“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who

Description: This is not the first time Villain comes home half-beaten to death, however, this time, Civilian has had enough of their partner carelessly risking their lives. A storm comes along, and their not sure their relationship will survive this time.

Warnings: angst, fighting, blood and injuries

"I'm not asking you to stop. I simply wish for you to be more careful!" Civilian exclaimed, trying to keep their cool. 

What had started as a worried remark took a turn into a soon-to-be argument. Villain turned to them with a glare, slowly reaching for their glass of whisky, trying and failing to hide the painful throb in their side. 

"Civilian, please. Darling, you can't expect to win a fight without taking some calculated risks," Villain retorted, taking slow sips of the amber-like liquid, hoping for the alcohol to numb the pain. "Besides, I'm alive aren't I? We should be celebrating Enemy's defeat, I'm pretty sure that bastard won't dare to question my authority in a long time."

And with an airy shrug, Villain poured another glass of whisky and downed it all in one go. Despite having consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, Villain winced every time he had to stretch their arms or stand up in general, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Civilian. 

 Civilian stopped their pacing to fully direct their attention to Villain. They looked unnaturally pale, their sickly pallor serving as a canvas to splotches of blue and purple bruises. When Villain had arrived earlier that night, they had almost toppled over Civilian, they could barely stand, leaving a scarlet trail in their wake. 

It was not the first time for Villain to come home in such a haggard state, but that did not stop Civilian's heart from trembling or for their mind to be occupied by grim premonitions on whether this time Villain's visit would be the last. Civilian had already come to accept all the risks and repercussions they could have from dating a criminal, they respected their profession, if one could call terrorism and blackmailing one, and did not intend to persuade Villain to abandon their career. However, Civilian thought Villain was too confident for their own good. Don't get them wrong, Villain's blasé attitude and their smart arrogance were one of the many traits that Civilian adored, unfortunately when it came to fighting heroes and enemy villains that was not the case. 

Civilian had seen the confrontation on national tv, it started as a peaceful agreement and could have ended as a simple and beneficial negotiation if only Villain hadn't decided to make a bold bargain. Villain was asking for more territory than was stated, and even though Villain was by far more capable and skilled than Enemy, the bargain was completely uncalled for. If Villain hadn't been so keen on humiliating Enemy, then they wouldn't be slouched on the couch with barely concealed pain. 

Villain had assured Civilian it was a calculated risk, that all the cards would work in their favor, while Civilian did not want to doubt Villain's strategic abilities, it was not the first time one of their "calculated risks" ended in Villain endangering their life. 

"Would it kill you to take your life more seriously?!" Civilian exclaimed, the stress finally extinguishing their calm facade. 

Villian winced at their sudden loudness, trying and failing to fight off their headache. It was unusual for their partner to raise their voice, Civilian was the kind and collected one in their relationship. Now it was Villain's turn to glare at them with an annoyed expression, struggling to keep their cool as well, "Can we not do this now, Civilian? We should be celebrating."

"Celebrating?!" Civilian asked incredulously, "Celebrating what? That you can barely move without popping a few stitches? Or all the other times that you came home half-beaten to death?!"

"Well if I'm such a bother, then I'll refrain from coming to see you after a fight, " spat Villain, turning their gaze elsewhere so Civilian wouldn't see the hurt in their eyes. 

"No! What bothers me is that you could have died!" shouted Civilian, no longer caring about keeping a diplomatic posture. "Have you ever wondered how I feel every time a have to patch you up? Wondering if you are going to make it or not? Holding on to a thin veil of hope each time you close your eyes, never sure if you will open them again?"

Villain's pain was bordering on the edge of unbearable, their short temper and time made Villain finally snap into that cold-unnerving calm that terrified heroes. 

Villain laughed humorlessly, "Of course, this had to be about you, everything must always be about you.," Villain continued, slowly stalking towards Civilian, oblivious to the chaos to come. 

"We had this conversation a million times and still you can't understand, can't you, love?" Villain said, towering over Civilain's form. The nickname that used to be endearing, now cutting Civilian's breath short and dousing their partner's fire, morphing into uncomfortably. 

"You knew what you were signing up for when you agreed to take me as your partner," Villain whispered, voice deceivingly gentle, and it would have calmed Civilian if they hadn't seen Villian use it so many times before with their enemies. This was just the calm prior to the storm, and, Civilian ruefully knew that this storm was going to destroy them. 

"However, now I realize you might have never understood what it meant, and consequently, it means you have never understood me," Villain continued, not a single trace of their nonchalant nature present, for only ice and bitterness remained, "You foolishly thought you could change me, did you not?"

Pushing impossibly closer, Villain murmured, "Just like the rest, you are scared. At the minimum sign of danger, you wish to disappear, only staying for the good moments never for the hardships."   

Villain stared at Civilian like an ensnared pray, in a way, Civilian supposed they were, trapped in the cruel implications of Villain's words. Civilian was not scared of Villain, they knew they would never hurt them, but that did not stop them from inwardly flinching at the acidic taste Villain's words hinted at, "Tell me which was more exciting: The prospect of taming the beast or the power that being with the beast brought?"

"No, Villain, I'm not trying to ch-" Civilian scrambled to correct them, heartbroken that Villain thought they were just using them but were quickly interrupted by Villain separating from them. 

Back facing Civilian, the criminal began speaking normally with an indifferent tone, "Well, this conversation has proven to be quite enlightening. I believe we can come to a conclusion on how to proceed onwards." 

Civilian froze, arms unconsciously wrapping around themselves, in a poor imitation of what Villain used to do when on the border of a breakdown. Civilian quietly asked, "Wh-What do you mean?"

Seconds bled into the deafening silence, both lovers staring at each other, wondering who will be the one to push them down the precipice. Both waiting, feebly hoping one will pull them up the edge and salvage the remaining pieces of what they once were but when both parties are hanging there is only one choice: who will fall down first?

"This is the end." 

It might have been as the fall of a feather or a strike of lightning, a summer breeze whisper or a blazing fire but Civilian did not know the tone Villain used to make that four words sting as much as they did. They realized it would not have mattered for they would have torn them apart regardless. This was the storm they had awaited and it had indeed destroyed them. 

"Villain..., no, don't do this, I-" 

"Don't you understand?" Civilian's words fell on deaf ears, for their pleas were silenced by Villain. The quiet again, the flashing of light mimicking false hope, "I don't want you here anymore."

 And usually, after a lighting blow, comes the rain and that is when Civilian's tears fell. The sound of muffled sobs overflowed the apartment, as Civilian gathered a few of their belongings and hurriedly left. 

A Frankenstein retelling meets dark fantasy, shadow manipulation, revenge, and a deal with an unlikely visitor. 

(I've been having lots of inspiration lately so I will be posting original stories as well as fandom-related ones. Please tell me what you think. )

Mournful wails resounded through the prison tower like an eerie lullaby chilling the very bones of the cruelest and most despicable men that have ever existed. Gusts of wind, cold and unforgiving, accompanied the skitterish sounds of fleeting rodents looking for food, however, their search would prove to be futile for, it was intended that every being to ever have the disgrace of ending at Tenebra was never to get out alive. Meager rations and mental strength were the only things that slightly prolonged a prisoner's miserable life in a place so God-forgotten that even those who society called monsters begged and cried for death to come and take them. 

In the highest prison tower, in a lonely rust-damaged cell, a sliver of moonlight fell upon the figure of a woman. Black iron cuffs coiled around her bony wrists and ankles, attached to the cuffs, a ridiculous amount of black iron chains threatened to pull her through the floor by their burdening weight. Such a ridiculous countermeasure, as if the frail young woman who, if not for the almost unnoticeable movement of her chest, looked as pale and as dead would ever be able to move an inch with those black monstrosities cinching her limbs. 

A cruel punishment given by ignorant men who sought to kill anything they could not understand, who were too stubborn to comprehend that what she had just accomplished was one of the biggest breakthroughs humanity would ever witness. If this had happened a few months prior she would have screamed, begged for an audience, pleaded to present her case, and explained just how deeply wrong they were, the benefits of her discovery to society, her genius accomplishment to science. She wanted to make them see she could be more, that she had always been more. 

Instead, she just stayed there on the grimy and dust-covered floor, quiet, uncannily still, resting her head against the icy brick wall, calmly awaiting the gelid embrace of death for she had given up any hope for humanity since that fateful night. The start of her predicament, the loss of her dream that one day people would see her for who she truly was. And now, chains to last a thousand lifetimes suffocated her reminding her of what exactly society thought she was, a ridiculous dream indeed.  

And just like that, in a fraction of a second, it seemed like an invisible force had sucked what little life remained in the prison of Tenebra. The slow condemning footsteps of jailors and the creak of old metal seemed to stop at once, the desperate cries of the abandoned nor the tiptoeing of vermin could be heard, expectantly holding their breath for something far darker. 

The young woman finally opened her eyes and the sight in front of her would have been enough to stop her already weak heart if she had not already known what she would find, or rather who. Tenebra was known to be a place eternally sunk in darkness, cells as dark as obsidian once night fell but now her room looked as if it were home to an endless black void. Among that eternally consuming darkness, a voice spoke:

"Have you finally accepted your destiny?", it said. 

However, the young woman was not quite sure if she could call it a who. It had paid her several visits even before her imprisonment, she had never seen It, and yet she knew it was there. But even so, she was not certain It should even be considered an it, whatever It was it was far more complex to comprehend, more like a devilish thought, a whispered prayer and idea. 

The woman kept quiet but did not close her eyes, expression betraying nothing, empty eyes staring at nothing in particular. 

"You waited far too long, hoping to delay the inevitable but we both know there is no escaping it."

The voice wasn't quite a voice either, it was everywhere and nowhere at once, a single cadence and a cacophony of millions at the same time. 

"Aren't you tired? Have you not suffered enough?" the unnatural groan uttered these questions. Despite their inquiring tone, they were unnecessary because It knew the answer to all of them just as well as she did. 

"You could make them see." 

The statement resonated sinisterly into the cell, syllables twisting strangely, too sharp and poisonous, in the nonexisting tongue of that being, as if one single word would be able to physically make a person bleed. As if the human tongue was too delicate, too young, too naive to be spoken by something like It, something far more archaic than the night itself. 

Slowly darkness ebbed away, giving way to her now-familiar room but she could still feel It, lingering in the far corner. With painful movements, the young woman lowered her gaze to her once white dress, pale hands roving the now crimson fabric, it is still wet to the touch was the first thing she thought with a rueful expression. 

If she had not seen the white dress before the chaos, she would have thought its original color was red. The woman continued to caress the scarlet fabric, she did not know it yet but that insignificant piece of clothing would give her the future name people would whisper with terror and fear. 

