The bedroom was almost fully dark. Only the panther-shaped night-light plugged into the wall was left to illuminate the lush purple comforter and gold and white bed that the young Prince of Wakanda was sleeping soundly in. Bast, his black cat, was curled up at his feet, green eyes keeping watch over her master while he slept.

It was a peaceful night; until like glass, the serenity shattered and a loud BOOM! woke T'Challa up from his slumber.

He sprung up, looking around the darkness with wild eyes. Sirens wailed in the distance, but nothing was louder than his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Shoving the blankets off, he swung his feet over the edge of his bed and ran to the window, eyes widening at the roaring fire and smoke billowing in one of the villages closest to the border. An attack?

His assumptions were correct when the door to the bedroom swung open and his father, King T'Chaka, came running into the room, carrying Shuri in his arms. The girl looked terrified.

"Baba, what is going on?"

"We do not have time to explain. We need to flee. Come now, my son."

Wide-eyed, T'Challa scooped Bast up against his chest and followed his father without question. Fear surged through his body, not knowing where they were fleeing to, or what was really going on. He hardly even had time to comprehend anything before Baba was shoving him up the ramp, following close behind.

Ramonda was waiting for them, being there to strap Shuri in while T'Chaka started the engine and shut off the GPS and anything else that could be used to track them, along with enabling the cloaking device. T'Challa strapped himself into his seat, and soon they were off, leaving the only country he had ever known.

"What's going on? Why do we have to leave?" Shuri asked, looking around to her mother, and then to her father, her dark eyes big and shining with fear.

T'Chaka sighed, never taking his hands off the controls. "I am afraid that our home is no longer safe for the time being, my children. Outsiders have somehow learned of our vibranium, and I will not put you two in danger."

"But I could stay and fight," T'Challa insisted, watching as the palace got further and further away until they broke through the border and the technically-advanced country of Wakanda was lost in the façade of a thick layer of trees.

"Perhaps when you are older, my son," T'Chaka responded calmly.

"Right now you need to care more about your safety than your ability to fight," Ramonda said gently, running her fingers through his hair in a soothing manner.

There was a long pause of silence, everyone looking out the window as they got farther and farther away from their homeland. Soon they were flying over the ocean, the water looking black below the jet.

"Where are we going?" Shuri finally broke the silence, lifting her gaze to her father, who's back was turned so he could pilot.

"The United States." A moment's pause. "California. There are two of our most trusted War Dog families in the area that will be able to aid us."

"Oh." She rested her head against the wing of her seat, staring at nothing until her dark eyes grew heavy.

The rest of the ride was relatively silent after Shuri drifted to sleep. T'Challa watched out of the window, absent-mindedly stroking Bast's sleek back. His stomach twisted with nerves, wondering who would ever want to attack Wakanda, and how they found out about their vibranium.

It was still dark in California when they arrived. T'Chaka landed the jet in an abandoned parking lot, keeping the cloaking on while he lowered the ramp. T'Challa unstrapped himself and stood up, stretching a little because his legs were a little stiff from the long trip. After his father lifted up a sleeping Shuri, making sure not to disturb her slumber, he followed him out of the jet with Bast in his arms and his mother beside him.

They stepped out onto the severely cracked pavement with grass growing through. Street-lights flickered overhead, washing the royal family in an eerie, orangish glow. In the distance, T'Challa could hear traffic, and dogs barking, and perhaps a faraway train going by. He inched closer to his mother when he suddenly heard footsteps.

"Inkosi," A man appeared out of the shadows. He had a dark complexion, kind smile, and cornrows tied back in a short ponytail. He knelt before the king and his family. In the Prince's arms, Bast let out a low, quiet hiss, only to be shushed by her master. She never trusted strangers.

"Ungubani?" T'Chaka's voice was hushed, but firm, radiating the kingly energy that he constantly produced.

"Nuru, son of N'Gosi," The man pulled down his bottom lip, revealing the blue, War Dog tattoo on the inside. The King nodded.

"At ease."

Nuru rose up with a nod and then grinned. "Despite the circumstances, it is good to see you again, My King. And Queen," he added while he looked towards Ramonda.

"Hello, Nuru," She greeted with a kind smile.

