Kaz

Kaz swiftly pocketed the note from Sturmhond. It had been a long day, and the plan seemed solid enough, but he was already running it through in his mind, testing it for holes and rifling through how it might go wrong. Kaz knew he wouldn't sleep tonight; instead, he would continue running it over again and again until he had constructed several alternative routes this job could take. He needed this to work. If it did, they would be awarded immunity - slaving was illegal, but it would be easy to stop the Wraith on another charge. She was, after all, sinking boats and killing citizens from Novyi Zem, Fjerda, Shu Han, Ravka, The Wandering Isle and Kerch. Immunity would make that harder. It would also open up so many possibilities for Kaz and the Dregs. He forced thoughts of Kruge and stature into his mind, but all of his thoughts screamed was Inej, Inej, Inej. Something had changed yesterday - he had opened the door, and he wasn't sure he could close it again, and for the first time in his life, he knew with absolute certainty that he didn't want to close it.

He watched Inej slip after Sturmhond into the hall.

"Anika, I need you to find Pim and tell him to meet me in my office. Jesper, make sure we are loaded up on ammunition. Wylan, prepare anything you think might be useful from your lab. Serin, stay here. Meet at 5th Harbour at 8 bells tomorrow." - he wasn't sure if he could trust Serin yet. His knowledge of Sturmhond's secret did offer him some protection. However, until Sturmhond had shown up with Serin, he had planned to have Grevil (a relatively new but malleable member of the Dreggs) join them as their final crew member. Everyone nodded, mumbling acknowledgement of their tasks as they left the room.

Kaz made his way down the cobbled path that sat alongside the Geldcanal. He blocked out the hum of overexcited masked tourists who were getting ready for a night of debauchery and instead focused on the constant tap of his cane. His leg ached. He hadn't meant to stay in Inej's room last night - but it had been late as they sat in companionable silence, and then she had fallen asleep. She had looked so delicate, her eyes closed and her breath even. He had moved over to the armchair by the fireplace and watched her - it felt too intimate for him to remain sat on her bed with her asleep. The distance helped him breathe easier, though he did instantly miss the warmth of her body near his, even if they weren't touching. He'd only intended to stay there for a short while, but he too had fallen asleep, lulled by her soft, rhythmic breaths.

He had woken to a sharp cramp in his leg. The sun spilling into the room through the curtains told him it was morning. He hadn't wanted to wake Inej, unsure whether he wanted her to know that he'd stayed the night, so he had quietly climbed out of the window. It was awkward work, with his leg and him trying not to alert Wylan and Jesper to his presence. He could imagine Jesper's satisfied smirk "sleep well?" He'd ask, following the question with an over-exaggerated wink. Kaz had every intention of returning to the Slat, but of course, the moment he dropped down to the ground was just as Sturmhond arrived at the Van Eck mansion.

A slight tilt of Sturmhond's head, followed by a cheery grin, told Kaz that he knew exactly who's room Kaz had just climbed out of. Kaz ignored him and instead brushed over his clothes, straightening them as best as he could before following Sturmhond to the door, which had been opened a moment later by a surprised Wylan and Jesper. He immediately asked Wylan to send a messenger to the Slat requesting Anika and Grevil join them at the mansion- but Sturmhond interjected, informing Kaz that one of his own would be joining them shortly.

He was slightly surprised that Sturmhond had come here and not the Slat, but technically, Inej had set this job up, and the Van Eck mansion was a lot more inconspicuous than his office.

When he stepped into his office, Anika and Pim were there, waiting for him. He fired off orders to Pim, placing him in charge of the Dregs while he was gone. He dismissed them both and spent several hours relishing the quiet of his office as he neatened up several ledgers and wrote out some additional instructions for Pim. When his candlelight faded down to a flickering glow, he put down his ink. He needed a wash, a clean shirt and a glass of whisky.

Kaz ignored the hellos and unimportant questions from various members of the Dregs as he walked up to his rooms, it took a lot for him not to pause and massage his leg on every step, but eventually, he made it to his door. Slipping inside, he peeled off his coat and gloves and headed towards his small bathroom. He shook off his shirt, wet a clean rag and began washing the two days worth of grime off his body.

