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It was a cold and chilly night in Boston, Massachusetts. Riri Williams had gotten into a disagreement with her friend and was now sitting in silence as the Charle River dock. Her legs were hovered just above the dark water. Most people hated being near the water at night but Riri enjoyed it. She'd been going there since she was just thirteen. Something about it felt peaceful, it felt nice.

Despite the many complaints over the years of people reportedly seeing a woman who would peek her head out of the water at night. She never believed them, nor was she afraid. At least that's what she liked to tell herself. It was better than admitting you were scared.

Soulina quietly peeked her head out of the water, trying her best not to make a sound. She looked around, not seeing Riri at her usual spot, leaning on the railing of the bridge. Soulina knit her brows in confusion and looked around more before eventually letting out a sigh of relief as she noticed the girl on the dock. Unfortunately this meant Riri was near the lights that were on at night.

Soulina quietly swam underneath a dock and admired Riri from afar. It was closer than she was used to but she wasn't complaining. It gave her a better look of the girl she'd practically been in love with since she was fifteen. She wished she could tell someone about it, but nobody could know she swam up to the surface, let alone swam all the way to Boston, Massachusetts every night. Was it unnecessary? A little bit. Was it worth it? Totally.

Every second of admiring the girl was ever second she came up with some new scenario she had of the two. She didn't know how she felt but she knew it wasn't anything that meant "just friends" of course. These were the times she wished she could talk to her mother. Her mother would understand better than anyone. Her father definitely couldn't.

Soulina suddenly perked up, seeing another head peek from the water. Attuma opened his mouth and began to sing a tune, causing Riri to subconsciously begin to stand up. Soulina's eyes widened and she swam over to the dock and caught Riri before she could fall into the water with no control. Soulina set Riri onto the dock and swam over to Attuma, glaring at him.

Soulina covered his mouth to stop his singing and shoved him in anger. "You could've killed her!" She exclaimed in Mayan. Before he could respond they both turned their heads hearing Riri start to freak out, realizing she was suddenly a little wet (i dont wanna hear it) and didn't know how she ended up laid down on the dock.

"Go, now." Soulina ordered the warrior. He clenched his jaw before swimming back down, obeying the princess's orders.

"Who's there?!" Riri squinted her eyes, looking at the dark water.

Suddenly a dolphin jumped up from the water, startling Riri but she smiled at it anyways. Soulina sighed sadly and swam back down, the dolphin now following her. She and Attuma rode on the back of the whales all the way back home in silence. He could sense Soulina was upset so he didn't want to say anything to upset her more.

Soulina and Attuma walked to her bedroom in silence, walking quietly on the tiles as the City of Talokan was asleep. Soulina shut the door and looked at Attuma who leaned against the wall, disappointment flashed across his face. "How'd you know where I was?" Soulina sat down on the bench in front of her bed and crossed her arms over her chest, trying her best to look intimidating, but failing as he only smirked in amusement.

"I heard you sneak out so I followed you. Now it's my turn for questions. Why were you in that city, at the surface, disobeying K'uk'ulkan?" Attuma crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the girl he saw as a little sister in disappointment.

Soulina sighed, her head falling. She hated when Attuma was disappointed in her, or anyone really. She was supposed to be responsible and a good example for the children and teens of Talokan. She was the princess after all. "I just- I wanted to see the city at night. I don't mean to disobey father but he won't let me do anything. He won't let me leave this place." Soulina explained.

"And for good reason, Soulina. You know what happened to your-"

"Don't speak of her." Soulina interjected. Attuma sighed and nodded in understanding, "but you know what I mean."

"I know, trust I know. But she wouldn't want this life for me. She would want me to take risks and explore the world. Not stay locked down here for the rest of my life and not live. She would want me to take control of my life." Soulina ran a hand over her hair, avoiding contact with Attuma.

"So that's where you've been sneaking off every night?" Attuma took a seat next to her, placing his arm around her shoulder in comfort. Soulina nodded, leaning her head on his shoulder with a soft smile. "I still don't approve of this. But, if it makes you happy I won't say anything. Just don't leave the water or talk to anyone. Understood?" Attuma raised his brows, looking at her for an answer.

Soulina smiled and nodded happily, "Understood. Thank you, Uma." Soulina hugged him tightly, managing to get him to crack a small grin which was very rare to see. "You're never dropping that name are you?" He asked, scoffing at it but it amused him anyways.

"Would you prefer salmon head instead?" Soulina grinned and his grin dropped. "Go to sleep," he ordered, standing up and making his way to the door.

"I take that as a no," Soulina mumbled in French, crawling into bed.

"Goodnight, Soulina," Attuma hummed before leaving the room.

