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Chapter Text

If Dirtyhands and Brekker were two parts of the same labyrinth, they would be an assortment of brick walls, forever stained in a deep crimson that looked suspiciously like dried blood. 

In the rare instance someone managed to reach the centre of the said labyrinth, they would find a weak, trembling boy imprisoned inside a cage. 

The first thing they would notice would be the multiple locks and their corresponding chains.

The second thing they would notice would be that the boy was drowning. 

The third thing they would notice would be that they couldn’t see any water.  

They would then marvel in wonder. 

That is if Dirtyhands and Brekker decided to let them in the maze, and the chances of that are slimmer than a Western Pygmy Blue’s antenna. 

As much as Dirtyhands denied, and Brekker tried to hide, Rietveld was still alive. 

Barely alive, but alive nonetheless.  

Inej had snuck into their maze the same way she had snuck into Pekka Rollin’s bed. 

Silently. 

For the girl who had walked among the shadows of the city, navigating through their maze hardly proved to be a challenge. It was structured to resemble Ketterdam so precisely that it was uncanny. Of course, this had only made it easier for Inej to crawl her way into their hearts like the spider Brekker trained her to be. Once she had discovered Rietveld, she decided to undertake another impossible task. She decided to convince Brekker to let him out. 

Somehow, she had succeeded. 

But Brekker had not.

The locks imprisoning Rietveld were the most arduous locks he had ever picked. Was there a tidemaker inside the maze? He kept on drowning every time he tried to pick a lock. Sometimes, Inej was there, hoisting him out of the waters. Other times, when he’d successfully picked the lock, the supposed tidemaker decided to recede the rising waters. He had only picked a few so far. 

Hazy light streamed through the slightly ajar window inside what used to be Per Haskell’s office. Outside, the sky finally started darkening at six bells, Kerch being Kerch in the summer. Kaz sat at his desk, his right leg propped up upon the stool he had allowed himself the luxury of keeping. He flipped through the logbooks of the Crow Club, tallying up last month’s earnings. 

After Pekka fled Ketterdam, the Dime Lions disbanded; its lieutenant was too scatter-brained to handle leading a gang. The Dregs then took over most of Pekka’s territory. Kaz used this opportunity to redirect Pekka’s traffic to the newest establishment owned by the Dregs (built on Pekka’s land), as well as the Crow Club. Kaz had burnt what Pekka had built. He knew it was more costly, destroying old buildings and making new ones instead of simply renovating them, but he wouldn’t let any of Pekka’s empire remain.

Knock, Knock. Not glancing away from the logbooks, Kaz rasped, “Enter.” Roeder leant against the doorframe, sweat dripping from his forehead, his face flushed red. 

Kaz looked up, an eyebrow raised. 

“Just came back from Fifth Harbour. Berth twenty-two, she’s here.” 

Kaz blinked once. Then twice.

After the shock subsided, Kaz swung his leg off the stool and planted it painfully into the ground. He swivelled his body to the side and stood up using his other leg in one swift motion. Kaz grasped his cane, shrugged on his coat from the stand near his desk, and placed his hat on his head- the very one Inej had so kindly acquired . 

“Send word to the Van Eck mansion,” he commanded Roeder. Roeder nodded, seeming to have caught his breath. 

He made his way across the floor of the Slat, breathing in the putrid air once he was outside. There weren’t too many people outside of the Slat, save for a few Dregs members doing the courtesy of smoking outside. Near them, a young, finely-dressed couple (a pair of lost pigeons) looked as if they would be perfect for plucking. Kaz caught Pim’s eye and nodded towards the two (utterly unfortunate) women. Pim hastily put out his cigarette with a stamp of his foot, attempted to fix his ruffled hair, and made his way over to the couple, proclaiming something about kruge and the Crow Club. 

As Kaz travelled across a stone bridge, he noticed the crowd growing thicker as he neared the Crow Club. People were already queuing up and it wasn’t even seven bells yet. By eight bells, the club would be in full swing.

He limped past what used to be the Kaelish Prince. It became a café that specialised in waffles, as per Inej and Jesper’s constant requests. Dreg members had gotten a discount for every time they ate there. 

Nina would have liked it , Kaz mused to himself as he crossed a bridge that somehow had gotten omitted from most maps of Ketterdam. 

The salty sea breeze played with Kaz’s hair as he set out on the road that stretched from the Rabbit Hole on the East Stave (a recently opened brothel), turned into a bridge arching over the Lid, and then passed through the upper part of the West Stave, stopping near 5th Harbour. Kaz weaved through the now significantly thicker crowd. 

