Setting Sail (Correcting Course)

“What are you doing.” 

For most people, that usage of the word ‘what’ would signify a question. When the word comes from Kaz Brekker’s mouth it is not however, it is a demand. 

Nikolai smiles, letting the expression rest easy on his lips as he picks himself up from the dock, finishing tying his sailing boat up as he turns to consider the student.

A junior in his second semester, and more than likely eligible for early graduation, Kaz Brekker was one of the best and brightest. The fact that he even bothered to go to college was a curiosity in and of itself. Even as a boy, there was no doubt in Nikolai’s mind that Kaz could build a business out of whatever he felt like.

And now that same tenacity and drive seems to be leveled at him for some reason.

The dark eyes of Ketterdam University’s very own Dirtyhands were now burning into him on a chilly dock in the harbor.

“You’re going to have to elaborate Mr. Brekker. I know quite a lot, but the information game is mostly your trade.” Nikolai replies.

There’s a shift in the wind, and Nikolai feels it ruffle his hair at the same time he watches it slide Kaz’s own dark hair back and out of style. Part of him is tempted to suggest he take the boy to a proper barber, but when he’d offered the suggestion as a joke to Zoya she’d grimaced and shook her head.

Kaz clicks his tongue. “The sailing class.” He says it as if even giving up that much information is fatal. 

Nikolai cocks an eyebrow at that. “Yes? An extracurricular that I decided to make available to a few students that I would personally vet, given I’d be using my own personal boat.” 

“A class of eight, offered on the weekends with start time at ten.” Kaz fills in the rest of the general information. “Supervising assistant is Zoya Nazyalensky. What are you planning?”

Nikolai’s baffled. What is he planning? He’s planning on using students as an excuse to finally get Zoya to get on his damn boat so he can take her sailing. He’s planning on picking students that she actually likes and doesn’t mind being around so that she’ll relax and relent and talk to him. He’s planning on teaching kids the art of sailing as well, but his priority is spending time with his friend.

“I believe we’re having a miscommunication Mr. Brekker. I’m a bit perplexed by the nature of your inquiry.” Nikoali huffs, running a hand through his hair to smooth it out.

“Inej Ghafa.” Kaz snarls the word, expression so tight and jaw clenched so hard Nikolai wonders if he can hear Brekker’s teeth grinding over the waves lapping against the wooden docks.

And it clicks.

Nikolai blinks, pauses, smiles and shakes his head.

“Oh.I see.”

Kaz bristles at that, taking a half-step forward. “Oh?” It’s a challenge, and so Nikoali holds up a hand and gestures towards the mainland.

It has never occurred to him that for all of Brekker’s intellect and cleverness that he might find himself victim to the same issues as mortal men. Nikolai can honestly say that he never once considered the possibility of Kaz Brekker’s feelings getting wrinkled over something that wasn’t a lost business opportunity, a raw deal, or getting scammed out of money.

And yet here the junior is.

Confronting the Dean of his college over a girl.

Kaz takes a step back, setting his hands on his cane. “We can talk right here, Lantsov.”

“With raised voices over the waves?” Nikolai counters, “you may not know weather as well as I do Mr. Brekker but a storm is rolling in, and I’d prefer to be dry. Let’s pretend this is a civil affair at least. There’s a restaurant here, we can have brunch, and you can blackmail me as much as you like while I sip a mimosa.”

Thunder rumbles behind him, and for a moment Nikolai actually thinks that Kaz will insist on this discussion on the docks, weather be damned. But the boy relents, turning without another word and heading up the dock. Nikolai follows behind him, measuring his pace to match Kaz’s own stilted gait.

It starts drizzling as they walk, and they are only just inside when the rain truly breaks, sheets of rain slapping against the windows as the waiter leads them to their table. They’re there early, a few minutes past eleven and with the weather and the winter, Nikolai imagines they’ll be the only patrons of the restaurant for the day. It’s empty save staff and a bored looking bartender.

“Will you be wanting an appetizer?” The waiter asks, a chipper young man with a smile.

“Two waters.” Kaz bites out, the click of his cane against the wood of the floor is sharp, punctuational as he looks at the waiter. “And space.”

There’s a quick exchange. The youngman can’t be in college yet, but the look he gives Kaz is appraising, and then fearful, as if recognizing him from somewhere. He nods, and scurries off as if reprimanded by the restaurant owner.

“Tell me, what could you possibly have on a kid like that?” Nikolai finds himself asking as he takes a seat.

“What’s on his computer.” Kaz deadpans, “and what’s in his father’s shipping books, or perhaps what’s not.”

A merchant’s son? Interesting.

Nikolai smirks at that. “And now it appears I’m on your bad side. Over Miss Ghafa?” Kaz glares at the name, his thin lips twisting further into a scowl.

What a juicy bit of gossip. He wonders if Zoya would enjoy knowing that the bane of her existence has a crush.

“You approved her for the class hours after it was posted.”

Nikoali hums as he picks up the menu, perusing it even though he’s already been here time and time again. It was one of the first places he’d managed to convince Zoya to accompany him, the first time he’d gotten her to join him at a table for two, instead of at a social function or a school meeting. It was one of the first times he made her laugh at his jokes openly…

“Because I know she’s a good student, and she already has a passion for sailing.” 

