Chapter 31: I'm glad you are safe, Kaz.

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Zaria was half suli and half zemeni, the only child to a psycho mother and the kindest father who traveled to Ravka most of the time for work.

and the girl spent her time painting the walls of Novyi Zem and stealing just to stay away from home.

and by painting the walls of Novyi Zem she means huge dragons, thunder, and money, even drew what she thinks the sun summoner is like in real life, and by that she means a girl sparkling in the center of the fold.

nothing like Alina Starkov, just a girl floating with her hands out, light shielding the saint, black and grey to represent the Volcras, and the fold, but the Sun Summoner was the main attention that caught everyone's attention.

Zaria did it as a gift for her father due to his obsession with finding the sun summoner, at first, she thought it was unhealthy but as time went by and she started believing as well.

he even made a crown for them and promised to take her to Ravka along with Tamaya and her stepmother so they can live there happily, where she will train with Grishas her age and live in the little palace.

Zaria used to squeal happily at the thought of wearing a blue kefta with silver embroidery, but now, she didn't know how to react and didn't care actually.

Tamaya deserved to be there, she was already an Inferni at the Little Palace and thanks to her sister's training she became one of the most powerful Inferni.

Zaria was nothing like her sister and did everything she could to make her everything but her, sure, they had the same skills but not the same souls.

Tamaya was pure, like an angel, with not a single hint of darkness or hatred in her soul, she didn't do any trouble nor got her hands dirty.

Zaria, on the other hand, was not sweet and kind like her sister, she used to be but now that she lost almost everything, her hands were always covered in blood, not hers, but people's.

the devil's right hand as they used to call her, she lied, she killed, she stole, and she did everything just so her sister will have a bright and better future ahead, and not grow up as she did.

if she was as kind and optimistic as her sister, she wouldn't be leaning against the brick wall between bars in one of the most guarded prisons, would she?

And Zaria was starting to think that Ketterdam is the right place for people like her, sure, the weather was something she loathed about this city.

But she didn't know whether she should go back home, between people who are far from anything she is, or stay with people like her? with Kaz?

Oh saints, she really is going insane, isn't she? She doesn't even know whether to go back home or stay in Ketterdam.

Novyi Zem was beautiful, but since she lives there she will admit that it was pretty boring, but her favorite moment about Novyi Zem was during summer.

The house they used to live at was huge, with beige painted walls and golden ornate, ceilings full of mythical creatures painted by Zaria and a huge garden full of every kind of flower, she used to sit by the huge lake and read until night falls, the sun kissing her skin.

Or, swimming for the whole day until the sun disappears, the cold relaxing every bone in her body, those were the happiest and most peaceful moments of her life. 

Ketterdam on the other hand was always gloomy, rarely a ray of sun seen, unless it was hidden by the dark grey clouds or they missed it while sleeping.

But it strangely started to feel like..home? The Crow Club, Kaz's office, the Slat, the bastard of the barrel himself, she felt safe and warm with him.

After years of loneliness and building her walls high enough so no one could peak in or steal her heart, the walls were starting to fall, and Kaz Brekker managed to slither his way in like the smart asshole he is.
 
And she wants to stay by his side, sitting in the chair in his warm office that smelled just like him, coffee and a hint of sharp cologne, and she loved that.

And he made her warm as the sun in Novyi Zem did, he made her feel safe as if she was back home between the walls of her house which is probably dusty by now due to no one being there.

The Crows were her home.

And Zaria was really in trouble, she didn't know which to choose, her family or the man that made her stomach do backflips and blush like an idiot.

The guard’s gloomy sulk made it clear he couldn’t care less. He shoved a bucket of fresh water into the cell and slammed the bars shut.

Jesper pushed to the front and took a big gulp from the cup-tied to its handle. Most of it splashed on his shirt. When he handed the cup to Wylan, he made sure it soaked him as well.

Wylan rolled his eyes and spoke, "What are you doing?" asked the boy Jesper who hiked up his pants and felt around the thin skin over his ankle, "Patience, Wylan. And do try to follow along."

"tell me what's happen-" he started again but Jesper cut him off, "be quiet. I need to concentrate." It was true. He really didn’t want the pellet buried beneath his skin to open up while it was still inside him.

He felt along the thin stitches Nina had placed there. It hurt like hell when he popped them open and slid the pellet out. It was about the size of a raisin and slick with his blood.

