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nopeemi · 2 years

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the crows as a pirate crew! i made this for the Six of Crows BigBang 2022 @sixofcrowsbb for the fic Dead Man Don’t Get Paid

#sixofcrowsbb #socbb22 #six of crows fanart #six of crows #soc #grishasworld #shadow and bone #shadow and bone fanart #art #myart

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violetfolgi · 2 years

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Dead Men Don’t Get Paid

And last but not least, my third kanej contribution to the @sixofcrowsbb , this was done for Joce's (@freshwaterseas) Pirates of the Caribbean AU, "Dead Men Don't Get Paid" on ao3 here !! 🏴‍☠️🗡️☠️

I'm so happy with the result, plus a POTC au is just genius!!! Also go check out @nopeemi 's artwork for this fic too here <3 I loved getting to draw for this particular au, so hope you guys like it too!!

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siixofdoves · 2 years

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an everywhere of silver // a six of crows big bang fic

wesper, multi-chapter, mature

The Titanic might be one of the most impressive things Wylan had ever seen, but it was not The Ship of Dreams to him like it was to everyone else. It was a one way ticket to a life he did not want. He felt like screaming.

a very big thank you to @kindness-ricochets and @solarpqwer for betaing this fic, you both made it a lot better than it originally was, and I’ve loved hearing your thoughts on everything. another thank you to @verdiris for being the amazing artist for this fic <3. And thank you for organising this big bang @sixofcrowsbb

#six of crows #wesper #jesper fahey #wylan van eck #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #crooked kingdom #jesper x wylan #yes it is a titanic au #sixofcrowsbb #socbb22

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endoftheworldhere · 2 years

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They might seem like ordinary high school students but the Crows are actually an up and coming team of vigilantes in Ketterdam. They foil bank robberies (when they can collect a finder’s fee), steal from the rich (and sometimes give to the poor) and stop gangs (when they encroach on their territory, that is). When Jan Van Eck starts drafting a law that requires all people with powers to register with the government and mob boss Pekka Rollins starts working with notable indenture trader Heleen van Houden, however, superheroing goes from an after-school job to a matter of life and death.

---

My work for the Six of Crows Big Bang (beta-ed by the amazing @monrohakay) is out! It also has beautiful art drawn by @littlered-bird that I will link as soon as it’s posted. Hope y’all enjoy!

@sixofcrowsbb

#six of crows #six of crows fanfic #six of crows big bang #socbb22 #sixofcrowsbb #ao3 #ao3 link #homemade dynamite

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teacup-tyrant · 2 years

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Here it is boys, the KANEJ BABY FIC!

Summary: Now in their early thirties, Kaz & Inej are beginning to “settle down.” At least, they're trying. And for once, Kaz is willing to welcome new life changes with open arms... if only this certain life change would let him.

This was written for the Six of Crows Big Bang (@sixofcrowsbb) and with the help of lovely artist @violetfolgi and lovely beta @freshwaterseas. Art to follow soooon!!

#six of crows #six of crows fanfic #six of crows big bang #sixofcrowsbb #socbb22 #kanej baby fic

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ace-in-a-shopping-cart · 2 years

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Six of Crows Big Bang!

Special thanks to @davonysus and @elledritchorror for running this wonderful event known as @sixofcrowsbb!

I got paired up with a lovely Mermaid fic with the pairing of Wylan x Jesper. This fic was written by the wonderful and talented @jackwolfes, go give them some love! It was also beta’d by Dav (davonysus linked above) and @milkywayjj.

While you’re giving love to this amazing team, check out the art made by my fellow artist @im-doing-hot-girl-shit (Here’s her art!)

[Image ID: The silhouette of a man sitting on a rock and gazing at the sunset over a rocky beach. Hidden in the orange waters from the sunset is the head of a mermaid Wylan Van Eck. In front of the image is a conversation. In flowing print grey text outlined in green: “Did you steal my boots?” In angular print red text outlined in blue: “Why would I steal your boots? I don’t have feet.” The grey and green text again: “Well, where are my boots, then?” The red and blue text again: “Maybe they’re at the bottom of the ocean where you left them.” End ID]

