You're the one I Dream of
Attuma returns to the room to find Okoye had gone back to sleep. He sat in the chair at her bedside; and took her hand into his own. He smiled adoringly, elated she had made it through the surgeries thus far. The only setback was the need to expedite the operation, due to her being hit in the head. He hadn’t had the time to dwell on it, too concerned with her getting past it.
But now, watching her resting in the bed, so fragile; only fuel his anger and for whoever placed her in this predicament. He remembers how upset he was that she would dare to postpone her surgery until he returned, jeopardizing her life. He had to give them some space so he could wave through what had occurred that day.
After deep thought, he was able to emerge from the despair, confusion, and pain it had presented. Okoye was now his top priority, and everything else either could be dealt with on a later date or didn’t matter and could be released from his mind.
But then he came out of his room to tell her that she was gone. He went to check the room she had used when she was last there, thinking she had laid down. He had noticed she was appearing quite fatigued; but she wasn’t there. He felt a little anxiety setting in, hoping she didn’t take the long drive back to her home, in that condition.
His greatest fear drowned him in helplessness when he stepped through the door and saw her lying there nearly comatose. He thought the disagreement between them had stressed her and caused it. But to discovered she had received a blow to her head, his mind went back to something he observed before he saw her laying there.
“The splash of the water,” he whispered to himself. “Who would be so brazen; to do such a deed and flee like a coward.”
“If you’re referring to the who, that hit her in the head,” Shuri overheard him whispering. It’s a Black Panther thing. “Then look to someone from your past. Okoye words before she drifted off to sleep.” Attuma looked up at her as she came to his side.
“Thank you, it won’t be hard to deduct” he says. “How is she doing?”
“Better than my expectations,” she informed him. “Now, her recovery time is hopeful.”
“I think so too,” he looked at Okoye. “She’s a fighter, and I do mean that literally.” They both laughed knowing this to be true.
“Now that you two are finished talking about me,” Okoye surprised them. “Please be quiet and let me rest.” Her eyes never opened as she spoke to them, she made herself more comfortable, and dozed off once more. Attuma rose from his chair and went to leave, to go back to the others.
“I will alert you if there is a change, which I don’t for see any,” Shuri assured him.
“Thank you, Shuri,” he was grateful she was there, it brought him less concern for Okoye’s health.
“Of course, that’s my big sis,” she told him. “Now that you have an idea, who may have done this. Do you know who?”
“Maybe, but I will deal with it later,” he said. “Okoye and her recovery, will be our main focus.” He left the room, smoldering.
Tecumbalam is the only one who would do something like this, for whatever reason. Namor would have no reason, and Namora; he had already spoken to her, and she didn’t know she was being used by Namor, due to Tecumbalam’s involvement. It all makes sense. Okoye and she must have had an altercation, and no doubt; she wasn’t fairing too well. So, she weaponized herself with a rock, for a better outcome.
Namor returned to his cavern, having thought about many things. Namora spoke much of the truth; he is their ruler; and they look to him for guidance and protection. And as she said, not only in time of war; but as well as peace. His people deserve the best that he can provide. And his daughter deserves more than he has given her. He will not wait for her to reach out to him; he will make the first contact.
“K’uk’ulkan,” Tecumbalam rushed out to meet him; and he could see she was visibly frantic about something. “They know it was me who nearly killed the woman with Attuma.” Namor said nothing as he walked past her and inside to get him a drink to calm his nerves. “What? You have nothing to say?” He threw back the first glass, savoring the soothing effect it had on him, then poured himself another. She stared at him as he did this, bewildered by the lack of response to her declaration.
“Give me one moment, please,” he raised his index finger gesturing a truce from her chattering. “And I do have something to say. In fact, Tecumbalam; I have a lot to say to you.” He down the second shot, enjoying it as much as the first.
“What is wrong with you? I tell you they know I did it, and you ignore me for your drink?” Even with the ‘please’ added to his request, she wasn’t able to fulfill it. After the third; he looked at her, feeling liberated for the first time, since becoming aware of his existence, as the leader of Talokan.
“You are like a pertinent child, always about you. Never mind what anyone else is going through,” his voice was low and calm, but his eyes were dark and threatening, his face was without expression. He slowly moved towards her; each step deliberate and menacing. She went backwards into the wall; so, has been her signature walk of shame.
“But---,” he raised a palm hand up to her, a definite gesture for her to be silent.
