So sorry for the long update, I read through what I had planned for the next few chapters and ended up deleting it. It's probably going to be ten chapters longer than I originally planned. To think I once thought this wouldn't be more than five. HAHAHAHA

Wylan

Wylan couldn't believe the words that were coming from Kaz's mouth. There was dead silence in the sitting room as Kaz explained his idea. Then the protests bubbled up.

"Not a chance."

"You'll die."

"Rollins will see it coming a mile away."

"We won't let you, Kaz."

"Sewers?" That was Nina.

"I told you they wouldn't like it." Inej said, dark eyes worried.

"There isn't another way out of this." Kaz said calmly.

"Kaz, he'll know it's a trick." Nina pleaded. "Come on, Barrel rat. This is your life we're talking about. Where's that famous sense of self preservation?"

"On vacation. I'll make it look like an accident he caught me."

"How are we going to get you out, while fighting something like thirty men guarding the Dregs, not counting the many more outside and spread throughout the city?" Marli demanded, ice blue eyes flashing dangerously.

"We won't have to fight all of them. Not if we kill Rollins."

Jesper put his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes. Wylan took a moment to realize just how tired all of them looked. "Because then we'll have killed their general. Saints, it actually makes sense."

"Of course it does. It's my plan." At least Kaz wasn't tired enough to forsake his arrogance. It might've made Wylan itch to slap him normally, but now it was just something familiar in a situation where nothing was certain.

"You'll keep the doors open. But how will we disable the guards?" Anika asked.

"Kaz. This is insane." Marli growled. Wylan didn't think he was the only one who heard the almost desperate note to her tone. She doesn't want to lose him.

But if Kaz heard it, he gave no indication. "Will you be quiet and let me explain it?"

Marli stood and walked straight up to Kaz, staring him down. "You. Are going. To die."

"Marlisa, sit down."

Marli's jaw clenched. "You want to play the name game, Kaz? Do you?" Wylan froze , along with everyone else. It was like someone had put two time bombs together, and now they were waiting to see which one exploded first. "Well? Cause if we play, I'm going to win."

"You wouldn't." Kaz snarled. Wylan didn't like the look in his coffee eyes. An angry Kaz was one thing. But a Kaz that was simultaneously angry and scared was another level altogether. Advice from concerned adults about playing outside came to mind. Never corner a wounded animal. It'll fight back. Advice Marli had apparently never heard.

"Try me."

"No, you wouldn't. You're not that stupid." Kaz stood, giving him more than a few inches on Marli.

"Kazimer."

"Marli, not another word."

"James."

"Katrine." Kaz snapped back.

Marli threw up her hands. "You are the most irritating son of a bitch I've ever met! Why am I even still here?"

"Well, aren't you your mothers little girl. Can't be bothered to stick with anything, even her child." Kaz growled. Nina flinched, Jesper blowing out a breath and glancing away. Anika's eyes widened a little, and Inej pursed her lips. Marli's answering shriek of rage hurt Wylan's ears.

"My mother? What would your mother do if she could see you now? Can you even imagine?" Kaz balled his fists, tensing like coiled spring. "Oh, that's right. You probably can't even remember her. She died when your were five."

Kaz's howl made the hairs stand up on the back of Wylan's neck. "Shut up! What would your father do? Actually, I doubt he'd care, unless he was cheering Rollins on!"

"More interesting question. What would your father do?"

"Shut the hell up now." Wylan had never seen Kaz so...what? Angry? Scared? Sad? All emotions were present. Wylan didn't think he had ever really heard Kaz yell. The angrier he got, the colder. His expression was rage, mixed with a pain Wylan couldn't fathom.

"Don't compare me to my mother!" Marli screamed.

"Then don't mention my parents, damn it!" Kaz shouted.

"Why is this such a sore spot for you all of a sudden? You've spent years acting like you don't care. Your heart might as well be an ice cube." Marli's voice was filled with scorn. She was saying what no one had ever dared say to Kaz before. Wylan's awe was trumped only by fear and a kind of horrified fascination.

"Says the girl who became a mercenary and was seriously debating killing one of the only friends she'd ever had." Kaz snarled back. The volume of their argument was like a rough sea, full of crescendos and and deep valleys.

"If you could see yourself now, you'd understand. Rabid dogs are supposed to be put down, Kaz."

"I didn't. Have. A. Choice." Kaz growled, voice low and pained. For the first time, Wylan wondered at why exactly Kaz had joined a gang, become what he was. Revenge on Rollins could've been achieved other ways. Maybe because there had been simply no other option. Kaz took a deep breath and seemed to recover a little. "You told Alby you're not afraid of the druskelle. Haven't you had nightmares about them coming for you since you were six?" The message in his dark eyes was clear. Every time you hurt me, I will hurt you worse.

"Didn't have a choice, hmm? Well, I wouldn't know, because you haven't breathed a word of what happened!"

"Go to hell!" Kaz snapped.

"I'll see you there!" Marli countered.

"How about both of you calm down for a second-" Jesper attempted. Wylan had to admire the sharpshooters bravery. Jesper quailed under the force of their glares. "Okay, it was just an idea."

"I'm surprised that you've actually stayed with us this long."

"I'm not like my mother." Marli barked.

"No? You're a chameleon. You change, you never stay in one place, you never settle. You're a merc, never joined a gang. Who does that remind you of?" Kaz shot back.

"I think Jordie would be scared. If he could see that his little brother's become a thief, a murderer, a blackmailer, a monster."

Wylan immediately knew that Marli had crossed a line. Earlier, Wylan would've thought that Kaz wouldn't be crazy enough to attack a Sqauller. He'd be wrong.

