Yield

Erik freezes, momentarily stunned, the dark-red feeling of bloodlust still pounding in his veins. He must not have heard T'Challa correctly, Erik thinks. Or perhaps not - perhaps T'Chakas's spoiled, golden child really is just the sort of coward who would choose dishonour over death. 

But nothing is going to stop Erik from getting his revenge. 

With a furious snarl, Erik brings his knives down on T'Challa's prone form. This moment - the culmination of a lifetime of blood, sweat and heartbreak - he's going to burn it into his memory, turn it over and savour it in his mind for the rest of his life. 

CLANG!

His knives are intercepted by the shaft of a long spear. Metal screams against metal as the vibranium weapons clash.

Erik hisses in rage. 

It's Zuri, the shaman, standing between Erik and his victim.

Zuri...Uncle James.

"He has yielded," Zuri says firmly, blocking Erik's killing blow. "You are the lawful winner of the ritual combat. The challenge is now over - my king."

Over? I'm going to kill him, and you as well!, Erik almost shouts. The words rise to the tip of his tongue, but prudence - caution - makes him hesitate.

My king. 

He won. Beat T'Challa soundly, routed him, before the eyes of all of Wakanda. T'Challa yielded (like a coward, Erik thinks contemptuously) and Erik is the king now. 

Much as Erik wants to, he can't kill T'Challa and Zuri right now. It wouldn't be wise to show his disregard for Wakandan traditions and laws by slaughtering their shaman and ex-king on the spot. He'd lose all public support before he's even been crowned.

Erik grits his teeth, swallowing his fury down into the pit of his stomach. He's already waited thirty years for revenge - he can wait a while longer.

Anyway, he can always have T'Challa assassinated once things have died down a bit. Perhaps a little accident could be arranged.

Composing himself, Erik turns to Zuri with a vicious little smirk. 

"Sorry," Erik says, with as much sincerity as he can manage (which wasn't much). "I got carried away with the fight."

Zuri doesn't look like he particularly believes Erik. But there's nothing else to be done, except for Zuri to approach Erik with the bone-fang necklace - the mantle of King and Black Panther.

Zuri places the necklace ceremonially around Erik's neck as they turn to face the gathered spectators.

"The King of Wakanda!" Zuri announces.

Nobody claps or cheers. Nobody looks pleased as they dutifully cross their arms over their chests.

Erik doesn't care. It's the best fucking day of his life.

"And the King can now proceed to claim his...prize," Zuri continues, with the slightest of grimaces.

Erik is sharp. He doesn't miss Zuri's small pause, the way that his eyes flicker towards T'Challa, kneeling bloody and broken before Erik in the water. Doesn't miss the way the corners of Zuri's mouth tighten with worry as he says the word "prize".

"What," Erik says to himself, quietly. "The fuck."

"But we're cousins," Erik says in flat disbelief. 

"It is tradition," the Merchant Tribe elder replies, as if that was the final word on the matter.

"Man, y'all sure are into some kinky shit here," Erik says, laughing, even as his mind reels. His father's notebook definitely hadn't mentioned this particular Wakandan tradition. 

Apparently, in addition to the throne, the winner of the ritual challenge also had the right to claim the defeated challenger as a prize.

Claim, as in fuck.

"My King, do you not wish to exercise your claim?" Zuri asks, a touch of hopefulness in his voice. 

Erik is torn. 

On one hand - he wants nothing more than to end T'Challa's worthless life this instant, to complete his revenge by driving his knives into T'Challa's chest.

But on the other hand - imagine T'Challa's torment, T'Chaka turning in his grave as Erik claims his precious golden son. The best sort of revenge.

Well. Upon further consideration, Erik reflects, he can always arrange to have T'Challa assassinated after he'd had his fun first.

"The hell I won't," Erik declares to the council, starting to smirk. "I have the greatest respect for Wakanda's traditions. Bring T'Challa to me."