Day 78
T'Challa tries to hide his annoyance as he listens to one of the council members drone on and on……something. He couldn't really remember what when his focus was on the fact he hasn't heard from Tony in awhile and they never seemed to work things out after their disagreement. He honestly wasn't sure if Tony was his anymore nor if he was Tony's. Especially not after Tony demanded alone time and suggested he go home to handle his neglected duties.
He should have stayed; could have easily afforded to put himself up in some hotel room and done his best to fix things with the older man. That was hard to do from another country.
"As for the succession, Prince T'Challa is ready to do so. It is time for him to do so."
T'Challa's attention snaps to Hadi Thuda, the only member of the council not connected to a tribe in hopes of neutrality.
"My father is still well."
"Which makes the change of leadership more important. He can guide you through your beginning reign."
T'Challa looks over to his father, only to see his agreement. In fact, as he looked around the room, everyone acted like it was old news.
"You have been discussing my future without my input? Without my consent?"
"You are next in line. It is only natural," Zawavari of the mining tribe calmly adds as if discussing the weather.
"If I choose it. Any leader may challenge for the throne."
"Who would challenge? Your line has led to a golden age."
"M'Baku for one." He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Shuri could as well." Onwa Miba of the merchant tribe makes a sound of dismissal. "I also do not wish to be king now."
"It is your duty," Hadi states. "As is your duty to continue your line."
T'Challa stares shocked at the bold man before him.
"There are many who would make for a good match." He bows his head slightly. "They have been vetted and approved already. You only need to choose."
T'Challa stands, using his height to its best to add to his intimidation, "I will not be taking the throne now, nor will I be taking a consort."
"It will not be a consort."
"Then what? A concubine?"
"A queen."
*******
Tony wasn't proud that he was icing out T'Challa but he didn't know what else to do. He couldn't give up the younger man, but he knew he couldn't fight the Wakadian Council. He couldn't fight T'Challa's family. Tony couldn't win even if he did initially because T'Challa would come to hate him for taking him away from his family. To take him away from his countrymen and all he grew up with.
T'Challa would leave him in the end whether it was now or in the future. So he would make him come to despise him but without all the fights. He couldn't bring himself to go that far like he did when he was dying from palladium poisoning and had made Pepper, Happy, and Rhodey hate him.
T'Challa was smarter than that for one (no offense to his friends), and could find out through the kids he somehow adopted. He also would still have to deal with T'Challa in the professional sphere so he couldn't have hostility becoming a problem to advancing the future. Three, he wasn't dying this time so he would have to face his consequences.
The only answer: to ice him out. Let their feelings ebbs so they could break off cleanly before T'Challa wed another.
He could break his own heart, but he wouldn't survive T'Challa breaking it.