ViViD
King T’Chaka stood by Prince N’Jobu’s, now dead, body. The pain of killing his brother was unbearable, even if he did what had to be done for Wakanda. N’Jobu was a traitor to the country and to his people, as king, T’Chaka had to put his people and country as priority. But now he had the blood of his own brother in his hands. He knew that this would have many negative impacts in the future, but there was nothing to be done. He had to cover this up, this was his only choice.
“My king?” Zuri spoke, voice still shaken with the whle situation.
“What is it Zuri?” T’Chaka’s voice was shaken and he was trying to wipe the tears off his eyes.
“Prince N’Jobu has a son, he is a Wakandan. What do you intend to do.”
T’Chaka was now riddled with such a painful decision, take this innocent child back to Wakanda, being straightforward with the murder or leave him here, to rot and to not have the rights he deserves as of Wakandan royal blood. But King T’Chaka couldn’t let the child to grow without a family, he had no idea how to approach this.
“We’ll take him Zuri, leaving him behind would be cruel, please show me my nephew.”
Zuri lead King T’Chaka and his Dora Milaje guards outside of the residential building to talk to Erik, or Prince N’Jadaka which was his royal name.
“Hey, Erik buddy.”
Erik stopped playing basketball with his friends and spoke to his “Uncle”
“Hi, Uncle James” He looked at the Dora Milaje and T’Chaka with their uncommon attire and looked suspicious. “What do you want?”
It hurted Zuri to take Erik away from his home, but it had to be done. This was a difficult situation for everyone, they couldn’t tell him about the murder now. They would have to lie for the time being.
“So… Your father was involved with some dangerous stuff and…” Erik was looking at him confused “Erik, I don’t know how to say this but… Your dad was killed.”
Erik’s young heart felt like it was crumbling apart, he had so many questions he wanted to ask, he wanted to scream, tears started to fall off his face and his whole world was destroyed.
“Why are these weird people here Uncle James…” Erik said crying amidst words
“Erik, this is your dad’s brother he’ll take you in, I’ll go too. We’re going to Wakanda, your dad’s birthplace.”
T’Chaka introduced himself to his nephew he gave him a hug, it felt so… wrong, he had murdered his nephew’s father and was trying to comfort him. But they had to take him back to Wakanda, unfortunately lying would be needed, for now.
“Look here, Erik was your American name?” the prince nodded “We’ll take you back to Wakanda, where you’ll live a great life and we’ll give my brother a proper burial ok? You’re a prince, N’Jadaka, I know it must hurt, trust me I’m in pain as well” That wasn’t a lie, King T’Chaka was indeed in pain from the loss of his dear brother, a loss he himself had caused. “You have to be strong, ok?” He patted Erik’s head and the boy nodded again.
Uncle James holded Erik’s hand and took him to the ship alongside the King and the two Dora Milaje.
--
The trip to Wakanda would take a little while. Zuri was holding Erik as he still cried during the trip, once Erik stopped, he started talking.
“Uncle James, why didn’t we go to Wakanda before?” Erik asked, not looking at Zuri.
“Your dad was like a spy from Wakanda buddy, his job was to observe and report to Wakanda the situation on the rest of the world” He patted Erik’s back.
“Baba always told me stories about Wakanda, I always thought they were fairy tales.” Erik wiped off his tears.
“Well, now we’re going to live in that Fairy Tale!” Zuri had said in a more cheerful tone, trying to lighten the mood.
Erik hugged him tighter and eventually fell asleep
--
Once they reached Wakanda the Dora Milaje led Erik to a room where he could rest, they told him to sleep for the night and that tomorrow he’d meet his new family.
His room was enormous and his bed was the biggest bed he’d ever seen, with very weird but fancy design ‘This really is like a fairy tale’ he thought.
He took the clothes that were on top of his bed and changed onto them, they felt weird but really comfy.
Erik laid down on the bed and tried to sleep, still shaken by the whole turn of events.
