𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 — decked out

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 "𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐅𝐅 𝐈𝐒 still here," Inej spoke as she silently crept into the room; with what little coin they had left — thanks to Aleksa and her insatiable ability to be able to put anybody under her spell — they had managed to procure a room in a small and run-down inn on the outskirts of the fold. "Travellers downstairs are complaining. They were due to cross this morning."

 The looming wall of withering shadows was as clear as day from their window and Aleksa couldn't help the shiver that traced her spine as she pressed her cheek against the cool glass, looking out at the Unsea.

 She could still see the pathetic remnants of the train that Kaz had originally been so eager to put them on; the flames had died out but a cloud of billowing smoke still tangled high into the sky. She supposed there was no good way of perusing through the Fold, for whilst the torn apart train might have secured their deaths, at least Aleksander wouldn't have been there, nor his delightful Heartrenders.

 The Skiffs might have been well put together, strong and a viable way to surge through the darkness, but if they were caught it was over.

 Kaz nodded at the Wraith's words, "Orders from the Black General," his eyes moved to Aleksa who continued to stare bleakly out the window. He knew the risk of them getting caught was high, but there was no other way to get back to Ketterdam. They had to try, "He plans to cross on it tomorrow."

 Aleksa finally shifted on the window sill, her fingers curling around her waist as she hopped down, padding towards the table the Crows had gathered around. Jesper had tossed his tweed jacket on the scruffy couch, Inej had shed her hood and delicately placed her knives on the table and Aleksa had hung the woollen coat on the back of a chair, boots tossed close to the door.

 Kaz, however, sat at the wooden table in every layer imaginable. It wasn't a surprise, for Kaz was rarely one to get as comfortable as the rest of them, but the sight of him still draped in his long and thick coat whilst Aleksa sashayed about in her socks was something to be amused at.

 She slumped into a chair, watching as Jesper blinked at Kaz, "The General?" He queried, "Aleksa's brother? The one who tried to... Oh, yeah, kill us all. That one?" 

 A beat passed as they all submerged within Jesper's words. They had all come close; Inej had left the battle bleeding, and with a second life on her conscience. Jesper had left a fight with a Heartrender that had come dangerously close to squeezing his heart into nothing more than pulp.

 As for Aleksa and Kaz... There was no doubt that Kaz Brekker would have been able to find some way out of his stand-off against the Darkling, perhaps with the flash bombs stashed in his bag. But would that have been enough? If not for Aleka scrambling from the rooftop as her shadows cloaked them, he might have been left behind in multiple, bloody pieces.

 "He has the Sun Summoner," Kaz stated, leather-bound fingers curling around his cane as he ignored the knocking at the window, courtesy of Cas. He watched Inej's face crumble as though she'd tasted something sour. Even Aleksa looked irritated.

 Inej tapped her nails against the table as she met Kaz's eyes head-on, "Was this your plan all along? To have the General get her back just so you can take her again?"

 "My plan is to get us across the Fold. We aren't prepared for another fight."

 Aleksa considered this; Inej wasn't prepared for a fight, not with the wound on her stomach that still needed time to seal itself shut. Kaz wasn't prepared for a fight — he hadn't said a word about it, but it was obvious to Aleksa that everything they had been thrust into had taken its toll on his leg. He could conceal his limp, throw his weight onto his cane. But when they'd arrived at the Inn he'd told Jesper and Inej to go ahead towards the room just so that he could prepare himself to climb the narrow and steep staircase.

 Aleksa had trailed by his side as she slowed her own steps, yet never mentioned his pace. The tick in his jaw had been evident.

 Jesper, as spry as he was, was tired. You could easily seek out the dark circles beneath his eyes and the twitching of his fingertips. He always seemed to get sluggish whenever he'd been away from the tables too long. Perhaps Aleksa would invest in some cards to travel with, just to keep him on his toes.

 Aleksa was their best shot if it came to a fight, and whilst she believed in her abilities — as did her crows — her Summoning wouldn't do much good within the Fold, against her brother. She'd surely become a beacon for the Volcra, and though a Sun Summoner might have been joining them for the trip, it was unlikely that Aleksander would allow her to help.

 The pieces were in place; the long-awaited Sun Summoner was finally going to travel into the Fold, side by side with the Darkling to tear down the Fold. But was that really the case?

 Alina wouldn't have ran like a frightened child if that was truly the case. She had scrambled with terror in her eyes and anger in her blood; anger that was for Aleksander.

