Life,” she answered. Okoye lifted herself up in bed, her head resting on the pillow.
“What is it about life lately, has you concerned?” She looked her in the eyes.
“Why would you keep, such critical information; about your health, from me of all people?” Shuri laid it out there.
“What is it you know that I don’t?” She asked.
“Okoye, what part of your health crisis, do you know?” She asked.
“That’s the problem, I don’t know anything, that is going on with me,” she revealed.
“You didn’t know about the tumor?” Shuri was finding this hard to believe.
“I knew nothing, I never went to a doctor,” she confessed. “I just knew I started to get these panic attacks if I got a little upset, followed by the black outs, then waking up with the most excruciating headaches and dizziness.”
“A whole year, Okoye, a whole freaking year,” Shuri stood up covering her face with her hands, trying to stay calm. She looked at her. “You never felt the need to see a doctor, or better come to me?” Shuri had to catch her breath. Being this emotional at this time, wasn’t good for Okoye. They can deal with it later.
“I apologize. I just didn’t want to be a burden,” she told her. Shuri sat back down, and took one of her hands.
“You have spent most of your life protecting,” Shuri couldn’t withhold the tears any longer. “Why can’t you allow all of us, to do the same for you?” Okoye’s tears fell, and gave Shuri’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “Tell me what is going on with me.”
“When Attuma called me, after witnessing a third black out,” she told her.
“Wait, where is he?” She stared in her eyes.
“Who?” Shuri asked.
“Attuma,” she answered.
“You don’t remember,” Shuri pondered over telling her or not. It’s too soon after her surgery. “Something really bad happened, and he had to return to Talokan. As soon as he is contacted, he’ll be here.” She hated lying but she had to.
“I’m worried about him,” she told her. “He may be in trouble. I think I had a dream, he was in a bad place, and this viper was after him. He was lost, I whispered in his ear.”
“Hmm,” Shuri responded. “You have done nothing but dream about him; one way or another, for years,” Shuri noted.
“That is true,” she concurred. “In fact, I think I dreamt of him leaving for Talokan. I called to him. But he continued on and was gone. I got the feeling, he wasn’t coming back.” Shuri looked away, not wanting her to see in her eyes, how correct she was, after her barraging of him.
“M’Baku, Namora?” Attuma continued to laugh.
“Why you laugh, you don’t think it’s possible?” She asked.
“Oh, I think it’s a great possibility,” he said. “Since we are close friends, and like brothers.”
“Like brothers?” She repeated. “Like he would do anything for you, kind of brother?”
“Yes, that kind of brother,” he confirmed. Namora straightened up, and floated a foot or so away.
“What’s wrong?” He could she was antsy about something, she turned to him.
“You came back broken, Attuma. I know you didn’t want to talk about it, but,” she paused. “Who hurt you? What woman broke your heart? And don’t deny it. Because the Attuma I know, wouldn’t ever allow himself, to be sucked in by anyone like Maczil.” He heard her and she’s right. Maczil, would never have been on his radar.
“I became obsess with the Wakandan warrior, I fought on the bridge and ship,” he began his story. She quietly came to sit next to him. “After the first encounter, when she fought me to a draw, she began to haunt me in my dreams. I wanted to kill her and eradicated her from my mind. I sought her out, and found her, the day we attacked Wakanda. She glared at me from below, as I stood on the rooftop taunting her. Then we engaged on the ship, she defeated me. The obsession, evolved into something nurturing, when I went to stay in Wakanda. But she had left, and was gone; until a few days ago.”
“I remember that warrior, very courageous and protective,” she reminiscence. “She fought well, I thought you were playing around, until she beat you on the ship. So, she returned, what happened then?”
“We reconnected, in the most peculiar way,” his mind went back to the river, and her watching him; hidden behind the tree. “I was swimming, as I do.” Namora laugh, knowing how he does, when he moves about in the privacy of his home.
“She saw it all?” She laughed.
“Watched the whole show, without blinking,” he told her. “Except she stayed hidden behind a tree. But I heard her breathing, and her heart beat. Then M'Baku had a plan to bring us together. I thought it would work, but I was wrong. So, I decided to come back home.”
“Sorry to hear it didn’t work,” she said. “But no matter what, Maczil, is not one to deal with, she is trouble.”
“I get that no one cares for her,” he stated. “What did she do?”
“You mean what hasn’t she done?” She informed him. “Just be careful, there are things about her you don’t know; and not even I will mention.” He went into deep thought, taking in consideration of what she said.
“Now, tell me. What’s this about Attuma?” Namor asked, as they arrived at his homestead.
“Don’t get mad,” she looked to him. He inhaled, knowing where this was leading.
“Maczil, not with my general. And not on the first night he’s back, and you just met?” He had to sit down and pour himself a drink. “This is your mother’s fault, she never taught you; that love and sex, aren’t the same.” She came to sit across from him.
“Neither did my father,” her voice was calm and cold. He looked into those dark piecing eyes, void of emotion. “But you will tell me everything I need to know, to keep him. He didn’t hold back, father. He did things to me I never knew could be done. So, no, I will not let it end.” Namor cringe at the thought of what he did.
“I can’t teach you love,” he knew she would never possess that trait, its not in her genes. Not from her mother nor from him. “But I can tell you of ways; to hold on to him, beyond the sex.”
“Alright, thank you father,” she left her seat, and came to him; giving him the biggest hug. Namor gulped down his liquor.