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Chapter Text

It was already dark and cold. There were only a few light sources that lit up the streets of Ketterdam. I sat on the cold stone ground, my back against the wall. I've been sitting there for quiet a while, playing on my flute. The music i played was fast. A drunk man in a brown suit with a hat waddled towards me, throwing a coin to the rest of the kruge i have gotten from strangers that liked my music or were just generous. I looked the man after with my big eyes, thankful. 

Just as i focused my eyes back on the ground, i saw three men walking up to me with heavy steps. I stopped playing the flute and looked up. The three men looked at me with mean faces. I lowered my instrument slowly keeping it close by me. The eyes of the three went to my flute case with the kruge on it. I sighed to myself, knowing damn well what will happen next. One of the men kneeled down to the case. The other one kept their eyes one me. I was sure they had somewhat of weapons with them. No normal thief would go without a pistol or knife on the streets to steal things. ,,Maybe one-" I tried to negotiate, but shut up after one of them held out a knife. As they got their money they left. At least i didn't get hurt i thought to myself as i walked back to my place. 

Angryly i laid down the flute case and my bag. ,,Wylan." A familiar voice sounded behind me. I flinched and turned around. To see was a man dressed in black with a cane that had the form of a crow head on the top. My eyes widened. ,,You're alive." Kaz Brekker started walking towards a table with chemicals on it. ,,Thanks in part to you." I went up to him. ,,Stadwatch are after you." The man didn't cared for that. Or at least he didn't cared to talk about it. ,,How much phosphorus did you pack into that flash bomb? The escape option against the darkling?" I looked at Kaz. ,,Did you need it? Was it enough?" I asked trying to straighten my outfit. ,,Nearly." Kaz said, his voice now lower. ,,I need you to make a new package for me." He meant looking me straight into the eyes. I scratched my neck leaving out a nervous laugh. ,,You said it was a one time thing, not a real step into your world." I remembered. ,,I was strapped at the time." Kaz took a bottle and looked at it. ,,And now?" I bite my lip, looking at him. My shoulders sunk. ,,When was the last time you ate?" Kaz asked me.

He put the bottle he had i his hands back down and wanted to take another one. ,,Don't touch that specific bottle." I pointed at the one he almost took. ,,You'll be itching for days." I meant scratching my hand slightly, knowing how it would feel like. Kaz looked back at the bottle, his eyes slightly widened. He stroked against his coat a few times with his hand. ,,If you work with us, i could give you food, a warm house, a place where you can enjoy your music without living from it. How does that sound?" His eyes were back on me. I thought about it. Either i would starve to death, or, i could have as much food as i want but be a criminal. I was really hungry and wanted to feel something warm again. ,,Alright." I said slowly. 

,,Great. I already have a job for you." Kaz meant. I sighed.

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I was working at the table Kaz Brekker had only stood a few hours ago. I rubbed my hands against a towel as i heard the door slamming against the wall. ,,Hello anyone here?" A voice sounded. I turned around surprised by the voice i knew. Jesper Fahey walked down the stairs looking around. ,,Oh. Hi." I breathed out loudly. ,,I wasn't expecting you." I meant with a smile. 

Jesper Fahey. The person i saw the last time sleeping in a bed without clothes on, looking so innocent. The person i've met at the Tannery. 

,,And you are?" He asked confused as he walked towards me. ,,We've uh..." I stummered. ,,Wylan." I said my name, thinking he could remember me. 

,,What a beautiful name you have, Wylan." Jesper Fahey had said to me as he leaned on a table. After only talking to him for a minute, i knew he was a good flirt. How he complimented you and made you feel good. I smiled. ,,You want a drink?" He asked me. Of course i said yes. 

,,No i mean, why did Kaz have us meet here?" Jespers eyes wandered around the big room as he stood across from me, only the table between us. I looked at him with a mix of sadness and madness. I looked down. ,,Oh, i guess i'm your demolitions man." I said with a pressed smile on my face. ,,You?" Jesper looked at me like i said i was the sun summoner. I didn't said anything and just walked around the table to Jesper. ,,You've got all your fingers." He said as he took a bottle and opened it. ,,Well maybe i'm careful." I meant. Jesper smelled on the bottle and raised his eyebrows by the smell. I wanted to take the bottle from him, but he kept on holding it. ,,Careful is something you learn from losing your fingers." He meant eyeing me. He took his hand off the bottle. I looked after him.

