Sins of the Father Part 3:

T'Challa and Thor were navigating through the U. N.'s halls, well really T'Challa was leading with Okoye right behind him and the three Asgardians were trailing after them like lost puppies. But that was just semantics.

They'd made it out of the lower staff tunnels and back into one of the more ornate hallways when Thor seemed to recognize where they were and quickened his pace to walk alongside T'Challa. Thor's eye caught his and he spoke up, "Tell me King T'Challa. What is Wakanda?"

What had been the question not where. T'Challa blinked and stopped walking, taken off guard. Okoye gracefully side stepped him to avoid running into her king before she came to a stop behind him.

While it was true a few years ago that no one had heard of Wakanda, now they were quite well known. It seemed like every night there was a news report on their technology. But then again, this man was not of Earth at all. He cleared his throat and began to answer, "We are a great technologically advanced nation of five tribes that has stood for centuries. A land of beauty and equality. I am very proud of my kingdom and the good that we do."

"And is that all you are?" The Thunder God asked. A thoughtful look upon his face and genuine curiosity sparked in his eye. It was an innocent look for such an insulting question.

T'Challa's smile thinned slightly and his desire to talk to the god waned. He had talked to enough self-righteous superior sounding men, he had no desire to add another to the list. "Is that not enough?" he said curtly as he went to step past Thor, his general right behind him.

A hand darted out to catch his shoulder and stop him. Quick as a snake the general's spear was out and pointed threateningly at the god's neck. "Remove your hand from his highness or I will remove your head." The dark-skinned woman who had sat beside Thor for the meeting moved. T'Challa didn't even see where she pulled the weapon from, but there was now a sword pressed just below the general's eye.

"Make one move to remove my king's head and you'll find a sword in your brain before you even draw blood." the woman threatened and somehow T'Challa believed her. If these two women were to do battle, he couldn't help but worry that his general may not come out on top.

Thor quickly removed his hand from T'Challa. "Brunnhilde stand down. The woman is merely doing her job. I have no wish to see bloodshed." The woman glared at Thor, but slowly lowered her sword. T'Challa glanced at Okoye and she grudgingly did the same with her spear.

Thor turned his one eye back towards T'Challa "I'm sorry your highness I meant no disrespect to your kingdom or people. It is just Asgard was never just a place, it was a people as long as even one with the heart and blood of Asgard lives. I shall be king and I shall fight for them. I merely wished to know if it was the same for you."

T'Challa turned back to reassess his fellow king. His face was sincere and his eye questioning. That, that was odd for one so embroiled in politics to have such an expressive face. His father had taught him young to hide his feelings while in public and share them only with those he could trust. Emotions were a dangerous thing that an enemy would seek to turn against you. And politics, especially here, were always a battle.

Thor was indeed as interesting as he'd hoped. He glanced around them checking for unwanted eyes, "Perhaps we should have a longer conversation elsewhere. Follow me."

-x-

T'Challa led them to one of the Wakandian diplomat's private rooms. When the man answered the door, his jaw dropped and T'Challa chuckled. As far as monarchy went in Wakanda it was not so formal as in England, T'Challa and his sister would frequently wonder about the capital and become acquainted with their citizens. His father had always called it good kingship. That didn't mean however that their people did not sometimes get caught up in emotion at their presence, especially when it came unannounced.

"My King," The diplomat said, regaining his composure. He crossed his arms in an X over his chest in greeting and T'Challa returned the gesture, "Please come in, I was not expecting your arrival." The man said in an apologetic tone as he ushered the group into a room decorated in typical Wakandian fashion.

"Is this room free from any bugs?" Okoye asked practically, her eyes darting to check if anyone had followed them.

"Of course, General." The diplomat answered. Okoye nodded her head and sealed the door behind them.

"Good," T'Challa replied, "I would like you and your aides to take a break, the King of Asgard and I will be having a private conversation."

"I understand," The diplomat said nodding his head, "I've been meaning to take my aides out for lunch for a while anyways. They do very good work."

"I'm sure they do," T'Challa said with a smile, "Please give them my regards and tell them that I shall pay for lunch."

"My King," The diplomat stuttered, "That is hardly necessary."

