Page 121 of Danger and Dominance
David
Back at work and trying to grapple with the new dynamics of the team was interesting.They were all working out together as a team-building exercise.David couldn’t do everything, but it was a good time to work in some of his physical therapy exercises.It also allowed him to step back and watch the shifting group dynamics now that Zeus was with them.
He was impressive, David had to admit.
The cohesion of the team could be a lot better, though.They made it through the workout and to the cooldown without any major snafus, so David had to be happy with that for now.
“What do we even call you?”Jensen asked, frowning.
“Zeus.”
The man didn’t crack a smile.He wasn’t joking; he was being serious.Jensen rolled his eyes.
“I meant as a call sign.”
Shrugging one shoulder, Zeus kept stretching.
“What about Rosemary?”Mason asked cheekily.Everyone except Zeus looked at him in confusion.“Because it’s a spice.”
And they were the Spice Doms.Different kind of spice, though.
“I’ll answer to whatever,” Zeus said indifferently.
He did not seem to be big on showing emotion.Any emotion.David didn’t know him well enough to know if it was because he was new to the team and didn’t trust them yet, either, or if this was just how he always was.Or if it’s because he’s a plant of Marshall’s, and he’s trying not to get close to us before he betrays us.
Except if Marshall really had sent in a plant, David would expect the man to be trying to ingratiate himself, working harder to charm everyone.
Cassidy had told him she thought he should be nicer to Zeus.It wasn’t his fault he’d joined the team right before Marshall’s big announcement.And he hadn’t been part of Marshall’s team long before that.
“Okay, Fennel,” Jensen quipped, making everyone except Zeus and Drew chuckle.
David eyed Drew, who was far more somber than normal.He’d been intense during the training exercises.No matter how many times he’d apologized, no matter how many times David had reassured him that it wasn’t his fault Don had gotten to Cassidy, it was clear Drew still blamed himself.
“Alright, everyone, good job today,” David said to wrap things up.They had done a good job overall, even if everyone was still leery of Zeus.Eventually, they would start to trust him, or they wouldn’t.If he couldn’t integrate with the team, eventually, he would be fired.“Who’s going to the Outlands tonight?”
Everyone raised their hand, including Zeus, which had everyone looking at him.He shrugged.
“I’m a member, even though I haven’t been in a while.But my new girlfriend wants to go, so.”He shrugged again, as if it didn’t really matter to him, but he was willing to indulge his girlfriend.Which made David think a little better of him.He’d known Zeus was a member, all of Marshall’s team had been, but none of them had been back since the firm split apart.
Everyone knew Lincoln and Gavin were friends.
“Great.”David nodded firmly, as though saying so could make it so.“We can think of it as another team-building exercise.”
“Cool.”Jensen got to his feet.“See you tonight, Cinnamon.”
“See you tonight, Baby.”Zeus’ deadpan tone made his response far funnier than if he’d hammed it up, and both Mason and Claudia snickered.Jensen scowled, but the edges of his mouth were twitching.Even Drew managed to crack a smile.
David had a feeling they’d be trying out different spice names on Zeus until one of them stuck.Thankfully, it seemed like he could take it.That one little response had done more to solidify his position with the team than any of the training exercises they’d done together.
His shoulder ached, but only a little, and he rubbed it as he put his things away.
“How’s PT going?”Drew had come up so quietly, David hadn’t even heard him.It was amazing how sneaky Sporty could be when he wanted to.
“It’s good.Not my favorite thing, but necessary.And it helps, obviously.The sooner I can get back to normal, the better, so Cassidy doesn’t have the constant reminder… Every time she looks at my shoulder, I can see the guilt on her face.”The same guilt he saw on Drew’s face every time Drew looked at him or Cassidy.
“It wasn’t her fault,” Drew said immediately, sounding almost indignant.
No, of course not, because Drew wanted to take all the blame.David wasn’t having that.
