Hi Lisa. I hope you’re well. Can I request a Kaz x female reader one-shot? Reader and Kaz were childhood friends and were recruited by Pekka at the same time. When they reached their teen years, they started dating. During the events of the show, they’re in an established long-term relationship. She’s the only one his touch aversion doesn’t apply to. She’s not a grisha, but she knows how to fight. Kaz doesn’t show affection in public because he has a reputation to uphold
'Setting Traps, Taking Hands' - Kaz Brekker x Reader
masterlist
It’s dark out when Kaz Brekker finally comes in from the rain.
He’s been out late doing you don’t know what; scheming, maybe, plotting somewhere in the city, stalking some poor fool who’ll be dead or penniless before the week is up. Most of the rain has shook itself from his coat by the time he makes his way up the twisting nest of stairs of the Slat, but a few beads linger on the edges, falling from their distended perch on his hemline as he strides brusquely into his office and shuts the door behind him.
It’s not until the coat is off and hung up, the hat cast aside, and the weight of his body and troubles jointly planted on the chair at his desk does Kaz finally start to shed some of that outer armor. You can watch his shoulders relax microscopically and the furrow in his brow consider unfolding, the longer he sits without an audience.
Well, not counting you. Kaz doesn’t say anything when he comes inside his office, barely acknowledges your presence in the slightest, but his eyes slide slowly up to you at last, once he’s had a moment to breathe.
You take this as your cue and glance over from your chair by the window. “Long day?”
“Neverending,” Kaz affirms, but his gaze isn’t as hard as it was before. It fastens on you intently, but not pressingly. You can feel him mentally cataloging every detail of your appearance, gauging the state of things from the rumple of your clothes, the droop of your collar.
“I’ve been fine,” you assure him, and he leans back slightly in his chair, mollified, even if his gaze doesn’t leave you yet. “Just a bit worn out, that’s all.”
“Who isn’t?” Kaz asks darkly. Finally, he tears his eyes from you long enough to pull his stack of ledgers from a locked drawer in his desk. They sit on the scuffed wood in front of him, demanding his time and careful review as they always do.
Usually, Kaz is content to sink himself into the numbers and favors collected for hours, but this evening, he hesitates. Instead, his hands fold, and he picks idly at the stitching of the leather gloves cloaking his fingers.
“Did you go to the docks like I asked?” He says without preamble.
You nod. Inej had heard whispers of new ships coming in from Ravka of all places, bearing either gifts or guests worth thrice their weight in kruge. News like that required investigation, so Kaz had sent the person he knew wouldn’t mess it up; you.
“Two ships. The first one is men, rich sons of high-level military commanders escaping the front lines. They’re here to keep watch over the family fortunes while their fathers siphon funds from the towns they protect. We’ll need to watch the markets for a bit, they’ll be either reactivating old accounts or setting up new ones to handle this kind of money.”
Kaz leans forward, intrigued. “And the second ship?”
You allow yourself a faint smile. “Goods from back home. Luxury items.”
Kaz huffs a quiet laugh. “They were stupid enough to bring that over here?”
“No one’s supposed to know about it,” you smirk. “On the papers, it just says they’re ferrying some old farmers’ tools and assorted merchandise from a bankrupt business. Last time I checked, though, rusting equipment and excess product didn’t require armed guards that never left the ship. I think they’ve even got a few Grisha on board.”
Kaz arches a dark brow. “A thing like that will require a visit. It’s important to keep in touch ith one’s new neighbors, you know.”
You grin. “I do.”
You can sense the gears of Kaz’s brain clicking into place, scheming up a plan to liberate the ships of their precious cargo before the other gangs of the Barrel get a chance. The new arrivals to Ketterdam have been astonishingly tight-lipped; you assume they’ve been paying out tremendous amounts of bribes to keep their arrival a secret. That only elevates the reward of getting a job like this right. The more someone’s willing to pay to cover their tracks, the bigger the bank they’re trying to hide.
It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve set on a job like this with Kaz. He’s notorious for quick getaways and cut purses, and the legend doesn’t disappoint. There’s a reason no one seems able to get rid of the dark-handed thief with the cane; despite the apparent physical weakness, he’s too damn good at what he does. Attempt to bury him and he’ll have your whole order in coffins; steal from him, and it’s your coffers that will run dry before a fortnight is up. Kaz is the sharpest thorn in Ketterdam’s whole garden of rogues. When he sets his mind to something, no matter who else is in the ring, he ends up winning.
Part of that winning comes from his mind, the unique ability to tell when something is a lost cause or a done deal, or whether something matters so much that he’ll take it on anyway, odds be damned. He does this for his friends, his Crows. He’s done it for you.
That’s why you’re able to look at him now and know instinctively that Kaz is going to take this job on. It’s why you’re even able to be here at all, lounging in your seat by the window, watching the rain streak by the dark streets outside when so many desperate thieves in this city would give their left arm for Kaz to so much as know their names. Kaz knows much more than your name, he knows everything about you. And you, unlike most people in the Barrel, know quite a lot about him.
“We’ll need to move on the ships soon,” Kaz mutters, “Before they decide to take their valuables to a less frequently robbed harbor.”
You nod. “Who’s in on the job?”
Kaz taps his fingers reflexively on the table before him. “The usual seven. You, Inej, Jesper. Wylan and Nina and Matthias for good measure. We shouldn’t need anyone else.”
You allow yourself a small smile. “When do we?”
Kaz meets your eyes; something almost like a half smile quirks his lips. “It’s important to keep one’s inner circle narrow, Y/N. All it takes is one stranger poking around where they shouldn’t for your whole operation to be sold out.”
“I know,” you agree solemnly, “That’s why I only tell you my secrets, except when Inej overhears.”
“You should be able to tell when she’s there or isn’t,” Kaz chastises, though his tone is light. “You’ve known her long enough.”
This is true. “I can tell, most of the time,” you admit. “For instance, she isn’t here right now.”
Kaz doesn’t have to glance at the window to agree with you. “No, she’s downstairs with the rest, probably keeping an eye on things. It’s quite busy down there. All the rats have come in to seek shelter from the storm.”
As if on cue, a large crashing sound bursts forth downstairs, echoing up the twisting staircase to reach your door. The muffled whispers of conversation halt for a moment, then pick up again, twice as loud as before.
You shoot Kaz a glance. “Somehow, I don’t think Inej was responsible for that.”
Kaz’s lips purse. “Would you take a look? I wouldn’t want any lingering damage. We run a clean house.”
Clean isn’t the word you’d describe to use anything in the Barrel, let alone the base office of one of Ketterdam’s most dangerous gangs, but you know what he means. You pull yourself up and out of your comfortable chair, heading quietly to the door to check out the disturbance. Although he’d asked you to go, Kaz still looks at you as you walk past, his eyes silent but unshakable.
You pause at the door, somehow unable to leave without saying something to address the quiet look on his face. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
“I know,” Kaz says gruffly, and turns resolutely to his papers.
You slip from his office, closing the door securely behind you before beginning the long trek down the stairs. You must have made this climb a thousand times in your life, and know the traits of this staircase by heart. There are the loose screws, the squeaking steps, the crack in one of the slats from where Kaz slammed the end of his cane against it on a particularly troublesome night. Everything here, you know. Everything here, you’ve already seen.
After all, you’ve been in this place about as long as Kaz. You met him when you were quite young, freshly betrayed by a man named Callum Nelles and desperate for payback. You had been searching the Barrel for any sign of the foul man who’d taken your labor in promise of big rewards that had never come. After days of begging for information on how to locate the man, you’d met Kaz, who had revealed Callum actually went by a different name, Pekka Rollins, and the scheme he’d run on you was one he’d run many times before.
Kaz had offered you a chance to get revenge on Pekka in exchange for you enlisting in his gang. You’d been wary to trust anyone in the Barrel after how easy it had been for Pekka to trick you the first time, but ultimately your desire to get Rollins back won out and you agreed to Kaz’s proposal. You’d been one of his first hires, chosen because he knew he could rely on your sentiments towards Pekka Rollins to run the same way as his. As time went on, it became apparent that the two of you had similar viewpoints not just on Pekka but everything; the way the Barrel gangs interacted with each other, how to build your profits and empire, and how to tell at a glance if a member of the Dregs would sell you out or watch your back. People joked that the two of you were two sides of the same coin, how even when separated from each other you would make the exact same decisions time and time again.
That was years ago. Now, you and Kaz– you’re different than you were at the start, more than friends, something sacred that you’ve barely dared to name. At times, it feels as if being bold enough to label Kaz your boyfriend would be taunting the gods themselves, and you’ve accumulated enough curses and ill will from the people you’ve tricked for you to be wary of risks. Everyone close to you understands what’s going on, why Kaz lets you be close and no one else. That’s enough for you.
All of this you turn over in your head as you head down the creaking stairs of the Slat to the ground floor, where, true to Kaz’s prediction, you find many Dregs all crammed together, shaking rain from their hair or boots as they continue to drift inside. You search the crowd until you find Inej and Jesper talking to someone in a corner of the room, and head their way.
“What’s the ruckus?” You ask when you reach them.
Jesper groans. “This idiot had a bit too much to drink at the Crow Club and tripped over a table. Broke its leg in the middle of a rather spectacular fall.”
You turn from Jesper to give the offending Dreg a stony look. You’ve known this man, Bas Koning, for a few months now, one of the relatively newer hires. He’s a bit of a loose cannon, but both you and Kaz were under the impression that his other skills would make up for it. You suppose only time will tell if you were right. To his right, pieces of a small end table litter the ground, the cause of the crashing sound you’d heard from upstairs.
“That true, Bas?” You ask.
Bas, currently sitting on the ground nursing a sore leg from his fall, nods gloomily. “‘S my mistake, Y/N. Won’t happen again.”
Inej and Jesper turn to you in unison, waiting for your judgment. You represent Kaz here, you set the line for how much a new hire can get away with in the sanctity of the Slat. “Of course it won’t happen again,” you tell Bas, not exactly soothingly but with a very even tone, “You’re going to go buy us a new table to make up for it, and clean up this mess while you’re at it.”
Bas casts a despairing look at the door. “Right now? Can I wait until the rain slows down?”
Your eyes flash. “That wasn’t a question, Bas.”
You keep your words simple, but even Bas can gauge your sharp tone, and he quickly scrambles to his feet. “Of course, Y/N. I’m on it.”
“I appreciate that,” you say, smiling coldly, which frightens Bas even more than the risk of your outright anger, and he hurries off to do your bidding.
Jesper snorts. “Look at him run. You’ve terrified him.”
Inej nods. “Well played, Y/N.”
You lift a shoulder. “We can’t keep sloppy people this close without keeping them in check every now and again. Besides, that table has been on its last legs for months now. At least now we get new furniture out of the bargain.”
Jesper snorts. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you put that table close to the door on purpose so something like this would happen.”
You tilt your head to the side, the picture of innocence. “Good thing you know better, then, right, Jesper?”
His mouth drops open in realization at the same time that Inej lets out a quiet laugh. “She’s been waiting for an opportunity like this for weeks now. All it takes is one Dreg off their balance and they’d cause a scene. Then you know who’s a liability. Like I said, well played.”
“Thank you, Inej,” you say, smiling. “I’m glad you picked up on it.”