 Aleksa didn't want to believe the torturous thoughts that clouded her mind, but what if he wasn't tearing down the Fold? He had to have something far more... monstrous planned. She exhaled a shaky breath, one that Kaz had caught as she finally decided on how she'd fit into the puzzle.

 She would talk to him, find out why Alina was so terrified and why she had run from reuniting their world. She would hear him out, find out the reason they were travelling through the veil of darkness, and if the answer was anything other than to tear down the Fold, Aleksa would seek out the Sun Summoner and help her.

 For while Aleksa loved her brother... she wasn't about to see shadows consume their world.

 "So you're not going to take another run at Alina?" Inej asked the Bastard, her tone filled with distrust. It wasn't a known trait of Kaz's to let the promise of Kruge slip from his fingers, "And you're really willing to let a million Kruge go?"

 Kaz ran his tongue across his teeth, jaw tightening as he listened to those words. He'd never backed out of a fight, never let a heist slip from him. It was all he could do. He needed the Wraith and the secrets she pried from people; perhaps he'd be able to find another spider but never one as efficient.

 But it wasn't just that. Inej and Aleksa had a bond that confused even him. He couldn't fathom how two people could have been so very different, yet care for one another to such a dangerous magnitude. They were opposites in almost every way. Aleksa would kill a man if he dared touch her, Inej would show mercy. Aleksa believed in herself above everything whilst Inej prayed to her Saints daily. Aleksa paraded around with her buttons undone and cheeky smiles on her face as she flirted with everyone — and everything — in sight, all the while Inej kept to herself.

 Despite all that, there was a bond between the two girls that could never be broken. So even though Aleksa promised to return with Kaz, he still knew she'd leave to see her Wraith. He was selfish and reverted back to that silly little boy with hot chocolate between his cold fingertips... in that moment for wanting her to stay in Ketterdam, indefinitely.

 "Jesper and I can't do it without either of you." He met Aleksa's eyes as she lifted her head. He watched a curl tumble over her shoulder, hanging in front of her as the edges skimmed the wood she leaned on. The light caught her eyes and it was like he was drowning all over again, only this time he didn't struggle. He backtracked and swiftly glanced at Inej, "You've made your position perfectly clear. You come as a pair."

 Inej almost sank into the seat she occupied and once again she found herself rather thankful for the Grisha that was seated beside her. She flashed Aleksa a smile before her hand gravitated towards the onyx-hilted dagger Aleksa had gifted her before she spoke once more, "So all you want is to cross the fold?"

 Aleksa watched Kaz carefully, reading into every line that presented itself on his handsome face, the way his lips tugged into a frown, how his gloves creaked just slightly as his hands tightened around his cane. It wasn't a ploy to get Inej to follow along; he was really giving up. He was doing the unthinkable and letting one million Kruge disappear.

 He snapped his gaze to her and Aleksa tried to muster as much of her usual and insufferable charm by tossing a grin and a wink his way. His lips twitched, though only barely. Still, it was enough for her.

 "Once we land in Novokribirsk," Kaz said to Inej once he managed to tear his sights from the summoner, "It's your choice what you do next."

 The Wraith nodded, fingers circling around the hilt of her blade, seeking comfort in the very same way both Aleksa and Jesper did.

 Aleksa rose to her feet the moment that Kaz did the very same, watching as he tucked his hand further away from this throbbing leg. Perhaps the skiff was their best bet; they'd do little fighting as they cowered below deck, waiting for the light show to end.

 Though little did the other Crows know that Aleksa was planning on blending into the shadows before parting from their sides in an attempt to finally speak with her brother after all the time they'd spent apart.

 Jesper scrambled for his jacket, tossing it onto his bony shoulders as he scuttled towards Ksz, "Now, wait a minute —" The sharpshooter started, "We're going to board a skiff with people who will recognize us? People who will recognise and want to kill us?"

 He was right, of course. Whilst Aleksa needed only to hide from Aleksander and a select few Grisha that had the delightful fortune of ever meeting her, the others had been spotted throughout the palace. Though who was to really say that Aleksander hadn't described her to his soldiers? Hopefully, they wouldn't find out.

 "We'll have to blend in," Aleksa chimed as she slipped her shoes on, grunting as she tightened the laces. Her arms disappeared through her coat sleeves — the coat she was seriously debating on keeping — and her hands swiftly freed her hair from the collar, "Inej? Anybody else on the skiffs who we could get away as?"

