—𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 at the Crow Club, Anya, Inej, and Kaz were in Kaz's office. Kaz was rifiling through papers, trying to find a solution to the problem at hand. Anya had taken the blanket off Kazs' bed and wrapped it around her body, allowing it to swallow her whole. Anya walks over to Kaz and stands beside him as he looks at his pocket watch. She has always loved the way it looks from the planets, to the moon, to the way it sparkles in the light, due to Kaz keeping it clean.

"What was that? Hmm? You want to tell me?" Inej questions Kaz.

"Be more specific." Kaz says back. Anya pays no attention to the two as she perches herself on the edge on Kaz's desk, basking in the warmth that radiates off his body, despite not touching.

"It was one thing when we had a week to find a way across the Fold. But sunrise? We have to say no."

"No." Anya and Kaz say in sync.

"'No' to the job?" Inej asks the two.

"'No' to saying 'no.'" Kaz says.

"We can't go!" Inej snaps.

"Can't we?" Anya snaps back. Inej lifts up her arm, showing off her tattoo. Anya hates that tattoo because it symbolizes that someone owns Inej. Granted, she has one signaling Kaz owns her, but that she doesn't mind.

"I can't go." Kaz stares at the marking for a moment before looking Inej in the eyes.

"You will. I have a plan."

"I like Kaz plans. They only have a few inconviences." Anya says. Kaz sends her a small smile, before getting back to the task at hand.

"No, you don't"

"Inej!" Kaz snaps.

"I know by now when you're still figuring things out. You don't know how to pull off this job."

"I still have six hours, and right now, you aren't helping." Kaz sneers. Anya can sense that this isn't going to end well.

"Maybe you crack away across, but that doesn't solve this problem!" Inej shoves her wrist with the tattoo in Kaz's face.

"If I can't crack this, no one's going."

"If you do?"

"Then maybe you stay here." Kaz snaps. Anya doesn't flinch, knowing this moment was coming. It still breaks her heart to see Inej's face. She can see the remorse on Kaz's face, knowing he regrets what he said.

"Maybe I won't be here when you get back." Inej says.

"Inej..." Anya says softly. Inej runs off into the rain, leaving no sound in her wake.

"Inej! Inej!" Kaz runs off after her.

He drops his head and walks back to the desk where Anya is sitting. Placing his cane on the side on his desk, he sits back in his chair, placing his face in his hands. Anya moves forward, slowly and unsurely, moving her fingers closer to his hair. Kaz notices the shadow of her body moving closer, lifting his head and noticing her questioning gaze flickering between his hair and his eyes, he nods his head. With his permission, Anya runs her fingers through his hair. She hears tapping on the desk, knowing what Kaz wants, she sits on the edge of the desk. Kaz moves his chair closer, resting his arms on either side of her body, her fingers still tangled in his hair. Kaz leans into her touch, welcoming the comforting aura her body radiates.

"I am an idiot." Kaz whispers.

"A pretty one." Kaz looks up at Anya, seeing her looking down at him with a crooked grin. He smiles up at her, eyes shining in the candle light.

🃑🃑🃑

Kaz was watching the bustling crowds of the Crow Club through a hole in the wall. Anya was looking over Kaz's papers on his bead when she hears footsteps.

"Kaz, look." Anya lifts her head up only to see someone other than Kaz. Her heart pounds in her chest as she gets up and pats her body looking for one of her knives. Nothing, absolutely nothing. 

"Shit." She whispers. The man still comes closer, her body going into fight mode. He strikes first, thinking she was going to be an easy target. He was wrong. She punches him straight in the nose. The man hisses in pain. "Oh sweetie, you having something on your face." The man looks up and sneers at her, lunging at her body, attempting to tackle her. Anya underestimates his speed as he grabs her by the waist and twists her around. She takes one of his fingers and bends it back, allowing Anya some room to move in his hold. She goes to run to the nightstand where her knife is, as her head is slammed into the table. "Saints." She brings her head up to wipe her nose, feeling the blood rush down her face. An arm winds around her throat, making her thrash. Click. The sound alone makes her body freeze. It's a gun, one that is placed against her temple. "Fine. You win. Happy now." Anya sneers.

"Very. Now move." The man maneuvers her through the room, bringing her to the desk. She sees Kaz being restrained by a man. Kaz can feel the hairs on his neck standing up. The thought of someone other than Anya touching him fades away. Anya, his Anya, is standing there with a gun against her temple. Anya sends him an apologetic look, knowing how uncomfortable he is feeling. He shakes his head, trying to tell her through his eyes how sorry he is for not protecting her. Footsteps are heard. Pekka Rollins.

"Evening." Pekka says. "Mr.Brekker, is it. I see your girl puts up a fight."

Kaz's eyes grow dark. "Leave her out of this."

