CHARACTER SWAP

[Storm]

The last few days had to be rough on all heroes in the United States. Storm had found herself not only juggling with fighting against the Mutant Registration Act, however, she was also dealing with the Superhuman Registration Act. She had found herself fighting against S.H.I.E.L.D. and their forces after the Secret Avengers were ambushed. She seen the Vision killed from the hands of She-Hulk. On top of that, her X-Men's secret base was attacked by the Purifiers, with the X-Men only able to save one of the rescuees. There has been so much death around her. She was suppose to protect those mutants that did not register and now, they were gone. With that, they were probably better off as registered.

The thoughts had continued to go through Storm's mind as she had decided to fly all the way from Genosha to Wakanda, which was not so much of a long flight as it would have been if she were still in the states. If she were in the states, chances were she would not have made such a long trip. After the Purifiers had attacked the base, it was presumed by the public that she and the X-Men that were with her, had died. Needless to say, it was just better that way for the time being, just so the Purifiers would assume such an incident had happened.

The only ones that had known of the X-Men's survival were Charles, Scott, and Magneto along with his Brotherhood. The Weather Witch did not like the fact of residing on Genosha with the X-Men's arch rivals. However, she trusted Charles and had faith that he knew what he was doing. Not even Captain America knew if she was still alive or not. It was just too risky to let out to the public...not yet at least.

However, everyone needed to get away for a second. If Storm did not, then how would anyone expect her to be at the top of her game when she is needed on the battlefield? She couldn't reside on Genosha for that. Especially with the Brotherhood acting all paranoid because the X-Men were residing there. She needed someone she can trust and the first that had come to her mind was T'Challa. She had missed him greatly. Ever since the Mutant Registration Act had taken place, the two lovers were cut completely from one another. It would have been too risky to make contact in the states, especially with Tony Stark would have found a way to listen in to them. Not to mention, he had to know that she really was not dead.

A few hours later, Storm had made it to Wakanda. With her passport into the country, she was able to get in as well as to get access to the King's territory. However, to avoid being seen by many, she stood outside the palace, summoning a strong gust of wind to the window of T'Challa's bedroom. If he was there, he would notice the sudden winds, hopefully giving it off that she was indeed here.

[Black Panther]

Times in Wakanda were pretty high as well. After a recent visit from both Ms. Marvel and Jack Flag, T'Challa had found himself apart of a war that he had nothing to do with. Tony Stark had sent Carol to try and recruit him to their cause, or at least make sure he did not help Captain America. Speaking of which, Captain America sent Jack Flag over to see if he was being neutral in the battle as well. Though in the end, T'Challa told both members of their respectable parties to back off and to never bring fourth such treachery to him again. The Civil War that was taking place in the United States was not his fight. Saying that as a hero was hard in itself, because when you are a hero, a battle was always a hero's battle. But what they were doing, friends fighting friends, was not the way to go. He had other things to attend to, such as making sure his homeland was well protected from any outsiders.

Needless to say, things were very quiet around Wakanda lately. No one had dared to intrude on Wakandan soil and he had planned on keeping it that way. Perhaps it could have been the fact that the villains were getting smarter and deciding to go around Wakanda. The last attack on the country, in an attempt to steal the Vibranium, was when Ulysses Klaw had assembled a team to attempt to do so. The end resulted in T'Challa killing the man...for good, at least he hoped so. Though not a killing man, T'Challa had to do what needed to be done when not giving any other options. He still had his Ebony Blade, which he had taken from the Black Knight when he assisted Klaw in attacking Wakanda.

However, what had upset T'Challa the most was the death of his love Ororo. It was listed on the news of the Blacksmith Estates going up on flames from an unknown attack. Of course, the public immediately blamed it on mutants. However, there had seemed to be enough evidence to state that the X-Men were caught in the incident. The news had tore T'Challa. One was that he knew Storm was smart and quick. He knew that no threat could just keep her and her team away. He had faith that she was still alive, and somewhere safe.

This registration act had put a pause in their relationship. It was hard enough the two could never spend much time with one another. He had duties as a king, while she had duties as an X-Man. They both knew this and kept in mind that their heroics came first. He had missed her greatly, and deep down he wanted to tell her this. However, now he knew there was a chance that he'd never get that opportunity.

He was so begin a training session with Shuri real soon. She has been more than determined to become a better fighter after the last attack on Wakanda, and needless to say, she has improved greatly. The girl was a warrior and he respected her for that.

However, it was soon that a strong gust of wind would burst in his room, all sudden and immediately catching his attention. He stopped for a minute, the man did not have his heightened senses for nothing, one of the greatest traits of being a Black Panther. He was right...

He smirked as he looked out his window, putting his mask on, the Black Panther stood on the balcony and leaped far and landed lightly on top of the gate, seeing a familar beautiful woman that had seemed to be awaiting for the king himself. This was no dream, and it was no imposter. It was Ororo herself.

He jumped down, landing in front of her. He looked into her eyes, seeing as if tears of joy would escape them in any moment. She smiled as she seen him, the smile he loved to see greatly. Removing his mask, there were no more words to be said. The two lovers had approached one another and shared a passionate kiss, a kiss that was long overdue.

[Storm]

She knew that he would know, that it was her. As long as they have known each other, when they have worked together as teenagers to fend off the racist thugs in Kenya. The two have fell in love at such a young age and even though they did not see one another until a while ago, the love they had for one another had never left. They were each other's first love. Now it was their duties that had kept them apart. The war she was apart of, the country had constantly had to defend.