Jesper shakes his head in disbelief. “You people with your schemes. It’s exhausting to keep up with. Say,” he says, brightening up again, “How about you stay down here with us for a bit, have a drink or two? It’s positively merry down here with everyone together.”
It’s a tempting offer. The atmosphere down on the ground floor of the Slat is jubilant, celebrating another season of growing profits with minimal losses. You think about the friends around you right now, the temptation of a good drink and a night of laughter, versus the quiet, dark office upstairs, with a boy who’s more machination than man. For most, the choice is obvious, and you find that it is for you, too.
Kaz looks up when you slip inside the office. “You came back,” he says.
“I did,” you return. “I had places I wanted to be.”
The ghost of a satisfied smile slips across his face. You go to return to your seat, but you realize that your chair has moved from the window to right beside Kaz’s desk. He keeps his eyes on the ledgers in front of him, a study of ignorance on this change, but you smile anyway and sit down next to him. Kaz relaxes fractionally when you don’t comment on the relocation, his shoulders losing their pinched height.
“Who triggered your little trap downstairs?” He asks.
“Bas,” you answer. “I’ve sent him out to fetch us a new table.”
Kaz nods. “As I suspected. He’s getting a touch wild nowadays. Thinks that just because he’s with us, he can do anything.”
“I know,” you say. “That’s why I’ve sent someone to follow him. Hopefully, he goes straight to pick up a new piece and comes back right away, but if he deviates, we’ll know.”
Kaz’s eyes flick to you. “Clever.”
You lift a shoulder. “I try.”
“You succeed,” Kaz says. Anyone else in the Dregs would be stunned to hear Dirtyhands of all people give out a compliment so easily, but they’ve never known the two of you half as well as they think, anyways.
Kaz leans back in his seat, then seems to make up his mind and carefully pulls off his gloves, one at a time, depositing them close by on his desk just in case. One hand returns to the pen he’s been using to track his progress through the ledgers, but the other drifts towards you, coming to a stop just barely brushing your hand. He pauses for a moment, taking a raggedy breath as if to steady himself, then flexes his hand so his fingers are just resting on yours. He’s tense at first, but relaxes in the end, and as he goes back to his ledgers, the corners of his mouth prick up just a little. You don’t know that anyone else in the Barrel has seen Kaz like this, quiet and peaceful. It’s a sight you cherish, tonight and on many nights to come. Outside, the rain lashes the windows, but the two of you talk into the night, and all is well in the Slat.
hi hi hi!!! i saw that you were open to shadow and bone requests and i was wondering if you’d be willing to write a nikolai lantsov imagine? just imagine princess!reader being forced into an arranged marriage with the second son of the king of ravka, and instead of going through with it she runs away. she then stumbles upon a particularly charming privateer who just so manages to win over her heart……
Enchanted
Request: hi hi hi!!! i saw that you were open to shadow and bone requests and i was wondering if you’d be willing to write a nikolai lantsov imagine? just imagine princess!reader being forced into an arranged marriage with the second son of the king of ravka, and instead of going through with it she runs away. she then stumbles upon a particularly charming privateer who just so manages to win over her heart…
and: btw I saw your post about sab season 2 and i would like to request something with nikolai. i dont really have any ideas but i love that blonde boy so anything that you'll write with him is going to make me happy- but if its angst please im begging for a happy ending im already depressed because im reading rules of wolves
and: omg omg omg enchanted x nikolai sounds so perfect 😭 literally written for him
Hi! I absolutely adore these requests, thank you for sending them in. And sorry for the long wait, I’ve been a bit busy. And please bear with me while I try and get the hang of writing for Nikolai, this is only my second time. Also, this request was combined with two others, I hope that’s alright, and sorry for anyone who’s request was altered a little bit to fit this story. I’m happy to accept another request if you don’t like this one. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!
(Warnings: arranged marriage, swearing, very very brief angst, very vague suggestive content, drinking, let me know if i missed anything)
—
You had nearly begged on your knees when you found out you were to be wed, pleading with your parents’ advisors.
You were no fool. You knew that one day you’d have to marry, and you were prepared to do your duty. A Princess isn’t awarded the luxury of a choice, and you knew any match that was made probably wouldn’t be from a place of love. But you never thought your parents would be prepared to ship you off to a man none of you had ever even laid eyes on, and that’s including the advisors.
A second son, and a rumored bastard at that. It was all happening too fast, and you weren’t having an easy time processing it.
“You can’t send me! We already have an alliance with Ravka, why send me still?”
One of the men had stood, trying to ease you. “You must go, Princess. We may have an alliance, but our forces need to be strengthened. Prince Vasily is already spoken for. Marrying you to Prince Nikolai is the fastest way.”
“I am told he is charming, if it is any consolation,” another man said, though his voice was firmer. “It is time, Princess, for you to do your duty. You will marry.”
You finally relented, your fate beginning to set in. “That’s it, then. When will I be expected to leave?”
There was a moment of silence, and an awkward shuffling of feet as the advisors stood. And then one of the men spoke, sending dread running through you like ice in your veins.
“Your arrival is set for the end of the week. The King and Queen are expecting you.”
—
The journey passed far quicker than you had anticipated. A trip like that should have been grueling, yet each moment felt more fleeting than the last. By the time you arrived on Ravkan soil, you would practically be theirs. Upon your arrival, you were escorted to the Great Hall to meet the King and Queen.
“Moi tsar,” you curtsied, keeping your eyes low. “Moi tsaritsa. It is an honor.”
The words tasted sour on your tongue, but you spoke them anyway. The King and Queen were not known to be the kindest of people, and you’d rather spend your time in a foreign country on the good side of the sovereign.
“Princess,” the King greeted as he stood, his eyes racking your body. “You are as beautiful as they say. My son will be pleased. Unfortunately, your arrival has preceded his. He attended a meeting with our generals, and is set to arrive in a few days. The wedding will be in a fortnight. Until then, please enjoy our hospitality. I look forward to this new found alliance between our great countries.”
“As do I,” you said, forcing a smile.
—
As the days passed, you grew more uneasy. The weight of your duties were beginning to drag you down, and you didn’t know if you could bear the burden any longer.
Nikolai had yet to return to court, but with his inevitable arrival looming, it became harder to face each day. You were practically alone in the castle, having yet to make any friends. And you doubted the arrival of a Prince—the subject of scandalous rumors—would do anything to lessen the loneliness and fear you felt every night.
One evening, the pressure became too great.
Despite your duties, and the anger you knew both countries would feel towards you, you fled. It was a rash decision, and a stupid one at that. But it was the only option that could give you your freedom, so you took it.
It led you all the way down to the harbor, which you briskly made your way to with little more than the clothes on your back.
Your window of opportunity was closing, and you took it. In mere hours, someone would notice you were missing from your room. Guards would be sent all throughout the palace, and they’d track you down if you weren’t quick enough. One way or another, you would marry the second Prince of Ravka. You’d be forced to. And although the thought of being alone in an open country you knew next to nothing about terrified you, it was less terrifying than the thought of being trapped in that castle forever.
So you went. Fled, more accurately. All the way to the harbor, in nothing but a dress and cloak, with a bag of coins hidden in your skirts.
As you approached the harbor, the shout of guards could be heard in the distance. “Spread out! She cannot have gone far.”
The Kingsguard.
You felt your chest tighten as you quickened your pace, pulling your hood over your head. You rushed as inconspicuously as you could, clambering to get as far from the palace as possible. Suddenly, you felt a hand on your wrist.
“What’s the rush for, My Lady? You’re going to hurt yourself running in those shoes,” the woman said, her brows furrowing.
You stopped in your tracks to take her in, realizing she was standing next to a much larger man. She had axes sheathed at her waist, and a confused but intrigued grin.
“Please, excuse me—” You stuttered out, trying to pull away.
“There’s no need to be afraid,” the man said, in a tone much gentler than his appearance. “We mean you no harm. What are you running from?”
“I need to get away from here, and fast,” you pleaded, deciding to trust these people who stopped you.
“That wasn’t an answer to our question,” the woman said, easing her grip.
You let out a frustrated sigh, turning to look over your shoulder before turning back. “Please, I’ll pay you whatever you want. Just let me go. I have to get out of here, and quickly.”
The woman shared a glance with the man, and for a minute, you were beginning to think you had been found out. They somehow recognized you, and would know that the castle guards were looking for you. If that was true, the pair didn’t show it, looking back at you.
“We have a ship,” the man finally said, gesturing behind him. “And a captain. A name you’d perhaps recognize. Sturmhond.”
Sturmhond, you thought to yourself. The richest pirate on the True Sea? What was he doing in a port in Ravka? You shook your head, having no time for questions.
“Would he grant me safe passage? I can pay, I have the means. Please, I need to know if this is my only option of getting out of here. I haven’t done anything illegal, I promise. I just need to go.”
The woman laughed, her relaxed disposition beginning to ease you. “Illegal would have been more fun. Don’t worry, Princess. We’ll take you to our captain. You’ll be safe with us.”
Your eyes widened, and you stepped back to retreat, when the man raised his hands in surrender.
“We mean you no harm, Princess. Clearly, you’re in trouble, and we have the means to get you away from the palace.”
“Trust me,” the woman said, offering you her hand. “We have no wish to return to the palace.. I’m sure our captain isn’t too keen, either.”
You looked between the ship and back at the castle uneasily, when you heard another shout coming from the guards marching through the village. You turned towards the man and woman, who you just realized looked very similar. Siblings, perhaps, who had just gotten back from a journey at sea.
“Sturmhond is quite the character, but he’s a good man. You have my word,” the man said.
“Alright,” you said, making your decision as you took the woman’s hand. “I’ll go. Thank you, uh…”
You trailed off, making the man smile. He led you towards a nearby ship, helping you climb your way onto it.
“I’m Tolya, and that’s my sister Tamar. We’re part of Sturmhond’s crew. Come along, he’ll want to meet you.”
They quickly led you aboard a ship, ushering the crew to cast off. The crew looked around with confused faces, but listened anyway. As the ship slowly left the harbor, you were led downstairs to the cabins below.
“Captain,” Tamar called, knocking on the first doorway below deck, before opening the door herself.
“Do you want to tell me why my ship is moving away from the dock?” Sturmhond asked without turning around, shuffling through his cabin as he pulled on his coat.
You cleared your throat. “That would be because of me, I think.”
Sturmhond turned around at the sound of your voice, his eyes widening as he took you in. “I don’t believe it. Good evening, Princess. I do hope you are well. Tamar and Tolya have treated you kindly, I expect?”
You shrunk under his gaze, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Is my title that easy to spot? You’re the second to figure it out, is it something I’m doing?”
“Tamar has a keen eye,” Sturmond shrugged, grinning. “But you’re also wearing an evening gown fit for court, and the jewels around your neck could buy a small country. Those things aren’t exactly subtle, darling. Even with that cloak.”
You nodded, still nervous but relaxing with his calm demeanor. “I was told you could grant me passage away from the palace? I can pay, I don’t expect you to do this out of the kindness of your heart. But seeing as we’ve already left the harbor, I don’t think you have any other option but to take me with you. Unless you intend on throwing me overboard into the bay, although I’ll thank you kindly not to do that.”
“In that dress? You’d sink to the bottom, darling. There’s no need to worry, Princess. You’ll stay dry on deck, that I can assure you,” he chuckled, motioning for you to sit.