But for now, it was as much of a prison as the one she was been held at, a remembrance of her past, of her failure, of her pain. Her expression slowly morphed from melancholy to burning disdain, with a set jaw, she finally looked eyes into the space where the presence lingered. 

With a hardened glaze, she broke the promise she made herself when she was very young. The promise that had picked her up time and time again, the promise that defined who she was, and the very same reason why she had ended up in this predicament in the first place. But like most dreams she had had, they were ridiculous, futile and they could not save her now. 

And so, her wrath shattered what little hope she had unknowingly harbored and revenge pulled her up. She did not need to voice it out loud for It had already known her answer, it was her destiny after all. 

"Come and take this burden. Make them see."

An ear-splitting groan shook Tenebra, panic cries and screams of terror could be heard, brick and metal collapsed equally but the young woman paid them no mind even as the nightmarish building home to the worst aberrations of mankind crumbled in a flurry of black. 

The young woman stood up straight for her chains no longer weighed and her pain no longer broke her. She will make them see. 

Kaz Brekker x fem!reader

I'm sorry for being gone for so long but here's part 4 of my Inventor series. I promise I'll be way more active during these days. The finale, part 5, will be coming out soon.

Please tell me what you think.

(The image is not mine)

____

Y/N

The dark ghoulish mouth of the entrance invited Y/N to step inside. The fragrance of death adorned the air as if the dark establishment had eaten its prey, now waiting for the next one to cross the threshold and swallow them whole. 

An eerie glow crept into her sight from a fallen lantern, casting strange shadows across the room, puritan souls tethered to earth for their ghastly deeds Zia Francesca would have exclaimed. 

Y/N shook her head erasing her aunt's superstitions, there were no monsters in dark. Well, at least not the ones children thought about, the only one lurking in the dark was a corpse and in the worse case, an intruder might be hiding amongst the shadows. 

When she mused about it, that previous statement hadn't been as reassuring as she sought it to be and now Y/N preferred the idea of facing a couple of malevolent spirits trying to make a bargain rather than what possibly remained out of her sight. Nonetheless, she adjusted the grip on the stolen handgun and stepped inside. 

Y/N cautiously walked along the wall one hand in the gun and the other feeling the wall, trying to find a light switch to extinguish the blackness. When her fingers finally came across it, the room was flooded by fluorescent pale lights overhead. 

The enormous chamber resembled a laboratory, thousands of beakers, test tubes, and other scientific paraphernalia crowed above a long table. A chair was overturned, papers scattered on the floor, and broken Petri dishes shone under the lamplight. 

Y/N walked through the chaos, attentively observing the vast variety of equipment. She was jealous, and when she reached a set of volumetric flasks she had to resist the urge to purloin them. 

At the end of the table, there laid the grotesque form of what had once been a man, flies swarmed around the body,the fetid scent made her want to vomit. The murderer had beat her there. 

Y/N pulled out a white handkerchief to cover her nose, borrowed a couple of gloves, and reluctantly examined the corpse. She batted at the flies, the same entry point for the poison, defensive marks, and bulging veins due to excessive blood flow. Using a pen she had taken from the paper cluttered desk, she opened the corpse's blueish mouth. Maggots started crawling out its black tongue, Y/N recoiled, and decided to let the worms finish their appetizer. 

At least now she knew the alkemi wasn't the killer and somehow he fit inside this complex puzzle. Y/N inspected the room once again, hunting for a clue until her eyes landed on a vial containing a substance that very much looked like the one that had started their problems. 

____

Kaz

Captain Wagner's body was found in the foggy Ketterdam docks. Some sailor had been passing by when he was spotted, lying limply against cargo boxes, veins popping out.

Kaz ran his hands through his raven-black hair in exasperation and started pacing around his office. He considered himself fortunate, three days late and they would have never known about Mercher Dupont's grim activities. 

A mercher, his informants that had part-time jobs as sailors and a captain. Not to mention the Zemeni passenger that he now identified as the corpse he had gotten for the autopsy. Mercher Dupont's secret had cost all these men their lives and until he found out what he was so determined on hiding, Kaz doubted they would be able to pinpoint their killer. 

Kaz wasn't particularly upset about Wagner's murder, in fact, if the assassin had appeared at his doorstep asking for the Captain's location, Kaz would have guided the way and beat the life out of the man before the killer even had a chance to poison him. That pudgy rat had almost killed Y/N. 

His own harsh words replayed in his mind since that night. A pampered foolish rich girl, a liability. He had had no right to insult her the way he did, she wasn't any of those things. Her fighting skills might not be the best, but her intelligence was deadly. Kaz knew that she needed no weapon but her mind, if it had been a battle of wits, Y/N would have made the most skilled soldiers fall at her feet. 

However, when he had seen that bastard on top of her, knife to her throat, Kaz saw red. All his self-control was lost, he couldn't think of anything else other than breaking every bone in that reprobate's body. 

The idea of seeing Y/N injured...he couldn't bear it. Kaz had shown his anger to Y/N when she never deserved any of it. He had been angry at Wagner and even more at himself. 

 He had put her in harm's way, a few minutes later and she would have been gone. He would have never heard her incessant rants that he had come to find endearing or her everlasting amusement to the simplest of things. Reluctantly Kaz had come to think of her as a brilliant ally, an interesting companion, and maybe even a friend.   

Most importantly, he was absolutely furious because he cared. How many times had he told himself that hope was the worst kind of weakness? Emotion made people weak, easy targets to bring down. Kaz Brekker couldn't care because if he did, only a small action was required to have his whole empire crumbling to pieces. 

Except, hope had blossomed in the dark filthy streets of Ketterdam. It had grown inside Kaz's cold and lonely heart with each interaction regarding a very peculiar inventor that had wormed her way into his life and slowly captured his attention. 

 She could have turned around, ignored Kaz's request, she could have even called the police but she didn't. She never belittled them as many high-class individuals liked so much to do, she'd shown them amiability even when she knew what they did and Kaz thought he deserved none of it. 

Every considerate phrase, every demonstration of respect, and every glance of genuine care had intrigued him. Not many things interested Dirtyhands, he had long abandoned his search for good things in life. No, this was the Barrel, harsh and unforgiving, it was either kill or be killed. 

His harsh words rose again, Saints, he felt terrible. A tiny bud of hope had sprouted against all odds, but if he didn't act soon it would wither. And oh, how desperately Kaz wanted to nurture it, Kaz wanted to believe Y/N could be part of his life. A loyal companion, a clever friend, and maybe with time...

No, Kaz shook his head, she was from a different world, what could he offer her that she didn't already have? Hope Y/N's voice resonated inside his head, and the memory of his previous conversation with her resurfaced. 

After the successful Pink Star Necklace heist, Y/N couldn't contain her enthusiasm, still mesmerized by Kaz's talent. Kaz's heart soared with pride, and happiness at being able to make her smile like that, and like the thief he was, he took that image and attentively pocketed her radiant smile where no one but himself could find it. 

Kaz recovered his senses, annoyed at himself for getting distracted, and still, he couldn't bring himself to pull away from her heavenly glow. However, some doubts still roamed his mind, hungry dogs gnawing at his insecurities. What if she isn't what she appeared to be? What if she didn't actually care for them, for him? Somehow that idea was a lot more painful to Kaz, than if he had been stabbed repeatedly. But he couldn't delay the inevitable, he had to know. 

"Why?"

"I beg your pardon?" Y/N replied, confusion imprinted in her features. 

"Why do you do this? Why did you accept to help a bunch of criminals and risk your anonymity, your reputation?" Kaz asked with a serious expression, the smug look had completely banished from his face.

"Why?" Y/n repeated as if hoping someone would answer for her. 

"I wish there was an easy explanation as to why I decided to aid you, however..." glancing towards the raven-haired boy with a sideways glance and huff "All of this must seem very suspicious to you and why wouldn't it be? A high-class girl who seems to enjoy gallivanting around the streets. You must think very poorly of me, simply using you for my entertainment."

The young inventor looked down to her lap, nervously wringing her hands together, a sad expression tainting her features. "But I must assure you, Mr. Brekker, I desire you or your friends no harm. You've shown nothing but kindness to me."

And with a resigned sigh, she raised her gaze to match Kaz's, "Why do I do this you ask, well, as unbelievable as it may sound, I simply wish to make myself useful while I have the chance." 

"Perhaps this action is more selfish than it may seem, doing this for my sake mostly..." she paused, hidden sadness coating her words "I simply want to see that my knowledge was able to help someone, even if it was just once. "

Kaz continued to observe Y/n with an unreadable expression, making her feel the need to elaborate. 

"Every scientist's dream is to see their inventions bear fruit, if I'm able to help you solve this mystery, I won't feel so bad for myself." ruefully smiling, she continued "Even the smallest accomplishment seems like a win to me."

A humorless laugh escaped Y/n, "Maybe I hope to nourish the fantasy that one day I could be a scientist". 

With that, a somber silence filled the enclosed space and for the very first time, Kaz felt sympathy for a noble. If it had been anyone else, Dirtyhands would have scoffed and told them to move on, for life was not meant to be fair. But the downcast look Y/n portrayed pulled at his heartstrings. 

Kaz was not one to ponder others feeling or to even try to place himself in their shoes but he could now see how a luxurious life such as Y/n's could drain someone's happiness. She would never be able to pursue her dreams as a scientist for the simple fact of being a woman and to add up, she had been born royal. 

One day she would be simply sold off to the wealthiest suitor, and her happiness and dreams be dammed. Thinking about her marriage made Kaz surprisingly sad and bitter. However, Kaz did not want to acknowledge that the prospect of losing her once enthusiastic self to someone tired and hollow for a life based on fallacies made him see red. 

Kaz had only seen that glimmer of wonder and determination once before, in someone who constantly haunted his days and nights. A ghost of his childhood, a cruel reminder of what hope had been: Jordie...

______

Y/N

The young inventor cautiously approached the table where a row of neatly placed vials glinted below the lamplight, all of them empty except for one. The vial contained a strangely yellow solution, its color akin to flower pollen. Could it be...? 

Y/N gingerly picked the tube and proceeded to try to separate the solution's components, specifically searching for that peculiar factor that constituted the same substance that had caused them so much trouble. In a matter of minutes, she had already obtained the results: sunflower pollen and the alkemi-made alloy.

  But...how?, Y/N wondered. Obviously the now dead alkemi had produced the alloy but the decomposition of the body showed that he had been dead for at least a week and yet... The killer must have been forcing him to produce the alloy for his poison and since he no longer needed him, the murderer decided to eliminate him. 

