for @krugerevengeinej ‘s prompt: Do some angsty please kanej, like maybe nightmares?
thank you for my first official prompt!
Inej dreamt often and heavily, especially while she sailed. She dreamt of dancing across an endless tightropes over rocky waters; of knives that transformed her targets into bundles of colorful cloth and coins. After nearly three months at sea, her dreams brought her to the docks and she leapt along the pier from post to post. Tonight, the bottomless waters parted for her every step and chased her ankles as she moved from one to the next. The moon hung full and low in the air and just a few more hops away.
And then her feet touched stone and she was running.
She was running through Ketterdam’s streets as quickly as her legs allowed, gaps passing too quickly for her to turn. Lanterns smeared yellow light across her vision on her left and the head of Brekker’s cane flashed streaks silver to her right. Amorphous beasts screeched and bore close. Close enough that the sound of wet flesh slapping the stone streets behind them was enough to threaten the integrity of her stomach and propel her feet to move quicker. Whatever godless creatures followed her path were not of this earth. They were foul, angry creations Inej was sure no Grisha would dare-Kaz.
He was next to her, her speed matched with broken strides she somehow hadn’t heard before now. Though staggered, his steps never faltered and even his dark hair held true as he raced beside her. The tails of his long jacket sailed behind him like faithful wings and the familiar flutter eased her worry. Where had he come from?
She sent a curious look that he returned with a brief nod. “Inej,” he said.
Where else would the bastard of barrel be if not on the streets of Ketterdam, pursuing and exploiting for the greater krug?
A lamp post exploded above them and she ducked her head as they charged through the sparks, even as the shower grew and the alley erupt in flames as far as she could see. She risked a glance over her shoulder at the faceless forms chasing them through the cinders and fought back a shudder. One was a gangly shape made of colorful smoke and faded cloth and the other, a cluster of wet limbs the same shade of moonlight that rolled and crumbled after them all at once.
“Inej,” he said again, and she noticed the corner of his mouth was pulled tight into a wry smile when his neck turned to look over one shoulder. The demons were after him.
Inej began to ponder what level of scheming he had in store for her when a violent ripping sound erupted around them. She barely dodged the sudden swing of Kaz’s cane when a mass of crows exploded from his chest, gold threads hooked onto their talons. He screamed, clutching franticly at the strings while sprawled on the ground. The wound spread, his skin and blood and shirt turned black as he struggled to pull the gold fibers back to him. The crows flew higher and unfazed, disappearing one at a time over the roof.
“Not today,” Inej declared as she braced feet and pulled at the cords, even as they cut into her skin. The ends slipped through her fingers. His screaming went silent and she looked back down at him, one leg bent and the other straight. His cane sat propped against his shoulder, the crow’s head missing and every part of him as black as charcoal. The last of the gold floated up and out of sight.
No. She gripped the front of his jacket and heaved until she felt the hole in his chest on her elbow.
He mumbled something she didn’t quite understand but couldn’t pull her mind away from putting one foot in front of the other. There had to be only a few more blocks left and Nina - Nina would save him. He would heal and then they would– one of her knees gave away and they tumbled.
Kaz landed half underneath her and she felt the warmth of his blood on her fingertips.
Inej gripped the front of his jacket and heaved. She would get them out of this, she would–her feet slipped and she landed on her hip. Sparks seared her skin and the smell of burnt hair filled her nose. Everywhere she stepped, there was blood and fire. Is this how it happens, the blaze of glory? No. Inej sucked in a breath through her teeth. “Not today,” she growled. She took his collar into her hands again and pulled.
“Inej,” Kaz groaned again. He tried to pry her hands loose, gloves slick with blood.
She looked back at him again and dropped to her knees. His eyes were wide and his mouth was stuck open to show shiny black teeth. His teeth, she thought, even his teeth are black. She shook her head as he repeated her name. No, she pleaded the gods, not today.
She woke with a start and a lump in her throat.
Kaz Brekker stared down at her, lips pressed together tight and his brows even tighter. Even in the dark, she could see the way he studied her with a different kind of scrutiny not yet familiar to her. One hand gripped the center of his cane and the other rested on the bed with bare fingers brushing the edge of her elbow.
She sat up and met his gaze as he spoke but she couldn’t hear a thing. Inej shook her head - the sound of her heartbeat overtook his words. A dream, she thought. A nightmare. “What?” she breathed.
His fingers stretched further around her arm and he paused for a minute before swallowing. He rested the cane on the floor and brought the now free hand to hover near her shoulder. She could feel him pull on a loose strand of hair. “Inej,” he whispered, “it was a dream.” His hand settled at the crook of her neck, firm. She gaped at him as his lips tipped into what she knew was his best attempt at a comforting smile.
“Yes,” she nodded and tried to match his smile. She gently rested one hand above his and let him pull her fingers into his palm slowly. “It was a only dream.”
Kaz nodded slowly, as if unsure of what to do next but unwilling to run. “What was it about?” Her elbow settled fully in his grasp and she heard him inhale deeply through his nose.
Inej pulled her arm back until her hand rested in his and turned her cheek into the knuckles of his other hand. “Death,” she began. “Death hunting the god of greed.”