Nina would be using her powers to split open her own skin right now. Jesper wondered if it hurt any less than the stitches. 

and WYlan felt his heart drop for a second, worry rushing through his pain but he immediately hid it away, "Pull your shirt up over your mouth,” he told him and the boy frowned in confusion.

"What?" he stated.

 "Stop being dense. You’re cuter when you’re smart." with slightly wide eyes, Wylan’s cheeks went pink. He scowled and pulled his collar up.

Jesper reached under the bench where he’d hidden the waste bucket and pulled it out, "A storm’s coming," Jesper said loudly in Kerch informing the boys, He saw Matthias and Kaz draw their collars up.

He turned his face away, pulled his shirt over his mouth, and dropped the pellet into the bucket. 

There was a sizzling whoosh as a cloud of mist bloomed from the water and in seconds it had covered the cells, turning the air a milky green.

Wylan’s eyes were panicked above his hiked-up collar. Jesper was tempted to pretend to faint, but he settled for the effect of men toppling to the ground all around him.

counting to sixty, he dropped his collar and took a tentative breath. The air still smelled sickly sweet and would leave them woozy for a bit, but the worst of it had spread.

When the guards came through for the next head count, the prisoners would have bad headaches but not much to tell. And hopefully, by then they’d be long gone.

"Was that chloro gas?" asked Wylan, "Definitely cuter when you’re smart." Wylan could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks again, but shook it off.

"Yes, the pellet’s an enzyme-based casing filled with chloro powder. It’s harmless unless it comes into contact with any amount of ammonia. Which it just did." resumed Jesper his words.

"The urine in the bucket … but what was the point? We’re still stuck in here." Before Jesper could respond to his question, Kaz called for the sharpshooter waving him over to the bars, "The clock is ticking."

Jesper shot him a 'watch and you'll see' look before rolling his shoulders as he approached, Zaria's father had trained him but ever since his passing he never had real training.

he placed his hands on either side of a single bar and concentrated on locating the purest particles of ore. 

"What is he doing?" asked Matthias. 

"Performing an ancient Zemeni ritual," Kaz said. 

"Really?"

"No." Matthias' death glared at Kaz and watched as a murky haze was forming between Jesper's hands, Wylan stood there admiring the boy's work, "Is that iron ore?" he asked.

Jesper nodded as he felt sweat break out on his brow, he desperately wanted to wipe it away and place a comforting hand on the boy but didn't dare to move.

"Can you dissolve bars?"

"don't be an idiot." Jesper grunted, "do you see how thick these are?" he tried to remember as Zaria's father instructed, but he barely remembers his voice, the bar he was working on looked unchanged, but he’d pulled enough iron from it that the cloud between his hands was nearly black

 He bent his fingertips, and the particles spun, whirring into a tightening spiral that grew narrower and denser. 

Jesper dropped his hands, and a slender needle fell to the floor with a musical ping. Wylan snatched it up, holding it so the light gleamed over its dull surface, very impressed.

"You’re a Fabrikator," Matthias said grimly, "just barely." replied Jesper with the same tone, "you either are or you aren't." said Wylan.

He hated this topic, Jepser jabbed a finger at Wylan warningly and anger flashed in his eyes, "I am. And you’re going to keep your mouth shut about it when we get back to Ketterdam.

Wylan opened his mouth to speak, "But why would you lie about-" he started but was once again cut off by Jesper, the anger vanishing as if it was never there.

"I like walking the streets free, I like not worrying about being snatched up by a slaver or put to death by some skiv like our friend Helvar here. Besides, I have other skills that bring me more pleasure and profit than this. Lots of other skills."

Wylan coughed. Flirting with him might actually be more fun than annoying him, but it was a close call.

He was so insufferable, rolling his eyes and ignoring how close he was, "Does Nina know you’re Grisha?" he asked and Jesper shook his head, "No and she’s not finding out. I don’t need lectures about joining the Second Army and the glorious Ravkan cause."

Neither he nor Zaria wanted to join the Second Army, really, they just wanted to be rich and walk down the streets safely without anyone bothering them or possibly kidnapping them because of their power.

"what about Zaria?" Jesper snorted at that and shot a look at the pretty boy in front of him, "what is this question? of course, she does, she is my family, after all, we grew up together."

"do it again," Kaz interrupted the somehow peaceful moment, "and hurry." he ordered and with that Jesper repeated his effort on another bar.