So if the killer had decided to stop now then it meant... Y/n concluded that Kaz had been right, during their ride to the docks he had surmised that the killer's motivation was vengeance, choosing their own trademark instead of easier methods meant he wanted to induce fear and that he was operating on a list. 

But why choose this alkemi and why was he so hard to find that not even Mr.Brekker with all his connections had been unable to find him? Y/N started pacing trying to see the reason behind the killer's thinking.  Yes, the alloy was extremely rare but grishas were not that hard to find. The killer could have purchased from different sellers making identification difficult and could have easily saved himself the trouble of holding the alkemi hostage unless... this was personal. 

The killer wanted this alkemi and he wanted him to watch, to fear for his fate. If so, then he also had something to do with this web of conspiracies but how were an alkemi, a high-class mercher, Mr. Brekker's informants, and a captain and his crew related? Her mind raced a million miles per second, trying to find a logical connection apart from the fact that Mercher Dupont had hired Captain Wagner to get to Novyi Zem. 

Images of green vast fields and yellow petals flooded Y/n´s brain, the question that had haunted her for days resurfacing. Why? Why use sunflowers? 

As she frantically paced around the room, she caught a glimpse of a door hidden behind a tattered red curtain. Snatching the stolen gun from the table, she forced the door open squinting at the sudden darkness covering the stuffed room. 

Several seconds later she started examining the paper cluttered room until her shoe hit what sounded like a wooden box. Lowering her stance to open the box, her eyes met the sight of too much kruge tightly packed inside along with several other papers. 

Quickly scanning through them, Y/n noticed they were business letters, transactions, competitors, and their prices in the market. The last letter urgently requested his presence at the docks for a trip to Noyvi Zem, dated the same day Mercher Dupont hired Captain Wagner's crew. 

Her eyes ran from sentence to sentence, mind working quickly to make sense of this newfound information. Mercher Dupont asked for the alkemi's secrecy with the promise of a considerable reward and a change in their lives for once they finished this job they would be the only producers in the market, read the letter. The only requirement was the alkemi's expertise in...flammable substances. 

Mind spinning, Y/n stood up and in a haste started recollecting all the letters and evidence she could find, frantic hands stopping once her eyes landed on a document with a name she had come to know in recent days. There, above yellowed notebooks, stood a set of paperwork, some kind of pass to transport oil barrels signed with Kaz Brekker's name. 

Before she could ponder the matter any further, Y/n's train of thought was interrupted by the sound of wind crashing inside the laboratory. Rushing back to the main room, Y/N noticed the poison vial was gone and that she had never opened the window while coming in. Dread forming in the pit of her stomach, the young inventor realized she was no longer alone. 

TAGLIST:

Kaz Brekker x reader

Mr. Sandman Part 2

Inspired by the song "Someone you loved" by Lewis Capaldi

I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me

This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy

Kaz's mind was a raging storm, an ever-shifting landscape. His heart was madly racing and he feared that if it didn't stop soon, it'll burst out of his chest.

Two days had gone by and yet there was no information about Y/N's whereabouts. No one had made an effort to contact him asking for money in exchange for her safety, no blackmail, nothing. Kaz knew the probability of Y/N being alive was shrinking as the days passed.

Kaz felt terrible, guilt crushed his heart in a vicious grip. If he hadn't kicked her out, if he had taken back his words, if he had just... No, thinking about what ifs wouldn't bring Y/N back home. If she's still alive a cruel voice whispered in the back of his mind.

His mind drifted to his darkest memories, horrible images plagued his mind. Rotting flesh beneath his fingers, icy hands grabbing at him, threatening to pull him under the waves. Water filled his lungs, consuming his oxygen and living him in the dark. His head broke the water, gasping for air, Kaz looked around, trying to find something, anything to grab to avoid drowning. Only that now instead of his brother's corpse, he saw Y/N's limp body floating above the water.

Kaz fell to his knees, the pain brought him back to reality. He was trembling, sharp gasps left his body, black dots covered his vision. Y/N would have told him to focus on reality, take in the details, count every little object he could find in the room. But Y/N wasn't here, and it was all his fault.

___________

I need somebody to heal, somebody to know

Somebody to have, somebody to hold

Y/N talked passionately about her latest read, making wild gestures with her hands as if to prove a point. Jesper's arm was slung across her shoulder, head thrown back in a laughing fit. When his cackles died down, Jesper leaned his head on Y/N's shoulder and started mocking her for being able to remember the exact place where phrases were in the book.

Kaz watched silently from his seat in the Crow Club, he knew those touches were purely friendly gestures, and still he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

On many sleepless nights, Kaz thoughts had wandered down a treacherous path, always finding their way to Y/N. His mind had been invaded by images of her: the smile she always wore when she was about to make a witty comment, the way she pursed her lips whenever he asked her to memorize an important document, the furrow of her brows when paying close attention to Kaz's plans.

He snapped out of it, angry at himself for thinking about her, he couldn't afford those thoughts. Kaz's life was dangerous and he had many enemies who wouldn't hesitate to use anything or anyone against him. If he left himself feel, if he let her in, he knew there was nothing he wouldn't do for her.

He had tried. He had tried to distance himself, push her away until his feelings dissipated to nothing. However, every time Y/N appeared in his office late at night just to talk about her day, every time she called his name, every time she sent a glorious smile his way, Kaz couldn't bring himself to say no.

And now, looking at Y/N from across the room, a sense of longing clouded his vision. Thoughts of sitting next to her, no space between their bodies, with no fear of touching reminded him of how miserably he had failed.

____________

It's easy to say, but it's never the same

I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain

Since Y/N's kidnapping, Kaz had gone completely feral. He had looked for anyone who could provide information. He had kidnapped, tortured, and even killed members of any other gangs he had his suspicions on. He was unstoppable, he wouldn't rest until his Y/N was safe. She isn't even yours because you kicked her out a scornful voice reminded him.

Kaz's whole body hurt, his limp was more prominent than usual, his knuckles were bloodied and a purplish bruise contrasted against his pale skin from a blow he had taken when he was beating the life out of one of the Dime Lion's informants.

How he wished Y/N was there. No matter how many times he came back to the Slat, covered in blood and clutching at his wounds, Y/N's gaze always turned into one of horrified worry.

Y/N had always healed his wounds after a mission, wiping the blood away very carefully in order not to touch his skin. Even when he wasn't bleeding and it was just his leg giving him a bad day or a headache that refused to leave him, Y/N always brought him medicine or tea depending on the situation.

But Y/N was gone and he might not ever see her again. His thoughts lurched him back to the ocean, dead things suffocated him. He clutched his cane tighter, he couldn't have a panic attack now, he needed to find Y/N.

_______

Now the day bleeds into nightfall

And you're not here to get me through it all

The night wrapped the dirty streets of Ketterdam in its wicked hold, the moon loomed ahead casting a palish glow through Kaz's window. Another day had passed and he was no closer to finding Y/N.

He was alone in his office, clutching his cane tighter by the second, its sharp edges bruising his skin, and yet, the pain wasn't enough to keep the waters from rising, Y/N's form surrounded by corpses.

No, he couldn't think of her this way. He had to remain positive, he needed to hope Y/N was still alive somewhere, but for someone like Kaz, remaining positive wasn't something he strived on. Instead, Kaz looked inside his brain, searching for a memory of Y/N to avoid passing out and when he found it, he seized it and hung to it for dear life.

Kaz had heard people say love arrived at the most unexpected times, bloomed in the most unlikely places. People said love wasn't something you chose, something you could control, not a concept you could welcome or shut out of your life at your convenience.

Kaz deemed those people foolish, weak for not being able to control themselves, and as the cold mastermind he was, Kaz brushed off all of their comments. And he would have kept thinking that way if it hadn't been for Y/N during a warm summer evening.

The Crow Club was surprisingly empty, everyone was in a relaxed state, currently resting after a successful heist. Kaz had been working in his office, signing contracts when a soft knock sounded against his door, Y/N peered inside and after receiving Kaz's consent, stepped through the threshold.

Y/N sat in front of his desk, a small smile playing on her face, ensued by a moment of silence, Y/N started talking. Kaz's head perked up at the sound of her voice, eyes leaving the papers to direct his whole attention to her but he had been completely caught off guard by the sight before him.

Y/N's mouth was moving but Kaz's couldn't hear a thing, it was as if someone had stolen the sound so he could only focus on Y/N's heavenly form.

Y/N's hair was slightly disheveled, gusts of wind occasionally brushing lonely strands into different directions, soft locks swishing in compass with a nonexistent melody. Sunset rays filtered through the window, lighting up Y/N's features. Sunlight beams fell gently down the slope of her nose, gently caressed her long lashes, and kissed her tender lips giving them a reddish hue.

At that moment, Kaz realized how dreadfully unjust the world was. How come was the wind able to run his breezy fingers across her beautiful hair? How could the rain brush her skin lovingly without repelling at the idea of skin contact? Why could the Sun kiss her graceful lips and he couldn't?

Kaz wanted to hold her, reach for her whenever he wanted without fear of drowning. He wanted to hug her and nuzzle his nose in her hair affectionately. He wanted to know what her skin felt like under his fingertips. Kaz wanted to know the taste of her lips.

Because he was in love with her.

________

I let my guard down and then you pulled the rug

I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved

Y/N laid immobile in his bed, her skin almost as pale as his sheets, soft breaths escaped her lungs. Kaz sat in a chair near her fragile body, his frown deepened every time his eyes landed on a different wound.

Kaz felt like in a déjà vu, a vision that had happened exactly three weeks ago. This was the reason why Kaz had pushed her, why he had evicted her from the Slat, the one home she had ever known. But did it matter? All his efforts to keep her safe had been in vain.

That fateful night, when she had been the distraction in a supposed easy heist, everything had come tumbling down. The nightmares had started back then, where he first saw her all bloodied and beaten and unconscious. They didn't know if she would ever wake up. Kaz had refused to visit her, images of his nine-year-old self seeing her amongst the corpses in the Reaper's Barge haunted his days.

When she had woken up he'd wanted to see her, but he couldn't bring himself to because he knew what he had to do. Kaz couldn't bear the thought of her dying, he couldn't imagine her gone, but if he gave her hope, if she saw how much he cared, she would refuse to leave. He needed her to stay away for her safety

So he had done that, he had ruthlessly yanked his heart out of his chest when he had kicked her out. The words he had said to her tortured him since that day: "Do not think that just because I have kept you around for this long you're irreplaceable." And when he thought he couldn't feel more pain, Y/N had started crying. Silent droplets fell down her cheeks and Kaz felt as if the most savage assassin had ripped his heart into shreds.

