You're the one I Dream of
Okoye had woken, from the anesthesia induced sleep, her eyes looking towards the ceiling; as she tries to clear her mind from the mist engulfing it. As it gradually dissipated, and her awareness became a little sharper; she felt someone holding her hand. She turned her head; and saw Attuma, resting his head on the bed beside her, passed out, and gripping her hand.
“Attuma,” she called, in a raspy voice; barely able to utter her words, her throat was overly dry. “Attuma.” This time she attempted to free her hand, which woke him from the movement. His head raised, as he focusses his eyes.
“Okoye?” He whispered her name, their eyes met. Quickly, he straightens up, finally getting it. “Okoye, In yakunaj; you’re awake. Shuri, somebody, come quickly.” He yelled as loud as he could. Shuri rushed in; alarmed from him shouting bloody murder.
“Attuma, why are screaming?” She admonished him, then looked over to see the object of his excitement. Okoye eyes wide opened. She went to school examine her. He left his seat and stood aside. “Okoye, how are you feeling?”
“Thirsty, my throat is dry,” she told them. Shuri poured her some water from the pitcher, into the cup; at her bedside. She sipped from the straw provided. Feeling the hydration of the water soothing her throat.
“Other than thirst, how are you?” Shuri was checking out, how well, her coordinating, was coming along; at this stage of post operation. And they seemed to be alright; as she held the cup, and maneuvered the straw, without difficulties.
“Other than feeling exhausted; I’m feeling fine. What happened?” She looked to Shuri first, then to Attuma.
“We’re not sure,” he came to her side, looking down at her. “I found you outside my home, face down and unconscious. I call Shuri, you were rushed into surgery.” Okoye strains to remember; she knows something important led up to it, but everything was in a stupor.
“I’m so groggy, I can’t make sense of anything,” she relaxed back in bed, positioning her head into the pillow.
“We don’t need to worry about it right at this moment,” Attuma told her. “Just focus on getting well.”
“I want to do some simple post operative testing,” Shuri said.
“I’ll get out your way, and give the others the good news,” Attuma says.
“You are returning, right?” Okoye asked. He leaned in and kissed the dressing of the surgical site.
“Nothing and no one; could keep me away, In yakunaj,” he promised, then left the room.
“I can’t see you being naïve,” M’Baku continued his conversation with Namora. “But what I do see is, you turning a blind eye; to the ruler of your kingdom. Now, I’m not sure how much he knows; but I speculate, Namor has some knowledge, of what happened to Okoye. Or he wouldn’t have sent you, to check on her. Especially, since he didn’t give a damn about her health; when Shuri came to him.” He could see, Namora was getting upset; and he didn’t care. It’s what he wanted, for her to break free from the covering for Namor; and hold him accountable for his actions, for once.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate; for me to discuss my ruler, with you, King of Wakanda,”she spokewith a monotone voice; no rising or lowering of it, but it was precise in its delivery.
“But that is where you are wrong, Namora,” he corrected her. “I’m not discussing Namor, it’s you, and you alone; that has me baffled.” She stared at him for a minute, bedazzled by his words of his interest; in her. And in that single moment; they caught each other’s eyes, and locked in; feeling a powerful surge between them.
“Hey all, she’s awake; Okoye is awake. In yakunaj is awaken, and well,” he yelled, coming out the double doors, and down the hall.
Ayo and Aneka, immediately, jumped to their feet, and ran into his opened arms. He gather both of them into him, as a mother hen would her chicks. The two ladies couldn’t contain themselves, relieved their friend was going to be alright, and began to cry, tears of joy. He held them tight, as tears started flowing, from their reaction, and his comfort. But M'Baku and Namora, took a few seconds longer; to catch on, with what was going on, until they finally broke their gaze.
“She’s awake?” M'Baku came to him, wanted make sure he heard correctly.
“Yes, Umntakwethu, darling yam uvukile,” (my brother, my darling is awake) Attuma came to him, after releasing Ayo and Aneka, then embrace him. “She’s going to be fine, Bhuti wam.” M'Baku held onto him, feeling him trembling; and his legs appearing to give way. It had been a traumatic experience, and now he was feeling the affects. He led him to a chair, where he slightly collapsed; finally able to relax.
Namora stood back observing the interaction with Attuma and the others, something she has missed from having him around. She slipped away quietly, and unnoticed, heading to Talokan, to give her report to Namor as she had been instructed.
“Attuma said he found me unconscious,” Okoye recounting what he had said. Shuri had a clipboard finishing narrating her findings. “And then contacted you.” Shuri came to her.
“Yes, and the terror in his voice was alarming,” she to me her. “I took a jet and came got you both.”
“Why did I black out this time?” She asked her curious to what caused it.
“You had a head injury, it wasn’t anything with the tumor,” Shuri informed her. Okoye sat quietly, trying to replay the events.
“That witch,” She said nearly under her breath.
“Who, Okoye?” Shuri asked.
Someone from Attuma’s past,” she grew quiet.
“She did this?” Shuri looked at her.
“Yes,” she yawned, as her eyelids became heavy, and closed. She repositioned herself, getting comfortable; then drifted off to sleep. Shuri watched over her, her anger present. She will notify Attuma, he will know who’s this person.