"Nonsense, I insist. You wouldn't want to ignore a gift from your king, would you?" T'Challa asked a small half-smile tugging up lips upwards.

"Uh, no, no of course not." The diplomat replied, his hands fidgeted as he moved them from in front of him to folding them behind his back. The poor man looked like a bird that had fallen out of his nest, unsure of what strange reality he was in, "I'm sure they would be honored."

"Good." T'Challa said, walking across the room and seating himself in a reed woven chair next to a case of books.

The diplomat bowed once, then entered the adjacent room. There was a rush of muttered whispers and rustling, then four aides were herded out by the diplomat. They all stared in disbelief at T'Challa, then their eyes focused on the one-eyed Asgardian King and their mouths dropped open. T'Challa had to stifle a chuckle at the young aides' antics, no doubt their 'secret meeting' would be posted all over social media by nightfall. The door closed with a light click behind them.

"Take a seat," T'Challa prompted his fellow king, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Thor sunk down slowly into the seat as if he half expected it to bite him. T'Challa couldn't blame him, not after the very public slow roasting the general assembly had tried to put him through.

The Asgardian King glanced around at the decorative masks on the walls, "I rather like these, what are they for?"

"They are emblems of the fiercest warriors." T'Challa answered, "They represent their legacy and prowess in battle."

Thor accepted this with an appraising nod then asked, "You wouldn't happen to have any alcohol, would you?" and T'Challa blinked at him, "It is an Asgardian custom to share a glass with a new friend." His fellow king explained, "I would like to keep the traditions alive."

There was something heavy in the way Thor said that, but T'Challa couldn't put his finger on the meaning. Wakanda was a place of traditions, it was the least he could do to respect an old tradition from a displaced king. T'Challa opened his mouth to summon Okoye to gather something alcoholic when-

"In the cupboard," The warrior woman in silver armor said, flaring her nostrils, "I can smell it from here, good stuff your majesty."

T'Challa was taken aback when Okoye went over to the indicated cupboard and found a very high quality unopened bottle of Wakandian rice wine.

"Do Asgardians also have noses like the Bilgesnipes?" T'Challa asked curiously as Okoye pulled out the bottle and two glasses and set them on the small coffee table in front of the kings.

The two Asgardians behind Thor crinkled their noses in disgust. Apparently, that wasn't an apt comparison. Thor threw back his head and let out a roar of laughter, "I should hope not," He answered, "That is just Valkyrie she could smell a drop of booze in the ocean."

The guard sniffed at Thor, "Don't be jealous of my talents your kingliness, when you live to be as old as I am maybe then you'll finally learn to appreciate the good things in life."

Thor hummed in agreement, then he sat up straighter, "I'm afraid I may have been a bit rude and foregone introductions. This is Valkyrie my general," He said indicating the woman who Okoye was giving the suspicious side eye to. Valkyrie reached around Thor and poured herself a glass of wine, knocking it back in a fluid motion, before refilling the glass and setting it in front of Thor. The Asgardian king seemed more amused than affronted by the motion. Perhaps glass sharing was part of the tradition T'Challa thought. "and Heimdall my advisor." Thor continued. The dark-skinned man's piercing yellow eyes held T'Challa's gaze as the man dipped his head in greeting, "I would like to thank you for your hospitality." Thor finished with a dip of his head. Then he lifted the glass of wine and swallowed it in one go.

Thor refilled the glass and handed it to T'Challa. He took it gingerly appraising the clear fluid, before he lifted it to his lips and took a long drink emptying the glass. And oh Bast it burned. It hit the back of his throat and he nearly gagged. His eyes watering as he fought to keep it down. It was strong. The way Thor and the woman had acted, he'd thought it was weak, they'd swallowed it like water. This… this reminded him of the time Shuri had replaced all of the sweet peppers with ghost peppers for his birthday feast. He coughed once and set the glass down. Thor was looking at him with a twinkle in his eye. He'd known. The man was a lot more mischievous than he'd given him credit for.

T'Challa coughed again, trying to clear away the burning sensation, "Yes, of course," He managed to splutter out, "I felt I could do nothing else after witnessing your treatment by the other governments. This is the general of the Dora Milaje, Okoye." T'Challa nodded to his General. Okoye maintained a neutral face as she nodded at the blonde king and glanced disdainfully at the glass.

