Destiny

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Hope.

The thing Inej had been clinging onto with her life since she was taken by slavers. The thing that felt so fragile and could dissolve or be lost any day.

Miracles.

The foundation of the world, the thing that Inej felt surrounded with. Kaz. Her friends. Her long lost but finally found, family.

The most basic yet important thing that everyone deserved every once in a while.

Throughout the five months she'd spent on The Wraith, Inej realized that having a purpose and the drive to make a change in the world was not enough. At least she was making an effort to do something, save some lives, but she still felt guilty. Guilty for something she could not control. Was it because she knew how it felt, first-hand? To be separated from your family, get thrown on a ship by some strangers and get treated like an object? Sold like an object? Inej always knew she was privileged and she thanked her Saints every day, but seeing the state of the poor, helpless kids, stuck on those wretched ships against their wills just broke her heart and made her feel like the luckiest damn person in the world. They were gullible, still developing young souls. Sweet, innocent kids who had done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment.

A wave of torturous flashbacks started rushing back to her, the horrible nights spent at the Menagerie and the cold feeling of loneliness. Losing her balance, she gripped the rail tightly and took a step back, staring at the vast expanse of grey. No. No, she was supposed to stay strong, for the sake of herself, her crew-mates and all the souls in need of rescuing. She would fight for them, and destroy all the slavers, procurers, politicians and barrel bosses she could find. People like Tante Heleen and Pekka Rollins. She would give her people a chance. The chance she had worked years for and had finally gotten after enduring her hardships.

She was jolted back to reality from the complicated web of her thoughts when Specht announced that they would reach Kerch in the next half-hour. Inej's heart pounded in her chest. Kaz... Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach as a tingle went up her spine at the thought of him. A perfectly chiseled lump of lean muscle, sharp jawline and high cheekbones...

She had written her friends multiple letters, and they all responded. All except for Kaz... Did he miss her? She'd missed him. Inej had been thinking about him a lot lately. Not that she was going to tell him.

What was she doing? Inej felt like a girl again. She shook her spiraling thoughts away again and focused on the present. She inhaled the salty yet comforting smell of the ocean as the bustling city of Ketterdam came into sight. Heart beating faster, Inej squinted as she tried to zoom in on Berth 22. She could faintly make out a small crowd. Two people leaning next to each other, probably Jesper on the right and Wylan on the left considering their massive height difference. She was happy for them, and hoped they were doing nicely in the Van Eck mansion. The past year had been so chaotic. She couldn't make out the bright and bubbly outgoing figure of Nina, Inej assumed she was probably in Ravka or still in Fjerda with... She couldn't cry now. Matthias... Inej sent up a silent prayer to her Saints, hoping Matthias was peaceful and hopefully happy in the afterlife. Her eyes glazed over a solitary figure leaning on a black stick, standing farther away from everyone else. Kaz... her Kaz had come... 

Black spots danced in her eyes as the majestic ship docked, the nostalgic clamor of the busy pubs filling the air. She ran over to Jes and Wylan, enclosing them in a bone-crushing hug. She pulled back after a while, taking in their comforting features. Jesper's deep brown skin and free, outgoing attitude, his dear pearl revolvers in holsters by his side. Wylan's red-gold curls and eager, bright blue eyes.

"Nina...?"

A train of sorrow hit their expressions. "Not here yet," Wylan exclaimed, the pang of sadness clear in his voice. Inej sighed. She gave them both a light kiss on the cheek, but then she saw the dark figure... Her vision tunneled. She slowly walked over, eyes drifting to a pair of un-gloved hands leaning on a cane.

"Kaz..." Inej said, trying to hear her own voice over the beating of her heart.

"Inej," Kaz replied, giving his head a sharp nod. Not knowing what she was doing, the girl extended her hand, unsure weather Kaz would shake it. Kaz carefully reached out and intertwined his fingers with her hand, shaking it a few times. He was trembling slightly, but did not pull away. Inej reached in for a hug and to her surprise, Kaz leaned in. He was trembling a bit more. She could see the smiles on Jesper and Wylan's faces from the corner of her eye.

                                                                               *

Inej lay perched on the windowsill of the Slat like old times, an angelic glow to her face from the radiant light of the sunset as she fed her crows. They seemed to be happy. She had told Kaz to feed the murder while she was gone; they didn't seem too happy with the change, but learned to accept him after a while. Inej's deep black lashes lay spread out, and she looked as calm and peaceful as ever. Kaz wanted to touch. He knew he wouldn't, though. Couldn't. His demons probably wouldn't allow it. Without opening her eyes, Inej asked,

"Did you miss me?"

Kaz's heart stopped. Did she really just ask him that? Of course he missed her, he would be a fool not to. He'd been in pain every day she was gone. Inej was the one who was keeping him alive. The thought of her. Every day. She was his lifeline. He felt frozen, unable to speak. Inej looked up, tired from her long journey and stared into Kaz's eyes. They were endless galaxies filled with fields of possibilities. Black holes that sucked every monstrous sin he'd committed and replaced it all with desire. They were staring at each other, gaze intense. Kaz could think of a million things he wanted to say, but couldn't get himself to blurt them out. When she looked away, hurting, Kaz said in the quietest tone,

"No." Inej's eyes shot to him wearily.

No longer in control of his body, Kaz limped over to the girl on instinct and leaned down to reach her level, bad knee cracking. The desire to cup her soft face pounded, but Kaz didn't know if he was ready just yet. Or Inej.

"Saying I missed you wouldn't cut it."

The next few seconds were blurred. Kaz's brain was screaming, telling him not to, but his heart seemed to have a mind of its own.

He touched Inej's face with his un-gloved fingers, gently tilted it upwards and put his lips on hers. They were both trembling, but couldn't seem to pull back. It was fire. The blaze that had been dormant for so long, but now was finally ignited. A few minutes later, they broke apart, their breathing shallow.

Inej smiled. To Kaz, it was the best feeling in the world.

They would have a chance.

A promise.

The world.