parmigianana:

lj-writes:

Are we going to talk about the fact that Erik Stevens is a genius who graduated Anapolis at 19 and did postgrad work at MIT? (Or, by Shuri standards, not a complete dummy.) Imagine how the technological advances in Wakanda would have been jump-started if little N’Jadaka had been brought home where he belonged. Imagine him teaching little Shuri and glowing with pride to watch her shoot past him. Imagine him in a friendly rivalry with T’Challa, pushing each other to be better.

And he absolutely would challenge T’Challa on the ritual fight BUT yield in the end. And how him, T’Challa, and Wakabi could’ve been this manace-trio creating havoc all over Wakanda. And how he would’ve pick a fight with M’Baku AT LEAST ONCE because mama Ramonda would be so pissed with him. And how he and Shuri would treat each other as guinea pig for their invention… OR BOTH OF THEM USING INNOCENT T’CHALLA AS THEIR GUINEA PIG OMG.

M’Baku would decide that he likes this young, brash, slightly crazy prince a whole lot and they become fast friends, which in this case means insulting each other whenever they meet. (“‘Sup, ape-face.” “COME HERE SO I CAN CRUSH YOUR HEAD LIKE AN OVERRIPE MELON.”) The menace à trois of T’Challa, W’Kabi, and Erik ride rhinos into a state function, which was their idea of making a splash. They are grounded for a month, during which time Erik gets bored and invents solar-powered propulsion in space.

Erik and Shuri make enhancementa to the Black Panther armor and push a nervous T’Challa, who has serious doubts, off a fifty-foot ramp to test it. Yes, T’Challa eventually gets the hang of flying in his suit. No, he never forgives them for the terror-filled ten minutes it took.

Erik and Nakia are the two top students in war dog training and hit it off talking about global racial justice and making their instructor uncomfortable with pointed questions. Erik has a few Thoughts to add to the intelligence profile on the United States. He and Nakia try dating a few times and decide they’re better off friends. T’Challa’s reactions to them dating are so interesting Erik and Shuri make logs of them for science. (“Subject’s blood pressure is elevated, and his body temperature-” “I can hear you!”) Erik gets sick of it and flirts outrageously with Nakia just to goad T’Challa into making his own move.