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Kaz Brekker was always surrounded by death and that's just how it was when you lived in Ketterdam. For Kaz killing and stealing was just a way to survive. He never allowed himself to enjoy life as it could make him vunerable enough for someone to get the jump on him causing him to loose his life or so he thought
inej was just like anyone in the Barrel, she still had to go through tons of horrible things no doubt as it wasn't wash for anyone to reside there. The difference between her and Kaz was that she let herself expirence things in the moment. She allowed herself to enjoy every moment of happiness before the dark would creep back in as it was always bound to at some point.
Kaz and inej have been working together in the dregs for a good amount of time now, but they have yet to admit anything for one another. Inej had asked him to just try, try to let any amount of happiness in as it was important to remember the good of life. Of course Kaz did listen deep down, starting to appreciate the small things even if it was just in his head. For instance, he savored the taste of his favorite food more, or painted a picture in his mind of inejs beautiful smile, recounted the time when he heard the laugh that could cure literally anything he thought. Although he started to appreciate just the little small things in life he saw a difference in how he viewed the world
Even if he didn't tell inej of the changes that he made, it was apparent to her that he views were changing
inej was the light. Full of life, love, and optimism and Kaz well he was the dark. He was so afraid to just show any vunerability but with her it was different. He didn't know why but she was so inviting and seemed so trustworthy. Under his nose Kaz couldn't even tell that she was changing him for the better little by little
It took a couple months for it to truly be apparent to Kaz just how much influence inej has had on him & how much everything had changed for the better
she was the light in the dark. The good to his bad a balance that neither of them knew they needed until now