Chapter 3: The Extremis Suit

Late nights in the lab had always been Tony Stark's sanctuary, but this time it felt different. There was a certain energy crackling in the air, a buzz of excitement as he and Shuri stood in front of the holographic display, surrounded by a symphony of glowing blueprints and projected data. Wakanda had changed everything for him, and not just in terms of technology.

Shuri had brought a fresh perspective into his world. They'd been working non-stop for the past few weeks, their minds syncing together like the gears of a perfectly tuned machine. But beyond the work, something deeper was building between them, something Tony hadn't anticipated.

The lab was quiet except for the soft hum of equipment. Shuri stood beside him, her fingers tapping through various schematics, reviewing the work they'd done so far. Tony couldn't help but steal a glance at her—her focus, her passion for innovation, the way her brow furrowed when she was deep in thought. She was a force of nature, and it was impossible not to be drawn to that.

"So," Shuri said, breaking the silence. "You're telling me you want a suit that can be called to you? Like... out of nowhere?"

Tony smirked. "That's exactly what I'm saying. The Extremis project—it was all about merging tech with biology. The suit can be stored in nanoparticles within my body and summoned at will. It's like carrying an entire arsenal, but with no extra baggage."

Shuri paused, her eyes narrowing at the display of the Extremis suit's core. "You know, that's brilliant. Insane, but brilliant. If we can perfect it, you'd essentially be walking around as a weapon without anyone knowing."

Tony leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched her work. "That's the idea. And with your vibranium upgrades, we could make it even more powerful, more adaptive. I don't want to just summon the suit—I want it to respond to me in real-time, adjusting to my physical needs, my environment."

Shuri nodded, her lips curling into a smile. "You really don't do anything halfway, do you?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Tony replied, his grin widening. But beneath his bravado, there was a genuine sense of excitement. This was something new. Something that could change the game. And Shuri was the perfect partner to make it happen.

For the next few hours, they worked in tandem, bouncing ideas back and forth. Every time Tony thought he had hit a breakthrough, Shuri would push him further, suggesting tweaks and improvements that only made the project more ambitious. And Tony? He loved it. He thrived in this environment. It was the first time in a long while that he felt truly challenged.

But the more they worked, the more the room seemed to shrink, the distance between them narrowing with each passing moment. It wasn't just the thrill of innovation anymore. There was something else. Something simmering beneath the surface.

As they paused to review their progress, Tony leaned against the workstation, his eyes flickering to Shuri as she stood a few feet away, her gaze fixed on the hologram. Her hair was pulled back, a few loose curls framing her face. The glow from the display cast soft shadows across her skin, and for a brief moment, Tony found himself caught in the moment—caught in her.

Shuri must have sensed it because she turned, her eyes locking onto his. "What's up, Stark? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Tony blinked, snapping back to reality, but the smirk never left his lips. "Not a ghost. Just admiring the genius in front of me."

Shuri rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement in her gaze. "If you're trying to flatter me into doing more work, you've got another thing coming."

"Flattery's not my style," Tony replied, taking a step closer. "Honesty, though? That's something I can get behind."

She arched a brow, crossing her arms. "Oh really? And what's your honest take on all of this?"

Tony shrugged, the smirk turning into something more genuine. "Honestly? You're brilliant. And I'm not just talking about the tech."

For the first time since they started working together, Shuri's confident exterior seemed to soften. She held his gaze for a long moment, her expression unreadable, but there was something in her eyes—a spark that mirrored his own.

"I could say the same about you," she said quietly, her voice carrying a weight that hadn't been there before.

The air between them felt charged, and Tony wasn't entirely sure what to do with it. His mind raced, running through all the reasons why this wasn't a good idea—why getting involved with someone he worked with was complicated, messy. But none of those reasons seemed to matter.

Without thinking, Tony took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "Shuri..."

She didn't move, didn't flinch. Instead, she watched him carefully, her eyes steady, her expression calm. "What is it, Tony?"

For a moment, all of his usual bravado, his sarcasm, fell away. He didn't have a quip, didn't have a witty retort. He just... felt.

"I think," Tony started, his voice quieter now, "that this... thing we're doing—it's more than just work. And I don't mean the suits."

Shuri's gaze softened, and for the first time, Tony saw vulnerability in her eyes. "Yeah," she whispered. "I've been thinking the same thing."

It was all the encouragement Tony needed. In one smooth motion, he closed the gap between them, and before either of them could second-guess it, his lips were on hers.

The kiss was electric, a culmination of everything they had been building together—both in the lab and outside of it. It wasn't just passion, though there was plenty of that. It was a meeting of minds, a connection that ran deeper than either of them had anticipated.

When they finally pulled apart, Shuri let out a soft laugh, her breath still ragged. "That was... unexpected."

Tony grinned, his forehead resting against hers. "Unexpected, but not unwanted, right?"

Shuri shook her head, still smiling. "Definitely not unwanted."

They stood there for a moment longer, the hum of the lab fading into the background as the reality of what just happened settled in. It wasn't just a kiss. It was the beginning of something new. Something neither of them could have predicted, but both of them wanted.

"So," Tony said, his voice returning to its usual cocky tone. "Back to work, or...?"

Shuri laughed, pushing him lightly. "Oh, we're definitely finishing this project. But maybe we can multitask."

Tony's grin widened. "I knew I liked you."

And with that, they turned back to the holographic display, their hands brushing as they began adjusting the designs for the Extremis suit. The air between them was lighter now, the tension broken, but there was a new energy in the room—an energy that promised much more than just technological breakthroughs.