“We’ll inform the crew our trip has been extended,” Tamar announced, pulling Tolya behind her to leave the cabin.
You sat in the chair on the other side of Sturmhond’s desk, and he sat across from you. He offered you a kind smile, one that surprised you. You had heard plenty about the infamous privateer. You hadn’t expected him to be this young and handsome. His reputation matched that of an old tycoon, not of what appeared to be an ex soldier. He looked at you with curiosity, motioning for you to speak.
“So, would you like to explain to me why my ship is sailing back out to sea? Not that I’m upset or anything, I was dreading my return to Ravka myself. But as I understand it, you were asked to come to Ravka to strengthen a political alliance—”
“And how would you know about that?” You interrupted, raising a brow.
He smiled, shrugging. “I have my ways. It pays to know lots of things about lots of things. Including which Princesses are being married off to far away royalty.”
“Do you know him?” You asked, your voice a little unstable. “The Prince, I mean. Nikolai. I could hardly find anyone who knew him, and any knowledge of him was limited. I went into this alliance blind, thanks to my parents and advisors.”
Sturmhond’s grin widened as he nodded. “I do know him, yes. We were briefly acquainted some time ago.”
“And?”
“He’s alright,” Sturmhond laughed, leaning back in his seat. “Dashingly handsome. A bit cocky for my taste, perhaps a little spoiled, but what royalty isn’t, right? No offense.”
You smiled, shaking your head. “None taken.”
“I suppose you’re lucky in that you’re set to marry him, and not the Crown Prince. Vasily is—how should I put this—well…”
“A bastard?” You finished, making Sturmhond chuckle, nodding.
“He is, yes. Nikolai is, in another manner of speaking, the same as well. Is that why you’re running? You don’t want to risk your reputation on a second son who may not even be the second son?”
Sturmhond looked at you through curious eyes, although there was a little apprehension in them. A little vulnerability that you didn’t quite know what to make of. You shook your head, inadvertently easing his thoughts.
“It’s just rumors, Sturmhond. Whether there is any truth to them, I don’t know, and I don’t care. History records names, not blood. A true Lantsov or not, it doesn’t matter to me. It’s not Nikolai’s fault who his true parents are, and he shouldn’t have to bear the consequences of their actions. All that matters to my parents is what he means for my country. His reputation doesn’t affect that.”
“And what matters to you?” Sturmhond asked, his eyes softening. “Your secrets are safe with me, and I promise to not throw you overboard for whatever your answers are. Why are you running, Princess?”
You sat in silence for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh. Sturmhond politely waisted for you to start, nodding encouragingly for you to speak.
You fiddled with your hands in your lap nervously. “Nikolai’s blood doesn’t matter to me, truly. All that really matters is that he has a kind heart, and he makes living at Ravkan court for the rest of my life more bearable.”
Sturmhond nodded as he listened intently. You continued.
“From what I hear, he’s a perfectly good man. Compared to my list of options, he was probably the best I could have hoped for.”
“Was? Or is? Do you intend on running forever? Seems like a waste of time in what is already a fleeting existence, Princess,” he said quietly.
“I know,” you nodded, growing frustrated. “I don’t know why I did it. I just thought about being alone at court for the rest of my life, and even the promise of a semi decent Prince wasn’t enough to ease my fears. I just wanted control over my own life for once, you know? My own freedom. It was a rash decision, I admit. But it seems to be working well in my favor so far.”
Sturmhond nodded, standing up from his desk to pour two glasses of whiskey. You downed yours the second he placed it in front of you, deciding it was better to let the second one sit when he refilled your glass.
“And Nikolai? What are his thoughts on the matter?”
You shrugged, fiddling with the glass. “I don’t know. He hasn’t been at court since I arrived. I have yet to meet him. Although, once he hears of me running, I’m sure any first impressions he could have had of me are ruined.”
“I don’t know about that.”
You raised a brow, coaxing him to continue. “Really? Why is that?”
“From what I hear, Nikolai isn’t really one for court, either,” he started, shrugging. “He runs when he gets the chance, too. Why do you think he’s away from court so often?”
You pondered the thought for a minute. “I don’t know. I always assumed his duties took him elsewhere. He’s not the Crown Prince, so he doesn’t need to remain in the palace. He serves in the First Army, doesn’t he?”
Sturmhond nodded, grinning. “He does. Or, to put it more accurately, he did. I think he just loiters around neighboring countries until his Mother forces him to come home and make an appearance now.”
You chuckled, letting out a deep sigh. “Isn’t that a treat? Coming home for the first time in months, only to find out your bride to be has run away.”
“With a face like that, I doubt he’ll care much about anything once he sees you.”
You felt the heat creep to your cheeks at his words, setting your eyes to your lap to avoid Sturmhond’s heavy gaze. You could practically hear the smirk in his voice as he breathed out a laugh.
“Besides, I’m told the Prince isn’t expected back at court for a few more days. Plenty of time for you to decide whether or not you want me to turn this ship around. Who would I be to deny a Princess?”
You smiled, your voice soft. “And if I don’t want to turn around?”
“Well, you’re paying me. I don’t really care either way, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” he said, grinning as he topped your glass off. “But just between you and me, I’d do it for free. Anything for a pretty face like that. Just don’t go telling everyone I said that, I have a reputation to maintain.”
You laughed, nodding. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
—
You spent the next few days on the ship, feeling more and more at ease the further you made it from Ravkan shores.
At night, you longed for home.
Not for you parents, or any of their advisors. But for your own bed—not on a constantly rocking ship—and the familiar trill of the birds outside your window on dewy mornings. For the library in the East Wing people seemed to forget was even there, and the soup the cooks would make when a chill was in the air. For the gardens midmorning where you could escape to when you wanted to avoid all the guards constantly watching you.
Sturmhond did a good job at keeping you distracted from saddening thoughts, though. It was sweet of him, really. Making sure you had someone with you during the day, taking all his meals with you in the evening.
Your time on the ship was the most relaxed you had been in a long time, actually, which you attributed to him.
Sturmhond had quite the representation amongst high society—or any society, really—and he certainly met your expectations. He was charming, and attractive. Clever and ambitious, like everyone said he was.
You hadn’t expected him to be as attentive as he is, however. He seemed to really enjoy a new guest on the ship, one that could keep up with his banter. He didn’t make you feel like a burden like your parents so often did, actually including you in his daily routine.
Tolya and Tamar were great, too. Kind, and funny. Fiercely loyal and protective, both of their captain and of each other. They were the kind of friends you hoped to make during your time in Ravka.
So far, it was off to a good start.
As the days moved on, you found yourself growing closer to Sturmhond. You tried to stop yourself in the beginning. Despite not wanting it for yourself, you were engaged to Nikolai. Falling for another man wasn’t exactly a good thing for your future
But that damned smile.
His ridiculously attractive smile, and his stupid mop of hair that had only gotten longer from his time at sea. The infuriating way he’d look at you and make you want to shrink away from his gaze, but you could never bring yourself to look away. The obnoxious green emerald ring he wore that could probably buy a small village.
He had charmed you, despite your reservations, and you were practically head over heels. It scared the absolute shit out of you.
Tamar had of course noticed already, confronting you about it one night after dinner. She joined you on deck, sitting next to you on a crate as you watched the stars twinkle in the sky. They were so visible out at sea, away from all the lights and clutter of the cities.
“You’re not hiding anything from me, you know,” she smirked, sneaking your flask away to take a few sips from it.
You feigned innocence, shaking your head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Tamar.”
“Come on, darling. Let’s skip the bluffing…you like him. It’s so obvious.”
“Saints, I hope not,” you groaned, scrunching your nose up at the thought of Sturmhond finding out.
Tamar grinned at your embarrassment, chuckling. “Don’t worry. I may not swing that way, but I know the look when I see it. He’s all puppy dog eyes and desperate looks of longing when he sees you. It’s gross, really. I can actually hear his heart skip a beat when he sees you. He likes you, too. I’d stake money on it.”
You swallowed down your excitement, trying to think rationally. “Don’t even joke about that, it’s not funny.”
“I’m serious! You’re a catch, Princess. He may be my captain, but he’d be a fool not to want you.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, but we can stop there,” you nervously chuckled. “We don’t need this going to my head. I’ll do something stupid like staying on this boat forever.”
She grinned, nudging your shoulder with hers. “Would that be so bad?”
—
The next few days, you couldn’t get Tamar’s words out of your head. You went on with your routine with Sturmhond as usual, trying not to put much thought into it.
Your feelings for him were true, that’s for sure.
And when you’d catch him looking at you from across the deck, you’d swear by the look in his eye that he felt something for you, too. What it was, exactly, you didn’t know.
But it was something.
On your last evening before you had to make a decision about where you wanted to go, you skipped dinner. You couldn’t bring yourself to go along with your usual banter with Sturmhond, beginning to feel guilty about just how close and comfortable you’d gotten with him.
You still had a duty to your country and your family, which meant at least a little to you. Plus, it wasn’t fair to make a promise to Prince Nikolai, only to leave him hanging when he returned to Ravka.
You were leaning against the deck railing, watching the way the moonlight bounced over the still waters. So lost in thought, you almost didn’t register Sturmhond’s approaching footsteps.
“A bit chilly for stargazing, isn’t it?” He asked, coming to stand next to you.
You turned to see him, smiling when you noticed he was wearing his signature blue coat. You couldn’t remember a time since you met that he wasn’t dressed to the nines, no matter what time of day it was.
“You know, for a pirate, you don’t really look like one.”
He grinned, gently correcting you. “A privateer, darling, not a pirate. There’s a difference, I assure you.”
“Ah, a privateer. How could I have forgotten?” You chuckled, hugging yourself in an effort to shield your arms from the biting cold. “But seriously. The emerald on your finger is the size of a walnut, and that coat is fit for royalty. I find it hard to believe a privateer does well enough to afford things as nice as those.”
“Maybe I’m just good at my job,” he retorted, that signature smirk on his face.
It was enough to stir butterflies in your stomach, making you turn to look back out at the water. His gaze lingered on you a moment, and you could feel the heat creeping up to your cheeks under the weight of his stare.
“You’re cold,” he observed, breaking the silence.
“I’m fine,” you tried to say, but Sturmhond interrupted you.
“I can practically hear your teeth chattering,” he laughed, shrugging his coat from his shoulders. “Here. Seeing as my coat is fit for royalty, as you say, I think it’ll suit you better.”
“Sturmhond—”
“Princess,” he mirrored, smirking when you relented, letting him place it around your shoulders.
“Thank you,” you said softly.
You turned away from the water to face him, leaning back against the bannister. His eyes flitted up and down your form at his coat wrapped around shoulders, before his eyes met yours. He took a seat on the crate behind him, leaning back and settling into the post next to him. It was quiet a moment before he finally spoke.
“You weren’t in your cabin at dinner. Where have you been?”
You sighed, fiddling with the sleeve of his coat. “Thinking.”
“Thinking? About what?”
“About my future,” you said shakily, shoulders slumping. “Both the imminent one, and the one to follow based on what I decide tonight.”
Sturmhond nodded, seemingly lost in thought. “I’ve been thinking about that, too, if I’m being honest.”
You raised a brow at his words. He’d been thinking about your future? He’d been thinking about you? The thought was both intriguing and terrifying, and you hoped the confusion on your face wasn’t too apparent.
“Well, I…I’m sorry, what?”