When they approached each other and shared that kiss, she did not want to let go. She missed touching him, holding him. She was a side of T'Challa that not many has seen and that is his vulnerable side.

The kiss came to an end as they continued to look into each other's eyes. Her right hand would caress his left cheek, and she couldn't help but share another kiss with him, which she did. "T'Challa, I missed you so much!" she grabbed him, holding him tight as she could. The Weather Witch would now have tears coming down her eyes. Those tears represented everything she was going through lately, and not to mention having T'Challa by her, the man she loved and would go straight to hell and back for, was here by her side. In these past few days, they have been tough and she needed to remain tough. But T'Challa, she knew he would understand and comfort her. She's lost so many people to the Purifiers and there were friends, such as Jean, Logan, Kurt, that she had no idea of their current whereabouts. Then apart of her, was upset of the Professor. She made that clear to him, though she still loved the man she now proclaimed as her father figure.

T'Challa, she could find nothing but happiness for. She could find the relief that she needed so desperately. Even a Goddess needed to be relieved. She was just so happy to see him and she refused to have any registration act, any mutant hating scum, to have her deny that.

[Black Panther]

Neither said anything for the moment. That was because like her, he was enjoying the moment of being together with her again. As her hand caressed his cheek, his left hand would touch hers. The Wakandan King was just enjoying the moment, with her. Admiring her beauty not only from the outside, but from the inside as well. There was no doubt that she had missed him as much as he missed her.

She was the one person that he could easily say that he would give anything for. Yes, he was a king, and his duties as a king would remain for as long as he was a king. But this woman was someone he knew he could rely upon outside of being a king. He had hoped that someday, he would marry her, for her to be his queen. However, he also knew the high possibility of that ever happening due to their duties as heroes. It was the sacrifice of being a hero.

When she kissed him again, he cherished the moment for there was no idea as to when she would have to leave again. Every moment she was going to be here, he would cherish every bit of it. He had hoped that no one would suddenly try to attack the country though, which has not happened in such a while.

Then she held him tight, saying that she missed him so much. He could only imagine the mess she had to go through with the United States' unfair registration acts. He admired her for going up against it and standing up for what she believed. That was the way she had always been.

When she held him tight, he would do the same, kissing her lightly on her head. "I can guarantee that I missed you more, my love." He said that to bring humor to this moment, but every word was true. He missed this woman. Apart of him knew she was alive still, regardless of what they were saying on the news. The world these days can be just a horrible place.

In the distance, T'Challa's sister Shuri had remained in her living quraters, looking out of the window, to see her big brother hold the African X-Woman with the white hair. She knew exactly who it was. Apart of her was very happy for her brother. She smiled as her eyes began to water, with her to see her brother with the woman. She did not want to ruin the moment and decided to leave them in peace. Though at times, she had wondered about Ororo, and if she was really a good match for her brother. After all, the woman was a mutant. Not that it bothered Shuri, but even in Wakanda, there are plenty that do not sit well with mutants and had wondered if that would help, or hurt her brother. Then she was always off with those X-Men. How could they keep their relationship fresh if one was not there for the other. She thought Ororo was a great woman, but as a sister of T'Challa, as well as being princess of Wakanda, she also had her concerns. She would have to talk to her brother on this soon.

Meanwhile, T'Challa had continued to hold her as he began to speak. "What happened? Are your friends alright?" he asked in concern for the other X-Men.

[Storm]

Ororo still held T'Challa as she would speak. He asked of her friends, and of her current situation. "We are managing. We are still unsure of others, but we were..." she would stop holding him for that minute and look at him. "We were under attack T'Challa. It was just horrible. It was all due to those Purifiers, just because we were..." she stopped herself, to collect her thoughts and to make sure not to let the situation get to her.

It was important that she still kept her emotions in check, because if her emotions were in check, so were her powers. She sighed as she looked at the man she loved. Like her, he was so strong in the worst situations. She knew he would understand. As a leader, sometimes you had to sacrifice what you loved, for the better decision. She did not believe many knew the hardships of being a leader. It was no fun and games. You were responsible for everyone of your team. T'Challa was a king, which made their tasks more similar.

She took a moment to not focus on that though. She came to see him and especially to let him know that she was still alive. Playfully, she lightly held him by his arms, as the winds would suddenly lift the two of them up in the air. "And how about you, King T'Challa? I do not remember you telling me of how peaceful Wakanda can be." she said, even showing that she had a funny side when needed to be brought.

She wondered of his family. His mother was a sweet woman, and his sister Shuri was a determined lady. She had knowledge of T'Challa training her for battle. She would definitely want to after the Arcade incident a while back.

[Black Panther]

T'Challa had simply nodded to the woman as she spoke of what the X-Men had gone through. It seemed that most of them were alright. Either way, it just seemed that the status of the United States was not as good as they would want it to be. Having individuals register against their rights, T'Challa had thought that it was unnecessary. He had actually wondered what would happen to him, though a Wakandan King, if they would try to get him to register.

He hoped not. Steve Rogers always had a good level head on his shoulders. Tony Stark, he had his bad days, but his heart was always in the right place. He still did not agree with the registration process. There was so much more that could have been done these past few months and not just having everyone leave the real work to H.A.M.M.E.R. and their Avengers. T'Challa was well aware of everything going on in that country, regardless of him not even being close to it.

"It has indeed been quiet. Now come Ororo, lets go inside. Dinner will be ready soon." he kissed Ororo on her head one more time before putting his arm around her as they walked inside the Royal Palace.

[Thread Closed]

To be continued in Until Next Time.