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celestialgyu · 3 years ago

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AHHH i love feedback

first of all AUTHOR DID YOU THINK OF THIS ENTIRE WORLD?? LIKE THE TERM GRISHA AND KETTERDAM AND ALL THE DIFF GANG NAMES BWCAUSE IF YOU DID THAT IS AMAZING? your creativity is literally insane AUGH

what nooo i could never take credit for that. It's based on the Grishaverse, more specifically the books in the series I've read which are Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom (by Leigh Bardugo)! They're great books, recommend! The setting and powers are both from there. (But not Tiger Club lmao, that was mine 😗)

i love yeonjun and kai THE WAY EVEN YOUR SIDE CHARACTERS ARE SO LOVEABLE AND INTERESTING TO ME?! when kai was first introduced i was a bit sus but HES ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AND HIS ABILITY TO MAKE STUFF IS SOSO FUN ?! and yeonjun being like “darling!! 💖” one second then shooting bullets in the wall the next is just 🙏🙏 I LOVE HIM AND HIS DUALITY him and yuna were so so cool lord

When Kai was very drunk when I introduced him right lmaoo 😭 I feel your sentiment sm, I seriously adore this gang of criminals and thieves. Writing FAP Yeonjun was a rideeee, he was so fun to create. And Yuna my badass girlboss 😍

SPEAKING OF THE ROMANCE it was the perfect amount!! you still focused on the story but those lil moments of calling each other cute from a distance and blushing i was like AWWWHH THEY’RE CRIMINALS BUT THEYRE SO ADORABLE !! 🥰

This makes me feel so much better, cause I was wringing my hands about the amount of romance in this and worried I jumped from "cute" to "kissing" way too fast. It's nice to hear you thought it was balanced!! Also, yeah they're superr cute, esp Jungwon and his (understandable) anxiety about revealing his feelings.

MY FAVORITE SCENE WAS LITERALLY YEONJUN AND MC IN THE BAR IM SORRY I JUST THINK THEYRE BESTIES. ANYWAYS AUTHOR YOUR WRITING STYLE IS SO JUST. EASY TO READ AND SO ENJOYABLE and I LOVED THIS A LOT !! PRAYING JUNGWON GIVES YN THAT DAMN DAGGER HE BOUGHT FOR THEM SOON LMAOO

JKDJK I LOVED THAT SCENE THE MOST TOO. That and the helicopter scene were my top 2s. Their friendship is very playful and fluid, its really cute.

My writing style???? That means so so much to me ty 🥲 (Also I'd like to think by the epilogue Jungwon gifted the dagger? Cause if not, what you waiting for you himbo 🤨)

TYSM!! 💖

For Any Price

genre; fantasy au, non idol au, childhood friends to lovers, fluff

pairings; gn!reader x jungwon (enha), yeonjun (txt), yuna (itzy), & kai (txt)

synopsis; The most feared assassins in Ketterdam, you and Jungwon have made a name for yourselves. When your creditor comes knocking on your door demanding you pay off your hulking debt immediately or risk being dragged back to the place you escaped, you and Jungwon have to find a way to get that money, and quick. Luckily, you two weren't called the best Grishas of their generation for nothing.

wc; 9.4k

warnings; death, violence, mentions of alcohol

notes; First and foremost, I want to express how sorry I am to leave this FAP crew. No, like I genuinely adore them. Moving on, this is for cici's (@iyeonjuni) power of love collab!! Go check out her works (and everyone who was a part of this collab)! I would also like to thank jas (@crispy-chan) for beta-reading this!! Your comments made me smile so much. (PSA: This fic is based on the Grishaverse. All references made can be explained on the fandom page and other informational texts about the Grishaverse.)

You’re cleaning your collection of knives when you hear a knock on the door of your flat. Reluctantly putting down the dagger you were polishing, you grab two others, tuck them into your sleeves and get up to open the door. You look into the peephole and are met with the sight of a person you’d hoped you’d never see again. You stiffen, steeling yourself before you open the door.

“Nice place you have here _____,” The Slave Pirate sneered at you. You didn’t know his real name and you doubted many people did. Jungwon loved to joke about how cheesy the name was.

“What are you doing here?” you narrowed your eyes at him. He moved to walk past you but you blocked him with your arm, shoving him back. “Answer the damn question.”

“Someone’s on edge,” he said as he looked you up and down. “I’m here to get my money so stop acting like a scared child and move.”

You glared at him as you stepped aside to let him in. Saints, where is Jungwon, he should be getting back soon. He looked around your living room with his nose upturned. “For someone with a reputation like you two have, I was expecting something luxurious.”

You ignored his comment. “The final payment isn’t due for another two months. You have no business speaking to me till then.”

He smirked at you, “You forget your place. Some things have changed and I need that final half million kruge each now. You have two weeks. Or else… well the Little Palace will be learning the whereabouts and… occupations of two of their Grishas.”

You scoffed, holding his stare with the fiercest glare you could muster. “You’d never do that. They find out about me and Jungwon, they find out about you too.” You told yourself that if he ever let slip to the Palace where you were, you’d do whatever it took to hunt him down and mail his parts to the Little Palace yourself. The thought was almost comforting. A question then popped into your head. “How did you find me?”

“First, like you, I cover my tracks well, so it’d be challenging to find me. And second, I’ve had a person on you two since the day you paid me for new identities.” he sneered as he stood up. “Bet you didn’t expect that one, did you? Pity, your reputation was quite impressive, but I suppose like all things, it’s built on a mixture of lies and truth.”

You fixed him with a steely glare as you moved to hold the door open. “Save it. Get out,” you ordered.

You reached to shut the door but he grabbed it before you could fully close it. “You have two weeks,” he said before turning on his heel and walking into the street.

Disgusting piece of scum, I cannot wait till he gives me a reason to get rid of him. You thought to yourself as you sat down at your desk, your knives glittering enticingly in the window light. You grabbed four of them and walked to the other side of your flat, where a giant piece of cardboard was attached to the wall by four small daggers.