,,You are gonna be my favorite person, Wylan." He meant to me that evening. Now he doesn't even remember me.

,,So this novice is telling me that he's our new demo man." Jesper told Kaz who just entered the room. ,,Raske is better. Or even Pim." Jesper complained. Kaz stopped a few stairs above the ground. ,,And yet Wylan is the one i hired." He meant. Quietly, i watched the two talk with each other. ,,Shouldn't you be graduating university and," Jesper sat down. ,,i don't know, starting a desk job?" He asked me. Before i could say anything, two other women came inside. One dressed very elegant with a head and such and the other one dressed in blue in a beautiful outift with leather jeans, Inej Ghafa. ,,You're here." Kaz said to them. ,,With the new Heartrender." Inej said. ,,Nina Zenik. At your service." The elegant woman introduced herself. ,,Nina Zenik?" Both Jesper and Inejl stared at her. Nina chuckled. ,,Well, that's a reaction. Is there a famous Nina Zenik that i don't know of?" She asked.

,,Can i get anyone some tea?" I asked looking at the four. They looked at me for a moment but didn't answer. ,,You worked with Arken." Nina tilled her head. ,,It was more of a limited partnership." She meant. ,,Did you trust him?" Kaz continued asking. ,,That turncoat? Not on your life." She scoffed. ,,He was shadier than an oak at three bells." I watched the two talking. ,,What's your price?" Kaz asked. ,,I've expended the legal avenues on my problem. Every clerk in the city says the same thing. The judge will see you in six months." She looked at him and for a second at me. ,,And so your looking for the not-so-legal route on what exactly?" Kaz raised his eyebrows. Jesper sat on the staircase looking at the two. I watched him thinking about that one evening. 

,,I'm told you could free someone from Hellgate." Nina said. My heard turned to her. Kaz turned to Inej and Jesper. Jesper slightly shook his head. ,,Someone, i say if he's anyone, he's the love of my life." Nina said with big eyes. ,,I can't get you a release from Hellgate. But i can get you a visit. In exchange for your services." Kaz meant. ,,What do you need me for?" She asked. ,,The aftermath." Kaz said as he went up stairs. ,,Follow me." He meant. I looked back at my experiments but then quickly went after him. 

We walked over the roof of the building towards the edge. I stood next to Jesper who looked at the houses in front of us. I looked at the view, knowing what will happen next. ,,Brick by brick." Kaz whispered loud, so we could hear him. Then in the next moment something exploded. I flinched by the sound. Jesper gasped, looking at the fire. ,,What was that?" The fire reflected on his skin. ,,The Crow Club." Inej said. Although we were far away from the club, i could hear people screaming and bells ringing. ,,I had some really nice hats in there." Jesper complained. His head slightly turned to me and he gave me a side eye. ,,Was that yours?" He asked me. I didn't looked him in the eyes. I just stared guilty at the ground. 

,,I take it we're now in the aftermath?" Nina looked at Kaz. ,,This doesn't help us clear our name, Kaz. This is war with Pekka Rollins, the king of the Barrel." Inej said. ,,The Barrel doesn't belong to kings. It belongs to bastards." Kaz said as he walked away. 