Wylan's breath hitched, saints, how can this man look extremely charming when concentrating, if only he was like that every day, cause he must admit, he would be staring the whole day.

"If this was the plan, what was the point of trying to smuggle in those lockpicks?" Wylan asked finally breaking his gaze away from the zemeni boy and Kaz folded his arms at that.

"Ever hear about the dying man whose medik told him he’d been miraculously cured? He danced into the street and was trampled to death by a horse. You have to let the mark feel like he’s won. Were the guards studying Matthias and wondering if he looked familiar? Were they looking for trouble when Jesper went into the showers with paraffin sloughing off his arms? No, they were too busy congratulating themselves on catching me. They thought they’d neutralized the threat."

Wylan thought about Zaria, that she will probably scoff at his words and roll her eyes if she heard him right now, cause the boy almost rolled his eyes.

When Jesper finished, Kaz took the two slender lockpicks between his fingers, it was very weird seeing him work without his famous gloves, one of the main reasons why he is well known.

but in moments, the lock clicked open, and they were free. Once they were out, Kaz used his picks to lock the door behind them. 

Kaz turned towards them whispering, "You know your assignments, Wylan and I will get Zaria, Nina, and Inej out. Jesper, you and Matthias-"

"I know, nab as much rope as we can find."

"Be in the basement by the half chime." with that they split and their heist finally and truly began, the dangerous and terrifying heist that will likely get them killed.

Zaria leaned against the wall death glaring at the 2 unconscious women across from her, head tilting in anger as she looked around desperate to catch at least a glimpse of Kaz Brekker or anyone.

She managed to knock them out with a few punches that didn't catch any guard's attention thanks saints, dragged them to the chair, and sat them one beside the other so it looks like they were sleeping.

Just a few punches that's all, really! 

Okay.. maybe she was a little too rough but they tried to see her scars and Zaria despised it when someone forced her to talk about them or show them.

But as soon as she caught Kaz Brekker's eyes, she sighed in relief that he was safe and she could see him also letting his shoulder finally drop.

He looked pale, very pale, Zaria could feel the worry rush through her veins as she opened her mouth to ask if he was alright, eyeing him up and down in the hope of not finding a single scratch.

If he is hurt, she will destroy them, she will burn them-

His hands.

They are bare, the whole world could see them, the shield disappeared, revealing long slender fingers that made her breath hitch, they were pale but she could see the softest pink knuckles.

She didn't want the entire world to see his pretty hands, really, it was strange to see his hand without gloves and she really prayed to the saints' none will touch his hand.

"Kaz.." she started watching as he worked, meeting her eyes every time to see if she was hurt, he could see her trembling, lips almost purple from the cold, it reminded him of Jordie.

He looked away, "are you okay?" she asked, voice soft and full of worry it made his freezing body warm up, "I should ask that." he said not daring to meet her eyes.

"I am fine."

"you don't look like it." he said, Zaria frowned up at him, hair damp and falling like a curtain as she tilted her head up at him, "nor do you." he finally opened the door to the cell.

Kaz clenched his jaw and met her eyes, both their expression softening as she inhaled deeply, he hated the way she read him easily, "if you are okay, then so am I."

He whispered loud enough for her to hear, blood rushed to her face as she stared at him with heart eyes, fighting down her grin, melting into his brown coffee eyes that she absolutely adored.

"Right."

silence, Kaz watched her watching the way her ravishing eyes sparkled every time they met his, something in them he couldn't find a word for, he couldn't quite understand. 

finally cutting off the silence he nodded towards the unconscious women, "what's wrong with them?" Zaria finally let out the breath she was holding, looking down, his hands, they really look so soft, she wanted to reach out and hold them, warm them up on her own.

"Knocked them out, don't worry they will not utter or word." she winked at him and it was his time to blush, well, his ears reddened and he looked down at her.

He wanted to reach out and push the strand away, Zaria looked up, and she reached over, to push his black hair away from his forehead but froze, shaking her head.

"I'm glad you're safe, Kaz." 

He wanted to grab her hand and place it on his cheek but he didn't dare to move, and only nod at her words.

This girl is driving him mad, focus Kaz. There's no time for falling in love.

Right?

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A/N: I am a bitch for Zaria ans Kaz. LOOK AT HOW PRETTY FREDDY IS❗