S&B season 2 announcement & I nearly cried seeing my baby Wylan on screen for the very first time 🥲 he's too precious & perf to be Wylan Van Eck 🧡

Specht had been hovering around, trying to think of something clever and romantic to say to Inej. If only Inej's eyes were blue like Nina's or green like Aeolian's. Instead, her eyes were brown—melted chocolate brown? Rabbit fur brown?

"Just tell her she's got skin like moonlight," Rotty had said. "Girls love that."

But the weather was not cooperating. There was no moon tonight, only thick grey skies above. Maybe he could compliment Inej's laugh? Except he'd never heard her laugh. He wasn't very good with jokes either. He and Inej only ever exchanged a few words before she left Ketterdam but she had been the best part of the Dregs. He thought he'd never see her again, and his heart felt heavy, but she'd return with Aeolian's mother and now they were all headed to Ravka. So without further delay, he needed to finally tell her how he truly feels.

"Spill..." Aeolian spoke as if she could read his mind, Specht stiffened. The Shu girl do have a way with words, she could help but they weren't close and it felt awkward. It's for inej. He told himself.

Specth cleared his throat, "how do you compliment someone with brown eyes?"

A sly smirked passed Aeolian's face, she's bewitching, he couldn't deny that but she wasn't his type. She has way more tricks up her sleeves than the magicians at the Stave. "Inej..." she mumbled.

He swallowed hard, she had a way of reading people too like Kaz. "What rhymes with brown?"

"What do you think?" She raised a perfect brow.

"Tree bark?" He asked.

She almost laughed, "darling Inej your eyes are as brown as tree bark?"

It was stupid when he heard Aeolian say it out loud, how could he tell Inej that. The day he joined Kaz's crew, Inej was the one who brought him breakfast at Kooperom and when Specth thanked her, Inej had smiled and he was lost. He knew his cause was hopeless. Even if she'd had any interest in him, he could never afford to buy her indenture from Haskell, and she would never marry unless she's free. But it hadn't stopped him from dropping by to say hello or to bring her little gifts of sweets. It was cheap, but it had seemed to please her.

Then after her trip from Ravka, her indentured was paid and she left the Dregs for good. Specth had thought about that moment when he'd lost the best thing in his life, and with each passing day, the hopes of her ever returning to Ketterdam had diminished. But then fate brought her back to Kerch, and he knew that if he didn't tell her his feelings now—there'll not be a next time.

His thoughts were interrupted by Aeolian's hand on his forearm. "Don't waste another moment thinking about it, just go to her."

Aeolian was right, he shouldn't waste his time thinking about it anymore. Instead, he should put his thoughts into action. For saints sake even the cold and impossible Kaz Brekker was able to open up, he had seen Kaz and the Shu princess together at Fifth Harbour, the day they sailed off from Ketterdam and it was a sight. Finally he nodded, "thank you princess."

Aeolian smiled to herself as Specht left in search of Inej. Brown eyes? She thought, who'd have ever thought she'd like brown eyes. Not until she met the scariest person walking the streets of Ketterdam with brown eyes. She'd seen something in his eyes that the others couldn't. In those earthy hues was his soul, not in the way of those cheesy romance novels, so obsessed with lust, but with the kind of beauty that expands a moment into a personal eternity, a heaven you wish to be a part of.

The last time she'd stepped foot on Ravka had been unpleasant—a selfish quest to kidnap the Sun Summoner for the crown. Without questioning or thinking about what the outcome might be, she'd lead her life following orders, being a puppet on the strings of the Empress but the biggest quest of her life back then—also changed her life.

Taking the sun summoner job, staying back in Ketterdam, breaking into the Ice Court, being held a hostage—had opened her eyes. There's still a lifetime for her to learn and grow, but this was a start, a good start.

Sakura like everyone else thought that the father of her child died in battle, when their enemies invaded their camp in the dead of the night. But when Aeolian was nine, Sakura found out the ugly truth that her own mother was behind the execution of General Xiao. She threatened her mother to expose the truth, back then the country had been in turmoil and the Empress knew such a scandal will put her in a lot of trouble.

In fear the Empress took matters in her own hands and threatened Sakura instead—the Empress had her loyal palace guards ready to take the life of her granddaughter, if Sakura didn't leave the palace immediately. Sakura had no option but to obey her cruel mother, who exiled her to the mountains of Sikurzoi with two guards to keep a watch on her. Everyone in the kingdom thought Sakura died of a sudden but terrible illness.

