Chapter Text
KAZ
The sun was setting as he made his way back in the front door of the Slat. His leg had been decent today, mild autumn days tended to be one of the best times of year for his bad limb.
“Get it done?” Per Haskell was leaning against the door frame of his office as Kaz shut the front door behind him. Kaz rolled his eyes before he turned to the man.
“Yes, Sir. Blacktips shouldn’t be trying to encroach on that part of our turf for a good while now.” Kaz straightened his tie. He noticed a drop of blood on his shoes.
Damnit. He’d almost been perfectly accurate with the splatter, keeping his clothing pristine.
“Good. That’s all.” Per Haskell took a swig from the bottle he was holding in his old mangled fingers. Kaz nodded and made his way up the first flight of stairs toward the attic. He had numbers to look over from the club, he had a parlay to plan. Work was piling up, he had a long night ahead of him yet. Kaz didn’t mind, he’d rather work than sleep on any night. Sleep felt like a waste of time when half the time he woke from nightmares anyhow.
Kaz was glad that no one had been present in the Slat outside of Rotty downstairs and Per Haskell in his office. Kaz was in no mood for pointless conversations, all he wanted was a stiff bourbon and the company of mathematics and schemes; his truest friends right alongside good old violence.
Kaz made it to the third floor landing and was about to climb the last flight of stairs to the fourth floor when he noticed lantern light marring the floor from the door to his left. It was open and he turned his head to find Inej- his new spider, cross legged on the ground of her new room, she was bent over the lock he’d given her to practice picking this morning. Kaz was about to ignore the girl but then he heard the click. The tumbler popped into place and the suli girl smiled to herself before she looked up to him- of course she’d known he was there.
She dropped the lock to the ground triumphantly, her dark eyes said “next”. Kaz didn’t know why he felt the urge to smile, something about the girl was… different. Her eyes always seemed to be looking toward the next challenge. He’d only known her about four days, but she was already picking locks.
He didn’t need a useless spider, after all.
“Don’t be too proud. Took you all day.” Kaz rasped as he leaned most of his weight on his cane.
“No. That took me six minutes. The one you gave me this morning is on your desk, unlocked. I bought this one at the hardware shop for more practice. I bought three different kinds, I matched them to the types you mentioned when you spoke to me this morning. Thankfully, I didn’t have to try and read much kerch- only company names.” Inej said. The suli girl had spent her only money on locks.
Kaz quirked his head. She had surprised him…. The lock was already on his desk. How? He kept his rooms locked, there was no way the girl could have cracked the locks on his door, he was the only one who could. Those locks were professional business, she’d take days to try and get in.
“Window.” Inej answered his unasked question.
Surprised, again. It was strange. People usually did exactly as he predicted, but yet this girl had snuck up on him. Impressed him, almost.
“Don’t come in my window again unless you can crack the lock I put on it.” Kaz said in parting, he had a drawer full of locks. He’d put a more challenging one on the window tonight. If the spider could crack the lock, she could use his window to report to him from now on. It was easier, fitting. If the girl obtained secrets for him, then their meetings could remain private from the rest of the gang as well.
“See you tomorrow, Kaz.” Inej mumbled and he heard her pick up the lock pick kit once more from behind him.
As Kaz made his way up the steps to the attic, he wondered if the girl- Inej- would end up being as useful of a spider as he hoped. He already knew she was dangerous, but was she daring?
Kaz would be lying if he said he wasn’t excited to find out. His lips quirked into a grin before he schooled his expression back into neutrality.