“Your future directly impacts me,” he quickly corrected, suddenly steeling his face and meeting your confusion with his usual grin. “Where you go I go, remember? You are paying me, after all.”
You tried to hide your disappointment, forcing a smile. It was a foolish hope to have, that he’d think something more of you. But it wasn’t a hope you were ready to give up.
Not just yet, at least.
He seemed to notice your disappointment, brows furrowing. “Have I upset you?”
“No,” you quickly replied, trying to brush it off with a laugh. “No, it’s not you. I’m just not quite sure what I should do. I know you need an answer, and Ravka needs an answer, but…I don’t have one yet.”
“Why?”
You shook your head, sighing in frustration. “Earlier, I had more than halfway made up my mind. I value my freedom, but I think I value my dignity more. I don’t think I could go anywhere and face anyone, knowing I’ve turned my back on my duties. It may have not been a promise I made for myself personally, but it is a promise I had every intention of keeping.”
“Then what’s stopping you?” He asked, a genuine look of concern on his face.
His eyes softened on you as your face fell, and you turned away from him as you felt heat creep up to your cheeks. You could hear him stand and approach you, but you couldn’t bring yourself to look at him.
“Princess?” He asked, only worsening your embarrassment.
He spoke again, finally getting you to acknowledge him. “You’re worrying me, darling. Surely it cannot be that bad.”
“But it is,” you groaned, pressing the heels of your palms into your eyes to stave off the tears you could feel brewing.
“Try me,” he said gently, carefully placing a hand on your arm. “You can tell me the truth. What’s stopping you from returning to Ravka?”
You could feel his touch even through the coat, which struck you like a punch to the gut when you remembered it was, in fact, his coat you were wearing. And to make it worse, that damned grin was on his face as he spoke with such a genuine kindness in his voice that it made you want to cry.
You finally met his eyes, taking a sharp breath. Shit, you thought to yourself. You were really going to admit it. He eagerly awaited your response, which you finally managed to utter.
“You.”
He sucked in a breath, withdrawing his hand. He looked up at the sky for a moment, before taking another breath and turning back to you.
“Me?” He asked.
“You,” you said again, exasperatedly laughing. “You, and your ridiculous clothes, and your infuriating charm, and your kindness and ambition…that damned smile.”
Sturmhond’s cheeks flushed, and he took a step back, although he was grinning like a fool. He couldn’t stop himself if he tried. You didn’t dare speak, waiting for him to say something. After an agonizing moment of silence, he leaned against the bannister, letting out a chuckle.
“What?” You forced yourself to ask, preparing yourself for his answer.
“Saints, Princess…you’ve gone and done it now.”
You shook your head, your heart dropping to the pit of your stomach. “What?”
“You’ve managed to outdo me. On my own ship. Quite the feat, I’ll give you that,” he laughed, still grinning.
You narrowed your eyes, still shaking your head. “Sturmhond, I don’t have a fucking clue what you’re saying to me right now. Will you do the honor of enlightening me, or are you going to stand there grinning at me all night?”
“You like my grin,” he mused, making you flush.
He spoke again, saving you from your embarrassment. “And it just so happens that I like yours, too. I like all of you. Very much so indeed, Princess.”
Your heart lurched into your throat at his words, and you had to grab ahold of the bannister behind you to keep yourself steady. He placed his hand over top of yours, his palm warming yours.
“I cannot believe you beat me to the punch. It’s rude to upstage a captain on his own ship. You’re lucky you’re royalty. I’ll allow it just this once.”
You had just now calmed your breathing, beginning to take in the weight of his words, and what it meant for you both. “Sturmhond, I—”
“I have a confession to make,” he suddenly said in a very serious tone, startling you. “I don’t mean to interrupt you, but I must tell you something before either of us share something we can’t take back.”
“Alright…” You said uneasily.
Carefully, he took your hand in his, giving it a squeeze. You let him hold it, waiting for him to speak. Absentmindedly, you comfortingly ran your thumb along the back of his hand, silently reassuring him.
“My name isn’t Sturmhond,” he finally said, the nerves in his voice the worst you had ever heard them.
Trying not to jump to any hasty conclusions, you nodded, squeezing his hand once more. “Alright…if it isn’t Sturmhond, then what is it?”
“Well, technically it is, but it also isn’t. It’s just a nickname—” He rambled, and you placed your other hand on top of his to stop him.
“I gathered that much. What else are you trying to tell me? Go on, you can say it.”
He took a deep breath, his voice soft. “It’s true that people call me Sturmhond, but I’m much better known for my birth name…Nikolai. Nikolai Lantsov.”
The realization struck you like a bolt of lightning. You tried not to flinch in his grasp, but you knew he could feel you stiffen. You cleared your throat, feeling your voice begin to grow hoarse
“Nikolai Lantsov…as in Prince Nikolai Lantsov, second son of the Ravkan throne? Moi tsarevich,” you croaked out, attempting to curtsy.
“Please,” Nikolai said, holding both your hands in his to keep you from bowing. “There is no need for such formalities, darling. If anything, I should be the one bowing to you.”
You stood up straight, shaking your head. “We’re long past that, don’t you think?”
He chuckled, nodding. “I suppose so.”
The reality of your situation began to set in, and you couldn’t stop yourself from chuckling along with him. He smiled at the sound, raising a brow.
“What is it?”
“I suppose my little dilemma is solved then,” you said, shrugging. “I was beginning to spiral, thinking my annoying habit of not being able to contain my feelings had ruined any decision I could have made. But of course—in your usual fashion—you’ve managed to upstage me. As is your right, it is your ship, after all. Well, I suppose there’s no decision to make now. At least, I think there isn’t…right?”
Any nerves you had mustered up were immediately squashed when Nikolai brought his hands up to cup your face, running his thumbs across the tops of your cheeks.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I’d take you wherever you wanted to go. All I can hope now is that you’ll allow me to join you…wherever that is.”
You brought a hand up to rest against his wrist. “Don’t you want to go home? You’re expected back in Ravka any day now.”
“I love my country, but I’m in no hurry to return. You’ve told me multiple times how dreadful court was for you—”
“That doesn’t matter,” you quickly said, squeezing his wrist.
“Of course it does! I cannot ask you to return to a country you’ll be miserable in for the rest of your days for a man you barely know.”
“It’s a good thing you aren’t asking, then,” you reaffirmed, giving him a smile. “I told you. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. I said that I was afraid I would be all alone at court, and that I was afraid the man I am promised to wouldn’t want a life with me.”
“What a fool he’d have to be to not want that,” Nikolai joked, making your grin widen.
You continued to reassure him, not convinced that he was believing your words.
“You say that you’ll follow me wherever I go. Well, I want to go with you. Wherever that is. And I want you to go home. I may have not known you for long, but I’ve been around you long enough to know that you won’t truly be content if you’re tied to my wishes. And I know you’re too stubborn to admit that, so I’ll tell you my wishes, and I need you to believe me. I wish to be with you. I wish for you to return to wherever feels like home, and I wish for you to take me with you. If that’s Ravka, then Ravka will be home. Court will become much more bearable with you there. And if it begins to become too much, I know a certain privateer that can whisk us away for a few days.”
He was doing it again. Smiling like an idiot. He seemed to be in disbelief at your words, this being one of the very few times in his life that he couldn’t find the right words to say.
“I didn’t mean to trick you, Princess. I should have told you who I was from the beginning.”
You shook your head. “I don’t blame you, Nikolai. If I was given the chance, I wouldn’t have told you who I really was, either. At least, not until I knew I could trust you. I would have done the same as you did. It’s alright.”
“I can’t believe my luck,” he grinned, taking your hand. “How is it that my betrothed managed to stumble upon my ship the very hour I returned to Ravka?”
You shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not one to believe in fate, and it sounds impossible.”
“Not impossible…improbable,” he corrected, smirking when you playfully narrowed your eyes up at him.
You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help but smile at your turn of luck. “Are we doing this? Are you going home to Ravka?”
“Are we going home, you mean? I can’t be expected to abandon my betrothed when she turns out to be the single most invigorating person I’ve ever met, now can I?”
“You cannot,” you agreed.
A comfortable moment of silence passed between you both, and you looked down at his hands as you held them in yours. The familiar glint of green on his finger made you chuckle.
“I knew it, by the way,” you added, grinning. “This coat and that ring are far too ridiculous for a privateer. They’re fit for royalty. Fit for a Lantsov.”
“Am I to understand that you’re not interested in a Lantsov emerald for your engagement ring?” He asked, smirking when you quickly shook your head.
You laughed, pulling his hand closer to inspect his ring. “I said nothing of the sort. I was merely observing how ridiculous it is, as well as this coat. But I’m still wearing it, aren’t I? If I’m going to be married to a ridiculous man, I should begin preparing now, shouldn’t I?”
He narrowed his eyes, playfully jutting his chin up at you. “You just like the coat and want to keep it. It’s alright, darling, you can admit it. We can have your own fitted for you, all you have to do is ask.”
Nikolai gripped the hem of your sleeve, tugging you closer by the arm of his coat. You let him pull you, chuckling nervously when he drew you nearer.
“I admit nothing, only that my future husband has a taste I will have to acquire. But I’m sure I’m up for the task. We have all the time in the world now, don’t we?”
“We do,” he smiled, settling his hands around your waist. “Although I’ll have to admit, I don’t think we know each other well enough to become husband and wife.”
You tensed under his hold, and he quickly retracted his statement, shaking his head. He didn’t give you enough time to truly panic, interrupting your train of thought.
“And that’s perfectly fine, darling. Like you said, we have all the time in the world to get to know each other. I think I’d like to take advantage of that starting now. After all, it is our last night on the ship, isn’t it? At least, I assume it is. I expect you’ll want to set a course for Ravka now. Unless you’d rather I get down on one knee, and make a big show of it first. I can do that, if you wish.”
“I certainly wouldn’t stop you,” you chuckled, letting your hands rest on top of his as your tone shifted to a more serious note. “Are we really doing this, Nikolai? Returning to Ravka? Getting married?”
He smiled wider, a twinkle in his eye as he looked down at you. “I’ve wanted you since the moment you stepped foot on my ship, the second I laid eyes on you. And I’ve wanted you more every day since. I’m not one to believe in fate either, but I do think the Saints may have gifted you to me. Who knows what I did to deserve it, but you most definitely won’t find me questioning their will if you’re the result.”
You felt your heart swell at his words. He was right. Of all the ships in the harbor, his was the one you found yourself on. Of all the captains in Ravka, he was the one who took you in. The man you were supposed to marry, and you found yourself falling for him long before you even knew who he truly was. If that isn’t fate, then what is?
“I’ll take all the influence from the Saints I can get when it comes to explaining to your parents why I’ve disappeared right out from under them,” you said with a groan, leaning into him.
Nikolai chuckled, holding you close. “My Mother will forget all about it when she sees my future safely secured with marriage. There is no need to worry, trust me.”
“I may not have to worry about her, but I do need to worry about Tamar,” you said, letting out a pained chuckle. “I think she staked money on our little situation.”
“She most definitely did. I expect Tolya will be paying up when they hear the news. Who should break it to him?”
You grinned, shaking your head. “I think that duty lies with you, as my future husband. If I’m going to have to listen to Tamar’s endless bragging about being right, then you should have to take half the burden in the form of telling Tolya. That’s how marriage works, isn’t it? Half and half. It’s only fair.”