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"You called me for me papa?" Soulina entered K'uk'ulkan's office room (idk what to call it okay). She glanced behind her, watching curiously as Namora left the room. Usually Namora stuck around but this time she didn't. Which meant it must've been something that K'uk'ulkan wanted to speak to with her alone about.

K'uk'ulkan set down his paint brush and turned around to face his daughter. Soulina and K'uk'ulkan always had a very good and strong father daughter relationship. He was extremely overprotective like a father should be. But he could be a bit overbearing. The only thing that kept them from growing closer was how overprotective he could be. He never let any of the Talokan boys near here or even speak to her, and that made everyone scared to talk to her. Therefore why she had no friends. Though she did consider the ocean animals her friends.

"You're twentieth birthday is coming up, and I know you aren't fond of your birthday. But, I had an idea that I think you'll like." K'uk'ulkan spoke, walking towards her. Soulina's eyes lit up slightly, hoping this meant he would finally let her go to see the surface world.

"How would you like to go to-"

"The surface world?" Soulina excitedly interrupted. He raised a brow and she toned down her excitement so it wasn't so suspicious. "If you'd let me finish. How would you like to go Wakanda with me?"

Soulina's face masked confusion and she looked at her father, not sure if he was messing with her. "But I thought you said Wakanda was dangerous? They hurt mama, remember?" Soul pointed out and he sighed. He always got sad when his late queen was mentioned. He never really got over it. How could he? He lost the love of his life and never grieved her properly.

Soulina remembered the day like it was yesterday. When Monsella was rushed into the Talokan healing room with bleeding slashes that came down her cheek all the way down her jawline to her neck. She barely survived. She had gotten into a disagreement with the Black Panther about Atlantica's alignment with them and he attempted to kill the Siren Queen. Soulina was only five when that happened. She held a hatred for Wakanda every since.

"That was a long time ago, and the man that hurt mama is no longer alive. They don't even have a King anymore. So what do you say my little seashell?" The serpent god walked over and set his hands on her shoulders, soft and caring smile on his face.

Soulina wasn't sure of going to Wakanda but this meant she could finally leave the water for the first time since her mother died. "Okay. Yes I'll go with you." Soulina smiled excitedly and K'uk'ulkan grinned and embraced his excited daughter.

"We leave tonight so be ready," K'uk'ulkan pulled away and went back to his painting, not noticing the look of sadness on Soulina's face. This meant she wouldn't get to see Riri at the river. It was disappointing but after what happened last night, she wasn't so sure seeing Riri anymore was a good idea. It was obvious Riri would be scared of her. It made her sad but it was also understandable.

Soulina walked out, giving Namora a nod of acknowledgement and heading back to her room. She stumbled slightly, still getting used to walking after being in her tail for so long. She always preferred swimming over walking but K'uk'ulkan didn't want her swimming all the time as it prevented her from even having the abilitie to walk. It happened to her mother a few times when Monsella and K'uk'ulkan first started dating.

Soulina flipped the middle finger at Namora, having heard a small chuckle from the woman. Namora raised a brow, unsure what the finger meant. Soulina learned it from when she watched the surface people at the beach. "Clownfish," Soulina muttered in French as she walked to room.

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Soulina's face formed a happy smile as she swum side by side with her father. Her beautiful tail making her a bit faster than him. "Stay here, my little sub-mariner," K'uk'ulkan spoke as they came to a stop.

Soulina nodded and stayed in the water, watching as K'uk'ulkan's head broke to the surface of the water and he listened to the conversation of the Princess and the Queen. Soulina knew she wasn't supposed to be she peeked her head out of the water and decided to eavesdrop.

All Soulina was told was that K'uk'ulkan was here to speak to the Queen and Princess of Wakanda. She knew they were hiding some kind of secret from her but right now she only cared about going above the water to the surface.

"I'm not doing this, mother. If I sit, and think about my brother for too long. It won't be these I'll burn. It will be the world. Everyone in it." Soulina tilted her head in curiosity as the princess spoke. She remembered feeling the exact same way about losing her mother. Except now she could mention her mother without getting angry or upset.

"Shuri," the Queen sighed, taking a pause. "Shuri, there's something I have to tell you. About your brother." Before the Queen could continue, she was interrupted when the elephant near the water let out a loud roar, running away. Soulina quickly ducked back down into the water as the Queen grabbed a spear and ran to inspect. Shuri running over to her mother, unsure of her actions.

K'uk'ulkan rose from the water, his winged ankles keeping him up in the air and taking him towards the royals. "This better not be apart of your ritual," Shuri told her mother, holding up a spear of her own.