[Image ID: A moodboard comprised of eleven images for the title of the fic. The top left image is water behind a tan and freckled male’s back edited to have scales on his sides and back and gills lining his sides. The middle top image is of a hand seemingly coming out of mist or pressing against a white sheet. The top right image is that of Jack Wolfe, the actor who will be playing Wylan Van Eck. The section below that is sunlight streaming through water. The middle left is a pale orange mermaid tail in front of water. The center image is a silhouette of a person, the sun behind them, splashing water with the droplets hanging in midair. The middle right image is the shoulders and lower jaw of a pale male with a hand resting gently on his collarbone. Beneath his hand, glitter can be seen lining his collarbones and accenting them while gills have been edited to rest along his neck. The next section is a continuation of an image from above, the light now softly hitting the ocean floor. The bottom left image is curly red hair on a pale head. The bottom middle image is a dark skinned hand gently holding a pale and freckled shoulder. The bottom right image is a pointed ear with a silver ring pierced in it with water as a background. Above the images of the sunlight in the water are the words “Blue Waves” atop the first and “Crashing” atop the second. The text is a dark blue and elegant cursive. End ID]

I had a lot of fun making these images and really enjoyed getting to pick little things about them. Almost every bit of these have more meanings than one might see at first glance (if anyone wants to, feel free to ask me to elaborate on them!)

#sixofcrowsbb #socbb22 #wylan van eck #jesper fahey #wylan x jesper #wesper #mermaid wylan #pirate jesper #the fic is really fun to read #those gills were a pain in the ass to make but they turned out sooooo well I can't be angry about it XD

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kindness-ricochets · 2 years

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Kazerella, or, Once Upon An Investment

[image ID: images of a teacup and cookie, a pair of brown-skinned legs wearing silver ankle boots and a ruffled pink skirt, colored pencils in a mug, a white rose on a dark background, and a sword and chainmail. They are within borders, over a background of an out-of-focus chessboard. At the bottom are the words “Once Upon An Investment”, and in smaller font beneath that, “Inexplicably, a Six of Crows fanfic”]

Kazerella, or, Once Upon An Investment

Summary: Nearly a year has passed since Princess Inej returned from an horrific ordeal. For a year, she's had privacy, gentleness, time to heal--but now she must return to court life. A royal ball is just the thing to re-introduce her, maybe meet someone, definitely spend time with her friends. It's just the thing for Kaz, too. Inviting commoners! Imagine all the glim and shine a man could lay his fingers on at such an event! Wylan has been close with Inej since childhood thanks to his father's position at court. That same position should be his, but how long can he and his father hide Wylan's inability to decipher the words in a ledger? If only he could run away with a certain handsome squire who just might be his soulmate... Jesper wants to be a knight. Just one more display of courage and valor, and he's sure he'll earn his shield and title. Then he can go on adventures, protect the weak, maybe even come home to a pretty artist. He'll have to rescue him first. Luckily Jesper's always seen himself as a hero. And when their lives all overlap and the clock strikes midnight? Well, anything could happen.

This work was written as part of @sixofcrowsbb, salvaged from the depths of first-draft-dom by betas @sunshinebunnie and @blood-dark-sea, with accompanying artwork by @sunshinesartisticquirk. (I'll reblog that once it's posted!) I really can't thank the whole group and the mods enough for this event! This was a really great experience because of both amazing betas and artists, and amazing mods, and I’m thrilled that I got to participate.

#sixofcrowsbb #socbb22 #six of crows fanfic #my writing #fairy tale au #soulmate au

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sunshinesartisticquirk · 2 years

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Clear the Stage for: Sharpshooter!

I made this tiny stage and Jesper for @ironwingedhawk's Fanfiction for the @sixofcrowsbb ! (Beta: @ace-in-a-shopping-cart )

[ID: a cut out figure of Jesper Fahey, dressed as a crime against Fashion, he is positioned on a tiny stand, a floor of rainbow stars, a cut-out spotlight and black background End ID]

#fanart #art #fanart account #my art #six of crows #six of crows fanart #jesper fahey #jesper fahey fanart #sixofcrowsbb

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nopeemi · 2 years

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this artwork was made for the SOC Big Bang, @sixofcrowsbb ,in collaboration with writer dimtraces and beta Monroha ! You can read Pull Me Up To Your Mouth on AO3 - i can highly recommend!

this was such a cool event to be a part of, thank you, organisers Dav and Nath!

