Nina

They sat as they had before the dance, in a circle, trading ideas. Nina noticed Inej and Kaz sitting closer than friends usually did, and smiled. She looked around at the others, seeing no reaction whatsoever. Were they all blind? As she watched, Inej reached out and gently took Kaz's hand. Kaz held it, her bronze coloured hand in his gloved one. Nina figured she was either going to burst out laughing or cry. "Kaz?" She said quietly, trying to keep a straight face. Kaz immediately let go of Inej's hand and glared. Again, his cheeks heated almost to the point of a blush. It was decided, she was going to laugh.

"What?" He growled.

"Nothing." She giggled.

He glanced away from her, still that interesting shade of pink.

"How are we going to do this?" Marli asked. "Springing a prisoner is one thing, actually taking Rollins down is another."

Kaz shrugged, looking frustrated. "It's his move."

"What is this, a chess match?"

"More or less."

"I hate chess."

Kaz shifted, wincing and then immediately trying to hide it. She thought about Wylan offering Kaz help, and Kaz actually accepting. He must be in pain, tough or not. A bullet to the stomach wasn't something you just shrugged off. "Did he say anything to you, Jes?"

"Not really." Jesper mumbled. "But..."

"Yes, Jes?"

"Rollins said something weird."

Kaz looked cautious. "And what would that be?" Nina sensed a dangerous note in his voice that hadn't been there before.

"He said...he said he killed your brother, and you've hated him since you were a kid. He said you threatened his son?" Jesper's eyes were curiously detached. The boy clearly was not thinking about what he was saying.

Kaz froze, his eyes wide. She had never seen the vulnerable look that passed over his face now. Kaz had a brother? And Rollins had killed him? That explained why Kaz hated him so much. Wylan, Anika's and Marli's eyes were big. Inej didn't look surprised. "What?" Wylan said.

"That son of a bitch killed him?" Marli exploded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What would you have done?"

"I don't know! Suffocated him slowly?"

"And what would that accomplish?"

"It'd make me feel better!" Marli was crying, tears tracking down her cheeks. "At least tell me what happened?"

For the first time, Nina saw Kaz look absolutely helpless. "Marli-"

"He was stupid, reckless, and arrogant, but I loved him, Kaz. I loved him like he was my brother. I loved you like you were my brother. So just put your stupid ego away for a minute and tell me!"

Kaz looked utterly hopeless. "It'd take a lot longer than a minute to explain."

"What is going on?" Anika asked, mirroring Nina's thoughts.

Marli scrubbed at her eyes. "Kaz had a brother. And Kaz won't tell me what happened to him." Kaz sighed.

Jesper looked confused. "I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault, Jesper." Marli said, looking at Kaz pleadingly.

Kaz levered himself up with his cane and limped away, face impassive. Marli watched him go sadly. "Kaz...had a brother?" Nina asked slowly, trying to order her thoughts.

"Yes." Inej said quietly. "He died."

"And how do you know this?"

"He told me."

Nina nodded. "What do we do?"

"Nothing changes. Kaz will probably be pissy for a while, though.

"When is he not?"

"What happened to his brother?" Anika asked.

Inej looked sad. "He won't tell me, either." Marli sighed and sat back.

"We need him to plan." Nina said.

Inej looked at her. "I think we should leave him alone for a while."

Nina leaned against the wall, sighing. "Anyone have any snacks?"

Wylan turned to her. "Are you serious?"

"Completely." She assured him.

Marli silently reached into her bag and pulled out a tin of biscuits. She handed it to Nina. "You're a Saint." She said, already shoving a few into her mouth. They were chocolate coated.

Wylan sighed, curling up next to Jesper. Marli laid down too, curling against the wall. Nina scooted over to her. "Care if I sleep next to you?"

"Go ahead." She murmured. Nina laid down, taking a mirror from her bag. She shovelled biscuits in her mouth with one hand, trying to trick herself into believing it was chocolate cake, concentrating on changing her hair back to light brown with other.

"Don't eat all my biscuits." Marli muttered. Nina turned her head and grinned at her. Marli narrowed her eyes mock threateningly.

"I'll change your hair and eyes back tomorrow." She promised. Marli nodded and turned over. Nina slowly fell asleep, thinking about Kaz and his brother. What had happened?

Sorry for the long update! Had serious writers block/confidence issues for a while there.