Inimitable

Shuri remains uncharacteristically quiet as Tony rewrites the code for JARVIS. There were a few bugs he had needed to work out anyways so his remodel accounts for the issues in the original code had. “You wouldn’t say anything, would you?” Shuri asks finally and Tony looks up, frowning at the much deeper purple of the vibranium mountain. Clearly a good amount of time has passed since he started his code rewrites.

When he looks back at Shuri though he shakes his head. “I’m not exactly fond of your father, and I’m less fond of your brother, but I’m not going to screw an entire country over with a war that would absolutely happen based on what is essentially a whim. If I wanted revenge, really wanted it, I’d find a way but not that way.” The locals clearly aren’t fond of him either- a few shouted what he assumed were rude things at him but not knowing the language the insults were useless, but he has no real desire to see these people suffer.

His speech relaxes Shuri nonetheless and she sits back in her seat. “Then what will you do?” she asks.

“Research,” he says simply. Vibranium has massive applications no one else has ever even considered outside of Wakanda obviously and T’Chaka pointed out himself that Tony is a naturally curious person. Always has been- most of his life has been spent tearing things apart to see how they worked and then putting them back together again in new, more efficient and more interesting ways. So vibranium is something new to figure out, a new tool he can unlock the mysteries of to pass time.

Shuri goes back to silence and for a long time they stay like that, working on their individual projects before Tony speaks again. “T’Chaka must really love his son to take a gamble on handing out information like that just because he thought there was a chance I wouldn’t hate T’Challa after hearing it,” he says softly. In the quiet lab though the noise almost echoes and it only adds weight to the words.

“He would love you, you know. If you let him,” Shuri murmurs. “You actually have a lot in common.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t change how I ended up here,” he points out.

Shuri considers this for a moment and he can see her debate on saying something else before she changes her mind. “You seem surprised that our father would care,” she says, maybe hitting closer to home than she intended to with the comment.

“I’m surprised that he’d care enough to potentially start a war,” he says, evading Shuri’s unspoken inquiry.

She laughs softly, “the risk really isn’t that high with a war. We could destroy any army that comes our way easily- but that is not our way. We don’t start wars,” she says.

“So you wouldn’t fight if you needed to?” he asks skeptically.

“Oh we would, and we would win. But unlike your country we don’t go looking to win a fight, we just end them if they come our way. Point is we know we’d win the war; we just don’t want to fight it if we can avoid it. So the risk mostly lies in what we would lose culturally, and the people we would lose. I think he has faith in you though,” Shuri says, head tilted to the side a little.

Tony shakes his head, “faith I didn’t earn,” he mumbles.

Shuri snorts, “you don’t earn faith- that’s freely given. It’s a lack of faith that’s earned,” she says like this is a normal, every day opinion but in Tony’s experience it isn’t.

“Is that… a normal opinion here?” he asks and Shuri frowns.

“Isn’t that a normal opinion everywhere?” she asks and he shakes his head.

“In America they tend to favor a more ‘respect isn’t given, its earned’ type philosophy.” He used to get that line from Howard all the time and it irritated the hell out of him. Mostly because Howard’s standards are impossibly high just to purposefully set Tony up for failure. And then he had the gull to rub Tony’s nose in it too.

“So what, in America you automatically get treated with disrespect until you do some arbitrary thing to gain respect? What kind of stupid philosophy is that?” she asks and Tony laughs.

“Thanks for pointing out the obvious flaw in that argument. But the people who say that are usually using that phrase to cover up what they really mean, which is ‘adhere to my weirdly specific set of standards or suffer the consequences’. That, or they’re pissed off that you stood up for yourself and they want to try and put you in your place by acting like their disrespect was earned.” Tony has had the misfortune of dealing with a lot of that mostly because he refuses to let people devalue his work. Its not his fault that until he met Shuri he was the best at what he did. Now he mostly thinks it’s a shame that Shuri isn’t well known everywhere else in the world because her ability to engineer is off the charts impressive.

