Improbable (Nikolai Lantsov x Reader)

One

Many people believed (Y/N) was the mystical Sun Summoner.

Many others saw through that lie. And those were the lucky people, because if someone thought (Y/N) was valuable, if someone thought they could kidnap her or sell her, things got messy. Not for (Y/N), of course. She was too clever for that. Too sly for anything, really.

Well, almost anything.

In reality, (Y/N) was not the Sun Summoner. She was simply an Inferni who performed magic tricks on the bustling streets of Ketterdam, where entertainment bought kruge easier than the infamous Dirtyhands could steal.

(Y/N) shivered as she set up her hidden mirrors in a dark alleyway and slid pieces of glass between her fingers. She didn't want to think about the bastard of the Barrel. Not when she had a show to perform.

"Hurry! Hurry!" (Y/N) called out to the stream of people on the main road, parallel to the entrance of her alleyway. "It's cloudy today! Don't you want a little sunshine?"

She manipulated the fire between her fingers, and tried to keep the flame small but bright. The light bounced off of a few of the mirrors, catching the hungry eyes of a few pigeons.

(Y/N) began to grin wide as more people gathered around to toss coins into her top hat as she danced around. It was all about being quick, making them look one way or another so that they wouldn't see the flame or the sparks, just the light in the dark crevices of Ketterdam. The musty, depressing, disgusting corners of this wretched city...

(Y/N) mentally shook her head and cast more light into the mirrors with her hidden fire. She could think about leaving Ketterdam later when she got home. Think about buying a ship, sailing somewhere, anywhere—

"Hey."

Suddenly, (Y/N) slammed into a giant, losing control of her fire. She took a step back and tried to leash her anger. The two hooded figures before her had scared away her audience.

"If you want to kidnap me, you could always ask nicely," (Y/N) grinned as she scooped up her top hat filled with kruge. Still not enough. Never enough. "Of course, no one ever does, but it would be nice for a change."

The smaller female next to the giant crossed her arms. "We have no wish to kidnap you. However, there is someone we would like you to meet."

(Y/N) straightened the lapels of her purple coat and quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yes," was all the giant had to say. (Y/N) tried to make out their faces, but the streets were dark in this part of the city, and their hoods were heavy over their brows. The flint in her hands suddenly felt very reassuring.

"And why should I agree to meet this person?" (Y/N) began emptying the contents of the top hat into her boots. It was really the only safe place to keep coin while braving the streets of Ketterdam.

"Because he can get you out of this city," replied the young woman. "Out of this country."

(Y/N) paused as she fixed the hat upon her head. Did they know what her dream was? And if so, how? Did they know she was just a talented Inferni, or did they believe she was the Sun Summoner that everyone had been searching for or praying to since the Fold was created?

Instead of asking all of those questions, (Y/N) stuck her hands in the pockets of her tan trousers. "I'm listening."

The two strangers started to turn. "We'll talk on the way to the docks."