The Upstairs Neighbour

Relationships were difficult no matter what the relationship it was. When there was also childhood trauma included and it was a long distance relationship, it was even more difficult. But Kaz Brekker liked a challenge. And in his mind, Inej Gafar was worth it.

He was good with facts and numbers, so he jumped at the task of finding them a happy medium. Tracking the slaver ships and looking for some kind of pattern worked two-fold. It meant that he could alert Inej and the Hummingbird crew where to head. This gave him some security in that he always knew where Inej would be and when word came back that another slaver ship had gone down, that Inej was still out there. Possibly healing because she had prevented another child from having the same experience she had endured. And he could take jobs that were in her path or close to where she was heading.

Theirs was not a conventional relationship. His letters to her were not full of flowery verses and declarations of love. He had referred to her as an investment in the past and yet Inej seemed to get him. She understood the real meaning behind ill chosen words. They grabbed their moments together as Inej couldn't stay permanently in Ketterdam and life on the sea was not something he could handle. So he continued to look for that pattern.

It was only after the third consecutive hour starring at the map on which he made marked all the slave ships which had been taken down that he saw a central point. Ships had been taken off the coasts of Avfalle, Elbjen, Tsibeya, Sikurzoi, Koba, Ahmrat jen, Bhezju and Overvt. Not in that order. Petrazoi was in the middle. It was no more ideal than anything else in their relationship, but they could build a base camp there. He had already accumulated a number of real estate properties under different names. One or two more would not be a problem. It also meant he had somewhere to escape to at any given time. With a plan in place, he put search requests out for the perfect property.

As much as Inej loved being out at sea, she wished for somewhere where she could just have a moment to herself. A place where she could sleep in an actual bed where the room wasn't swaying. It had been so long since she had really had a place that she felt safe to call home. Maybe somewhere her mail could be sent so she didn't have to rely on Kaz knowing where she would be to redirect everything.

The crew of the Hummingbird were all getting slightly stir crazy so Mal had suggested spending a couple of days in Petrazoi. She thought of sending word to Kaz but they would probably have left before he could head out there. Besides he was probably out on a job.

"Inej!" Mal stopped her before she could step off the ship. "This came for you." He handed her a letter. The hand writing familiar. "Tell Kaz we said thanks." He grinned as he stepped off the ship.

Frowning she opened the letter. Inside there was a deed in her name for an apartment in a building there in Petrazoi. Heading in the direction of the address on the deed, it seemed as though some of the other crew were heading in the same direction. She was handed a key to the apartment in the lobby. What had Kaz done?

When she opened the door her mouth dropped open in surprise. The apartment was fully decorated and furnished. That in itself floored her as Kaz didn't strike her as someone with an eye for interior design. But it was that everything was what she would have chosen herself. Turning as she took in everything she heard the sound of someone in the apartment upstairs.

She broke into a grin when she recognised the footsteps through the ceiling. Pocketing the key she raced up the stairs to the apartment above her and knocked on the door. Usually she would just let herself in, but this wasn't Ketterdam and she wasn't sure what the rules were here.

It felt as though it was taking forever for him to open the door. When he did, he almost looked uncertain of her reaction before the mask went up that he always wore to protect himself. "What have you done Kaz?"

"Wylan picked out everything in the apartment, but if you don't like it we can change it." Kaz stepped aside so that they could continue the discussion inside.

"Why did Mal ask me to thank you?" She stepped inside. His apartment was more rustic and minimalistic. Perfectly Kaz.

"I brought the whole building." Kaz shrugged. "There was a better chance that you could use this as a base if others on the crew had apartments here as well."

"Why the top apartment for yourself? Those stairs are going to be murder on your leg." She already knew the answer. Kaz liked to watch over those he let in his inner circle and make sure they were safe. He would never admit that though.

"It's the best apartment and it allows you your space." Kaz wondered if he had made the wrong decision until she put her arms around him and gently hugged him.

"It's perfect. Thank you." She let him go before he could get uncomfortable. "So you are my upstairs neighbour."

"Yes. It's not Ketterdam and it's not at sea. There's also the position of it being in the centre of where the slave ships have been located." He pulled out the map to show her. "I thought it would make a good base for both of us."

He had thought of everything. She could come here to escape, or meet up with him or just to be safe. "It's a good base. So where's good to eat around here?"

Internally breathing a sigh of relief he grabbed his coat. "I may have to work on that. I've only found one place that's half way decent. Come on. I'll buy you dinner." He let the way, mentally making a note to do something to repay Wylan when he got back to Ketterdam.