𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 — yours, sunshine

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 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐖 colder when Aleksa and Alina had found their way back to the group; the sun was higher in the sky, rays of blinding light bouncing from each frost-coated blade of grass that crunched beneath their shoes.

 It would be a two-day walk to Os Kervo where the unlikely group of allies would find the first boat to Ketterdam. Alina and Mal would have to find sanctuary, a place in which they could rest, recover and decide how they'd continue on.

 The Sun Summoner wouldn't back down, her plans to destroy the Fold were still fresh in her mind; she wouldn't give up and the conversation she'd had with Aleksa only ignited her passion more. Alina knew somehow that she could trust the young Shadow Summoner; she could see the conviction within her wonderful eyes; her own desire to break the wall of shadows that her own blood had conjured.

 Aleksa had easily fallen back into step with her crows as the long walk began; Mal and Alina were up front talking quietly amongst themselves, heads turning every now and then to respond to either Jesper or Inej.

 Speaking of the Sharpshooter and Wraith; the duo walked side by side, though Inej did have to hurry her legs as a restless Jesper hopped along the ground. His hands wove through the air as he spoke animatedly. He had laughed loudly at something Mal had said, and both Inej and Alina had bumped their elbows into the boy's sides.

 Aleksa smiled at the sight, and by her side, Kaz Brekker couldn't tear his eyes away from that delightful upturn of her lips; it had been a rare sight for the past few days. He hated that he'd missed it.

 He wanted to follow in Inej's footsteps, even Alina's or perhaps even try Zoya's route of witty comments until Aleksa finally broke.

 "Go ahead," Aleksa murmured, her voice flowing through the bitter air as a puff of stark and cloudy white. It twirled above her, drifting closer to the sun as she cocked her head, her eyes meeting his. She had felt his stare, his desire to fill the silence between them, "There's something on your mind."

 He should have asked her if she was alright, even if it was a stupid question he already knew the answer to; because that's what people did, wasn't it? But Kaz could never quite tear his walls down enough, he didn't want to seem as though he cared, because then he'd have to admit that he did... to himself, no less.

 "Did you consider it?" He said instead, his voice sounding like stone scraping against stone; gravel beneath a boot.

 It was harsh and cold, yet his eyes somehow deceived his tone. He wasn't asking to mock her, nor to berate her. He wanted to know if she'd ever really considered following in the Black Heretic's footsteps; if she'd truly considered leaving them... Him.

 She had. The desire that tugged on her gut and her poor little heart had tried to convince her that the only way she'd ever be loved and cared for, the only way she'd never have to be alone, was to follow her brother. But no matter how desperate she was; Aleksa couldn't do the things that he had planned.

 Aleksa was not good, nor was she completely kind... But tearing apart and commanding the shadows to swallow every otkazat'sya whole was something he'd never be able to do. That word, that group; Kaz and Inej were included. She could never do that to them.

 "I did. I wanted to follow him and I wanted what he did; for Grisha to be safe again." Aleksa admitted as she dropped her eyes from his honey-flecked gaze, "But then I thought about Inej..." She smiled at him, her pearly teeth shining in the light, her pink lips like blossoming roses and Kaz thought his heart would stutter and fail, "And about you, pretty boy. I couldn't do that to you, I wouldn't. I know that I'm not good, I'm no Saintly hero, but I know I'd never stoop so low."

 "You'd be able to, though," Kaz said. The thud of his cane was light against the soft mud they walked upon, he almost couldn't hear it over the sound of his own pattering heart. He wanted to tear it out, but then she smiled again and he wanted nothing more than to feel that thudding, "I'd hate to inflate your ego —"

 She scoffed but grinned all the same.

 "— But if you tried, I think you'd be stronger than him. The way you both summon is completely different..." He trailed off for a moment. He'd seen Heartrenders and Squallers seize hearts and control the winds, yet they always seemed to summon the same way. The General had stiff movements whilst Aleksa would lightly twitch her fingers and the shadows would come rushing, "I thought he taught you?"

 "He did, I had always hated the way he summoned. It felt rigid, uncomfortable, almost too commanding. When I summon it feels... I don't know. It feels light, like a leaf flying in the wind. You don't need to snatch it and pull it taught, you can let it flow freely, the way it's meant to... until it finds where it was always meant to be"

 Kaz stared at her blankly.

 "Oh, pretty boy," Aleksa sighed, her lashes fluttering, "Too much scheming has worn your dastardly brain out, hasn't it?"

 "You're not cut out as a poet, Aleksa."

