Page 116 of Map of Pain
“It’s his home,”Vincent saidsimply.“Has been for seven months now.”
Something passed across Nick’s face at that—understanding, maybe, or recognition. The idea that home could be a place to wander around half-dressed and safe.
“He’s been giving you space,”Vincent added.“He knows what it’s like to need time to recover after... difficult experiences.”
Nick noddedslowly, his gaze moving around the kitchen—taking in the lived-in comfort, the easy familiarity between everyone present, the way even Adam’s interruption felt like part of a larger whole.
True to his word, Adam reappeared five minutes later in jeans and a t-shirt, hairslightlymore manageable.
“There,”he announced, settling into the chair across from Nick.“Decent and respectable. Happy now?”
«Much better,»Luka said, earning another cheerful middle finger.
“So,”Adam said,apparentlyincapable of letting silence stretch for more than a few seconds,“anyone want to fill me in on current events? Last I heard, we were all very dramatic and covered in blood. Now we’re having civilized breakfast conversations. Did I miss the part where we decided everything was fine?”
“Not everything,” Nick said. “But... some things.”
Adam studied Nick’s face with surprising perceptiveness.“Some things,”he agreed.“That’s a start.”
After the humans ate breakfast, Marcus and Vincent stepped into another room to discuss something business-related. Caleb lingered,clearlywanting time with his brother but uncertain how to ask for it.
Nick solved the problem for him.“Want to sit in the living room? More comfortable than the kitchen.”
They settled on the farmhouse’s worn couch, the three of them arranged in comfortable proximity. The morning was peaceful, with the kind of quiet that made everything feel suspended in amber.
“I keep thinking I should have questions,”Caleb saideventually.“About what happened. About... everything. But I don’t know what to ask.”
Nick was quiet for a long moment, his fingersabsentlytracing the edge of the bite marks on his throat.“I don’t know what I’d answer yetanyway,”he saidfinally.“It’s still... settling.”
“Are you...”Caleb started, then stopped, searching for words.“Are you happy?”
The question seemed to surprise Nick. He considered itseriously, his gaze moving across the farmhouse’s dim interior, the comfortable furniture, the peaceful morning scene.
“I think so,”he saidquietly.“I think I might be.”
I think I might be.Such a small admission, but it hit Luka like sunrise breaking through clouds. When was the last time Nick considered happiness as a possibility?
Caleb smiled.“Good. That’s... that’s good.”
They sat in comfortable silence after that, the three of them sharing the morning peace. Luka felt his beast settle into contentment, nolongerprowling with protective anxiety. Just... peaceful.
Eventually, Marcus called Caleb over to discuss something work-related, leaving Luka and Nick alone on the couch.
«Tired?» Luka asked.
Nick shook his head.«Thinking.»
«About?»
Nick’s fingers movedhesitantlyin the air, practicing a sign Luka had taught him yesterday.«Future,»he managed, the gesture still clumsy but recognizable.
Future.Not survival, not escape plans, not threat assessment. Future.
Luka reached over and covered Nick’s hand with his own, threading their fingers together.
“I want to learn more,”Nick saidquietly.“Signs, I mean. And... other things. I want to figure out who I am when I’m not running from something.”
«We have time,»Luka signed with his free hand.