Kaz’s gaze does not relent.

And finally Nikolai huffs and says it. “Zoya likes her.”

There’s a pause, a near physical hiccup in the air around them as revelation hits Kaz. Kaz blinks, frowning for a moment before his eyebrows lift. He leans back in his chair, his gloved fingers drumming on the silver beak of his cane.

“I selected the students that I knew would be genuinely interested in sailing, but also the students that I knew Zoya wouldn’t mind being around.”

“Which is why six of the eight are female.” Kaz adds.

“Unintentional bias. I drafted a preliminary roster of sixteen, and turned it over to Zoya. She selected six students, and we discussed the last two. Furthermore, of the thirty or forty students that applied for the class, I had a majority of females, if that’s your concern.” It isn’t. Nikolai knows.

The concern is Miss Ghafa’s past abuse at the hands of Heleen.

Kaz continues to drum his fingers against the crowhead of his cane. Nikolai is sure if Zoya was here she could tell him piece by piece the ways he’s relaxing, how his posture is shifting and the microexpressions he’s displaying are revealing little pieces of his mind. But Nikoali was never good at that. He was a better judge of character and charismatic enough to make up the difference. He understood people even if he didn’t completely grasp the science of people.

And more than Zoya, or apparently Kaz Brekker, he trusts people.

“Inej Ghafa approached me about the sailing class first.” He adds. “I had been discussing it with her at length when she was attending my global relations course, and happened to run into her in the hallway a few weeks ago. She mentioned she’d very much enjoy having it, and I informed her that while I would like to, I would need assistance managing the class and waivers in order to do so. Miss Ghafa implied that Zoya would not say no. As it turns out…” Nikolai considers his words for a moment, running the memory of when he asked Zoya about the class back through his mind. “She was right.”

Kaz relaxes in his chair. As much as the boy seems to know how to relax at least. His shoulders are still tight, but now the boy seems much more preoccupied with another thought, his jaw working up and down as if he were physically chewing on a thought.

“She’ll be here for the summer.”

Kaz’s gaze shifts, as if startled by Nikolai’s interjection.

Nikolai sits back in his chair, the table lapsing into silence as their waiter comes back with their waters. Nikolai watches the tremor in the boy's hand as he sets down Kaz’s water. Once the drinks are left, the boy hesitates for only a moment, lingering at the table, and then after a quick look from Kaz, he beats a hasty retreat.

“You’re a terrifying man.” Nikolai muses with a smile. “Only a boy and yet I can’t help but notice how well you could run whatever business you laid your hands on.”

“I’m good at business, and I can keep it clean, which is something that most people can’t. I’m interested in profit and personal gain, not personal pleasure.” Kaz answers, he moves to stand, but Nikolai holds up a hand.

“You’ve bullied me into an early lunch, and it’s a monsoon outside Brekker. Sit. Let’s eat, and if nothing else I can pick the brain of one of my most exceptional students about some policy changes, and perhaps offer you some of my own advice.” Nikolai offers, unsure if his bargaining will actually keep Brekker at the table.

He has no doubt that if Kaz decided to, he would venture out into a hurricane for the sole purpose of making a point. If it served him, Kaz would get up from the table right now and leave.

But

It doesn’t.

Not for the moment at least.

Kaz sighs, settling in his seat and letting his cane drape over the arm of his chair. He doesn’t pick up a menu, but he raises a hand and beckons the waiter over. He doesn’t ask if Nikolai knows what he wants, but they both order. There’s a brief silence once more as the waiter walks off, and then Nikolai can’t help but ask.

“How did you know we would end up here?” Nikolai asks. Kaz cocks an eyebrow, obviously about to dismiss the idea, but Nikolai pushes forward with the inquiry. “You knew the menu. You knew the waiter. You chose the time, and either guessed or wanted to end up here for the discussion. I doubt you would let the imposing weather go unnoticed. But even if you knew all the elements in play, how did you know we’d end up here? How did you know I would be here?” 

For a moment it looks like Kaz is going to dismiss him, shut down the conversation and ignore the line of questioning. But then something shifts in his expression, a spark of shock and then a relenting roll of his eyes.

“If you have a fight with Professor Nazyalensky, then you always go sailing on Saturdays, even if there’s foul weather rolling in.”

Nikolai nearly jumps out of his chair.

As it is he spills his water, jolting so harshly that the glass leaps from his hand, only to be caught by a delicate tanned one, keeping the other half of the glass that Nikolai hadn’t spilled all over the wooden table from covering the floor.

“Saints!” Nikolai curses, twisting in his chair to find none other than Inej Ghafa standing a few paces behind him.

“Inej.” Kaz’s rasp makes Nikolai turn back to him. “You knew.”

For a moment Nikolai finds himself separate from the conversation, caught in between two of his students and allowed to watch the fluidity of their interactions.

“I had an idea.” Inej’s response is coy, but the smile on her lips makes Nikolai think she finds Kaz’s reaction endearing, or in the least amusing. “And you went to the docks yesterday, I assume to scope it out for this?”