Before anyone could move, Kaz was holding a knife, and Marli had raised her hands. They went for each other, and Inej dived in the way. Both stopped, Marli reluctantly lowering her hands, Kaz dropping his knife, gaze a mix of fury, pain, and something Wylan had never expected to see from Kaz. Shame, dark and deep.

"Get out of the way." Kaz snapped.

"No. You two are friends. What are you doing?" Inej demanded.

"Trying to kill him. Get out of the way." Marli hissed.

"If you were really trying to kill him, you would've suffocated him by now."

"Too easy." Her angry blue eyes never left Kaz's furious coffee ones.

"Enough." Inej snapped. "Sit. Now." Kaz opened his mouth to argue. "Kaz, shut up. I don't want to hear it." To Wylan's astonishment, he closed his mouth and sat on the couch next to her. Marli did the same.

"Kaz, you were explaining?"

"She. Can disable most of the guards." Kaz snarled through clenched teeth.

"I can use my power on them?"

"Go crazy. If you weren't already.

Wylan looked at them all. They were actually agreeing with this crazy plan? Kaz had barely started to recover from the bullet wound, and that hit to the head. He couldn't be tortured. Wylan didn't understand what had happened to Kaz in that alley, but that sure wouldn't help either. And he knew it made him sound even more like a merchling, but he wasn't too excited about the idea of going through Ketterdam's septic system. Wylan had heard that is was a system of huge tunnels beneath the streets, that directed waste and rainwater away from the canals so they didn't overflow. He had also heard tales of workmen dying in cave ins and floods, swept out to sea or crushed beneath tons of rock. Wylan wasn't anxious to see for himself.

Kaz spoke. "I'll leave it in your capable hands to deal with the guards Marli can't. Wylan, Jesper, I'm sure you both have some fun ideas." Jesper rubbed his brown hands together and cackled evilly. Wylan thought back to his notebook. Yes, he had some ideas, and he supposed they could be called fun, especially by Jesper. They would need goggles. And he would need Jes's help modifying a rifle. Wylan shook his head. He was not planning for this, because he was not allowing this to happen.

"When are we doing this?" Anika asked.

"Today."

"No mourners." Jesper said.

"No funerals." Everyone answered, including Marli.

They all stood, and went to get ready. Wylan followed Kaz, away from the others. "What is it, merchling?" Kaz asked.

"Don't." Wylan pleaded.

Kaz stopped walking and turned to look at him. "What?"

"Don't do this. Rollins will kll you, on purpose or not."

Kaz shrugged. "Maybe."

"But you're going to do it anyway?"

"Yes." Wylan felt himself tearing up. "Oh, come on merchling, don't cry."

"Why not?" You're going to basically kill yourself. I have a right to a few tears. Why are you so reckless with your own life?"

Kaz looked awkward. "First of all, I don't deserve it. Why the hell would you miss me? Second... Wylan, believe or not, I don't-"

"You gave me a chance, a new home. I met Jesper, Inej, Nina, and Matthias because of you. You helped me get my mother back, and destroy my father. I owe you a lot. You're my friend, whether you like it or not. And don't you dare say you don't have a lot to live for. You have us." Kaz looked stunned. Wylan sniffed, tears now running freely down his cheeks. Kaz limped over to him.

'Listen, merchling...Wylan, you heard Marli. She's right, my family would hate me if they could see..." Wylan didn't let him finish. He hugged Kaz, frantically hoping Kaz wouldn't kill him. Kaz went absolutely still, then ever so slowly, hugged Wylan back.

"We are your family."

Kaz's breathing hitched. Wylan sniffed again, smelling the odd tang of...was that citrus? Wylan had never noticed Kaz's smell before.

It was true, they were an odd, makeshift, insane family, all of them. Brothers and sisters. Matthias had been the mother hen of the group. Even Marli and Anika had a place, cousins you only saw once in a while but deeply cared about. And Kaz was the conniving, manipulative, criminally inclined older brother who had brought them all together. Sure, they fought. But that didn't change anything.

"Family." Kaz sounded like he was trying out the word. His rasp as rougher than normal.

Wylan couldn't get over the fact tha he was hugging one of the most dangerous people in Ketterdam. And that Kaz was hugging him back. There was absolutely nothing romantic about it, but Wylan had to admit it felt nice. Like hugging Inej or Nina. "We're your family. And we don't hate you."

"I can't remember what it's like to be part of a family."

"We can help you. That's what families do. They help each other."

Kaz's voice was soft when he spoke again. "I'd like that."

"Um...Kaz? Wylan?" Jesper's voice from behind them. Wylan quickly let go, and Kaz did the same, limping away without looking at Jesper. Jesper raised a brow at Wylan. "Do I have competition? Funny, I always thought Kaz was as straight as that cane."

Wylan felt his face flush. "Absolutely not."

"Good. I'd fight Kaz for you, but I'd probably die in the process. What were you two doing?" Jesper asked, eyebrow still raised. He frowned. "Have you been crying?" Wylan swiped at his eyes, and hugged Jesper. Jesper startled, and then hugged him back.

"I'm worried."

"About Kaz?"

"I don't want him to do this."

Jesper sighed. "Do you know another way?"

"No."

"Then this is all we've got. I don't like it either. Out of curiosity, who hugged first, him or you?"

"Me."

"And he didn't kill you horribly?" Jesper sounded surprised.

"Nope."

Jesper looked at the door that Kaz had went through thoughtfully. "He's changed."

"Changing. I don't think he's done yet."

"Is it for the better?"

Wylan thought of Kaz slowly returning his hug, and smiled slightly. "I think so."