❝ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❞ | kaz brekker

¹² home sweet home

❝ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❞

home sweet home

It was nice to see that Ketterdam hadn't changed. It was still bustling with people, even in the dead of night. 

"Home sweet home," Jesper sighed as they walked along the street. "Straight off the boat from Ravka and no one was waiting to kill us as soon as we arrived."

"Please don't jinx us," Paedyn playfully elbowed him. He shot her a grin.

"I think I might celebrate with a little dice and debauchery."

"No debauchery," Kaz spoke up.

"Dice then," Jesper decided.

Kaz snapped. "No dice. We have stops to make."

"What's first?" Inej asked. "Tante Heleen?"

The woman in charge of the Menagerie. Paedyn frowned, but walked a little further so she was walking next to Kaz.

She took a deep breath before asking, "Can I kill her? So, you don't have to pay those last installments?"

Kaz looked down at her, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He spoke quietly, just so his voice would reach her ears alone. "I don't mind paying those installments for you. Or Inej." Then he turned to the girl who had asked about Heleen first. "Later. Now, we get to the Crow Club."

It wasn't long before the four crows stood in front of what used to be their club. Now, a different green sign replaced their crow and new security guards were stationed out front.

"Where's our sign?" Jesper asked.

Kaz's voice was hollow. "It's been replaced."

"The Kaelish Prince?" Inej said, catching Paedyn's attention.

"What sort of name is that?" Jesper frowned.

"Dime Lions," Kaz muttered.

"If that's the case, I'd figure he would've named it the Kaelish King," Paedyn said, keeping her eyes on the strange sign.

"Wait, Pekka Rollins owns the Crow Club?" Inej asked in disbelief.

"I thought Heleen was supposed to get it?" Paedyn muttered, recalling Inej informing her of what Kaz did so the girls could travel with him.

"Where does that leave us? Are you saying we have no home?" Jesper questioned.

Kaz was silent. Paedyn walked towards him, looking into his eyes. It was like he wasn't really there. His eyes seemed so, distant.

"Kaz?" She whispered, knowing better then to rest a hand on his shoulder like she wanted to. His jaw clenched and she could've sworn his whole body shuddered before he look down at her.

"My suits. All my hats," Jesper wailed from behind them. Kaz turned to face the other crows.

"Split up. It's not safe," he spoke with a rushed tone.

They all nodded and began walking in different directions just as a whistle was blown. Paedyn took a step backwards as stadwatch surrounded their exits. It was likely they had been paid to take them in, the brunette concluded. They'd hadn't committed a crime in Ketterdam since long before they left for Ravka.

"Halt! You four. Hands up!" One shouted with a sneer. "Kaz Brekker, Jesper Fahey, Inej Ghafa, and Paedyn Anders."

Another one grinned. "Only a matter of time before you turned up."

"Is there a problem?" Kaz asked.

"For you? Yeah. You're wanted for murder."

"What? We just got back in town," Jesper spoke up, "Unless it's a crime to kill Volcra."

"Very funny, gunslinger. Now, slowly, hand over those shooters."

One of the stadwatch happily took Jesper's guns from him. The one in charge turned to Kaz. "And you. Give up the cane."

Then his cane was gone too. The man turned to where Inej had stood, the girl having disappeared while they were focused on Jesper.

"And you, spy..." He paused, blinking for a second. "Oi! Where she'd go?"

"Yeah," Jesper drawled. "She does that."

A few men ran down the alley behind them, in hopes for finding the missing girl. The stadwatch turned to Paedyn next.

"Hand over your weapons. Slowly."

Paedyn did as she was told. She handed him her three knives first, before she handed him the bag with her bow and arrows. The man sneered as he opened it, looking inside.

"Three's enough for now. Come on. Off to Hellgate to await trail."

Paedyn stood still as they placed the handcuffs at her wrists. She hoped Kaz had a plan. Really, he always did, but Hellgate was not something Paedyn wanted to experience.

When the boarded the carriage, Paedyn made sure to sit beside Kaz, scooting as close as she could to the man beside her.

"Let's all go back to Ketterdam. It'll be fun, they said," Jesper spoke as the carriage began moving. He scoffed. "Now I'm off to Hellgate. Hellgate."

Paedyn didn't say anything, feeling Kaz get closer to her. When his shoulder pressed against hers, she was about to try scooting over again, but her eyes caught the man on Kaz's other side.

The man had no sense of personal space, sitting with his own shoulder pressed to Kaz's. Paedyn glanced up at him, but he kept his gaze on the ground in front of them. His face was pale and a thick layer of sweat was adorning his skin.

She wasn't sure what to say or do to help him, but when he started to tremble, she knew she needed to do something.

"Pekka's got his fingers in every part of that pie," Jesper continued to rant, unaware that Kaz's breathing was growing ragged. "We end up there, we're as good as dead."

"Kaz," Paedyn began, "Kaz, look at me."

Finally, Jesper had stopped talking. "Boss?"

Slowly, Paedyn put her hand on top of his gloved one. She laid it there gently, giving him space to pull away. But this was how he had comforted her back on the skiff. Maybe it would work for him too.

Just as she was about to pull away, scared she had crossed a line, Kaz's hand gripped hers.

"Hey, stop this wagon!" Jesper shouted, banging on the walls.

Kaz muttered something softly, so soft Paedyn couldn't hear it. She tilted her head, leaning closer so she could hear better.

"Paedyn," he muttered again. 

"I'm here," she whispered, "I'm right here."

Jesper continued hitting the walls of the wagon, to no avail. A prisoner snapped at him, but Jesper ignored him.

"Stop this wagon! Now!" Jesper shouted again. Paedyn and Kaz rose their heads as the door opened. Slowly, he pulled his hand away from hers. He turned to the door, still trembling slightly.

"You three," the guard said, pointing at them. "Out."

"Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure," Jesper said with a smile. "Come on."

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author's note: first chapter of act two!! personally, season two was my favorite so I've been really excited to write this