You weaved two of the knives between your fingers, thinking of where to aim them. The cardboard was littered with knife indents and holes, the material used and worn out. Focusing on the air around you, you conjured a vacuum of air from your knife tip to wherever you choose as your target. You fixed your eyes at an empty spot in the bottom right corner and threw them both at the same time, watching as they spun gracefully through the air and landed perfectly next to each other, their ends pointed at you. You moved the vacuum a few feet above them. You threw the other two knives, smiling to yourself as they nailed a perfect landing on the cardboard, their pearl-studded ends the only part visible along with a glint of its steel blade. Throwing knives were almost therapeutic for you, calming your nerves and allowing your mind to hone in on what it did best, take aim.

You were a Squaller, an Etherealki Grisha. You could summon or control air and gaseous matter, from strong winds, pointed currents or removing/adding air from anywhere. Jungwon was a Heartrender, a Coporalki Grisha. He could control human bodies, manipulating any aspect of a body to his will. You stared at where the second dagger hit, recalling your days training as a soldier of the Second Army at the Little Palace. You had been better than most of your classmates, garnering relentless praise from your teachers, and Jungwon was the same. But you left that place (for good reason) and now your home was here, Ketterdam, the city of trade. Stinky, humid, built-on-a-swamp Ketterdam.

You grabbed a few more knives from the table and scattered them across the cardboard, turning back to get some more when you heard something from the door. Knock knock. Knock. Knock knock. Jungwon. You sprinted to the door, throwing it open.

“Jungwon, where the hell have you been? Get in!” you rushed him inside, locking the door before turning on him. “You should have been here thirty minutes ago Won, so you better have a good explanation for where you were.”

He smiled sheepishly as he took off his boots and coat. “I got caught up in something. Sorry _____, it won’t happen again.”

You scoffed, glaring at him. “You made me deal with it on my own,” you said, sitting down at your table and massaging your temples.

You felt his eyes on you as you stayed silent, knowing you had something to say. You took a deep inhale and looked up. “The Slave Pirate was just here.”

Jungwon’s eyes widened as he took in what you said. “What? How? Why?” The fact that The Slave Pirate knew where you two lived made him feel uneasy.

You sighed, staring at the piece of cardboard you loved on the other wall. “He wants the rest of our payments in two weeks.”

“But it’s not due in two months—”

“I know,” you cut him off. “Served along with a threat to expose us to the Palace.”

Jungwon grimaced. He never wanted to go back to that place, not after what happened. “And how’d he find us?” he asked, feeling like you’d know. You always did.

“He has a spy. I think you know who that is,” you said, glancing at him. “Take care of that.”

Jungwon nodded as he watched you get up and grab your coat and knives. “Got it. And where are you headed to?” he said, throwing a lopsided smile at you.

You smiled back softly. “I have something I need to do,” you walked towards the door before turning back, your lips curling upwards. “And Jungwon? Don’t make a mess.” Torture them for information if you had to and make it a clean kill.

Jungwon grinned, “Don’t worry _____, I’ll make them talk.”

You strolled down the streets of Ketterdam, passing the stalls of exotic fruits and fabrics going for the highest prices tourists would pay. You mostly kept to yourself in this city, some of the only people you were somewhat friendly with were the Dregs. Led by Kaz Brekker, or “Dirtyhands” as they called him, was the most feared gang in the Barrels. No job was too morally repulsive for Dirtyhands and you supposed that’s how he and his group of criminals climbed the ranks so quickly.

But you weren’t headed towards the Dregs. You turned on the West Road, passing the gambling dens, motels, and pleasure houses of West Stave until you got to the Tiger Club. It was an eye-catching building with red and yellow accents, two tiger statues flaunting the sides of the entrance. You nodded at the bouncer, a big man named Barty, as you walked inside, immediately being hit with the smell of alcohol and cash. It was a busy night with all the tables filled, but you weren’t here to gamble.

You had left that life a long time ago. On the other hand… it hadn’t been as easy for Jungwon. You sighed internally as you recalled the money he used to waste while gambling.

Spotting your destination, you navigated your way to one of the bigger tables in the back. You found Yeonjun overseeing a card game, standing a few feet away as you watched him taunting and egging on the rich-looking gamblers so they spend as much cash as possible. Choi Yeonjun, one-half of the Choi Twins. He and Yuna, his twin sister, owned this club. They were skilled sharpshooters with an apparent taste for business. When you first arrived in Ketterdam, you and Jungwon had done many favors for them and maintained a good relationship since. You could always go to them for help.

After watching Yeonjun work the table a little longer, you walked over to him. “Hey Yeonjun,” you said, nodding at him.

He spun around, his gelled-back hair not moving an inch. “Darling! I haven’t seen you in a long while,” he exclaimed, grabbing you by the shoulders and directing you to an empty chair at the bar. “You wait here while I finish this up… Hey! You there,” he pointed at a barista and then at you. “Anything they want.”

He winked at you before turning back to his customers. You rolled your eyes. Yeonjun was like this to most people and you being younger than him didn’t help things. You didn’t dislike it though, he was a breath of fresh air in a city like this.

You sipped the Bellini you ordered, the alcohol mellowing your senses. Your eyes roamed over the room, watching the gamblers spend their savings on the probably rigged games. You enjoyed trying to figure people out at casinos, reading their moods and body language to guess their next move (and their chances). It was like a game to you, a way for you to relax and let your mind wander and come up with different scenarios that explained how they wound up in here.

A big-bellied man at a nearby table was sweating heavily, eyes nervously darting from the dealer’s hands to a large number of chips in front of him. You guessed he had just gambled too much and was about to pay for it. You chuckled to yourself, moving on to a woman dressed in rubies and gold two tables away from him. She looked Zemeni, with dark skin and a tall, slender build. She smiled confidently as she looked at her fellow players, fingers tapping the side of the table as she waited for the play of cards. You sipped your drink again, raising an eyebrow as two burly men sat next to you, whispering to each other. Bored and drunk, you slightly leaned over to catch what they were saying.

“I can’t believe boss turned down that offer. 3 million kruge!” one said, waving his hands dramatically.