Years passed by and Sakura was finally able to escape from the prying eye of the guards and ever since she'd loitered around trying to find her way back home. She crossed paths with some suli travellers befriended them, and they were ever ready to guide her back to Shu Han but before they could; Inej found the suli travellers where her parents were and as soon as Inej eyes landed on Sakura she knew that she'd to be related to Aeolian somehow.

After finding out her truth and her story, Inej and Sakura headed to Ravka to seek their help. King Nikolai informed them that Kaz Brekker had been curious about the Shu girl and her heritage and that he'd met them in Ketterdam weeks back, so a fast letter was sent to Kaz by the Ravkan king informing him that—the princess mother, who everyone presumed dead was alive and heading to Ketterdam to reunite with her daughter.

When the story finally unfolded Aeolian saw what kind of a monster her grandmother had been; from exiling her own daughter to killing Aeolian's father and sending Aeolian off to the operations knowingly what they'd do to her. Their plan was to march to Shu Han with the alliance they're about to make and face the Empress, if she's proven guilty to the court Sakura can overthrow her and become the next Empress of Shu Han.

After reuniting with her mother, they'd stayed for a week in Ketterdam. That week, had been like living in paradise and she'll never ever let herself forget it. She was besides the mother she thought she'd lost, she was with friends who loves her, and Kaz was finally being less the bastard of the barrel and more Kaz Rietveld. She knew they both had so much to do in their lives and a lot more demons to face and conquer, but it was a worthy start.

Wylan and Jesper had come to see them off at Fifth Harbour. Kaz had met her the night before at Hendrik's mansion and Aeolian knew that Kaz never do goodbyes, but she hoped he might show up. Leaving him to follow her destiny, had been the hardest decision she'd ever made.

She could hear Specht whistling but then—Aeolian couldn't hear it anymore because at a distant she could hear the sound of the cane hitting the hard ground as a silhouette appeared. The shock on the face of the crew was almost comical.

"I thought Kaz Brekker doesn't do goodbyes," she smirked, unable to contain the surprise of seeing him.

He almost smiled, as he pulled out an envelope and handed it to her. "I hope, I'll see you again."

She gently grabbed his gloved hand. "In my absence if you die, I'll kill you..."

He arched a brow. "If it makes you less sad, I will die by your hand."

She choked out a laugh. "Can I kiss you before I kill you?" Then turned to the direction of the others, her mother was on the deck waiting patiently. She let out a breath. "We'll survive you and I.....I'll pray for you, always."

He pushed a stand of her hair, and tucked it behind her ear. "I'll hold on to this moment, until we meet again, love."

"I'll find you again Kazuki, wherever we end up next." She pressed a soft kiss on his cheek and glided towards the ship. Clutching the sealed envelope dearly to her chest. It doesn't matter where she was, she was his.

Now Aeolian could see her mother, taking her usual stroll before bed. Even though being exiled for so long, she was still graceful and elegant—a quality the royals didn't seem to lose, even with time. When she'd introduced her mother to Kaz, Sakura had told her. "You're both made for each other."

"How do you know, Muqin?" She asked surprised.

"Because you guys don't look at each other with butterflies and happiness. You look at each other with reality but at the same time, there's a fairytale awaiting you." Her mother had said.

Feeling anything for Kaz Brekker is the worst kind of foolishness. She'd reminded herself multiple times. Kaz was not a giddy boy smiling and making future plans with her, he was a dangerous player who was always working on an angle.

"Many boys will bring you flowers. But some day you'll meet a boy who will learn your favourite flower, your favourite song, your favourite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart."

Those were the words her mother used to tell her and she'd thought, it was silly of her to even think that someone like her would find love like her mother and father did. And she wouldn't wish love on anyone. It was a guest you welcomed and then couldn't be rid of. But now she understood—not to be loved or not be able to love: that's a fate worse than death.

Instead of giving her flowers, he'd paid off her debts. Instead of playing her favourite song, he'd brought her a ship and instead of giving her sweets he'd reunited her with her beloved mother. He'd given her everything in life and more, he'd taken the time to know her as no one else did. And only he deserve her heart.

"We'll be kings and queens, Lin. Kings and queens." He told her back then, the promise, he'd delivered. He didn't catch her eyes right away but once he did, she couldn't look away. They say all good boys go to heaven, but bad boys bring heaven to you.

And this was it, this was their 'dark paradise.'

◾️▪️◾️▪️◾️

Things in Ketterdam were finally getting back to normal and the expansion of the Crow Club was almost complete. There were a handful of other projects that Kaz was focusing on, and with Rollins' being gone for this long his establishments were collapsing. Was Pekka Rollins really gone? Kaz couldn't actually believe it, Rollins wasn't the type of man to just give up on everything he'd ever built just like that. So what had changed?