 "Oh, please." She huffed and pulled the coat Kaz had tossed her way, tighter. His look never faltered and so she rolled her eyes, "Fine. When I was a child, I had nothing but my powers... I suppose you could say that I surrendered to them, let them be a part of me, and now I don't need to call out, I don't need to yell or scream for them to come to me, they just... Do. We work in tandem, whereas Alek —" She almost choked on the word and had to turn away to suck in a cool breath of fresh air, "Aleksander needed to scream and yell like you would at your soldiers. He had something to command, I had something that was just an extension of myself."

 The thief by her side hummed; it was an easier way to grasp it. Some Grisha seemed so in tune with their powers as though it took no thought, while others had to wave their silly arms and hands; they had to reach out with all their might to command.

 But even still, Aleksa was different. No matter how she tried to explain it away. The shadows didn't need her commands, he thought it probable that they didn't even need her twirling fingers to direct them; if she tried... he simply knew Aleksa would move them with a mere thought.

 "So," Kaz started, his hand tightening around his cane while the other was stashed away in his trouser pocket. The rush of wind caused his exposed shirt sleeves to ripple and wave, "You are coming back to Ketterdam? I thought you'd run off with the Sun Summoner seeing as you're both so determined to risk your lives to tear the Fold down."

 She had been waiting for that; for Kaz to bring up her plans to join Alina and free Ravka. He, of course, needed his shadow for whatever heist he'd soon concoct.

 "I'm coming home. To Ketterdam, the Barrel. That silly little club and my dusty little room." Aleksa felt the sting of the cool air bite at her already pink cheeks. She could only imagine how cold Kaz must have been, how much the winter was affecting his leg. Still, he'd refused when she'd offered his coat back previously, "But if the time comes, and Alina makes the call..." She paused and the others carried on without the pair, unaware they'd stopped, "I'll answer. I have to."

 He managed to keep his face placid, or he thought he had. The cold had made his nose, cheeks and lips turn numb, and so when his lips tugged higher he hadn't a clue. His only hint was the mirrored expression on Aleksa's face.

 He hated how he still couldn't force his own smile down. He hated that she did that to him. But while he hated it, he craved it. Kaz hated that too.

 "I can't leave now, can I?" She spared him from answering, "You all need me far too much."

 It was a jest, a witty comment where she'd flip her hair over her shoulder and let her laughter ring out. Kaz knew this, yet for once, he answered with sincerity, he answered without burying his thoughts first, "We do need you."

 Her smile slipped from her lips and her heart paused within her chest before beating at a rhythm far too fast. Her cheeks would have flushed, had the cold not nipped at them already. His voice had been lower than normal — how that was possible, she didn't know — but the conviction there; he wasn't entertaining her or lying to benefit.

 He had meant every word, and that made the chill evaporate.

 There it was again, the smile he'd kill for. The one that showed those divots in her cheeks, the white glint of her teeth. Her eyes crinkled at the edges and her lashes grazed her cheekbones.

 That look made him speak again, "I need you."

 "Didn't you know, pretty boy?" Aleksa whispered and Kaz had to strain his hearing to catch her words, "You have me."

 "Remember, sunshine," Aleksa spoke into Alina's hair when the young Sun Summoner scooped her into a hug, "The Crow Club. If you need me, send for me."

 The crows all watched from their seats on the boat; Kaz, while somewhat appeased by the fact that Aleksa would be returning with them, knew that one day Alina would call. Alina would send a letter filled with Saintly wishes and heroic desires and Aleksa would pack up her things and leave the Barrel behind. He didn't know if she would return.

 Alina squeezed her arms tighter before pulling back, holding the summoner, her opposite, at arm's length, "I will. We promised to do it together and we will."

 Mal stood by the Sun Summoner's side, his hands cosied away in his warm pockets. his military drab was gone in the place of roughspun peasant clothes. His face still had a smudge of dirt that Alina had tried and failed to remove.

 "Tracker," Aleksa regarded the boy, peering up at him with narrowed eyes that managed to make his skin crawl. She might not have been the General's true sister, but even so, that glare mirrored his own, "Keep her safe, or I'll have your head."

 "Coming from the one who set out to kidnap her?"

 "Well, my head's far too pretty to be lopped off."

 He chuckled and curled an arm around Alina's waist. The Grisha leaned into him as though it were second nature, "I'll look after her." He cleared his throat, "You best keep out of trouble, there's still a Fold to tear down."

 "There's no such thing as 'keeping out of trouble' in the Barrel, Oretsev, But I will stay alive."