 "You aren't going to —" Inej started, a sharp sigh tumbling from her dark lips as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Whilst Kaz might have been known to plan the heists and pick the locks; you could always count on Aleksa and Jesper to gather extravagant costumes. That wasn't what bothered Inej, it was the way they got their hands on such costumes.

 Aleksa grinned, and for the first time in a few days, it was a true and wide smile. Glistening teeth glinted, her eyes filled with sparks as she straightened the lapels of her coat, "Oh come on, Inej. You got to break into the Little Palace, why can't I punch someone and steal their frock?"

 "A coat. Maybe a hat." Inej said sternly, the sharp end of her blade pointed towards the Grisha, "Not a frock."

 "You'd look lovely in a frock, but that's beside the point." Aleksa patted her pocket down, grinning as she felt the small blade Kaz had given her — it wasn't too dissimilar to the oyster-shucking blade he kept up his sleeve, "I'm going to get us some lovely coats, maybe some ugly hats to match pretty boy here," She threw a wink his way as he scowled, fingers tracing the brim of his hat, "And their documents."

 "Kaz —" Inej began.

 "— Stay quiet, don't be seen. Take Jesper." Those were the only words Kaz offered as he waved Inej's motherly worries off. It was standard practice by now to watch as Inej coddled Aleksa before finally letting her go.

 Feral, was a word Inej had once used to describe how their lovely Grisha was in a fight. She wasn't wrong. Aleksa would bounce on her feet with a wide smile, perhaps blood would trail over her brow from a wound, perhaps from her nose as it trailed to those lips of hers. Her fingers would always be torn apart, blood seeping from cuts and scrapes, and her eyes would flash with something wild. All of those years being kept away like a jewel had made her thirst for a fight.

 Jesper was her perfect partner; Aleksa would twist the shadows and the Zemeni boy would walk among them, gangly arms wrapping around unsuspecting victims' necks until their hearts slowed and they toppled to the ground.

 Jesper pumped his fist in the air, hands grappling for his own hat, "Yes!" He cheered, trailing his hands over his guns, well aware of the pointed look on Kaz's face that meant nothing if not keep those holstered.

 Aleksa returned Jesper's attitude as she spun on her feet, wiggling fingers held out for her friend to take ahold of. Once they were intertwined, Jesper tipped his hat and Aleksa tossed her hair over her shoulder, both calling out in sync, "Try not to miss us!"

 Aleksa and Jesper had returned with grins wide enough to split open their own cheeks. Aleksa had a splash of blood dotting her nose as well as a few open cuts littering her knuckles whilst Jesper had a single cut on his lip.

 The duo had managed to corner a few unsuspecting travellers as they perused the town; it had been easy enough to get the jump on two of them within one of the dark alleys that many townsfolk used as a shortcut between the centre of the small town and the inn that looked over the Fold.

 The shadows had crawled forth and made it almost impossible for their lovely victims to see. Jesper had tightened his long arms around one of the man's neck whilst Aleksa took to swiping her fist out, it took a punch to the nose and one to the temple for the man to topple backwards, completely blacked out.

 They had hurried to strip the men of their coats, as well as slip their documents from their pockets; Inej had complained about the coat when it had been tossed her way, it hung over her like a bedsheet.

 The only thing they had left to procure was a dashing suit for Jesper to play his role of a Zemeni guard; such a title just so happened to be stamped on the document.

 The duo hadn't taken long. After the sun had set and the moon had risen high, they scurried back to the Inn, their faces concealed by the bundle of material they'd borrowed. The Innkeeper hadn't spared them a glance, and Aleksa could have only imagined the kind of strange things he'd seen.

 Now the Shadow Summoner and Sharpshooter were tucked away within their room. Aleksa had tossed Inej her coat, and Jesper the other before the sharpshooter had trailed off to squeeze into his new outfit.

 "Are you alright?" Inej questioned the Grisha, her hands already inching towards her bag, ready and willing to patch up any particularly nasty scrapes.

 Aleksa exhaled in amusement as she leaned closer to the mirror, a small piece of damp cloth in her hand. She scrubbed away at the crimson dots that had dried on her cheek, thankful that they hadn't tinted her skin.

 "I'm fine, Inej." She spoke as she turned from her reflection and rose a hand, showing her knuckles to the Wraith, "Just some little cuts."

 Inej shook her head, her long, raven braid swinging behind her back as she slumped into the couch, bringing a cushion onto her lap. She was certain that Aleksa could lose an ear and still claim to be perfectly well.