Then he began walking towards the shadows. "Mesi and Nakia have been busy preparing your apartment," he whispered. "Come this way. And be quiet. The authorities around here are not too kind to people who are out at this hour."

T'Challa followed after his family, scratching behind his cat's ears to keep her calm. He looked around. Whenever he watched a television show that took place in California, it was always someplace like sunny Los Angeles or Hollywood, with rich neighborhoods and a Starbucks on every corner.

This place was lacking in both rich neighborhoods and Starbucks.

Buildings that they passed seemed rundown, with broken windows, poorly patched-up crumbling bricks, and some were even graffitied with crude images, but yet they were occupied. In some places, the air was thick with cigarette stench and other unpleasant odors, and all around them it just felt cold and unwelcoming compared to the beauty of Wakanda's streets.

He held Bast a little closer to his chest.

Silently, Nuru ducked into an alley and led the way up to a fire escape and a roof deck with little furniture. It was no Wakandan palace, but compared to the buildings around them, this place did not seem completely rundown.

They went through a door on the roof, and down a few flights of steps until they arrived at a hallway full of doors with shiny, golden numbers. They stopped at apartment 113 and Nuru opened the door.

The Living room wasn't too bad. A gray couch stood in the middle of the cream-walled room, a small flat screen sat on a stand across from the couch and a big, empty bookshelf was up against one wall with two armchairs on the other side. Under everything was a cream shag carpet.

Just as T'Chaka was laying his sleeping daughter on the couch, a woman with deep mocha complexion and a short, finger coils hairstyle came through the door off of the room. "Hello, T'Chaka," she greeted with a smile, going in for a hug before turning to Ramonda, embracing her as well. T'Challa was surprised that anyone would be so informal with his parents.

"I hope everything is to your satisfaction. Kia and I did our best to make it comfortable, but this apartment has been empty since Zesiro finished her mission."

"It is fine. Thank you, Mesi," T'Chaka nodded and turned to his son. "Nyan, this is Mesi, one of your mother's and my closest friends and allies."

"I grew up best friends with your Mama," she said proudly, chuckling. "I remember when you were just a baby, Bast how time flies. Though I suppose you are close to my daughter's age and she just turned twelve last month." She pinched his cheek. "You're a cutie!"

T'Challa did not know how to respond. "Uh...thank you?" He rubbed his cheek after the woman turned back to his father.

"N'Jobu and Zuri are patrolling tonight," she explained. "But I'm sure he will be over first thing in the morning. Speaking of morning, It's Waffle Wednesday at our apartment. I will bring you some over for breakfast."

Nuru nodded. "And if there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask us. Mes and I are in apartment 119 just down the hall, and N'Jobu is on the floor above us on 203. Zuri is across the neighborhood. Your kitchen and pantry are full as per protocol, and everyone's phone number is stuck to the fridge."

"Thank you," T'Chaka smiled. "We truly appreciate all of this. I believe we can handle it from here though, you two should get back to your apartment."

When the two were gone, T'Challa went into the small bedroom containing two twin-sized beds, a dresser, and a closet. He was just settling down in the bed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle bedding and Bast at the foot of it when Baba came in with Shuri in his arms. He watched while he laid her gently in the opposite bed and covering her up with green Bobby Jack sheets and comforter.

"Your mother and I are in the room right next door if you or your sister need us," he whispered to his son. "Try to get as much sleep as you can, you will need it," he leaned down and pressed a chaste his son on the forehead before rising to full height and leaving. Though he left the door open a crack so that the lamplight in the living room could act as a sort of night light.

T'Challa rolled over to face the wall, once again wondering who could have found out about their vibranium until he finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AN: god, it's been awhile since I posted a fanfic on here. But I wrote this bad boy during study hall and decided that I might as well post it. Two things I should mention is that 1. Canonly, T'Challa and Shuri have about a 19 year age difference, but for the purpose of this fic, it is only 5. And 2. Normally, T'Chaka would probably stay in Wakanda to fight, but I have ideas for him being here...plus I have a lowkey obsession with him and Ramonda since they're like the Mufasa and Sarabi of the MCU.

Anyway, remember to comment! I love getting feedback on my stories!