Sue and Namor grow closer...

CHAPTER 2

When the team reunited in the Baxter Building, Namor reluctantly revealed that his mother, Fen, the Atlantean princess, had once had a secret relationship with the human ship captain Leonard McKenzie.

When she became pregnant with Namor, her father killed the surface dweller, and ever since, there has been a blood feud with Attuman for the throne of Atlantis.

"Attuman is a distant cousin of the royal family from a savage, barbaric tribe of Atlantean rule. He's very dangerous and wants to rule the sea and the surface."

"Let him come," said Johnny, sitting on the couch, his fingertips burning.

“There was a war in Atlantis, and I led the escape ships with the inhabitants, but some were damaged, and mine drifted to the surface with you."

"Many of the dead Atlanteans were armed and in combat gear, though," grumbled Ben, puffing on his cigar.

"To protect the passengers, of course," Namor replied rudely.

"What happened in Atlantis now?" Sue asked worriedly.

"Attuman seized power, enslaved my people, and quartered his tribe in the city."

Sighing, Sue put her hand over her mouth and glanced at the closed door to the nursery.

"We have to do something," she said.

"This is too dangerous. Attuman controls an entire army, and I'm alone."

"You're not. You have us," Sue said, and everyone on her team looked at her in surprise.

"What? The Fantastic Four always help."

"Yes. But it's a political situation, and always a double-edged sword. We didn't intervene in the attempted coup in Wakanda either," Reed explained, and Sue looked at her husband in disbelief.

“That was something else entirely."

"Unfortunately, your husband is right. Even though I hate to admit it," Namor gritted his teeth.

"It's about women and children," she added.

"According to Atlantean law, he's done nothing wrong. Our history is full of propped-up kings and power grabs. I could challenge him at any time, but since my army was destroyed, I have to face him and his followers alone. It's not just about the hopeless battle, but also the danger that many innocent civilians face."

"That's what I've been talking about all the time."

"Atlantis is, after all, Attuman's realm, and even if you were to help me, the chances are slim. No, there's nothing we can do."

Sue stood up, panting, and stomped out of the large common room.

Before doing so, she sliced Ben's cigar with an invisible blade.

Up on the roof, Sue had set up her own little private space. There was a small pool and a whirlpool, and from here she could see all of New York. No one else had access, not even her children. It was her own private sanctuary, where she could switch off for five minutes from all the supervillains, cosmic conflicts, and family squabbles.

Reed had his lab, Johnny his nightclub, Ben his gym, and Sue her pool. She loved swimming, no matter what time of day, lying here and just relaxing for a while. But now she couldn't find peace.

Sue kept thinking about the problems happening many miles below her. Back when their spaceship crashed after its test flight, she and her family had vowed to help everyone and protect the innocent. Why else had fate given them superpowers? And now? Now it was all about diplomatic problems and border crossings.

Two nights ago, no one had known of Atlantis's existence, and the discussion was already about whether New York should take in war refugees. If it were up to Sue, everyone should get help, whether from the stars or the depths of the sea. She lay on the lounger in her blue bikini and thought back to many experiences that had happened since the test flight. The Mole Man who wanted to take over New York. The Puppetmaster who could control heroes. Doctor Doom's claims to power over the rest of the world. Galactus and his Silver Surfer. Her marriage to Reed and the birth of their two children, Franklin and Valeria.

This had been Sue's concern ever since she founded the Fantastic Four. Protecting her children and everyone else. Suddenly, Sue heard someone jump into the water next to her and jumped up in alarm.

It was Namor swimming in the pool.

"What are you doing here?" Sue asked angrily.

"Swimming," he simply said.

He was swimming laps, and the way he moved in the water had something fascinatingly hypnotic about it. The Atlantean was in his element.

"This area is actually off-limits," Sue said coolly.

For everyone?"

"For everyone."

"I didn't know," he said, swimming back in the opposite direction.

"I think even if you had, you wouldn't care."

Namor didn't speak again until he returned to the edge of the pool, where Sue was lying on the crib.

"What a waste. Something this beautiful should be open."

"This is nothing special."

"I don't agree," he said, crossing his powerful upper arms on the edge of the pool.

"It's nice that you're making an exception for me, though."

"I didn't."

"Wouldn't you like to join me?" he asked.

"No."

"I told you... a waste."

"What are you going to do now?" Sue asked.

Namor's response was a smile, and Sue only now saw that he was naked. She had known the man for two days and had seen him naked more times than her husband had in two weeks.

"I mean, what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know. I'm a fallen and exiled king without a kingdom. My loyal people are enslaved, and my wealth is beyond my reach at the bottom of the sea. I'm... what do you humans say... stranded."

"You're half human," Sue reminded him.

"I don't consider myself human. More of an Atlantean, having been raised and shaped by the culture."

"And what is Atlantean culture like?"

"It may seem wild and primitive to you, even though it's highly developed. It's about strength and connection to nature."

"Sounds interesting."

Sue had already encountered many strange, unknown cultures and civilizations on her travels through space and time. Despite the many dangers, she wouldn't have missed the experience.

Sue had always been open to other cultures and their customs and was grateful for the opportunity the Fantastic Four had given her.

"What did you say to me yesterday?" she wanted to know.

"I don't remember," he answered without thinking.

"You didn't answer my question."

Namor didn't seem to be listening. He was studying her body as if he were in a hospital room, and the fact that she was now wearing only a skimpy bikini didn't bother him.

"I answered you. I don't know."

"And where are you going now?"

Namor pushed away from the edge of the pool and swam upright backward with his arms outstretched. This time, Sue avoided looking down.

"The world's oceans are open to me. I can go anywhere I want. I am free and unattached."

"No wife and children?"

"No. Just a loyal people and a kingdom of indescribable beauty."

Involuntarily, she blinked downwards and bit her lower lip.

"If you want..."

Her eyes looked up again, and of course, that split second hadn't escaped the King of Atlantis.

"...you're welcome to stay with us. We have enough space, and you can calmly consider what you want to do in the future."

"A generous offer. Do you look after everyone?"

"I already said that we help everyone, no matter what."

"And don't the others mind?"

"No," Sue said curtly, and Namor grinned at her, and she couldn't quite interpret it.

"Do you always make team decisions alone?"

"No, too. But where are you going?"

"You put a lot of trust in a stranger."

"That's just the way we are."

"Ever regretted your trust?"

"Never."

Namor dived under once, came back up, and spat a jet of water into the air.

"Then I hope I'm not the first."

Me neither, thought Sue, stood up, and left. She didn't put on the bathrobe, but walked past Namor so he could now inspect her backside. Sue could practically feel his burning gaze resting on her buttocks.