(thank you for the oppurtinity of drawing dilf kaz and jesper it was a pleasure)

#socbb22 #six of crows #six of crows fanart #art #my art #leigh bardugo #shadow and bone #big bang #fanart #the crows #kaz and jesper #jesper fanart #kaz fanart #sixofcrowsbb #collaboration

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violetfolgi · 2 years

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"hand to your face as if to hide it" (link to ao3)

This is my first SoC Big Bang 2022 @sixofcrowsbb piece for the incredible enby Kaz fic written by the lovely Amira (0363_ThisIsDifficult_5915 on ao3). click for better quality!

[Image ID: digital drawing in brown and yellow hues of Kaz and Inej standing in front of a big oak tree, with words written on its trunk: "Jordan Rietveld" and "Kaz Rietveld", along with some scratches. The light reflects bright from behind the tree as Kaz contemplates the writing on it. / End ID]

I had such a fun time working with Amira @0363thisisdifficult5915 who wrote and discussed concept ideas for the drawing with me and Ace @ace-in-a-shopping-cart who betaed, thank you both for a great experience <3 this was truly lovely to make, y'all should go read the fic cause it's absolutely beautiful and takes you on such a journey. link up on the title!

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ironwingedhawk · 2 years

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Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Six of Crows Series - Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Jesper Fahey/Wylan Van Eck, Kaz Brekker/Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey & Inej Ghafa, Kaz Brekker & Jesper Fahey Characters: Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck, Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Måns Zelmerlöw, Petra Mede, Jan Van Eck, Colm Fahey Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Eurovision, Alternate Universe - Eurovision Song Contest, Kaz Brekkers insane plans, Undercover, Well sorts of Summary:

After hearing that the son of his arch nemesis, the politician Jan van Eck, is participating at Eurovision, Kaz talks Jesper into participating too. Chaos ensues.

So this is my Fic for the Six of Crows Big Bang. At least the first part of it. A giant THANK YOU to @ace-in-a-shopping-cart for being a great beta and to @sunshinesartisticquirk for the amazing art <3 https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/sunshinesartisticquirk/692486592239124480?source=share

@sixofcrowsbb

#sixofcrowsbb #six of crows big bang #six of crows #socbb #wesper

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jackwolfes · 2 years

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spin cycle

Wesper Laundrette AU (E) @sixofcrowsbb

He gets to hold the warmth of having a crush right in the middle of his chest like he’s a boy again, still delighted by the simplest things. He can’t sleep very consistently at all, but it’s an ache tampered by the fact that when he’s awake at the oddest hours, he gets to see a man that seems to be pretty much the same. He gets to see his Hot Laundrette Man. He gets to see Jesper.

Wylan really doesn’t mind using a laundrette; honestly, he doesn't. It’s just that when he starts getting to know the hot stranger that also uses the laundrette in the middle of the night, well. He starts to mind even less.

Art by @verdiris ; beta-ing by @davonysus

READ CHAPTER ONE ON AO3 NOW

#socbb22 #wesper #wylan van eck #jesper fahey #six of crows

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sketchymaan · 2 years

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My art for @endoftheworldhere’s amazing fic for @sixofcrowsbb!!

#six of crows #six of crows art #matthias helvar #nina zenik #jesper fahey #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #wylan van eck #moon's art

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read-watch-sleep · 2 years

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When The Chips are Down

Done for the glorious @sixofcrowsbb. Thank you to the mods for their kindness, hard work and patience. I totally posted on ao3 and forgot to post here, but better late than never!

Summary:

Kaz Brekker would walk for Inej-- would walk to hell and back. When his plan to steal the Sun Summoner from the train line to Hadestown goes awry, he might just have to do just that.

LINK

Beta’d by the amazing cormackthecrow and @ace-in-a-shopping-cart

Tags under the cut!

Fandom: Six of Crows Series - Leigh Bardugo, Hadestown Fusion Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage Relationships: Kaz Brekker/Inej Ghafa, The Darkling | Aleksander Morozova/Alina Starkov, Jesper Fahey/Wylan Van Eck, David Kostyk/Genya Safin, Matthias Helvar/Nina Zenik Characters: Inej Ghafa, Kaz Brekker, Kuwei Yul-Bo, Alina Starkov, Nina Zenik, David Kostyk, Jesper Fahey Additional Tags: Mature for canon typical violence, cannon typical sex slavery, Hadestown AU, the Darklina is NOT portrayed as a good or working relationship, Featuring The Darkling as Hades, Alina as Persephone, Kaz as Orpheus, Inej as Euridice, Ghezen as narrator, Kanej centric

#Kanej #six of crows bb #six of crows #wesper #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #david kostyk #fic writing #big bang fic #Helnik #SoC hadestown fusion

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theogony · 2 years

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Double Punch Entendre

A/N: Written for the @sixofcrowsbb <3 it was a pleasure joining everyone was super nice !! thank you so much Kenny ( @sunshinebunnie )for being an amazing beta and helping me bring this. meme to life <3 and cai (@bisexualoftheblade )! I am still going to take lessons from you after this on coding and thank you for the lovely podfic (link here) - working with the two of you were lovely and was a great experience <3

-oh. there's a body.

