hi!! I recently discovered your blog and spent literal hours just scrolling through your kanej tag (I love them so much and I love your writing so much oh my goodness). I was wondering, if youâre not too busy, if you would consider writing another kanej headcanon? also I saw that you reblogged a red white and royal blue post and just when I thought I couldnât love you anymoređ€
AHHhhhhh thank you very much, friend!! I missed these two, so thank you so much for thinking of me and requesting. Hope you like it! Sending lots of love your way <3
A/N: You can read more of Kaz x Inej here.
2 years after the ending of crooked kingdom...
the cold blew against her face, pricking her skin like needles of ice
she tipped her hat slightly to prevent her eyes from watering
her gloved hands paused over the railing as she watched the waves roll by
sheâd just finished helping feeding the newly rescued people
all from different backgrounds, sitting on the main deck, watching the waves, faces illuminated by the shy sun and blue skies, eyes speaking of freedom at last
bowls of hot soup were distributed - it wasnât much, and though Inej had come prepared with dry foods, heating was a difficult to achieve in the middle of the seas
and for now, that was all that mattered to her
she spoke to them, pushing past language barriers easily
they touched her hand and called her saint
Inej told them she was no such thing
wrecking a slaver ship near Ravka and leaving the slavers to be food for the big sea predators was enough proof
 she thanked them, nonetheless
and they thanked her back
they were still young most of them, save for two of them
they would have a better chance at a life in Ketterdam
like the others, Inej would keep an eye on them
help them, whenever they needed
over the years, she managed to keep a couple of close, good friends in her grasp, and those friends would make sure no harm would come to these people ever again
help them get jobs, and housing
she always made a point to ask, however, if thatâs what they wanted
if they had a family, Inej would see it personally that they were returned
this group was all going to Ketterdam
their families lost to war
they were spared this time
Inej smiled as the group wrapped their shawls and coats around themselves, and moved back to the cabin downstairs for some warmth and more food
âCaptain,â her first mate, Elliana, said, nodding her head from behind Inej. âItâs awfully cold.â She was roughly Inejâs age, with hair as black as night, her equally dark eyes assessing and intuitive, showing her wisdom and loyalty. âI can warm some soup for you.â
âIâll be fine,â Inej said softly, leaning against the bow, the wood against her ribs, the wind fluttering open her coat. âThank you, El.â
Elliana stopped momentarily, cocking her head to the side. âIs something the matter?â
sheâd been with Inej long enough to know when something was bothering her
long enough to consider her more than a Captain - but a friend, an ally
Inej sighed softly, and murmured, âIâm-â
and then a presence loomed before them, and it was like an electric current running down her spine
itâs like knowing a storm is coming days beforehand
itâs like smelling a fire before it begins to spread
Kaz Brekker walked up the stairs to the main deck, a black coat hanging over his shoulders, his hair mussled, his eyes puffy
Elliana gave Inej a secret smile, nodded once, and twirled on her feet. âIf you need anything, you know where to find me.â
âYou donât nede to go,â whispered Inej, low enough that only Elliana heardÂ
Elliana looked over her shoulder - and winked
Inej turned her face away so Elliana wouldnât see the redness spreading over her cheeks
it could not be mistaken for the cold
Kaz slowly approached the railing
Inej turned to look up at him
his gloved hands poised over the railing, his eyes distant, blinking in the morning sunlight
âArenât you cold?â She asked softly
âItâs not cold,â he rasped out
would anything ever compare, would anything ever come close to what he suffered through?
