Changes
T’Challa watches with rapt attention as he watches Tony shape the disk into a pendant for him to wear. Initially, he wanted to leave it as a disk, but could not figure out where to put it without risking him losing it, and so he turned to the innovator for help. The prince decided it should be shaped into a panther to honor the man who gave it to him and to honor Bast; he was 100% sure that Tony was blessed by the goddess. The man might not agree, and he couldn’t blame him after all he been through, but the fact that he made it through everything and came out stronger was exactly why he thought Anthony was favored by the panther goddess.
“And you are sure you don’t want this colored?” Tony glances up from his task. “It wouldn’t take more than a minute and it won’t interfere with REMI at all.”
“It is perfect as it is. Beautiful silver. Blessed by the goddess.”
Tony scoffs and resumes his task of etching in the defining details. “That is a stretch.”
“It isn’t. This silver is unique to vibranium, a gift that allowed our ancestors to unite the tribes and make such an advanced country where everyone is treated with respect. It is also the color of one of my favorite panthers fur when the light hits just right. A panther I am thankful to call a friend and hopefully, something more one day.” The younger man smiles as he sees the blush creep along the older man’s face and to his ears. Ears so adorably red that he had to reach out and rub one of them between his fingers. It was perfect, especially when it made the blush darken and caused a cute little squeak to escape the older gentleman before he pulled away and slapped a hand over his ear. “Sorry,” he tells him even though his smile was big enough to split his face.
“Lies!” The genius moves further away and glares at him. It was so cute that he could feel his other form just wagging its tail in enjoyment as it scoots closer to get a better view. “Just a bunch of lies, kitty cat. You should feel ashamed of yourself. So ashamed that you will make reparations.”
“Yes, a good man would make reparations.” T’Challa scoots closer, leaning forward. “What kind of reparations do you have in mind?”
“Well Simba,” Tony grins and moves closer. “What I want,” he keeps moving closer, practically in the prince’s lap and exciting the tiger in him, “is for you to……” he moves so his lips are next to T’Challa’s ear and whispers, “let me have access to your aircrafts.” Tony leans back with a self-satisfied grin at was surely a look of shock, surprise, disappointment, and a bit of horny grumpiness on T’Challa’s face.
“That’s what you want?” He was so confused by the teasing and the fact that he knew his father and Shuri would have given the man access to all Wakanda technology. If not for the fact that they genuinely liked the man too, then for the fact that they have formed an alliance with SI which included an open right to various technology and the aircrafts would be one of them.
“Yeah. As proud as I am of Shuri, I don’t like the fact that my technology is so far behind Wakanda. I thought I was changing the world, helping it, but I am still in the stone ages compared to what can be found in this country.”
“Anthony, you know that isn’t true.” T’Challa takes the other man’s hands in his. “Wakanda had access to many things you did not, and Shuri works with many scientists and builds on past technology to better her own. If Wakanda’s scientists hadn’t been able to make the force field to hide us so long ago, more men than your father would have had access to the vibranium here. And even he had to go through many people we sent out into the world, before he was able to steal some. Shuri also has always had someone in her corner and was given every opportunity to flourish. You had to fight tooth and nail for everything. I’m not saying Shuri had it easy, I’m just saying that you both took what was given to you and made the best of it.” He kisses Tony’s mouth when it looks like the man is going to protest. “If you ever doubt yourself, look at the amazing AIs you built. Look at your amazing Iron Man suit. Look at the very thing that once kept your heart beating. You even help protect the world on various platforms. You took scraps and made amazing things for you are an amazing man. Believe me. Please.”
Tony seems to be studying his face for lies, weighing every word he spoke, and so he tried to show just how much he believed in the words he said, and show the man he was a wonder to behold. He counted his heartbeats as time passes, continues to make himself breathe even though his body wanted to hold it in suspense. He knew minutes had passed until Tony seemed to slump in on himself “Okay. I believe you.”
“Thank you,” he smiles in relief, “I hope you give me the chance to prove how true my words are. I hope you let me court you. And even if you do not want that, I will still show you how amazing you are, for first and foremost, I am your friend.”