Chapter 3! Another Kanej... sorry! (I can't get enough... get a doctor!) Anyway, this is just another simple one-shot!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or settings!

Inej ended up laying on the roof, beneath the faded, painted stars that night. The Slat may have been booming downstairs, but the night was as quiet and crisp as it should be. Yes, Inej was staring at the dim stars. But in her head, she was once again at the caravans she had left behind.

When Inej dropped off her parents, they offered her a spot back in her old life. But she refused, she had left that innocent minded girl behind. In addition, she also had a mission. To hunt the slavers that ruin lives and tear apart families. Slavers that stole her from her original life.

She was only back in Ketterdam for resupply, information, and a promise. She could only stay in Ketterdam for a short time, she'll be leaving in three days time. But she will be back, she knew, she felt it in her heart. She was not done with this city, and it was not done with her.

Inej closed her eyes, imagining the sea she would be sailing on once again. Soon Inej drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Inej was only to be woken an unknown time later, by a gravelly voice."You know you could easily fall off the edge in your sleep."

Inej slightly opened her eyes, "I don't fall." she replied.

"That's why you're my spider," Kaz smirked.

Inej sat herself up, her legs dangling over the edge of the roof.

"What are you doing up here?" Kaz asked.

"Thinking" Inej replied

Kaz carefully sat down, wincing slightly at how it strained his bad leg. Inej glanced for a moment at Kaz's shadowed figure next to her, and carefully, scooted herself closer to him.

Inej slowly moved her hand to Kaz's limp one, and soon their fingers were softly intertwined with each other. Kaz started rubbing his pale, lockpick thumb against her soft, darker palm. Tremors ran through both of them, and yet Inej still felt calm.

00000000000000000000000000000000

When Kaz found Inej laying on the roof of the Slat, the moon casting shadows along her dark skin. The first thought that came to Kaz's mind was that she was beautiful. How her untied hair surrounded her head like a dark halo, and her dark, black eyelashes rested on her cheek.

Oh, how Kaz wanted to lay down next to her and trace his fingers against her cheekbone and run his hand through her hair. But he didn't, instead, he woke her up, with different words then he wanted to say.

As Kaz ran his thumb against her soft palm, he couldn't help but look at the curve of her lips. The want that filled Kaz was almost unbearable, but he could still feel the dreadful, harbor water. Lapping at his ankles.

"Why the net Kaz?" Inej whispered, breaking the silence.

Kaz knew she was going to ask at some point, and he was about to come up with some excuse, or even snap at her. But instead, somehow, he let down his armor and told the truth.

"I couldn't have watched you fall, or come to find your broken body on the pavement."

Inej looked at him as though she was seeing something no one else could see, something new.

"I've lost too much..." Kaz continued, "I lost everyone I loved, my father, my brother. I started to believe that love only drags you down, a weakness. I have torn down so many men by using their love for others as a weakness. I thought I could live without love. That I could shove down, create impenetrable armor. I guess I am wrong."

Inej only stared out into the dark city, and almost inaudible, whispered. "the heart is an arrow, it demands to land true." Inej faced Kaz, and stared calmly into his eyes, "You can't be human without love."

Kaz just slightly smirked, "You Suli seem to have sayings for everything."

Hesitantly, Kaz lifted his hand to Inej's face, his thumb lightly skimming over her bottom lip.

His finger was burning as though he had touched a hot pan.

A thousand images ran through his head. Corpses with sunken skin, yellow and black, so much rot. And yet, in the center, desire. The raw feeling of desire coursed through him, like a knife slashing through the terror.

Slowly, run mostly on instinct, Kaz lightly tilted Inej's head. Slowly, Kaz leaned in, his lips only inches away from hers. Inej stayed very still, almost paralyzed. Her eyes softly closed, lashes curved over her cheeks. He knew she was trying to make things easier for him, letting him go at his own pace.

As Kaz hovered precariously over Inej, he chanted over and over in his head. She is not dead, she is alive. Her heart is beating and her lungs are breathing, and he needs her. And the waters were pushed back, to his waist, to his knees.

Kaz leaned in closer, his lips barely touching Inej's. And then somehow, Kaz found some strength to lean forward and press his lips against hers.

Kaz gasped as the heat crashed onto his lip, of disgust or desire he didn't know. But Kaz tried to ignore it, and focus on Inej. She had also gasped when their lips touched, a tremor ran through her, but she kept her eyes closed.

For a moment Kaz felt human, like he had broken his long time curse. For a moment Kaz felt something deep, something he hadn't felt for a long time. Yes, it could be seen as a weakness, as Kaz always had. But it was also something as strong as life itself.

But all moments end, and suddenly the dam broke. The water rushed so fast and sudden, that Kaz nearly tumbled off the roof, if not for Inej's quick grasp of his shirt. Kaz rolled over on the roof, breathing so fast that you could have fooled someone to thinking he had ran across Ketterdam.

After some time he finally opened his eyes and glanced at Inej. He could see her concern for him in her dark chocolate eyes.

"Oh Kaz, what happened to you?" Inej said softly.

Kaz shook his head slightly, "I don't know how to begin."

Inej rolled over to lay next to him on the roof, still giving him space.

"You will be able some day, step by step."

"brick by brick," Kaz said with a small smile.

For a few minutes, the two just stared upwards, the Slat humming below them.

Finally, Inej turned to Kaz, and gracefully brushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead.

"That kiss was the truest kiss I've had in a long time." Inej murmured.

Kaz glanced at her for a second before replying, "From the one and only Kaz Brekker."

Yes done! Hoped ya liked it!

Boy, it's getting colder (And I live in a rather warm place)! I'm just waiting for the holidays to get started XD. FlyingCats signing off!