A/N: I told you I would be better at posting! I haven't finished this story, but I have enough chapters written (still need to edit) to keep us going. I hope you are liking this story so far, and if you are up to date on this one, go check out my other stories on my page.

Weeks passed without an incident from James, though Shuri took every opportunity to test his trigger words on him. She made elaborate plans to try and get him to crack. She would ambush him as soon as he stepped into the lab, or she would sneak up behind him and start reciting the words, only to have him ignore her.

James didn't mind. He secretly liked that Shuri felt comfortable enough around him to tease him like a little sister should. It made him miss his family, though he hadn't thought about them in over seventy years. Living in Wakanda had been the closest thing to a family James had had since he left for the war, and he had been fighting ever since for a prize he couldn't name. It had been a long life.

Now, James had the opportunity to relax and live, though he didn't know how to do either of those things. He imagined if he asked Shuri, she would give him a list of less than relaxing activities, and if he asked Ayo, it would probably consist of more breathing exercises and meditating.

"Sergeant Barnes!"

James turned around in the hallway to face Shuri.

She jogged toward him and stopped on a dime. "I have a surprise for you."

"Okay," he said.

Shuri stomped her foot. "You are no fun! Come on!"

She took his hand and drug him down the hall with her. They weaved through the hallways until they reached a door leading outside to a waiting SUV. Shuri let go of James to jump in the driver's seat.

He paused outside the car. "Do you even know how to drive?"

"Yes," Shuri groaned. "Get in the car, soldier boy."

James opened the door, and as soon as he sat in the seat, Shuri gunned the engine. The door shut forcefully as James was thrown back into the seat. The car skidded through each curve in the dirt road and Shuri laughed maniacally. James gripped the door handle with white knuckles, and wished that he had his other arm to brace himself further.

Then as soon as they had taken off, Shuri slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a skidding stop in a cloud of dust.

James laid his head back and took a deep breath.

"You can get out now," chimed Shuri, throwing open her door and exiting the car.

James took a slower approach, making sure his feet were planted solidly on the ground before he let go of the car. He walked around the front of the car to join Shuri.

"What did you bring me out here for?"

"Sergeant Barnes, welcome to your new home." Shuri swept her arm out in a grand gesture, bringing his attention to the small hut that stood down the road. The hut was long and short, but from what he could tell of the outside, James knew it was enough room for him.

"This is mine?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes! I told my brother you were free, and he agreed that you should have your own space here in Wakanda. It is still close to the palace, but it gives you a chance to be away from others if you wish. The only downside is you might have to deal with some wild goats that use the lake for water." Shuri wrinkled her nose as she mentioned the goats.

James continued to stare at the hut and the lake that spread out behind it. He had never owned his own house. Apartments and safe houses didn't count, and before he went off to the war he was still living at home. He was grateful to T'Challa, Shuri, and Ayo for giving him the opportunity to earn their trust and be given a place to live.

Shuri elbowed him in the side. "So do you like it, or should I tell T'Challa you need his room in the palace? Because I would gladly kick him out for you."

James smiled and looked at her. "No, you don't have to do that. I love it."

"Perfect! I will have what little things you have brought out here, and don't worry about electricity. That building has a transformer that could power a small city." Shuri ran back to the car and jumped in. She peeled off down the road once more to gather supplies for James.

He decided he should check out his new home.

James walked toward the hut, admiring the craftsmanship it took to make it. It was made of mud bricks held together with more mud, and sculpted to allow the water to run down easily without eroding the walls. The roof looked like it was made of thatch, but James knew better than to think Shuri hadn't found a way to make it nearly indestructible underneath the layers of grass.

He opened the solid wood door to reveal an open living space with another door on the back wall. A small kitchen bled into a smaller sitting area, emphasizing the tininess of the hut. Moving toward the other door, James opened it to reveal a bedroom with room for his queen sized bed and the dresser from the palace. The hut had everything he needed in a living space, and the best part about it was it was all his.

As stoic as James usually was, the emotion of everything that had changed for the better in his life began to overtake him. He covered his mouth with his hand trying to hold in the sobs and force back the tears that threatened his body. The relief that washed over him after years and years of oppression and commands made him feel like a completely different man. For the first time in years he was able to live a life. For the first time in years he didn't want to be alone.

The loneliness crept up in his chest and the tears he had been trying to hold back broke through the dam he had built up inside himself. James collapsed to his knees unable to bear the emotions he had been unable to express for over seventy years.

He knelt on the ground and cried until he heard the sound of Shuri returning with his things. Then, like the soldier he had learned to be, James dried his eyes, rubbed his face, and pretended like nothing had been wrong.