Nina kneels beside her, nudging the boy, before looking back up with wonder.

“He’s out cold,” she voices, oozing concern, but Inej can tell that there’s a very small part of her that’s desperately trying not to laugh.

oh, Inej thinks again, rather belatedly, as she finally processes the leather jacket, the studded ear, the vaguely familiar face. I just knocked out Kaz Brekker.

\\\

-Or, where he's a punk, and she does ballet, what more can I say?

[Also featuring an overzealous Nina Zenik, an overly flirtatious Jesper Fahey, and a too-blushy-for-his-own-good Wylan Van-eck. ]

READ ON AO3!

"I heard that Kaz Brekker ripped out someone's eye yesterday and the blood spot from it is still on the staircase. Not a single scratch on him."

"Ugh, no wonder that little freak was missing yesterday. You couldn’t pay me to mess with him."

As she opens her locker, Inej turns away from her half-hearted eavesdropping, the rest of her mind engaged with her day plans. With a full day of school and dance practice now, she figures that if she hurries to the bus stop, she'd have enough time for an iced mocha at the Dregs Cafe. Of course, after she got home, it was another hour of plies and arabesques, as well as another two hours of preparing for the approaching test-

"Earth to Inej -"

Nina frowns at her, her hands on her hips and her brows furrowed. "Are you even paying attention to what I'm saying?"

“Um.” Inej removes her outdoor shoes and slips into her pointe shoes.

“Inej.”

"Nina!" Inej huffs, knowing where this conversation is going.

Wylan pops out of nowhere, his arm around Inej's neck, having apparently overheard the last few words of their exchange.

"Nina, give her a break - she hasn't even changed yet and you're already harassing her for free waffles."

Miffed, Nina abruptly tugs his ear, hand wagging like an impatient grandma as she berates him for "monopolising their bank" - though to little effect, as Wylan is plainly having the time of his life, trying to hold in his laughter, and then failing when his cheeks are faintly red. Rolling her eyes at their comedy duo, she quietly slips off to change, ignoring the ruckus that emerges midway through her braiding her hair into a bun. As she makes her way back, what strikes her as odd though is the eerie silence that pervades the locker room - obscured by a large crowd which she slips her way through, frowning.

Nina's clearly restrained by 5-6 bigger thugs, hand and lip bloodied, and Inej almost misses the sight of Wylan's small frame in the corner, covered by a much larger guy who's clearly trying to strong arm him into agreeing to something. As she quietly stalks forward, she hears an awful, grating voice and sees a snaking finger curl around a loose curl, pulling it - and Inej suddenly sees red.

"You," she says, pointing a finger with the most fury she can muster as the boy abruptly swivels, "have the most annoying laugh I've ever heard."

Maybe it's simply because he's a major asshole, but really, no one can blame her if she moves forward, rearing back her arm hoping to smash something - if not an eye, at least a cheek.

What she doesn't expect though, is a sudden scramble - as though he was almost jerked back - yet a collision into something warm, something smooth, and a surprising sort of grunt that abruptly breaks off.

There's a bated silence, and Inej rubs her knuckles, frowning slightly at the red forming between them, from hitting something with too much force, before looking down at the-

-oh. there's a body.

Then everything breaks into pandemonium.

"Did you see that?"

"Oh shit, I had no idea the ballet department's spider had it in her!"

Nina kneels beside her, nudging the boy, before looking at Inej with wonder. “He’s out cold,” she voices, oozing concern, but Inej can tell that there’s a very small part of her that’s desperately trying not to laugh.

oh, Inej thinks again, rather belatedly, as she finally processes the leather jacket, the studded ear, the vaguely familiar face.

I just knocked out Kaz Brekker.

How could she have missed it before? The sharp jawline, the deepening frown, and the sliver of a tattoo exposed beneath his jacket sleeves.

Now though - there's also a purplish bruise on his left temple, with darker blotches the size of Inej's knuckles. When Nina goes over to pinch his cheek, his eyes remain closed and don't even flutter.