“For what the merchant asked of us, 3 million is a low price… And he refused to up the money so his loss,” the other replied, shrugging. “What was the merchant’s name again?”

“Dedrick, I think.”

You leaned back into your chair, having heard enough. 3 million kruge… for what kinda job? What was worth that much? You thought to yourself, tapping your fingers on the counter.

“Darling!” Yeonjun said, sitting down on your other side. “How’s the drink?” he said, waving towards your glass.

“Delicious,” you smiled, leaning in towards Yeonjun. He raised an eyebrow before mirroring you. “Hey, who are those men over there?” you whispered, nodding your head towards them.

“Hmm,” Yeonjun replied, taking them in. “Look like gangsters… My guess is Razorgulls,” he said, waving at their bodies. “The build. But… want to find out?”

He flashed a dazzling smile your way before taking out a revolver and sending a bullet towards the wall at the other end of the bar counter. You had barely registered what happened before he was slipping off his chair and rounding the room to examine the dent it made. He rocked on his heels for a few seconds before turning towards the room, looking over the people. He slowly turned towards the two men next to you, walking over to them.

“Men, was this you?” he asked. They didn’t respond, sharing a nervous look as a lazy grin spread across Yeonjun’s face. Then Yeonjun’s expression was stone-cold and menacing, two shiny revolvers pointed at the men’s heads. What a showoff. But it was amusing and slightly frightening to see the Yeonjun most people knew, a sly, quick, deadly man with a talent for inserting bullets where he wanted them. A bit foxy, if you did say so yourself.

“Tattoo,” he ordered, hand unwavering.

The men couldn’t have rolled up their sleeves fast enough and you stretched your neck to look at their arms. Five birds in a wedge formation. Razorgulls. You turned back to your drink, rolling over this new information in your mind. So why would the Razorgulls turn down that offer… They weren’t exactly the brightest and most decisive gang in the Barrels.

You heard a sound next to you, looking up to see Yeonjun sitting back down in his chair. “That was quick.” He winked at you, though it wasn’t really a wink and more of a delayed blink. You learned early on that one way to know if Yeonjun was distracted was if his winks… weren’t exactly winking.

“So… what about them?” Yeonjun asked, leaning back and looking over the tables. “You got into a quarrel with their gang or something?”

You grinned at him, remembering the time you and Jungwon helped Yeonjun and Yuna drive off a group of aggressive Razorgulls a couple years ago. “Actually… I overheard something.” From the corner of your eye, you noticed the two men get up and leave.

He looked back at you, cocking his head to the side. “Oh really?”

You leaned in again and he did the same, lowering your voice. “Apparently, the Razorgulls were offered a job from a rich merchant, Dedrick, for—” you paused for dramatic value. “ —3 million kruge.”

Yeonjun raised his eyebrows, letting out a low whistle. “I’ve heard that name. I wonder what the job was… or how difficult it was that they would turn it down.”

“Well, I plan to find out,” you said, pushing your empty glass towards the barista. “I need that money.”

“Oh really?” Yeonjun replied, staring at you. “What for?”

“I have debts I need to pay. And soon.” “So do I.”

You grinned at him, gathering your things. “I’ll be back soon. Also, where’s Yuna?” you asked.

“In the back. I’ll tell her you came. And about this new information,” he grinned at you, leaning against the table. “And the bill is on the house.”

You smiled at him, nodding. “Till next time, Yeonjun.”

“Watch your back!” he called after you as you navigated your way to the entrance.

“Before your front!” you replied, as you stepped out into the cold, humid Ketterdam night.

Jungwon groaned as he held his forehead, trying to keep from stumbling in the dirty alley. He had gotten caught up at a casino, going in with a promise to himself and you that he would only spend a maximum of 50 kruge and leaving with a loss of triple that. He winced as he imagined what you’d say if you knew about this.

“Jungwon?” He heard someone say, drunkenly turning his head towards where it came from.

“Fucking Saints, Jungwon, why are you this wasted?” You. He felt you grab his forearm, steadying him.

He let out a giggle, sidling up to you. He heard you give a defeated sigh before he felt you stiffen next to him.

“Jungwon, who the hell is that?” you asked. He followed the direction of your stare to his friend from the casino, Kai. He hadn’t been aware Kai had been following him this whole time. Kai was smiling up at your face, eyes glassy.

“Oh that’s—” he weakly waved toward Kai. “A friend from the… bar I was just at.” His words slurred as he tapped his chin, suddenly remembering something important. “He’s also a Grisha!”

He giggled at your alarmed face, waving his hand again dismissively. “It’s okay, _____. No one can hear us.” It was true, he could hear no heartbeats except for yours’ three. Perks of being a Heartrender.

He giggled for a third time when you shot him a pointed glare. Everything was funny right now. “Okay…” you said, straightening him up again. “Let’s go home. And you, Kai, get home too.”

“Wait, wait, _____, can he please come with us? I promised him he could stay with us for a night.” He distinctly remembered making that promise, struggling to recall it as his head swam.

“You know what, whatever. Just start walking.” Your voice felt like it was fading away.

And then the world went black.

Jungwon moaned as he came to, his head feeling like it would split apart down the middle. It was morning, the sunlight filtering in through the window bouncing off the glass of water and pancakes (already drenched in syrup with a big block of butter, just how he liked it, he noted) on the table in front of him. He could hear you opening and closing drawers in the kitchen as he slowly sat up. Across from him was Kai, the boy from last night. He looked a lot better now, wavy blonde hair framing his face as he snoozed peacefully on the couch.

He had met Kai at the casino, the two pairing up at one of the tables. He had responded with glee when Kai showed him his metal-laced playing cards, allowing him to know exactly what cards someone held. He later learned that Kai was a Fabrikator and had grown up on a farm in Kerch. When his parents learned of his abilities, they had hidden him from sight till he turned eleven, when the Grisha testers came to take any Grisha children to the palace. Jungwon had lamented on that part of Kai’s life, wondering how different his own life would have been if he was never tested and taken to the Little Palace. Later in the night, Kai confessed he was currently homeless and Jungwon, with his big heart and fondness for Kai, had agreed to give him a place to sleep, at least for a little while.

