Day 36
T’Challa prances a little, paws patting softly against the floor as he waits for the panther to join him. They were finally able to go on an actual run together in their shifted forms since he’s been in America. Sure they’ve shifted and spent time in their other forms, but it was in the penthouse or on the mansion’s grounds, but it wasn’t the same as running through the forest. He missed the freedom he found there, and without having to voice this, his Anthony made plans for a four day weekend up at one of his residents in Vermont.
“In Vermont?” he asked.
“Yeah. I mean, who would look for me there?”
The prince stills when he sees Tony in his panther form, always amazed at how beautiful his boyfriend is. Bast may have blessed the inventor with a panther form and an amazing mind, but T’Challa knew the biggest blessing from the Goddess was to him. To be blessed to not only call this man his friend but also his love.
The panther rubs his head and cheek along the tiger’s and T’Challa can’t help but chuff to show how much he was enjoying the attention, eyes closing under the affection. Before he even realizes he’s doing it, his rough tongue licks along the white fur, gentle in the same way his human fingers tend to trail over Tony’s jaw before they kiss.
Tony had said on occasion he loved how T’Challa always finds a way to touch him, and that it was always gentle even though they both know how strong he is. T’challa took the words to heart as well as the unspoken words – perhaps to even the man himself – that a gentle touch isn’t something the man was used to, and vowed to keep every touch gentle and to allow his affections to be expressed whenever possible so the man could know love and affection without any pain.
It seemed too soon, but the prince knew he loved this man in all his forms. He loves the man even when said man was trying to push others away out of fear. He loves this man even when he’s being a bit of an ass. He loves him during his manic engineering binges, and loves him when his generous heart showered others with all they may need and more. He just loves him and hopes to tell Tony that very soon (and hopefully for the rest of their lives).
A tug on his ear brings him back to reality, and he chuckles when he sees the playfulness from the panther before it takes off and he gives chase. He would follow him anywhere.
*******
Tony knew without a doubt that he loves the younger man, and it kind of frightened him. Not many people he loved ever loved him back. But for some reason T’Challa did; he could see it in the way the prince looked at him, the way he touched him, and even indulged his craziness. No one has really done that since Rhodey. Pepper always liked to remind him what he was doing could be stupid and often made him leave his work to appease her wants and needs (and that of SI), and Happy he was too much of a pushover to say anything – though he did get better when the employer-employee relationship turned to friendship.
No, Rhodey and now T’Challa would join him in the crazy, and would gently coax him away from the madness. They used logic and feelings to make it seem like leaving things to later was totally ok. That he didn’t need to stop simply because something else was deemed more important.
Of course he loves both for indulging the many kids he has taken under his wings, and how their gentle care translated to them too. They were good with geniuses.
Tony knew Rhodey was forever, and now he thinks T’Challa may be too.
Too bad he can’t bring himself to say it.