another challenge

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authors pov

12:03 PM. WAKANDA, AFRICA

"is this man wakandan or not?" the leader of the river tribe asks the king. y/n sits by his side, and shuri standing next to him. 

"sixelele ukuba kuqhubeka ntoni,"

the double doors open, revealing n'jadaka with a smirk on his face. his hands behind his back and w'kabi is holding his arm. n'jadaka looks around, taking in the room. and spots y/n. the red stubborn headed beauty, the king's ex. now, he's heard a bit about her, but he didn't know she was this beautiful. 

"thetha," t'challa says to him. 

"speak," w'kabi translates for him. 

"i'm standing in your house..." n'jadaka starts. "serving justice to a man who stole your vibranium and murdered your people. justice your king couldn't deliver," t'challa stands up, okoye following him and the dora milaje following her.  they come from down the stairs, synchronized and ready to strike. 

y/n and shuri look at each other as ramonda looks at the stranger. why does he look so familiar?

"i don't care that you brought klaue," t'challa whispers to him. "only reason i don't kill you where you stand is because i know who you are. now, what do you want?"

"i want the throne," n'jadaka admits, making the leader of the merchant tribe laugh. 

"kulunga kwam," the other elders laugh with her. 

"y'all sitting up here comfortable," n'jadaka says. "must feel good. it's about two billion people all over the world that looks like us. but their lives are a lot harder. wakanda has the tools to liberate 'em all,"

"and what tools are those?" t'challa asks. 

"vibranium. you weapons," n'jadaka says. 

"our weapons will not be used to wage war on the world," t'challa says. "it is not our way to be judge, jury and executioner...for people who are not our own,"

"not your own?" n'jadaka asks. "but didn't life start right here in this continent? so ain't all people your people?"

"i am not king of all people," t'challa says. "i am king of wakanda. and it is responsibility to make sure our people are safe...and that vibranium does not fall into the hands of a person like you,"

n'jadaka nods, glaring straight at t'challa. 

"son," ramonda says. "we have entertained this charlatan for too long. reject his request,"

"oh, i ain't requesting nothing," n'jadaka chuckles. "ask who i am,"

"you are erik stevens," y/n starts, standing up next to ramonda and shuri. 

"an american black operative," shuri finishes. "a mercenary nicknamed killmonger. that's who you are,"

"that's not my name, sexy," n'jadaka says, smirking at y/n. "but you're right, princess," talking to shuri. 

"ask me, king," n'jadaka taunts t'challa. 

"no,"

"ask me," t'challa turns around, ignoring him. 

"take him away," he says to dora milaje. 

"ungubani?" the leader of the river tribe asks n'jadaka pointing at him. 

"ndiyinkosana n;jadaka, unyana kankosana nojobu," n'jadaka shouts, making everyone shocked. well, beside y/n and t'challa. 

"huh?"

"unyana kanjobu?"

"i found my daddy with panther claws in his chest!" n'jadaka cries out. "you ain't the son of the king. you a son of a murderer,"

"uyaxoka!" ramonda shouts. "lies!"

"i'm afraid not, queen mother," w'baki says, raising the chain with a ring on it. the leader of the river tribe gasps. ramonda raises her hand, expecting the chain to be handed to her. 

"inzala kanjobu,"

"hey auntie," n'jadaka says, looking at her. w'baki hands the chain to ramonda who looks at it carefully. "i'm exercising my blood right to challenge for the mantels of king...and black panther," a loud silence holds the throne room as ramonda walks up to her son. 

"do not do this t'challa," she says to him. 

"as the son of prince n'jobu," the leader of the border tribe starts. "he is within is rights,"

"he has no rights here!" ramonda shouts. 

"the challenge will take weeks to prepare,"

"weeks? i don't need weeks," n'jadaka says. "the whole country ain't gotta be there. i just need him. and somebody to get me out of these chains," t'challa sits back in his throne, y/n sitting by his side. she puts her hands on his arm, trying to give him comfort. and she is. 

"t'challa, what do you know of this?" ramonda asks him. 

"i accept your challenge," t'challa says. y/n blinks. he what?!