And that’s why he was currently wondering what would be the first things you’d say to him, watching you set down a plate and glass of water for Kai as he munched on his breakfast. You could be frightening when you were angry and while watching that anger directed at others was entertaining for Jungwon, he would rather it was never pointing at him.

You turned to look at him. “Wake him up and then follow me,” you ordered before walking away to your bedroom.

Jungwon gulps down the last of his food and walks over to Kai, shaking him roughly. “C'mon, Kai. Wake up,” he said as Kai stirred. He gave him another good shake before Kai let out a huge yawn and sat up.

He said nothing as he squinted around the room, taking in the place. “It’s nicer than I expected.” He stretched his sore arms, eyes lighting up as he spotted the breakfast on the coffee table in front of him. “Oh! Tell _____ thank you so much for me,” he said as he picked up the fork and knife, digging into the food.

Jungwon shook his head, smiling as he watched Kai scarf down the pancakes, letting out little sounds of contentedness. “I’ll be back,” he called as he headed towards your bedroom.

You were sitting on your bed, flipping through a stack of papers. You didn’t look up as he closed the door behind him but stopped sifting through the papers, waiting.

He nervously fiddled with the ring on his left index finger. “So…” he trailed off, stretching out the syllable. . “That’s Kai, someone I made friends with last night. He’s currently homeless so… I thought he could stay here for a while. And you already know he’s a Grisha.”

“What kind?” you responded, still looking at the papers. But your posture slightly relaxed, and he gave an silent sigh of relief.

“Fabrikator.”

“Hm. I figured. After you passed out, I dragged you home and he followed behind me. But he was very silent. His steps made no sound. I guessed his shoes were Fabrikator-made.”

“Well, you were right! He probably made them himself,” Jungwon exclaimed.

You got up then, placing the papers down at your desk. “Anyways, while you were bar-hopping,” you shot him a pointed look, “I paid a visit to Yeonjun.”

Jungwon raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across his face. “So did you drink or gamble?”

You turned to him, raising your own eyebrow. Jungwon swore he saw you push down a smile. “You’re ridiculous, you know that.” You rolled your eyes as he gave a playful shrug. “I… I have a plan. To get the money in time. Or half of a plan.”

“Wait, what?” Jungwon blinked. “What kind of plan? …Is Yeonjun involved?”

“Yes, somewhat. I’m still working out the finer details,” you said as you pulled on a leather jacket and newsboy cap. “I’ll be back. There are some chores to do and lunch so don’t forget about that. And keep an eye on Kai.”

Jungwon nodded, watching as you walked towards the door.

You looked back at him, your hand on the doorknob. “I’ll fill you in when I get back, kay?”

He nodded again as you closed the door behind you and listened as your heartbeat got fainter and fainter, till he couldn’t hear it anymore.

You hauled the two overflowing bags of supplies through the door, sighing when you dropped them in the hallway.

Jungwon was nowhere to be seen but Kai was sitting on your couch, turning a radio over in his hands.

“That’s broken, by the way,” you said, gesturing towards the radio.

“Not anymore,” he smiled at you. “Fixed it.” He tossed it at you and you caught it, switching it on. You raised your eyebrows, impressed, as a channel started playing, some Kerch talk show.

“Oh,” you said, “Thanks.” You hadn’t known Kai long enough to form a solid opinion of him, but so far… he wasn’t that bad. He had this energy about him, a lightness, that made him seem harmless. He had an oval face with a tall, sharp nose, and dark brown doe eyes. Wavy, blonde hair framed his head, bangs brushing over his eyebrows. Honestly, he was kinda cute. Focus, you told yourself as you shook your head. But another thought fought its way into your mind. Not as cute as Jungwon, though. You didn’t even want to imagine what Jungwon would say if you called him cute. Probably remind you of it. Every. Single. Minute.

You threw your jacket on the couch, unpacking the bags. Two yards of thick rope, a sewing kit (you wanted to add some knife pockets on each side of your knees), blade polish you had picked up, and other things to restock your supplies. You put them all away, walking towards the kitchen when Jungwon appeared with a tray of food in one hand and one with drinks in the other, shooing you towards the living room.

You both sit down, Jungwon taking a seat next to Kai. “Ooh, you went all out didn’t you Jungwon? You rarely do this for me,” you exclaimed, grinning as he blushed a bright pink.

“Yes I do, we just don’t usually have much time for lunch,” he mumbled, looking away. He placed the tray on the table before taking a seat, handing you each a plate.

You all ate in silence for some time before you pushed your plate away and looked at the men in front of you. “Before I go into detail about what we’re going to do, Kai, let this be your only warning that if you betray us: I will not hesitate to kill you.” To Kai’s credit, there was no fear on his face.

You let that sink in for a few seconds before telling them about everything that happened yesterday and today. Meeting Yeonjun, the Razorgulls, the turned-down offer from Dedrick, going to see Yuna today and making a plan with her, and where you all would meet the twins to head over to Dredrick’s house.

Jungwon fell silent, brows furrowed. “You know… I knew you were cooking up something,” he paused, sighing, “But this is risky.”

You shrugged. “We’ve done much riskier. Like the Exchange raid. And we need the money.” A year ago, you and Jungwon stole sixty thousand kruge from the safes under the Exchange. You chuckled softly to yourself at the memory.

“I could help, I have a few things I’ve been working on,” Kai said, leaning forward.

Jungwon slowly nodded. “Fine,” he said, looking at you and then Kai, his from morphing into a determined smile.

“Let’s do this.”

Three hours later, you were hunched on a roof near the merchant’s house in a black cloak, watching the windows for any sign of the man. There was a light on in what you assumed was the master bedroom, moving a few feet to the left to get a better view. The man you saw through the window matched Yuna’s description of Merch Dedrick; tall, burly, and with a brown mustache. You pulled out your small square mirror, flashing it twice. You got three flashes back. Good. You had planned that whoever first spotted Dedrick would signal to the others. You had left Kai at home with instructions to put together his best and a variety of bombs. He had accepted the job with an almost gleeful face. You felt someone crouch down next to you.

