The after-effects of the family dinner were now in full swing. Selene had rented a home, and had been turning up most days to decorate, and had left the running of Genosha to Erik, who had been glad to be back in company again. While Selene had been given a stern warning to stay away, and that her wishes would be properly discussed she still felt a relief she hadn't felt in years.
May had taken the news that he wasn't as innocent as she thought in her stride, and it was a relief to actually know he could protect not just himself but the warehouse as well. She was always aware that Shield wasn't as benign as its image made out, after discovering Mary's many and very suspicious scars while helping her out with newborn Peter. To find he took after them in more than one way was not as surprising as they had thought, it was just JJ's media portrayal of Venom she had issue with.
She had also taken Peter aside, and while she understood Peter's shock, she did also want to make sure that he knew exactly what a child meant, even if it was years down the line. He had reassured her that everyone was safe, and that they were all aware of the responsibility.
Shaw's empire was gone. Emma dismissed the contract with Peter, and Emma herself had officially joined the Black Cats and had taken to the more sedate, and administrative life with no adjustment. It was a smaller but more comfortable role, and even as she kept to her word, and stayed in her Penthouse, she visited and often ate with the group. Even making Peter laugh as she pointedly tipped out his coffee and placed down a very expensive grinder and caddy with fresh beans in it.
Parker Industries had made headway, and with Liv in charge, and a complement of Curt and Gwen had begun to not just mass produce the cream but a commercial use for the harness control collar, one that Peter approved of.
As the system bridged and controlled involuntary muscles and nerves it was being titled as a way for para and quadriplegics to walk and move again. Without costly surgery, the collar could be simply worn and after some adjustment, and physio, the person had full use of their limbs again. It was a simple step and brought in investment and interest in the system Peter really wanted to get off the ground, his CLS.
With Livs expertise in neural bridging technology, even with a more complicated control system it was still in its infancy, but with AIM and the others sharing data he found that it was getting off the ground.
It was today when Aldrich had called to ask him to attend a meeting that he wasn't looking forward to. In Shaw's notes, they found a lot of evidence that not just Oscorp but FuturePharm helped develop some of the technology that both Hydra and Shaw had used.
To make matters worse, as Peter was sitting at the meeting table, carefully sipping a cup of coffee, Killian with two others, one he definitely recognised, walked in.
He stiffened, a young woman, dressed in simple styled African robes led a rather angry but hesitant older man, handsome with short back hair and an expression he recognised, anger and disgust. It was to be expected though, Peter wouldn't have figured that T'Challa would have looked at him any other way.
Springing to his feet Peter tensed but Killian ran over, "Wait, wait," he shouted raising both his hands and stepping between Peter and T'Challa. "They asked to be here, and knew you would be too. It's not a trick, please. They are here on business."
Peter sat down again, "I have no problem with Wakanda, Aldrich. It's the other way around." and as T'Challa glared at him, the woman stepped forwards,
"I am Shuri, Princess of Wakanda, and Mr Parker, that is why we are here, to resolve this stupid feud you have with my brother." Peter laughed.
"The feud I have? I don't even know who you are, and I've only ever seen him on TV. I don't have a feud. He was the one who broke into my home, he was the one spying. So go ahead, do what seems to be the cliche. Blame me, have a good rant about how much of a bad man I am and then leave, cause it's tiresome, I've heard it all before, and none of it's true."
"You slept with my fiance!" T'Challa shouted, and Shuri shook her head, and turned, placing a hand on his chest, and shushed him,
"You will behave, or you will sit in the corner and face the wall." and T'Challa gritted his teeth,
"I am the King you know, even I have limits Shuri." and she smiled,
"Mr Parker, as my brother insists on being an ass, how would you like to go on a date with me? I know several very good restaurants, and several very good hotels where you can enjoy dessert, and as you are very handsome, dessert may be something we both enjoy."
"Shuri!" T'Challa shouted,
"No, if you insist on being an idiot I will treat you like one. He has not said anything, not done anything and once I got home, you know I caught the Dora giggling like children, watching a movie, and what did I find? A penis, his penis if I am to believe correctly. I apologize for my country Mr Parker, and I am here to make amends."
Peter looked over at the young woman, who was glaring at her brother,
"Uh, Shuri?" and she nodded, "Did your brother shoot an adult video in the warehouse?" and she sighed and nodded again. "You know, if any of the people I spend time with are on that video I am going to hurt him, yes?"
"See," and she turned and looked at T'Challa, "You invade his privacy and wonder why violence is on offer. Mr Parker, I can assure you that there was no one, and I checked and then deleted every single file myself. There was no one but you on the video."
"That doesn't make this right thought," and Shuri moved over beside him and pulled out a chair, sat down and grabbed her laptop from her bag,
"These are all the files we have on not just the devourer but scans of your biology and the formula you have used. We have Oscorps files and bloodwork from Spider-Man, Agent Webb, and a few others of the Enhanced you may not know about. While this is just a start, we, no I wish to make amends." and as Peter browsed the information he frowned,
"Uh, this is garbage. The Klyntar your ancestor fought came from a crashed alien spaceship in Egypt, we were planning on going out to investigate. The formula Oscorp used was garbage but one of my partners already fixed it, and the files on Webb you have are outdated, as well as the ones on me as well." Peter turned the laptop around, "Not impressed so far."