There had been only a single letter from Aeolian after she left, she'd written to him that they would be heading to Shu Han to face the Empress. She'd even mentioned that Inej had found a new purpose in life and that is to hunt slavers with Specht by her side.

One morning at the fancy Van Eck's boathouse Kaz saw Aeolian's knives laid out on the table. "That's my emotional support knife collection." She spoke from behind. He'd turned, the sunlight was reflecting on her from the waters, he'd witnessed unexplainable things but the only thing that still catches his breath was her.

She picked up a knife and began carving a wooden winged crow toy. They sat there in comfortable silence until she'd said. "People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can't rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right."

Now Kaz walked around, the old apartment where Aeolian had lived with Wylan. He'd brought the place, because whenever he swung by; he felt a part of her was still there. She had left her furnitures and her plants when she'd left the city. He picked up a jug and watered the plants—the last time they were here together, they climbed up to the roof and she fed the crows

It reminded him of the time when she was perched on the sill of his attic window, feeding the crows. The moment he started believing in magic again. 'I don't believe in magic.' The young boy said. The old man smiled. 'You will when you see her.'

The way she'd laughed, back then at the attic—the same way she'd laughed when, he'd asked her. "Is my tie straight?" Before she introduced him to her mother. The laugh that he adored, and if he could have bottled the sound and got drunk on it every night, he would have.

She'd explained to him the story behind the golden metal on her right earlobe, the reason why she could sing so well. Sirens were considered as legends but after everything he'd witnessed, he learned that there's always a truth to the legends.

He'd touched the cold metal with his bare fingers, and it was as cold as ice. The metal was always cold because sirens hearts are never warm. She'd even mentioned that sometimes, she could hear the siren voice in her head, loud and unwelcoming. If only she knew he could hear Jordie's voice as well.

She glided her finger through the tiny rope scar on his knuckle, "you can't heal if you keep pretending you're not hurt."

She'd seen the parts of him, that no one has. She knew his weakness, she knew his strengths and she'd protected him. And she'd been right all along, and he couldn't be running from his past, running from the illness in him. He needed to come clean to himself, accept that he'd been hurt, he'd been lost. He'd been his worst enemy.

Back at the Ice Court when he was drowning—when dead came knocking at his door. He'd forced himself to think of his brother, of revenge, of Pekka Rollins. Kaz forced him to remember Jordie's name. But all he could think of was Aeolian and Aeolian alone. He needed to tell her, that she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong but not so broken that he couldn't pull himself together into a semblance of a man for her. And now he could finally prove to her, what kind of a person he could be. She'd given him a chance, even though he didn't deserved it.

She's the girl he never saw coming, the unexpected one that calms him, centres him and still turns out to be the surprise love of his life. She gets him like no one ever has. She is his best friend, lover, soulmate all wrapped in one prettiest package. She is unforgettable, she is like no one, which is why he's addicted to her, her mind, her soul. He can't get her out of his system, she runs through him hot like blood and fire.

He could never leave no matter what, because he knows he'll never be able to feel this connection ever again. He have never had anyone stick by him before, she is the safest place he have ever known. He's soft for her, no matter how life gets, she's there and his feelings never change. He feels her deep in his bones, in his soul. She is the one who makes him feel whole in a way he never have before and it terrifies him. But what terrifies him even more is losing her.

"I'll find you again Kazuki, wherever we end up next." She pressed a soft kiss on his cheek before she left him standing at Fifth Harbour. Now the only thing he could do was wait, wait for her to find him again, like she promised.

And he believe that she'll find him again, because the only saint he believes in, was her. "No saint ever watched over me, not like you have." He'd told her back at Fjerda.

She'd looked up at him, and smiled then, her emerald eyes twinkling under the starlight. It was a smile he thought he might die to earn again.

He'd seen her wings back then—an angel sent from above to save him. When she had killed the Inferni to save his life, when she'd betrayed her faith and believes for him.

She'd told him the story of gifted wire walkers as descendants of the People of the Air, how they once had wings, and that in the right light, those wings could be glimpsed on the humans whom they showed favour. But even before he'd know the story of the People of the Air, he'd seen her wings all along—the wings she didn't believe she had.

Aeolian had betrayed her faith for Kaz. But in a way he betrayed his faith too—by believing in her. He'd so scarcely let himself believe in so long that he forgot even he could. But she made Kaz Brekker, Dirtyhands believe again.

It's her, in a thousand of lifetimes, in a hundred of ways. It's her. It'll always be her.

✨ THE END ✨

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🎵🎵🎵

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
When sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

🎵🎵🎵