A sense of calm envelops Inej, the same resignation she imagines one would feel if they were sentenced to death, knowing their time is running out and they only have so many hours to contemplate their life. The only difference is that instead of the electric chair, she will have to choose between two options: A) the principal, which means suspension or, in the worst-case scenario, expulsion, or B), the much worse-case scenario - Kaz Brekker's wrath.

Onlookers still shriek at each other, some taking pictures with their phones, others yelling for the nurse to come (someone even calls for an ambulance initially). Ignoring them all, Inej braces his arms over her shoulders, Nina following suit a few seconds later, carefully lifting him to the stunned stares of the remaining spectators. Wylan raises an eyebrow but says nothing, and he falls into step behind both NIna and Inej as they walk toward the infirmary.

When they arrive at the infirmary, the nurse instructs them to place Kaz in one of the two beds and gently arranges his limbs so that they are straight along his sides, fingers curled loosely. Much to Nina's chagrin, the nurse forces her to bandage her wrist, and so the turbulent storm that is Inej's best friend departs, leaving behind a quiet Wylan and pensive Inej.

"I'm sorry-"

"I didn't mean to interfere-"

The conversation between them comes to a halt because of their words said in unison - and, unable to stop themselves, they both start laughing. The conversation dies down, leaving Inej to mull over her funeral arrangements in comfortable silence - because there's no way Kaz Brekker is leaving her alive - the least she can do is probably try to wager a not so bloody destruction.

A loud crash interrupts her thoughts for the umpteenth time that day, and the harsh footsteps that follow remind Inej in an eerie way of Nina's bubbly nature and inability to not draw attention to herself (as it should be - I'm important! a ghost Nina chimes in her head).

"So you're the one who knocked him out! Nice to finally get a face to the whispers of the spider."

Inej is too busy gaping at the horrific combination of green plaid and bright yellow trousers rather than addressing the boy who now who greets her, though not for long - his eyes stray to Wylan instead, whose eyebrows are now disappearing into his hair as he too stares down the - atrocity that the guy's wearing.

"So anyway, ignoring our current situation.. - the name's Jesper - here and queer and to strike fear and all of that show biz - though right now I'm here to pick up our good friend Kaz over in that bed", and saying so, he walks over to Kaz, whistling through his teeth as his eyes widen at the purpling bruise.

"Yeah... unfortunate circumstances indeed - I'm Inej. Inej Ghafa and uh... I'm.. really sorry about what happened to your... friend?"

Jesper's eyes widen, and he laughs before facing her with a grin.

"Nah, don't sweat it - he needs the occasional sense knocked into him anyway. Though who's your.. friend?"

Wylan jolts, a little offended, rounding on him with a frown which contrasts brightly with Jesper's sharp grin.

"I'm Wylan - and I can speak for myself!"

As Wylan and Jesper begin to bicker (it's... one-sided though, with Jesper clearly being amused), Inej is left to look down at Kaz's face again. It’s hard to believe he’s so violent, Inej thinks—right now he just looks - peaceful. But he has a wiriness to him, and although she's never seen him in action, she's heard the stories— perceptive as a crow, strikes brutal and precise. While Inej isn't thrilled that their first meeting occurs while Kaz is unconscious, she is relieved that she won't have to witness the rage firsthand. Maybe she'll be able to slip away before the nurse releases him, and Kaz will have to deal with the fact that he doesn't know her face when he starts the hunt. That should at the very least give her a good head start—

Kaz groans as the nurse suddenly comes into view, Nina in tow - causing the group of teens to rapidly speak over each other.

"What happened?"

"Do you mind taking your friend and leaving the premises before I throw you out myself for monopolising the infirmary?"

"Guys, I think we should get out.."

"Well.... I don't know about you Wylan, but I sure wouldn't mind you staying-"

"GET OUT!"

As she, Nina, and Wylan frantically escape the nurse's wrath, Inej is convinced that a) the nurse either has really good timing - or b) Kaz has really bad luck - or c) the universe has suddenly decided to give her a life extension in return for some good deeds she'd done.

Jesper's too busy staring off dreamily into the distance, the sounds are way too loud for him to exactly process what exactly just went on, and realistically - his cheek is still smarting from that punch. Resigned to his fate, Kaz simply frowns - preoccupying himself with trying to conjure up the silhouette of that girl who... punched and then carried him here. huh.