Shuri looked over at T'Challa, and nodded, "I like him. We do know you found a bar of silver metal. We had known Shield had it for a while and as they were content to let it sit in a warehouse gathering dust, we left it." and tapping on the screen, she turned it back, "Vibranium. An energy-dense metal from space that absorbs and redirects any energy directed at it. It is the basis for all Wakandan technology, and our secret."
"Yes, a secret you are not allowed to share," but Shuri glared and shushed T'Challa once more.
"I was studying at M.I.T when Stark announced his nanotech. Of course, I grabbed it and was surprised to discover that your name was on the paper Mr Parker, um, may I call you Peter?" and she smiled and placed a hand on his, "please, I am not your enemy, and once I persuade this idiot, Wakanda will be happy to be your friend."
Peter, with a small measure of mischief, smiled and rubbed his other hand over hers, "of course, as long as I can call you Shuri," and he leaned forwards. "I'll save Princess for special occasions," and even though T'Challa glared, Shuri smiled and giggled.
"I am aware of your love life Peter. So, let's stick to business," and it was her turn to lean forwards, "for now at least."
"No," T'Challa shouted. "I demand an explanation for Ororo. You will not use your methods on my sister as well." and Peter sighed and patted the back of Shuri's hand.
"Ororo came to me out of concern for Laura and Wanda, after hearing all your bullshit she wanted the truth. Your files don't mention I produce a pheromone that makes me attractive and Ororo didn't believe it was real. I warned her and she insisted. We didn't do anything, I didn't touch her," and he added quietly, "much," and while Shuri's eyes widened, T'Challa growled, "but she stopped. She left and then I guess things went bad for you, as the next time I saw her she was single."
"A pheromone?" and Shuri looked at her hands and gave Peter a look,
"Yup, but right now, while I don't look it, I'm covered in a nanofilm of my bio-armour, to stop it from affecting every woman I meet, and I have this," and reaching into a pocket he pulled out a small spray bottle. "One of the first things we did when we figured out what I was doing was to create a counter agent." Peter glared at T'Challa. He tolerated a lot of the hate spewed by JJ but there was one button he wouldn't tolerate being pushed. "You might not like me, but I don't fucking rape women. So get off your high horse and realise that maybe, just maybe, Ororo broke up with you cause you're a dick."
"See? See why I cannot stand him. How he twists everything, and why he is a danger." T'Challa shook his head, "it is fine to say, but I know better." but Peter shrugged.
"Well, guess the conversation's over then. Shuri, it was a pleasure but I really don't have to explain myself to you, and I really don't care what you think. You started this and I have enough to deal with, without Wakanda getting up my ass over their King being a giant asshole. How about you talk to Ororo rather than blame me." Peter smiled and clicked his fingers, "oh wait, she won't talk to you, cause you were an ass to her."
Shuri frowned, "is that why she won't return my calls?" and T'Challa sat back down and stared at the corner of the desk, "You are in so much trouble brother. Ororo and I are friends. She looked after me when I was a baby, and this, this is all your fault." Shuri took out a clear tablet and displayed a cell phone number, "Can I ask a favour Peter, can you call Ororo and pass on a message?"
"I will, but call off your surveillance, and any tails you have on the people I care about." and Shuri nodded. Peter took out his own phone and tapped a quick message into it. "Ororo is at the warehouse, checking up on Laura. She'll meet you there," and taking Shuris tablet he tapped in both his cell number and the address into a new contact pane," and as he put down his phone, Shuri's rang and as she smiled she quickly tapped into it.
"Thank you, and you, behave, or I will make sure Okoye makes you." T'Challa nodded, "Peter, I promise that my guards will behave but as a foreign dignitary, I am not allowed to travel without them. You may check them before they enter your home."
Peter sighed and sent another text, "Wanda and Laura are there as well, everyone else is at work, and they know you're on your way. Aldrich, we need to have a chat first though." and as he looked over at T'Challa, "You could have asked, and you should thank your sister for stopping this before it went too far." and he stood and offered a hand to Shuri, who smiled and took it,
"Just one last thing though, did he really take a video of me in the nude?" and as Shuri smiled and looked down, she nodded, "Why?"
She shrugged, "it must be a man thing," and with no further explanation, she turned and left.
T'Challa glared at him once more, "Do not ask me the same thing or I will go back on my promise." and he abruptly turned and left.
"Well, that was awkward and stupid," Peter said, sitting back down, "but Aldrich, want to explain why both Hydra and Sebastian Shaw had your serum?" and as Aldrich closed the door, he sighed and began to explain.
"I never knew, please believe me, I never knew. I needed money for Maya and I took the contracts." but Peter shrugged,
"I get that, and I believe you." Of course he did, the Mind Stone was pulsing within his chest and even if Killian wanted to he wouldn't have lied. "But, please, no super-secret organisations hell-bent on world domination, not again." and as Aldrich slumped in his chair he gave a faint and relieved laugh.
"Oh come on, it's not the end of the world Aldrich,"