It was his turn to groan now as he pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, taking yours in the other.
“Alright, I’ll do it, but you have to accompany me. I think your presence will help soften the blow. What do you say, darling? After all…it’s only fair.”
You narrowed your eyes at him, squeezing his hand. “If I must. You’re lucky you’re pretty, Lantsov.”
“Darling, I’m lucky for a lot more than that,” he smiled endearingly, and you couldn’t help but smile back.
—
A/N - Hi! This is SO long, I’m so sorry. And I’m so sorry for taking so long to get this out, I’ve been busy and had no time to write. But I finally forced myself to get this done, and now I have more time to write! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, let me know what you think! Thank you again for the requests :)
summary: after an exhausting day, kaz lets you spend the night in his office
a/n : sorry for not responding to reqs, life was kinda happening. anyway here's something I wrote a long long time ago
Kaz caught himself looking at you for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, as if you might fall into the ground if he averted his gaze away from you.
The Crows were heading back to The Slat, worn out after a risky heist that ended up being a success but left them all exhausted and weak, eager to go lay back for a good sleep.
Except Kaz. The man was almost always wide awake and on watch, busy with something buisness related. He allowed you to tag along with his work at times because you had quite a gift for things like he did, even though he hired you as a weapon more than as a mastermind. But you became both and Kaz trusted you enough to let you help him out with planning heists and managing the Dregs, as you were in the buisness almost as long as he was. Of course, you had your own reputation and jobs, sometimes working for Kaz but mostly for yourself.
Still, Kaz and you partnered up at times.
When you were finally at the Slat, everyone drifted into their rooms immediately and shortly fell sound asleep. But Kaz needed to get some work done as always, which meant he would take you with him.
"Y/N, come along", he told you when you came through the door, glancing down at you again. You looked like you hadn't slept for weeks, your eyelids threatening to shut down any second now. "Huh?"
"There's some paperwork left if you don't mind", Kaz explains as he limps up the stairs, you following behind.
"Alright." A quiet sigh leaves your lips. "I planned on staying up a little anyway" , you lie.
Kaz felt bad for keeping you up even though he knew all you wanted to do was to lay back on your bed and give your mind a rest, but he still kept a straight cold expression when you both sat down in his office.
You took of your coat and put it on the couch by his window, sitting down on a chair opposite of his at his desk. Kaz sat right down, picking up files and spreading them all over the desk. "Where were we?"
You let out a yawn, covering your mouth with your hand. "Are you sure this can't wait until the morning?"
It could. He knew it could. Yet something in him told him to keep going and keep you by his side for as long as possible.
Tonight, during a job, Kaz got really concerned for you. It was dangerous, bloody and filthy out there and even though you fend for yourself perfectly in jobs like that, he still sometimes saw you as a butterfly whose wings are about to be torn off by vultures and the cruel world.
He hated that. He hated feeling that type of cautiousness. But when you were in his office, working by his side, he could have an excuse to be in your presence while you were perfectly safe. He would never admit that to you, so he would rather keep you occupied and close to him.
"Hang on for just a few minutes, can you?"
With no choice and a small nod, you get back to all the paperwork scattered on the desk before you. "Atleast we got what we needed tonight."
♤—————————♤
After some time of silent working together, Kaz stands up from the desk. "Excuse me for a minute", he says as he limps to the bathroom.
Kaz shuts the bathroom door, taking off his gloves. He splashes his face and gloves with water, refreshing himself.
His thoughts shift back to his partner in the next room. When had he begun to trust a person like this? Maybe it were your talents: your fighting skills, your calculated moves, your bright, sharp mind. Or it was simply your charm and wit that enchanted him whole.
Those few minutes of peace with you were all he wanted for the rest of his life. It frustrated him, how much space could someone take up in his head.
Kaz walked out of the bathroom, when he saw you lay your head over your crossed arms spread out on the desk. Your eyes were shut and you looked as if you just passed out.
He realized how he kept you up for no reason, just his selfishness, even though you were tired out of your mind. This time he didn't want to wake you, but he figured you won't be comfortable if you fell asleep in the position you were currently in.
"Y/N?", he whispers softly, careful not to startle you.
Your head rises from the wooden surface. "Sorry", you mumble, rubbing your eyes.
Kaz sits back down. "Don't be. You can stay here overnight, if you wish. My room is open to you."
You shook your head. "No, I'll go back to my place, I'll be fine."
He scoffs. "Just accept something for once. We don't want you to pass out on your way out, do we?"
There was silence after you sighed, burying your face in your hands.
"I insist", Kaz finally says, and you didn't want to resist anymore because you knew that in the end he would make you stay.
"Where would you sleep?"
"I don't need to, yet. Don't worry about me."
"Even geniuses need sleep, Kaz", you frown, standing up from your chair.
He shrugs. "Exactly why you're gonna stay here and get some rest."
"I'll just take the couch here."
When you finally layed down on the couch close to his desk, none of you said anything for a long time. Kaz kept scribbling with his pen, which lulled you to sleep even more.
"You did a good job tonight", Kaz breaks the silence, surprising you.
Your eyes find his and you gaze at each other for a moment. A small nod of appreciation was all you left off before letting your eyelids close and the darkness take over.
♤—————————♤
Kaz was finally done with working for the night, which was slowly turning into the morning. It was really late, and you had been asleep for about an hour on the couch, eyes shut and eyelashes spread over your plum cheeks.
You looked relaxed, pleasantly at peace. It was a sight Kaz couldn't take his eyes off.
Before heading to his room, he noticed that it was getting chillier in the space and that nothing covered your body from it.
There was an old blanket hanging from the end of the couch and he picked it up, placing it on top of you and protecting you from the cold in the air.
He admired you one last time. "Sweet dreams, Y/N/N", he whispers, turning around to leave the room.
"Night, bastard", replied a sleepy voice behind his back. Kaz freezes, slight embarrassment washing over him.
He was now glad he wasn't facing you, because he couldn't contain himself from letting his lips stretch into a wide smile.
a/n: reader is sister of nikolai, feminine pronouns are used but no physical characteristics are ever described. ty for all of the love <3
Your brother would fire him if he found out that you had even considered Tolya in a romantic way. Not out of any disdain for him- out of anyone you could have grown fondness for, you were sure that Nikolai would prefer Tolya over the numerous suitors that waited for you back at Os Alta, but out of a protectiveness of you, as if you weren't perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.
“What are you thinking about?” Tamar asked, leaning against the wooden side of the ship, bright eyes looking at you.
”Nothing.”
“You know I can tell when you're lying.”
”When has that ever stopped me?”
Tamar scoffed, a smile pulling at the edges of her lips.
“Never,” She said, her eyes shining. “I don't know why I even ask, your heart only beats like that when you're thinking about my brother.”
Your heart jumped and Tamar let out another breathy laugh, feeling it without any effort.
“Too easy.” She said smugly and you rolled your eyes.
“Not funny.”
“Speak for yourself, moya tsarevna.” She said and you cringed at the title.
“As soon as Nik becomes king, I’m banning you from using that title.”
“Not Tolya though?” She asked, raising an eyebrow and gave her a look.
“I’m going to push you off this boat.”
A firm arm went around your shoulders, startling you and from the other side of you, Tolya grinned down at you.
“Now you know I love you, but why are you threatening to throw my sister off the boat?” He asked jokingly and you prayed to every Saint that your heart wasn’t going as fast as you felt it was.
You looked at Tamar and instantly regretted it, barely contained laughter on her lips.
“As first mate, I demand it.” You said stoically in response, a small smile on your lips and Tolya raised his eyebrows, removing his arm from your shoulder.
“Well, we should at least run it by Sturmhond.”
“Oh who are we kidding, he’d choose you over me everyday.” You joked, able to relax more now that you weren’t in direct contact with Tolya.
“I’ll choose you then.” Tolya said and your smile softened at the sweetness of the sentiment.
“Spoken like a poet.” Tamar teased and Tolya scoffed, but beamed at the accusation.
“Do you think you would be happy, living a life like the one Nikolai and I had?”
“Back in the castle?” Tolya asked and you nodded. “I mean, I know you’re both going to go back eventually. Me and Tamar will be there as your guards.”
“Not as guards though, as… forget it, I’m just being silly.”
Tolya looked at you, studied for you for a moment with only the moonlight illuminating your features, peering off into seemingly endless sea.
“It’s not silly.” He said, moving so that he was ever so slightly closer to you. “I’ve never really thought about it before. Do you think I’d make a good noble?”
“No,” You answered quickly. “You’re too kindhearted. You’re too good.”
“So are you.” Tolya argued and you smiled.
“And I’m hardly the picture of good noble, I ran off with my older brother to play pirate- sorry privateer.” You said. “I’ve always been a better soldier than princess, much to my mother’s dismay. I used to sneak off and follow Nikolai to his basic training instead of go to etiquette classes.”
Tolya snorted and you couldn’t help the smile that appeared on your face.
“I’m glad you skipped your etiquette classes, I like you how you are.”
Your heart jumped. Tolya looked over at you but didn’t say anything.
“Why do you ask? About me being a noble?” He pressed and you shook your head.
“As much as maybe me and Nik want it to, this can’t last forever. We have to go home at some point, him to try to take the throne that Vasily has never wanted, and me to sit around as set dressing, I suppose. To get married. I just… it really is silly, Tolya.” You said, standing up and preparing to walk away before he stood up and quickly caught your wrist, making you look at him.
“Tell me.” He said softly, letting go of your wrist. “Please.”
You took a step closer to him before grabbing his hand and putting it on the cloth covering your heart.
“Do you really not know?” You took a deep breath, painfully aware of how fast your heart was racing. “I’m not asking for marriage or anything like that, I’m asking… I don’t know what I’m asking.”
“May I kiss you?”
“Yes.”
His hands moved to your shoulders and he leaned down, pressing his lips against yours gently. He pulled away, his hands still on you.
I'm just a jealous guy (Aleksander Morozova x fem!reader)
To read my other works, check my MASTERLIST !
Paring: Aleksander Morozova x Grisha!reader
Universe: The Grishavers /Shadow and bone
Word Count: 1221
Requested: Yes, by my sweet annon.
Warnings: mention of jealousy, shouting someone out, mention death (Luda), making out, a quick mention of sexual activity - it ends before something happened.
If I forgot about anything feel free to write to me. Your wellbeing is important to me!
Summary: The one where he is jealous.
Aleksander walked through the corridors of Little Palace, trying to find one of his most trusted Grisha, who was also the person who made his heart beat a little faster. He lived for centuries, hiding his identity from people, always hiding his emotions, and always striving to achieve his goals. But then they showed on his path - a person with great power and strong will. A person who always cared for the people they loved and who found a way to parts of his heart that he’d forgotten. Somehow, they’d ended up sitting together into late nights, talking about everything but plans for Grishas’ training or plans for the army. He allowed himself to open up for the first time since he lost Luda, and for the first time, he allowed himself to feel again. He was afraid to call it as it was, but the truth was that he loved them. And they loved him.
