The next day, Shuri and I were working in the lab when we got the message that Klaue had popped up on the radar when he stole vibranium from a British museum. Without realizing it, I reacted...badly. To say the least. Hence the reason my hand was now wrapped in bandages to keep blood from dripping on the floor. I instead turned my focus to working on a project Shuri and I had been working on for a while.

"How's it going?" the princess asked, walking over. I looked up at her, then back at the hologram.

"I'm not sure," I said honestly. "It's hard to tell. I know I said I didn't want to have to use a brace, but honestly it might be our only option." She grabbed my hands and turned me to face her.

"No," she said sternly. "Don't think like that. I told you we would find another way, and I plan to make sure of it. We'll figure it out." She looked down as her kimoyo beads flashed and grinned. "He's here." We ran over to the entrance of the lab, where T'Challa was walking in. Both of us immediately bowed mockingly.

"My King," Shuri dragged out. He laughed.

"Stop it. Stop it." He looked at me. "Not you too." Shuri grinned.

"It was her idea." He rolled his eyes and hugged me, and the two siblings did their special handshake before we walked down the walkway to the lab.

"I've already sent a car ahead to Busan for you," Shuri said. She looked back at him. "Who are you taking with you to Korea?"

"Okoye. And Nakia as well." He looked at me. "And I was hoping you would join us, Chris. I know he hurt you as well." I smiled softly and nodded.

"Of course." Shuri made a face and shook her head.

"You sure it's a good idea to take your ex on a mission?" Her brother chuckled.

"Yes. We'll be fine. Besides, you will be on call, should we need backup." Shuri grinned at this and pointed out the small communications devices .

"I have great things to show you, brother," she said happily. "Here are your communication devices for Korea. Unlimited range, also equipped with audio surveillance system." We led him over to another table, where the improved Kimoyo beads were laying. "Check these out . Remote access Kimoyo beads. Updated to interface directly with my sand table." T'Challa pointed to a pair of sleek shoes.

"And what are these?" he asked. Shuri shook her head.

"The real question is WHAT ARE THOSE?!" she asked loudly, pointing to his sandals. She looked up at him. "Why do you have your toes out in our lab?" T'Challa grinned, putting his foot up on the table.

"What, you don't like my royal sandals?" he asked. "I wanted to go old school for my first day." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah," I said. "I bet the elders loved that. Just try them on." T'Challa stepped into the shoes, and they immediately formed around his feet and ankles. "Fully automated." Shuri nodded.

"Like the old American movie Baba used to watch," she told him. "And I made them completely sound absorbent." T'Challa stomped his foot, but there was no sound.

"Interesting," he muttered. Shuri smirked.

"Guess what I call them," she said. T'Challa looked over at her, and I pinched the bridge of my nose, shaking my head.

"Oh my god," I muttered. Shuri chuckled.

"Sneakers." The two of us just looked at her blankly, and she glanced between us. "Because you..." She sighed. "Never mind." We walked over to the three mannequins with the different suits displayed on them.

"If you're going to take on Klaue," Shuri said, "you'll need the best the Design Group has to offer." She pointed at the current suit. "Exhibit A." He nodded.

"My suit." I rolled my eyes.

"Old tech," I told him. He looked at me, frowning.

"Old?" I shrugged.

"Functional, but old. Eh, people are shooting at me. Wait, let me put on my helmet." He laughed. "Why do you think I don't even have one?" Shuri grinned.

"You just dodge them anyway." Not always. I bit back my response. T'Challa chuckled.

"Enough," he scolded, but he had laughter in his eyes. I grinned.

"Now look at these." I pointed to the two necklaces, and T'Challa's eyes landed on the gaudy gold one.

"Do you like that one?" Shuri asked him.

"Tempting," he replied. "But the idea is to not be noticed." He pointed to the black one. "This one." I grinned.

"That one's my favorite."

"That's because all you wear is black," Shuri said, laughing. My jaw dropped, and I looked at her.

"That is not accurate. Sometimes I wear dark blue." She rolled her eyes and used her Kimoyo beads to sync the suit to T'Challa. She pointed at the necklace.

"Now tell it to go on," she instructed. After a moment, the vibranium nanites spilled from the necklace and formed the new Black Panther suit on the mannequin. I clapped as Shuri cheered.

"The entire suit sits within the teeth of the necklace," I told T'Challa. I glanced at Shuri, who nodded happily. "Strike it." He glanced at me, then motioned to the suit.

"Anywhere?" I nodded. He turned to the mannequin in a relaxed fighting stance before spin-kicking the shit out of it and knocking it across the room. I snorted, and Shuri immediately went to retrieve it.

"Not that hard, genius!" she yelled. He grinned.

"She told me to strike it, she didn't say how hard." Shuri dragged the mannequin back and set it up again.

"We invite you to our lab, and you just kick things around."

"Well maybe you should make it a little stronger, eh?" He stopped when he noticed the purple glow spreading from the impact point. "Wait a minute." I walked over to him.

"The nanites absorb the kinetic energy and hold it in place for redistribution," I told him. He nodded.

"Very nice." Shuri stepped back, prepping her Kimoyo beads to record it.

"Now strike it again," she said. "In the same spot." He backed up for another kick but noticed her recording and stopped.

"You are recording?" he asked. She nodded.

"For research purposes," I told him. He nodded and kicked the suit again, this time flying back across the room as Shuri and I busted out laughing. He scrambled to get up from the floor, grabbing onto a supply cart.

"Delete that footage!" he called. I shook my head.

"No, I'm keeping that forever." He rolled his eyes, walking back over.

"I didn't come here for this. This never ending ridicule." I chuckled.

"Are you really surprised? Look who you're talking to. I make jokes about my own death as a coping mechanism." He laughed and shook his head.

"No, I'm not surprised. How's your project going by the way?" I sighed, shrugging.

"Not great. I still can't figure out how to find a way to keep my leg from deteriorating without having to use a brace or replacement. I don't want to have to deal with that, but it might be the only option." Shuri walked over to us.

"Hey," she said. "What did I say? Don't give up hope. We're going to find a way to fix you." I sighed and nodded. As did T'Challa.

"We don't give up here, Chris. We'll find a way."