Ah, little secrets exposed here and there.

Kaz clicks his tongue, folding his gloved hands on the table. “I only had concerns.” He says easily, like him making veiled threats and inquiries to the Dean was a common occurrence.

Inej pulls up a chair then, flashing Kaz a smile. Nikolai thought that it would be awkward, caught in between two students and trapped by the rain, but he finds that it’s pleasant instead. Once the topic shifts to less personal topics, Nikolai finds himself reminded why he likes the both of them. Inej is easy, clever and kind. Kaz is structured, businesslike and economical. Sitting between them and offering up policy changes allows Nikolai a brief glimpse of seeing two very different perspectives perceive those changes, from two individuals that have near-nothing to gain, and who don’t have a paycheck attached to him.

Nikolai does notice things throughout the conversation though.

He notices how Inej is seated closer to Kaz than to him, which in and of itself isn’t unusual or a surprise.

He notices how despite only him and Kaz ordering, when the waiter brings their food there is a third entree inexplicably added. It’s a shock even to the waiter, but there’s a quick exchange of looks between Kaz and Inej.

He notices how Kaz pays attention to Inej. How his body language shifts and how whenever she speaks there is a pause, as if Kaz is hanging on the words.

When the meal ends and plates are cleared, Nikolai pulls his wallet, waving their terrified little waiter over. He hands him his card, intent on putting the meal on his corporate card, but the waiter shakes his head.

“N-no sir. Th-the meal has already been paid for.” 

Nikolai casts a disgruntled look at Kaz as the waiter hesitates and then hurries back away. “I can’t even take you two out?”

Kaz shrugs his shoulders as he stands, unwilling to offer any rebuttal. Instead they head for the door, Nikolai behind them, watching intently as Kaz catches the door and holds it open for Inej. The rain has dulled, and the clouds have parted, teasing Nikolai with the possibility of sunshine even if it was momentarily marred by a light drizzle.

Inej steps out fearlessly into the drizzle, brown hair swishing as she turns back around to them. If Nikolai hadn’t been paying attention he would have missed it.

The flicker of a smile on Kaz Brekker’s lips, the softening of his expression, and the way he seemed less a cold businessman and more a boy his age in that moment. It startles Nikolai, unaware that Kaz could share such commonalities with his peers.

And perhaps it’s with that in mind, and an inkling of a feeling that perhaps Kaz Brekker came here today with more than just concern for Inej Ghafa’s safety, that Nikolai indulges himself as he passes Brekker.

“I heard her parents are coming to visit this spring.”

And the look in Brekker’s eyes, the way those dark eyes suddenly widen, as if Brekker was shocked, makes it entirely worth it. He is rewarded with genuine surprise, and then a curious look, a strange expression Nikolai has yet to find the word for as Kaz turns to look at Inej.

Kaz swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he straightens his tie and takes a breath. “I should brush up on my Suli then.” He attempts to say it casually, but there’s a breathless feel to it, like he’s rattled.

Nikolai smiles. “Not a bad idea.”

“Kaz?” Inej calls back to him, smiling as she tucks her hands behind her. She nods to him, and something in her expression makes Nikolai think that Inej Ghafa is perhaps the only person in the world that fathoms aKaz Brekker and his scheming. That she is perhaps the only person who is capable of deducing his intentions. “I enjoyed the talk, Dean Lantsov.” She nods her head to him.

Kaz joins her, and together they walk off in the direction of the college. Nikolai lets them, stewing in his own thoughts as he considers the sky.

There was a chance that the weather would sour again shortly.

But… there was also a chance it wouldn’t. Just a chance. A sliver of a chance, but a chance nonetheless.

There was a chance that he might grab a sliver of sunshine and feel the wind running through his hair and the brush of the sea on his lips. 

His phone is out, and he dials her number by memory, unwilling to bother with the added hassle of scrolling for her contact. She picks up on the first ring.

“What are you doing right now?” He asks, belaying a greeting, too excited at the prospect of her company.

There’s a lengthy pause. “Reading a book?” Zoya replies, “why?”

“Would you like to go sailing with me this afternoon?”

“Nikolai, it’s freezing. The only thing I want to do is curl up by a fire with a glass of wine and a book.”

“It’ll be good practice for the course next semester.” Nikolai reasons. And it would be an excuse for him to spend time with her. “The sun’s coming out, the rain is clearing off. No one else is out so-” it would just be the two of them, “would let you get familiar with the boat. It’s packed during the summer, and we won’t get a chance in the fall.”

Yes they would. Nikolai would make sure of it.

Even if he had to cancel board meetings and rearrange all of his classes for the morning, Nikolai would make time for Zoya.

“It’s still cold Nikolai.” Zoya rebukes.

“I have gossip about Brekker.” Nikolai tries.

There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and he hears a shift, and then a rumple and groan of furniture as she gets up. 

“Fine. I’ll meet you at the harbor.”

Nikolai smiles. His chest burns, his heart aching at the prospect of seeing her. It’s unhealthy, probably bad for his heart to tamp down the feelings he’s hiding and yet subject himself to her as much as he does. But he can’t help it.

“I can’t wait.”