Chapter 4: The First Kiss

The lab felt different after that kiss. It wasn't just the buzz of excitement from working on cutting-edge technology anymore; it was something deeper, something Tony hadn't expected to find in a place he once considered just his sanctuary of solitude. It wasn't just a lab anymore—it was the space where he and Shuri were building something far more personal.

Tony's fingers flew over the holographic interface as he made adjustments to the Mark 51 suit's design, but his mind kept drifting back to the moment they shared. It had felt so... natural. As if the connection between them, the one that had been growing ever since they met, had finally broken through the walls of professionalism.

Shuri, standing next to him, was just as focused on the suit as he was—at least outwardly. But Tony could see it, the way her lips tugged slightly upward, the way her fingers hesitated for just a second longer than usual before inputting data into the system. She was feeling it too.

"Alright, Stark," Shuri said, her voice breaking through the comfortable silence. "I think the vibranium matrix for the suit's shielding is ready. We're talking real-time energy absorption and redirection."

Tony whistled low, impressed. "That's what I'm talking about. You keep this up, and I might actually look good in front of the Avengers again."

Shuri shot him a glance, one eyebrow arched. "Don't push it. You've still got work to do."

Tony grinned. "You really know how to keep a guy humble."

"It's my gift," she said, smirking.

But even as they bantered, there was a charge in the air that hadn't been there before. It wasn't awkward, exactly, but the shift between them had been palpable. They'd crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed, and neither of them seemed to mind.

"So..." Tony started, glancing over at her from the corner of his eye. "About earlier..."

Shuri didn't stop working, her fingers tapping through the interface as she adjusted the energy conduits for the suit. "What about it?"

He leaned against the workstation, watching her. "I'm just saying, if you wanted to make that a regular thing, I wouldn't be opposed."

This time, she did stop working. Slowly, she turned to face him, one hand resting on her hip. "And what makes you think I would want to do that?"

Tony smirked. "Well, the fact that you haven't slapped me yet is a good sign."

Shuri rolled her eyes, but the amusement was clear on her face. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yeah, but you like it," Tony countered, taking a step closer to her.

For a moment, they just stood there, the tension between them simmering but not boiling over. Tony could see the conflict in her eyes—just as he felt it. On one hand, they were in the middle of developing something revolutionary. On the other, there was this undeniable pull between them that made it hard to focus on anything else.

"Tony," Shuri said, her voice softer now, more serious. "This... whatever this is... it can't distract us. We've got important work to do."

He nodded, knowing she was right. But still... "I get that. And trust me, I'm not about to let anything get in the way of what we're building here. But... I think we both know there's more to this than just the work."

Shuri looked up at him, her gaze steady. For a long moment, she didn't say anything, and Tony could almost see the gears turning in her mind. Then, finally, she sighed and smiled, the tension easing just a bit.

"Fine. We'll take it slow," she said, stepping closer and poking him lightly in the chest. "But you're going to have to earn every bit of it, Stark. I don't make things easy."

Tony's grin widened. "Challenge accepted, Your Highness."

They shared another quiet moment, and then, just like that, they were back to work. But the air between them had changed again—lighter, more comfortable. The kiss had been a turning point, and now that they'd acknowledged it, they could move forward, both professionally and personally.

As they continued working late into the night, bouncing ideas back and forth and making more progress on the suit than Tony had anticipated, he found himself wondering how exactly he'd gotten here. Not just in Wakanda, not just working with someone as brilliant as Shuri—but here, in this strange place where he wasn't just building armor to protect the world. He was building something more, something that went beyond tech, beyond the Avengers.

He was building a connection. And for the first time in a long time, it felt like something he didn't have to overthink. It just... was.

By the time they finally called it a night, the lab had grown quiet, save for the soft hum of the equipment powering down. Shuri was the first to step away from the workstation, stretching her arms over her head as she yawned.

"I don't know how you do this every night," she said, glancing over at him. "Don't you ever get tired?"

Tony leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck. "Are you kidding? This is the fun part. I'm too excited to sleep when we're making this kind of progress."

Shuri laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"You've said that already."

"And I'll say it again."

Tony chuckled, pushing himself to his feet. "Well, since you're calling it quits, I guess I should too. I've got a long flight back tomorrow anyway."

Her smile faltered slightly at that, though she quickly masked it. "Already? I thought you were sticking around for a few more days."

Tony hesitated. He hadn't been planning on extending his stay, but now that she mentioned it... "I can always reschedule."

"Good," Shuri said, her smile returning. "I think we're onto something big here. I don't want to lose momentum."

"Neither do I."

They stood there for a moment longer, and Tony realized that as much as he was looking forward to finishing the suit, he was equally looking forward to seeing what happened next with Shuri. This partnership—both the professional and the personal side of it—was something special. And for the first time in a long time, Tony was excited about the future.

"See you in the morning?" Shuri asked as she headed for the door.

Tony smiled, his heart lighter than it had been in years. "Wouldn't miss it."

And with that, she was gone, leaving Tony alone in the lab once more. But this time, the solitude didn't feel so heavy. Not when he knew that the morning would bring something new—something worth waking up for.

He looked around the lab, taking in the scattered blueprints, the flickering holograms, and the silent machines that would soon bring his vision to life. The world might be in chaos, the Avengers might be broken, but here, in this place, Tony was building something that mattered.

And for the first time in a long time, he wasn't doing it alone.