Originally Posted by
GuiltyPleasure
I've reread this issue several times for the conversation between Ororo and T'Challa. Coates does such a great job with Ororo's character. He gives them both such depth, combining what makes them special with what makes them utterly human. Despite how hurt, angry, and jealous Ororo is about what transpired between T'Challa and Nakia, she not only knows and admits that some of those feelings are unfair to T'Challa, she can also not deny how much she loves and still wants to be with him. For T'Challa, he is truly apologetic (he's obviously apologized more than once to Ororo) about a relationship that, considering the circumstances and his memory loss, made sense.
It's a twist on cheating. Did he really cheat, considering he had memory loss? Many people, probably most, would say he didn't. But, for Ororo, it probably feels as if he did, even though she understands that the T'Challa she knows would never do such a thing. His honesty/morality is clearly revealed by the fact that he confessed all when he could've remained silent. But, it's also more than that for Ororo because T'Challa has returned different than the man who left. So, she has to wrap her mind around the fact that, for him, it's been years, and she knows next to nothing about those years he spent away from her. He's lived an entire life without her--that is deeper than anything that happened with Nakia.
For T'Challa, with his memories returned, he probably feels a fair amount of guilt--even if he isn't technically guilty of doing anything more than seeking happiness and normalcy under harsh conditions. So now, he has two sets of memories and experiences. He's returned home and a relationship and a woman he is only now remembering. Do they pick up where they left off? Can they do so, considering everything that has happened and who he now is based on his experiences?
Honestly, I'm still unsure of the extent of his and Nakia's relationship. I didn't think they really had one--although there were feelings between them. I did't think Coates showed them as being in a true relationship or having sexual relations. But now it's as if it was this big thing between them. Perhaps someone who read all of the spacefaring issues could explain.