"Oh, don't worry if you do not drink," Thor said, apparently interpreting her look for one of abstinence, "It is not necessary for all members of the parties to share if they do not wish, only two." T'Challa raised an eyebrow at Valkyrie.

"I just like booze," She said with a shrug.

"I must admit," T'Challa began, "I do have an ulterior motive in wanting to meet with you. I did in fact intend this to be a private conversation just between kings." He saw Okoye stiffen off to his left, no doubt she had already figured out what he intended to do and took issue with it.

The Valkyrie woman stepped closer to Thor, a frown appearing on her face and she opened her mouth to speak-

"Peace Valkyrie," Thor said holding up his hand, "It would be ill will for me to deny your request after we have shared a drink."

"Okoye," T'Challa said lightly, "Why do you not go show these two warriors our weapon collection? I'm sure they would be quite interested in the craftsmanship." T'Challa internally flinched, he was going to pay a pound of flesh for sending her off to keep an eye on the two Asgardians, but she would not question his order now in front of guests. He winced just thinking about the spar they would have in the very near future with her beating him into the sand of the practice pits mercilessly.

"As you say my King," Okoye replied flatly, "This way Asgardians," She beckoned and the two followed her with one last glance being tossed in Thor's direction. T'Challa knew that look well, it was the same one his sister often gave to him, the 'don't mess this up idiot' look.

T'Challa interlaced his fingers as he looked at the one-eyed king. He waited until he heard the light click of the door closing, "I know Loki is back," He admitted and Thor's face instantly went blank. T'Challa continued, "There is no need to lie to me. Wakandian satellites are not like the horrible trash the U. S. government has clogging the stratosphere. We know he is back I have seen the images myself."

Thor's mouth opened and closed with an audible click, "And what have you to say to this?" Thor finally asked staring at him intently. His face was carefully blank, but there was tension in his arms as he gripped the arms of the chair. Thankfully, the thunder god was not sparking. T'Challa would hate to have to explain to his diplomat that his chair had been ruined.

"I have nothing to say, I just want to hear what you plan to do now. I'm sure you can imagine that it is in Wakanda interest, and therefore my own to know what you plan to do with a man who has previously tried to conquer our planet."

Thor's neutral look crumbled and he sighed, long and loud, "I intend to handle him."

"Excuse me if I doubt your ability to handle him. It appears you have had two confrontations on Earth with him already."

Thor sighed again and poured himself another glass of the wine, "I see how some might see it that way. Despite what others might say I am not a fool. I know my brother, perhaps sometimes even better than he knows himself. Even at his worst Loki has always cared for our people greatly in his own selfish way, he would not do anything to jeopardize them." Thor finished and tossed the whole glass back swallowing it in one go.

"Your brother betrayed your kingdom and you," T'Challa said slowly, "Yet, you were so forgiving and he is now back with you, how does this stand? Are you not afraid that he will betray you again?"

Thor answered his question with a question, "Tell me King do you have any siblings?"

"Yes, a sister." T'Challa couldn't help but picture Shuri rolling her eyes as she explained to him for the second time how her newest piece of tech worked.

Thor nodded his head and lifted the wine bottle, pouring himself another glass, "And what would you do if your sister made a stupid mistake from a place of pain?"

"I would move the world to help her fix it."

"There you have it. I would do the same for my brother."

"I suppose I understand in principle. There is very little I would not forgive my sister for. But, what your brother has done on Earth... that is not something so easily forgivable regardless of his reasons."

"Loki is not the same person he was when he came to Midgard five years ago. I understand that he will need to prove this to others himself. That is all I can say for him. But I tell you this now," Thor said knocking back another glass of wine like it was water and leaned closer, "I need Loki for what is to come and I will not be relinquishing him to any government on Earth for punishment."

Thor's face twisted into something dark and he lowered his voice to a somber whisper, "If they want him they will have to take him from my dead body."