 "Good enough." Mal shrugged and off he and Alina went. They spared the Crows a final glance and wave as they tailed further up the ship and out of sight. Aleksa could only hope that the Sun Summoner would regain her strength and seek her out when the time came.

 The Fold would be broken, it would be banished and Ravka would be reunited. That wasn't what Aleksa cared for. She wanted to fix her brother's mistakes, she wanted freedom and nothing more. It might have been selfish to only crave the freedom of using her abilities whenever she'd like but Aleksa had always longed for the shadows and the darkness.

 She wanted Grisha to have the freedom of choosing where they'd end up, rather than being forced into war and bloodshed. She wanted to free them from their cages, just as she'd done for herself.

 Aleksa rejoined her crew and slumped to the ground whilst the others perched themselves atop old and creaky crates. Kaz was still devoid of his coat, though he had settled the one Aleksa had stolen from him back in Ketterdam to his side. It was still decorated with pieces of Volcra, and black blood had crawled so far into its fibres that he doubted it'd ever be completely clean. Aleksa had scowled at him when he told her to toss it.

 Kaz tapped his fingers along the beak of his cane and spared a scowl at the Crow that chirped away happily on Jesper's shoulder. Cas always did enjoy curling its talons around Jesper's bony collar, Kaz assumed the bird thought the Zemeni boy was just an oddly shaped tree.

 He watched as Aleksa leaned back, her head finding its resting point against Inej's legs. Her eyes fluttered shut and he watched those long, dark ashes glide over her skin that shone in the sunlight.

 He'd meant what he'd said, that he needed her. It had been the first time he had allowed himself to admit it, let alone accept it. The thought — the admission — had always circulated his mind but Kaz had always chalked the idea up to nothing more than needing her for a heist; needing her power.

 But that wasn't quite the truth, for if it was, Kaz wouldn't have been watching her the way he was. He observed people's behaviour for his own advantage, but he observed her simply because she was exactly what he wanted.

 It all seemed to flood to him when he'd watched that Volcra swoop down on her. He'd thought for sure that the monster's teeth would clamp around her neck and leave nothing behind. He'd cursed his cane when it had gotten stuck. He'd cursed every Suli Saint that Inej preyed to when she'd run out of knives. He had thought he'd have to watch another person who'd somehow crawled into his heart, die.

 His brother had drifted, cold and lifeless but still, Kaz had held tight as he wept. He was certain he'd watch Aleksa meet a fate not too dissimilar. When she'd split the Volcra in two, he had almost lurched as bile crawled up his windpipe.

 It had knocked sense into him, or perhaps he'd done the opposite; he was like every fool in Ketterdam now.

 He had wanted it to leave him, to watch those feelings fade; Aleksa wouldn't want him. She was known for sitting atop the barstool in the Crow Club with cherry staining her breath and lips as men, women and anyone else approached her and tried to coax their way into her bed.

 He could never do that.

 You have me.

 The words she'd said the previous day lingered in his mind.

 Aleksa yawned, her eyes heavy as she slumped further against Inej and felt the Wraith gently pat her shoulder. She was exhausted, and though the day prior was spent in silence and wallowing in the sadness that Alexander had left behind whilst the others celebrated his departure... The silence aboard the ship was far worse.

 She couldn't drown herself in the noise or keep her rage focused on the Fold. The sea rocked the boat and the salty breeze nipped at her skin; she just wanted to be back in the Slat, to bury herself in her blankets and sleep for days on end.

 She wanted to grieve alone, because those around her would never truly understand how she could still love and miss the monster that had created the Fold. They'd never understand how very alone she felt, even amidst them all. But she was grateful they were there. Her Crows, her family... Even if Aleksander was right and she'd outlive them all.

 Jesper sighed heavily and tossed his hat to the ground. His boney fingers flicked a piece of lint from those garish trousers he wore, "So, we set out with a clear mission, a prize of a million Kruge and a new member on our crew. So... what did we learn?" He lifted a hand, one finger pointed to the sky as he counted, "People with trains are evil. You can't kidnap a human sunbeam. And maybe, just maybe, greed is a poor motivator." He grinned, "True wealth is the friends you make along the way."

 "I just might be impressed." Said Inej before Aleksa shook her head.

 The Grisha peeled an eye open, "He's talking about the Goat."

 Inej scoffed and smacked Jesper's arm whilst the sharpshooter clicked his fingers and pointed at their resident shadow maker, "Ah, you as well bug." He winked and ruffled Cas's feathers before glancing at both Kaz and Inej, "These two can sod off."