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I followed Nina and Kaz into a cafe that was pretty full. I looked at all the people. Kaz meant we would meet here today. I didn't knew what he wanted to talk about, i only knew that it was probably nothing good. Kaz sat down on a table. As i saw the two crows of the group i slid onto the seat where Inej sat. Nina got besides me. ,,Is this place still serving breakfast?" She asked. Inej leaned on the table. ,,Jes has a question to ask you." She said to Kaz looking at Jesper. Kaz turned to him with raised eyebrows. Jesper glanced at Inej before talking. ,,Look, a lot has happened since last night. We found out we lost our home," i looked at him. ,,and then you blew it up just to piss off Pekka Rollins." Jesper glanced at me by the word "you". I studied my feet instead of looking back. ,,And?" Kaz asked. ,,Have you heard we also shot a Stadwatch with his own gun?" Jesper was not happy, even a deaf person could tell. ,,All Stadwatch carry the same gun and it's standard issue. This is Pekka Rollins firing back at us." Kaz looked at us. ,,Who is this Pekka Rollins?" Asked Nina. ,,Every time you say his name your blood pressure skyrockets." She told us with the menu in her hands. ,,That's not part of your purview, Heartrender." Kaz hissed. ,,You're right. But i tend to have opinions and here's one, anger clouds judgment." 

I looked at Inej who started explaining. ,,Pekka Rollins runs the Barrel." And then back at Kaz who continued. ,,He cheated his way into an empire by running cheap cons. He isn't a boss, he's a scrouge." He meant mad. ,,If you hate him so much, why not just hire me to kill him?" Nina sighed. ,,Or why hire me at all?" She asked. ,,Your sharpshooter or your Wraith could take him out, easy." Kaz stared at the table. ,,It's not enough to kill him." We all looked at him. He noticed that and started talking again. ,,Killing him doesn't help us clear our names. That's why i need all of you, so i can hang everything back at him." Inej looked at him. ,,And we are the pawns who enact your personal vendetta?" She raised her eyebrows. ,,The three of us are under equal jeopardy. And if they catch us, we can't protect you." Kaz looked at me. The eyes of the three others turned towards me. ,,And you'll have to turn to Pekka to see your man. No doubt with some very unappealing conditions attached." 

,,All of that in mind, i mean, Inej and i need to know the plan." I nodded and stummered. ,,Um, yes, i- i too would like to know the plan." I said crossing my arms. Kaz looked me up and down and then looked around to see if someone was listening. ,,To get leverage on him, i need to know the scope of his business, inside-out. There are two ways to learn this. The first is by following his driver, tracking his schedule. Second, his accountant, Henrik Van Poel. So, we need to get into that building." He pointed to the window. Inej swiped away the curtains to see the house. I leaned forward to see the house Kaz meant, so did Nina. ,,It's where his accountant works." Kaz meant looking out the window. ,,Although, there's no way of knowing which office." He added. Nina stood up and walked away. ,,That's the mission." I wondered what Nina wanted to do. Was she about to ask where the accountant had hiis office or maybe was she about to buy breakfast? ,,It looks like a typical office building, but it has a number of subtle features." Kaz whispered to us. ,,So nothing for me to shoot?" Jesper asked outraged. ,,You can always shoot a lock if it makes you feel better." Inej meant. ,,You're sassing me, but i recall that got you out of a jam once." Jesper raised his eyebrows. Kaz continued with his dialog while i listened quietly. ,,This place values anonymity. The doors aren't numbered. There are no names or placards. These aren't for business' clients to visit. This is for people who value discretion." He looked serious at us like always. ,,So Jesper, Wylan, you follow the driver. Inej, i want you to take watch on the roof." Nina came back with a plate of waffles and a card. I looked at her as she sat down next to me. 

Kaz stared at her as she ate a piece of waffle. Then he sighed.

,,I need you with me while i copy henrik's books. Gunfire would only draw attention, but a Heartrender-" 

,,Has many skills. Yes, like this. Second floor, second-last door on the left."

Jesper looked irritated at Nina. ,,What?" Kaz stared at her. ,,Henrik's office. Do you mind?" She pointed at the vase with water in it. Inej gave it and a glass to her. ,,How do you know this?" She asked. ,,I asked the waitress." Jesper tilled his head confused. ,,How did she know?" Nina continued talking while filling up the glass. ,,People who work in places like that, they eat in places like this. And sometimes they get the meals delivered, so i said, ' Uhm excuse me, but i have a delivery and i can't read the directions.' Ta da." Jesper chuckled. ,,I like having her around." He pointed at her. ,,And i like truth. You said you'd get me to Matthias." Nina looked at Kaz without a smile. 