The harbour was still active at six-and-a-half bells.

Sailors were unloading, carrying crates filled with various goods. Tourists were disembarking, gawking at the city from various berths. On a small island in the distance, a group of tidemakers were performing the careening of a medium-sized vessel.

Then in berth twenty-two. The Wraith. An impish figure in the distance. One who looked Suli. Every move they made was one made with precision and elegance. It was as if the sun had come out and shone on Kaz for the first time in what had been weary five-and-slightly-more-than-a-half months.

His limping became faster as he strode closer to what he fervently hoped would be her. Turn around , he silently willed. The universe must have carried his telepathic message because she did indeed, turn around. 

Her face lit up in recognition once she spotted Kaz. She started running, threading through the crowd. Dodging the pigeons, narrowly avoiding the sailors; her feet were as silent as always.

She neared until only four berths separated them.

Three berths.

Two berths.

One berth.

And then she was in front of him. 

“I was wondering if you would come,” Inej stated, her eyes locked with his.

He opened his mouth to answer but was promptly interrupted by the sound of yelling and thundering footsteps. 

“INEJ!” A voice called out. Kaz turned to see Jesper waving his hands frantically at the weary Suli. 

“Jes, slow down!” Wylan was jogging behind Jesper, his cheeks flushed red. They were easily discernible through the hustle of the crowd, with Wylan's vivid red hair and Jesper's tall, lanky build. 

Jesper came closer, Wylan trailing behind him. Inej ensnared them into a hug, lapsing into easy conversation soon after. At that moment, Kaz felt like an outsider. He was used to it; the other crows being much more able to take off their armour without hassle. Not that they even had much armour, to begin with, compared to him. 

“Why don’t we head over to the mansion for some dinner?” Wylan eventually suggested. They started to make their way across the dock, chatting merrily among themselves. 

Kaz was contemplating whether or not that invitation extended to him when the sound of his name spoken aloud interrupted his thoughts.

“Kaz, you coming?” Jesper asked, reminding him that they certainly didn’t seem to think he was an outsider. 

“I have no other plans for the evening, so I might as well join you,” he replied, trying to act indifferent. 

The way they smiled at him in return resulted in a small crack in his armour. He allowed the slightest upward quirk at the corners of his mouth. 

“How was your time at sea, Captain Ghafa?” Jesper asked, now grinning.

Inej started describing her first escapade as a pirate as they set off to the Van Eck Mansion, Jesper often butting in and interjecting snippets of humour. Often, he would tease Wylan, and by the time they reached the Zelver district, Wylan was a bright cranberry red. 

Despite this, Kaz didn’t speak much. He found himself wishing he would. 

Kaz didn’t miss the way Inej’s eyes would occasionally flicker up to the rooftops. He knew she was itching for the right moment to disappear into the world the rest of them were barely acquainted with. 

Soon enough, they arrived at the Van Eck Mansion. 

Jesper flung the doors open whilst Wylan called for a butler to take their coats. 

They eventually settled in the living room, Jesper coyly recounting the time Kaz took him out to commit arson on one particularly ardous day, much to Inej's slight disappointment. 

He realised that he wasn’t used to it. As much as it pained him to admit it, something deep inside him craved for the kind of affection the other crows were able to express with ease. More than that, he was sick of being an onlooker during such exchanges. 

Demons be damned. 

He would pat Jesper on the back after progressing his fabrication skills. 

He would hug Wylan in place of his worthless, scumbag father. 

He would kiss Inej. 

Or at least he would try. 

…

“Would you accompany me?” A woman’s voice asked.

“Of course, I will. Aside from this journey, I have my reasons for agreeing to participate,” a man answered.

A sigh, then the woman replied, “Of course you do.”

“Reasons that I know you'll take an interest in,” the man proposed, ignoring the interruption.

“I’m listening.” 

Chapter Text

Inej Ghafa had wings.
 
They had grown up listening to the stories of people with such things. “Gifted wire-walkers,” his Aunt had said over dinner one time, "were descended from People of the Air. Once, they had wings."

“Sure,” Asha had replied, scoffing. Jaahnvi rolled her eyes. His former best friend, Shreehan, had sniggered quietly in response. Inej was the only one who sat still, listening quietly, her eyes wide open as Aarya continued to tell them the legends that had been passed down by the Suli before them. 
 