“It looks like he’s not alone. There’s a woman in there with him,” Jungwon said.

Yuna arrived at your vantage spot next, leaping nimbly from roof to roof like a cat. “That’s not his wife,” she said, grinning. “It seems the Merch has a mistress. Saint’s, imagine what would happen if his wife knew.”

You tilted your head. This was interesting. “Who’s his wife?”

“A well-known lady from one of the richest families in Kerch. She practically bathes in money. Dedrick? Not so much. It’s only because of his wife that he’s a rich merchant now.”

“And I’m guessing neither she nor her family would enjoy the news of the merchant cheating on her.”

“Not at all,” Yuna replied.

You turned back to the house. “Well,” you said, “That certainly changes things. Jungwon, tell Yeonjun to drop in from the window in the hallway and block the doorway. Go with him. Your powers will make it easier and quieter. Yuna, you’re with me. We’re going to need some time for our lovely talk with Dedrick.”

Jungwon nodded and got up to join Yeonjun. You looked at Yuna. “Like old times?”

“Whip up a windstorm, _____,” she replied, flashing you a toothy grin.

You nodded, chuckling. “Let’s do this.”

Yuna moved to the edge of the roof, bending her knees as she measured the distance of the jump into the merchant’s open window. You stood a few feet behind her, focusing your mind on the air around you, the direction of the wind, and the small breeze that ran over your fingers. Air was like a wave, sometimes moving so slowly you couldn’t feel it, and sometimes becoming a harsh crashing force, threatening to throw you off your feet. You sent a small current Yuna’s way, flicking your index finger down as you directed it towards the window. A few seconds later, Yuna gave a nod, and you began counting down. “3, …2, …1!” you said, sending a strong gust of wind at Yuna after the last number. She leaped, stretching herself out like a diver.

And flew like a bird into the window, rolling as she landed.

You chuckled to yourself at the shriek of a man, probably the merchant, before taking a running leap into the house after her.

Jungwon ducked as a club went swinging towards his head. He squeezed his hand, cutting off the guard’s air with his powers. The man clawed at his throat as if he could open a passageway for air, then crumpled to the floor. Across from him, Yeonjun brought down the butt of his revolver on another guard's head, knocking him out. Jungwon arched his hands out, feeling out the heartbeats of the six guards they took out. It felt like a steady drum, underlined by a lively thrumming of life. He grasped onto the six strings of life tangled up in front of him, and pulled, lowering the heart rate of the guards. That should keep them out for a while.

He heard a yell from the bedroom. You and Yuna must have gotten inside. He didn’t doubt that you could do the job (and do it well) but that didn't keep him from being worried. Friends worry about their friends, right? He shook his head, pushing down the question to the back of his mind. He had a job to do. Yeonjun and he took their positions at either side of the double doors, adorned with golden swirls and intricate patterns. A screaming hawk perched on a branch was carved into the middle, the family symbol of the merchant’s wife. Imagine having all that at your fingers and throwing it away for lust and novelty.

He felt eyes on him and glanced to the side to find Yeonjun staring at him. Yeonjun gave him a small smile. “Long time no see, Jungwon.”

“Do we only talk to each other on jobs?” Jungwon replied, returning the smile. Yeonjun wasn’t a bad person but… you got along better with Yeonjun than him. He guessed charming and suave plus charming and suave was too much for the universe to handle.

Yeonjun chuckled. “It seems to be so.” He tilted his head at Jungwon. “I’ve been wanting to ask, did you ever give _____ that gift?”

Jungwon blushed a deep crimson at the mention of that. A few weeks ago, while on a job with Yeonjun, Jungwon had come across a Ravkan trader selling draggers. And not just the normal kind, these were bejeweled Ravkan nobility fighting knives, crafted with painstaking attention to detail by a Fabrikator. Yeonjun had confirmed it when he examined the dagger. Jungwon had immediately bought it for you, not caring that his money pouch felt painfully empty. But you weren’t there when he got home and those hours of silence were enough for Jungwon to overthink how you’d react to the gift, eventually putting it away to be gifted at a time where he wouldn’t be so anxious over it. Thus, you never got your beautiful dagger.

He felt a tap on his bicep, pulling him away from the memory. Yeonjun gave him a knowing look. “When are you going to do something about it?”

He looked down at his shoes, fairly embarrassed. Was he that obvious? He liked to think he hid it well. He didn’t even know when he developed feelings for you, when it went from something platonic to something more. The next thing he knew, all he could think about was you, and it drove him crazy to not be able to figure it out. You were caring and kind to him, sure, but you were also like that to Yuna. And he didn’t think he would survive it if he revealed his feelings and you didn’t feel the same way. He really didn’t.

“Well, I just… not sure about what _____ thinks of me. Or considers me,” Jungwon mumbled.

“They might not show it, but Saints, is it annoying to hear the way _____ constantly talks about you. All praise and mushy stuff,” Yeonjun chuckled. “My point is, they care deeply about you and I think you shouldn’t rule out the possibility just yet.”

Jungwon sighed, throwing his head back. The thought of you praising him to Yeonjun or someone else sent his blood rushing to his face. He’d work up the courage to tell you how he felt… someday.

And as he heard a yelp come from inside the room, this one at a higher pitch, he knew the day was not today.

Yuna was walking over to the other side of the room, near the doorway, hood pulled low. The merchant was gaping at you and his woman… you saw her jump under the covers of the bed. He sputtered, spit flying out and his face red. “Get the hell out of my house! You lowlife thieves!” he exclaimed, enraged.

You tilted your head at him, flipping a dagger in your right hand. “Calm down. We were sent by the Boss.”

“The Razorgulls boss? Well, tell him that he already refused the job and to get fucking lost!”

“Mm, sorry, no can do. He wants to renegotiate the offer,” you replied cooly. You didn’t know much about the Razorgulls boss actually, probably cause he never shows his face and instead sends his lackeys.

The merchant—Dedrick—swallowed, throat bobbing. Once, twice, three times. “What I offered was plenty enough.”