I looked at her and then at Kaz who just looked at the card Nina had given him with the directions to Henrik's office. 

,,Uh, what are we suppose to do, when we loose the driver?" I asked. ,,We won't loose him." Jesper meant rolling his eyes. ,,Try to contact us if it gets dangerous. Do not forget to bring some of your things. You cannot just count on Jesper to protect you." Kaz said looking at me. I nodded. ,,I understand but you didn't really answered my question." I added. ,,Try to find him. You should hope, you won't loose him." Kaz said sharply. I nodded again not making eye contact. 

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I sat on the carriage directing the white horses. I followed the driver with a light distance to not be suspicious. One lantern swing next to my head making some light. The wooden window that i sat in front of got open. I looked back and then rolled my eyes and sighed as Jesper leaned forward. ,,A rat-catcher carriage." I looked at him for a short time before looking back at the street. ,,You said you got this from a friend." Jespers head was next to mine. ,,Friend-ish. She did manage to remove the rats, so there's that." I focused on the carriage in front of us. ,,How do you know Kaz?" Jesper asked me. ,,I can't honestly say that i know Kaz. He asked me to make a few phosphorus bombs for him. I didn't want to." I told him. ,,Why not?" I sighed. ,,Because i knew that he'd use them for something like this." Jesper nodded. ,,Did it work?" I asked looking at him. He grinned slighty. ,,Oh, it worked. Not many people can go up against General Kirgan and live to tell about it. Where'd he find you?" I directed the horses so that they would go more to the left. ,,I was apprenticing at the tannery, so i guess he knew i was good with chemicals." I meant. 

,,Tannery? That sounds familiar. Have we met before?" He asked. How was he so stupid? I asked myself. Of course we had met before. We even hooked up with each other! ,,Stadwatch." I just said as i saw two of them. Jesper hid in the carriage. ,,You're clear." I said leaning back for him to hear. He crawled back up. I sighed and looked back at the street. ,,Thank you." I nodded lightly with my head. ,,I know that you're not thrilled about being paired with me, but you should know that-" I stopped for a second. ,,You can trust me." I looked back at him. ,,To be clear, i trust you, 'cause Kaz trusts you." I i raised my eyebrows lightly. ,,And you trust Kaz?" Jesper looked at me. ,,Listen, i'm not about to dissect my long standing working relationship with Kaz Brekker with a total stranger."

I looked at him. I wasn't a stranger. He just had a too small brain to recall our meeting with each other. ,,Eyes on Pekka's Driver." Jesper just said. ,,How long do you know Kaz?" I asked with my eyes on the driver. ,,For quiet some time." Jesper just said. ,,Like i said, i will not talk about the relationship between me and Kaz with a stranger." Jesper repeated. ,,I'm not a stranger." I protested. ,,I know you for one day. Of course you're a stranger." I sighed. Then i focused on the driver who got faster. ,,He's rounding the corner." I said. ,,Follow him." Jesper meant. So i did. But as we got around the corner the carriage was gone. ,,Woah!" I said making the horses stop. ,,He's...he's gone." I looked around anxious. I turned around to Jesper. ,,He's gone." I whispered. He looked at me. ,,This isn't right." Jesper hissed. Suddenly someone shot the horses loose. I flinched by the sound and watched how the horses went away. People screamed scared by the sound of the gun. Jesper grabbed me and dragged me inside the carriage through the window. They started to shoot at the wooden carriage and i made myself small. Jesper opened a door in the ground of the carriage and i fell out. 

Jesper laid on top of me only supported by his arms. I flinched by the gunshots. Jesper looked at me like something made click by him. ,,Wait, we have met before, haven't we?" I looked confused at him. ,,Yes," i stuttered. ,,but-" I flinched again. ,,And you brought me stroopwafels!" Jesper grinned. I looked irritated at him. ,,You remember that now?" I heard footsteps coming towards us. Jesper laid his finger on his lips and looked at me. ,,Shh." 