I let my guard down and then you pulled the rug

I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved

Seating there, silently watching Y/N's closed eyes, he was experiencing it all again. When they had found her she had been tied to a chair, unmoving, in one of the Dime Lion's warehouses. He swore his heart had stopped beating, she couldn't be dead, when Nina had checked for her heartbeat and announced it was still there, Kaz's heart reanimated.

Nina had done her best to heal her and now the only thing there was to do was wait until she woke up. This time Kaz had refused to leave her bedside. This time he would do things differently.

He had been a coward, he now realized. He should have never let her go. He should have been braver, stronger, he should have protected her. Now he realized he wanted, no, needed her with him. He had been too scared worrying for the future that he had forgotten to enjoy the present. He wouldn't make that mistake again.

"Kaz?"

His head shot back to Y/N. She was awake, she was alive and he would never let her go.

And with such a fervent emotion, he couldn't have thought himself capable of expressing, he said "Please, don't ever leave me again. "

Thanks for the song recommendation @itsemy01

Taglist:

Kaz Brekker x reader

Inspired by the song "Mr. Sandman" from SYML.

Description: Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream. A beautiful illusion of when they were younger, when things were good. A dream where Kaz hadn't shattered her heart into a million pieces, one where Kaz still cared.

Warnings: angst

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.

A beautiful illusion of when they were younger, when it was just the two of them against the world.

Y/N met Kaz Brekker before he earned the name "Dirtyhands" when he was still inexperienced, seeking a way to make fame in the criminal underworld.

Their introduction wasn't a conventional one, the first time he'd laid eyes upon Y/N, Kaz was surveilling a new bank's vault he wanted to crack. Back at the time, Kaz Brekker was just beginning to refine his lock picking abilities, he was more careful, taking longer at figuring out the ways around safe.

Kaz Brekker was attentively watching a vault demonstration the bank was giving in hopes of acquiring new wealthy customers when his bitter coffee eyes landed on Y/N.

She was leaning against a door that led to the bank's depository, eyes closed as if straining to hear the sounds on the other side. A frown upon her face, concentrating, and a few minutes before an employee opened the door she was leaning on, she pushed herself out of the way and left the bank.

The next day, news had spread around the Barrel like wildfire that someone had stolen the diamonds that resided in the new safe that belonged to the bank's depository. That was no coincidence, somehow Y/N had done it. Kaz dedicated his whole afternoon tracking the girl down until he had found her working as a dishwasher in a popular restaurant.

"How did you do it? How did you manage to open the safe?"

Y/N stared back at Kaz, terrified eyes fearing someone might overhear them. Y/N tried to lie about it but he could see straight through them.

"I like memorizing things. I remembered the sounds, every click the locks gave when the vault was being opened." Y/N answered reluctantly

"What kind of things do you like to memorize?" the raven-haired boy prompted.

"Anything that leaves good money."

"I have a job offer for you. "

And just like that, the promise of a very odd friendship began.

____________

Make him the cutest that I've ever seen, give him two lips like roses and clover. Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over.

The truth was that Kaz Brekker wasn't gentle in any way. He was selfish, logically cold, and unafraid of danger if it was for the right price.

Their friendship had bloomed in the blood-stained streets, finding solace in each other to survive the hungry beast that was Ketterdam.

Y/N's memory had proven useful, she was Kaz's little library of secrets. Her mind was the vault that safely guarded all types of information; transactions, blueprints, deals that Kaz couldn't risk to curious eyes. Every word was imprinted into Y/N's mind.

Y/N had lied when she said she only memorized things that brought money. She remembered all of Kaz's little ticks: The way he ran his hand through his hair when he was tired, the grip that tightened on his cane when stressed, the joyous glint in his eyes after a successful job, the almost imperceptible tug of his lips during their late-night talks and the shape of his lips when he proudly explained his plans to her.

Y/N knew it was foolish to fall for someone like Kaz, but her heart couldn't stop racing every time they talked. Couldn't stop her gaze searching for him amongst a crowd, the way her breath hitched every time Kaz looked out for her. It was a childish wish and yet, sometimes she could have sworn Kaz cared deeply for her too.

__________

Sandman, I'm so alone, don't have nobody to call my own.

Where had it all gone wrong? What had she done to Kaz for him to shatter her heart the way he did?

One moment she was getting ready to go on a heist, it was supposed to be easy, gather intel, and escape before anyone knew they had been there. It didn't end well.

Y/N had been given the task to distract their target's bodyguards, pretend to be an injured scared girl in need of assistance, but someone had told them the Dregs would be there. A guard had grabbed her harshly and forced her to give away her crew's location, but when she refused he'd beaten her unconscious.

The next morning she had woken up at the Slat, everyone was worried she might have not woken up. However, as soon as she was healed, Kaz called her to his office.

"Why?" Y/N's broken words were met with silence.

"Have I ever failed you? Have I not done everything you asked for?!" she questioned, tears threatening to fall. "Why are you kicking me out?! This is my home too, my family!"

"You won't have to worry about searching for a place to stay. I've already made arrangements, a small apartment is waiting for you." Kaz spoke, expression unreadable.

Y/N wanted to throttle Kaz, shake him up and demand a reason for his sudden decision. He hadn't even visited when she was injured and now he was kicking her out. He had no right, no right to strip away her found family. Had all those night talks meant nothing to him? Were all those small gestures and tiny smiles a ruse?

"You can't do this! I have all your secrets! I have stood by your side longer than anyone", Y/N screamed at Kaz, eyes begging him to say something. To tell her to stay, to tell her he cared.

She never heard those words instead she received a bitter response that mercilessly ripped her heart out. "Do not think that just because I have kept you around for this long you're irreplaceable."

This time Y/N didn't suppress the tears, silently gliding down her cheeks when she walked out of Kaz's office and away from the Slat.

____________

Please turn on your magic beam, Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.

A beautiful dream where she wasn't tied to a chair, broken ribs, and blood pouring from a large gauge in her stomach. The Dime Lions had captured her, knowing full well she was one of Kaz's most trusted allies, they decided to torture her until she spilled Brekker's secrets. But Y/N wasn't a traitor and even though Kaz had crushed her heart, she still loved him and would rather die than betray him.

Eyes barely open, black spots clouding her vision, she was fading away. Oh, how she wished that Kaz would come to save her, take her back to the Slat, tell her he was sorry and that he needed her by his side. But dreams were for children, Kaz wouldn't come because he simply did not care, because she was replaceable.

She wanted a dream, one where the punches thrown at her were tender glances. One where the sounds of bones breaking were quiet caring words she'd shared with Kaz once upon a time. Where the coppery taste of blood staining her tongue was the one of hot chocolate she and Kaz used to drink in his office.

Please, bring her a marvelous dream, back where things were good. A dream when Kaz still cared for her. One where he loved her.

Mr. Sandman, please bring me a dream.

Kaz Brekker x reader

Description: A killer is on the loose, eliminating Kaz's informants. In a desperate attempt, Kaz meets a certain inventor that has his mind racing, trying to figure out the complex puzzle she is.

When the news of a murder in Von Raske's autumn ball reached Kaz's ears, his breath froze, an icy hand tightening his grip on his heart. Lord Von Raske was a close acquaintance of the Grand Duke Y/LN, fear invaded his mind, a single statement playing on repeat like a broken melody: Y/N had been there.

Dirtyhands had immediately sent Inej to check up on Y/N while he tried to distract himself by finishing paperwork. Two weeks had passed since their secret rendezvous, two weeks since Y/N had given him the list of components that created the poison and in those two weeks, he hadn't contacted her.

The next morning, he and his crows had spent the whole day making inquiries about possible buyers and indentured Grisha acquiring an excessive amount of alloys. No luck. No one knew anything. The only thing he had gotten were another two corpses with the same symptoms.

He had refused to call Y/N despite the little voice in the back of his mind telling him to bring the brilliant inventor, who would surely enjoy an excuse to abandon her royal life for a few hours. Even when there were no new bodies, these whispers urged him to arrange another meeting so he could just hear her chatter about dissections methods as if she were talking about the weather. Kaz shook his head, tossed his treacherous thoughts into a vault in the back of his mind while scolding himself for wanting the company of someone he barely knew.

Kaz thoughts kept drifting back to the inventor, too worried for her safety that he failed to notice Inej's presence in his office until she quietly spoke.

"She's alright, Kaz, but she believes these murders aren't just an act of vengeance against the Dregs. She wants to meet again to share her theories." Kaz glanced up, evaluating Inej words.

If it weren't for the tragedy at the ball, he would have kept thinking some other gang wanted to initiate a war against the Dregs, but now he was sure this was deeper than a petty quarrel.

Kaz nodded, analyzing the spy's face. Eyes dropping down to Inej's hands, she wore what looked liked to be a set of thin brass knuckles, two rings adjusting at her pinkies and index fingers that joined a smooth metal band facing her palm. Before Kaz could open his mouth, Inej answered his unspoken question.

"Y/N made them for me. She told me she'd noticed my chipped nails and slightly blistered hands from climbing flat buildings. She fabricated these, they work as some type of magnet, using the force of momentum and creating friction on plain surfaces." Inej's gentle voice explained, an endearing look as she stared at her knuckles.

"She gave me some truffles to bring back to the club, she thought Nina might like them."

He hadn't failed to notice Inej's troubled expression when he had ordered her to go to the Y/LN Manor. Whether he wanted it or not, the brilliant royal was worming her way into his Crows' hearts.

Kaz hummed in response, "We are meeting tomorrow at 9 in the morning, I'll tell Jesper to deliver a note."

"I'll do it right now. I want to try these." Inej gestured at the brass knuckles and without a word slipped out the window.

____________

Y/N

"Need a ride, doll?" Mr. Fahey called out, opening the hansom's door, inviting Y/N to hop inside.

Yesterday, Inej had silently returned to her room, bearing Kaz's news about the meeting. Y/N's heart thrummed excitedly in her chest, the notion of seeing the Crows again lighted up her day.

Y/N had told Ms. Ghafa she'd investigated around her social circle and that they needed to pay a visit to Mercher Dupont's valet, Dupont's most trusted employee.

"Greetings and thank you, Mr. Fahey" Y/N said politely as she stepped inside, taking a seat next to the Wraith.

"Why are you so sure the valet will have the answers we are looking for? Is he related to those theories you wanted to speak of?" interrupted Kaz, always so straightforward.

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Brekker. And they aren't just theories. You see, after the very unfortunate incident at the ball, I took it upon myself to investigate Mercher Dupont's whereabouts in the past two weeks."

"Whereabouts? What does that have to do with his murder?" the raven-haired boy pondered.

"Everything. Someone knew he'd be returning from his secret trip today and that he would go directly to the ball. It's quite obvious actually." Y/N said, watching the streets distractedly through the window as the carriage started moving.

"It's not obvious to me." voiced Jesper.

