❝ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❞ | kaz brekker

⁰¹ the crow club

❝ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❞

the crow club

Long before Paedyn helped Inej during a scuffle on a Crow's heist, she had earned herself a place as one of Heleen's "best girls." Heleen had nicknamed her the raven, after hearing from the other girls how well she adapted to the darkness.

The night and the shadows were like a second home to Paedyn. That's where she survived, away from prying eyes and silks. 

Thanks to her Suli friend, Paedyn's first home was now with the Crows. After following Inej one night and unintentionally helping Brekker, a close friend of hers, she was offered a job. 

She had started off with bartending, Kaz's way of making sure the brunette would be a good addition to his team. The next heist proved that much.

Without having to actually work downstairs, Paedyn found herself not having much to do during her free time. Kaz was paying off her indenture, so she wasn't at the Menagerie as much as she used to be. Gambling and drinking weren't hobbies of hers, although she did enjoy watching Jesper catch cheaters occasionally. 

Paedyn walked through the crowd, looking for her sharpshooter friend. A gunshot rang through the building and she knew exactly where he was. She grinned to herself, seeing that Kaz had gotten to him first.

Staying back, the Ravkan girl watched Jesper nod to Kaz before making his way back to the door, where he was supposed to be in the first place. 

Sighing, she glanced around for Inej. She was always hard to spot, especially in the crowded club. Chances were that she wasn't even in the building, rather looking for a job. That's what Paedyn usually resorted to doing most nights, wanting to feel somewhat useful for something other than heists.

Inej was sneakier though, making her the better candidate for job hunting. Paedyn bit the inside of her cheek, glancing over at the bar. 

Back when she bartended, she could tell Kaz enjoyed seeing how much money the bar could make in one night. All it took was a bit of flirting with customers, harmless stuff. 

A few guys sat at the bar, the same ones she saw about an hour ago. The bottle in the new bartender's hand was still far from being empty. She contemplated going behind the counter again. Kaz didn't mind it when she did, although she doubted he ever would since it brought him more money.

Paedyn was bored. The new bartender was a nice guy and wouldn't let any of the guys touch her. It couldn't hurt, plus there's always the chance that she'll make some tips.

─ ☆ ─

Later that night, Paedyn found herself seeking Kaz's company. It wasn't uncommon, the two of them often spent their evenings together in silence. While Kaz was in his office going over some last minute paperwork, she was in his bedroom. Paedyn flipped through the pages of her book, sitting quite comfortably on his bed.

She was barely halfway done with page when she heard movement in the adjoined room. Kaz made his way over to his sink, not sparing the brunette a glance. 

"Done for the night?" Paedyn asked, carefully dog-earing the page in her book. 

"I noticed the bar earned more tonight than it's been averaging," He spared the girl a glance from the corner of his eye. Paedyn, having been apart of Kaz's crew for half a year now, understood what it meant.

"I was bored. Figured I'd try to help out," She explained, placing her book down in her lap.

Kaz hummed in response, turning his attention to his gloves. Paedyn watched as he carefully took his gloves off, placing them on the side of the sink as he began washing his hands.

He caught her eye for a moment before continuing to wash his hands. He opened his mouth as if to speak but stopped. Paedyn felt it too. The hairs on the back of their necks prickled, alerting them of another body in the room.

"Hello, Inej." Kaz spoke, glancing at the Suli girl from the mirror at the same time Paedyn softly greeted her friend. "What information do you have for me tonight?"

Inej walked closer, allowing the light from the oil lamps to let her be seen. "I've got a lead on a job. A big one. Enough money to change lives."

Paedyn glanced back down at her book. Any amount of money was enough to change her life.

"It doesn't take much to change someone's life in the barrel," Kaz's eyes met Paedyn's again, as if the boy read her mind. Paedyn tore her eyes away first, looking over at Inej again. 

"A million kruge?" Inej offered, a knowing grin on her face.

Kaz turned around to face her, slipping his gloves back on. "What's the name?"

"Dreesen. A wealthy merchant."

"I know of him. He could afford it," Kaz replied.

"What's worth a million kruge to him?" Paedyn questioned, tracing the shapes on the book cover.

Inej glanced at her friend. "He's looking for a crew willing to cross the Fold into East Ravka and bring something back."

Paedyn paused, her finger no longer tracing the lettering on the spine. "East Ravka?"

Inej look at her again, picking up on the hesitation in her voice. "That's right. Through the Fold and back."

"The Fold?" Kaz muttered under his breath. "Well, of course, certain death pays a million. He didn't say what he wants nicked?"

"No." The girl in front of him shook her head. "He's taking meetings tonight, starting at midnight."

Kaz tilted his head. "Tell me you followed him."

"He brought someone in from a ship. Took a back way to his house through the Garden District to avoid attention." 

Kaz nodded slightly, a sign that he heard and understood her. But he didn't say anything, instead choosing to move back into his office. 

Paedyn moved, letting her feet hit the floor as she and Inej followed Kaz to his desk.

"So," Inej started. "What's our move?"

Kaz leaned over his desk, glancing up at Paedyn. "You're from West Ravka."

The girl in question nodded. A white lie, one she had been using since she first stepped foot in Ketterdam. 

"What's it like?" Inej whispered.

"I didn't get close to it unless I had to," Paedyn looked at Inej first, then Kaz.

"Surely you know how people cross it?" Kaz pressed further.

"Usually by skiffs, but they didn't always make it across. The ones that did never had many survivors."

Kaz sighed, looking back down at his desk. "Someone has to know a way across. Go out and listen for anything. Both of you."

The girls nodded, Inej slipping out through the window while Paedyn made her way downstairs.

┌───────────── ☆ ─────────────┐

author's note: first chapter!