Chapter Text
You could say many things about Kaz Rietveld, the new intern at Haskell’s: he always wore black, had a perpetually threatening expression on his face, always kept a pair of leather gloves with him for some reasons - obviously black - and wasn’t very inclined to make friends with colleagues, but he was certainly the one who worked the most in that office. He was competent, diligent, it happened that he had already done a job even before he was asked, but above all he was always on time. So why was he running wildly through the crowd on the streets of Ketterdam?
Per Haskell had announced that morning that he wasn’t going to the office, but would go directly to court to speak with colleagues before the midday hearing. Kaz knew it was definitely just an excuse to give himself a few extra hours of rest, but he obviously hadn't said anything in front of him. So he'd been the one who woke up at 6:00, went to the office shortly thereafter, studied the useful documents for the case, and made sure they were grouped and ready to be taken to court in time. He didn't know how it happened, but at some point he must have fallen asleep on the desk. The ringing of the phone had brought him back to reality and he had realized what time it was: 11:30 am. Kaz jumped to his feet and scrapped everything up quickly with one hand, while with the other he dialed the number of the only person who could help him: his brother.
Thankfully Jordie wasn't busy with work at the moment and had offered to give Kaz a ride to the courthouse, if he’d have gotten to him a few blocks away from his office in a few minutes. Kaz had thanked him and the saints, which he really didn't believe in, and started running. Holding the briefcase with the documents close to him, he tried to make space among the people who were wandering in the sidewalks of Ketterdam, giving and receiving bumps left and right. His phone rang in his jacket pocket and he sighed with relief when he saw it wasn't Haskell.
<<I can't find a spot, the car is double parked and you have to hurry up>> said Jordie calmly from the other side of the phone, as if the situation was going perfectly according to plan.
<<Almost there>> He panted. <<Around the corn->>
Kaz never understood what made him lose his balance, but his right knee suddenly gave out and he fell. The briefcase slipped from his hands and hit the floor, opening. Dozens of sheets began to fly, carried by the wind, in a thousand different directions. Kaz hit something, or maybe someone, and then found himself on the ground, in pain. He saw the papers go away and tried to grab them, even though he knew it’d be useless. He wondered how it was possible that everything had gone wrong so quickly. Then his gaze shifted in front of him and he was chained by two deep dark chocolate eyes.
When her parents offered her the idea of a trip to Ketterdam, Inej couldn't believe her ears. She had wandered around Ravka for a long time with the circus with her whole family, but she had never gone abroad and it had always been one of her greatest wishes. She had thought it’d be a sacrifice for them, that they couldn’t afford it, but her parents had assured her they had saved enough money just to be able to surprise her. Inej had hugged them tightly and, although there were still months to go, she had run to pack her suitcase.
If she was asked to describe Ketterdam with one word, she’d have called it 'complicated'. The impact with that large and modern city, unlike the sober countryside of Ravka, had been almost traumatic, but it was mainly the smell to strike her: sea, smoke, sweat, humidity, alcohol. It reminded her of the bitter taste of blood on the tongue. But it was at night that Ketterdam gave the best of it: thousands of lights from the street lamps to the signs, from the car headlights to the club’s decorations, seemed not to be enough to remove it from the perennial aura of darkness and mystery, which swirled in every alley and tunnel. Like a pearl on the dark bottom of the sea.
After spending three days in that new city, stealing every new stimulus and information that she was offered, Inej had decided to love Ketterdam deeply in its every contradiction.
The trip wasn't going to last long, but Inej was so excited that she and her parents had already seen everything they set out to do. She felt, however, that this city wouldn’t stop surprising her so easily. And she was absolutely right.
That day they had interrupted their itinerary for a stop at a cafe. They had walked all morning and visited a museum that they had discovered by chance on the street: it wasn’t very famous, but Inej had found it extremely interesting, as she walked through its dark corridors and admired the particular objects displayed in the windows, which, they said, belonged to the old gangs that ruled the city in the early 1800s.
Initially she and her mother had taken just some coffee and sat at one of the outdoor tables, but when her father had placed a slice of berry pie in front of him, Inej had quickly changed her mind. She got up and hurriedly headed to the entrance of the shop, but she didn't have time to get to the door, because someone fell on top of her along with a host of papers.
Inej held back a grimace of pain and began to gather the sheets spilled on the floor, seeing that the young man in front of her was desperately trying to do the same, but many of them were now torn, crumpled or dirty. She was pretty sure it wasn't her fault they had both fallen, and she’d have liked this guy to apologize to her, but any thoughts completely disappeared from her head once their gazes met.
