chapter sixteen.               ketterdam

 "Good morning, no?" asks Kaz.

 Aria squints against the sunlight, hand thing to block it from view. It's not helping with the aching of her head, probably as a result from the previous night—she doesn't remember much about it, just the various drinks Jesper had poured for her, her arms slung around Wylan as he played the piano, messily dancing with Jesper so roughly that she swore she saw the chandelier shaking. The servants had to have been tired of them, endless nights spent stuffing themselves with honey-soaked cakes and rich kvas straight from Ravka. Aria vaguely remembers her fingers tightly wrapped around the neck of the bottle, tipping it back into her mouth through dirty sea shanties and graceless dances. It had been nearly past midnight when Aria finally made her way up to her bedroom, tumbling into the room like a drunken sailor.

Aria groaned in response.

"Just wonderful," Aria responds, turning to look at Kaz. Aria finds herself faltering in front of him, the sarcastic demeanor she'd put up immediately falling at the sight of him. Kaz was practically glowing in the light of the morning sun, the bruises and gashes on his pale skin had begun to fade, and his hair was slicked back as it usually was, instead falling naturally. "You look...you look—" Saints. She couldn't even form words in front of him. It had been a few couple of weeks since Aria had seen Kaz, only finding each other in small notes left on one another's pillowcase. Aria wanted to slap herself across the cheek. "You look good." She managed to get out.

Kaz's brows shot up in amusement. "Cat got your tongue?" He asks, watching as Aria rolled her eyes. "You look good too," Kaz added.

Her skin was sunkissed, cheeks pink. Her hair was a little wind blown, and her golden eyes fell on him. "Charming," Aria stated, walking further into Fifth Harbor. Kaz had wanted to meet here, and though it sent some unease through her, Aria wouldn't have missed it for the world. The two walked side by side in the same step, merchants and tourists already beginning to flood into the harbor towards the Exchange. Ketterdam had started to return to normal. Well, as normal as that place could get. Now that it was clear there was no plague, or no killers on the loose, people had started to come back to their homes in the Barrel or the richer districts.

"Why did you want to meet here?" Aria asks, slowling down. Kaz halts, turning to look at her. It's then she realizes Kaz doesn't have his gloves on—her brows furrow and Kaz notices it too.

He just forms a small smile and nods for her to follow. "I've something to show you."

Aria follows after Kaz closely, looking at him when he's not paying attention—though she's rather sure he can feel her stare. She doesn't really care though, not after everything that happened. She thinks getting caught staring is the least of her problems anymore. When they arrived at the docks, Aria furrowed her brows. It looked the same as it always did, some more luxurious ships on one side, the less on the other. Aria looked around, trying to find any sort of idea of why Kaz had brought her here. Kaz turned to face her, eyes softer than usual.

"I know you've wanted to travel for some time," Kaz stated. Aria felt her heart skip a beat.

"I...yes," she admitted on a gust of breath.

"Van Eck left behind some ships, I thought you'd might like to see them." Kaz said.

Aria's eyes went a little wide. "Really?"

Kaz nodded. "The last four docks," he states before Aria is running down the dock, the wind blowing her dress and her hair—and from afar Kaz thought she looked intoxicatingly gorgeous underneath the sun. When he caught up to her, she was stopped at the second to last ship, a sage green color—her color. Kaz smiled to himself as he approached her. "I knew that part of you wanted to go with Sturmhond—but you didn't want to—"

"I didn't want to leave you." Aria said.

Kaz looked down at his boots. "Why not?" He asked, the back of his bare hand brushing hers.

Aria flushed a light pink as Kaz's finger tips brushed her. "Because I want you—I want to be at your side."

Kaz smiled now, grinning like an idiot the day they watched as Jesper, Inej, and Wylan rolled through in a tank at the Ice Court. "I can't say no to that," Kaz stated, intertwining their fingers so slowly, to give her time to pull away. She didn't, she allowed him to interlace their fingers, to hold hands. Kaz didn't falter, just kept his eyes on the ship in front of them. "Is this the one?" He asks.

Aria nods. "The Bastard."

Kaz snaps his head to her. "Is that what you're calling it?"

Aria smiles. "I believe so, yes."

Kaz laughs, head titled backwards. If this could've played forever in Aria's memory, she'd let it.

She lets her grip in his hand get firmer. "What do you say, Brekker, will you sail with me?"

Kaz looks up, at the sun, and then his pocket watch. He sighs. "I suppose I have some time to kill." He replies, following her on board to the ship. The Bastard of the Barrel—the meanest person she knew, was going to sail with her. "Where shall we go?" Kaz asks, looking out at the sea, avoiding the sight of Reapers Barge. That was in the back of his mind now.

"Anywhere." She breathes.

Kaz releases his grip on her hand and digs into his pocket, handing Aria a piece of paper. "Oh, and this would be important."

Aria opens it gently, finding a small map. With one glance, she knew. "Viktor." She gasps. "You found...you found him?"

Kaz shrugs. "It's up to you," he reassures.

Aria grabs his hand, squeezing it gently. There were tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Kaz."

Kaz smiled. "Then we'll sail—to Shu-Han. How does that sound?"

Aria grinned through happy tears. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Kaz."

Kaz gave a nod. Neither would he.

emma / 2023
EPILOGUE IS NEXT GET READY!!
edited: 5/29/23