Prompt: Kaz Scoping Out And Stealing An Engagement Ring For IInej. And Maybe Even The Proposal? 🥺🥺🥺

Prompt: Kaz scoping out and stealing an engagement ring for iInej. And maybe even the proposal? 🥺🥺🥺

Ok so this was a *brilliant* prompt and, although initially I was all like 'oh I'll write a quick drabble, it'll be fun!', here I am 2000 words later... hope you enjoy 😘

The Black Diamond of Ravka

It was a problem Kaz Brekker had been mulling over for several weeks now.

He let it sit there, in his mind, where he could pick up tiny bits of information while never looking directly at it, just the same as any mark. He poked it gently, turned it this way and that, slowly uncovering more and more knowledge as he did.

It wasn’t a question of money, of course. His personal coffers — and those of the Slat, for that matter — had only grown in the years since the Van Eck play. But there was always something more deserving for Kaz to spend his kruge on. Always something she’d rather have at her disposal.

So, it would be a lift. She couldn’t begrudge him if it was stolen, rather than bought…

But still, the problem wasn’t solved.

Kaz knew he couldn’t go traditional, not with her. She wouldn’t wear something ostentatious, not out at sea. And the last thing she needed when in Ketterdam was something that could catch the light so easily, and give away her position in the shadows.

So, the problem wasn’t solved.

At least, not until Kaz spread the Ketterdam Chronicle open in front of him that morning.

He always read the papers with his morning tea, everything from the Chronicle, aimed at the merchers and the elite, down to the Kruge News, which actually only cost a half-kruge to buy. It always paid to know what lies — or worse, truths — the printers were telling the punters.

His eyes settled on a particularly interesting article, tucked up in one corner in the middle of the sheets. His tea sat forgotten, rapidly cooling next to him, but Kaz paid it no heed.

‘Anika!’ he called out.

She was there between one breath and the next, eyes sparkling. ‘Yes, boss?’

Kaz knew she waited outside his office when she wasn’t on a job, eager to be on hand. She’d proved herself time and again since Kaz overthrew Haskell and took back the Crow Club. He’d come to rely on her, and thought she had a bright future ahead of her in the Dregs.

Not that he would ever tell her that, of course.

‘Tell Jesper to come see me,’ he said. Anika nodded. ‘And then get me Henessey.’

For once, Anika hesitated at his request. ‘Henessey?’ she repeated. Kaz just stared silently at her, until she squirmed under his gaze. ‘Henessey,’ she said, this time with determination. She hurried out of his office without another word.

Kaz leaned back in his chair and smiled grimly in satisfaction.

There was no problem, in the end, that Kaz Brekker, the Bastard of the Barrel, Dirtyhands himself, could not solve in that scheming mind of his.

xXxXx

‘Saints, Kaz,’ Jesper muttered as the sweat started to roll down his forehead. ‘What kind of job is this, anyway?’ He was holding up a heavy sash window on his shoulder, keeping as still as possible as Kaz picked his way through several high-security locks on the inner grating.

‘The kind where you shut your mouth and do your job,’ Kaz hissed, wiggling a second pick into place as he manoeuvred the false tumblers out of the way. A second later, he felt the final lock give, with a satisfying click. ‘Now, let’s go.’

Jesper at least managed to keep quiet as they slid through the halls of the Mohs Building, deep in the heart of Ketterdam’s jewellery quarter.

And at the heart of the building, on a raised pedestal, nestled on a plush red velvet cushion, there it was.

The Black Diamond of Ravka.

The largest, flawless black diamond ever found. Rare, dark, beautiful — and utterly priceless.

Kaz reached down and plucked it from the cushion, deftly switching it for a perfectly matched weight before the pressure plate below could trigger. He couldn’t help the curl of his lip, almost into something resembling a smile, as he made it dance over his gloved fingers. There was a legend that a Ravkan black diamond granted its wearer invisibility: a myth Kaz knew would make her laugh. The diamond disappeared into his suit, and he flashed Jesper a grin.