Shuri shakes her head, “America is weird,” she murmurs. “If it makes a difference though we don’t do that here. We have faith in one another unless something happens to shake it.”

“Sounds like a good way to get screwed over,” Tony says, unable to imagine a world in which he was to automatically trust everyone around him until they did something to make that trust go away.

“Well your method hardly works- being suspicious of everyone and everything around you doesn’t mean you don’t get hurt, it just means you’re likely to push everyone else away because one person did something wrong and then you end up hurt anyways because you’re lonely. Sounds like a cold, isolated world to me,” she says.

Cold and isolated maybe, but Tony’s always liked it that way.

*

Ramanda watches as T’Challa does his best to coax the cat from her current hiding place in a tree, doing his best not to lose his balance as he tries to convince the animal he isn’t going to hurt it so he can remove it from danger. The cat is less than cooperative and has been for some time but T’Challa is patient, allowing the cat to climb further up the tree and away from him when he accidentally frightens the animal.

T’Challa does not get annoyed, he speaks softly to the cat, and he does his best to reassure the animal that he means it no harm. It takes some time but eventually the cat comes down enough for T’Challa to touch it, and after T’Challa lets the cat sniff his hand a few times she lets T’Challa pet her too. Eventually he’s able to lift the cat out of the tree and he cradles the cat carefully, ensuring that she is well supported.

She walks over then, extending her hand to the cat and letting her sniff it before the cat deems her safe and she pets the cat’s head. “You were patient with this cat,” she says, scratching behind the cat’s ears.

“She was scared,” T’Challa says, “she just needed some time.”

“Not unlike Tony,” she points out but T’Challa makes a face.

“Humans are more complicated than cats,” he says.

Ramanda snorts, “humans are not more complicated that cats, they’re just more unpredictable. Tony needs time, patience, and love like this cat does. You didn’t give up on the cat,” she says.

“The cat needed help, Tony is self sufficient,” T’Challa says.

“You don’t want to be rejected,” she translates easily. “Its easier to give up than it is to try with matters of the heart.”

T’Challa sighs, “if he wants nothing to do with me I cannot do anything about that,” he says.

“I’m not saying he needs to have anything to do with you- what I’m saying is that he deserves to feel safe and loved, like this cat does, and that it is insulting that you put more effort into the cat than him. So try harder,” she tells him.

“Why is it my responsibility to try? He can make an effort to you know,” T’Challa says in a clipped, irritated tone that reminds her more of who he was in his teens, not the man he grew into. The regression irritates her.

“Because you had a choice and he did not. You and I both know T’Chaka would have found another way to achieve his goals had you said no- Tony did not get that luxury. He was shipped here no doubt as some kind of spy for his country and we were lucky enough that he does not accept the lesser place he has been handed as an omega and resented the people who did this to him. You though, you could have backed out at any point, so you don’t get to complain now because this is a situation of your own making,” she tells him. “So stop this feeling sorry for yourself and do something.”

T’Challa wilts a little under her glare, as he should, and sighs. “I don’t know how to connect with someone who has no desire to connect to me,” he says softly.

“I already told you how, T’Challa, and you’ve already done it. You’re holding the proof,” she says, nodding to the cat in his arms.

*

T’Challa holds the cat in his arms carefully and knocks on Tony’s door. He already made sure that he wasn’t in Shuri’s lab and the cat had not been pleased to find itself on public transportation. Thankfully he’s finished with that useless trip now though so he stands and waits for Tony to either ignore him or answer his knock. His mother is right- he has always been the one who’s had choice here. As difficult as Tony is he deserves the effort put into at least making him comfortable in Wakanda. For a moment he considers the fact that he made no plans for what to do if Tony didn’t answer the door. He considers potentially releasing the cat into his room through the bathroom when the door opens and Tony glares at him for a half a second before he notices the cat.

“Oh, you’re adorable,” Tony tells the cat, stepping closer to T’Challa for the first time since they met. He extends his hand to the cat’s nose, letting her sniff him for a moment before he pets her head.

