—𝐀𝐭 the Tavern, the group got 4 separate rooms. Kaz and Anya were sharing one, while the rest got their own rooms. Inej knew better than to ask about the sleeping arrangements, while Jesper voiced his complaints.

"Why does she get to share a room with Kazy Bear?" Anya snaps her head to Jesper.

"Kazy Bear?" Jesper nods. "Saints, that's genius." Kaz sends Jesper a withering look.

"What did I say about the nickname, Jesper?" Jesper gulps, realizing his mistake.

"Oh no. Don't you come near my knee caps. They are too pretty to be removed." Jesper walks backwards slowly. Kaz walks forward with a menacing look on his face. Kaz probably would have taken out Jesper's knee caps if Anya hadn't pushed his chest back. "May the saints bless you Anya." Anya sends Jesper a wink.

"Aw Kazy Bear. There are too many witnesses." Jesper's eyes grow wide, scooting backwards.

"Shut up Anya."

"Aww no can do." Anya presses a kiss to Kaz's lips. Jesper looks between the two shell shocked. Inej stifles a laugh, surprised it took him this long. Anya looks over at Jesper, noticing his shell shocked expression. "What?"

"You- What- He- Huh-?" Jesper stammers. He looks between the two, looking at them like they have six heads. "Since when!" He finally snaps out of his trance.

"Are you just realizing this now?" Kaz questions.

"Yes." Jesper says. "Now answer my question." Jesper places his left hand on his hip, taking the 'mom stance'.

"Um. Years. Right?" Anya turns to Kaz in comfirmation, to which he nods.

"Are you only just noticing this now?" Inej questions.

"Yes."

"You're an idiot." Inej says in reply.

"True. You're lucky you have a pretty face." Anya says. Jesper sticks his tongue out at her and Anya breaks into chuckles. Leaning back into Kaz, he wraps his arm around her shoulder as she pushes her head into his chest to muffle her giggles.

"All right. Royal Archives heist. Here's the game plan. Watchmen are on guard around the clock. We want to get in and get out as quietly as possible. That means the hardware stays in the holster, Jesper."

Jesper pulls a face. "Ugh, fine."

"Inej, the dome on the roof is directly above the repository where the blueprints to the Little Palace are kept."

"Got it. That's my way in." Inej says.

"Anya you're with me. I'll set a trail of phosphorus that will lead you straight to the target. The repository is secured at all times behind a two-part lock mechanism. So, Inej, you have to leave the way you came in. Two hours after sunset is when you'll go in, Jesper. You'll need to blend in."

"Easy."

"The lighting valves are on the second floor."

"I'll take my cue once I see the lights go out. And then follow your trail straight to the blueprints."

"The archivist has to pull them a number of times a day, so we can't steal them or they'll know something is up."

"So, make a copy?"

"But be careful. If you're heavy handed you'll bleed the ink." Anya says.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Now, get ready. And say goodbye to the goat." Kaz orders.

"What no." Jesper says.

"Kaz. Can we keep him?" Anya questions.

"No."

"Well I want a pet."

"We have Jesper, isn't that enough?"

"HEY!" Jesper yells.

"No. Sure you can teach Jesper tricks, but he doesn't listen, and I don't want to cuddle him."

"Well, it's a good thing you don't want to cuddle him."

Jesper huffs, "I am very cuddly, I'll have you know." Inej pats his shoulder in fake sympathy. After getting settled into the rooms and establishing the first parts of the plan, Kaz allowed Anya and Jesper to say goodbye to Milo. Anya was mad at Kaz, barely speaking to him. Kaz knew why, but also knew that she would get over it. Jesper tied one of his bullets to a string to put around Milo's neck.

"I leave you a bullet, to remember me." Jesper says somberly. Anya just gives Milo affection. "Let's promise to never forget each other, Milo." Milo bleats, Anya presses a kiss to his head. "But I must go now. I leave you in the care of this lovely barmaid, who needs your support here." Anya thought Jesper was over selling it. Anya presses one more kiss to Milo's head, trying to get Jesper to walk away. Milo continues to bleat as Jesper was being led away, pulling on his coat. Jesper blows one last kiss at Milo, turning to Anya, "I'm going to miss him."