 Kaz remained silent, eyes scanning over the documents that Aleksa had tossed his way upon her return. She had also offered a smile that was entirely too smug. Still, he kept some of his attention — most of his attention — on their back and forth.

 He wasn't an idiot and he knew Aleksa, and Jesper for that matter could handle themselves. In fact, the two together were a recipe for a job well-done; they played to one another's strengths and weaknesses as though they'd been fighting side by side all their lives... So why did he feel that irritating buzz in his gut when he'd watched her leave? When he'd caught sight of the blood on her cheek? He was a fool.

 Aleksa perched on the edge of the desk Kaz was sitting behind, dabbing the cloth at her torn skin, "So," she started, tossing a look towards the Bastard over her shoulder, "Who are we playing?"

 "Diplomats," Kaz said simply, eyes following the cloth that ran over Aleksa's skin. It was times like these that he was thankful she'd brush off her injuries and tend to them himself. Though there had been times when she'd bled from gaping wounds where he'd found himself stepping forwards, only to freeze in place and watch as she struggled her way to Inej. He could do little more than offer his cane, "Jesper is the Zemeni guard hired to make sure we have a safe passage."

 "Ooh, a diplomat?" Aleksa grinned as she tossed the cloth into the bin, "I'm great at that... You, however..."

 Kaz offered nothing more than a bored look, far too used to her interchanging flirtatious comments and witty insults. She was right, of course. Diplomats had a tendency to be uptight fools who believed they deserved everything to be handed to them, and Aleksa was ominously skilled at playing the role.

 She'd straighten her spine, hold her head high and stare down her nose at people, making them shrink. She'd bat her lashes and coo until she got what she wanted; just like some spoiled noble... Then again, he supposed she had been a spoiled noble.

 However, her comment about himself wasn't entirely true and he knew she was simply poking and prodding at his stoic demeanour. She was nothing less than stubborn but even Aleksa knew well enough that Kaz could change his demeanour with the snap of his fingers. He did it with Per Haskell enough.

 Jesper joined them then. His tweed jacket and mish-mash of clothing that sported far too many colours to count had been shed and replaced by a rather dashing suit. The suit was made of wool, expensive and patterned with royal blue and blood-red plaid. Jesper tossed the coat Aleksa had borrowed for him atop the suit, turning to spin before the mirror as he adjusted the curls atop his head.

 "You look dashing, Jes." Aleksa cooed as she hopped from the desk and reached up to tighten the tie around his neck.

 Jesper grinned down at her, his boney fingers coming to ruffle her hair, "I'm better than that, bug."

 Kaz, ever so promptly, split their delightful back and forth of compliments by shuffling the papers that laid before them. His steady hands had trailed ink over the details, changing them to match his crew as best he possibly could.

 "I've made some changes to the papers," He said, voice as cold as ever, yet that daring glint in his eyes wasn't quite there as he passed Jesper his paper, "Should be enough to get us through the checkpoint and onto the skiff."

 Jesper plucked the document from Kaz's leather-clad fingertips, eyes hardly skimming it as he pointed a finger Aleksa's way, "Bug could just charm them for us." He paused with furrowed brows, "It'd probably work, you know..." He trailed off, ignoring Aleksa's light chuckle and Kaz's eye roll as he finally read his slip of paper, "No, sorry, nobody is going to believe I'm that old. I don't look even close to thirty-three!"

 Aleksa's favourite look sprouted on Kaz's face; the look where just one side of his lips would climb higher upon his face, a slight look of mischief in his eyes as though he really was a boy of just nineteen. It was a look that always came before one of his witty comments that were sure to be at the expense of Jesper and his lavish ego.

 Kaz's fingers tapped his cane, head cocking ever so slightly, "You tell yourself that."

 A snort sounded from Aleksa, whilst a wounded huff slipped from Jespers lips as he — rather dramatically — turned from Kaz with a flourish of his new coat.

 "Don't worry, Jes," Aleksa called, her voice as sweet as fresh honey. It made Kaz look her way with that delightful look still on his features. He knew that voice, and whilst Jesper might have been filled with hope that she'd brush his ego, Kaz knew she would only elongate his own comment, "I think you could pass for thirty-two."

 The Sharpshooter threw himself onto the couch, and Inej did little more than pat his back in consolidation.

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DATE: 25/12/2022

:･ﾟ★SKIFF SCENE SOON. SKIFF SCENE SOON.

happy holidays, and to those who either don't celebrate (or hate the holidays like me) have a lovely day, i hope this makes it a little bit brighter <3

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