Y/N turned to look at her confused companions. Kaz frowned deepened when the girl turned to him, waiting for him to show he understood. When she was met with silence, the corners of her mouth tugged upwards, clearly proud she had noticed something the infamous criminal mastermind had not. Kaz didn't share her enthusiasm.

"When Mercher Dupont arrived at the ball he was jumpier than usual, eager to avoid conversation with anyone. It was clear he had traveled outside the country: his skin was tanned, constantly scratching and pulling at his sleeves covering what were likely mosquito bites. His shoe soles were stained with grass and an orange stain, probably jurda, laces had been recently cleaned but messily tied as if he had been in a rush to arrive on time. Jurda, mosquitos, and scorching sun at this time of year, we can only find those three in Novyi Zem." Y/N beamed, words tumbling out of her lips as if her life depended on them.

"Besides, my mother talked with his wife this morning. The poor woman said that weeks prior he'd raced into his hansom, disappearing for two whole weeks and when he had finally returned, he and his valet refused to tell her a thing." the inventor finished, just as the carriage stopped moving.

"Wait, I thought we were heading to Dupont's residence." Y/N interrupted, as the trio jumped down the carriage, a few blocks away from a jewelry shop.

"Tell me, Y/LN, would you like to see what we do for a living?" Kaz asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I did not come here to witness a robbery. Much less to help with your wicked schemes." Y/N retorted, a defiant raise of her head, body betraying her when she stepped out of the carriage as well.

"I thought you'd enjoy participating in illegal affairs since you seem so eager to associate with a bunch of criminals. Where's your sense of adventure?" Kaz taunted with a smug look on his face.

"I left it on the carriage and would very much like to go back to get it." returned the girl, crossing her arms and straightening her posture. "If you believe my willingness to help you indicates I relish taking things from others then, you are awfully mistaken."

"How do you know you don't like it if you've never done it?" Jesper joined in.

"There's nothing like a heist early in the morning." the sharpshooter said, twirling his guns before hiding them in his coat.

Y/N let out an exasperated sigh but followed nonetheless. Kaz Brekker will be my downfall.

__________

Jesper took the driver's place, dismissing the coach, being their "escape driver" as Kaz had dubbed him.

Y/N entered the shop first, a veil covering her face, and pretended to be deeply interested in some ruby rings. She was only there to watch, Kaz had assured.

A few minutes later, Kaz walked in wearing a security guard uniform, where he had managed to obtain one, Y/N had no idea. He slowly prowled to the counter, adopting his role with such grace that it stunned Y/N. When he reached the vendor, he started conversing with him as if they had known each other for years.

Every step, every gesture, every word was calculated. In another life, Mr. Brekker would have made a fine actor. A very charming and talented actor. The thought crossed Y/N's mind before she could stop it. Kaz Brekker was a dangerous man, he'd heard the horrified whispers that preceded his name, a heartless monster that terrified the streets of Ketterdam.

But now that she knew him, Y/N wasn't sure if he was as despicable as the rumors stated. He could have taken her hostage when her identity was revealed, betrayed what she had been doing in Mr. Zhang's shop in hopes of earning money, but he didn't.

Most importantly he had never doubted her abilities when he discovered she was a woman, never belittled her as many high-class men had done. In fact, she could have sworn Kaz was pleasantly surprised when she'd earnestly started the autopsy. His lips barely tugging upwards, when she handed him the list.

Y/N had also noticed how he was always covered head to toe, not a sliver of skin showing apart from his head. She had perceived the way he always avoided touches, careful of not brushing against anyone, staying away from big crowds. It made Y/N wonder why skin contact repulsed him, she wanted to figure out his enigmatic persona and discover the reason for which his heart raced.

"Fire! Fire!" with a startled jump she came back to reality, eyes landing on the blazing curtains near a thin metal drawer that was slowly melting in revealing golden necklaces.

Y/N desperately hoped this wasn't Kaz's plan, by now everyone inside was aware of the fire, quickly pushing to get to the exit. Y/N squinted her eyes at the smoke, looking for Kaz, scared he had been injured during this little stunt. But before she could call out his name, she was being pushed outside.

Y/N hurried back to hansom where Jesper and Inej were already waiting, rapidly swirling around, she almost bumped into Kaz's chest.

"That's your idea of fun?" Y/N questioned, sending a murderous glare Kaz's way, a mask to hide her relief at finding him safe and unscathed.

"Says the person who finds joy in carving corpses open." Kaz retorted, his infamous smirk widening and stepping inside the hansom, closing the door after the two girls. "But it worked, didn't it?"

Y/N turned to look at him in confusion, Kaz's smirk widening when he pulled a pendant from his coat, but it wasn't any ordinary piece, it was THE Pink Star Necklace. This necklace was the source of the hottest gossip, created by a durast master as a gift for the upcoming arrival of a Shu dignitary's daughter.

"Incentive and distraction. I knew this necklace was kept in that shop, I just didn't know where." Kaz explained proudly "The obvious instinct was rescuing the most valuable piece inside."

"That being the necklace, delivered into your waiting hands." Y/N laughed, an incredulous grin at Kaz's ingenuity.

The rumors were true, he indeed had a wonderful mind. The crime of the century without even lifting a finger. She couldn't help her smile, wondering what other tricks Kaz had under his sleeve.

"Very clever, Mr. Brekker. I'm impressed."

Kaz's smug look never faltered but his eyes softened "You've just seen the beginning."

_________

The valet had been lounging outside when they arrived at Dupont's residence. The three crows and the inventor approached, Kaz skipped straight to the point without waiting for pleasantries. After several unanswered questions and the valet affirming he couldn't tell where his master had disappeared to for the last couple of weeks, Kaz looked ready to bash his skull with his cane.

However, before his blood painted the white roses red and Y/N had a new body to examine, she quickly intervened.

"Does Mercher Openheilmer know of your affair with his sister?" and just like that, the valet was desperately sputtering the whole story of his life out.

Apparently, Mercher Dupont had woken him up in haste, ordered him to fetch the carriage, and to drive to Fourth Harbor as if the Devil himself chased after his soul. When they had gotten there, his master had hired a schooner and Captain Wagner's small crew to Novyi Zem apart from that, he knew nothing more.

In a quick bumpy ride, they arrived at Fourth Harbor looking for a certain Captain and his crew.

"Blackmail. Who would have thought Marchioness Y/N performed such ghastly deeds." Kaz mocked, while they walked to Wagner's petit schooner.

"Oh hush, you're just mad I didn't let you beat the valet up."

Kaz raised a hand, gesturing for all of them to be quiet. Heavy grunts and shattering glass could be heard from inside the ship. Inej drew her knives and Jesper pulled out his pistols, each one went their own way while Y/N trailed quietly behind Kaz as they entered the dark rickety schooner.

The captain's quarters were a mess, papers scattered and drawers open, someone was in a hurry. Y/N saw a shiny pistol laying on a coffee-stained desk, it was loaded, she hesitantly grasped it, adjusting her grip like he had seen Jesper do. She had never held a gun before, but any form of protection was welcome.

Swirling back around, Kaz was nowhere in sight, with uncertain steps she stepped into the adjoining room, shakily raising the gun. A burly blond-haired man, Captain Wagner, shoved clothes desperately into a suitcase, he froze and stared wide-eyed at Y/N. The man was sweating, pudgy hands shaking, ragged breaths escaping his mouth, he was terrified.

"I mean no harm, I simply wish to talk about one of your clients, Mercher Dupont." Y/N raised her hands in surrender, daintily placing the gun on the floor not wanting to scare the man further.

The captain nodded, taking a step forward, but before Y/N could utter a word, he lunged at her knife glinting in the moonlight. A surprised gasp left Y/N's lips when the man shoved her to the floor. Captain Wagner pinned her down, knife raised in a direct line to her throat. When his hand dived to meet its target, Y/N desperately raised her hands catching his grip, a poor attempt at preventing the sharp metal from sealing her fate. Wagner pushed harder, merely seconds before her blood decorated the cabin's walls, a crow's head sunk into the plane of her attacker's shoulder, eliciting a broken scream from the man, and with a swift kick to the ribs, Kaz yanked the man off of Y/N. Drawing quivering breaths, Y/N sat up and watched as Kaz pressed the hill of his boot into Wagner's injured shoulder.

"Why did you attack her and why in such a hurry? Why was Dupont so eager to leave for Novyi Zem?!" Kaz growled, rage blazing in his midnight eyes.

"P-Please, I got nothin' to do with Dupont's business," Wagner whined, a sharp cried pierced the air when Dirtyhands shattered his shoulder blade with a quick jab. Y/N tore her gaze away, when she turned to reprimand Kaz about his ways, the animalistic glare he sent her way snapped her mouth shut.

"He hired my crew to get him to Novyi Zem, paid good money if we never told anyone about his trip and the many oil barrels he'd insisted on carrying there." he whimpered, trying to free himself from Kaz's visceral grip.

"If I had known the four members of my crew would end up dead for his secrets, I would have never done it. He said his life depended on the secrecy and when I saw your little friend there I thought she was here to kill me just like Dupont. "

"What did he do with the oil barrels?"

"I don't know, Saints! He brought back a Zemeni man, though. P-P-Please, I have done nothin' wrong."

-----------

No one spoke during their walk back to the carriage, a thick silence hung in the air accompanied by the coopery scent wafting from Kaz's blood-splattered clothes.

Y/N was the first to break the silence, "Where are we headed to?"

"We are going to gather information and you are going back home." Kaz harshly replied, voice dripping anger.

"But-"

"No Y/N, what the hell were you thinking?! How more stupid can you be, lowering your guard down?!" Kaz snapped, black charcoal eyes burning a hole through her head.

"The man was trembling, I didn't want to scare him. I-"

"Kindness gets you killed! What was I thinking bringing down a pampered foolish rich girl who wants to play detective!"

"Kaz, there's no need t-" Jesper started.

"No, Jesper! She's a liability! We could have lost Wagner because she refused to use a damn gun!" Kaz snarled, chest heaving.

It would have hurt less if Kaz had slapped her, his words gnawed at Y/N's heartstrings. And yet, she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing the broken look on her face. Y/N schooled her features into that false look of indignance and serious arrogance she had practiced all her life.

"Very well, Mr. Brekker. It's getting late after all" she stated. Inej's comforting hand fell upon her shoulder, she smiled even when tears threatened to fall and glanced at the bleary world outside.

_____________

Fine, if Mr. Brekker isn't willing to speak anymore, I'll take matters into my own hands. Three days and no sign of Kaz. It's okay Y/N reassured herself, she could navigate the streets of the Barrel just fine.