It was a weird feeling, like it wasn't the first time she'd met those tea-coloured eyes. They stayed like that for longer than normal, while the remaining sheets finished circling over their heads and fell close to them. The boy had black hair, slightly shaved at the sides, completely dishevelled at that moment; she noticed the sharp features of his face and two scars, one on the eyebrow and the other on his lip; his skin was very pale. He probably was about her own age.
He was the one who broke that silence so strange and at the same time so familiar. <<I'm sorry, it was my fault>> He had a hoarser voice than she expected.
<<I'm sorry too, I didn’t completely see you>> Inej mechanically replied, speaking above him. They spent another moment in silence, before they both stood up, brushing the dust and dirt of the sidewalk from their clothes. Now that they were both on their feet, she realized how tall he was. He still had some unruly tufts in front of his forehead. She was embarrassed at the thought that she wanted to get closer and fix them herself.
Inej handed him the pad of papers she had managed to gather, which looked more like a damp pile of paper now. The boy nodded a thank you and took them in his hands. Inej noticed they were covered with leather gloves.
Another figure suddenly approached and put an arm on the boy's shoulders. <<I can’t leave you alone for a minute that you make trouble, Kaz?>>
The guy, Kaz, rolled his eyes and hastily pulled his phone out of his pocket. <<We don't have time for this, Jordie>>
<<You don’t say?>>
Kaz frowned and stood for a moment staring at the phone. Inej was feeling too much at the moment, but she thought it’d be rude to walk away. <<The hearing is postponed for one hour>>
<<We have time then>> The newcomer turned completely to her and gave her a broad smile. <<I suppose my rude brother didn’t even introduce himself so... Jordan Rietveld, nice to meet you, you can call me Jordie. And this mangy cat is Kaz>>
Kaz shook his head. Inej held back a laugh as she and Jordie shook hands. Now she noticed the two brothers looked terribly alike, even if they had two completely different attitudes. If it weren't for the different hairstyle and lighter shade of Jordie's hair - and the much more joyful expression – it’d have been easy to confuse them.
<<My name is Inej, my pleasure>> She brought her hand towards Kaz and he squeezed it gently but firmly. The contact, although through his gloves, sent a jolt all over her body and it seemed it was the same for him too.
<<Inej... Inej... I’ve never heard a name like this. You're not from here, are you?>> Jordie asked.
<<Jordie>> Kaz shot him a dirty look.
<<Everything is ok>> Inej smiled. <<I come from Ravka, I'm here with my family>> Inej turned to her parents, who gave her a questioning sign from afar. She reassured them with a gesture.
Jordie greeted them cheerfully. <<Fantastic! How long are you going to stay, if I'm not inappropriate?>>
<<Only a few days, we’re leaving tomorrow>>
<<Damn>> Jordie turned to Kaz. <<Why don't you invite her to the party tonight?>>
<<The party isn’t ours, Jordie>>
<<Kaz, it's Jesper, and if I know him well - and I know him well – he’d like her to be invited>> Kaz snorted.
<<Party?>> Inej tilted her head to one side, questioning. Kaz tried not to notice how adorable her frowned expression was.
<<A friend of ours just graduated>> He began to explain.
<<Friend? He is practically our third brother>> Jordie interrupted him. A car horn blew in the distance and caught his attention. <<Uhm, it’s for me. You have one minute before I leave, little brother. It was a pleasure to meet you, Inej!>> Jordie gave Kaz’s hair a ruffle and started running.
Inej burst out laughing. Kaz was mesmerized for a moment by the sound of that laugh. He ran a hand through his hair, desperate to tidy it up and pull himself together.
<<It’ll be at the Crow Club. Tonight. If you want to come>> Kaz chewed the last few words, uncertain. He felt like an idiot and obviously it was Jordie's fault that he was in this awkward situation.
<<I don't know if a party in an unknown city is a good idea>> Inej rubbed a hand on her opposite arm and looked down, unsure.
<<Your parents can come too, if you want>> She looked up and met his eyes again, surprised.
<<Really? I... I don't know...>>
Kaz heard the familiar sound of Jordie's horn behind him. He quickly took his business card from his pocket and handed it to her. <<In case you change your mind, Inej>> He began to walk away, but kept his eyes fixed on her for a few more seconds, before turning and starting to run again.