The Darkling walked to the training yard, not minding Grishas, who welcomed him. He quickly knew he was in the right place and finally found them. He first heard their soft laugh and then saw them in the middle of the training yard with Fedyor, surrounded by younger Grishas. He knew that they loved to teach them, and they only showed these kids how to defend themself. But something deep in his mind made him angry at the sight of Fedyor’s hand around them. He watched how he moved his hands to their sides and started to tickle them. They squealed at the feeling and tried to escape from him, laughing loudly. The Darkling watched how close they were and how fondly they looked at each other. The betrayal blossomed in his chest. They gently tapped the Heartrender’s chest, smiling widely. Kirigan couldn’t watch it anymore and turned on his heel, quickly going to his chambers. What he didn’t know, they saw him at the last moment, and they started worrying about his hurried departure. They ended her part of the lesson and asked Fedyor to watch their training when they went after their General. After a few moments, they knocked on the doors of his cabinet. They smiled at the sound of this deep voice telling anyone behind them that he was busy. They dared to open them and snicked in, biting their lower lip.
“Maybe you’ll find a second for me, General?” They leaned against the door, watching him. They knew that even if he didn’t raise his head from maps, he knew it was them. They smiled at how his black kefta perfectly wrapped his tall body.
“Make it quick. I have a war to win.” They sighed and came closer to him, gently touching his elbow. When he didn’t change his position, they dared to lean against him, resting their cheek on his arm. They could tell that he was tense, and they hated it.
“I know, handsome, and you’re doing an amazing job. But even you, great General Kirigan, need some rest. And I saw you at the training yard.”
“You saw me?” He said mockingly. “You seemed busy with this Heartrender.” He moved away, taking his arm from their grip, and they looked at him surprised. They laughed breathlessly, standing in front of him.
“With Fedyor? He is only my friend. A very close friend, who was the first one to welcome me here with open arms and who made me feel at home here.” They said with a small smile, which faded when he constantly pretended they were not there. “If you want to accuse me of something, say it aloud rather than shutting me out.” When he heard the sadness in their voice, he stopped moving, and his eyes landed on the war figures in front of him. After a few seconds, he breathed deeply.
“Are they really ‘just a friend’?” He murmured without raising his head.
“Of course, they are just a friend. If you want to know, Fedyor lately was on a few dates with a person you know very well.”
“With who?” Alexander knew about their love for gossip. With time he discovered that it brought both of them joy, so he started encouraging them to spill a bean about it. He also wanted to be wholly sure that they were only his and that there wasn’t anybody else in their life.
“With your own personal Corporalki.” They couldn’t stop a big smile when he looked at them stunned.
“With Ivan?” They nodded, carefully watching his face. He started thinking about the latest behaviour of this man. “He was a little strange lately, in fact. Like… Happier.” They couldn’t stop the smile rising on their face, and once again, they tried to slowly touch his forearm. They breathed with relief when he didn’t move away this time.
“Because they are, both of them. Like I am happy when you are next to me because only our loved one can pull some of the strings in our hearts and make it beat faster in that specific way. So I will say it once again. They are only my friend. It’s YOU who has my heart.” They gently squeezed his arm, and finally, he moved closer to them with a look on his face reserved only for time when they were alone. His hands mindlessly moved to their hips, and in a quick move, he made them sit on the table behind them. They let the squeak leave their throat, making him smile widely at what they started laughing. Their hands slowly moved to rest on his shoulders, and one of them mindlessly started fidgeting with the ends of the hair on his neck.
“You… You made me happy, you know?” He whispered sheepishly, and they could only smile wider.
“I know. Were you jealous?” They bit her lips to stop grinning, especially when they saw a flush coming into his cheeks. He looked above them, trying to compose himself. Before he could answer, they leaned down and softly kissed his bearded cheek. “Please, don’t deny it. It actually… flatters me, you know? I… I always dreamed of having a person who would care for me enough to do it. Even if there isn’t any reason for that.”
The Darkling gently squeezed their hips, standing between their legs. His hand moved to their thigh, caressing it gently.
“I do care. Every single look from other men or women is enough to feel jealousy in me. To want to show all of them that you are mine.”
“And I always will be.” They whispered, and General immediately leaned down, kissing them deeply. One of his hands moved to the back of their head, gently moving it to allow him better access while the other kept them close. They moaned into his lips, wrapping one leg around him, wanting to feel every centimetre of his body. They were so lost in each other that they didn’t hear the knock on the door or that somebody had walked in. They were too busy unfastening his kefta to care about anything. Poor Ivan closed the door quicker than he ever opened them. After a moment of shock, Corporalki felt happiness for his General and his friend - even a dark soul like him deserved some light and love in the arms of a trusted person.
Author’s note: Thank you so much for reading! If it’s not too much trouble, I would love to hear your thoughts about it. Any feedback is greatly appreciated and motivate me to work.
I am sorry about every grammar mistake and misspellings. English is not my first language.
Klaudia 💜
Taglists are always open! If you want to be added fill this up or send me an ask!
Summary: Reader is not feeling well. Everything seems grey and overwhelming and she can't take it anymore, but she keeps hiding in corners and faking smiles so no one notices it. But Zoya notices. She always do.
Note: hi!!! this isn't a request, it's just something i had in mind and finally decided to write, but i'm already working on the requests that were sent! i hope you guys like it <3
You were tired. You had started your day early, slipping into your blue kefta and leaving your room to train along with the other Squallers. You followed your routine quietly and without talking to anyone, but your collegues didn't really care, after all, it was y/n and she was always quiet, your shy personality being well known in the Little Palace.
During lunch, you ate fast and silently, being done and out of the room before most of the grisha even arrived. You didn't want to risk running into Genya, the closest thing to a friend you had here, because you knew the Tailor would know something's wrong.
The afternoon was filled with more training, since studying was your way of occupying your mind. You always were a brilliant student, being fluent in multiple languages and one of the best Etherealki in the Little Palace, and you took refuge on those terms. It was easy for you, simple, and that was all you needed right now.
But you were pushing yourself too much lately, trying to occupy your thoughts all the time so you wouldn't think about all the things you couldn't control, and that came with a price. When the night came, you had a massive headache and sore limbs, so you decided to skip dinner and head straight to your room.
It wasn't really a problem, no one would notice your absence the same way no one noticed the many times your eyes filled with tears during the day. You didn't really care about the lack of friends in your life, it was just another one of the things you were terrible at: connecting with people. There was nothing to be done, just accept it, but it still hurt when you thought that nobody cared about you.
So you went to your room and took a long shower. With your hair still wet you put on a robe and sat by the mirror, staring blankly at your own empty eyes. You didn't know how things had gone this way, you used to be a happy kid - rosy cheeks, jumping around and smiling - but now you just feel sad and it's overwhelming.
Your mind seemed to never slow down, a hundred thoughts per minute, and sometimes you just couldn't breathe. Your chest tightening up, your hands shaking and tears streaming down your face. You were tired, hopeless and lonely, and it was killing you slowly.
With tears in your eyes, you just hung your head and cried, shoulders shaking with sobs, your hair falling around your face. You didn't know how long you stayed like this, only opening your eyes when you felt a hand on your back, stroking it lightly and letting you know that someone else was there.
Thinking it was Genya, you lift your head just to meet an all too familiar pair of blue eyes. Zoya Nazyalensky. Her hand immediately left you body and you tried to hide the surprise in your eyes, but knew it was pointless, Zoya was always able to know exactly what you were thinking, and by the look on her face, she still could.
You had been in the Little Palace for only two weeks when Zoya arrived. You actually saw her, dressed in golden and with dirt on her face, and felt a strange pull towards that little girl looking back at someone you couldn't see. And, lucky for you, she saw you too. It was the first time those blue eyes landed on you, and you felt safe under her watch, comfortable.
So, when one of the older grisha knocked on your door later and asked if you could give the new Squaller a tour, you nodded happily before jumping out of bed, smilling at the girl who eyed you skeptically. You didn't know why they were asking you of all people to help her, you could barely find your own way to your classes, but you wouldn't complain, being curious about the blue-eyed girl the whole day.
For the 9 years old you, being the girl they picked to show Zoya around was destiny, something magic and irreversible. Now, you think it was because the older Squaller saw the possibility of you two being friends since you both arrived at the same time and were the same age. That way you could help each other with the Small Science and develop your studies together.
However, everything was still magic when you were a kid, and you decided in that moment that Zoya was meant to be your friend. You talked a lot while showing her all of the Little Palace and, even though she wouldn't answer all of your questions and kept staring at you with cold eyes, you just smiled, and that seemed to surprise her for only a second before she averted her eyes.
It wasn't easy, but Zoya eventually gave up the cold stares and let you follow her around, rolling her eyes at you excited chattering, but answering anyway and even smilling at you sometimes, when no one was watching, and that was more than enough for you. The two of you were together constantly, and after about a year of this strange relationship, Zoya finally called you a friend.
She wasn't as open as you are, but she would confide you some of her secrets. Zoya didn't like to be seen as weak, and she made sure everybody in the Little Palace knew how powerfull she was, but when she was afraid of her past and scared of being alone, she would hold your hand. She didn't need to say anything and neither did you, your presence being enough to bring her comfort. The lack of words also made her feel like she was still in control, like that simple exchange was nothing, and you were fine with that. You were fine with her.
The years passed and you grew. Zoya was the most beautiful person you've ever met, and also the scariest, but you knew better than to be pushed away by her scowl and harsh words. You didn't mind being in the receiving end of it because you knew she didn't mean to be mean, at least not with you, and she was grateful for that.
However, somewhere about 5 months past you 15 birthday, things changed completely. Zoya started to shut you down. She wouldn't go to your room anymore, and she never started conversations. She listened impatiently when you came to her, and tended to interrumpt you saying she had somewhere else to be. No more holding hands, no more smiles, no more chattering. She was getting more distant every day, and you found yourself helpless. There was nothing to be done, and you had to watch her go and become a stranger to you.
So, to say you were surprised she was staring at you right now was an understatement. You got up quickly, tightening your robe around your body and staring at her with the calmest expression you could.
- Uhm... Hi. - you said simply, pretending your eyes weren't red and puffy and hoping she would do the same. - Do you need something?
- I came to talk to you. - she said. No greeting, her eyes no longer in yours. You just sighed. It was probably for the best.
- About what? - you asked, running a hand through you hair, beggining to worry. - Did I do something wrong? Am I missing something in my classes?
She laughed dryly and you arched your brows, confused. You didn't know what else could be the topic of this conversation. Of course, you knew Zoya was close to The Darkling, but he already had the best Squaller with him, there was no reason for him to come to you.
- No, Y/N, you didn't do anything wrong. - she replied honestly, increasing you confusion. Reluctantly, she continued. - I was worried.
- About what? - you repeated, your brain apparently malfunctioning due to her presence. - Is it something I can help?
She sighed, taking a step in your direction. She lift her hand and it looked like she was reaching for yours, but she just tossed her hair over her shoulders, closing her eyes for a second before staring directly at you.
- About you. - she said simply, as if it was nothing, but you could see how tiff her body was.
It was your time to chuckle humorlessly.
- About me? - you arched your brows, crossing your arms over your chest, the anguish in your heart slowly being replaced with anger. - Funny. Where was this worry for the past two years, Zoya?
- Y/N, please... - she started, but you interrupt, not being able to contain yourself.
- No, I'm curious. Where was this worry when you just vanished from my life? When you decided that our friendship wasn't worth the effort anymore? When you walked away without even giving me am explanation? - you nearly screamed, tears treatening to leave your eyes. - You didn't worry back then. So why would you now?