T'Challa's hair stood on end. He could feel the electricity in the air. He could see small tendrils of lightning crawling over Thor's hands. It seemed that, as usual, the World Security Council and general assembly had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

T'Challa glanced down on the wine bottle sitting on the table. Thor had by now consumed most of the alcohol, only about an inch of the liquid rested at the bottom of the bottle. T'Challa glanced between the bottle and the thunder god that suddenly seemed like a less than good mixture for this conversation.

T'Challa took a moment to collect himself and figure out what he could say to redirect the conversation. He diplomatically settled on, "I do not doubt your conviction. You may want to drink that more slowly, if you wish to remain coherent throughout this discussion though." He said flicking his fingers at the bottle, "Wakandian wine is quite strong."

"Thank you for your concern. Do not worry it will take far more than this," Thor waved his hand at the remaining wine, "To influence my thoughts. I've never managed to get drunk on Midgardian liquor before."

Ah, gods that was right. T'Challa wasn't well versed on Norse mythology, but he vaguely remembered something about feasts lasting for days and rivers of mead.

"I suppose I shall not worry then. If you do not intend to let Earth's governments imprison Loki do you intend to do it yourself?" Logically it made sense, the Asgardians would know how to watch him and no doubt would treat him better than whatever the World Security Council had planned if they got their hands on him.

"Perhaps," Thor started and T'Challa found himself leaning forward to listen, "Perhaps, that's what my father would have done. Lock up my brother forever as he tried to do to my sister."

Sister? Dear Bast how troubled was this man's family life? Not one but two of his siblings had been imprisoned. Mercy from the ancestors that Shuri did not have her mind set on world domination.

"But, I am not my father." Thor finished, there was blaze in that declaration. T'Challa didn't know the Asgardian well, but that, the sentiment behind that statement sounded far too familiar. It reminded him of his very recent coronation and revelations it brought.

"I can tell there is a story there." T'Challa said, trying to dig for more information.

"Yes, there is. One that is far too taxing to tell here." Thor's face closed off and went blank again. The message was clear that conversation would go no further.

"I..I," T'Challa wasn't really sure how to begin. He cleared his throat and began again, trying to sound more king like, "I too have recently come unto the throne." He lowered his voice, "You must understand this is not something that I have spoken about to anyone, but given your history I believe you would understand perhaps more than anyone else could and I do believe I need advice."

"I do not know if I am truly the wisest person to ask for advice about kingship. My advisors would tell you I am an idiot." Thor chuckled, a grim smile on his face.

"Yes, but what advisors do not say that?" T'Challa asked with a grin, pulling a chuckle out of Thor.

"In this case I fear that they may be right. I did not want the throne and when I received it one the first things I do is blow up my planet." T'Challa blinked, that was not what he expected. Thor certainly hadn't shared that with the assembly, probably a good thing too given their mood.

Thor took in the look on T'Challa's face and smiled, "It seems you are now having second thoughts about me. I do not blame you."

T'Challa was quickly throwing his premeditated conversation out the window, "What do you mean you destroyed your planet?"

The Asgardian king let out a bitter laugh and swallowed the last of the wine, "My sister," Thor spat the word out like it was poison, "Left me with the choice of an empty planet of my slaughtered people or no planet and no sister, but some survivors. I took the later choice."

T'Challa swallowed hard, he couldn't imagine killing his sister. Not Shuri, not in a thousand years and to have to choose... that... that was sickening. He didn't know what to say so his eyes roamed the room that reminded him of his kingdom. The ceremonial masks, the sweet earthy incense filling the air, it grounded him.

"No," T'Challa started slowly, a puzzled look crossed Thor's face, "I am not having second thoughts. On the contrary, I see all that you have done and for your people and I believe that you are already a great king." Thor's eye widened and he opened his mouth. T'Challa put more authority into his tone, "I do not know the circumstances leading to Asgard's destruction, but it is as you said earlier, my kingdom is my people. I would do all I could to protect my homeland, but at the end of the day if the choice was my homeland or my people I would always choose them."

Thor's one blue eye widened in surprise and he sat back as if some unseen force threatened to push him over, "Thank you." He said, his voice thick.

