(no subject)

[everymonstrousthing]

He breaks into Jesper's apartment in the end. When Jesper doesn't answer the door, fingers of cold fear scrape down Kaz's spine. He has an image of Jesper beaten and broken. Dead. It's more than he can stand, and he breaks in, already preparing for all of the monstrous things that he might have to do.

But what he finds is worse. What he finds is an empty apartment, not just empty but vacant, and Jesper's pistols on a table. Jesper wouldn't go anywhere without his pistols. Jesper treats his pistols like a fucking limb.

There's a box under the bed that he's going to need to do something about, but he doesn't have the energy right now. Dirtyhands wouldn't worry about something like that. Dirtyhands wouldn't even stop.

Locking Jesper's door behind him, Kaz heads for the Crow Club. Rage slams through him and he turns, slamming his cane into the wall. But Grisha work is good, and there's no damage to the silver crow's skull at all. And, right then, Kaz wants to see something crumple. So he does the only thing he can.

He slams one gloved fist into the brick wall and feels pain explode.
It's good. It's better than what it replaces.

Comments

[tricktofalling]

"I suppose we'll find out," Inej says with a bit of a sigh. She's been watching him, knows his comings and goings--the big, beach casinos, like the ones in the Lid; and seedier places around the city, little back-room parlors.

"Less worried about the debt, more the people he owes it to. We'll get it straightened, I suppose."

[everymonstrousthing]

"If they couldn't beat us in Ketterdam, they can't beat us here," says Kaz, glancing up at her. "Here? They're not going to know what's hit them."

[tricktofalling]

Inej nods in firm conviction. There is no need to remake the Dregs here. But they could, even just the two of them--Mattias, too, if they really needed the muscle. But the two of them can manage just fine.

"Is there anything of his...?"

[everymonstrousthing]

"His pistols," says Kaz, his mouth working a little into something ugly before he forces himself to relax. "Some things we bought between us." Based on conversations between them, he knows she'll know what he means. "His stupid fucking waistcoats."

[tricktofalling]

The thought of those pistols being here is almost as painful as the thought of Kaz not being here. Inej stares into her drink and lets her eyebrows knit for a moment, and then relaxes.

Rather than asking what all is in that box--it doesn't matter, it's not her business; he will tell or show her if he wants to--she smiles about the waistcoats.

"Maybe I should get one of them taken in for myself."

[everymonstrousthing]

"Honestly, I'd like that," says Kaz. It's only a flicker of warmth, an ember, but it's something that he craves fiercely. He sighs and leans in to her a little.

[tricktofalling]

To have Kaz Brekker need that physical closeness is still something that Inej is getting used to, but in this moment, she doesn't think of it at all. She leans back into him, just a little, as they stand there and drink their drinks. It isn't much, but it's what they can manage now.