𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 — out of spite

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 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 of the shingled roof had begun to sting at Aleksa's skin. She and Inej had stayed side by side for some time, watching as the lacklustre stars twinkled in the sky, obscured by a mass of fog that frequently washed over the city.

 The shadows around them had danced whenever Aleksa wiggled her fingers; she created shapes, creatures and masses of darkness before the Suli girl's eyes, until a particular feathery creature decided that enough was enough and he needed his attention back.

 Cas was an odd thing, he would have been even if he hadn't been blessed with two heads, four eyes and dual beaks. He hopped from tile to tile and nuzzled at Inej's hand until the girl gave in and tousled his feathers... Like a cat, he made himself well at home within Aleksa's lap, almost cooing as she ran her fingers over his coal-black feathers.

 Inej had always regarded Aleksa as somebody special, seeing her through a rose-coloured lens. She was a Grisha, and an incredibly rare one at that. A Shadow Summoner; even the name of their bloodline could make a person shiver and recoil.

 The stories of the Black Heretic had made Inej sceptical upon their first meeting, and even for the weeks following... But it was soon evident to Inej that Aleksa wasn't her ancestor. She could descend into darkness and frighten anyone she needed to, even without the help of her shadows, yet the other side of her was so unlike anything Inej could have foretold.

 She was just a young woman who craved the adrenaline an adventure brought her. She desired being desired, and took whatever she craved. But above all else, Inej had never had the fortune of meeting anybody just as loyal as she.

 She was the newest of the crows, even still, yet Inej had never seen anybody win Kaz Brekker over in the same manner that Aleksa had. She was charming, that much was impeccably obvious; and had Inej not grown to love her like a sibling, she was certain she'd have fallen for her too, but Kaz was not somebody to be won by charm alone.

 Kaz sought the one of a kind. He wanted the strong, the brave and most of all, the loyal.

 Aleksa had always voiced her opinion, even in times where Inej thought it better to keep her mouth shut; she was unafraid of Kaz, and the Bastard of the Barrel knew it. She wouldn't shrink beneath his cold gaze, if anything she grew and opposed him further. She fought for Inej and Jesper and repeatedly called Kaz out when she decided he was being shitty enough to do so.

 Not once had Kaz Brekker stopped her. Sure, his cane would often collide with her ankle or forearm, but always in jest. He scowled and sneered at her, yet never threatened or truly fought her. He valued her strength and her opinion.