After they had talked with Wagner and discovered Dupont's unseemly affairs that caused the death of four sailors who were also Kaz's informants, Y/N had traveled to The Exchange and after probing for answers (more like blackmailing dealers with Zia Francesca's never-ending gossip) she had gotten the address to a small house where most of the chemicals in the list had been delivered.

Pulling out a gun she had stolen from her father's collection, Y/N knocked on the door. She had failed to use a gun once and it had cost her honest companionship, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

The door swung wide open; a sickening smell floated in the air. A scent that made Y/N's eyes water, the scent of something rotten.

Taglist:

Kaz Brekker x reader

Description: A killer is on the loose, eliminating Kaz's informants. In a desperate attempt, Kaz meets a certain inventor that has his mind racing, trying to figure out the complex puzzle she is.

Hope you like it, let me know what you think.

Kaz

A corpse? That's what she wanted? Did she think that he just kept all the bodies of his deceased workers in his room? How the hell was he supposed to get his hands on the corpse of one of his poisoned informants?

One day after meeting the young inventor, Kaz had sent Inej to gather answers to the Y/LN Manor. And just as promised, the girl had already identified most of the compounds, but due to "careless and messy manipulation", clearly referring to Kaz's pouch, she had been unable to determine a specific substance that acted as a catalyst. Inej returned to the Slat with Y/N's message asking for a meeting and a request Kaz wasn't exactly expecting.

According to Y/N, it was of the utmost importance for her to examine the body if she hoped to pinpoint the missing compound not to mention it provided a perfect opportunity for Kaz to tell her about how the poison had captured his attention.

Inej had returned later than usual, smiling and carrying a small brown bag that wafted a sweet and delicious scent. When Kaz had raised his eyebrows in question, Inej had told him Y/N had given her some recently baked cookies. He grunted in response and kept working, but his mind kept drifting back to the cookie bag and what that small act meant.

Inej was cautious but he also knew that she always searched for kindness in people. That snack could have been simply just a gift but Kaz wouldn't have made it this far if he considered all people as kind-hearted. Y/N was a stranger, a rich stranger from the highest of ranks of society who probably didn't care if Barrel rats like him lived or not. Y/N hadn't asked for a favor nor did she need money, she just wanted to know, that unsettled Kaz more than he liked to admit.

He had spent the day gathering information about her, her personal life, hobbies, and all the rumors he could find. He had found absolutely nothing that could give him an insight into the girl's intentions, he had finished empty-handed with the information he already knew: she was the only daughter of one of the richest men in Ketterdam, the perfect personification of a wealthy royal daughter, an innocent and pious little thing that went to Church with her family. Kaz scoffed at that, the defying look she gave her at their secret rendezvous accompanied with her enthusiasm for carving a corpse open proved she was far from innocent.

No, until he had more facts he wouldn't let his guard down. And yet, a small part of him yearned for her actions to be good-intentioned. Stop, hope is a dangerous thing. He had already made the mistake of hoping when he was nine and look where it got him.

Kaz returned his gaze to the papers in front of him, huffing in annoyance, he started writing down orders to get a corpse for Y/N.

_______________

Y/N : One day after the meeting

Y/N was quietly sitting at her vanity, a soft smile adorned her face, gaze completely lost on her new device when Inej, soundlessly crept inside her bedroom.

After Kaz Brekker had left the shop near the Church of Barter, she no longer felt the giddy spark she had when she left her manor. She couldn't blame Mr. Zhang for telling Mr. Brekker about their association, he was an old jumpy man who wished no trouble upon no one. She had left all the concoctions that Mr. Zhang had order, but she didn't show him her latest joy, she no longer felt as excited.

This new invention she had come up with consisted of a music box. But it was no ordinary music box, far from it. Y/N had noticed how most of the music boxes got damaged with time when the metal rusted and the music no longer sounded like a melody but more like a haunted house. So, instead of depending on metal to play music, why not use water vapor. Yes, she had spent four days perfecting the pressure at which each piston released the water so it was a perfect copy of one of the melodies in the Komedie Brute. Four days making sure that the amount of heat the flame distributed was enough to transform the water into vapor but not so fast it was gone before the song ended. And now, here it was, a vapor-based music box with a decorative firebird in the center that literally caught fire, warming the water below.

Mind too caught up on the mechanics of her own work, that, when the Wraith materialized from the shadows behind her, Y/N sent a rain of screws and nuts toppling down the floor when Inej's hand landed on her shoulder.

Wide-eyed, Y/N turned around to face the apparition in her room. The Suli girl raised her hands, to show she intended no harm and in a kind voice spoke:

"I'm not here to hurt you. Kaz Brekker sent me to check up on your progress."

With a sigh of relief, Y/N straightened relaxed her posture. "Why, of course, should have assumed Mr. Brekker would send someone. Please, take a seat. " with a small smile, she gestured to a plush burgundy armchair.

"As promised, I have successfully identified most of the compounds. However, I fear identifying the catalyst agent won't be possible unless I conduct a thorough autopsy on the unfortunate victim. The needle I was given was in an atrocious condition, too many foreign compounds had already interacted with it." Y/N answered, finishing with a hopeful tone.

Inej nodded her head and responded, "I'll let Kaz know, thank you Marchioness Y/LN." Inej turned around, making a bee-line for the window.

"You must not be thinking of going out in this beastly weather. Please, stay until this horrendous downpour ceases." Y/N quickly called back, wrapping her silk shawl around her petite frame, as if the thought of stepping outside was enough to send a chill running down her spine.

Inej hesitated, directing a fleeting glance at the crying sky outside, she resumed to her previous seat.

"Would you like a piece of Cinamon-coated Pavlova? I guarantee you won't regret it, the caramelized peaches are sinfully appetizing!" and before the Suli girl could respond, Y/N was rushing out of her room, the dainty patter of her heels clicking down the stairs.

Her room was exactly what Inej had expected: luxurious and overly grand. But there was something about it that Inej couldn't quite place, her room was tidy to the extreme, all the expensive perfume bottles lined up, gaps between that appeared as if they had been measured with a ruler. Nothing in her room showed a preference or indication of what she truly liked, at first sight, the room would have seemed like the perfect fairytale but now, upon close observation, the room looked generic, hollow, and cold. The spy wondered if all the riches were worth living into a life as impersonal as hers.

Y/N returned, carrying a tray full of fancy desserts Inej couldn't even pronounce.

"The baker proclaims himself a master of crème brûlées. I prefer his fruit-stuffed truffles, though. Mouthwatering" Y/N commented, gingerly placing the tray on her small mahogany table.

Y/N waited for Inej to take a bite out of the coffee tiramisu, after the Suli girl let a soft hum of appreciation, Y/N smiled and questioned: "I hope I'm not being too invasive, but how did you manage to climb all the way to my window? There are no nooks where you could have possibly held onto, you must have an incredible balance to perform such a feat."

And that's how Inej told her about her life as an acrobat, proudly sharing brief glimpses to her past, seeing no harm in the girl next to her. Y/N was more than happy when Inej started talking, she was glad the bronzed-skinned girl didn't treat her with timid whispers afraid of offending her royal title. It felt nice to have a normal conversation, being able to share honest opinions instead fake smiles and condescending words at galas, afraid that if the wrong statement slipped they'll become the next party gossip.

____________________

The morning after, Inej returned bearing Mr. Brekker's message agreeing to a nightly meeting where she'll be able to examine the corpse.

Saying that Y/N was thrilled, was an understatement, apart from a chance to put her brain to good use, it gave her the perfect opportunity to try a device she had specifically designed for creating an alibi while she was sneaking outside at unlikely hours.

Y/N hated piano. Don't get her wrong, it wasn't the instrument, it was the music, her music. Because for an unknown reason, her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own whenever she tried to. She admired the focus and dedication of musicians, she really did, but her mind easily got distracted thinking about her latest reading material instead of focusing on the notes. So, she had created a system capable of pushing the tiles as if her own fingers played the music. She knew it was wrong to fool her parents in such a way but it gave her a perfect cover to go in secret missions her parents would never approve of.

Proper ladies don't get excited over knowledge, much less probe in repulsive matters such as corpses. Look at you, Y/N, what would future suitors think if they discover you all cheerful over someone´s murder? The scandal! Zia Francesca's reprimanding voice resonated inside Y/N´s head. But she could care less about what the whole Ketterdam thought about her, science was her passion, and she would abandon it until the day she died.

Already outside, a navy blue scarf wrapped around her head to shield her delicate features against unwanted attention, Y/N waited for Inej at their chosen meeting point.

The sly girl slipped into view, with a grace greater than the one of a feline, leaving the shadows as if she and the night were one. With a brief nod, Y/N followed the girl into the awaiting hands of darkness. Leading her towards the Barrel, a place where monsters lurked behind every corner impatiently waiting to pounce any minute. Nonetheless, Y/N felt ecstatic, warm excitement pulsing through her veins, a river waiting in anticipation to break the thin modest facade she kept up to let her curiosity resurface in search of enigmas to solve.

When they arrived at a place named "The Crow Club", Inej went to get Kaz and some "others" and told her to wait. Y/N observed the lively atmosphere, seeing customers from different countries around the world when her eyes landed on a familiar head with wild red curls.

"Mr. Van Eck?" Y/N questioned in disbelief, the boy perked up at the sound of his last name, locking eyes with the hooded girl.

Never would she have imagined finding Wylan Van Eck down in the Barrel. She was shocked, Wylan supposedly should be in a music school outside of Ketterdam. Both belonging to affluent families, Y/N had met Wylan Van Eck at several parties. She hadn't gotten to know him very well, but she liked the quiet boy who shared the same look of misfortune Y/N had every time they were thrown into a classy social event. When his father had announced he was leaving to study abroad, Y/N was happy for him although she would miss being silently miserable together. But it appeared Wylan had been doing something far from studying, now sitting next to a tall Zemeni boy with his arm slung around his shoulder.

"Marchioness Y/N, I never imagined...W-What brings you here?" replied round-eyed Wylan, confusion, and astonishment written all over his features.

But before Y/N could respond, steps and the tapping of a cane interrupted their little meeting, Inej small silhouette trailing behind Mr. Brekker.

"So, you know Wylan?" he interrogated in that characteristic rasp, coffee eyes scrutinizing Y/N's form.

"Yes, Mr. Van Eck used to come to our social gatherings."

Wylan just nodded shyly while his long-limbed companion kept drowning shot like they were water.

Dirtyhands humphed in acknowledgment "Nice, know that we are all together let's go to...Jesper, I don't pay you to drink the bar dry. Get your ass down here and let's get moving so our dear inventor can examine the body, shall we?

"Wait, she is the contact you talked about?" the Zemeni, Jesper, questioned. Eyes going from Kaz Brekker to Y/N, as if this was some kind of joke.