"It isn't!" The Queen retorted, holding up her spear.

Namor landed onto the rich soil and ran a hand down his wet black hair, "Stop right there!" The Queen ordered, and Namor did as told, not wanting to cause trouble just yet. "Who are you and how did you get in here?!" The Queen questioned, clearly feeling threatened by Namor's presence.

K'uk'ulkan glanced around, "This place is amazing. The air is pristine..and the water." K'uk'ulkan gestured to it, almost happy to finally see Wakanda. Monsella always said how beautiful and amazing it was but nobody ever went after what happened to her. "My mother and wife told me stories about a place like this. A protected land with people who never have to leave. That never have to change who they were." The Sub-Mariner almost wanted to smile, seeing the place exactly as his wife and mother described.

"What reason do you have to reveal your secret to the world?" Namor questioned, genuinely curious of the decision.

"I am not a woman who enjoys repeating herself. Who are you?" The Queen spoke, fed up with Namor not answering the question.

Soulina's head broke through the surface of the water and she watched the interaction curiously. "I have many names. My people call me K'uk'ulkan. But my enemies call me Namor."

Soulina now swam over, causing the two royals to turn their heads behind Namor to see what made the noise. Soulina made sure her top half was above the water surface and her tail disappeared and she was back to having legs. She slowly walked out of the water, running her hands down her wet hair as she made her way to stand next to her father. Tight green shorts like Namor's were already on her body so she obviously wasn't naked.

"And I call him father," Soulina smiled softly, looking at the princess who was looking at her in curiosity. Shuri furrowed her brows, trying to figure out why the mermaid girl looked so familiar. Not only was she familiar but she was so oddly captivating it made Shuri feel uneasy.

Meanwhile Soulina was trying to conceal her excitement of finally being on surface land after almost a decade. "The American military detected vibranium under my nation's domain. I was able to, stop them from entering." Namor's smile made the two royals uneasy and Soulina looked at her feet, masking her obvious confusion from the revelation. K'uk'ulkan or Atumma hadn't informed her of any of this so this was all news to her.

"But we need Wakanda's help to prevent it from happening again. They used a machine designed by an American scientist." Namor informed but the two royal kept their stoic faces. But Soulina could read the confusion through their eyes. "Vibranium only exists here. In Wakanda." Queen Ramonda spoke, her hold on the spear not faltering.

"Mother, they're covered in it." Shuri spoke, looking Soulina up and down and she could tell from the vibranium in her shorts, the vibranium in her top and bracelets and jewelry on her. She never wore armor like more warriors as she felt it was a bit unnecessary. Even with armor you could still get wounded so she felt no use for it. The only thing you could consider armor on her was the vibranium waistline belt on her green shorts just like Namor's.

"You're son exposed the power of vibranium to the world. In response other nations have begun searching the planet for it. His choice, has comprised us. I think Wakanda could find the scientist and bring it to me. It is only fair that Wakanda helps to resolve our dilemma." Namor spoke. Soulina pursed her lips, not aware of any of this but then again she didn't really care to keep up with any news.

"You do not sneak into my country and tell me what is fair!" The Queen snapped. Soulina's clueless gaze turned into an icy glare towards the Queen, not liking how she spoke to her father who was making a good point.

"I have more soldiers than this land has plates of grass. And they have uncontrollable strength. I would hate to come back on different circumstances." Namor spoke, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder to calm her down. He could almost sense her anger. And that never went well as she never had the best control over her anger. It was curse but also a gift at time.

Namor dropped down to knee, a seashell in his hands and the royals bent down, their spears still being held up defensively. "When you have the scientist, blow into this, place it in the ocean. I'll be there shortly afterwards." Namor had set the seashell on the soil and stood back up, and they followed his movements. "For your own sake, don't mention anything about us to anyone outside of Wakanda."

K'uk'ulkan gave Soulina a look and he turned around and dived back into the water. Soulina offered a nod to the royal people before jumping up, her tail replacing her legs as she dived into the pristine water. Shuri's eyes widened seeing the tail, and she watched closely as it disappeared once Soulina's entire body was under the water, retreating after her father.

"Did you see the wings on his ankles? And the tail on the girl?" Shuri asked her mother, slowly lowering her weapon. Ramonda just nodded and bent down, picking up the slightly heavy seashell. Ramonda looked up suddenly seeing a big yellow machine near the bomb fire. "Yo, how did they do that?" Shuri looked at it in shock.

"We must consult with the council."

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a.n: first chapter done, yay! how do we like soulina so far? she's a little inspired by Ariel who's one of my favorite Disney Princesses. I'm literally so excited Halle is playing her 🤭

soulinas bond with attuma <33

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