The Girl Out of Time

Chapter 34

Heat had returned to his body now. His chest was rising and falling in a calm even motion. He slept most of the day. Three of the little boys in the village kept popping their heads in to see if he was awake. I didn't mind. They were just curious.

It was almost evening when I finally stepped outside the hut. The sun was giving the grassy land a golden glow. I stretched as the boys came running back to the hut. This time all three of them quietly went inside. Just as I was about to tell them not to wake him I spotted Shuri.

"Shuri" I said quietly to get her attention.

"Good evening Willow. How is he?" She asked nodding to the hut.

"He's-" I started.

The three boys came running out of the hut straight to Shuri. She laughed.

"Were you bothering the man?" Shuri asked them.

The boys all started talking at once blaming the others for bothering James. I couldn't help but chuckle at them. I turned around at the sound of shuffling feet. The next second James appeared in the door of the hut. The boys screamed then ran off shouting "white wolf".

"Stop it!" Shuri shouted after them.

James. He's awake and standing right in front of me. He gave me a small lopsided smile. My heart leaped as I flung myself around him. He stumbled back slightly but righted himself. He wrapped his flesh arm around my back holding me tightly to him.

"You actually stayed." He whispered.

"Of course I did." I pulled back from him.

"How are you feeling?" Shuri asked from behind us.

James smiled.

"Good" he nodded.

"Good, come with me. You have much more to learn." Shuri said gesturing for us to follow her.

We didn't hesitate to follow her back towards the palace. James and I walked next to each other. His hand grabbed mine tangling our fingers together. I smiled down at it. It was a small and sweet action but it made me feel lighter than air.

"I'm really glad you stayed." James said quietly keeping his eyes on Shuri walking ahead of us.

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." I smiled looking down at my feet.

He squeezed my hand gently causing me to look up at him. He smiled down at me.

"Have you spoke to Steve?" He asked.

"I have a few times. He's been busy with Sam, Nat, and Wanda. Still taking on the bad guys. A little more vigilante style though." I chuckled softly.

We followed Shuri into the labs. She gestured for James to take a seat on top a metal table. She unwrapped the cloth from around his torn metal arm then began looking it over closely.

"We've made you a new one." She told him.

I stood on the other side of him still holding his hand. He was a tough guy he didn't need the support but I knew he appreciated it. Plus it made me feel a lot better to be here. Shuri worked silently for a few minutes then told James to move to a chair. I was made to stand a few feet away from him this time. They gave him a sedative the worked on detaching the remaining metal.

I watched as much as I could but I had to close my eyes at some points. James was awake but he didn't move or make a peep. Once the metal was removed a man walked in holding a full size arm. They lined it up with his flesh body then quickly worked on attaching it.

I let out a relieved breath once they all stepped back from him. Shuri quietly thanked the two men for their help then sent them on their way.

"How does it feel?" She asked him.

He was quietly for a moment as he raised the arm. He moved it slowly in different directions then nodded.

"Feels good. It's light." He told her.

"I want you to train here with Okoye every day. It will not only allow you to get use to the new arm but she will help you learn discipline and more control. We have erased the verbal triggers but I'd rather be safe than sorry on any other triggers." Shuri explained.

James nodded. Shuri sent us back to our hut after telling James he could start training in a few days. For now she wanted him to rest.

"Does it feel different?" I asked him as we walked.

He looked down at his arm. He moved his fingers then made a fist.

"Yes. It feels better. It feels like this one was actually made for me. The other felt like a forced fit." He explained.

The rest of the walk was silent. It was a comfortable silence that made this feel like we were back home again. We reached the hut to find one of the older woman of the village standing outside it. She smiled at us then reached two bowls towards us.

"Thank you" I told her with a smile as we took the bowls.

She smiled then nodded. She walked back towards the other guys as the two of us went inside our own. We sat on the floor that was covered in blankets.

"How long have we been here?" James asked as he looked down at the bowl.

"Almost four months." I answered simply.

I immediately dig into my bowl's contents. The woman had been the one to bring me food every day since I've been here. I knew that it would be delicious no matter what it was. James, on the other hand, looked at his bowl questionably.

"Eat Jamie" I told him with a smile.

"What is it?" He asked scrunching you his face.

"Delicious, now stop being picky and just eat it." I chided him.

He smirked at me but nodded. He groaned softly at the taste of his first bite. I chuckled to myself. When we were both finished I took the bowls back to the woman in the village. When I returned to our hut James was laying down with his hands behind his head.

"Don't you look comfy." I teased.

"Come here" he smiled holding his metal arm out to me.

I didn't hesitate to lay down next to him on the blankets. I cuddled in close to his side laying my head on his chest.

"Things could be good here. Normal." He practically whispered.

"I was thinking the same thing." I agreed quietly.

"Is that what you want?" He asked as his metal fingers started to play with my hair.

"I want whatever life I can get with you James." I answered him.

"So a normal, mundane life here in Wakanda would make you happy?" He asked.

"It's not just about my happiness Jamie." I told him.

He chuckled softly.

"You are my happiness Willow." He whispered then placed a soft kiss to the top of my head.

My heart was beating erratically in my chest. Heat filled my entire body. I forced myself to sit up causing James to raise a brow at me.

"A normal, mundane life here with you would be all I need to be the happiest woman on Earth." I told him keeping my eyes on my own hands.

I felt him move beside me.

"Plus, you still have a promise to keep." I added smirking over at him.

He was still laying down but now he was propped up on his elbow. He chuckled at my words.

"Indeed I do. I'll be making good on that real soon doll. Until then.." he trailed off as he grabbed at me.

I laughed as he easily pulled me back down to him. I fell on top of him. Without hesitating he grabbed my face then crashed his lips against mine. My entire body flooded with heat. At the same time I felt like I was flying. My heart was as light as a feather as it spun around in a solo dance in my chest.

"Jamie" I whispered against his lips.