"Wylan called her Marchioness? You asked for a royal's help?" Jesper asked, an incredulous mocking smile on his face. "Who are you and what have you done with Kaz?"

Mr. Brekker scowled at him and without another word turned around not even waiting for them to follow.

"Well, nice to meet you, my lady. The name's Jesper Fahey," he said, bowing down and kissing her hand, sending her a mischievous wink.

"Very nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Fahey. And please, there's no need for formalities, just call me Y/N." she comforted, as they finally reached the others. Glancing at the rest while finishing her last statement, prompting the rest to call her by her first name.

________

Kaz

Y/N radiated waves of elation, her whole face lighting up at the thought of an adventure, a star amid the tumultuous dark waters of Ketterdam helping him find his way to the shore.

Kaz wore an amused expression at Y/N's amused gaze roaming the dirty streets of the Barrel, a new unknown world full of carnage and sins. She isn't fit for the Barrel thought Kaz, her eyes dancing in amusement at every little detail that caught her interest despite her efforts to put on a serious face and regal posture. She probably saw wonderous adventures while Kaz saw the Barrel for what it really was: a ravenous, savage beast waiting to swallow the weakest whole and drain the lives of the ones who survived its ghastly bites. And somehow the concept that she didn't belong in this world, his world, made Kaz's heart wrenched a little.

During their walk, Kaz shared the details about the latest killer on the loose and his dead informants, all the while, Y/N remained quiet, evaluating every one of his words.

When they arrived at an abandoned building, a single man was stationed outside, leaning on the tainted wall with a tired look in his eyes. Kaz nodded at the guard who gave him a set of keys and trotted out of sight. Kaz guided them inside, careful no prying eyes had followed them. Kaz turned on the lights, briefly disconcerting his companions, and pointed to a table with a big bulk covered by a dirty cloth.

"As you requested, the unfortunate victim" announced Kaz as Y/N placed a small suitcase she'd brought with her forensic equipment and tenderly pried the cloth covering the thing that once had been alive.

Y/N didn't bat an eyelash when she saw the corpse's face, not even when Jesper started gagging or when Inej turned around and started quietly mumbling prayers to her saints. Kaz focused on her face, the calm inquisitive look of a scientist, he had expected a gasp at least. Kaz was impressed by her cool analytical demeanor when a simple glimpse of the man was enough to send Kaz back to the ocean, rotting flesh beneath his fingertips. Kaz shuddered at the thought, forcing down the vomit rising in his throat.

"If you need an assistant, Jesper is willing to help" Kaz stated, stabilizing his voice so it wouldn't show his true feelings.

"What?! Me? Umm..no...I...Helping isn't a Jesper talent." Mr. Fahey said, a fearful look in his eyes, face white as a sheet. Kaz hoped he didn't look as terrified as him.

Y/N stopped her scan, looked up at the two boys, and with a small smile spoke: "I appreciate it, but there's no need. I'm certain I can handle it on my own."

Quickly discarding her coat and scarf, pushing back the sleeves of her rouge-colored blouse, and pulling long laboratory gloves over her hands along with a white apron over her head, she set up to work.

Kaz stared at her features, as she transformed into an eager forensic, light illuminating her face, falling in the right places giving her an otherwordly glow. Rebellious strands of hair framing her forehead, a pink hue staining her cheeks indicating her joyous state. The sight before him would have put any masterpiece to shame, Kaz wondered how she could stare at a corpse and find glee in such a morbid image. But Kaz liked it, the brilliant gleam her eyes portrayed, her childish joy at the promise of adventure.

The spell was broken when she started pulling out scalpels, syringes, and other items Dirtyhands couldn't bother to learn the name of. Pulling the flesh taught beneath her fingers, Y/N made a Y incision, skin splaying open.

Cold lifeless hands gripped Kaz's throat. his brother's icy whispers brushing his skin. He turned his head away and as if perceiving his discomfort, Y/N's bewitching doe eyes stared back at him.

"You can wait outside if you prefer to, I'll notify you when I'm done." her gentle voice reached and Kaz couldn't have been more grateful.

With a sharp shake of his head, Kaz limped towards the exit, Jesper, and Inej quickly following his movements.

--------

After Y/N finished, she eagerly started explaining her findings, a prideful gleam emanating from her.

"Well, Mr. Brekker I must admit this case is a peculiar one. The simplest ones always prove to be the most challenging."

"Here I thought that after years of fancy tea reunions you'd know the meaning of a vast number of words. I'll be sure to buy you a thesaurus." mocked Kaz, a wolfish smirk creeping onto his face.

The inventor frowned at his comment, racing her chin higher, and started her rant, thoughts racing to prove her point.

"Oh no, Mr. Brekker do not confuse simple and easy. Simple is straightforward, plain facts to the observer. Ordinary details are hard to pinpoint, effortlessly found everywhere, which makes it harder to find unique characteristics that could serve as means of identification since their nature is so elementary." Y/N spoke swiftly, pacing around the room, eyes never faltering from Kaz's.

"And that's exactly what happened in this case. As I had mentioned, my extraction wasn't entirely successful, for an essential reactant was missing. However, it wasn't the only reason why I insisted on examining the body, no, a very simple and ordinary substance appeared when I separated the poison: Helianthus annuus or more commonly known as sunflowers." Y/N paused glancing at their surprised faces, clearly pleased with their reactions, she continued, the corners of her lips tugging upwards.

"You can imagine my surprise when I found sunflower pollen as the main component of the poisonous agent. I ran several more tests and the result remains the same, our killer is using these lovely flowers as a weapon. Now, back to the catalyst, the easy part of the equation. This component isn't as fastidious as the previous one, why, you may ask. Well, its vast majority consists of average materials but a small percentage of it contains alloys that are only produced in Ketterdam, that combined with the peculiar way they were fused, suggests a Grisha alkemi made this solution." Y/N concluded, grabbing a piece of paper and hastily writing before she handed it to Kaz.

"There are no signs of struggle, meaning either they knew the attacker or they were taken by surprise. A swift prick to the femoral artery, a clear pathway for the poison to reach the bloodstream, infecting the body within seconds."

"It shouldn't be very hard to find the alkemi. They aren't very popular and most of them are indentured. Here is the list of all the reactants, the specifics, and where I believe you might find them. " finished the girl, looking at the trio expectantly.

"If you don't mind, I have taken a sample to examine more carefully at my house. I'll try to find any details I might have overlooked."

Briskly reading the list, Kaz frowned and then pocketed the small scrap of paper. "First thing tomorrow morning, ask around for an alkemi who might have bought these materials. "

Kaz turned to look at his fellow crows, content with their nods of approval, grabbed his cane, and sauntered towards the door. Her chemistry knowledge was astounding, a marvelous domain of anatomy, and an even more gifted engineer from what he had heard. Hers was an indeed beautiful mind, not that he would ever tell her.

"Mr. Brekker?" her light voice shattered through the gloomy night. Kaz craned his neck, gaping back at her in question.

"Is there perhaps a place where I might be able to tidy myself up?" Y/N questioned, Kaz finally looking at her messy red-stained apron and her exposed arms displaying strokes of red all over them.

Kaz hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should bring the girl back to their home. "You can use the restroom back at the Slat." The girl had risked her reputation sneaking out on ill-advised affairs to help them, it was the least he could do.

"Thank you" Y/N replied as she carefully peeled her apron, attentive at not brushing her arms against her blouse.

___________

Once she had freshened up, Y/N stumbled upon the young Van Eck talking with a couple. The green-eyed girl was about Y/N's age, a generously carved complexion, holding the hand of a tall Fjerdan.

Y/N inclined her head as a form of salute, "I never pegged you for the rebellious type, Mr. Van Eck. I never thought you hated music lessons that much to run away." she told him in a joking tone.

"And I never thought you were the type to sneak out at ungodly hours just to play detective. " Wylan replied, a grin beginning to form on his face.

"Well, I suppose everyone has secrets."

"You must be Y/N, Inej told me you were the help Kaz so desperetly needed. I'm Nina, he's Matthias and well you already know Wylan."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Inej had briefly mentioned them, she knew now that Nina loved food, maybe next time she'll bring those exquisite truffles she had so eagerly talked about. If there is a next time Y/N reminded herself, she desperately hoped so, but now that her work was done she wasn't so sure Kaz Brekker would ever seek her again.

"Well, you have saved me the introductions." Kaz sarcastically glowered at the green-eyed girl, Nina kept talking as if she hadn't heard him.

It was one thing for Kaz to admire her intelligence, it did not mean he trusted her, though. Pieces were still missing to the intricate puzzle she was and until that changed Kaz did not like the way she rapidly befriended his crows, her intentions were still blurry to Kaz, and even though he would never admit it he cared deeply about their well-being.

"You should stay a little longer, we could go for waffles as a way of thank you." prompted Nina.

"Your offer is very tempting, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass. I should be returning home." Y/N declined, grinning at Nina, blissful someone had invited her for waffles.

Kaz stared at her and wondered how many times someone had done something similar, not to thank her but rather to use her, so that such a simple gesture put her in a joyful state.

"Scared of what your parents may do if they found out the truth?" Kaz quipped once his crows had left the two of them alone. A teasing tone masking true concern.

"Terrified. Someone may notice I've been playing the same four songs for the last couple of hours, always missing the same notes every time and they might get ideas of checking up on me," she confessed, mischief coating her features.

"Good night, Mr. Brekker. I'm happy I could be of assistance. Please, let me know if you find your killer or if my experience is needed again."

Kaz just bowed, signaling for his Wraith to get Y/N back to her manor in one piece.

Both girls disappeared into the night, leaving Kaz pondering what the hell she had meant with playing the piano.

___________

Y/N

Almost two weeks had passed, no signs of Kaz and no visits from the Wraith, well not that she was aware of. Y/N caught herself glaring at no point in particular, she readjusted her expression and plastered a well-practiced look of keen interest, trying to focus on Lady Stathos' rant about the attractiveness of the Viscount of Chagny.

Y/N politely excused herself, with no intention of making a fool of herself if Lady Stathos posed a question related to her gossip.

Too busy drowning in her own sorrow, knowing that Kaz had probably captured the culprit and was happily celebrating his success and no longer needing Y/N's help, that she stumbled forward, barely catching herself when someone bumped her from behind.

When Y/N turned back around, searching for that someone, she was met with a sight she had only seen once in an abandoned warehouse late at night. One that made her mind scream: Helianthus annuus.

Description: A killer is on the loose, eliminating Kaz's informants. In a desperate attempt, Kaz meets a certain inventor that has his mind racing, trying to figure out the complex puzzle she is.