"Do you think I have a chance with that guy?"

Kaz coughs before curtly answering, stowing away his irrational feeling towards.. whoever that girl was for another evening.

"No way in hell."

"Oh shit, you're awake?"

As far as last days go - not that Inej has had much experience on the brink of death, regardless of rumours - she supposes this one is quite nice. Nina and Wylan (her best friends, even though they may be aggravating at times) accompany her to a café when she finishes baking the reconciliatory present, and Nina offers her her last waffle. Inej doesn't even protest about the missing half. When they've finished eating, she walks with them to the dance school, diligently practising her plies and deciding that for a change she would listen to Tante Heleen (the sub whom Nina refers to as Tante Hell. affectionately, apparently.) — she considers this something of a last hurrah, and thus decides to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment out of her few remaining moments.

"C'est la fin pour aujourd'hui... N'oublie pas de pratiquer tes arabesques. Spécialement Nina - perds du poids, mon dieu!"

Instead of hurrying out of the room like they both normally do, Nina's abnormally quiet as she unlaces her flats, pulling her hair down as though vexed.

"Nina..."

"Par pitié, laisse-me tranquille! eugh, that absolute - ducon of a woman doesn't know what she's going on about. maybe she should try looking in the mirror before insulting an actual student! But enough of me - you know I don't care much about that Hell's opinion anyway. The gift's prepared, isn't it ? And there's only one place Brekker can be anyway, you know that."

The subject change is swift, and even though there's still a tinge of concern laced into Inej's face, it's for the greater part reassured by Nina's outburst, replaced with a hint of fear and sudden indecision.

"Do you think he'll like it?"

Nina rounds on her, before jabbing her finger into her chest with a resounding "oomph".

"Girl, why wouldn't he like it? Kaz Brekker may be a gang leader but that doesn't mean he's a complete emotionless robot. Besides, you're Inej Ghafa - you'd probably be able to charm him even if he was an absolute monster. Didn't we go over this - it's not that deep. You'll survive. and even if you don't, I'm sure you'll be able to haunt his ass from the grave."

By the time Nina's finished with her long spiel, they've both reached the end of the hallway where Wylan's been assigned as "scout" and "distraction".

Kaz leans against the wall outside of the abandoned room - the self proclaimed "crow-club" of shady deals and Ravka High - back rigid and straight, studiously ignoring all the other students in the hall, who are murmuring behind their hands— That's Brekker, isn't it? What happened to his face? Who's crazy enough to have messed with him?

Wylan places a firm hand against Inej's elbow as she swallows, throat suddenly dry again. "Don't worry, Nina and I will be right over there. We probably won't be able to fight him, but we can buy enough time for someone to secure some tranquillisers."

"Or Inej could just knock him out again," Nina suggests, glancing at Wylan as they both snort - before bursting out laughing.

"...Well, you're not... wrong..”

“Exactly,” Nina smiles. “Now, go get ‘em, tiger.” Inej barely steps foot in the hallway before Kaz quickly rotates around to face her, almost as if he has eyes in the back of his head.

Inej's stomach sinks when she sees that the bruise has seemed to become impossibly worse. Kaz's entire right side of his face is swollen, with the worst of it just next to one of his catlike brown eyes. He's frowning and moving his weight from side to side, arms folded across his chest.

"Your business?"

"Is that... are you going to be okay?"

Kaz blinks, surprised by the question, before awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck before answering.

"It'll take more than that to knock me down."

"... I guess."

The short conversation dithers off, before Kaz levels her with a gaze that's.. somehow not angry.. just.. curious.

"Anything else?"

With a jolt, Inej awakens from her temporary stupor, before busying herself with the short giftbag's ribbon, ensuring it was tight.

"Oh and - this is for you!"

If Inej thought that Kaz looked surprised a few seconds back, it's nothing compared to the face of utter bewilderment as he accepts the bag, turning it over and pulling at the drawstring to the smell of buttered cookies.

"Consider it... an apology? For the other day-"

Kaz stiffens, before immediately going to return the cookies. "I know you didn't do it on purpose, I'm not going to.. come after you or anything."

"Well... that's relieving.. but that doesn't mean you have to return the gift back! I promise my cooking isn't that inedible."

It's only then that Inej notices the faint blush that dusts his pale skin, and she's hit with the sudden thought that it doesn't exactly - not suit him.

"Inej! The bus is going to be here soon!"