“I found her in a tree,” he says, smiling down at the cat. “She wasn’t impressed to find herself there though she certainly climbed it herself.” Cats, they’re strange creatures.

Tony smiles softly, “I used to have a cat, technically she was a stray but I felt bad when I found her starving in the garden. Pretty sure Howard drowned her,” he mumbles.

T’Challa recoils a little, drawing Tony’s attention to his face. “Your father?” he asks and Tony nods. “Disgusting man,” he spits out, forgetting for a moment that Tony might take offense to that. Thankfully he doesn’t, instead he relaxes a little, like he had expected T’Challa to empathize with his father for some reason and not the innocent cat. What kind of people surrounded him in America?

“Glad you think so. Most people I know worship him like a god,” Tony says, shaking his head like that would remove the thought from his mind.

“Can’t say I could even bring myself to like someone who is willing to kill a cat purposefully,” he says honestly, wrinkling his nose harshly.

“I take it you like cats, then,” Tony says, petting the cat’s head again. She reacts well to it, purring softly in his arms and doing that squinty eye thing cats do when they are content.

“In my culture cats are an extension of our gods- they are highly revered and respected,” he says. “Killing one would be unthinkable.”

Tony lets out a small laugh, “people mostly dislike cats in my culture. The black ones are considered bad luck if they cross your path and there are always rumors about shelters not selling them around Halloween out of fear people will sacrifice them,” he says.

T’Challa gives him a horrified look because that was just primitive. “Seriously?” he asks because that sounds… out of the realm of possibility to him.

“The bad luck thing has mostly died out, its largely considered superstition but there are still plenty of people who think cats are evil or whatever,” Tony explains. “Personally I like cats better than most animals. They know their worth whether or not others see it. I can relate.”

He shakes his head, unable to conceive of sacrificing cats for any reason let alone whatever the motivation was for Americans, rumors or no. “Black cats are especially good luck here- they’re like tiny versions of Bast but they’re somewhat rare to find,” he says.

Tony looks pointedly at the cat in his arms, “you didn’t seem to have a problem,” he points out.

“They say they only appear to those who need their presence. I thought maybe you would need her more than I would,” he says. He isn’t sure but he thinks the cat is another sign from Bast and at least Tony actually likes cats, something that is apparently unusual in his country. He’s not quite sure what he’d do if Tony didn’t like cats- its not something he considered. “If your country isn’t fond of cats though what do they keep as companions? Lizards?” he asks, trying to remember if America’s geography would allow for lizards as pets.

Tony snorts, “no we keep dogs usually. I mean people have lizards, birds, and insects but they aren’t the popular pets. Do you mind?” he asks, gesturing to the cat.

T’Challa shakes his head, carefully shifting the cat so Tony can take her. He does, grinning down at the furry animal before stepping back and shutting the door in T’Challa’s face. For a moment he’s surprised but then he laughs. Of course Tony’s interest is in the cat, not him, but his mother had been right. This was something he chose and… and he doesn’t want to try because he doesn’t want to fail. Failing has never come easy to him and now that it is he wants nothing to do with it. So its easier to push Tony out than to try and at least reach out enough to help him adjust to his new normal. He sighs and considers the door, shaking his head wearily.

“Well played,” he says to Tony through the door. He considers walking away but then he turns back. “You know not many people are willing to stand up to a prince. When I was a child I was quite arrogant though I mostly grew out of it. But along the way I learned the value of someone who is willing to look past your status and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I’ll go get some cat things,” he tells Tony before he walks away, smiling. Stubborn as Tony is, and that irritates him to no end, he has a small appreciation for Tony’s conviction.

*

He finds the cat stuff in the bathroom when he opens the door and hits a litter box surrounded with toys. The cat is enthused with all the new toy rodents and makes use of them immediately and Tony drags the rest of the stuff into his room. He considers T’Challa’s door while he sets up the cat’s litter and throws various toys around the room, amused as the cat chases after them. He’s in the middle of trying to find a spot for the cat tree when the T’Challa’s door opens and he turns around.

