Chapter Text
Nina brushed her thumbs over Matthias’s bright blue eyes, as pretty as Nina thought they were he needed to be tailored for this mission.
“We’re almost done, sit still” Nina hissed, her focus wavering at Matthias’s movement under her hands.
“I do not like you touching my eyes Nina.” Matthias mumbled, his head flinching back again from Nina's touch.
“Oh please i’ve touched you much more before” Nina grabbed his head to keep him still.
“I-” He stuttered “That-” He tried again “That is different Nina”
“Mhm, right” She brushed her thumbs over his eyes again, making them actually change color this time.
The Fjerdan's eyes were now a deep brown, a few speckles of blue still hidden in there if you looked closer. “There, now you look less Fjerdan” Nina admired her tailoring abilities.
“I look better Fjerdan” He grumbled glancing in the mirror.
“I think you look quite pretty either way” Nina smirked, fixing his now auburn hair.
Matthias’s face flushed slightly at her words, he attempted to hide it with a scoff but failed miserably.
“Nina?”
They both turned at the soft voice behind them. It was Wylan, he was standing on the stairs with his sketchbook in his hands.
“Is it dinner time already?” Nina asked, already standing up.
Wylan shook his head, his ginger curls falling in his face. “I just wanted to hang out down here, is that okay?” He asked, still standing on the stairs clearly weary of stepping inside.
Nina frowned at the fact there wasn’t dinner yet but smiled when Wylan asked his question. “Of course, I just finished tailoring Matthias” Nina glanced at Fjerdan who was still sitting. “Saints, you’re so pale” She said in Matthias’s direction. “I can practically see through you” Nina snickered at her own joke. She thought it was pretty funny.
Wylan looked over at Matthias as he sat down in a chair across the room “What about that tanning mixture? With the tea?”
Nina smiled at the idea “That’s perfect! I’ll do it later since you need to take all of that” She motioned to Matthias’s clothes “off”
“Didn’t know we were getting a show” Jesper laughed as he came down the stairs with Inej and Kaz trailing behind.
“I said no intercourse on the ship Zenik” Kaz states in a monotone voice.
Matthias’s face went completely red and Nina groaned loudly.
“Must you say it like that Kazzington?” Nina crossed her arms.
“Dont call me that” Kaz glared, sitting on a chair nearby.
“I quite like it” Jesper grinned, sitting on the arm of the chair Wylan is in. “Kazzington Dazzle Brekker”
Matthias sighed and muttered something that sounded quite like demjin.
Kaz slammed his cane down, the sound of the bottom hitting the floor echoing through the room “enough.” Everyone immediately closed their mouths and listened to what he had to say. “We’re on this boat because Nikolai is paying us 120 thousand Kruge to steal a ring, not to mess around” Kaz's voice is stern but Nina noticed his eyes flickering to the windows that showed under water.
“120 thousand for a ring? Who’s it for anyway?” Jesper asked, spinning the rings on his fingers.
“Well Ravka needs a queen, it must be for his bride” Nina smiled, she’d love to have a ring like that.
“It doesn’t matter who it’s for” Kaz glared again at them. “What matters is we steal it and get it to the king.”
Everyone nods, going silent so Kaz can go over the plan.
“Here’s the plan” Kaz says, standing up and pacing the room. “Nikolai has given us invites to a powerful family’s ball, we will stay inside of their estate” He glanced at Inej before continuing “He has given us three rooms”
Everyone looks at each other, already deciding in their heads who they want to share a room with.
Kaz looks at them “I’ve already decided, don’t look too excited.” Everyone’s shoulders immediately slump at his words “We are here for a job not to fool around, meaning Fahey you’re with me” He stares directly at Jesper who already looks defensive.
“Seriously Kaz? I think I can handle myself”
“You are not sharing a room with Wylan” Kaz says sternly “That is final”
Jesper stands “Why the hell not?” He stepped forward towards Kaz.
Nina's eyes flipped between the two boys, considering the heart rate of everyone a fight could break out any second.
“Ka-“ Inej tried but he talked over her.
“Because I fucking said so” He snapped back.
“That-“ Jesper scoffed “That isn’t even a good reason-“ He went to step forward but Wylan grabbed his arm.
“It doesn’t matter who we share a room with” Wylan glanced around clearly worried about a fight starting.
Inej nodded “Wylan is right” She stood in front of Kaz “You two have been picking a fight over every small thing” She sighed “Now both of you sit the hell down and can we finish the plan?” Inej looked at both the boys expectedly.
Neither of them spoke but they both sat back in their prior spots, clearly both pissed. Kaz finally spoke and continued his plan.
“I will give each of you an allowance to spend on clothing for the ball, if you do not spend it responsibly you will not get more” He made an obvious glare at Jesper.
Nina smiled brightly at Inej “Oh my saints! Inej we are hitting every single one of my favorite shops.” She squealed excitedly.
“You guys may wear anything as long as it’s covering, doesn’t stand out, and allows you to move around to fight or escape” Kaz tells them. “You each get 150 Vlachka” Nina notices his eyes flickering to the windows again. “For the actual plan of how we get the ring I will tell you when we arrive and are ready, I’d like the plan to stay a secret”
“Yeah yeah we’ll see about the dresscode” Nina smirked and glanced at Matthias then looked back at Inej “We’re gonna look so pretty!” Nina smiled and walked to Inej, already planning on what they’re gonna wear. “The shops in Ravka have the best dresses, we’re going the second we unpack”
Kaz stood “You two aren’t sharing-“
Nina held up a hand to Kaz’s face “Ah, yes I am. We need to get ready together.”
Kaz just rolled his eyes and went quiet, leaving the room a few minutes later. As Nina continued talking to Inej she noticed her eyes flickering to the stairs back up to the deck.
“I’m gonna head up and check on the sails and..yeah” Inej mumbled as she trailed off her sentence. The Wraith silently stood and slipped out without a sound.
She was always good at that.