xp_logs | Warumbe (epilogue 2) (Reply)

Before departing the mansion for Wakanda on Sunday morning, T'Challa passes along some unsettling information to Ororo and Nathan regarding the attempt on the life.

"Is there a particular reason you're staring balefully at the phone?" Nathan tried to keep his voice light on the question, but he was wondering just what had gotten T'Challa so upset. He'd sensed the other man's turbulent thoughts at the end of the hall, and had muttered a warning to Ororo before they'd reached the door of the guest suite. T'Challa had welcomed them both in courteously enough, urging them to sit, but he was clearly distracted.

T'Challa rubbed his hands over his face, the gesture almost weary, and then looked up at the two of them, his expression grim. "News from home," he said. "About Moses's escape from custody."

Ororo had to surpress an expression of surprise; she certainly hadn't expected any answers quite so quickly, though of course they had hoped to find how the madman had gotten free. "What did they say?" she asked cautiously.

"It happened a week ago. Quite an involved jailbreak, as I understand," T'Challa said tiredly, leaning back in his chair. "You would think they would have informed the Wakandan government. It would only have been polite, no?"

Nathan tilted his head, frowning as he eyed T'Challa. "You... there's something more, isn't there?" he asked abruptly. T'Challa gave him a quick, almost defensive look, and Nathan shrugged, sighing. "Not reading your mind. You just look a little wild around the eyes."

"One of Moses's men was captured by our troops," T'Challa said after a moment. "He had information..." He trailed off, and the 'wild around the eyes' look was all too obvious.

Glancing at Nathan, Ororo rubbed her hands over her knees for a moment. "Anything you can share with us would be most useful," she said finally, looking back to T'Challa. "Especially as he was last sighted here, in New York. The more we know the better our chances at locating and capturing him once again."

"According to this man, those who freed Moses did so in return for his services. They sent him to kill me." T'Challa's voice took on a note of bewilderment. "I didn't know I had that many enemies! I've always concerned myself mostly with Wakandan affairs. I've been involved in humanitarian work beyond our borders, like what I'm doing with you, Nathan, but it has never been a formal thing."

Well. Didn't that just change the tenor of what had happened... Frowning, Nathan leaned back in his own chair, shaking his head slightly. "I gather this guy didn't have any information about the identity of the people who sprang Moses, or you would have said." T'Challa shook his head, confirming it, and Nathan gave Ororo a sideways look. "This is a bit of a twist."

"Quite. And it adds even more for the necessity of heightened security while you travel, T'Challa."

T'Challa developed what could only be called a mutinous look. "I am not an official figure," he said stiffly. "I am not accustomed to having to travel with a retinue."

"Would you rather be a dead unofficial figure?" Nathan asked pointedly. "In our rather eventful time together, I've noticed that you can get shot. And before the three of us ever met, didn't Moses nearly kill you?" He shot Ororo a discreet 'back me up, here' look.

Deciding to go for the 'soothing' tactic instead of the 'purposefully pointing out insulting things' one, Ororo put on a beatific expression. "Though it's certainly admirable that you do not wish to put anyone else in harm's way, wouldn't it serve your country better if you were to return safe, and in one piece? There is nothing to be ashamed of in ensuring your own safety, especially if it means you would then be around to help others stay safe as well."

T'Challa gave them both a deeply suspicious look. "I know this tactic. This is 'good cop, bad cop', isn't it?" But there was an increasing edge of resignation to his tone and expression, his shoulders slumping slightly as he finally started to properly process the news. "I may not have a role in my government, but they will not permit me to endanger myself by refusing security in a situation like this. I expect they are merely waiting for me to return home safely before making this clear."

"Well then. We will do our part to see that you do return home safely, and leave the rest to you and your government. That seems fair, yes?"

T'Challa gazed across at them, smiling slightly after a moment. "I may not have mentioned it," he said, "in quite so many words - but thank you. Both of you. This has been an eventful first trip to New York, but all things considered, I prefer this sort of ending to what might have happened."

"We like you bullet-free, too," Nathan said after a moment, but there was a suspiciously warm look in his gray eyes, despite the flippant response.

Rolling her own eyes, Ororo gave both men a smile. "Now, if there are no objections, I would like to volunteer to arrange your transportation to the airport, T'Challa. Otherwise you may find yourself with five small blonde girls as your bodyguards for the duration of the trip."