Page 93 of Joker

Not because she’s trying to imitate them. Because she doesn’t have to. She belongs in this world in a way that’s written all over her.

Her gaze lands on me and stays there for one beat too long. Assessing.

Not hostile. Not friendly either. Just…skeptical.

Mac, of course, notices immediately and grins like she’s been waiting for this. “Oh good,” she says. “Perfect timing.”

The woman lifts one dark brow. “For what?”

Emma gestures between us. “Raven, this is Shaina.”

The name clicks instantly. Logan’s sister. I should’ve known. She has that same kind of presence. That same unmistakable edge that says she’s not someone people push around and live to enjoy it.

Shaina crosses her arms loosely over her chest and gives me one slow once-over that somehow feels more intimidating than half the men in this building. “So,” she says. “You’re the mystery woman.”

I blink once, caught off guard by how blunt she is.

Mac snorts into her drink.

Emma, who is clearly used to this, doesn’t even react.

Kya just mutters, “Jesus Christ,” under her breath.

I try not to smile. Try and fail. “I think ‘mystery’ gives me too much credit,” I say.

One corner of Shaina’s mouth twitches. Not a smile exactly. More like she’s mildly annoyed that she doesn’t hate my answer. “That depends,” she says. “You dangerous?”

The question is so dry I can’t immediately tell how serious she is.

I settle on honesty. “Not unless someone gives me a reason.”

That gets me my first real reaction.

Shaina’s expression shifts just slightly, something like approval flickering under all that skepticism. “Alright,” she says. “Fair enough.”

Emma nudges her shoulder. “Be nice.”

“I am being nice.”

Mac barks out a laugh. “No, you’re being you.”

Shaina looks completely unbothered by that. “Which is nicer than she’ll get if someone pisses me off.”

That, weirdly enough, makes me like her immediately. Because it doesn’t feel fake. Doesn’t feel performative.

She isn’t pretending to be sweeter than she is for my benefit, and after too many years of carefully managed social masks and forced charm, I find that strangely comforting.

Kya lifts her bottle toward Shaina. “You’re just in time. We were about to corrupt Raven.”

“Good,” Shaina says without hesitation. “She looks too tense.”

I open my mouth to defend myself. Then shut it. Because…fair.

Mac steps toward the bar and grabs another bottle, handing it off like this is now officially a ceremony. “Then you know what to do.”

Shaina takes the bottle and turns toward me with the kind of expression that says I’m about to be initiated into something ridiculous and non-negotiable.

I glance at Emma.