“Sorry,” T’Challa murmurs, going to close the door but Tony speaks first.

“Wait,” he says. T’Challa stops immediately, poking his head back through the door a little further. “What did you mean earlier, that you learned the value of someone who’d treat you the way you deserve to be treated? Because I’ve been kind of an asshole,” he points out.

T’Challa shrugs, “you’ve been placed in an unfortunate situation that could have gone quite badly for you. I can’t blame you for your suspicion,” he says.

Funny because Tony would have absolutely blamed himself but whatever. “And the first bit?” he asks.

That earns him a sigh as T’Challa opens his door a little wider and leans against the frame. “When I was young I had a friend, singular. I’m naturally good at most of the things I’ve tried and it showed in the way I acted. I never meant to but I spent a lot of time rubbing B’Tumba’s nose in how much more natural talent I had than him at… basically everything. Needless to say that did not end well. We had a falling out and I realized I only ever had one friend and I spent all my time insulting him to make myself feel better. It was needlessly cruel and no one was willing to say anything because I am a prince.” He looks ashamed in a way that Tony knows is hard to fake because he’s tried it with little success.

“And you think I would? Say something I mean?” he asks.

T’Challa laughs, “I know you would. You don’t care about my status and believe it or not your resentment is probably good for me. I already told you I don’t have to fight for things, they naturally go my way. Always have. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m bad at this,” he says, gesturing around and shaking his head, smiling a little.

Tony looks at the cat, who is occupied with hunting toy mice, and smiles a little. “I don’t think you are,” he murmurs, “and your father definitely doesn’t think you are.”

“Did he say something?” T’Challa asks and Tony nods.

“Or sorts. He told me about the vibranuim mountain, well, showed it to me. I don’t think he’d ever trust me with something like that if he didn’t have the utmost faith that at some point you would either win me over or find some other way to… I don’t know, get along with me or something.” T’Chaka has enough faith that he had taken time to give Tony vital information for no other reason than to give Tony equal footing with T’Challa. It… spoke volumes about what the king thinks of his son and from Tony has witnessed he is a good king and a good man. Perhaps a little ahead of himself in political planning but in his defense its been a long time since his country has dealt with world politics and T’Chaka specifically has never had to tackle world politics. Tony suspects his plans would have worked much better in Wakanda than they would elsewhere.

Tony’s words make T’Challa’s eyes all but bug out of his head and he opens his mouth to speak but all that comes out is a squeak. It takes him a few more moments to gather himself before he’s coherent. “Did he tell you why?” T’Challa asks softly, frowning slightly.

He nods. “Because he knew that you held the power in our relationship and he wanted me to be equal to you. Bit risky- I’m fickle at best- but I think that kind of faith says a lot about you- or at least who T’Chaka thinks you are. Your sister too,” he says. He’s not used to seeing such blatant family support and he’s unsure what to do with it. T’Challa… Tony doesn’t want to like him, he doesn’t really, but his family has such an unshakable faith that its hard not to be at least a little curious.

“You seem surprised by the support. Family is important in America- this shouldn’t surprise you,” T’Challa says, confused at what he sees as a consistency issue.

It isn’t but he doesn’t know that. “Family is important in America but that doesn’t make them love you and half of mine hates and resents my existence. My mom tries but she sort of ruined her chances at winning my confidence when she sold me off as a political pawn presumably for vibranium. That I’m not going to tell anyone about, by the way. Using me as a tool for resources was a bad move for America. They should have known my only agenda is the one where I win, not the one where I end up married to a stranger.” He’s always been selfish; sometimes a little cruel too, so why the hell anyone agreed to him being the omega to bring in a resource T’Chaka outright stated was no longer available he will never know.

T’Challa remains quiet for a long few moments before he speaks. “There’s nothing wrong with being self serving if you’re the only one willing to look out for your wellbeing. Its survival,” he says.

Yeah, but most don’t seem to agree with that.