"You really think we'll last?"
The sun had set by now. It was late. There were few of those large vehicles on the gray flooring. Many lights that shone inside the large buildings were now dim or turned off completely. And they were still with one another near the river road bridge.
The water had a different taste here.
She hated it
It was murky and it had a terrible smell.
Yet she had to dip her arms and feet in it every few hours. Just so she could continue to spend time with her surface dweller.
Namora knows of sacrifices. The word always hung high above her head. It reminded her that everything had to be looked at with a clean and critical eye before anything else. You can't stay lulled or placated for too long. Nomara was never berated with the word, that would mean that she had been seen as inferior. Namora of Talkon was not inferior. She had always seen sacrifice first hand. How her people had to learn to harvest and flourish without the sun. How centuries of her people's history and language was almost completely destroyed if not for a room to save all the works of art and literature. How she was trained as young as she could remember to work and stave off outsiders. To protect the children of her waters.
Namora was steadfast and strong
She was promised a war.
One almost came to flourish.
That wasn't the war she was promised.
A part of her is glad that it didn't become a war that would have decimated her waters and a land such as Wakanda.
Though she had no love for the surface. Namora knows that an ally as powerful as the black panther is needed to protect and help her people.
Namora knows her position and she knows that she must uphold her responsibilities for her family and their well-being. These are her sacrifices.
But Namora is also stubborn.
"Yes."
The girl gives her a bit of a pointed smile, almost scoffing in disbelief covering it up with a soft laugh. For a moment Namor feels a tinge of anger arise from her chest.
"Why do you find that funny, do you not believe we can't be together for as long as we both live?"
The girl lets out a tired sigh, already becoming used to Namora's heavy gaze. She reaches over and curls her hand into her own, Namora gives it willingly.
"Has anyone told you how intense you are?" Riri placed her hand on top of her jean-covered thigh. A texture that Namora did not particularly like but she did love the warmth that seeped through the clothing.
Namora has felt her bare thigh before and she much preferred her soft warm skin than any feeling of her clothes, no matter the texture. Riri's soft heaves and bare skin outweighed any soft material she claimed felt just as nice. Namora felt as though she had the superior opinion in that regard. Riri had exclaimed that she wouldn't let namora have her bar skin draped across her and namora had replied that if she had her way Riri would always lay bare with her, without the need of any clothing between the two of them That wasn't the first time Riri said namora was intense, but it was the most recently memory she had.
"You have, now answer my question"
"Namora stop, you're getting that weird look in your eyes again."
The weird look that Riri was referring to was the one where Namora could feel the heat flooding her chest and her eyes would narrow as though about ready to pounce.
"The murder look?"
"Nah, you haven't given me that look in a while. This on is the 'I'm going to keep you under house arrest' look"
"I think I might have to if you keep thinking that we as a couple won't last till our hair has turned gray"
Riri lets out a light laugh, not because she thinks Namora is just joking. She knows first hand that any promise or threat Namora makes is very real, but she laughs because this is Namoras way. She doesn't write ballads or sing poetry, or even paint vast caverns. Namora expresses her love with her words and her actions.
"That's kinda what I mean actually."
Namora feels her eyes dart slightly to the left.
"What do you mean?"
"Namora you and I are different"
"Yes, I think you already said something of us being on different poles so we attract one another" Riri lets out another smile, this one quells the fire that was rising in Namora's chest but she still feels the embers burning.
"Yeah, but not only that. Namora you and the Talkon have a long life expectancy that me and other humans don't"
"I still am not understanding your point"
"You're not immortal I get that but you have to agree that I'm going to go gray before you do."
"If it's concerns of your looks that you're worried about don't humans dye their hair. You can have all the dye you want"
"Namora, you know what I'm talking about. You don't have to circle around it"
"Then why are you doing the same?"
Riri finally lets out a frustrated groan and lets her body naturally pull her into Namora's side who catches her with ease. Her arms wrap around her and Riri's head lands into the crook of her neck.
"I'm going to die before you."
"No"
"You can't just change my biology"
"You don't think I'm capable?"
"You would really fight father time himself just to keep me"
"You don't know what I would do"
There's a steamboat that honks ahead in the water leaving a smell that clings into the air. Namora pressed her nose into Riri's head. Breathing her in, encasing her in her chest.
"Actually, I think I do."
Eventually Riri does have to get back home; they share a kiss as she starts walking back home and Namora trails behind her in the water. Once Riri makes it to her block she'll glance over to Namora, whose head is the only thing visible poking out from the water, and give her a wave and walk into one of those large buildings with dim or dark rooms.
"Same time tomorrow?" Riri asked before she started to leave.
"No" Riri doesn't hide her disappointment much like Namora, but it does give her a bit of a boost to her ego. "I've been request by my king to stay and watch over some of the new pathways under construction"
"Oh yeah I think Shuri brought that up, something about making travel a bit easier?"
