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Darkness held around the walls of their new safe house, the windows were blacked out and the silence felt almost like a blanket around Inej. They had been moving about non-stop the past few days, scrambling to get everything prepared for the auction. Her and Kaz in particular had spent many nights doing nothing but scheming together, ensuring that every plan had a backup plan and that there was no room for error. The auction was their last chance to get Kuwei out of Ketterdam, they could not mess up this opportunity.
Inej made her way out of the room she had taken as hers, unable to sleep with thoughts ringing around her head like an incessant fly. She knew Kaz would be awake at this time too, he rarely slept when everyone else did. She hoped he wasn’t in the kitchen where she was headed to now, she could still feel the buzz of his lips on her neck. That wasn’t good, she needed to focus. She could worry about untangling whatever that encounter was when the auction was over.
The silence of her footsteps calmed her as she made her way through the winding halls, Jesper had loudly complained at least 5 times since they got here that the place was like a maze, but it didn’t take long for Inej to memorise the layout of it. They had taken over a townhouse the owners had left for a holiday, it wasn’t as large as a mercher’s mansion but it was big enough that they could keep to one portion of it to avoid leaving their tracks all over the house. Inej liked it much more than the cemetery they kept to before, this one felt like a secret with all its shadows and long hallways. And she could tell Kaz liked it too (as much as Kaz could like anything). She knew they would have to clear out soon though, as the family would be making their way back. Inej wasn’t looking forward to it, but it would be much better than risking meeting the family in question by mistake. Especially since they would likely be recognised by the wanted posters hung around Ketterdam (and around the walls of the house, it was quickly becoming a novelty to the gang).
Luckily though, there was no sign of Kaz as she finally made her way into the kitchen. However, she wasn’t alone.
“Matthias?” He was leaning against the counter, staring out into the window adjacent - Inej wasn’t sure what he could possibly see out in the dark…maybe it was a Fjerdan skill. He not so subtly jumped at Inej’s voice penetrating the silence, obviously he hadn’t seen or heard her in the shadows.
“Inej? I thought everyone was asleep.” His voice was quiet as he turned to face her fully.
“I can’t, Jesper’s snoring is too loud. I can hear it even through these thick walls.”
“That boy is loud even in his sleep. Someone should sedate him.” He said with a snort that didn't match the harshness of his words. Inej reckoned there was a slight hint of truth in them.
“Still haven’t warmed up to him?” She moved around him and began making tea, “Do you want some?” He shook his head at the offer.
“No, he is…quite annoying.”
“You get used to it, he’s saved me so many times I don’t hold it against him anymore.” She responded with a laugh. She loved Jesper truly, but she didn’t always hold that same sentiment.
“Yes, he is useful in a fight.” Matthias responded bluntly, Inej quite liked his straightforward way of talking. She hummed and poured boiled water into her mug. Silence rang around them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Matthias spoke again, it almost shocked Inej who was beginning to close her eyes.
“How do you get him to like you?”
“Jesper?”
“Brekker.”
“Kaz? What do you mean?” Inej was genuinely confused by this turn of conversation; she hadn’t expected Matthias to want to talk about Kaz at all, seeing as they were less than friendly.
“Kaz doesn’t like anyone. I’m certain he hates me. But he likes you. How?”
“He does…like…people,” like was definitely a strong word, “he just doesn’t show it. I don’t really do anything to be honest,” Inej really didn’t know what to say, but Matthias was looking at her with such a sincere expression. “he doesn’t hate you either, though it would help your case if you didn’t call him demjin all the time.”
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“Well, he hasn’t given me much reason to not think him one.” he responded, a smirk making its way on his face.
“No, he wouldn’t. In fact I think he’d hugely prefer it if you did.”
“See, demjin.” He was smiling properly now, glancing away from the window and towards Inej. She smiled back and found herself somewhat enjoying the conversation. She and Matthias had never had the chance to talk before, their schedule was too tightly packed with breaking in and out of the highest security prison in the world you see. “He doesn’t have anything in his life that’s sacred.” Continued Matthias, looking back out of the window.
“Kaz Brekker doesn’t need sacred things, trust me, I’ve already tried.”
“Ah yes, you believe in all your Saints don’t you, are you from Ravka?”
“Yes, me and my family lived there, we’re Sulli.”
“Did you dance? Is that how you’re so quiet?”
“We’re acrobats. I used to perform in the circus with my parents.”
“Ah…did you do the tightrope?”
“What gave it away?” Inej joked, Matthias smiled and played along,
“Only your insistence to not use a net on the silos, you nearly gave the others a heart attack when they heard. I was quite glad when Kaz said no.”
“Kaz just doesn’t want to lose a valuable investment,” she still hadn’t forgiven Kaz for that line. “I was never able to work with a net properly, the one time I did back in Ravka I fell. The net makes you careless; I never fell when I didn’t use one.”
“You fell from the silo this time, was that because of the net?”