“Three million kruge? For a job like that? Don’t kid me.” You kept the details vague, waiting for him to fill in the blanks.

And he did. “How hard could stealing the artifact from a museum be?” Bingo. So the job was an artifact.

“What kind of value does the artifact have to you?”

He swallowed thickly. “A lot.” You guessed so, or else he wouldn’t be emptying his pockets for it.

“The Boss decided to take back the offer. For an additional two million kruge,” you said, keeping your voice firm and steady.

“Two million… five million kruge?! Absolutely not,” he glowered, huffing out his chest.

You shrugged. “The job is not an easy one. Five is quite reasonable. Or perhaps we instead could… I do enjoy a good drama,” you mumble sweetly, a menacing glint in your eyes.

He glared at you, furious. “My personal life is none of the Razorgull’s business.”

“Perhaps, but you look like you need a little nudge in the right direction.” You tilted your head, holding his gaze as you slid a dagger into your palm. “Either your wife finds out about your infidelity or… five million kruge.”

His eyes darted back and forth between you and his mistress cowering behind the desk. “Five million for your silence.”

You grinned at him. “Five million for my silence.”

You memorized the papers that the merchant gave you before you left his house. The blueprint of the Global Museum including its underground safes and the realistic rendition of the artifact you would steal. After having a pleasant chat with Merch Dedrick, you met up with the rest of the crew and updated Yeonjun and Jungwon on what you and Yuna learned. Jungwon was oddly flustered on the way back home but you didn’t pay it much mind past asking him if it was an allergic reaction. He then got even redder and went fully crimson when you called him cute for his reaction. You shook your head, smiling at the picture. Jungwon could be adorable sometimes.

Jungwon slid through the door, plopping down on your bed. “Done lasering them into your brain?”

“Oh zip it, you should also be memorizing this,” you replied, rolling your eyes at him from your desk.

He popped a piece of pie into his mouth. “Already did, I was waiting for you to look up from that so we could discuss a plan.”

What’s gotten into him today? You thought. Snarkier than usual. You shelved the papers away, getting up to stretch. “This is not going to be an easy job.”

“Obviously, or else Dedrick wouldn’t be offering so much,” he replied, standing up after you. “Also, Kai has something to show you. This way, milady.” He flourished his hands towards the doorway, grinning at you.

You rolled your eyes at his dramatics, sending a gust of air his way as you walked past him to the living room.

Kai looked up when you entered, a wild smile alight on his face. “For you and Jungwon,” he said, reaching behind himself to grab a box. He handed it to you. “Open it.”

You raised your eyebrows in curiosity, lifting the lid off the box. Inside sat two pairs of arm and leg sleeves, made of smooth dark brown leather. They had lines of small, almost undetectable stitches. You ran your finger across one. Was that… a knife inside? You looked up at Kai, surprised and a little delighted. “What are these?”

Kai grinned at you, standing up a little straighter. “My newest creation. They’re sleeves with thin but relatively long daggers hidden inside the fabric. You release them by pressing down on the button at the bottom of each dagger—except for the wrist ones—you release those by flicking your wrist. They go back in by pressing the button, which you can also use to get them out if you can’t do the flick. The leather is reinforced and impenetrable, and the daggers have been enhanced to stay sharp.”

You looked between him and the box. Once. Twice. And then you gave him the biggest smile you could and rushed forward to hug him. “Thank you, Kai,” you said, and you really meant it. You never liked spending on yourself—mostly from your years being dirt-poor—but this was such a thoughtful gift and so useful. You wanted to dance imagining how handy it would be.

Kai blushed, hugging you back. “It’s the least I could do for giving me a place to stay. I should be saying thank you to you two.” You pulled back from him, instantly feeling a wave of embarrassment for being so over the moon over a practical gift.

“I appreciate it,” you told him, and he nodded. He glanced at Jungwon, weirdly looking away quickly from him. But when you turned to Jungwon, he looked as pleasant as always. Odd.

You walked back to your room, Jungwon hot on your heels. “Can I get a peek at the gifts now? Unless you’ve forgotten it’s not all yours,” he teased, reaching over your shoulder for the box.

“Okay, wait wait.” You set the box down, grabbing the pair with your name on it. It slid on easily, molding around your arms and legs like a second skin. You tried out the wrist knives, flicking your wrist two times before a dagger popped out with a soft zhink. Okay, so it’s more of a curve. You thought, putting it back in and out again. Jungwon was testing his own sleeves, pressing the buttons on his legs. He looked up at you and gave you a smile. “Would I be superstitious to say this feels like an omen from the Saints that we’ll do well? But imagine the Saints blessing a bunch of assassins. How scandalous.”

You smiled back at him. “Scandalous indeed.”

Days later, after creating a plan with the twins, trips to the Exchange to gain a feel of the place, and endless scheming and worrying, you were standing in front of the Exchange. You wore a fluffy, pale pink fur coat that grazed your calves with a wide-brimmed cream hat. You had bright red lipstick on and were sporting bejeweled sunglasses, with rings stacked on your fingers. You fanned yourself in the humid, hot Kerch summer, looking at every part as the rich, classy tourist woman. You squared your shoulders and strutted into the wide glass doors of the Exchange, purse swinging at your arm. You gave yourself a few seconds to act like you were thinking of where to go and walked over to a clerk who looked like he might pee his pants helping customers.

“Young man, is Alfred here?” you drawled, watching as the clerk took you in and gulped visibly. You waited a few more seconds before repeating yourself. “Young man, I asked if Alfred Krum was here,” you snapped, letting the annoyance clearly show through your voice.

“I- Yes ma’am! He’s h-here.” He stood up, wringing his hands with sheer nerves. “L-Let me take you to him.”

You nodded, checking your watch. “I am a very busy woman. Do not waste my time. I need to see Alfred immediately. An empire relies on your efficiency.”

He paused, looking you up and down. “What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Christine Welverd Krum.” The effect was immediate as he gulped again and stared at his desk nervously. “Right this way, ma’am.”