‘Let’s get back to the crows.’

xXxXx

Kaz could tell the exact moment when Henessey Lynch walked into the Slat. The murmurings of the crows quietened down, for once, and a strange, expectant silence settled instead. Sure enough, Anika appeared in the open doorway of Kaz’s office a few moments later.

‘Henessey’s here, boss.’

‘Thanks, Anika,’ Kaz said, and Anika disappeared again, letting Henessey stride into the room. Kaz struggled to his feet, grabbing his cane and limping to the front of his desk.

‘Brekker,’ Henessey greeted him with a smile.

‘Henessey,’ Kaz replied, leaning back on his desk. Henessey Lynch was almost as tall as Kaz, with dark skin and black hair. Her neck was tattooed with a string of flowers.

‘Been a while since my presence was required among the crows,’ Henessey said as she made a slow circuit of Kaz’s office. ‘You must have something juicy for me.’

Kaz reached into a hidden pocket, and pulled free his prize. He unfurled his gloved palm, the black diamond nestled within. Henessey let out a long whistle, and plucked the jewel from his hand.

‘Is this the Ravkan gem everyone’s looking for? Should’ve known you’d lifted it, Dirtyhands.’

Kaz raised an eyebrow at her, watching as she held the diamond up to the light. ‘You can see why I needed your particular talents.’

She laughed at that, tossing the diamond in the air before catching it and looking back at Kaz. ‘I can get it done for you. You got the details?’ Kaz pulled out a scrap of folded paper, and Henessey snatched it, her quick, dark eyes scanning his instructions.

Henessey Lynch happened to be the best forger the whole of the Barrel had to offer. She could do official documents in her sleep, and could paint a DeKappel for you so good even the artist himself would have struggled to tell the forgery. And, if you happened to have a hot jewel that was incredibly recognisable, there was no better person to set it for you.

Henessey looked up from the paper. The diamond had already disappeared, but Kaz had seen exactly where she’d put it. Her sleight of hand wasn’t bad at all, but nothing got past Kaz Brekker. ‘Perfect. I’ll have it for you tomorrow,’ Henessey said, turning to leave.

‘I’ll be waiting,’ Kaz murmured.

And wait he did, once Henessey returned, the diamond set perfectly to his specifications. All he had to do now, was wait.

xXxXx

‘Boss?’ Two weeks later, Anika’s blonde hair peered around the open door to Kaz’s office. He waved her in, not bothering to look up from his work, and he heard her walk up to his desk. ‘The Wraith’s been spotted on the horizon,’ Anika said. Kaz looked up, so sharply his neck twinged, and found Anika grinning knowingly at him. Kaz narrowed his eyes, and Anika managed to smooth at least half of the smirk from her face. ‘She’ll be docking in about an hour.’

Kaz didn’t move, finishing up his work instead. When it was done he folded his papers and pushed his chair back from the desk, grimacing a little at the stiffness in his leg. Being a Barrel boss meant more time sitting than wandering Ketterdam as much as he used to, and his leg was certainly starting to complain about it. He leaned on his cane as he shuffled to the safe, spinning it open and stashing his papers away. Then he shrugged on his jacket, put his hat on, and straightened his tie, before heading out from the Slat.

Half an hour later, just as the Wraith sailed elegantly into Berth 22, Kaz reached the Church of Barter. He started to climb, slowly, following the path she had led him up all those years ago, just before their impossible auction job. He made his way to the roof, and found a perch overlooking the distant sea. He sat down, removed his gloves, and waited.

Between one breath and the next, Kaz knew she was there. He smiled to himself, tilted his head to the side as the cold bite of familiar metal ran gently up his neck.

‘Welcome home, my love,’ he said quietly, as the knife fell from his neck and she appeared in front of him.

Inej Ghafa.

His Wraith, his confidant, his partner in crime.

His everything.

‘I missed you,’ she said, and perched easily up next to him on the ledge. Their thighs touched, through the material of their clothes, and Kaz found himself pressing against her hard, warm presence. ‘What are you doing up here? I thought you’d have come to the docks.’

