—𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 the train everyone was sweating, minus Anya. Her body was always cold, no matter how hot it could be. She didn't mind that though, enjoying the perks of it. Always feeling comfy and particularly, Kaz gives up his coat so she can be warm. She loves his coat, it makes her feel special. When you see Kaz Brekker without his coat, you know Anya Novikov is wearing it. It is his way of claiming her without marking her, granted the K charm on her bracelet or the Dregs symbol painted on her skin are there, it is Kaz's way of claiming her to himself. Anya has moved her legs, so that they lay across Kaz's lap. Her head placed delicately on his shoulder.

Metal clings causing the group to look up. "What was that?" Jesper questions.

"I've erected a system of timers along the line. Bits of metal hung on poles to keep me apprised of our pace."

"How do you know where to put the poles?" Kaz questions.

"Physics and engineering account for... most of my success."

"You paused." Anya removes her head from Kaz's shoulder to look at him. "Why did he pause?"

"Anya, love, calm down." Kaz whispers, placing her head back on his shoulder, rubbing his thumb along her hand.

"And the rest?" Inej questions.

"What we might call the divine intervention. What others might call luck. And after all the Fold is thick with volcra." Anya shivers. Kaz holds her tighter. "And the tracks are not complete. Coal please."

"What?!" Anya shoots up, lunging for the Conductor, only to be pulled into Kaz's lap. He sends her a look. "Don't give me that look. The man is trying to kill us." Kaz just simply raises an eyebrow. Anya huffs and lets her body relax against Kaz.

"I'm sorry. Did you say the tracks aren't complete?"

"I said they aren't."

"What?" Jesper leans forward.

"Ah, ah, ah. No moving." Jesper sits back and Kaz sends Arken a look of distrust. "We're a tad late. More coal." Kaz throws some into the furnace.

"Back to the real issue. We are on tracks that don't connect to other tracks?"

"Yes. There's a gap but-"

"You said you could get us through."

"How much of a gap." Anya would have laughed hearing the panic in Jesper's voice, but she was feeling the same as him. The only thing keeping her grounded was Kaz's body.

"I built slats on the car. They roll into place under the wheels. The turbine generates enough wind to push us all the way to the eastern track. As long as we don't shift our weight." Metal clings. "Now the noise may attract volcra, but it's the only way across." Arken pulls a lever that creates a loud noise. "Now there's a nest nearby. But we'll be fine. If they haven't attacked us in..." Arken is cut off by a growl. "Well now we've got a problem."

"Oh, you don't say." Anya snaps.

"How do you fight them off?" Kaz questions Arken. Anya looks over at him and notices that he has fear written all over his face.

"I outrun them. Open the throttle and toss in all the coal, which works when there's 20 pounds of it." Arken snaps, looking back at Jesper. Milo bleats and a black substance falls from the roof of the train. "Damn it." Arken curses under his breath. "The stupid thing impaled itself on a spike."

"We need to get it off. The others will stand on it."

"More coal."

"We're down to fumes!" Kaz throws the rest of the coal and the bag into the furnace.

"We don't make it with this extra weight."

"Give me a second."

"This is how we die?"

"Apparently. I thought I would go out with a bang." Anya says.

"Jesper, grab the goat."

"Not Milo!"

"I am not throwing out the goat!"

"Grab the damn goat! It's not bait. It's for you!" Arken shouts. Jesper picks up Milo. "I need you to calm down. Hug the goat. Shut the hell up." Clang. Kaz looks up startled. "We should have hit that 20 seconds ago."

"20 seconds is?" Kaz questions.

"My timings are precise to get us outside. Even 20 seconds behind means the train stops inside the Fold and... that means we die." Anya looks up startled.

"Excuse me?" The volcra growl.

"There's more coming?" Thud. Kaz and Anya look up startled.

"So soft." Jesper murmurs. Volcra cling onto the roof.

"You may want to make your peace."

Dust falls from the ceiling. Jesper walks forward, Milo under one arm. Kaz watches him with an intrigued expression. Jesper closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, unholstering one of his pistols. Shots are heard as Jesper lines up his targets skillfully, hitting each one. Unloading his other pistol as the other empties, he continues shooting. He hits every target, ridding the train of each one. Holstering his pistol, he lets Milo down onto the ground.

"Are they all dead?" Inej questions.

A volcra tears through the roof, Arken screams. Anya stands up, nodding at Jesper. Anya throws her knife at the volcra at the same time Jesper shoots it. Kaz looks at the two with a scared, yet proud expression. Metal clangs, causing Inej to turn towards the sound with her knife drawn. Arken checks his pocket watch. Jesper goes to walk back to his seat when light shines in through the holes in the train. Light. They had reached the other side of the Fold alive. Jesper grins like a maniac, Inej has a soft smile on her face, Anya is chuckling, her body pressed against Kaz, and Kaz. Well, Kaz is staying impassive, though he lets a small smile break through when Anya presses her body against him.

"You're getting a kiss later." Kaz whispers.

"Why? Not that I'm complaining, but why?" Anya whispers back.

"What you did was hot." Kaz whispers, lips brushing against her ear. Anya attempts to fight back a blush, but fails. Inej watches the two with a soft smile, loving the effect they have on each other.

🃑🃑🃑

Getting off the train the group walks off, trying to find a place to spend the night. Walking into town was tiring and boring. So boring, that Anya decided to annoy Kaz. She made him want to hit her with his cane and blush all at the same time. Sitting inside a lively tavern, the Crows and Arken sit at the bar, talking amongst themselves. Jesper's hair is a wild mess, making him look that he either got laid or is nursing a bad hangover. The second option is closer, a volcra hangover.

"So... That went well." Jesper says.

Arken slams his drink onto the table. Anya gives him a nasty look before going back to her rolls. "The Little Palace winter fete. There's just no way he can find a way to the Sun Summoner without Nina. Especially during this ridiculous party. The place will be crawling with the Second Army."

"We're in luck." Kaz breaks Arken's rant by walking over. "There's a good chance we can crack on. Now that we're three days' travel from the capital, the next play is finding a way inside the Little Palace. It turns out the Kribirsk archives house the Little Palace blueprints. But... they're kept under lock and key. Far from the prying eyes of the masses." Kaz smirks.

"Yes." Anya and Jesper say, sharing a similar look.

"What does that mean?" Arken questions.

"Time for a heist." Jesper says.

Anya eats one more roll, walking away from Inej. Moving towards Kaz, she walks in front, nudging him to the side. Moving her hands upwards, she combs through his hair, trying to make it go back into place. Sure she enjoys the boyish look he has when his hair is messy, but having it in place gives her chills. Kaz makes no move to push her away, enjoying the feeling of her playing with his hair. Anya sends Kaz a quick wink, messing his hair up even more. Kaz presses a quick kiss to her lips, smiling down at her. The two just whisper to another, not noticing the two pairs of eyes watching them. One pair is knowing and the other is confused.

🃑🃑🃑

authors note: so they have made it through the fold, in one piece. jesper being iconic. anya being a badass. the flashback scenes when jesper says "that went well." make my day. hes such an icon and he has no idea. some soft moments between anya and kaz towards the end. like BABIES. they make my heart warm. inej knows about them and ships it. jesper is a confused baby and has no idea what goes on with them. they KISSED infront of him and the pour soul has no idea what is going on. ANOTHER thing, the saddle club became available to watch on xfinity, so now i'm watching it now. that show owns me. RED UGH, hes so pretty. ANYWAY, i hope you enjoyed!!