"Inej," he said as she stepped into his line of sight through the mirror. Her cheeks were tinted pink as he turned to her.

"Saints Kaz, put a shirt on." He flashed the smile he saved only for her as he watched her eyes dip between his own eyes and his bare chest.

"It's nothing you've never seen before", he responded carefully. It was true; he had cleaned in front of her before, a few times, in fact. But this felt different, intimate. Their small truths from the night before had changed things. Inej remained silent, but he was sure her eyes remained on him as he turned his back, finished cleaning and walked over to his dresser, picking out a fresh shirt and slipping it on. He turned back to face her as he buttoned it up.

"What did you and Sturmhond discuss when you followed him out this afternoon?"

"Jealous?" She asked with a smirk, "I was actually asking after Nina - whether she could be in Ravka when we return with the heart - I know Jesper and Wylan would love to see her."

"And me", Kaz murmured before he could stop himself. Inej looked at him, shocked. But it was true, he would like to see her, it had been over a year, and despite himself, he had sent her several letters in Fjerda.

"What did Sturmhond write in his note to you?"

"I'll tell you once I've read it." She smiled and walked back to sit on the windowsill. "Is the Wraith ready for departure tomorrow?"

"Yes, Specht will be joining us - he readied the ship this afternoon. We'll be operating with a skeleton crew, and I've set the rest up with boarding for the duration of the job."

How long would this job take? Weeks? Months? Kaz wasn't sure. The plan only took them to the caves, and Kaz was confident that the heart wouldn't just be sat in the cave. He felt buzzed with nervous energy at the thought of being on The Wraith, with Inej, for an unknown length of time.

"You stayed last night," she said quietly. It wasn't a question. Of course, Inej had probably realised he's stayed the moment she had walked into the dining room that morning.

"Yes", he replied simply. He couldn't help but focus on how the moonlight danced on her face. She tilted her face further towards it and closed her eyes. Beautiful, he thought. His fingers twitched at his side, longing to brush through her hair or touch the soft skin on her cheek.

"I can feel you staring," Inej murmured, turning slightly and opening one eye to look at him. He shook his head, moving over to join her on the windowsill. He stretched his bad leg out in front of him, wincing as he rubbed his hands over it. "Is it bad today?" She asked, concerned.

"Yes, I slept in the armchair."

"Why?" Kaz wasn't sure if she was asking why he had slept in the armchair or why he had stayed the night and not gone back to the Slat. He decided to go with the former; it seemed easier to answer given that he wasn't quite sure why he hadn't gone back to the Slat.

"Because it felt wrong to sleep on your bed without your permission." She smiled at that, placing her hand in the space between them. Kaz closed the gap with his own hand, stilling for a second as their fingers brushed, but then their palms met, and he found himself focusing solely on the warmth of her hand in his. The waters were at bay.

"Would you have slept in my bed if I asked you to?"

"Yes", he could feel his cheeks warming as the word tumbled out of his mouth too quickly before he could stop it, "I would have kept my distance, though."

She nodded, her eyes closing for a second before she whispered, "what if I asked tonight.." she trailed off. He looked at his legs. He wanted to go back to the Van Eck Mansion and lay down beside her - far enough away that they wouldn't accidentally touch during the night, just to fall asleep to the sounds of her breathing again. Despite his uncomfortable position on the armchair, he hadn't slept so well in years. He looked back at Inej. She was watching him closely, her brows furrowed slightly, trying to decipher his thoughts. She nodded once with understanding, squeezing his hand softly before letting go. She stood, ready to fly out the window, to dance across the rooftops back to the Van Eck mansion, alone. "I'll see you tomorrow, 8 bells." The realisation that he didn't want her to leave hit him like a brick. He looked at his bed - it wasn't quite as large, but it was big enough that they would have enough distance.

"What if I asked you?" he whispered, refusing to meet her gaze. "It's not as comfortable here, but.." This was difficult for them both. He closed his eyes and waited for rejection; he imagined the inevitable 'no' would feel like she was slicing him open with one of her precious blades.

"I'd say yes too," she whispered back.