He usually did, whenever the Wraith glided into harbour after a stretch of slaver-hunting at sea. He gave a little shrug, gazing up at the sky. It was just turning to twilight, the sky a rainbow riot of colours melting into a dark, limpid blue far above them. ‘I know this is your favourite place in Ketterdam,’ he said.

Inej shifted slightly, and a moment later, she’d laid her head on his shoulder. Kaz took a deep breath in, the faint scent of sea-salt from her hair grounding him in place. Even after all this time, he had to work at being able to touch her. To be touched.

‘That’s what I told you,’ she said, and her silken hair, braided as usual, tickled his cheek when she spoke. For a brief moment, Kaz was unsure of himself. Of the plan.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked, trying to keep his voice even. He felt her shrug.

‘It is my favourite place in Ketterdam,’ she explained. ‘But only after wherever you are at the time.’

Kaz didn’t trust himself to speak for a moment. No matter how many times Inej had shown she loved him just as much as he loved her, when she said something as simple and heartfelt as that, he still found himself momentarily blindsided that she’d chosen him, when she could have had anyone. As if sensing his inner turmoil, she moved her head very slightly, just enough so her nose could nudge against the skin of his neck. ‘Don’t get sentimental on me now, Brekker,’ she said playfully, and he couldn’t help grinning.

‘Wouldn’t dream of it, Wraith,’ he replied. He reached into his pocket, not letting himself overthink things, or second guess himself. He pulled out the Black Diamond of Ravka, now set into a flawless gold ring. It was beautiful in the twilight, turning almost a dark blue colour, and instead of sparkling, it glowed like faint moonlight as he held it out.

He heard Inej’s gasp of breath, and her head whipped off his shoulder as she sat up next to him, straight as an arrow. ‘Kaz?’ she breathed, her voice completely different now. It was alert, questioning. Hopeful.

‘Inej.’

She waited in silence, her dark eyes fixed on him, as he pushed himself to his feet. He shuffled awkwardly in front of her, and got to his knees on the stone outcrop in front of them. His bad leg fired with pain, but he ignored it, drinking in the sight of Inej before him, looking down at him in wonder. Her lower lip was caught between her teeth, and her hands were clenched between her knees. He reached up with one hand, and she unclasped her own, letting him take one in his hold. In the other, he held out the black diamond ring, an offering to the only goddess he recognised in his life.

He paused, and she watched him. Words were not Kaz’s way of showing love, but he knew right now he had to try.

‘I’ll never ask you to stay in one place,’ he started, his voice harsher than he’d planned. ‘And I’m never going to be able to give you everything you deserve--’ Inej squeezed his hand then, as if to counter his words, but he just squeezed back and continued. ‘But I love you, Inej. So much it burns. And I will worship you, and protect you, and stand by your side, for the rest of your life.’

‘Kaz…’ Inej’s voice was raw, and he could see her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Her hand in his tightened, holding him in place as the black diamond glowed between them.

‘Please, Inej,’ he said. ‘Will you marry me?’

Inej moved so fast, Kaz was sprawled on his back on the stone before he had chance to blink. Inej straddled him, braced up on her hands and knees so they weren’t touching. Her nose was close enough to brush his. ‘Of course I’ll marry you, Kaz Brekker,’ she breathed, her smile dazzling. ‘I love you.’ He turned his head slightly to the right, and saw the ring was already on her finger.

‘I love you,’ he smiled up at her, and she lightly brushed her nose against his.

‘Can you kiss me?’ Inej whispered, and he could hear the hopefulness in her voice. He lifted a hand to her cheek, gently stroked her skin. She pressed into his palm, and he wrapped his other hand into her long braid and tugged it, pulling her lips down to his.

Kaz would spend the rest of his life kissing Inej Ghafa.

xXxXx

My ask box is still open if you want to send in a kanej / six of crows pairing prompt of your own!