Namora came seeking out Namor, to inform him of Okoye’s condition; and discuss other matters. Because, she does believe Tecumbalam had something to do with what happened to Okoye. And she has no doubt, he already knows, since he sent her to inquire about her health. She came upon the dry-hard cavern ground, and up to his dwelling; but got a surprise, confirming her belief, when Tecumbalam came running out, half nude, revealing certain parts of her body.
“Na--,” she paused, seeing Namora standing just outside the door. She wrapped herself in the sheet, covering herself. Namora could only guess; what went on with them two. She shuddered at the thought. “What are you doing here, Namora?”
“Watch your tone when you address me,” she warned her. “And I’m sure you know why I am here; since you are here, and K’uk’ulkan sent me to check on a certain Wakandan woman, who happens to be involved with Attuma.”
“I don’t know what, or who you are talking about,” she scowled.
“I just came to give him the good news,” she informed her. Tecumbalam perked up, curious to what it meant.
“What good news? She asked, wondering if Okoye revealed anything.
“She’s awake, and it looks well for her,” she told her. “Since the knock on her head, but I’ll let Attuma deal with the culprit.
“What does that have to do with me?” She became defensive.
“I don’t know Tecumbalam, like I said, Attuma will address it,” Namora was toying with her. It worked, Tecumbalam made a step towards Namora, pointing her finger at her.
“You’ve never liked me, every since Attuma’s chose me over you,” she spewed. Namora's eyes narrowed.
“Attuma never did, it wasn’t a choice, he’s my brother,” she attempted to explain to her, the difference in love. No wonder her daughter was the way she was, her mother.
“Whatever makes you feel better, knowing he was loving me, and not you,” she gave her this devious grin.
“But all these years you hide from him, no contact, but him and I are still strong,” Namora reminded her. “And oh yeah, the woman will tell him who did that to her, and we’ll see about all that choose you.”
“I don’t care what she tells him, I was defending myself,” she blurted out. Namora expression alerted her, that they had no idea; who had harmed Okoye.
“So, it was you?” Namora took a few steps towards her, pinning her up against the wall. There was a great height difference, but the combat skills made up for it. “You didn’t hurt him enough, with sleeping with his ruler and friend, having a baby by the ruler. Then you return into his life, and try to rip his heart out again; by almost taking the life of his woman?”
“Namora please,” she begged her. Knowing what Namora, could do to her without and overwhelming effort. Namora wanted to beat the living Hell out of her. But she restrained herself.
“Namora please, what? I’m not going to harm you,” she told her. “It’s not my place, it’s Attuma’s.” She left her with that thought. Then dove into the water and swam off. Tecumbalam stood against the wall, her whole body shaking. Her thought on how irate Namora was with her; Attuma will be multiple times greater. She needs to find Namor, to warn him. He promised to safeguard her.
Namor sat on the throne, contemplating what occurred with Tecumbalam, and himself. Not his finest moment, just like over twenty years ago, when he bedded her, knowing she was involved with Attuma. Should have been a warning this relationship was vile. Now, once again, they committed the act. Maybe his drinking should be delegated, to when he is alone.
“K’uk’ulkan,” Namora approached. “May I have a word with you?” He raised his head up, to look at her. There he saw, that same facial expression; when she came to him, disappointed, concerning his defeat, and surrender to the Black Panther.
“Yes, my child; always,” he told her. She came within feet of him. “What has you vexed?”
“You are our great K’uk’ulkan, our god, since the birth of our nation, and the day you were born,” she said to him. “We look to you for our guidance, and protection. Not just in wartime, but any turmoil that may disrupt the harmony of our kingdom.” He left the throne and drifted towards her, seeing she was very angry at him.
“What can I say or do to fix this?” He asked, wondering if this would be the last time; she will trust him ever.
“There is nothing you can do to talk, or wish this away,” she informed him. “Too many times, I have chose to look the other way, and ignore your indiscretions. And I understand that you get lonely, and need that warm body next to you; and to console your needs, I really do.”
“But there’s a but, in there,” he says. She nodded.
“I could forgive all of that, but two things you did, that hurt me to the core,” she wanted him to know, how much pain and disappointment; she was harvesting in her heart. “You lied to me about having a child, and who was the mother of that child, and the child herself. Twenty-four years is along time, K'uk'ulkan; that’s how long I waited for you to come to me, and tell me the truth. To say to me; your trusted general, Namora, yes, I have a child, the rumors are true. But that never happened, I figured it out in time, it wasn’t hard. And then the idea, you didn’t think I had the capability to figure it out.”
“Namora,” he went to touch her, but she floated beyond his reach.
“No, please allow me that little dignity,” she snapped, glaring in his eyes. “Now, I can’t speak for Attuma, that’s between him and you. Tecumbalam is toxic, she hurt him years ago, along with your betrayal. She wasn’t a good fit for your daughter, who finally had enough and left. She is not liked in the kingdom, so, what are you going to do to eradicate this poison?” She lingered for a minute, turned and swam from his sight. He floated back to his throne, to do some deep thinking