Hey again, sorry for the wait. I've been a bit busy with school and family. I also had trouble with coming up with an idea... I started a few things but couldn't figure out how they would exactly play out. But then I got a response from guest user "Fan" and decided, why the hell not. And I got it finished.

I also decided to reply to some Guest responses because you guys are so nice to me! They are on the bottom of the chapter.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the brilliant Leigh Bardugo!

Inej's muscles groaned as she helped the bleeding form of Kaz limp back to a safe house. Inej cursed under her breath, when she woke up that morning she didn't think she would end up in this situation.

They had gotten jumped in an alley, well 'they' meaning Kaz. Inej had to scramble down from the rooftops after Kaz got surrounded by five burly members of the Blacktips looking for a fight. Inej guessed they didn't know it was Dirtyhands himself that they were trying to jump, but she knew they knew it now.

They ended up chasing off most of the attackers, one left unconscious in the alley. But not before Kaz got slashed across his chest with a knife. Being Kaz he didn't let it show until after the fight, and even then he only stated that it was no big deal.

For a while, Kaz was able to walk on his own. But soon he became paler and paler, his shirt became drenched with blood. And he began to need to lean on Inej's small form to continue walking. "Almost there." Inej murmured softly, mostly to herself. They were making slow time and Inej wanted to get to a safety as soon a possible, she was starting to worry about Kaz.

As they neared the safe house, an abandoned cellar of an old storehouse, Inej began to really struggle. The weight of Kaz on her shoulders seemed to gain after every small step. Kaz became awfully quiet, mostly focusing on moving his legs and keeping as much weight off Inej as he could.

Finally, they reached the door of the old storehouse, Inej was panting as she picked the simple lock on the door. When they reached the cellar Inej laid Kaz against some sandbags with a groan, relieved to have his weight off her shoulders. Kaz was still conscious and was looking at Inej with the best apologetic look he could muster.

"There are medical supplies and stuff behind that empty barrel in the corner" Kaz spoke, his voice as rough. Inej shoved the empty, yet heavy, barrel to find a small bag filled with medical supplies and food.

Inej went back to Kaz, and with as little embarrassment as possible, helped pull off his now dark red shirt. She then grabbed a roll of bandages from the medical supplies and began to wrap Kaz's wound. She tried to touch his skin as little as possible, but she couldn't prevent the slight touches as she wrapped the bandage around his back, and over his shoulder.

As she tied the bandage she began to really notice his tattoos. She had seen them before, but never really pondered one of them. He only had two, the elegant crow and cup on his forearm, and a mysterious letter R in a dark, elegant font on his bicep.

Even when Inej finished with Kaz's wound, and the two could finally relax. She still had the tattoo stuck in her head, trying to find its purpose. Tattoos in the Barrel were very common, in fact, Inej was surprised Kaz didn't have more. As she pondering this she unconsciously kept glancing at his chest.

"Are you looking me over Wraith?" Kaz asked.

Inej took in a breath, "Whats the R mean?"

As almost if it was a visible thing, Inej noticed Kaz's armor raise.

"Have you considered that maybe I just like the letter R?" Kaz snapped.

"We both know that's not how you do things."

Kaz huffed and turned away, his eyes were closed. Only after a minute or two did Kaz reply, his head still turned away.

"It stands for my name," Kaz whispered.

"I don't understand."

Only then did Kaz seem to gain enough courage to look at her.

"My real name, Kaz Rietveld. The name I gave up, but couldn't leave behind."

"Rietveld." Inej tested, "Isn't that the name you gave Jesper's father?"

"Yes, I bought the farm back under that name" Kaz sighed. "I thought it would work well."

"Why did you and your brother leave your farm in the first place?"

"There was nothing left for us once my father died. Jordie thought we could make it in the city. He was a fool."

"What about your mother?" Inej inquired.

Kaz just shook his head, "Never knew her, she died when I was born. I have no family left now."

Inej touched Kaz's arm in a form of comfort. Kaz flinched but didn't move away.

After a few minutes of silence Inej finally spoke up. "Kaz, how did Jordie die?"

"We ended up on the streets after Pekka plucked us clean." Kaz started with a shuddered breath, "We slept anywhere we could, under bridges, on doorsteps. The plague caught the street rats first, meaning us. There is a reason behind why the plague is so feared in Ketterdam. It's horrible, you feel like your skin is being eaten alive. Both me and Jordie were bobbing in and out of consciousness, we were swimming in our own sick."

Kaz then paused for a moment, as though collecting his thoughts. "The body collectors must have thought I was dead because when I woke up I was on the reapers barge. There were corpses everywhere, rotting, their skin was yellow to black. Their eyes haunt me still. And next to me... Next to me... was Jordie, dead... looking like all the rest."

Kaz breathed in another shaky breath, trying to calm himself. "I knew I needed to get off the barge, but there was nothing floatable... except the corpses. I had to use Jordie as a raft. His skin... the feeling..."

Inej then watched, for the first time, Kaz break down. He didn't cry or yell. He crumpled, he crumpled as though remembering was as bad as the actual experience. He became, once again, the boy who lost everybody he loved. The boy that was hidden behind the armor.

Inej now understood, she understood a glimpse the horror that Kaz had faced. The loss and tragedy that broke him, that lead him down the road of a monster. He made his armor of coldness and harshness, hiding the broken man he was. Yet it was still there, hidden by Kaz's armor, Kaz's humanity... his belief in goodness.

"Kaz, you aren't as broken as you think. You have kindness within you, I've seen glimpses of it. You might think who you were was weak, but that is not so. You might be broken, but you still work."

Kaz chuckled softly, "You know it's impossible to fix me, no matter how hard you try. To pull a man out of me..."

"I don't want to make a man out of you, I just want you to let me in. Let me help you. Let me face your demons with you." Inej interrupted, filled with confidence

Kaz looked at her, and Inej could see an emotion in his eyes, An emotion she has never seen in Kaz before.

"Wraith, I always expect you to stand with me. As I'll stand with you. It's what we are."

And that is how the Bastard of the Barrel and his knife edge Wraith ended up smiling at each other with emotions only they knew, in the cellar of a forgotten house. Two shadowed figures with a new future stretched ahead of them.

Yay finished! I had fun with this one, during Crooked Kingdom I was always kinda hoping for Kaz to tell someone of his past... it's rather tragic. Anyway, Guest replies!

Fan- Thanks again for the idea (I hope you read this!) I was kinda stuck, so your idea really helped, if you have any more I'd be happy to do them!

Dokusa- Thank you! Whenever I get a response it really encourages me to write even more (yours really helped to get this chapter made!) By the way, I find whimsical a great word... I should use it more often XD. And thanks again!

Angie- Muchas Gracias! (I'm so sorry I don't speak more Spanish!)

Guest- Thank you to you too! I always hope my writing is 'lovely'!

Ntlpurpolia- I know you are not a guest but thanks again! And it's funny, I seem to see your name everywhere (most all on Six of Crow fics)!

Okay, that's all I got, but I cherish them all and will try to respond somehow to everyone who responds (no matter how long it takes!).

FlyingCats signing off!