“I can do it. I’m okay,” I protest, though my words lack the strength I would have preferred.
“We know. But I’m getting bored. Need to do some housework before I start chewing on the furniture,” Joker laughs.
I can’t help but chuckle along with the rest, relaxing more into Phantom’s hold.
“Okay, I know all of you were there, but I have to tell this story. So, there was this one time that we were on a stakeout, and I was bored out of my mind. Like, if you thought that fucking facility was boring, it had nothing on this stupid mission,” Joker starts, words flying out so fast that I can barely understand them through his accent.
“It was not a stupid mission. We had to study the habits of our target so we could make sure the takedown happened—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Joker says, waving a hand at Bones to shush him. “But the important thing is that I was bored as fuck, and with nothing but my thoughts, trapped inside the van with all these pricks for literal days.”
Bones chuckles and rolls his eyes, meeting my gaze on accident again as I watch him. And I can’t look away even as Joker rattles off all the things he did to entertain himself at the expense of the team’s sanity. Bones replaced his mask, but there’s a distinct crease at the edges of his eyes, the only hint of an exasperated smile visible. And his eyes aren’t blazing anymore, and he’s not looking at me like something he’s stepped in.
“And that’s when we decided that I have to stop drinking protein shakes before long stakeout missions,” Joker finishes with a cackle.
I turn back to look toward the kitchen, cheeks a little warmer than they were a few moments ago. Phantom leans forward and places his chin on my shoulder, chuckling slightly before taking a deep breath.
“You’re lucky we didn’t report you to the Hague for engaging in chemical warfare,” Cross says, the smirk on his face betraying the stern words.
“The Geneva Conventions are more like Geneva Suggestions at the end of the day. Ask Canada,” Joker replies in mock seriousness.
We all share a laugh, and I notice for the first time how light my chest feels, even though my belly feels full. There’s no anxiety twisting my guts into knots, but just a pleasant warmth and weight to my body. The team meanders off, discussing the history of war crimes, but there’s no tension in the air. Even when we move to the couch from the dinner table, no one is looking at me like I’m some sort of intruder.
To most, being tolerated wouldn’t feel like a victory, I think. But right now, after the time I’ve had, not being sneered at and expected to be neither seen nor heard, being allowed to sit in silence with them is the best feeling in the entire world.
Chapter thirty-nine
Acoupleofhourslater, after sunset, I’m curled in the corner of the sectional, half asleep as I listen to the team talk. Their voices blend together into something like white noise or ocean waves, ebbing and flowing, and strangely peaceful. It strikes me how comfortable I am, and how quickly that has changed, but I don’t have the mental capacity to examine that further.
“Are you getting sleepy, little wisp?”
I look up at Joker’s gentle question, finding him leaning over the back of the couch to be eye level with me, a soft smile on his face. I tip my chin down once, a small agreement.
“Let’s get you to bed, then, yeah? I could use a lie down,” Joker replies, reaching up to tuck a stray piece of hair away from my face.
My shoulders slump, a familiar ball of tension returning to my belly. If anyone notices my shift in mood, they don’t say anything. All the others just give us warm “good nights” and “sweet dreams” as Joker vaults the couch and takes my hand and leads me down the hallway.
But then he stops in front of the middle door, the one I was told never to enter, shouldering it open. I stop at the threshold, my hand slipping out of his grip. Joker turns and looks at me, confusion pulling his brow low over his turquoise eyes.
“I…this is your nest,” I state lamely.
Joker nods. “And you’re going to stay with me in it from now on.”
I blink at him, a lump forming in my throat. From everything I was taught, omegas are highly territorial over their nests, their safe retreats from the world. Alphas and betas aren’t even supposed to enter them without asking first. It’s almost unheard of for an omega to offer to share their nest with another omega like this.
“I…Joker…” I try, trailing off twice before I lose the ability to form words.
Joker gives me another dazzling smile, his eyes crinkling in the corners as he steps closer and takes both of my hands, pulling me with him into the room and allowing the door to swing closed behind me. I take a deep breath, the tension in my shoulders dissipating almost instantly as my nose takes in the combined scents of the team. Mostly Joker, Bones, and Cross, but I can detect Phantom and Siren at the edges of the bouquet permeating the room.
“That’s it, sweet girl. Relax for me,” Joker says, low and soft.
I look around, taking in the space. There’s a door leading off the main room, and I spot a bathroom through the slightly ajar door. A built-in wardrobe sits along one wall, with a countertop meeting it in the corner. The faint hum of a mini fridge kicking on fills the air, though I can’t see where it’s coming from. But then I spot the bed, and I let out a long sigh as I practically melt on the spot.
Raised up slightly from the floor, three stairs lead up to a platform that surrounds the sleeping area of the nest. The mattress itself is recessed, creating natural walls that are lined with more pillows and blankets than I think I’ve seen outsideof a store. The bedding is all in coordinating shades of blue and green, matching Joker’s eyes almost exactly.
“We’ve got plenty of space, as you can see,” Joker says, turning to lead me up the stairs.
I let out a small, agreeing scoff. There’s enough space for at least eight people, let alone just two. I toe off my shoes before I follow Joker down onto the mattress, kneeling as I sink into the plush surface with a little whine. I run my hands along the sheet, the softness of it making my instincts sing with delight.