He then took one of his guns and let it slid over the ground. ,,What are you-" Jesper crawled away from me and got up. The man that had walked towards us, looked at the gun. As he wanted to grab it, Jesper gave him a full kick in his face. I watched him how he got his gun and got every shot right. And the best thing was, he looked good by doing it. I heard how someone said "Time for Henrietta!" and saw how two run towards something that was covered in a blanket. ,,Jesper!" I shouted. He turned around seeing what was under the blanket. I held my hands to my head as they started shooting a dozen bullets in seconds. Jesper had hide behind the carriage. As he got out of his hiding place, he shot two bullets. One bullet pro gun. I thought the bullets would not hit the right spot, but both of the bullets landed perfectly. I stared at Jesper who laid on the ground breathing heavily but happy.

Suddenly i got dragged out of my hiding place. The man who got me held me in a headlock and i had a hard time standing still and not going backwards what the man wanted. Jesper came from behind the carriage and wanted to shoot at the man, but another man came from the side which he had to fight first. The man got him to kneel down. I looked at him. He held his thumb up, but the man took something that look like something metallic and held it at both ends with Jesper's head between him and the metal rod. Jesper tried to get out of it but struggled.

I grabbed powder i had in the pocket of my coat and threw it in the mans face that stood behind me. He screamed and rubbed his eyes. I jumped on the back of the other man and tired to get him away from Jesper. Suddenly Jesper got the man to let go of one end of the metal rod, which made me fall off. The man turned to me but we both stared at the metal rod which was bent much. ,,What?" I stared. The man let his eyes go of the rod and started swinging it at me. Before he could hit me, he laid on the ground dead. Jesper lowered his gun and stood up scratching his throat. 

Chapter Text

Jesper sighed. ,,How-how do we find out if the others aren't also in trouble?" I stuttered. ,,We can't." Jesper said putting on his hat. He walked up to me holding his hand towards me. I took it and got up. I looked at the dead bodies. ,,So it's Black Veil, then?" I stared at him. ,,The cemetery?" I followed Jesper shivering. 

,,Are you sure he said here? This is the Plague cemetery, no one ever comes here." I said as we walked past graves. ,,Which means we'll be safe here." Jesper meant. In that moment we ran into the other crows. ,,Assuming you got ambushed, too?" He asked as he walked up to Nina and Inej. Kaz walked past us. ,,Oh, yeah, so many of them, i lost count." Nina said out of breath. ,,I got what i needed, and Wylan's bombs took care of the rest." Kaz opened a door. ,,Get her inside." He meant talking about Inej who was injured. ,,She gonna be okay?" Jesper asked, we three still standing outside. ,,She'll be fine." Kaz meant. ,,Will any of us be fine?" Jesper asked. ,,This won't end well, Kaz." Kaz looked at him. ,,No it won't. But i'll be the one who ends it." He meant leaving us outside. Jesper turned to me. I looked at him waiting. He pointed with his head to the entrance. I went inside without saying a word. He then followed me.

,,Pekka made a move on more than just the Crow Club while we were away. He bought out all fifth harbor." Kaz said looking through pages. ,,You know Inej took some serious damage. The novice nearly lost his head and the Heartrender took a bullet, but no worries. At least you're on top of Pekka's corporate holdings." Jesper hissed at him. ,,You don't take down a lion by cutting off his tail." Kaz meant. ,,I'm sorry, you've been on safari when? We're putting our lifes on the line." I looked at Kaz. ,,I thought you preferred it that way." He said turning around. Nina got back to us. ,,Is Inej gonna be okay?" I asked her worried. ,,Uhm i wouldn't call myself the most proficient Healer, but she'll not be a permanent resident here." Nina meant with a smile towards me. ,,Not yet anyway." Jesper groaned. ,,Technically, no one gets buried here anymore. When the firepox plague hit years ago, so many people died that the crematoriums all got backed up, so they had to float all the dead bodies in the harbor." I said. ,,That's enough!" Kaz yelled. I stopped talking and just looked at him. 

Kaz handed Jesper a piece of paper which he flew over with his eyes. ,,Appelbroek?" He looked at Kaz. ,,Pekka has a glass factory there, but there are no sandpits in Appelbroek. So cartage fees would kill all of his profits. Find out what he's really up to." He said and then glanced at me. ,,If you want to help, instead of spurting useless historical facts, go with Jesper." I looked at Nina and then at Jesper who got out again, so i followed him. 