 He'd made the comment to make her smile; like a real older brother would. Aleksa could have kicked herself for moping and weeping for a man like Aleksander when she had her family right by her side. Her darling sister Inej who acted more motherly than the woman who ran about chasing after their toddlers. Jesper, her energetic older brother who dished his silly comments and jokes to make them smile.

 And Kaz...

 She looked to him and like most cases, his eyes were already on her; bitter coffee shining in the sunlight, turning into a shade more akin to whiskey. His cheekbones were alighted by the sun, and his hair — now free of that silly hat — glinted like a puddle of oil.

 She couldn't figure out what part he really played in their odd dynamic, but she did know exactly the role she wanted him to play. It just wasn't attainable.

 Aleksa couldn't be bothered with more sour thoughts, so instead, she tossed her thief a familiar wink and allowed her eyes to flutter shut once more. She could feel the fatigue that had been building in her bones creep up on her, only to wake from her light dozing at the sound of an enchanting voice.

 "Excuse me?" The woman called, and as Aleksa cracked a tired eye open, she assessed her.

 A glorious bundle of brunette hair was twisted at the back of her head, her lips were a wonderful rose and the eyelashes surrounding her forest-green iris' fluttered like butterfly wings. Has Aleksa still been interested in her nightly endeavours, she just might have tested her charm on the young woman.

 They waited for Kaz to answer, and Aleksa could recall hearing people gossip and talk of the dead Sun Saint. Of course they would. She was positively sure they'd find stalls selling pieces of Sankta Alina when they returned to Ketterdam. Perhaps Aleksa could but her toe and toss it at Mal when they'd next meet, even Kaz if he was in one of his moods.

 "I don't know." Was all he said, following through with the deal he'd made.

 "What's your name, love?" Aleksa cooed, her voice raspy as she yawned once more.

 The woman smiled gently as she watched the boy with sharp features twist his gaze to the girl lazing against the Suli girl's legs. She could recognise that look anywhere, "Nina." She spoke.

 "Aleksa." The Shadow Summoner supplied back, and in true Aleksa fashion she slipped her eyes closed again and uttered the words, "You look wonderful, Nina."

 Kaz scoffed, Jesper had cackled, Inej smiled and Nina had ducked her head with a delightful smile tugging at her rose-coloured lips. Aleksa merely hummed as she let the jostle of the waves and salty sea air pull her into sleep.

 Things had been normal, or at least as normal as things could have been in Ketterdam. Perhaps Dreesen was biding his time. Maybe Pekka was concocting a ruse to destroy Kaz. But for now, things were quiet.

 Heleen hadn't refused to give Kaz his shares of the Crow Club back, not when she'd seen the glistening gold that Kaz had plucked from his pocket. She'd pried it from him with greedy hands, her free hand slicing through the air in a fleeting wave, "We return to our previous deal..." She had looked up with those yellowing eyes of hers, "You, however, owe extra installments for the Lynx's indenture... I think six more would suffice, yes?"

 Kaz hadn't been in the position to refuse, and though Aleksa had been more than ready to clamber over the table and throttle the woman herself, Inej had gripped her hand and said, "I made my choice."

 That had been the end of the matter.

 It would have been a lie to say that Per Haskell was happy upon their return, though Aleksa doubted the man could ever really be happy. His beard had been stained with kvas and his breath smelt like the bottom of a bottle. He'd shaken his fist at Kaz and demanded an explanation for his almost empty-handed return.

 So, to say things were somewhat smooth would have been an apt description... Until five weeks had gone by.

 Aleksa had been perched on Kaz's chair, her hair sprawled over the table as she glared down at the papers before her. A blot of ink had fallen and stained the page. The room had smelt like cherry, or perhaps that had just been the remnants of a drink on her tongue.

 Kaz had been pottering about, papers in hand and free hairs falling over his forehead. He had been mumbling to himself, something he seldom did in another's presence.

 Then a knock had sounded at the door.

 Kaz had called their visitor inside with a hard voice, and within a beat, Big Bolliger had scurried inside with a letter in hand.

 Both Grisha and Bastard thought the letter would be for Kaz; for everyone that Aleksa knew resided in the Slat... That wasn't the case.

 Big Bol had crept to the desk and pushed the letter towards Aleksa who stared at the pale blue seal with utter confusion; the Lanstov double eagle was embedded within the wax.

 "Get out." Kaz snapped at Bolliger, drowning out Aleksa's meek words of thanks for the oversized man. Kaz remained where he was, watching with bated breath as Aleksa tore at the contents, plucking its contents out with two fingers.

