As Shuri was driven to the warehouse she smiled. The meeting with Peter had gone to plan, of course, he was angry with T'Challa but once their stupid male egos had been soothed it was all plain sailing. And now, while it was probably a dingy run-down apartment, she was getting to meet with and spend time with Ororo.
Frowning as she looked at the address Peter had given her, she had even sent a message to Ororo to confirm it.
She stood in front of the warehouse where Wanda was waiting for her and she smiled, "Ororo was in the bath, and refused to come out. Your guards are welcome to wait in the main part and we have refreshments. If they are allowed," and she took a step forward. "Remember, not just your friend Ororo has powers," and Shuri saw the red energy crackling over Wanda's hands, "and Peter is not the only one upset at what your brother did." As the energy faded, "but, you are also not the only one who knows how stupid a brother can be." and as she nodded, "Come on, I will try to get Ororo out of the tub, or if you are happy, you may join her. We do keep clean suits, just in case."
As Shuri and her two guards entered, Shuri marvelled at the engineering that had gone into the homes. She could see the intricate and well-hidden wiring and pipework and the nicely built wrought iron walkways that littered the various homes, looking up she could see that the ceiling penthouse was designed to allow light to enter and stayed almost invisible until you looked for it.
"There is juice in the fridge, although anything in a dark bottle is alcohol, the clear bottles are marked. Ororo is in the bathhouse," and Wanda pointed over at a curtained double room. "If you wish to join her there are clean, packaged swimsuits in one of the units inside. We don't know when we will get a guest so Peter made sure there was a selection. The red flag hanging at the corner lets him know there are guests and he will not enter." and Shuri nodded. She was not about to get changed in a strange man's home, no matter how private it seemed.
As she entered through the curtain, Ororo was up to her neck in bubbles, sipping at a glass of sparkling wine and she smiled, "Shuri," and raised the glass at her, before taking a sip.
"You are drunk," Shuri stated, shaking her head, "and this is not your home."
Ororo scoffed "and you sound just like him. Peter is not here and even if he was, he has seen me naked, so I do not care." and as she sat her glass back down she ran a washcloth over her arm. "If you came to lecture me, then go home. T'Challa made his bed, and he can sleep in it. Alone."
Shuri moved over and sat on the edge of the bath, she frowned as she ran her hand over the strangely smooth material, and frowned, "this isn't stone, do you know?" and Ororo laughed,
"Ask Peter. He built the whole place, although I suspect it is some kind of resin. Gwen makes the most fabulous creams and ointments, smell." and she held up a tin, which Shuri was about to lean forwards and sniff before she scowled and leant back, shaking her head,
"That is not why I am here, Please Ororo, come home. I miss you."
Ororo scoffed, "that place is not my home. I had Olivia check my phone, so he could not claim another lie, and she found several tracking apps on it. Shuri, he might be your brother, but he is an ass, and you are upsetting my bath time, so say your piece and leave. I have nothing more to do with him." and as Ororo lifted her glass she waved a hand at her,
"I had come here to see my friend after I had talked to Peter. Are you living here now?" but Ororo shook her head,
"No, I was offered a teaching position on an island, and I am tutoring Laura. Even Charles lately has been," and she paused, "difficult." and Shuri sighed,
"Peter was not at all what I expected, did you really?" and Ororo sat up.
"Fine, Then let us talk about this, but then you leave. I am beginning to understand Peter's annoyance at being pestered all the time." She sipped her wine and then sat the glass back down before sitting up properly. "No. He said he produces a pheromone to make women like him, and I didn't believe him. He called on one of his lovers and tried to talk her into making me leave and she took one look and told him that I was an adult and he should do as he pleases."
Shuri frowned, "And was he telling the truth? Did you?" and Ororo sighed and pulled her legs up to her chin, blowing the bubbles from them,
"He was not lying. In an instant, I smelt something wonderful, and would have let him. Anything he wanted Shuri, even if it upset your brother." and as she wrapped her arms around her legs, "and he rejected me. He sprayed me with a chemical, told me off for being stupid, and made me get dressed. Would I? Oh yes, did I? No, and T'Challa knows."
Shuri smiled, "See, you called him by his name, all is not lost." but Ororo shook her head.
"If T'Challa had told me, not about the Dora as you go everywhere with them, but the phone and the lies I would not have done what I did," and as Ororo took a wet hand and took Shuri's, "but he didn't trust me. He spied and told half-truths. That is why I won't be home, that is why everything fell apart. Peter had no part in my decision." Shuri patted the back of Ororo's hand,
"It is over?" and Ororo nodded, "and you are leaving New York?" and Ororo nodded,
"The island is off the coast, but Selene insists on secrecy, as you should be used to."
Shuri sighed, "and if I persuaded Peter to let me stay, and you stayed as well, would you?" and Ororo laughed,
"Are you throwing yourself at Peter for my sake?" and Shuri raised an eyebrow and grinned,
"Wakanda does have polygamy, we could be sister wives?" And Ororo laughed again,
"Peter's others might object to that." and Shuri shrugged,
"And who could resist two such goddesses as ourselves." and Ororo raised an eyebrow,
"You have not met who Peter shares his life with. I think you would be shocked."
Shuri made a pff noise "how bad could it be? We are stunning," and Ororo laughed,
"Join me in this bath and I will tell you, "
Shuri looked apprehensive at Ororo, "Here?"
