𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐧

Ⅹ 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

BREY SLID THROUGH THE UPPER FLOORS OF THE LITTLE PALACE. The rooms more alive with excitement and more generals and royals than Brey could count. Brey clumsily dodged through people but the gown made it harder and harder as more people filtered through. Brey ducked down a hall, hoping to take a break but she bumped shoulders with a taller man.

"Oh, my apologies," Brey quickly spoke, her accent still covered. Brey looked up and her heart sank. "General Kirigan. I am so very sorry." Brey mumbled, bowing slightly.

"Oh no, please," Kirigan waved off, taking Brey's hand and straightening her posture. "There is no need for that. You must be from out of town."

"Close enough to get an invitation, far enough to not know to wear such a large gown," Brey explained vaguely with a small chuckle.

Kirigan laughed softly. "I understand the feeling," Kerrigan nodded. "If you would like I can have someone fetch you a dress."

"Oh, no," Brey spoke, shaking her head. "I wouldn't want to put any more stress on someone on a day like this."

"Please I insist," Kirigan disregarded, waving to one of his Heartrenders. "Fedyor, fetch Samuil for me." Fedyor nodded and walked down the hall, and the other Heartrender stood aside. "Now, may I ask your name?"

"Oh of course," Brey nodded, eyeing the Heartrender from the corner of her eye. "Brey Foley, sir."

"Brey, isn't that Kaelish?" Kirigan questioned.

"My parents met at sea, my mother insisted I have a Kaelish name," Brey explained.

"General," Fedyor called, a young man in gold and white standing behind him.

"Thank you, Fedyor," Kirigan nodded and Fodyor left to move back to the other Heartrender. "Brey this is Samuil. Samuil, would you please take Brey to get a new dress, I wouldn't her missing our Sun Summoner due to a restricting Wardrobe. I hope to see you doing the presentation."

"When is it?" Brey piped up. "Sorry, I just, I don't what I'd do if went through all of this just to miss it. As you said."

"We are on time, so an hour," Kirigan relayed. Brey nodded and smiled at the general before being led away by Sumuil.

Sumuil led her to a fitting room, though not the one Kaz had discussed earlier. It was decorated in expensive gold and bronze accessories. "Do you have a color preference?" He questioned, turning away. Brey picked up a pair of sheer scores, flicking them in her hand.

"Anything but Blue," Brey mumbled. Brey covered Sumuil's mouth and sliced the scissors across his jugular. He convulsed before a moment his body gave out. Brey laid him on the floor and blood dripped onto Brey's fingers. Brey took the bottom of his jacket and whipped her fingers before tossing the scissors down.

Brey glanced at the door and brought her hands up. Brey created her clock and slowed time for as long as she could. Brey took a hair pin and picked up her dress and walked from the room, locking it and snapping the pin in the lock. Brey rushed through the halls pausing when she saw Kaz.

Brey brushed her hand on his shoulder gently and he blinked as he caught up to Brey. "What are you doing?" Kaz snapped.

"Everything's running on time," Brey relayed quickly, not wanting to waste her time. "Ran into the General himself. Oh, and there's a dead body in one of the regular fitting rooms." Kaz huffed softly but nodded, straightening up, a noticeable scowl on his face. Brey brushed her hands together in a quick motion and Kaz slowed down again. Brey picked up her dress again and rushed to the stables.

Brey got to the stables with just mere moments to spare. Brey walked up to Jesper who leaned against one of the wooden beams, his head turned to one side as he looked off into the distance. Brey stood on her tippy toes and smiled as time picked up. "Hello butterfingers," Brey called.

Jesper jumped, hitting his head against the beam behind him. "Saints! Brey are you crazy?!" Jesper screamed, pressing his hand to his chest. Brey stepped back, laughing softly.

"Sorry, couldn't help it," Brey chuckled. "Do you have my suit?" Jesper clicked his fingers and grabbed them from a locker he stashed them in. "Thank you." Brey walked into one of the empty stables, sitting the clothes on the wood divider. "Jes?" Brey called.

"Yes, love?" Jesper questioned. Brey raised her eyebrows and nodded at Jesper. "Oh, right sorry." Jesper spun, looking over the stables, his fingers nervously tapping in the wood. Brey laughed softly and took off all the jewelry, dropping it in a pile. Brey reached around her back, tugging at the strings and buttons of the corset but only managed to tighten them.

Brey took a nervous breath before turning to look over her shoulder. "Jes," Brey called and Jesper turned to look at her. "Can you help me take this off please?" Jesper nodded and walked to Brey, running his fingers down the corset to grab the strings.

"Maybe you shouldn't have worn a corset," Jesper mumbled quietly, breaking through the silence.

"I needed to blend in," Brey reasoned. "And it seemed to work, that boy definitely noticed."

Jesper huffed softly, weaving his fingers through the string and tugging the corset open. "I was jealous before," Jesper admitted after a beat of silence. Brey slipped the corset off, dropping it next to her other things.

Brey turned around, her heart beating as fast as it did when Jesper taught her to shoot. When he grabbed her hand to show her his card when gambling. The same when Jesper bought her rings and her first gun. "And I meant it when I called you beautiful." Jesper's hands moved to hold her face, brushing back the curls that fell in front of her face.

Brey sighed softly trying to move past him but Jesper caught her wrist. "I want to kiss you," Brey admitted, turning back to face him. "But I can't help but think you'll find someone better. And that sounds childish and dramatic... but I can't hurt again Jes."

"I won't, I would never hurt you," Jesper promised, holding onto Brey's shoulders. "Brey I've liked you since you almost shot me. Great first impression."

"Jes..."

"Sorry... But I mean it," Jesper stepped closer again. "Who would be better than you?"

"A demo man," Brey joked, trying to ease her nerves.

"Just kiss me," Jesper pleaded, his eyes darting between her lips and her eyes. "Just do it, and if that's it... that's it."

Brey nodded and held onto Jesper's coat and pulling him down gently. Jesper's hand moved back to her face and he kissed her. Jesper's hands tugged her impossibly close, getting lost in the euphoria. Time felt like it was slowing around him as it did so many times when he looked at her, but kissing Brey; was so unimaginable it made him believe she was truly a saint.

Brey's hands left his coat and wrapped around his neck. All of the unsure and weary thoughts left her and all she could process was the sharpshooter, the Fabrikator, her best friend kissing her with so much passion and fire.

Jesper moved away a few seconds later. Their lips barely left each other, their lips grazing as Brey shuddered softly. "Brey-"

"Kiss me again," Brey ordered, tilting her head slightly. "Saints Jesper, kiss me again."

𓅨

❝ 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 is a funny thing ❞