Namora nods in response, already submerging herself in water.
"Hmm, well tell the king i'd like to spend more time with my girlfriend soon"
"He will be ecstatic to hear that" Namora replied in her most deadpan voice. Riri's laughter soothed her for the long trek back home which she was currently making.
Namor must have been the reason why Riri brought up the concept of age. Namora knew of the friendship between Shuri and Riri, she had even been invited to some of their hangouts from time to time. She also knew of the King's feelings for the black panther, at this point who didn't? This did not dampen the black panther's efforts to ignore him.
Shuri had become a worthy ally for the Tolkan people. She kept true to her word as well, she protected their waters and subdued any attempt to do so. Threats of their discovery had become almost nullified, there were still those persistent of finding and keeping all the vibranium for themselves but the panther's words were true. And for that Namora respected her, but her refusal to hear or even attempt to give Namor a moment to share his thoughts was starting to become an issue for her.
At first it was a surprise to see how devoted Namor had become to the young princess. It was a moment of weakness that she thought she'd never see from her king, how the panther made him yield. The wounds from their fight were still fresh, and they realized that a creature as strong as the blank panther was better ally than enemy.
Then she saw his eyes. There was a bright shine in his eyes when he spoke to her or looked at her. He stole glances when he could and tried any excuse to be near her. Namora still feels a tinge of disgust whenever she looks back at the memories but who is she to judge her king, when she has the same tunneled feeling whenever she gets near Riri.
Maybe this is a Talkon trait, were all of her people this obsessed with their chosen partners? Or was this the curse for falling for a surface dweller?
Perhaps it's a little of both.
Namota still remembers having to personally escort Attuma back home after the king of Wakanda had to, in between laughs. Tell Namor that every time it rained Atumma waited for Okoye outside her home until she let him in or she walked out to be with him. He would stand there for hours and Okoye was starting to get sick of it, but in the end Attuma won her over. She still denied letting him into her home but the glances they gave one another in public was enough to settle any questions.
The same could not be said for Namor.
Namora gave the side of the caverns a soft knock. Namor wasn't expecting her but he still gave her a soft nod as she made herself known.
"I'm back my king, how was todays work on the tunnels?"
"Exceedingly well, we might be able to finish these tunnels by the end of the week. I'm told that the tunnels near Wakanda are also near completion"
"Attuma's supervisor for those was a great choice"
"Let's hope the king does not ask for another personal escort out of Wakanda"
"He will behave"
"I find that hard to believe"
"His warrior will make him behave."
Namor had turned his back to her walking over to his table; the mention of one of his best advisors with his paramor seems to sour his thoughts. He picked up the soft easel he had placed down before she walked in. He wasn't working on his murals. Off to the side of this room she saw a canvas with the beginning marking closely resembling the figure of the kind's affections. Her pose was light but imposing, already striking with the soft lines Namor had given her.
"I would like the day after tomorrow for myself"
Namora watches as her king's shoulder tightens slightly, his thought probably where she expects them.
"Why?"
Namor doesn't need to ask.
"To spend time with my partner."
"You were with her this evening"
"That does not deter my need and want to be with her, even as we speak"
Namor's entire back straightens the muscles beneath his skin contort almost in pain, Namora knows she should have chosen her words better but she has always been blunt. And she wouldn't change that, not even for her king.
"Do you ever think of what would have happened that night on the bridge?"
"The night we took princess Shuri and Riri"
Namor had stopped trying to make Namora change how she referred to the scientists. To be fair he only gave her a slight glare before he realized that she wouldn't change her preferred term of affection.
"Yes, do you ever think about what would have happened if the princess weren't there? If we had found the scientist beforehand?"
"I would have killed her"
It's true, Namora knows this. Riri knows this.
Riri had asked that question before. And Namora had answered the same why.
"I would have killed you"
"Yeah, I thought so" she let out a shaky breath. But it wasn't one of fear. Namora noticed how her partner's shoulders actually relaxed at her answer, as though she was relieved.
"Then why do you ask?"
"Because I- I dunno I needed to know. I needed a factual statement then just a floating question I'd always carry unless you answered it"
Riri pulled away from her, slightly opting to lean into her backpack rather than her partner.
"Would you have killed me when I caught you in the air when we fought?"
"Yes"
Namora is reminded why she chose Riri, why her heart only sang to the thought of her.
She could be blunt as well.
Namora thinks of this interaction with her partner as she stands in front of Namor.
"Do you ever think of what would have happened if you had?"
"No"
"How?"
He does ask why she doesn't. He knows why she doesn't. Namora does not spend time thinking about what-ifs. It's not efficient. It doesn't help her now. It doesn't help her people or her loved ones. You can get stuck mulling over what is your whole life and then you only gain a lifetime of regrets.
"If I do, however briefly, think about it. It creates an emptiness in the pit of my stomach. A hollow feeling that twists and yanks as though the water gravity pulls with bare hands in my very skin. I feel incomplete not for the fact that I love Riri now, but in some way a deep sadness for the possibility that I could have lived in complete ignorance for what I have now."