"Me too, me too." Anay wipes under her eyes, hiding the evidence that she was crying. Despite what Kaz said about leaving Milo, Anya seeked his comfort. Walking over to him, giving him a hug. Kaz had a confused look on his face, but hugged her back anyway. "I'm going to miss him."

"I know, love, I know." Kaz presses a kiss to her head, resting his chin on her head. "Are you ready to go?"

"I guess so." Kaz hums, pulling her face back, pressing a kiss to her lips. Anya kisses back for a moment before pulling away. Kaz leads her over to Arken.

"I have a job for you. We need to hitch a ride east to the Little Palace." Arken nods. Kaz pulls out a wad of kruge. "Make friends." Kaz slams the money on the table, going to walk away.

Arken lets out a chuckle. "But that's the hardest job."

"You managed to win us over, didn't you." Kaz and Anya walk out of the tavern, leaving Arken to deal with their ride.

🃑🃑🃑

Inside the carriage, Kaz changes. Anya watches shamelessly, checking out every bit of his exposed skin. Sure, she thought the outfits were ridiculous, but at the same time they were necessary. His skin pale from not being in the sunlight, showed small scars. Traced over his stomach a long line, skin raised, a pale white color. His crow tattoo on his forearm, the initials JR tattooed on his bicep. The most surprising one was a small A on his collar bone, Anya concluded it was a new addition, as she had never seen it.

She reached over, placing her hand inches from his skin, looking into Kaz's eyes, asking for permission. Kaz nods, allowing her to touch him. She traces the ink lightly, looking at it with great interest. It was such an intimate moment, that metaphoric sparks touched the pads of her skin, while Kaz neck tingled. Her fingers were still tracing the ink as she looked into his eyes. Raw emotions flowed through their eyes like a river, silently conveying the messages they wanted to send. Unable to express their emotions through words, the two communicated in their own ways.

The carriage lurches, causing the moment between the two to cease. No awkward tension filled the air, as they were used to having their small moments interrupted. Kaz turns back to get changed the moment still lingering in his head. He would have felt embarrassed that she saw the tattoo, but for some reason he didn't. Feeling like he accomplished something by engraving her initial on his skin. Permanently marking himself as hers. Kaz finished getting dressed, feeling her eyes burning holes into where her initial was marked.

Jesper allowed Inej to get off the front, as she was going to be in the shadows, watching for threats. Jesper ordered the horses to walk again, pulling the carriage further up the road. Kaz and Anya placed a few last minute items on their bodies, getting ready for the performance of a lifetime. The carriage slowed to a halt outside the building, Anya walked out first, followed by Kaz. Kaz put his cane down first, pushing all of his weight down on it. He looked ridiculous and he knew it. Anya had to avoid eye contact, seeing as she would laugh every time she looked at him.

Kaz plasters on a smirk, sharing a look with Anya, walking into the building. Walking in with a pep in his step, Anya by his side. "Good day to you, sir." Kaz's voice is upbeat and Anya has difficulty keeping her smile on, wanting to laugh. "My name is Ivanovski. The sculptor, yes. And this is my assistant, Anastasia." Anya nods.

The man at the desk takes a breath, looking at Kaz. "All right."

"I am in desperate need of your assistance. I am working on a real showstopper for the winter fete. I need the dimensions to the Little Palace entrance. The grand piece may be too grand to fit through the door frame. The king will have my head if his statuary must be parked in the courtyard."

"Damned fete." The man shakes his head. "I have to pull the blueprints every day. Wait here." The man walks out from behind the desk.

"With bated breath." Kaz says as he pulls something out of his pocket setting the phosphorus across the floor, sticking to the man's foot.

"Dimensions to the entrances of the Little Palace."

"Ah, may the Sum Summoner bless you." Kaz makes a symbol with his hands.

"Oh, I'm not a believer."

Kaz shakes his head and leans closer, "No, truth be told, neither are we." Kaz points between him and Anya. The two walk out wearing similar smirks on their faces.

🃑🃑🃑

authors note: heist time! it's like 12am and i wanted to get this out because all i had to do was edit it and that was tedious on itself. but intimate moment between my babies. yes kaz has a tattoo on his skin with her initial. it's sweet. he simps for her as a job, hes a professional. but more action next chapter! ALSO 5k! THATS CRAZY! i hope you enjoyed!