- It's not like this. - Zoya said firmly, her cold expression giving place to an almost hurt look. - I didn't... I never said our friendship wasn't worth it.
- You didn't need to say it when you left me for no reason. - your voice mas trembeling, but you just could't stop yourself from saying what was stuck inside your heart for so long, tears already streaming down your face. - You were everything I had. My only friend, the only one I trusted in this place... Saints, you were family to me. When you started to act like I didn't exist, I felt my heart break in ways I didn't even know were possible. I loved you so much, Zoya, I would've done anything for you, but you just left me.
- I never meant to hurt you, Y/N. - she started again and for the first time in almost two years, you saw her armor fall at least a little bit. She sighed deeply and all you could see in her eyes was the 10 years old girl who was once your best friend. It was enough to make your heart ache for her, to make you listen. - I also never wanted to leave. You were the only person in this whole place who made me feel comfortable and loved. You weren't trying to change me, to find the adorable girl beneath my cold exterior. You didn't wanna be the one to tame me, you just wanted to be with me and love me despite all my flaws. You were truthfull and kind and loving and sweet, never asking for too much and yet so ready to give me everything. I loved you more than anything.
You were at a loss of words. You've spent so many time wondering what have gone wrong, repeating every interaction you both had in your head just so you could try to understand what you've done to make her go away, and now you were just so confused. If she loved you so much, why did she left?
- Then what went wrong? - your voice was almost a whisper when you spoke, almost dissapearing in the already quiet room. - Why did you left?
- Because that was exactly the problem. - the words left her mouth with so much sadness that all you wanted to do was hold her, but you just stood there, watching her. - I loved you so much, Y/N, I would do anything for you and I had never felt that way before. It was new and it was terrifying. You were gentle and sweet and I was not. I just... I wasn't the girl for you, I couldn't be what you needed and the idea of you realizing that and leaving me was haunting me. I was scared and i decided to leave before I get left. I was so terrified of losing you that I ruined everything we had by myself, and I'm sorry.
- You should have talked to me. - you said, your anger starting to built. - It's not up to you to decide what I need or what's good enough for me.
- I know that, I just... I was scared, Y/N, and I was a coward. Saints, I still am. - she said sheepishly. - It was selfish and wrong, but it was easier for me to walk away from the situation with some sort of control. And after that, I watched as your faded away in the crowd. You used to be so bright and I barely saw you smile anymore, and I knew it was my fault. I was too embarassed to come after you after being a jerk, and that's on me too. I should've been a better friend. I should've been better for you, and I'm sorry.
She finished her sentence looking at the ground, and you were speechless. You could understand why she did what she did and, after all, the two of you were only fifteen when all of this happened, too young and with too many responsabilities. You just didn't understand why she decided to tell you all of this now.
- Look, Zoya, I get it. - you finally said after a few moments of silence. - You were young and scared and you ran. Yes, it was wrong and you should've just talked to me instead, but I don't want to hold a grudge over this. You hurt me and you said you're sorry, and it's ok. I just don't understand why you came to me now.
- I told you, I was worried. - she said simply, lifting her head so she could look you in the eyes. - I see you, Y/N. I never stopped looking after you, I was just doing it from a distance. And this past few weeks... I know something's going on. You don't have to talk to me or explain yourself and I know I don't deserve your trust after two years of nothing, but I just... I couldn't watch you suffer from afar anymore, even if it meant I had to face what I did and explain everything to you. I should've done it sooner, and I'm sorry, but I'm here now, for anything you need.
You looked at Zoya, the fearless and feared Zoya, standing in front of you with teary eyes, no armor, no secrets and no excuses. You were feeling so many thing at the same time that you didn't know where to begin, but you knew you missed her. Even with all the sadness, anger and betrayal you felt, you missed her more than everything.
- You're ridiculous, you know? - you said while tears streamed down your face, taking a step in her direction. - Ridiculous and prideful and really stupid, but I love you and I missed you, so I would really like if you just shut up and hugged me.
A little smile showed up in her face before she wrapped you in her arms, your head resting on her shoulder just like you always did when the two of you were younger. Your body still fit right into hers, it was familiar and warm, and for the first time in a long way, you felt like you belong. You weren't alone anymore.
- I missed holding you so much. - she whispered, her chin resting on the top of your head, one of her hands caressing your hair softly. - I'm sorry it took me so long to come back, I really am.
- You can stop apologizing now, but if you ever leave me again, I will summon lightning just to stop your heart. - you said, your voice muffled by her skin.
- Oh, sweetheart, I will never leave you again. And I won't stop apologizing either. In fact, I have a lot of ideas on how I can make it up to you. - she said and you knew she was smiling.
- I'm only interested in it if by that you meant a lot of candy. - you said, finally breaking the hug to look her in the eye again.
- I can definetely get you candy, but that's not what I had in mind. - she said, her eyes shining with excitement as she took a step back, taking your hand in hers. - May I have this dance, Y/N/N?
You couldn't help but smile. When the two of you were younger and couldn't attend the balls the older grisha were invited too, you used to stay in the hallway where you could listen to the music they were playing and ask Zoya at least a thousand times to dance with you. It warmed your heart that she remembered.
- There's no music. - you answered, but your arms were already wrapped in her neck.
- We don't need it. - she said, pulling you close by the waist and making you giggle.
- You're right. - your voice was soft and calm, the tears you cried early already in the past. - I have all I need right here.
Zoya blushed and you smiled as she twirled you around your room, your laugh being the only music the two of you listened to, and for that moment, you forgot all about your loneliness and your pain. You were filled with love and joy, and you knew it wouldn't last forever, but at least you weren't alone. Facing the bad things with someone by your side was easier, and when Zoya hugged your waist firmly and kissed your cheek, you couldn't think of a problem the two of you couldn't solve.
𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 | after an argument Nik and y/n apologise and confess how much they love each other
𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 | based on this request <3
𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 | 600 ish words I'm sorry its short :(
I pace a few times outside the door before gathering the courage to knock. I freeze. I can't do this
I'm pretty sure we almost broke up last night, I remember all the yelling, I cringe as I recall throwing a book across the room.
“Who am I kidding he probably left early this morning, he probably hates me now” I drag my hands across my face.
As I turn to leave I see the door swing open, I whirl back around to see Nikoli staring back at me.
“Nik” I breathe out in relief “you stayed?”
He looks at me questioningly “where was I going to go?”
I shake my head “doesn't matter” I wring my hands nervously “can we talk?”
“Of course” he steps back letting me into his room.
I hear the door shut and Nikolai makes his way until he was standing in front of me “Okay let's talk”
“Nik I’m so sorry, I don't know what happened last night but I feel so guilty” he doesn't say anything so I continue “I'm not good at this whole relationship thing, and anyone I've ever dated took all their problems out on me”
“y/n you know I didn't mean-”
“I know” I cut him off
“Look Nik, I love you, you have given me no choice but to
stay,”
He looks shocked for a second ad I fear I said something wrong “I'm sorry i-” he takes my hand cutting me off “y/n! I've loved you for quite some time!”
“Really?” I start to smile
“Really” were both grinning like idiots now
“I'm sorry about last night y/n”
“You know what will make it better?” I grin slyly
“He laughs at my obvious ploy but goes with it nonetheless “what?”
“A kiss” my arms go up to his neck as he laughs
“I can't argue with that” he leads down meeting my lips with his
It's a sweet kiss full of apology and love, all too soon we have to break away as there's a sharp knock at the door
“Sorry love,” he says to me
I pout jokingly as he greats whoever's at the door
I make my way over to his desk which is covered with papers, I spot a book sitting on the floor and pick it up examining it for damage, it must have been the book I threw across the room, I smile at just minutes ago I was stressing over this very book I place it gently on the desk and make my way over to Nikolai and the interrupter at the door. It's Zoya, she seems to be annoyed at him, something about missing a meeting. She says one more thing before stalking off.
Nikolai runs his hands over his face, and I giggle over his frustration “hey, hey look at me it's okay” I pull his hand down and hold them in mine.
“I know, it's just frustrating, sometimes I wish it was just you and me.” he sighs and pulls me into a hug placing his head atop mine I hum in agreement “I love you y/n it's like you know everything about me” I look at him in curiosity his eyes meet mine and I can tell his words are true “you've memorized all of me. My fears, hopes and dreams” he presses a kiss to my forehead “I just like hanging out with you, all the time”
“I step back and study his face “Nik honestly, all those times that you didn't leave It occurred to me I'd like to hang out with you for my whole life”
“Honest?” he breaths so quietly I almost miss it
“Honest” I conform
A smile breaks out on his face and I can't help but kiss him
Summary: Fake marriage, you're already dating, but the place you're going to go on a heist allows only allows a specific married couple.
Taglist: @heliads
A/N: This took forever, but I hope you enjoy!
Masterlist
----☆----
The sound of loud gunshots being fired off in the distance never seemed to faze you. You have lived in Ketterdam for a long time, and that sound is like hearing your everyday schoolbell.
And it definitely helps that a certain sharpshooter is always doing that. Practising his aim, twirling his pearl handled revolvers any time he has the chance. You've become immune to the sound at this point.
Walking down the dimly litted streets, you find yourself strangely calm. You don't know why. Perhaps this is one of your good days, but usually, this means something bad is about to go down. You shrug of all thought of that and walk into the Barrel.
You find yourself scanning the area to look for a certain sharpshooter. You find him at a table in the corner with a drink in his hand. To everyone but the keen eye, it looked as if he was just enjoying his drink, but at close inspection, he was holding his revolvers, ready to shoot at any given moment.
You were debating whether or not to suprise him and see how that would go, but you concluded that wouldn't go so well. You walked towards him, with a small smirk on your face, and sat across of him.
He looked up and locked eyes with you. You could see that he instantly calmed down and loosened up
"Thought you'd be playing cards over on the other table, but seems you've chose a more calm evening, eh?" You joked as you pointed to the drink in his hand. He chuckled and passed it to you, and you took a sip.
He pretended to ponder for a bit and then answered, "Decided to wait for my girlfriend, you know? Didn't want to start anything fun without her. It would be too inconsiderate."
"Well, I'm sure she is thankful Jes." You laughed, putting down the drink to hold his hand.
Over the past few months that you've been together with Jesper were the happiest you've ever been. He always seemed to make you laugh at any given moment and never forgot to include you in heists or anything under the sun.
After chatting along to various topics with Jesper, in your peripheral vision, you saw Inej walking swiftly towards you. You turned your head to greet her, and she nodded your way.
"Sorry to interrupt your moment, but Kaz wants us upstairs in his office." She said, smiling at the both of you and left as quickly as she came.
"She did interrupt our moment, but I didn't want to mention it. She might stab me in my sleep." Jesper gulped but quickly replaced it with a wholehearted laugh. You just rolled your eyes and shook your head with a small smile. He stood up and offered you his arm, you gladly took it.
At Kaz's office, he explained to the three of you that he planned a heist. The reward would be a lot of kruge. Kaz said this information first with a small smirk. He mentioned it being in a huge vault at a heavily guarded place. Only a few people are allowed in, and it's the people who added kruge to the vault.
The catch is that the people who built it only know that it was a married couple who added kruge to the vault. According to Kaz's source, they don't know what the married couple look like but do know their names.
Clearly, he expected you and Jesper to work on this as the "married couple." Inej would sneak in and take out some of the guards to clear your path of entry. But not before you pass the gates with security checks, Kaz made sure to enter you both into the system.