Namor seems to clench his mouth, he turns to her slightly and she can see the pain in his eyes and envy in his stare. She does not stand down, not even under the eyes of her god, she continues
"There would have been no other way for this to go. How? How would the black panther come back? How would our people have gained such a powerful ally? How would she have gained the knowledge to bring back a dead herb? How would she gain control if not without the pain?"
"So, you rationalize it by saying that there couldn't have been a different way?"
Namora usually doesn't spend night at Riri's place, her need to be in water sometimes outwieghs her need for her partner but her clever lover always has a way to extend her stay. This time she sits in a low pool filled with delicious salt water that Riri engineered herself. They sit in an open space, possibly given to her by princess Shuri to continue her studies now under less watchful eyes. At the moment all three of them were actually sitting in the pool Riri made for her, Namora opted to let her body float near her partner as the two other girls looked at Riri's phone swiping through photos of strangers.
"Okay how about that one"
"Hmm no their holding a cigarette in their hand"
"Okay okay, ooh how about her she's cute"
"No, she has edm under her music tab"
"Hey edm concerts are cool"
Namora could not see from her vantage point but she's pretty sure the princess was giving Riri a disbelieving look
"Edm music can be good"
Another disbelieving look
"People can like edm and still be cool people"
"Do you listen to edm?"
"...no"
"What is edm music?" Namora finally asked as she sat up to look over at the two girls.
"Good question Namora here listen to this and tell me if you like it or not '' Riri glanced over at Shuri almost to make a point but Shuri simply crossed her arms and smirked at Riri. Her partner played the music on the speakers connected around the space. The reverberating tunes came up and made the water around them shake.
Namora let out a noticeable grimace and sunk into the salt water. She could hear the princess let out a laugh as the music stopped. She didn't not need to make her displeasure at the music heard. Once the music changed back Namora popped her head out again as saw as the girls continued to swipe through the photos of strangers, she gave a curious glance. It seemed that Shuri was finding a reason to dislike every picture presented.
"Okay okay do you really not see yourself walking on some cute park holding hands and maybe sharing a kiss at night?"
Now it all made sense to Namora, Riri was attempting to show potential suitors to the princess. Namor felt a sudden obligation to stand for her king, the affections of a Talkon should never be taken lightly especially that of her god-king. Shuri should be so lucky that he holds her in such high regard.
"NuO!" Shuri exaggerates the no and playfully pushes Riri, and suddenly that feeling goes away. They are just playing around enjoying the company of one another, her included. A friendship that wouldn't have formed if it weren't for her sparing her king and Riri returning her affections. Namora doesn't want to speak about Namor at this moment; she doesn't want to remind them of his actions and those of their own. Instead she swims up to her lover and leans into the crook of her neck. "Come on Riri where do you get all these nonsensical fantasy ideas?"
"Well I am dating one" Riri looks over to her barely needed to move to kiss her blue cheek.
"Okay yeah if you two do anything more I think I'm gonna have to leave" Shuri said, almost half joking.
"Don't play Shuri. I promised we'd have a fun time. This was getting boring anyway besides you'll just keep saying no to anyone"
"Eeyup"
Namora is reminded of how young they are. Even she forgets her own age at times. Training for so long till her hands calloused over, eyes are trained to quickly predict her enemies movements, and a body finely tuned to fight against any wave.
She points her eyes on Shuri, she will always say no to any potential partner. Namora see's how her eyes get deep with thought, and though she shows the king disdain, Namora will catch glimpses of her staring at him when she thinks noone is looking.
Shuri thought of him just as much as Namor thought of her.
"No" Namora answers to her king. "There are always and will always be hundreds of thousands of ways anything could be different. But this is where we stand now. And it will always be more foolish to think of what could have been rather than what we can do with what we have now"
Namor lets her words sink for a moment, the air in the caverns has turned back to a more favorable one rather than the tense atmosphere Namor carries around himself.
"I see" He slowly turns back to his corner letting his brush dip into the black ink "You must think me a fool child"
"Yes", ever the sharp child she was, she could see the corners of his mouth pull upward "but not for the reason you may think. Do I have your blessing for the day after tomorrow?"
"You already had it"
Namora smiles even though the king can't see it, she walks over to the table and leans into it to see his paintings. Namor shows his love much like how Namora does, much like Attuma does. Through actions and words, but she does not possess Attuma's voice that can carry a melody a mile away, and she does not possess her king's ability to paint and write words that creates worlds and preserves history.
What Namora does have is an impeccable skill, she is stubborn.
"Give this one to the princess, I think she will love this one more"
Namor turns to see his cousin already walking away; he looks down to see the painting she chose worthy for the princess. Among all of his work admiring the blank panther and multiple portraits of the princess lays a refined and bold painting of the late queen mother.