He led you to the elevator. He murmured something to the guards flanking the elevator, and they gave you a long look before nodding at the clerk. The elevator doors opened and you stepped inside. The clerk clicked a button and stood in front of you, shifting on his feet. The doors opened and you walked into one of the grandest hallways you had ever been in. The Executive Hall of the Exchange. Even the Little Palace was never this grand. The walls were made of smooth marble, with veins of gold, emerald, ruby, and sapphire running on their surface. Four white doors lined the hall on both sides and at the end stood a door with a gold knocker. A wolf’s head. Fitting, you thought. You and Jungwon had described the people who ran this place as rabid carnivores many times.

You heard someone step behind you and turned around to ask the clerk why he was dilly-dallying around. But then something big and heavy hit the side of your head and the world went black.

You woke up as he was tying you to a chair, being careful not to move and keeping your breathing even. You were stripped down of your designer clothes and accessories and left with the suit you had on underneath. At least you still had the sleeves on. He had brought you to a small square room, dark and gray with the door facing you. You furiously thought through all of your options, clocking your captor—the clerk—rummaging in a desk on the left wall for something. You were somewhat impressed, honestly, he had played you well. Acting the nervous inexperienced youngster so you would let your guard down. But that was enough admiration for now.

You flicked your wrist, feeling the daggers slide out. Let’s make this quick. You swiftly sliced through the ropes, throwing your chair back with force as you used your power to suck the air out of the clerk’s airways, waiting until he dropped unconscious. You tied him up with rope sitting on the desk and took the duct tape from his hand (that he planned on using on you), taping his mouth shut. Good, that should keep him occupied for a while. You dragged him to the back of the room, stretching as you walked over to the door to examine it. It was a slab of steel with a lock and handle. You spotted white paint on the side of the door, like it was painted from the outside and splashed onto the other side. So you were in one of the white rooms in the Executive Hall. Nice, that made things simpler. You looked at the clock above the desk. Four thirty in the afternoon. Shit, you needed to be quick.

You bent down to examine the lock. A Belton lock, more complicated than a standard lock but still easy to pick. You sent a tendril of condensed, thick air, feeling out the pins. You applied pressure to the pins and plug of the luck, mapping out the air. Nothing yet. You adjusted the pressure, lifting the condensed air from the nearest pin and then lowering it back… continuing through the lock to see if you missed any inner pins. Wait, there, a missed pin. You pressed one of the buttons on your leg sleeve, releasing a thin dagger. You turned the lock. Click. You checked the clock again. A minute and thirty seconds. You smirked to yourself.

You focused, feeling the air outside for movement or form. Just the furniture. You opened the door, sliding out and locking it behind you. According to your intel, Alfred Krum, the Exchange head, was at a dinner with some foreign benefactors right now. At four thirty-five, Jungwon and Yuna would meet you in Krum’s office (they would come in through the vents and your disguise as Krum’s niece would quell any questions or interruptions) where you would get into his safe and retrieve the artifact. You would then use your powers to propel all five of you onto the roof, where a helicopter (and Yeonjun, who was the pilot and lookout) was waiting for you (courtesy of an acquaintance who owed you a debt).

You briskly walked to the door and scanned it for cracks and slits. The bottom was sealed but the hinges had a connecting space. You felt around the room, registering the form of two people. Jungwon and Yuna. You sent a breeze into their faces, as you had planned before. The knob turned and then the door, bringing you face-to-face with a frustrated Jungwon.

“You’re late. What happened?” Jungwon asked, moving aside so you could make your way to the back of the office.

“Why do you think something happened?” you replied, lifting the huge full-body portrait of Krum from its place. The safe door glinted invitingly at you. “For someone as rich as him, he’s pretty lax with his security. Businessmen.” Thought their money and name were protection enough.

Jungwon stood in front of you, forcing himself into your view. “Because you’re never late. And you dropped the look.” He gave you a vertical scan to prove his point.

You shrugged. “There was a setback. It’s handled. Or would be if you would move.” That sounded harsh. Stress made you snappy. You pressed your lips together. “Please just let me work,” you said, softening your tone.

His eyebrows furrowed but he stepped back, going to join Yuna on watch. This was a Quad lock, a type that needed the four identical keys to be turned two at a time, but not with longer than a five-second gap, or else you would have to start over. You worked swiftly, forming the key shape with your air, pressing your eyes shut as you pictured the pins in your head. Two clicks as the first locks turned. You quickly worked the other two.

The safe door whirred. And swung open.

You pumped a fist into the air. “I’m in.” you breathed to no one in particular.

The dark room seemed to welcome you.

Jungwon smiled to himself as he watched your excitement at unlocking the safe. You were so cute sometimes. Now was the third phase of the plan, where you and he would secure the artifact and get out with minimal obstacles. He trailed you into the safe, the bright lights flicking on when you stepped into the room, illuminating the various collectibles, souvenirs, and artifacts. The item they were stealing was a hand-sized bone from an animal he couldn't remember.

You spotted it before he did, making a beeline to the right corner of the room. You pulled out a small pen-like gadget from your sleeve, clicking a button that turned on a laser, which you aimed at the glass enclosing the artifact. You seared a perfect circle into the glass, wrapping the artifact in a cloth and throwing it into your bag. He noted to ask for a similar tool from Kai.

You looked at him, eyes sparkling. “Let’s wrap this up.”

He grinned at you. “Let’s.”

You both dashed to the safe door, securing it behind you and putting the painting back in its place. He sped-walked to the window, easing it open. So far, except for whatever it was that you faced, the mission was going smoothly. That just made him more nervous. Jungwon sent a quick prayer for success to the Saints, hoping they’d heed the call from a Grisha in need.

Yuna came over to you two, giving you both a determined look. “Okay, _____, let’s jump this ship.”

He glanced at you to catch you giving Yuna a weak smile, which you stifled when you noticed his attention shift to you. He moved to stand right in front of you, looking you in the eyes. “You got this. You’re the strongest, smartest, most capable person I know. You can do this.”

You stared back at him, the anxiety clear in your eyes. “I just… If I fail, we’ll all die.”

“Then don’t fail,” he replied, grinning at you. “Find an anchor in your mind. Ground yourself. Take it one step at a time.”