Ororo nodded, "Peter won't come into the bathhouse while a red flag is out, as he knows that a guest is using it, and the bathing suits are very comfortable. I think Emma picked them, and she is the fussiest of women."
Shuri stood, "fine but only as you insisted, and do you think I could?" and Ororo laughed as Shuri pointed at the glass. Stepping out of the bath she walked, dripping and naked to the curtain, "Wanda, can Shuri have a glass of wine?"
"I don't care," Wanda shouted back and Ororo laughed and grabbed another from the cabinet, pouring some of the fizzy liquid into it.
"You might be underage, but here I think they don't mind." and Shuri sipped it, it was fruity and very nice.
"I am of legal age in Wakanda." and Ororo laughed, as Shuri nervously undressed, while Ororo held her drink.
"Take my bath and I shall take another, or I believe the big pool is warm," and she pointed at the massive pool, full of crisp clean water.
"Can we swim?" and Ororo shrugged,
"I have no idea," but she heard Wanda shout 'yes' and they nodded and walked into the water.
Not long after Wanda and an excited Laura joined them, Wanda nodded at the new arrival, and she stripped out of her clothes as Laura dived into the large pool naked.
Ororo had dropped by to use the bathhouse, while Wanda had been training with Laura and they had waited until they were finished before joining her.
"And how are you Laura?" Ororo asked, and she stopped,
"Better, reading is good, talking is better now. Thank you." and as Wanda beckoned to her, she moved over to let her wash her hair,
"You are Shuri, yes?" Wanda asked her and Shuri nodded,
"Laura is the reason Peter was mad at Charles, but thank you for the books Ororo, her lessons are going well."
"I can count to a hundred!" Laura yelled and stuck up a fist,
"But you still prefer to sneak into beds at night," and Laura nodded, with a huge grin,
"She was mistreated, and prefers to sleep with someone, anyone, as long as she is not alone. You are angry at Peter, for taking away your friend, but don't be." Wanda explained as she rinsed the suds from Laura. "He is an idiot, a stupid reckless man with a stupid reckless life, but he cares, and he would do anything, and you should not fault him for that."
Ororo leaned over, "she is a telepath."
Wanda laughed as Shuri's eyes went wide. "I am also not deaf, and you were shouting." and Shuri went red and hid her face. "Don't be too hard on him, many more are safe, because of his actions."
"I do not, in fact, I am" and Wanda raised a hand,
"I also heard that part, and that, as Gwen would say, is a discussion between us all. All seven of us."
"S-seven?" and Shuri's mouth fell open and as she looked over at Ororo, "and you knew?" and she shrugged,
"They are very open, if you ask they will tell, and yes but I do not care, as that is not why I am here. I teach Laura on Peter's behalf, and it is a job, he pays me and that is our relationship. I might be naked in his bath, but he does not wash my back." and Wanda laughed,
"No, you ask Laura to do that," and once Wanda had rinsed the soap from her hair, she shot off and splashed into the large pool.
"But how?" Shuri asked,
Wanda sat on the edge of the pool and slid herself in, uncaring that Shuri was giving her naked body a good once over, "When you are bonded to a symbiote you lose a small sense of innocence. They share everything. I held onto Octave while Liv tended to Ravage, and I knew her feelings, her thoughts on Peter, what they had done and what she liked, food, music, her tastes in everything, all shared and open. It is frightening but freeing. I would host another if he offered, but with Shaw, he has not."
Shuri stopped splashing and stared, "you have been one of these creatures?" she asked and Wanda nodded, as Shuri looked into the water Laura was happily doggy paddling up and down the length of the pool,
Wanda laughed, "Laura, come here for a moment. Can I speak to Talon?" and Laura nodded and her skin oozed and rippled, and she was covered in the dark grey symbarmour.
"Yes Wanda?" and Shuri backpedalled away from her, almost dragging Ororo out of the water with her. Wanda shook her head,
"How are you feeling today?"
"We are well, but we are curious as to why you wish to talk like this, we know you can communicate within the mind." and Wanda looked over at Shuri. As Talons eyes narrowed,
"She hates us, fears us, and the Laura does not like it." Wanda ran a hand over her shoulder,
"It's fine. She was taught you are a monster, and to be afraid." and Talon stayed vigilant,
"We will not harm her, as the Peter asked, but he owes us the cookies and rubs." and as Laura's swimsuit reformed back into the single one-piece and then vanished she stuck her tongue out and Ororo laughed,
"I was not aware you were a host Wanda, is everyone?" but she shook her head.
"Jean was the last. I have not asked so I think they assume I don't wish to be, but, everyone else. Even squirmy butt here." and as Wanda lifted Laura and placed her on her lap she did as Wanda expected and squirmed away to swim.
"The symbiote is not hostile. They are like any creature, born with powers, afraid, and hungry. Most threaten or attack as they are confused. Liv or Gwen could explain better. It's a brain thing." Wanda could remember the reason why, she was just a bit short on the chemistry lessons to explain it properly.
Shuri looked apprehensively at Ororo, "and you are fine with this?"
"Are you afraid of me because of my power? I could send ten thousand amps through the water and kill us all if I lost control, but here we are, swimming and having drinks." and Shuri relaxed,
"I am still not happy. I would not keep a tiger in my room, and while I will agree not to call them a devourer, it is still strange."
Wanda laughed, "in this house, that is the least strange thing."