Hey Sunshine

Inej: A Brief Respite

"I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT WYLAN," Inej told Kaz as she packed her bags. "What if something happened to him?"

Kaz bit his lip, and Inej knew him well enough to know he was worried. "Then we'll drag him out of there," Kaz said dismissively. "The boy's managed to find his way into mafia territory several times - and we both know Oksanochka's no joke."

Inej shrugged. "She's gotten older. She's less harsh these days - and the mafia's getting handed over to Bollinger and Gretina anyway."

Kaz gave her a careful glance. "Are you telling me Wylan's unable to hold his own?"
Inej shook her head. "He's went through getting his apartment trashed, getting a threat letter, and making close friends with mafia members in the past couple months. I wouldn't embarrass him like that."

Kaz considered her words. "Perhaps you wouldn't, but I doubt this father's trust in his own son," Kaz said, lip curling with distaste. Inej knew Kaz's hatred for family disloyalty. Nothing is stronger than blood was once Kaz's words when he had first transferred to the orphanage. Inej hadn't the heart to tell him he was wrong, but she felt he had learned over time.

"Ever the hatred for filicide," Inej said lightly, but Kaz nodded. His mind was clearly no longer by her side and lightly she ran a hand down his shoulder.

"Kaz, you're no longer there," she told him firmly. "And we'll get Wylan back. I want to get on the plane fast enough so we can get back to Amsterdam by the time it's nine. Jes is freaking out."

"I can't believe you booked a plane," Kaz told her darkly. "What happened to loyalty? You know my hatred of them."

Inej smiled at the familiar whining tone in his voice, and she knew nobody else was allowed to see him like this - bare, unrestrained, like the boy he was supposed to be before everything else happened. Her thoughts were tainted of Wylan though, so she quickly rubbed his shoulder and moved on.

"For once, let's ignore your fear of airplanes and just save Wylan from whoever," Inej said, and for once Kaz silently went along with what she said.

#

Evidently, Kaz had not silently gone along with what she said and had planned a train ride while she went on the airplane.

"Kaz," she said exasperatedly. "We are not travelling separately. You are not taking a train back to Amsterdam, and arriving five hours later than I am. I can't believe you tried to sneak away from me. Me!"

"I can't believe it didn't work," Kaz grumbled as Inej clutched onto his forearm with enough strength to keep him by her side.

"You do that again and I'll take your cane from you," Inej threatened and Kaz gave her an answering sneer. Both of them were aware that it wouldn't stop him, but it would make his trip an uncomfortable one.

Kaz stayed silent as she checked in both of their bags but even as they walked into the waiting area, Inej kept a grip on his forearm, letting it slowly slide down into his hands.

"I don't want to go on the plane - I can just drive myself," he insisted and Inej gave him a dry look.

"In what world would I let you do that?" she asked rhetorically. "If I'm not even letting you take a train ride why would I let you drive yourself?"

"Speed limits?"

"You mean, 'breaking speed limits'?" Inej suggested and Kaz gave her a warm smile, brightening his coal dark eyes into a light coffee mixture.

"Obviously not, Inej darling," he said sweetly. "What do you take me for - a criminal?"

"Never a criminal," Inej said sarcastically. "What? Little old you?"