[ In a way, it's true. He's survived the Queen Lady's plague and the aftermath, kept himself in one piece on the streets of Ketterdam, and ended up becoming one of the most feared names in the Barrel. Inej weathered her way through being stolen, serving at the Menagerie, Tante Heleen's cruelty, the Barrel, and Oomen's knife. They all have similar stories—Matthias with Hellgate, Nina and parem, Jesper and his debtors, Kuwei with the death of his father and basically the entire world looking for him. And of course, Wylan, whose own father they were up against. Who would rather see his son in a noose than to acknowledge he learns differently.
All of it feels worse. Has been worse. He just can't help that niggling voice in the back of his head, the one that sounds like his brother telling him he's dodged death too many times. This might be it.
He'll just have to make sure it isn't.
Inej looks down at her bandages and he lets himself inspect the same spots. It's a greedy thing, looking at her like this. He wants to remember every detail. ]
I can help you. [ The words are out of his mouth before he can stop himself. And for a brief moment it feels like all the air in the room has stilled. She'd said those words to him, years before, standing in her silks in the Menagerie. Those same words have been etched into his skin, stark against the pale underside of his wrist. ]
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All of it feels worse. Has been worse. He just can't help that niggling voice in the back of his head, the one that sounds like his brother telling him he's dodged death too many times. This might be it.
He'll just have to make sure it isn't.
Inej looks down at her bandages and he lets himself inspect the same spots. It's a greedy thing, looking at her like this. He wants to remember every detail. ]
I can help you. [ The words are out of his mouth before he can stop himself. And for a brief moment it feels like all the air in the room has stilled. She'd said those words to him, years before, standing in her silks in the Menagerie. Those same words have been etched into his skin, stark against the pale underside of his wrist. ]