 She had unfurled the letter and immediately tossed the envelope aside as her cerulean eyes scanned the contents. Her shoulders slumped, her lips had parted and her eyes had bubbled with tears.

 When she dropped the letter, Kaz reached for it, pausing as his leather-bound fingers skimmed the edges. He waited for her nod, and then he brought it to his face;

Aleksa,

I'm not sure if word has reached you yet that I'm back at the Little Palace, but I'm afraid there are some things you need to know as to how I found my way back to this side of the Fold.

He's alive.

Aleksander is still alive.

He survived the Fold and the Volcra with some kind of power I've never seen before. He created monsters from the shadows; he controlled them.

He found myself and Mal by following a trail we'd foolishly left behind. With his monsters obeying every one of his commands and the Grisha that still follow him in the hope of salvation, he took us both.

Whatever power he possesses comes at a cost; his face... Aleksa his face was covered in black scars. But these monsters... they feed on him. Unlike the use of our powers where they make us stronger, this takes something from him. They have a limited reach.

He called the monsters 'nichevo'ya'; the nothings. They can't be destroyed by the simple light I summon... I know what you did back on the skiff, how you reached inside the Volcra and tore it apart, you might be our only hope against those things.

Mal and I managed to escape from him with the help of a 'privateer' called Sturmhond; he took us to the Palace and now with the help of Prince Nikolai, the King has — begrudgingly — given me his blessing to command the Second Army but our numbers are so few.

Most Grisha have joined him, be it out of fear or because they truly believe in his promise of freedom.

I know this is a lot to ask of you, Aleksa, and I promise if I had any other choice I wouldn't have; but we need you on our side. I know we promised to tear the Fold down together, and I know I never asked for you to fight a war with me, especially against him, but I have nobody else to turn to.

I have no idea how to run an army, or how to rally our forces. I have no idea if I'll ever be strong enough to defeat him and save our people.

I understand that this will expose you to the world after you've tried so hard to keep yourself safe and hidden, but I know there is no possible outcome for us without you. So please use the documents and ticket I've, well, Prince Nikolai has provided to meet with us.

All of the information you need is on there; meet with us, discuss the situation, and then decide. But please give us a chance.

Yours,

sunshine.

 Kaz had lifted his eyes and stood in silence for a moment as he watched Aleksa's chest heave. She was terrified and angry and so very sad.

 The letter asked too much, and he had wanted to toss it into a fire and watch as it burnt into ashes. He didn't. He handed the letter back to her and watched as her trembling fingertips ran over the documents the Prince and the Sun Summoner had provided for her.

 "Will you go?" He said, and his voice had sounded sour, bitter.

 Aleksa looked up, she could barely see him through the haze of tears that had gathered in her eyes. It had been too much. Aleksander was alive. Aleksander had captured Alina and Mal. He had expanded his power... and he threatened to drown the world in it.

 She hadn't wanted to say yes, but how could she have possibly said no?

 Aleksa nodded and the movement was enough for tears to spill onto her cheeks. They trailed down her face, gathering at the line of her jaw before dropping through the air and onto the letter in her shaking hands.

 "Don't." Kaz said. He had almost pleaded and begged. His heart had hammered in his chest, his beautifully bitter eyes wide. He might have fallen to his sore knees if he knew it would have kept her in Ketterdam.

 But she had to go, and they both knew it.

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DATE: 31/01/2023

:･ﾟ★ so maybe that ended with a cliffhanger? i hope you caught the little changes in Kaz's dailogue on the boat; he doesn't say that he believes Alina is a Saint because... Kaz would literally never do that? even for Inej he didn't in the books? but mainly because while even if he said it for inej in the show, Aleksa doesn't believe in saints either, so he has no influence ;)

even though it was mentioned in the very first chap, i want to remind all of you that this story spans shadow and bone s1 (netflix), six of crows, and crooked kingdom 

BUT there will be flashbacks pertaining to siege and storm, and ruin and rising. i just find those books so long and grating especially since a majority doesn't even pertain to aleksa. there will be flashbacks containing all of the bigger and more interesting events. i promise this way is far better than including the full books <3

(i may even include some oneshots of the things not included, if that's something y'all want by the time we finish crooked kingdom)

but any, thank you all so much for the support you've continuously shown in this first act, and i hope you're excited for the next. (I'm already writing it) I'm not sure when it'll be posted, I'm aiming for april/may time... but things might change and it could come sooner <3

please remember to leave feedback & comments. i require a certain number of comments before i publish the next update. please give me a follow to keep updated and receive sneak peeks! do not leave 'update' comments, you will be muted.