"Tell us of your walkabout, T'Challa," the Teacher says to the young man at dinner that night.
The day had passed with the Teacher getting ready to have his group leave the area. After the warning of T'Challa, he was unsure about their safety and no matter why he taught the children how to steal, he cared for them. And since he respected T'Challa, he made preparations. Ororo looked at the young man who started to talk about his walkabout and wondered whether she could also go on one of those, to become a woman.
"What is a girl's rite of passage? How does she cross into womanhood? Do you know how we become women, Adai?" she asks silently.
"Some say it is when your cycle begins; others say it can only be reached through the loins of a man," Adai tells her.
"Loins of a man? Sounds like the words of a man."
"It is true, in some ways," Adai admits.
"So for a girl to reach her womanhood, she must... must... You know. That."
"You disagree?" Adai asks.
"Adai... is that the only way?"
"Ororo, you are without experience."
Ororo looks to the side, at T'Challa, who is also looking at her and stands up from her table and walks away. She needs a moment to herself, away from all the others. However, T'Challa suddenly appears behind her, with his flute in hand. He walked silently, so she didn't hear him.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk. To think." Ororo says.
"Would you like to be along or in the mood for some company to share your thoughts?" he asks her.
"What mood are you in?" Ororo challenges him, thinking about Adai's words.
"Well, surely not what you are thinking right now. I have been alone for weeks now. This is a welcome respite, and company would be nice. Especially if it is of such a beautiful white lioness like you."
"You have company. They all want your ear," she argues.
"That is not the kind of company I prefer right now."
"If it's only for company, nothing more, you are welcome to join me, warrior prince from Wakanda. For anything more than that, there are plenty of girls who are more than willing to accommodate your bed." Ororo declares.
T'Challa doesn't answer and instead walks closer. Her heart starts to beat fast, and her palms begin to sweat, for reasons she can't explain.
"I admire your position and would gladly accompany you, without hidden intentions," T'Challa says, making Ororo gulp.
"I-in that case, you can come."
The two walk deeper into the woods in silence until Ororo starts to talk about what she wanted to for a while.
"T'Challa, what do you want to be when you are older? What is your future, as you see it?"
"It is not about what I want, but duty. I will become the King of Wakanda after completing my journey and studies."
"But is it what you want? Do you do it simply because you are required to do it?" she asks.
"You can learn to love most things, Ororo. I am lucky enough also to want to become King, and not just have to do it."
...
"Will you play the flute for me, T'Challa?"
"Will you dance for me, Ororo?"
"Is that what you need?" she narrows her eyes.
"Haha, you are amusing, Ororo. I don't need it, but would appreciate it. If you don't want to do it, it doesn't matter. I will naturally still play the flute for you."
The two spend the evening together, with T'Challa playing the flute and Ororo listening to it. She did dance in the end, but out of her own free will and not because T'Challa wanted her to.
.
T'Challa and Ororo are walking through the market the next day. T'Challa smiles, seeing her looking for things to steal, and shakes his head.
"Ororo."
"What?"
"Behave yourself. Or I'll ask you to walk around while clapping your hands." T'Challa says.
"Clap my hands?"
"It's impossible to steal while clapping your hands."
"Two days with you and you think you are the prince of Ororo. The King of Munroe. Well, let me tell you a thing or two T'Challa-"
"Yes, yes. I understand," T'Challa says and walks up to a stand, starting to discuss the prices with the vendor.
"You look good together. Take down your hair, wear this cloth that has been blessed, buy and wear these earrings. Special price for you. One glance at you and you will steal his heart as he has stolen yours?" a female vendor tells Ororo as she looks at the offers.
"It shows?" Ororo asks, and the two women laugh and continue to jest with one another.
"I love the dress, sadly, I can't afford the earrings," Ororo tells the lady.
"Then they are my gift to you," she says, giving Ororo the earrings as well.
"Thank you very much. You are most generous."
"Don't mention it, young one. Now go and get it before it's too late."
Ororo meets back up with T'Challa, who bought essentials they might need, and together they make their way back to the camp.
"When was the last time you were back home?" T'Challa asks.
"I was so young, I can barely remember New York. I remember my mother being afraid of America. Horrible things were happening there."
"Not America, I mean Kenya."
"Oh, no. We lived in Cairo but never went to Kenya. War killed my parents before... before. Now, I don't know... I'd be afraid to go there." Ororo says.
"Why would you be afraid?" he asks.
"My hair and blue eyes. What if they treated me badly? Differently?"
"What if they welcome you with open arms?"
"No one has ever welcomed me with open arms," Ororo says.
"I'd welcome you with open arms, any day. But still, you should travel. It helps you understand life and yourself. If you just flee all the time, you can't truly grow. Not visiting your home, because you are afraid or because something might happen, is not the way to do things. If you are afraid, I'll accompany you."
"Your father is a king. Everyone will welcome you with open arms. I'm an orphan who steals, that's a big difference, don't you think?" Ororo asks.
"Is being a thief all you are capable of, then? Has your development been completed?" he asks her.
"No."