This is my first fic. Please tell me what you thought of it and let me know if there are any mistakes. I'm thinking of making this a series.

If you wish to be tagged in my next fics send me a message.

You can find part 2 here: https://mindofasupernova.tumblr.com/post/655379605764587520/the-inventor-part-2

Part 3: https://mindofasupernova.tumblr.com/post/655531333961023488/the-inventor-part-3

Kaz x reader

Poison. A foreign substance that withered the strongest minds, condemned the lives of many men in the Barrel and the current reason why Kaz Brekker made his way through the infernal Ketterdam weather to reach a small quaint shop near the Church of Barter. But no common poison would have made the Bastard of the Barrel face the spindly fingers of cold wind wrapping around his spine, no, his problems weren´t caused by any average substance he knew of.

His problems started a couple of days before, when three of his informants had been found dead, veins bursting, purplish skin, and round red eyes. A ghastly image, one that had Kaz tearing his gaze away to prevent the waters from rising higher, putrescent hands pulling him under the waves. Kaz cursed his ghosts who never seemed to leave him be, the moon shone above his head in the shape of a fiendish smile as if mocking Kaz to face his demons.

Kaz Brekker had immediately searched for any doctor or alkemi capable and willing to identify the poisonous agent. No luck. All the knowledgable candidates were either too busy or complained that they would be offending Ghezen’s doctrine if they performed an autopsy on the corpses, but Kaz suspected they feared contracting a plague rather than facing the wrath of their Saints. Walking back to the slat after an infructuous day, gray clouds looming ahead as if reflecting Kaz's current mood, he had come across a petit shop that recently had become more popular for its concoctions, remedies, and new mechanical toys.

The quiet ding of a bell signaled his entrance, perking the attention of an elder Shu man behind the counter. Kaz strode towards the table and placed a tiny bag that contained the end of a syringe, stained with a little blood, the same syringe left on the corpse in one of the crime scenes.

"Business's been good" Kaz started, his salt rock rasp scratching each of his words.

"Sure it has, couldn't have imagined it but here we are." spoke the fragile man in a timid but merry voice.

"Well, since you appear to be quite gifted in chemistry, let's get straight to the point. I need you to identify this poison, if you're successful you'll be regarded considerably." Kaz stated, briefly turning around to examine the peculiar shop. It strangely reminded him of a cavernous underwater lair, the bottles, and vials glinting in the rarely lit room, giving it an effect of rippling water. Mr. Zhang stared at the bag with those small petrified eyes the fishes in the harbors had. A suitable place for a jumpy little fish attracted by shiny things just to be lured inside the mouth of more monstrous, sinister beings thought Kaz.

He had heard wonders of the new solutions sold at this particular establishment. Concoctions to cure the worst of headaches, ointments that reduced bruises into nothing, and even a new solution that closed small wounds and stopped the bleeding. If the old alchemist proved helpful, he might even grab a few remedies for him and his crows.

The senior carefully unraveled the end of the syringe, holding it with shaky hands towards the lamplight, casting a desertic warm glow to the shop, harsh contrast to the raging storm outside the local. Lastly, the aging man glanced up at Kaz, and with a squeaky voice answered:

"Oh no, I'm afraid I can't help you, young man. I'm merely just a vendor, my contact is the true genius behind the work."

Dirtyhands fixed the elderly with an impatient glare "Then, who is your contact? Notify him that I need him urgently".

"I'm afraid I cannot help you with that. The relationship between me and my contact depends on secrecy. My contact is adamant on remaining anonymous" answered the Shu vendor in a shy voice, wringing his hand nervously.

Kaz Brekker wasn't notorious for his patience, it had been an exhausting day and he was on the brink of snapping. He needed to find the culprit for the death of his men and make them pay, someone running on the streets killing informants made people hesitant to talk, it was bad for business. "Listen, I don't think you heard me correctly. I need your contact now or rumor might fly about a remedy seller who doesn't know a fraction about chemistry. Doubts would rise when people start asking for the supplier and the vendor refuses to name one." Kaz spoke in a warning tone and clicked his tongue as a form of reprimand.

The Shu man stuttered, opening and closing his mouth trying to come up with a justification. Defeated, he lowered his head and answered: "I'm afraid I cannot message my contact, but they will bring a supply of remedies in three days at this same hour. You can come and meet them yourself."

And that's exactly what Kaz Brekker was doing, fighting through the water droplets that splattered against his skin to get to his rendezvous. In some way, this felt like a déjà vu, he just hoped this time this said contact provided something useful.

Opening the door, he was greeted by the old gentleman and taken aside to wait for the arrival of this mysterious inventor.

___________

Y/N

Y/N walked hurriedly through the streets, eager to arrive at her destination, arms flagging tiredly from carrying a hefty package. Y/N pulled her hood higher, fingers red from the cold, she cursed silently as she almost slipped for the third time thanks to dreadful weather. "Of all days did it have to rain on this one" she muttered quietly.

She wished she had just snatched one of her father's carriages and avoided this hideous promenade towards Mr. Zhang's shop. But that completely risked what she was so keen on hiding: her whereabouts and late-night escapades for if her mother ever found out what she had been doing for the last two months she was sure she would never let her out of sight.

Her parents weren't cruel, greedy people who only saw her as an asset, quite the opposite. Although they loved her dearly and only wanted what they thought was best for her, they were old-fashioned and closed-minded. They thought a woman's place was beside her husband, pleasing him and taking care of their offsprings. A proper lady did not question natural phenomena nor did she took interest in any science-related topics, a lady only took interest in tea gossip and dresses. And to Y/N's misfortune, knowledge had captured her heart since she had received her first book, since the day one of her father's coworkers started translating a letter to a different language and since the tender age of seven when she had accidentally broken her father's clock and repaired it before anyone noticed.

Pushing the door open, Y/N was greeted with complete silence. Mr. Zhang wasn't in his usual spot, he must be in the back she thought, placing the box filled with vials on the counter. For the past four days, she had been working restlessly on her latest invention, sequestered in her secret makeshift lab inside her room. She couldn't wait to show it to Mr. Zhang, he could earn good money from it.

"So, you must be the contact Mr. Zhang is so keen on hiding." Y/N froze. She was grateful her hood was still up, covering her features and her back turned to the stranger.

"No need to be shy. I'm just here for business and your abilities could prove useful." the young male voice spoke behind her.

Foolish, foolish girl she reprimanded herself. She should have known Mr. Zhang would tell someone. She could try to escape, the man hadn't seen her face yet, but that was an even more foolish thought, she stood no chance. If my father hears about this I'll be doomed. All her dreams and secrets she had so carefully guarded would be ruined.

"Ms. Y/LN" Mr. Zhang, the old Shu gentleman, whispered. This is it. This is my demise she thought for she was certain that if the stranger worked for her father she'll never be able to leave her house again. There was no use in hiding anymore.

Reluctantly she turned around facing Mr. Zhang and the slightly shocked expression of a young man, no much older than her, dressed all in black and leaning his head on a cane with a crow's head.

_________________

Kaz

"Ms. Y/LN" Kaz heard, taken by surprise as the girl in question turned around to face them both.

Y/LN one of the wealthiest and most affluent families in Ketterdam. Duke Y/LN, who he assumed was Y/N's father, controlled 80% percent of all of Ketterdam´s merchant ships. Kaz knew he had a daughter but he had never seen her and couldn't fathom what she was doing in Mr. Zhang's shop, being his supposed "contact".

She was wearing a fine gray coat that reached her knees, covering what he presumed an equally expensive apricot dress. Wet curls framed her face, cheeks rosy from the cold, and doe eyes complemented her soft skin.

"Good evening" Y/N answered in a formal tone, straight posture emanating confidence all affluent families wished to demonstrate. Kaz could see she was nervous, clearly, she hadn't been expecting another guest, but if it made her feel better Y/N wasn't quite what he'd expected either.

"How shall I aid you?" Y/N questioned in a regal, but not haughty tone Kaz expected from royals. Somehow, that only irritated Kaz further. He expected a firm rejection as a good excuse to march back to the Slat, he didn't want to deal with royals who thought they were better than others just because they stole legally from the poorer. No, her tone was firm but curious, like she might truly want to help. Kaz didn't know what to make of it, it unnerved him. But he had walked too far just to return empty-handed and as much as he despised it, she was his only option.

Kaz fixed Y/N with a shark-like gaze and responded: "I need you to identify this poison." He handed her the small pouch with the syringe needle.

Y/N glimpsed inside the bag, closed it, and weighted it on her palm. "I'll be delighted to help but first I must know why is this of importance to you."

"No" Kaz voiced cut through the air. Silence.

"Well then, I'm afraid I cannot be of assistance. I do not wish anything in return but the context of the situation." Y/N answered with seriousness in her voice.

"I don't need nosy royals peering into my problems."

"I do not intend for your problems to become party gossip. But in that case, I wish you good luck finding someone willing to help you, Mr. Brekker." she said returning the pouch to the raven-haired boy. "Yes, I do know who you are. The cane is quite obvious. Have a good night".

"Why, are you afraid of associating with criminals, or are you not able to identify the poison?" Kaz mentioned as Y/N headed for the door. A halt in her movements. Pride, of course, too valuable to royals. A smirk crossed Kaz's face as she turned around to face him with those big inquisitive eyes of hers. A spark ignited inside those unique eyes, he couldn't think of a color that could quite match the one of her eyes. A single flame behind those orbs could set the whole world ablaze Kaz thought. Dirtyhands shook his head, confining that thought a forgotten vault inside his mind.

"Do not dare to assume anything of me, Mr. Brekker? I have never backed down from a challenge, I just simply like to know all the variables compromised in an environment." She warned, all seriousness and a defiant spark on her eyes that dared him to deny the answers. Proper ladies of Ghezen did not probe into matters, they didn't go out in secret working as anonymous alchemists and much less associated with criminals. Kaz was intrigued by her character and a small part of him urged to know her better. Find the solution to this unexpected puzzle.

An unexpected surprise, certainly. But Kaz wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad one and he was even less sure if making inquiries about things that did not belong in his world would lead to any good. Nonetheless, he dismissed the thought, the sooner the answer is found the sooner he'll lose interest in her persona, he reassured himself.

Kaz gave her the small pouch a second time. "Fine. How long will it take you to find the components?"

"A day at the most"

"Very well, identify the poison and I'll tell you what I know. " Kaz turned around and with long strides reached the door. He hoped she wasn't bluffing about her abilities, but one look back to all the vials and remedies lined up around the shop made all his doubts fade. His movements only halted when he heard her voice again.

"Wait. But how will I inform you of my results?"

"Leave that to me" Kaz assured, not even turning around, and walked out of the small establishment into the cold night.