Fireworks
The colours exploding in the night sky lit up their faces as they watched from below. So many colours which was strange in itself in somewhere as dark and bleak as Ketterdam. For all intents and purposes this was quite romantic watching the fireworks from the rooftop. She couldn't quite believe it when Kaz had suggested it.
Even now she expected something to explode because Kaz was making a point. Internally scolding herself because he was making an effort and she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. That wasn't fair. She had her own emotional baggage.
The Hummingbird had docked in the early hours of that morning. The rest of the crew was staying on the ship unless they needed supplies. Ketterdam could be vicious when you didn't know where the traps were. Not that it would be an issue for Toyla and Tamar.
She had seen the changes even as she approached the Crow Club. Well she could see where Kaz had invested some of the money the King had paid them for their assistance in destroying the fold.
Kaz had clearly made some upgrades to the Club itself. She also recognised some of the girls from the Menagerie arriving for work. She knew they weren't there in the same capacity they had been at the Menagerie. Kaz would never hire them for the skin trade. It wasn't his style.
Scaling the side of the Crow Club was like second nature to her. She perched across from Kaz's window hidden by the darkness. Sitting on the ledge outside of Kaz's room were the crows she used to feed much to Kaz's annoyance. It was strange that they still perched there when no one was feeding them. That's when the man himself came to the window and scattered some seed on the ledge for them. It almost caused her to fall from her perch.
"Hello Inej." He looked straight at the spot where she was hiding. Stepping back into the room he gave her the space to climb out the window.
"How do you always know when I'm around?" She climbed in the window, careful of the crows.
He watched her elegant nimble moves. It was difficult to explain how the air shifted when she was near. She didn't wear perfume but she carried the scent of the salt air these days. "There is a subtle silence in the room." With all of the noise from downstairs, she was his peace.
"But I was outside." Magicians never revealed their tricks and Kaz was no different. "I see some of the girls from the Menagerie are here."
"The choice was offered to them to work as waiting staff. I brought out the contracts of six of them." He hadn't replaced Inej. That would be impossible. There was no one like Inej. "How long are you staying?"
"We sail out tomorrow." Inej knew that Kaz would destroy anyone who even looked at her sideways. But she could not stay in Ketterdam. She found herself loving life at sea.
"What brings you back to Ketterdam?" He was mentally cataloguing the changes in her. Life at sea clearly agreed with her.
"We needed supplies." She had wanted to see him but she was not certain how he would take that admission. "Your lead on my brother pointed this way." No news on her parents though.
"I'll keep an eye out for him. As for your parents, I have people watching for them. Now that the fold has gone, they won't be trying to find a way around it. They can start travelling in a straight line." Twenty four hours wasn't enough. He had missed her more than he had thought he would.
"Thank you." She chanced taking a step closer. "Business seems to be going well." Saints. Any second she would start talking about the weather. When had it become so awkward between them?
Kaz smirked. "You were the one who recommended Kesh. Although there is no one like you." If he was not going to get very much time with her, he had better make the most of it. "What are your plans while you are here?"
"I don't suppose that Nina, Jesper and Wylan are all under this roof?" She should see them while she was there, but her heart had led her to Kaz first.
"Nina is at the White Rose, but Jesper and Wylan are still here." Kaz started forming a plan. There would be celebrations going on in the middle of town tonight. "Could you meet me here on the rooftop tonight?" If he was going to have to share her time with the others, perhaps he could provide a reason to keep returning.
She studied him for a moment. "Alright?" What had she expected? For him to throw his arms around her? She wasn't certain what she would do if he did do that. "What time?"
"Midnight." If he couldn't fight his anxieties, perhaps he could at least make a romantic gesture.
That was how they ended up on the rooftop watching the sky burst into a mixture of colours. They had stood side by side in silence. Only the fireworks exploding in the sky made any noise. "It's beautiful." She whispered not wanting to ruin the moment.
Summoning up his courage, he took a deep breath and clasped her hand in his without his glove on. He heard her quiet gasp of surprise. He could do this. He could hold Inej's hand without drowning. His heart skipped a beat when she rested her head on his shoulder.
This was a start. They could do this. They would have to go slow but they could create their own fireworks.