You got yourself prepared before going on the heist. Memorising the names and backstories just in case you were asked, you can only hope Jesper remembered his, too.
You were waiting out on the balcony, listening to the calm, quiet night before you, just hoping everything would go well for the heist. While in thought, you heard footsteps behind you. You knew who it was so you didn't bother turning around and instead answered out loud.
"Hey Jes. You ready?" You asked, turning around and leaning your back on the railings.
"Me? Not ready? Please, do you know me?" He pointed at himself with a smile, "I'm always ready." He laughed and went to lean beside you on the railings. "You doing alright there, love?"
You nodded, "Just hoping this will go well. It usually does, but I just want you to be safe."
He gazed at you intently and pulled you into a hug. You laid your head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat as he spoke, "Come on, we can do this Y/N, we always have." He pulled apart slightly but kept one hand on your waist and the other on your cheek, "Don't back out on me now, darling." He winked, and his actions easily made you to form a smile.
The place where the vault was kept was this mansion like building. The vault was kept underground, so the building on top was just for show or more like security. Trees overlapping the entryway to the building, and layers of gates and guards surrounded the place.
You and Jesper stood to the side, hiding behind a tree right before you entered.
"Ok, about more than a dozen or so guards guarding the front gate." You said, and Jesper nodded. "Stay calm, and it'll all go smoothly."
"My dear wife, let's go get that kruge."
Taking a deep breath, you both walked together to the front gate. You examined the area and saw only a few other people, probably rich people, stuffed with tons of money at their fingertips. The guards asked for identification and checked their names in the system of more paperwork.
When it went to you two, Jesper gave the identification papers, and the guard checked it. He looked at both of you cautiously and you could sense the suspicion.
"We're older than we look," Jesper chuckled, "My wife and I have... uh ... just been eating healthy. For the 34 years we've been together!" You both smiled through the awkwardness and hoped that the guard wouldn't suspect anything.
He gave you both one more glance but nodded, smiled, and handed back the papers. You both thanked the guard and quickly went through the gate. You let out a breath you didn't realise you've been holding in. Well, that's stage one complete, you thought.
Walking past the other gates was a piece of cake after that. Inside the building was less security, so there was less interrogation. It was a huge hall with lots of stairs going up, but what the way down was what you were looking for.
Blending in with the crowd, you and Jesper managed to get down the stairs of the building. Walking past the guards and into the vault room. It was well lit and huge corridor, rows of big vault doors on either side, but they weren't important. The important one you were after was the one with the green vault door, now that had the cheddar. That was at the very end of the corridor, aka the biggest vault there.
Earlier, Kaz had told you that the vault had a pass code but also a word identification. You looked around, and it was surprisingly quiet. You thought there would be at least a few guards, but none? You turned to Jesper, and he was already looking at you, all written on his face the exact same confusion you had.
"Maybe they went for a coffee break?" He laughed, nudging you along to follow him towards the vault.
"Sure and leave the vaults with more than a million kruge unguarded? It seems a bit off to me." Inquiring as you scanned around once more, while Jesper punched in the passcode and word identification.
A hissing sound was made as the passcode punched in caused the vault doors to open. You both glanced at each other eagerly and looked back to see what you had been waiting for. The vault doors opened and you expected to see stacks upon stacks of money.
Instead, you were greeted with two faces, the faces of the couple you were impersonating.
"Who are you, and how did you know the passcode to the vault?" The shorter woman shouted as the man beside her, assuming her husband started to come closer to the both of you, drawing a gun from his right pocket.
"Well, this is awkward," you said worryingly, "perhaps we should start running if we want to not get shot." Starting to take off in the opposite direction back up the stairs.
"Yeahh, good plan. I'll cover fire for us." Jesper said, The man started shooting at both of you, and Jesper shot back with his revolvers.
Suddenly, the alarm was set off, and you knew this was a mess. You could hear lots of footsteps and people shouting to either get out of the way or that they went this way.
You turned a corner instead of going to the stairs, which was your original plan, and went down towards the basement instead. Jesper was still shooting at some guards behind you. You saw an elevator down the hall, which would lead to the back of the building, your escape.
Jesper pulled you into a room, well, it turned out to be a closet. It was dark and stuffy, and the only light source was from the small window above the both of you. Brooms and dust pans were brushing up against you, and you were trying to wriggle out of the small space.
You could hear the guards running past, calling out to find out where you and Jesper were. It is literally the most cliche place to find the robbers, but you were glad they didn't think of it.
"Right, well, I'm not sure how we ended up like this. I'm not complaining though, got a great view from this angle." Although it was a bit dark, you could make out the outline of his smug grin.
"Jesper, as much as I love you, I would really like if we were able to live through this."
"Don't worry, I promise you, you won't get hurt. I won't let you get hurt. In fact, if anyone lays a hand on you I'll-" You cut him off with putting a hand over his mouth as a shadow of a guard was near the door. You hoped he wouldn't open it, and you thought he was about to until you heard the other guards call him over.
You lowered your hand from his mouth and let out a sigh, but Jesper quickly took your hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. "Couldn't let that opportunity go to waste." He winked, "I think the coast is clear we should be able to go now."
You swear this man always wants to give you butterflies every chance he can get. But you can't deny that you do enjoy it.
He opens the doors carefully, and you both make a run for the elevator on the left. Running as fast as you both could go, and this reminded you of your very first heist. It didn't go as planned, but you still enjoyed the adrenaline from it, maybe because you were with Jesper or because you enjoyed the feeling of knowing you'll stay alive at the brink of death.
As you entered the elevator, you pressed the buttons to the back of the building. The elevator wasn't a normal one. It could go all different sides if it wished. The owner of the building thought it would be useful to use to go whenever and wherever he wanted in the building.
You waited impatiently for the doors to close and stood at the side of the elevator while Jesper stood on the left side. Inej is supposed to meet you back outside at the back of the building, with the money, which you don't have.
You rubbed a hand over your face, annoyed. Well, there goes your chance of joy with bathing in some kruge. As if you'd get most of it anyway, Kaz would probably take most of it, to be honest.
Just as the doors were about to shut, you heard something you never knew would frighten you until now. A deafening noise of shock and horror that would twist your stomach into tight knots that would almost make it snap into two. The scene of crimson red blood slowly showing up.
The bullet came at the speed of light, and both of you never expected it. The sound deafened your ears and and everything was blocked out. A ringing covered your ears as you looked over at Jesper, whose normally grey shirt now started flooding with red.
"Well, this was definitely unexpected." He tried to make a joke and chuckle, but he collapsed onto the ground. With shaky knees, you rushed towards him, worry scanning all over your face, and even your eyes started to water.
The doors were closed, and the elevator started moving to the back. You checked him, and thank saints he wasn't shot in the heart, but it was dreadfully close, leave it untreated for too long, and he would die. You rushed to take off the jumper you had on and wrapped it tight around his chest to try stop the bleeding.
"Jes, you're going to be okay, I promise." You tried to reassure him, but honestly, you weren't sure yourself how much time was left.
"I can't die. I'm too amazing," he laughed painfully, so you put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. At this point, you're hoping the elevator moves fast to get him to safety.
"Y/N, I'm serious if anything happens to me. I just need you to know -" he started to speak, but you cut him off. "Jes, please, stop.. I need you to be safe. You're going to be okay." You looked around, hoping that Inej would be here soon to help both of you.
The elevator stopped, and you were now at the back of the building. You helped Jesper up, slinging one of his arms around your shoulder to help carry his weight. And you tried your hardest not to lean too much pressure, so he wouldn't hurt as much. You heard more voices, that of guards, and you both knew it would only a matter of time before they get to you and Jesper.
You tried to hurry to hide behind the old shed on the right side, but you weren't fast enough. And Jesper was getting worse by the minute. You didn't know what was going to happen next. All you saw were guards with flashlights running from your left towards you. And you tried to stop them by pulling out one of Jespers' guns, but suddenly, you felt something sharp hit your leg.
You looked down to see a dart of some type. It was one of those darts that can knock you out flat in just a bit. And you looked back up to Jesper, and he knew you wouldn't be able to carry him up for much longer. He grabbed the gun from your hand and started shooting at the rest of the guards who were armed. You felt dizzy, and you tried to stay awake and keep your balance. You couldn't just leave Jesper by himself. You needed him to be alive more than yourself right now.
Right before your unconsciousness' desire to take over won, you saw a figure taking out the guards and helping Jesper up. And this figure went towards you too, and you tried to get a better look at their face, but the sleep took over.
...
Dark. That was it. All you could sense was your unconsciousness. The feeling of falling asleep but not on purpose. You felt something down in the deep darkness, some hope, some light. Some hope that everything is going to be fine, and you wanted that.
You wanted that so much that nothing mattered anymore except that you wanted everything to be fine, go back to messing around with your friends, be in Ketterdam safe and sound. And what you wanted the most was for your Jesper to be safe and sound.
So you moved. You moved towards the hope. The shining brightness that you so wish to achieve.
You opened your eyes and realised you were in a room, not on the ground outside. But in your room, your bed. You peered around, the light stinging your eyes a bit, but after a while, it adjusted.
Suddenly, you're hit with memories of what happened earlier. You were taken back to The Barrel, but by who? Maybe that mysterious figure was someone you knew?
But right now, that didn't matter. You needed to find Jesper. You needed to know if he was ok and safe. You ran out of your room, hoping to find him.
Suddenly, you bumped into something, or actually someone. This figure turned around, and it was Inej. You gasped in relief and hugged her, she returned it and you had to ask.
"Inej, what happened? I blacked out. Where is Jesper? Is he ok? And-"
"Y/N. Calm down. Everything is fine, Jesper is in his room," You were about to say something, but she cut you off knowing what you were about to ask, "Recovering. And yes, he is fine. You can go see him."
You thanked Inej and quickly made your way to Jesper's room. You took a deep breath and opened the door, and there he was sitting against the headboard of the bed. He had bandages wrapped all over his chest, torso, and arms. It took you a minute to register that he was really ok and alive, and when you both made eye contact, you broke down.
You staggered over to him and hugged him so tight. You never ever wanted to let him go. Your eyes flooded with tears as they ran down your cheek, soaking through his bandages, he returned your hug and kissed your forehead.
"I'm so sorry! I knew something like this was going to happen, and I-" you bawled out into his chest, but he stopped you, taking your face with both of his hands gently and looking you in your eyes.
"Hey! Hey, calm down. It's ok, it's over. I'm here, I'm here with you," he wiped your tears with his thumbs, "right now."
Tracing his thumb over a scratch you had on your face from the heist, he clicked his tongue in annoyance, "I'm gonna get those guys back for hurting you."
"Me? I should be getting them for what they did to you. You're in bandages, love."
"Eh, it's nothing I can't take." He chuckled, "But I do need one thing from you that will make it all better." He whispered, and you knew exactly what he meant as you leaned in towards him.
A kiss was all it took to heal the sharpshooter. He smiled into the kiss because he knew now that he loved you more than ever. And you would always be there for each other, knowing that in his heart was everything to him.
Pulling away, he took the palm of your hand and kissed it, turning it over and looking directly on the ring finger. Rubbing a thumb over it, he pondered for a bit and then looked into your loving eyes.
"I should really add a real ring to that finger now, shouldn't I?"