"No, it hasn't. You are capable of doing whatever you set your mind to. Someone who has survived what you have shouldn't belittle herself." T'Challa says.
"What do you see when you look at me?" Ororo asks.
"A beautiful white lioness." T'Challa smiles.
"How many women have you said that to?" she asks.
"None. But I would tell it to my stepmother when she gets to that age."
"Stepmother?"
"My mother is dead, killed by me during birth. After my father remarried, Ramonda became my mother instead and helped me get through that time."
They make it to a nice spot, with a small waterfall and lay out the blankets and the food and water they bought. It seems like a nice day for them to spend together.
"Say, why do you look at me in that way, T'Challa?" Ororo asks him.
"What look?"
"The one you have right now."
"I suppose it's the same one you have, isn't it? What does your look mean?" T'Challa smiles.
He has started to relax a bit, which tells him that he had been tense. He hadn't realised it, but after his memories kicked in, he had been on a 'mission' of sorts. To protect his family, his nation and himself from all dangers that lurked just beyond the next hill. They would come, and Wakanda wouldn't be able to hide forever. But now, with Ororo, he forgot about all of it, just for a brief fraction, he allowed himself to enjoy the feelings he had slowly developed. He knew it was wrong, he knew that he was older than she was, but it wasn't physical attraction; it seemed like it could develop into something more. But he knew that there was some law in comics that prevented characters from reaching happiness, so he didn't trust his own feelings just yet.
"Maybe I should ask you to clap your hands when you are around me," Ororo says.
"Oh..." T'Challa is surprised and touched a bit. "That was very nicely said, Ororo."
.
As the night approached, the two looked at the stars in the sky. The air had gotten rather strange for Ororo as she felt like she was trapped in some way by the unspoken words she couldn't get off her chest.
"Tell me about your father, T'Challa."
"My father... was a great man. A true warrior and a good father. He taught me a lot, and I am truly grateful for all he's told me, all the wisdom he has imparted."
"Was?"
"Yes. When I was 11, he sacrificed himself to save me from men trying to steal our Vibranium. He died to protect me from their greed. After that, the child died, and the man was born. I have been striving to prepare, train and make sure something like that wouldn't happen again. But I still have a long way to go."
"I wish I could say the same."
"Same? Same what?"
"That Ororo, the child, could finally make way for the woman."
"Why are you in a hurry to become a woman, Ororo?"
"I want to be treated equally, like everyone else."
"Man wasn't created equally. Why would you want to be treated that way? You're beautiful and will grow into one of, if not the most beautiful woman on Earth, I'm sure." T'Challa says.
"And how would you know that?"
"I attended to you when you were injured, and I have been looking at you for the past two days."
"Right. You had your hands all over me."
"Haha, that sounds bad. But seriously, don't rush those things. You will become a woman in due time." T'Challa says and looks up to the stars again.
"What would you know, you're not a woman."
"Haa... Look at me Ororo." T'Challa says and gently makes her look at him.
"Wha-"
"You are strong. Being different is not the same as being bad or disgusting. Be proud of the gift you were born with. Use it, hone it to the max, and it will make you strong. Then you will be a woman. A strong one."
"Whoa."
"What?"
"You're making me..."
*RUMBLE*
Lightning strikes suddenly, following Ororo's emotional state.
"Why is this happening to me? We walk all day, and it is fine. Then at night... when we are alone and you get too close to me..." Ororo asks.
"Focus, Ororo. This is your power, your ability. It belongs to you. Therefore, you hold all authority over it. Command it."
"Not fair."
"What's not fair?"
"You know how I feel about you. I don't know how you feel." Ororo says, and T'Challa understands what she's talking about.
He decides to be honest.
"This is how I feel..." T'Challa says and approaches her.
For the first time since gaining his memories, for the first time since he started to truly prepare in many different ways, he just stopped thinking and let go. He dissolves into this moment and does not prepare for the next, giving in to the bubbling feelings starting to build up pressure inside him.
*Zzzzzzbroooom*
Lightning strikes the tree right next to them and lights it on fire.
"Umm... maybe we shouldn't touch each other anymore." Ororo says.
"You're truly gifted, Ororo." T'Challa says, looking at the small fire.
"Can I make this gift go away?"
"No. But you can make it truly yours by mastering it and not working against it." he tells her.
"It scares me and overwhelms me."
"When you feel it overwhelm you, inhale deeply. Breathe. Don't fight your power, accept it. Then you can learn to control it and understand who and what you are." T'Challa tells her. He knows just how powerful Ororo Munroe could become. Ororo turns away from him and tries to walk away.
"What's the matter?"
"How many fires have you started?" she asks him.
"Fires?"
"Have you been with many women?"
"Huh?... Oh, I see. Haha. I have not started any fires as of yet. That was my first, I can assure you."
"So you have never loved another woman?"
"I love my mother and my sister Shuri. But as far as love goes, that's it." T'Challa says.
Ororo doesn't say anything and grabs some things.
"Where are you going?" he asks.
"To bathe."
"Very well."
____________________________________________
No intercourse. No matter the time or whatever, 13 is far too young, so that won't happen. As I said, slow. We'll get moving in the next chapter.