Oh shit, she frantically thinks, before pushing the bag into his hands, patting the jacket of his shoulder awkwardly and rushing away with a goodbye - thus missing his forlorn gaze, slowly tracing her fading sillhoute.

The next morning at school, Inej finds herself uncharacteristically preoccupied with Kaz Brekker. Her braids are messily done, and she turns around at every half noise, expecting (or was it more of hoping?) to see his expression once again.

Though she still thinks she'd be equally as surprised on any normal day to see Jesper (who's now sporting a yellow tartan jacket from.. somewhere) leaning against her locker, holding a token in his hand.

"I came to bring you this!"

It's a box, and while Inej's first thought is, "Is it a bomb?" Upon opening it, she discovers (much to her astonishment) a little German chocolate cake, covered with icing expertly spun into pale pink flowers. It appears to be delightful, and she looks up for an explanation.

Jesper clears his throat, before grinning.

“This is, an, uh, a gift from Kaz. He got a little tied up this morning so he asked me to give it to you. And to tell you it's only fair that he gets to pay you back. Though if you ask me, he was also struggling to ask you out."

Inej is certain her brain's short circuited, and she hears the distant bark of Nina's laugh.

"What."

"Yeah, though he may put it off for a few days? I promise that he's genuinely not a bad guy, he just gets paralysed easily in social situations - especially when he's around someone he likes. And besides, the way he talked about you.... Trust me, he's really a softie at heart."

Softie. Paralysed around someone he likes. The fact he talked about her.

Inej is fully certain now that it's the extra espresso shots from last week that are causing her to hallucinate.

"Anyway, Kaz is probably gonna try to find you sometime today. Give him a chance, okay? He’s not that bad, I swear.”

The warning bell rings, and even though Inej feels as though she may spontaneously combust, Jesper still lingers, almost bashfully looking away.

"Also... do you by chance... have Wylan's number..?"

For the first time in her known memory, Inej is late for class.

Inej eats the cake during lunch. It’s all she eats, and she eats the entire thing. By the time she’s finished her brain is buzzing from the sugar rush, but she just hadn’t been able to stop. It was delicious.

"What are you going to say?" Nina inquires lightly, her chin resting on her palm. The way she's grinning like a cat ruins her nonchalance.

"I...I don't know," she admits. "Nobody has ever liked me before... and I'm not sure what to do." When Nina's cough turns into a laugh, she frowns, perplexed.

"Half the girls in ballet and literally all of the mathletes love you, Inej," Nina adds. "You're so brilliant in everything else that you're an idiot when it comes to romance." Inej turns to Wylan for support, but she realises he's too busy tapping away on his phone (and the redness on his face makes it clear who he's chatting to) to pay attention.

"Who knew it only took a cake to win your heart?"

"He didn't capture my heart!" Inej argues halfheartedly.

"Inej, the fact that you're bothered by this at all suggests otherwise", Nina continues, eyes softening. "All I'm saying is that maybe it's time you be honest with yourself?"

Inej normally doesn't leave class so early, skipping up the stairs with a spring in her step, but somehow Nina's not surprised by the fact she's ditched her.

"Did you bake it yourself?" She blurts out, rounding the corner, almost crashing into a very surprised Kaz. The cake was perfectly moist, and the icing wasn't too sweet - but it didn't taste like it had been bought—it tasted like it had been made with care, and Inej is instantly struck by the mental image of Kaz Brekker with an apron.

"Did you enjoy it?" Kaz asks in turn, his eyes downcast as though bracing himself for.... rejection?

"I did it. It was delicious."

"That's... good." He sounds pleased, and it's only now that Inej takes a step closer, provoking Kaz to look up, bright eyes wide. Inej doesn't know Kaz. She has no idea what he loves to do (other than fight), she has no idea how he thinks about ballet, and she has no idea whether they have anything in common. But she does know one thing.

I want to get to know you better.

"Have you ever tried the nearby cafe's waffles?"

Kaz's eyes are wide like saucers, before he shakes his head.

"Well, I have ballet now, but after that, do you think you'd like to come with me? We don't have to have waffles, though I promise they're very good as well."

Despite the fact that her voice drifts off, she doesn't remove her piercing stare. She wants to learn more about this boy because, despite everything, her heart is still thumping so loudly that she can feel it in her throat.

"Sure," Kaz finally agrees, a bit breathlessly. "I would be honoured, Inej."

And Inej smiles, knowing this could be the start of something worthwhile.

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