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Journeying across the fold on a skiff was not for the faint hearted, at any moment volcra could be drawn like moths to flames. It was a risky endeavor to anyone who travelled that way.
Many a skiff had never come back, so you would be risking your life on that trip. Everyone knew that travelling across the fold was dangerous.
Yet, here she was, crossing the fold on a train. An even crazier thing to do than crossing the fold the normal way. It was all because of Kaz and Jesper. She was willing to follow them both - even across the fold.
There were all number of reasons why it was a bad idea, they didn't have enough coal, there was a goat, they were crossing illegally, had to cross a mine field to even get to the train, and that's not to mention that the tracks didn't even go all the way across the fold. There were so many things that could go wrong with their plan, but that was the usual for them.
Granted, Inej did not know the full details of what she was signing up for, had she known that the train wasn't on completed tracks - nope, she still would have made the same decision, and would still be where she was right now.
Inej was sitting ramrod straight on the train, holding a throwing knife between her palms, while Kaz was sat next to her, his hand on her knee, and Jesper, well, he was cuddling the goat, looking a little spooked.
Vulcra were flying all around them, most definitely aware of them in the single train carriage.
"Jesper," Inej said, wanting him to do something. They both needed him, he was their best chance, he was the best shot. Their only way out as it were.
If they could move Inej was sure that they would both be comforting him, as it was they had to stay as still as possible, taking only measured movements, after all they wanted to come out on the tracks on the other side.
"Jesper," Kaz said more sharply than she had done, it was accompanied by the tightening of his palm on her knee. He then said something which made her look at him, "We need you." She placed her hand on top of his, he was finally breaking down his walls, a moment in which they were in mortal peril was all it took for him to admit something like that. "Won't be able to plan the next heist without you," and there Kaz had to go and ruin the moment.
Yet Jesper's whole countenance had changed, he had latched onto them needing him, and was standing up.
Her grip tightened on her knife when another volcra landed on top of their train.
And then it happened.
Jesper transformed in front of her eyes, from being comforted to being their saviour. In a flurry of bullets, he was spinning, aiming and shooting at a speed which rivalled her own knife throwing, all the while holding the goat in his arms. The goat somehow made him all the more appealing. The fact that he could hold onto a goat and fire with precision was kind of turning her on. It made her wish she was the goat, she could spin in his arms all night if he'd let her. Inej heard the sounds of the volcra lessening, yet there were still some out there. She must have tensed her muscles as she moved to stand, to help, but Kaz only waved her off, using his hand to keep her seated.
When Inej glanced to Kaz, he was completely and utterly focused on Jesper. His eyes looked to be glazed over, and he had more than a smirk on his face, it was almost a smile, yet his expression turned neutral once he realised she was watching.
"Not one word of this to him. It'd inflate his already far too large ego," Kaz whispered, leaning closer to her, yet keeping his eyes on Jesper who had by now finished emptying his second gun. He looked utterly marvelous.
"Agreed," Inej said, as Jesper opened his eyes.
"How'd I do?" Jesper said, looking at them both.
"Could have been better. I may have been able to throw knives at a slightly faster rate-"
"You saved our lives," Kaz spoke, far too softly, almost so softly they didn't hear, but they did.
Inej and Jesper shared a look, they had just had a breakthrough in their relationship.
The silence in the carriage was broken by only the goats bleating, and, in that moment, Inej thought that she'd never have cause to thank a goat. Yet she wanted to thank this one.