Mission Impossible: Royal Deception

Chapter 5

Tom had always been the guardian in their relationship, an instinct that had developed early in their childhood when they were plucked from the streets and brought into the world of the British monarchy. He had a fierce loyalty to Jeanna, one that extended beyond their shared training and purpose. As they walked down the narrow hallway towards her hotel room, he couldn't shake the protective urge that surfaced whenever they were out in the world.

Tom glanced sideways at Jeanna, who walked with an ease that belied the tension beneath the surface.

They finally stopped at her door, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words.

"So," Jeanna broke the silence, tilting her head slightly, her eyes searching his for something she couldn't quite name.

"Thank you. If you need anything, I'm just one door away," he said, keeping his tone light, though the gravity of their situation weighed on him.

"Yeah... is there anything more you want to say?" she pressed, a hint of vulnerability slipping through her confident facade.

"Not really. On second thought, can we have a sleepover? Like old times' sake?" he suggested, a playful grin breaking through his concern.

Jeanna chuckled, the sound brightening the air. "Get in," she said, swinging the door open.

"Dinner?" he suggested, looking around for the takeout menus he knew were tucked away somewhere.

"Sounds perfect. Just give me a minute," Jeanna replied, moving to her desk to grab her phone. Tom watched her, the way her brow furrowed in concentration as she scrolled through the contacts, and he couldn't help but admire her. She was a whirlwind of talent and ambition, always reaching for something just out of grasp.

Tom leaned against the wall, folding his arms. 

"What are you in the mood for?" she asked, already reaching for her phone.

"Anything but fish," Tom said, feigning a dramatic shudder. "I can't handle another fish dinner after last year."

Jeanna laughed again, the sound brightening the room. "Alright, no fish. Pizza?"

"Perfect," he agreed. 

As they waited for the food, Tom felt his gaze lingering on Jeanna. She was comfortable in her own skin, unguarded, and in those fleeting moments, he allowed himself to admire her freely.

The way her hair fell over her shoulder, the way her smile lit up her face—it was all so familiar yet so cherished. He knew she looked at him as a big brother, but sometimes he wished she could see the depth of his feelings, the desire to protect her, not just as a friend but as something more.

Tom sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped loosely together as he leaned slightly forward. Jeanna was across from him, curled up in the armchair, legs tucked beneath her, her fingers tracing the rim of her water glass in slow, absentminded circles.

Jeanna shifted in her seat, her eyes flicking toward Tom, then away. Her posture was relaxed, but there was a subtle stiffness in the way her shoulders were held, as if she were trying to keep something in check. Tom, on the other hand, sat still, his eyes trained on the floor, brows drawn together in quiet thought.

Then, a knock. It cut through the tension like a sharp breath, unexpected and sudden.

Tom's head snapped up, his eyes meeting Jeanna's in a fleeting moment of surprise. She raised her eyebrows slightly, a wordless question passing between them. Tom stood, straightening up as he moved toward the door, his body tense with the remnants of their earlier conversation. Jeanna uncrossed her legs, shifting in her chair, her gaze following him across the room.

Tom reached for the door, hesitating for just a second before pulling it open. "Pizza for Tom and Jeanna!" The delivery guy handed over the box, and Tom muttered a brief acknowledgment, taking the pizza with one hand as he closed the door with the other.

He turned back to Jeanna, the box in hand, and their eyes met again. The tension from earlier hadn't completely dissipated, but the intrusion of the pizza had shifted something between them. It was a subtle shift, but enough to break the fragile thread that had been stretching too thin.

Jeanna pushed herself up from the chair, walking over to Tom, her movements slower than usual. She stood close to him, closer than necessary, as they both looked down at the pizza. There was a moment—a beat where neither of them moved, as if they were caught in the pause before the next step.

As they opened the boxes together, their hands almost collided, causing them both to pull back slightly, laughter bubbling up to fill the space where silence had just been. Tom chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, and Jeanna's smile widened as she teased, "I think I can reach it faster than you."

Tom smirked, his heart racing as he playfully challenged, "Oh really? Let's see about that." The brief competition eased the tension, allowing them both to relax as they slipped back into their familiar banter.