He never thought he’d understand what his Aunt had meant. For him, walking the tightrope was a fierce battle against the pull of gravity. When he thought of wings, he thought of birds. Birds certainly didn’t seem to struggle when they soared through the air, their wings outstretched. 
 
If tightrope walkers had wings, and wings were made for flight, then why did he keep on falling? Why could he not fly? 
 
Inej certainly had not any trouble with flying. 
 
Hanzi would never forget the day he came back into the tent he and Asha were practising in, only to find his six-year-old cousin balancing on the high wire, several feet off the ground.
He remembers Asha next to him, staring open-mouthed. He remembers his Papa freezing in shock when he saw her. He remembers his Aunt silently gasping, his Uncle clasping a hand over his mouth. 
 
They had all been shocked. All apart from him, as he had known. His curse had told him. None of them had dared make a sound, in fear of interrupting her concentration. 
 
Nobody had stopped and looked around to see how everyone was reacting to the sight. Hanzi knew it was going to happen. He had seen it before. In a flash over the dinner table when Inej asked for tissues after Asha had spilt water. Another flash after their hands had touched that time she was forced to help in packing up. A flash during a festival when she’d linked Hanzi's and Shreehan's arms and made them dance. She was not the only one he saw flashes for. 
 
Hanzi had an odd knack for seeing things others could not see. He had dreams. Sometimes, he would see them play out before his eyes in broad daylight. It can not have been a good sign. And so he kept them to himself. When he was younger, he thought it was normal. When he was older, he found out that it was not. After a while, he realised that it was not just the dreams that set him apart from everyone else. He had thoughts. Thoughts about boys instead of girls. 
 
His papa had said that it was to be expected, that it was temporary, that it would pass. 
His father had lied. 
 
His mama had not believed him, said that he would change, had this all-knowing sparkle in his eyes.
His mother denied.
 
His grandpa had called "his kind," not natural, disgraceful and disappointing.
His grandpa then died.

His grandma had cried. He thought she would start lecturing him amidst sobs, but she hugged him. The words she had whispered were ones he would never forget. Words his dreams had not foretold him. 

“I'm one too.” 

Chapter Text

I'm sorry for this,but due to certain circumstances I cannot continue writing this story. I wish I could, I had most of the story planned out!

If anyone wishes to know, this is the timeline that would have happened,

Timeline-

• In Ketterdam (Kaz’s POV) Inej arrives. 

• Suli Camp realizes Inej is coming back (Hanzi’z POV) Flashback, excitement.

• On the Wraith (Inej’s POV) Feeling at home on the sea, nervous and happy.
• Arriving In Ravka (Split Mum and Kaz’s POV’s) (greeted by parents)

Mum (Aarya) thinks Kaz is a bit odd but realizes he loves Inej (she is a romantic, after all). The dad remembers when Inej was taken. 

• Arriving in the camp (Inej’s POV) 

• Dinner (Asha’s POV)

• Slaver-Hunting (Kaz’s POV)
• Asha sees Inej's knives (Asha’s POV)
• Hanzi and Grandma's talk about gay (Hanzi’s POV)
• Hanzi’s Vision of Shreehan because he's actually a suli seer
  Dinner (Asha’s POV, Sanvi’s POV)

• Inej goes to see Jaahnvi ( Jaahnvi’s POV)
• Asha snoops around Inej's caravan because she's suspicous (Asha’s POV)

(around lunch)

• Kaz notices something is out of place in Inej's caravan + meeting aunt and uncle (Kaz’s POV)
• Hanzi sees Shreehan again, and the vision of shreehan getting beat up is in action. Then the start of a medium burn
• fruityness with them (Hanzi’s POV)

• Dinner (Asha’s POV, Sanvi’s POV, Kaz’s POV)

• Some Kanej Before They Go To Sleep? (because kanej doses) (Inej’s POV)

• Asha tells Hanzi about how she thinks Inej is acting odd (Hanzi’s POV)
• And Kaz & Inej go visit Sanvi while that's going on (Kaz’s POV)

• Dinner (Asha’s POV, Sanvi’s POV, Kaz’s POV, Hanzi’s POV)

• Jaahnvi’s Dad vision (Hanzi’s POV)
  
  
• Asha and Hanzi go confront Inej & Kaz (All their POV’s)
• Hanzi comes out of the closet (Hanzi’s POV)
• Asha’s furious, so she takes a walk. She is kidnapped. (Asha’s POV)

• Dinner (Sanvi’s POV, Kaz’s POV, Hanzi’s POV, Inej’s POV, Jaahnvi’s POV as she hears screaming)
• I'm sorry for such an awful cliffhanger.
  Eventually, Jaahnvi's dad, Krish (who just wanted to see his daughter but has questionable methods), realises his mistake and meets the real Jaahnvi and she eventually forgives him in like, a year with a bunch of pestering from both ends of the family.