"Why should I? She's a pretty one." Pekka goes to run his finger down her cheek, which fails as Anya attempts to bite it.

"You're a long way from home." Kaz gets the attention off of Anya and back onto himself.

"Am I?" Pekka moves closer to Kaz. Kaz struggles against the man holding him down, until he hears a whimper. He stops and looks over to Anya only to not see her there. He searches to area looking for her, when he sees her, she's on the ground. Her head has blood coating it. Anya groans, only picking her head up to send a nod to Kaz indicating she's okay. "Like you were earlier? When you took a Grisha from the Orchid." Pekka kneels before Kaz.

"The Orchid isn't Dime Lions turf."

"Well, it's a new acquisition. Hmm. You heard it here first." Pekka signals the man holding Kaz to toss the cane. "Now." He admires the cane and places it in front of his body. "Now, I know you saw Dreesen. You got the jump on whatever job he has. I don't know the details, obviously, just that you have a little travel hazzard ahead of you. So, here's the deal. You can do nothing, walk away from it. I'll tell Dreesen I'm taking over for you. Then we're even."

"Not even close." Kaz was thinking about Anya and everything Pekka has ever done to him. It was taking everything in his body to not gut Pekka Rollins here and now. The only thing stopping his was the fact that Anya would have a bullet in her head faster than he could do it.

"Hang on. The other option is..." Pekka pulls Kaz closer by his cane. "I'll cave your head in with your own cane and dump you in the harbor. Your girl on the other hand, I'll let my boys have some fun with her." Kaz's eyes go black with rage. "Hmm?  That first option seems better now, don't it?" He removes the cane from Kaz's neck causing him to let out a grunt of pain.

"Tell me... have we ever made a deal before?"

"You and me? Nah. Otherwise you'd know better. Or you'd be dead." Pekka walks to the far side of the desk and throws the cane on top. "Come on." He signals his boys to follow him out. The man holding Kaz pushes him forward before walking away. Kaz stays kneeled to the ground waiting until the coast was clear. He crawls towards Anya, who is now sitting against the wall.

"Anya?"

"Hmm." Anya looks up at his with glassy eyes.

"How's the head?"

"It hurts." Kaz moves to sit next to her, pulling her closer. He grabs the handkerchief from his pocket and wipes the blood on her face. He stands up, pulling her with him. "We are still doing this, right?" Kaz nods his head, walking over to grab his cane. "Good, I need alcohol." Kaz just chuckles and leans over and kisses her. Kaz chuckles when he pulls back and notices her mouth is wide open.

"I told you I would cash it in." Anya just closes her mouth, still in shock.

"Didn't know it would be now."

"You got hurt because I wasn't there to help you."

"Don't blame yourself, I was as prepared as you were."

"Okay." Kaz says. Now, let's get that drink." Kaz leaves the room. "You coming Grace?" Anya runs to catch up with Kaz, still in shock of what just happened.

🃑🃑🃑

Kaz and Anya walk through the Crow Club straight to Jesper.

"You all right, boss, Anya?" Anya orders a shot as she reaches the counter. Kaz takes Jespers' shot while Anya takes hers and in sync they down it.

"No." They say together.

"You have got to spend time away from each other." Kaz and Anya send him an unimpressed look.

"I've been warned off the job."

"I had a gun to my head."

"By who?" Jesper questions.

"Who do you think?" Kaz asks. Kaz pulls out his pocket watch.

"Did he remember you?"

"If he had, I'd be dead."

"And I'd be a play thing for the Dime Lions." Anya's body shivers in disgust.

"Sunrise is in five hours."

"Yeah, but we're off the job now, right?"

Kaz looks down at the club. "Never make decisions out of fear, Jesper. Only out of spite."

"Well, greed always worked for me."

"No it hasn't." Jesper sticks his tongue out at Anya, causing her to do the same.

"Go guard the door." Kaz tells Jesper. Jesper walks away with an annoyed face. Kaz steps forward running his fingers through his hair.

Anya turns to Kaz, "I'm going to take a bath."

"You know where I keep the towels, Grace." Kaz tells her.

"I know." Anya leans up leaving a kiss on his cheek before walking back up to his room, not noticing the small smile on Kaz's lips.

🃑🃑🃑

authors note: AHHHH THEY KISSED!!!! i can't with them. they make my heart soft. anya using kaz's bathroom. UGH domestic shit. the nickname has made an appearance. anya means graceful that's why kaz calls her grace. ANYWAY WE HAVE ALMOST HIT 1K READS. it has been less than a week since i posted the cast list and the support has been unreal. ugh i love you guys. the new cover is by -DEADP0ETS and i can't get over how pretty it is. the gif is by venus too and i adore it. UGH TALENT. ANYWAY, i hope you enjoyed.