--
Erik was woken up by a knock on his door “Prince N’Jadaka, please get up”
“Five more minutes…”
“My prince, everyone is waiting for you, please get up.”
Then Erik remembered that he was now in a giant castle and that yesterday was no nightmare. He got up put on the clothes someone magically left for him.
He opened the door and was greeted by two Dora Milaje who accompanied him to the dining room where they would have breakfast, there was waiting his Uncle T’Chaka, a woman with a weird white hat and a white dress, a very pretty boy, about his age he presumed and little girl with her hair in 2 buns.
The pretty boy smiled at him, sympathetically and the little girl didn’t even notice he was there.
“Prince N’Jadaka” His uncle spoke. “This is your new family.” He smiled. He could feel a sincere warmth about his uncle, but all of this felt surreal and weird, the pain was still lingering and not only from his father’s death but from leaving his home behind. But he didn’t have a choice as a young boy did he?
“I’m Ramonda, your aunt.” The queen smiled at him “This here is your cousin Shuri, say hi Shuri.” Shuri ignored her mother and kept eating whatever she was eating. Ramonda sighed.
“Hi” The pretty boy got up and extended his hand. “I’m T’Challa, nice to meet you” Erik was a little dazzled by him, he was so… bright. He took his hand and shook it. “I’m Erik.” He raised a brow “Oh, Erik’s my American name.”
“Do you want me to call you that?”
“Uhh… I don’t know. Call me what you prefer really” He scratched the back of his head. T’Challa nodded.
He took a seat at the table and ate silently. Still not used to all of this.
Once he finished he thanked them for the food and got up “I’m going back to my bedroom, if that’s fine.” He said shyly and T’Chaka nodded.
As Erik was guided by the Dora Milaje back to his room, the king talked to his son “T’Challa” He handed his son a ring, a ring that was meant only for people of the royal family.
“Give this to N’Jadaka”
T’Challa nodded. “But why can’t you do it?”
T’Chaka grimaced and looked for words to say. “I think it’s better for someone his age to try and talk to him, it’ll be healthy.” T’Challa nodded again.
T’Challa finished his food and waited for nightfall to talk to his cousin.
--
T’Challa knocked on the bedroom’s door. “N’Jadaka?” he heard footsteps and his cousin opened the door.
“What is it?”
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah.”
T’Challa sat on Erik’s bed and patted on it, telling Erik to sit with him.
“So… I came here to give this to you.” T’Challa handed the ring to Erik and Erik analyzed it.
“What’s this?” He asked.
“It’s a ring that proves you’re part of the royal family. It was found within your father’s belongings. It belongs to you now.”
Erik looked sad at the mention of his dad, of course he’d be, he is a child and everything happened yesterday, literally.
T’Challa felt guilty, he wanted to try and cheer him up or get to know his cousin but he just made him feel bad.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned your dad.” T’Challa looked down
“O-Oh it’s fine, it’s not your fault.” Erik sighed heavily
“I-If you don’t mind I can show you around Wakanda tomorrow! What do you think?” T’Challa smiled big and wide trying to cheer his cousin up. He took Erik’s hand and held them tightly
Erik was a little startled, his cousin’s smile was so pretty, he was pretty. He could feel a light blush coming, he tried averting his gaze.
“Fine, I guess.”
T’Challa hugged him hard. Erik was surprised, but he hugged him back. T’Challa them said in a more quiet tone “If you need anything you can ask me ok? I’ll be here for you, you’re part of our family now.”
Erik felt the tears coming back and just sunk his head in his cousin’s shoulder and let the tears flow.
Once they broke apart Erik’s face was a little swollen from crying, he sobbed and said “Thanks”
“Feeling any better?”
“A bit.”
T’Challa smiled again, this time it was a small gentle smile. “Well, I’m going back to my room, good night. N’Jadaka.” He got up from Erik’s bed and made his way out.
“Good night, cuz”
Erik then went to sleep thinking about T’Challa’s pretty face.