Hanzi and Shreehan do get together and come out to various people, and Sanvi helps ease suli minds into a half-acceptance-ish for some and simply accepting for others of them. 

As for kanej, kaz starts feeling less and less like an outsider, and works through his labryinth, as well as picking some of his locks.

Here are the character profiles to clear any confusion up,

• Hanzi (cousin) - GAY!!! But can’t admit it because Suli people aren’t usually gay. So he feels like an outcast. Different. He doesn’t like not telling people. But he has to conceal it because he’s afraid of the consequences if he tells. (He told his ex-friend Shreehan, but they sorta grew apart as shreehan became distant.) Has ADHD.
• Laughs and teases and is funny but it becomes a mask for how scared he really is.

• Asha (cousin) - Looked exactly like her mum. Her mum looked like Sanvi, Sanvi looked like Sachi and Deepika looked like Sachi. This causes Krish to unintentionally kidnap her instead of Deepika. Then some old enemies of Krish’s gang kidnap her from him.
• Excited and bubbly outside, but very analytical and looks into social situations very well. Reads body language and is not very trusting. Suspicous of Inej at the beginning.

• Ira (Hanzi’s mum) - Aarya’s sibling. Looked like her father. Is kind and warm. Not too much into her. Shocked when Asha is taken. Not sure on reaction w/ hanzi being gay. 

• Aarya (Inej’s mum) - Ira’s sibling. Looked like a mix between her father and her mother. A hopeless romantic, and is VERY overprotective of Inej after she got kidnapped. Like, overprotective as a magpie during swooping season. Usually, it’s a trait in dads after a kidnapping or smth but in her mum. She blames herself for Inej being kidnapped, even though Rahul reassures her it should be him to be blamed. 

• Girish (Hanzi’s Dad) - IDK HOW TO WRITE DADS NO INSIGHT. Angry and shocked when Asha is taken. Not sure on his reaction on Hanzi being gay yet.
  
  Rahul (Inej’s Dad) - VERY strict on Kaz. Kaz uses a sharp tongue and his wit. Kaz appears unfazed. Then he smiles and goes teasing. No more insight on his personality though because I’m lazy. sorry for the currently very cliche dad, I hate cliches, yet here I am doing one.
  
  Jaahnvi - Looks more like her dad. She’s a cold, indifferent shell. Masks emotion

• Sanvi (grandma who gave birth to Aarya and Ira) - Looked just like Sachi. Based on irl Sanvi. Goes in on a walk and sees Shreehan and Hanzi being gay. Is supportive. 

• Shreehan -  Hates himself. Hates his dad. Abusive dad. Early on, Hanzi catches him outside. He tries to pull up the cold, indifferent, snarling facade, but it falls crumbling down and he opens up. They hang out more, fall in love and my fav line of his is-“I’M NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH UNLESS I LET MYSELF GET HURT.” 

• Krish (Deepika’s dad) - 
• 
  Sachi (Sanvi’s sister) [dead]- Tried to make everyone happy, and continued to persevere even through the death of her husband.
  
  Deepika (Jaahnvi’s mum) [dead]- Looked like Sachi. Her father died while she was pregnant with Jaahnvi. The guy who had gotten her pregnant with Jaahnvi abandoned her and fled to another part of Ravka, unable to face the fact that he was a father. 
  
  

I didn't get the chance to develop everybody's characters very well. Most of the problems were skimmed over, and most of the character development I had orignally planned kinda got lost somewhere. If I had the chance to continue, I would elaborate on all the characters, make their problems more realistic, make sure most of them had a good character arch and a nice resolution. Of course, I would also continue actually writing the story. It is unlikely that I'll write another fic on ao3 due to events that transpired that I cannot disclose for personal reasons.

I am genuinely sorry, I wish I could continue and I thank you, dearest reader, for coming this far. Even if I had only two chapters, I thank you. Perhaps one day, I may be able to continue this. I certainly hope so. I thank you again, I apologize again, and I hope you stay safe in such uncertain times.