being in those waters... Kaz would never find anything that cold ever again
she gave him a smile. âYou donât look green anymore.â
the corner of his mouth lifted just a little
âIâve grown to like the sea, I think.â And in a moment of madness, her heart skipped a beat when he looked at her
sheâd never expected Kaz to be able to get on a boat, nevertheless accompany her in one of her missions
after so much trial and error
âDid you?â she breathed
Kaz looked toward the sea, and then frowned slightly. âNo, thatâs a lie.â
Inej breathed a laugh. âIâm glad youâre here.â
âIâm glad Iâm here,â he admitted, looking down at his feet
as there often was with them
but their silences were never heavy
Inej knew freedom all too well now
and she knew that freedom could be found in so many places
she liked the freedom of him
the freedom she felt of being with him
knowing she would never have to change
knowing that no matter what life threw their way, they would keep swimming toward each other
no, she wouldnât spend her life trying to get Kaz to open up
because she didnât need to
broken puzzle pieces here and there that she put together
and Inej found herself doing the same
it was more than sharing a kiss, or holding hands, or having his breath near her ear
it was sharing her soul with someone she found worthy
even if that someone often felt the opposite of worthy
he was trying, everyday, for him, and for her, and that meant more to her than any touch ever could
Kaz looked over at her again, noticing her stare
there were questions in his eyes
Inej smiled knowingly, and waited
but Kaz cleared his throat, and nothing came out of his mouth for a few moments
Inej drew a little closer to him
their shoulders brushed, and that electric current ran up her spine again
Kaz murmured, âI have a preposition.â
âThat sounds like a business transaction.â
âIt often is with me.â
Kaz breathed a short laugh through his nose, and shook his head, as if he found some amusement in her words
Inejâs mouth lifted. âSo Iâm not an investment anymore?â
âYou were never an investment,â he said low, but heâd said it so many times before now
âI know,â Inej said. âSo what is it?â
âI meant to surprise you,â Kaz said, not without a little awkwardness, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his eyes straying to the sea like he couldnât look at her - or couldnât bear for her to see the vulnerability in his gaze. âBut I think Iâd rather you know.â
âNow youâve got me curious,â Inej said. âIf itâs Pekkaâs head in a pretty box, I must say I appreciate the gift, but Iâve nowhere to put it.â
he looked at her then, maybe slightly bewildered by her joke
he knew what sheâd done to Pekka after Kaz had brought her parents back to her
she spared him from death, because death was kind, and kindness would never the thing that a man like Pekka Rollins deserved
then he said, âA house. At the Geldstraat.â
Inej scoffed. âAnother one?â
âYes,â he breathed. âFor... you and I. If you want.â
that shock Inej to her very core
perhaps she should have seen it coming
theyâd shared a bed inumerous times
growing closer as the months went by
until they managed to share breath
until Inej managed to feel comforted by the beat of his heart and by his soft breathing, rather than-
he took her silence as a bad sign, for he immediately said, âItâs there, if you want it. If you donât, itâs still going to be there. I thought to tell you because-â This part cost him the most, she felt it in the strain of his voice, in the way he wrung his gloves, â-because I donât want you to feel like a bird in a cage. Itâs not supposed to be a cage. But a...â he contemplated, stopped to look behind him, to where the last refugee was chatting with one of Inejâs crew mates, her soft laughter echoing in the wind. âA haven,â he said at last. âItâs your choice.â
âYou want me to live with you.â
âI want you...â he took a deep breath, â...to choose what makes you happiest.â
she ahd her own neat little apartment
it was too big for her, sheâd decided months ago, regretting her purchase
but big enough to have her family over when they visited
other than that, she had no purpose for it
and found herself... lonely, even, at times
wishing she had someone else there to fill the silence
but not just someone else
âThe option is there, if you want,â he said at last. âThe door will always be open for you.â
the fact that heâd ask in such a way... meant more to her than words could ever describe
Inej turned to him, and Kaz lifted his eyes, a little startled
she placed her gloved hand on top of his on the railing, and said, âYou think I would find a home with you to be a cage?â
âNo,â she whispered, her thumb drawing cicles over his gloved knuckles. âNo, it wouldnât be a cage. it wouldnât feel like it.â She smiled a little. âI would like that.â
it was like the storm pulling back
the sun shining down on the flowers, healing their broken stems
Inej could watch him forever
and she prayed that she would
Kaz wrapped his fingers around hers, and gave her a tight squeeze
and dared to draw closer, until her nose was brushing the lapels of his coat, and his breath slipped over her hat
she tilted her head back, watching him. âA home.â
âI want it to be,â Kaz said lowly
he raised a hand, hesitated, then as he watched Inej tilt her head toward his touch, he gently brushed her hair away from her face, placing it neatly behind her ear
and as the wind flew by, his warmth seeping into her, Inej looked toward the horizon, where home waited
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