“I think the blame landed more on my opponent this time.” The words come out more bitter than Inej intended, she had been unable to get that girl out of her mind ever since their encounter. 'A smudge of a Suli acrobat who fights like a common street thug.' Her voice rang true in her head, but Inej refused to acknowledge it. She didn’t come all the way here to be bested by someone who was quite possibly insane.
“I can still hardly believe you survived that fall.”
“The trick to falling is getting back up.” Inej recited the Suli proverb, she had said the same line to Kaz more times than she could count. Matthias had a contemplative look on his face and was silent again for some time. Inej took a quiet sip of her tea, its warmth settling inside of her. She closed her eyes again feeling at peace, only to be shocked out of her reverie once more by Matthias’ voice,
“Are you nervous about the auction?”
“I am, I’m not sure we’ll have another chance after this. I’m nervous for Wylan too, about having to see Van Eck.” Inej said with a sigh, she wasn’t too happy with that aspect of the plan. She wished Wylan never had to face his father again, but there was very little she could have done about it.
“Yes, he is a horrible man. I wanted to protest when Kaz told him what he had to do.”
“Same, but he’s being brave about it. Is it similar to when you had to face Jarl Brum?” That was the part of the plan she missed out on, too busy being held captive. But she imagined betraying the very man you looked up to hardly even a few months ago was the easiest task.
“Similar yes…though I don’t imagine Wylan ever had as much respect for his father as I did Jarl. Though it was difficult seeing him with Nina…knowing what he planned to do.”
“Mhm, you handled it well though, so did Nina. She always does.”
“You two are very close,”
“Yes, she was my first friend alongside Jesper when I joined the Dregs, she kept me sane. We kept each other sane, really.” Inej’s voice softened at the memories from her first few months. It was rarely easy, but Nina was always there for her. No one else would have been able to understand the horrors she faced during her year at the Menagerie. Inej didn’t voice these thoughts to Matthias though, the only other person who knew well about that part of her life was Kaz.
“She talks about you just as fondly. Thank you, for keeping her sane, you have saved her life too.” His voice had become just as gentle, as it often did when he spoke of Nina, His expression had melted too, and he had a slight smile playing on his face. Inej’s heart warmed at the sight, there weren’t too many things left in their crew that were good, but this was one of them. Nina and Matthias shared a love so strong imprisonment in Hellgate couldn’t break it. Inej was sure even death couldn’t.
“Of course, we all save each other, it’s what we do.” 'We never stop fighting.' Inej is reminded of Kaz’s words then, and something swells in her chest at the thought of it. She hadn’t been able to get his confession of sorts out of her head since he said it.
“You are good Inej, I hope you survive this.”
“I hope we all do, we deserve happiness. Despite our…lengthy list of crimes.” Inej joked softly, because it is the truth, they have all done what they had to in order to survive.
“I must have the shortest list out of all of us, and I’m the only one who went to Hellgate,” Matthias said with a chuckle. After a moment, Inej laughed too,
“Saints, I think you’re right. Isn’t that ridiculous?” They were both laughing now, it truly was ridiculous. “To make it worse, we were only in Hellgate because we broke in.”
“You five seriously need to spend at least a decade there.”
“And you! Wait until I tell the Stadwatch what a crucial part you played in Ice Court.” Matthias barked out a laugh at this,
“Should we go now and tell them together?” He joked, smiling once again at Inej; his white teeth piercing through the darkness. Inej chuckled,
“Oh good idea, I’ll let Kaz know, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to find out.” Both of them let out a shudder at this, neither too eager to find out what Kaz’s reaction would be if they did turn themselves in. “I don’t think he would like me as much as you say he does if we did.”
“I still want to know how you do it, it’s impossible to get into his good books.”
“Must be because I’m a good spy.” This time, her voice was supposed to be bitter, but it wasn’t; perhaps it would have been if Inej didn’t already know that Kaz wanted her. Saints, even thinking about it was driving Inej a bit mad. The concept of Kaz wanting anyone was a strange one to her, but him actually admitting it was another thing entirely.
“I think it’s more than that, but who ever knows with Brekker. He is a mystery.”
“That he is. Luckily, it is the least of our concerns at the moment. We should try and sleep for a while, we have a very busy day of scheming ahead.”
“Ah yes, then some more scheming after that too,”
“Perhaps we should try and fit in some plotting after,”
“Perhaps,” Matthias said with another laugh, before pushing himself up from the counter. “Goodnight, Inej.”
“Goodnight.” Inej smiled back at him lightly and watched as he made his way out of the kitchen and into the hallways. She drained the last of her tea and pushed herself off the counter to follow Matthias into the hallway. A light smile was on her face, it was a nice conversation she had with him. An unexpected one but…nice. She had long since grown comfortable around him but never considered him a friend, not in the same way she saw the others. She was glad about this change though, he was surprisingly funny, she hoped there would be plenty of time in the future to continue having conversations like that. Perhaps she could even visit him and Nina in Ravka when all of this was over. She would like that a lot.
With that thought, Inej settled down in her bed. Finally feeling the gentle hand of sleep rest on her head for the night.