You nodded, glancing at the window. “I’ll do that.”

“Good. Now if it motivates you, I have been gambling lately and lying to you about it. So you can’t kill me now, it’s too early.”

You whipped your face towards his, glaring at him. “I’ll make sure your death is to your standards.”

“Appreciated. I can’t die like a nobody,” he winked at you, ushering you towards the window. He’d planned on fixing his gambling addiction (or so he tells himself every time he loses) but if the promise of murdering him worked… he’ll take it. Even if it wounded his soul to see you look at him like that.

“Okay, then-” you were cut off by the sound of shouting outside the office, followed by banging on the door.

“We know you’re in there, thieves. Come out.”

And then he heard the click of a lock turning and the door swung open.

Shit.

The clerk barged in, followed by Alfred Krum and a team of security men.

“You’re more capable than I thought,” the clerk sneered, glancing at Jungwon and Yuna who were flanking you. “And these are your cronies? How cute, the three musketeers.”

You snarled at him, flexing your fingers. “It seems I made a mistake by not killing you last time.”

He didn’t get a chance to respond as you lunged at him, giving him two deep cuts on his thigh. And then the fight began. The man was better than you thought, avoiding a third swipe at his throat. He threw a punch at your face and you nimbly dodged it, bringing your hand up to cut into his shoulder. Blood gushed from the cut and he stumbled back, clutching the wound in agony. You took the pause to scan the rest of the room. Jungwon had a pile of unconscious guards around him, currently taking out the eighth. Yuna was shooting down the ones in the hallway, aiming for their hands and legs. You leaped over the guards, moving towards Krum. He was red-faced and waving his hands wildly, shrieking for backup. You slid behind him and held a knife to his throat.

“This is how this is going to go. You are going to go to sleep and forget this ever happened. And if not…,” you sucked the air out of his lungs, watching as he shook with restraint to not thrash and cut his throat with your dagger. You put the air back into his airways and Krum took gulping breaths. “Understood?”

You inched the dagger away from his throat and he furiously nodded. Jungwon met your eyes, done with the guards and you nodded. Jungwon lifted his hand and Krum swayed, before crumpling to the ground.

Yuna holstered her revolvers, running a hand through her hair. “Let’s get out of here.”

You nodded in agreement, pocketing your knives. You ran a hand over the window frame, taking a deep breath. In. Out. In. Out. You turned to face your two friends, people you’ve known for years, and in Jungwon’s case, would trust with your life. You nodded and they returned it. You moved aside so they could crouch on the window, ready to jump. You stood right behind them. What if I fail? You pushed the thought away. After all, you had a Jungwon to maim.

The city clock chimed for five o’ clock, and on the fifth clang, they jumped.

You leaped out after them and sent all three of you soaring upward through the air.

Assassin of the Air and Wind. It had a nice ring to it.

You fell onto the helipad, tucking into a roll. Jungwon rushed up to you, lifting you up and spinning you as he hugged you so hard you knew what your victims felt like. You laughed and patted his shoulder, “Let me down, Won.”

“Fine,” he said, grinning at you. “That was awesome. I knew you had it in you.”

You grinned back. “Well, a certain someone let me know of my next hit. A very important one, he said.”

He smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry… I really did try to stop.”

“Well now we’re rich, so all debts are lifted.”

He chuckled, leaning in so your face was inches away from his. “Forgiven, then? For the lying?”

You tilted your head to the side, pretending to think it over. “We’ll see.”

He didn’t respond, staring at your eyes. His gaze slowly lowered, landing on your lips.

You glanced at his. They were smooth, salmon pink, and slightly tilted up at the ends. You forced your heartbeat to stop furiously beating, knowing he could hear it clearly.

Oh, for Saint’s sake, just kiss him.

You put a hand on his cheek and pressed his lips onto yours, swooning at how nice and soft they felt. He stiffened, before putting his hand on the nape of your neck and kissing you back. Your movements were slow and languid, yet still electrifying, and you enjoyed how nice it was to kiss Jungwon compared to your past flings. It was intoxicating, setting the nerves in your lips and brain on fire. He pulled back and smiled softly, touching his forehead to yours. You smiled back, still high from the kiss.

You heard a whoop and clapping, turning to see Yeonjun and Yuna smirking at you two.

“Took you long enough,” Yeonjun chimed, and Yuna nodded in agreement.

She hoisted herself into the passenger seat of the helicopter. “Now, if you’re done snogging each other, we have to leave. Now.”

You both scrambled into the back, strapping yourselves in and securing your headsets.

“Lovebirds, no funny business while I’m flying. Especially you, Airbender. I don’t need you to get excited and send us flying off course.” Yeonjun deadpanned into the microphone.

You chuckled to yourself, watching as the helicopter lifted you off of the ground. Jungwon entwined his fingers with yours, tilting his head to the side in playful question.

You laughed and stretched your arms, turning towards him. “Forgiven,” you mouthed to him.

He beamed at you and squeezed your hand. You squeezed back.

EPILOGUE

You flipped through papers, checking off every Grisha still left in Kerch. It was months after your Exchange job, collecting your money and paying off your debts to the Slave Pirate. Kai had taken his share and moved out, opening a gadget shop that attracted youngsters and eccentrics from around the world. The twins’s business was booming, becoming one of the biggest names in Ketterdam.

You and Jungwon had begun a Grisha safety-and-smuggling practice, keeping an eye on all the Grisha in Kerch and helping those who wanted to leave sail undetected to Ravka. You heard the door open and close and got up to meet Jungwon in the living room. He dropped the bags he was carrying next to the kitchen, slumping onto the couch.

“Tired already?” you teased, sitting down next to him. You ran your fingers through his hair and he visibly relaxed, melting onto the couch.

“That was like… seven delivery trips. I’m spent,” he smiled at you, “But worth it.”

You hummed in agreement. “Well… there’s some chocolate ice cream in the back of the ice box.”

The words “chocolate ice cream” seemed to breathe life into him and he jumped up, round eyes sparkling as he stared at you excitedly. “Say no more.”

#.fic feedback #.mywork #rb

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