“I don’t care if they know what you did,” he announced to her. “You were wrong on so many levels, starting with over twenty years ago. Attuma was then and is now; a damn good man and deserves the best that life has for him. And when that beautiful Wakandan woman, gets her strength back; I hope, she loves him so good, he will be too weak to walk. And you comprehend what I’m speaking of. Tecumbalam’s body, did a little quiver; at the thought, this woman will get what she never did. Attuma freely loved her, without him being inebriated.
“I can care less about what she does, he will always compare her to me,” she scuffed. Namor hand to laugh out loud.
“You think having that woman in his bed giving him some good loving; he’s going to have his mind on you? You are truly delusional and full of yourself.” He continued laughing, to the point where he decided to pour one more shot.
“Well, you made sure you got what I have not only once but twice,” she taunted. His gaiety turned as he looked upon her with such pity. Whatever, she thought that little thing in his bedding wasn’t enough to make him want more. Even that night, it didn’t have the staying power. Only her informing him of their child is what kept them in the relationship.
“I’m going to be kind, concerning your misperception of your abilities,” his eyes were compassionate, in attempting to educate her. “But without love, it’s just a dump; and not the intensity of this great built up of two people expressing themselves to each other. It’s not a going through the motion to get there.”
Even with the gentle kindness, it still was a blow to her gut. Maybe it’s why her relationships didn’t last. If they wanted more, she didn’t have it to give. Or if she wanted, they weren’t interested. Not even with her only child, who in the end chose to abandon her to go out and face the dangers of the world rather than being home with her.
“Well, thank you Namor for pointing out, I’m not good in bed,” she snapped back at him.
“You really didn’t get it, did you?” He shook his head. “Being good or bad in bed has nothing to do with it. You miss the main ingredient that can take it to the next level and beyond. Which is loving each other. Moving on. Namora came to see me and raised some important issues.”
“She came to see you here too,” she told him. “Nearly attacked me too.” So, now the conversation brings clarity to why Namora was aloof, with him.
“I am the leader here and must always choose what is best for my daughter and my kingdom.” Tecumbalam was anticipating his proposal.
“I agree,” he stared at her baffled by her demeanor.
“Good then you should not have a problem with my decision, concerning you" he says. “And it has a lot to do with what went on between us over twenty years ago, and what happened a couple of hours ago.” She felt so much joy, and confident he was going to ask her to be his ‘Reina’.
“It’s yes, I will,” she blurted out and ran to embrace filled with glee. He was astonished, and speechless. He removed her arms from about his neck grasping her wrists in his hands. His eyes were dark and void.
“I do not understand why you’re so elated when I haven’t finished speaking,” he admonished her. Her excitement dissipated instantly, realizing how he was gripping her wrists and the cold expression made her heart sink. This was not going to turn out as she had hoped.
“Yes, K’uk’ulkan,” she said humbled.
“When Namora came to see me, and what she had to say, it shook me to the core,” he released her wrists and turned away. “In my mediocre existence, I forgot what a good ruler is about. We must do what is right and comfortable for our people. And as a father, I have been the worst to Maczil.
“You have given that girl the best life,” she protested. “It is her who has been the punta.” He swirled around with such velocity, the very air in the room moved aside. He was on her quicker than the lightning strikes, she was against the wall, again. His hands braced on it placed either side of her head, she was trapped. He looked into her eyes; she saw the rage she had conjured up.
“If you ever refer to my daughter, your Princess of Talokan in that manner again,” his voice was eerily calm, just like the storm before it unleashes its fury. “I will break your worthless neck and let my pet sharks devour you.” He backed away from her, before he made good of his threat.
“I apologize,” she started, but he cut it short.
“And there lies the problem Tecumbalam,” he says to her. “You have spent your whole life being apologetic but learn nothing that will help you not make the same mistake. But it all changes from this moment on. My people and their needs come first; they deserve it. I will not lose those I love over foolishness that will not stop.”
“What are you saying Namor?” she asked, not liking where he was going. He looked at her.
“I am sending you away from the Capitol and surrounding provinces. I do not want my daughter feeling she has to leave her home, nor Attuma’and Namora.” He informed him. She could hardly breathe, her heart rate sped up a hundred times.
“You can’t,” she started, but once again, he stopped her, with a raised hand.
“What did you want to say?” By that time two of his guards had emerged from the water and come to the door. She looked at them then at him, tears filling her eyes. He gestured to them; they approached her. She tried to escape but they had her.
“Namor please,” she screamed repeatedly, but on death ears. She wasn’t the only one to blame for her actions, he allowed it in his complacency. “You will regret this, you hear me. You will regret this, and those you love.” She was silent by the submerging in the water when the guards took her down. But Namor took heed to what she last spoke he will keep a watchful eye on her.