T'Challa nodded, "As I said before it is hard to be king." He felt sure of himself, he felt like Thor would understand what he had been carrying since his coronation. Shuri, his mother, Nakia, and Okoye had all tried to speak to him about the events surrounding his cousin. His father's lie had hurt them too, but it was different, they'd not seen Baba in the realm of the ancestors. They had not been with Erik when he died. And here was Thor, with traitorous siblings, surely if anyone would truly understand it would be him.

"My father," T'Challa said, trying to get the words past his lips, "Was the king before me. He killed my uncle for his betrayal to the throne and it was hidden away from us," Thor met his gaze with his sympathetic blue eye, "He was a good man. He loved us very much." T'Challa's voice cracked, "Yet, he left my cousin alone in a foreign land and his lies created a monster that nearly destroyed us."

Why did you leave the boy? The question had plagued T'Challa at night his father's words echoing in his head. I had to preserve the line.

Thor stared at him, but didn't say anything for a long while, "Families can be tough." Thor said clasping his shoulder warmly, "For centuries," T'Challa balked at this, gods he reminded himself again, "I wanted to be just like my father, Odin, to revel in glorious battle and slay Asgard's enemies in its honor. I was spoiled and arrogant in my idealization, it is not until very recently that I discovered just how treacherous the past can be. There is no way to omit truth forever it always returns." Thor said solemnly, lifting the bottle of wine and finishing the last swig of alcohol.

"I must know how do you reconcile this- what your father has done, what my father has done. When I was a child all I wanted was to be like him when I was grown. Now I do not know what to think of his legacy."

"Ah," Thor said reaching his hand up to run it through his beard, "I do not have an answer for this. I do not know why my father chose to keep his secrets. I know that he loved us, but I do not understand." Thor met T'Challa's brown eyes. It was in that moment that T'Challa knew he understood, "I see that you are torturing yourself over this, what has come to past from your forefathers. We all carry sins, it seems our fathers may have been more alike than I first thought. It always seems that the sins of the fathers become the sins of the sons. The only thing we can do is try to atone for them and not repeat them. To strive to be the type of king we imagined our fathers were." Thor trailed off at the end looking away as he gazed at the empty bottle of wine. Then he stood up, "I'm sorry I could not be of more help King T'Challa. But I'm afraid that this day has been very long and I need to return to my people and report all that has happened."

T'Challa watched the Asgardian make his way to the door, "Wait," He called out, making his decision. Bast he hoped he didn't regret this, "I have a proposition for you. Wakanda is trying something new. We are trying to open our borders and share our knowledge with the world. I hope to bring a brighter tomorrow than my ancestors could have ever imagined. I think perhaps your people and mine could become great friends. Tell me King Thor what would you do if I offered your people an invitation to Wakanda?"

Thor paused his hand hovering over the door handle as he turned slowly back to face him. His face was full of disbelief and T'Challa could see him schooling his emotions to no avail.

"I believe I would accept." Thor answered with a radiant smile painted across his lips.

Well Nakia couldn't complain about him taking things to slowly now, T'Challa thought. Bast he was not looking forward to explaining this to the council.

-x-

Author's Note: Here you guys go it took a little bit longer than I thought it would but hopefully you guys enjoyed T'Challa's entrance to the party! I honestly had this in mind since Wakanda talked about opening their borders, the timing everything it just makes sense! Plus two kings in one place! This was originally intended to be much shorter but Thor and T'Challa just kept talking, such chatty kings. Also many of you have been commenting on infinity war and I'm not actually sure if I'm ready to take this story into this mess. I'm working on a couple of other infinity war fix its right now and I just can't imagine bringing this story to the party although i know i probably will.. just not for a bit. Next time we get a flashback to see Loki and Strange dealing with aid workers. And I'm looking to do a Thor & Loki prank revenge on Ross so I'd love to take suggestions for that upcoming chapter. If you have any ideas please let me know because seriously all I got is middle school pranks and I know Loki is better than that. As always please read and review, critiques and thoughts are always welcome!

Also a sneak peak at the next section of the story:

"Oh my god, Thor sweet talked the King of Wakanda." Tony said, "How did you even? He's a stoic dude."

"I guess we won't be needing this then," Loki said holding up the war declaration and snapping his fingers. The page burst into flames.

Thor shot Loki an irritated look, "I can not believe you actually sat down and wrote that."