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We stood in front of a white estate with guards, a big green garden and a black metal fence between us. ,,Does that look like a glass factory to you?" Jesper asked. ,,Well, we have our answer then. There is no glass factory in Appelbroek. So we tell Kaz that Pekka's been laundering money from his country estate." I meant. ,,Question is, what are those guards guarding?" Jesper looked at me. I looked up to him and scoffed. ,,You gonna make me go in there, aren't you?" Jesper grinned and shrugged. ,,Break-in's the best part." He meant walking away. I sighed looking at the ground for a moment before turning around and following him. We got ourselves inside through an open window that leaded us into a room where clothes were hung up to get dry. We sneaked through the building trying to find anything important. As we got into a room with a piano i walked up to it looking through the papers with music written on it. ,,I'd still like to know why you didn't tell me." Jesper said. ,,Tell you what?" I asked confused. ,,That we'd met before." I flew over the keys of the piano stopping by one that was pressed down. The key was broken. I sighed. ,,You didn't remember me." Jesper looked at me. ,,In my defense, it was dark. And when i woke up, you were gone." He said in a whisper tone. 

Suddenly a door got opened and i gasped. We walked from where we heard the sound, but before i could continue walking, Jesper stopped me. I looked confused at him. He took a paper where a boy and a man with a beard were drawn with a word above them. A child's drawing probably. I looked at it before hearing footsteps. A fat boy came up to us. ,,Who are you?" He asked in a Scottish a accent. The two of us stared at him. Another pair of footsteps approached us. ,,Master Rollins. Alby!" A woman called. She smiled as she found him. But the smile faded as she saw us. ,,Who are you? And what are you doing in here?" She asked. We both just stared at her. ,,Hein, come quick!" She shouted. A bigger man with a hat came to us and looked at us. I took a step back and looked at Jesper. The man and Jesper both had their hands on their guns. ,,Um..." I started. ,,We..we're from Hoppe and Sons. Tuning and repairs." I said showing my west. ,,We're here to fix the piano. Mr. Rollins sent us." I lied. ,,Oh." The nanny said. ,,Then quit dawdling and get on with it. Master Rollins has lessons tomorrow." She said her hand on the kids shoulder. ,,Huh." I said smiling. We turned around walking back to the piano. ,,Someones cut this." I whispered to Jesper. ,,It's too clean." Jesper looked at the boy. ,,Hey." The boy looked at him. ,,Did you cut this wire?" He asked him with raised eyebrows. ,,How dare you accuse him? He's a child." The nanny meant. Jesper winked at the boy. ,,Yeah. I did that." The boy grinned. ,,I hate piano." Jesper straightened his posture a bit. ,,Well you should know, whatever he cut that with, very sharp." He looked to the boy. ,,If the wire's a problem, i presume you have a replacement." I nodded. ,,Yeah, of course." We turned with our backs to them. ,,We don't." I whispered to Jesper. ,,Hm." Jesper just said. He cleared his throat. I turned around to the nanny and the boy, while Jesper was doing his work. ,,What a beautiful weather we're having, isn't it?" I tried small talking with the nanny.

Then Jesper played the key that was just broken. I looked at him and whispered: ,,How?" The boy pushed me lightly away. ,,My turn." He sat himself down to the piano and started playing a very, let's say interesting melody. ,,That's really.. that's...He's really good. Uhm i think if you had a bit more practice, you could turn that into something like this. Um..." I sat down at the Piano looking at the keys. I then started playing a piece of music i had learned as a child. I smiled by the sound of it. But after a few seconds i stopped and smiled nervously at the nanny and Alby. 

As we walked along a path the sun started going down. ,,Where have you learned playing the piano like that?" Jesper asked me. I looked for a second to him, before looking back at the ground. ,,I... i taught it myself when i was younger." I answered. ,,Really? You're pretty good." Jesper complimented. I turned my head away to smile. As went on the cemetery, the night had began.,,For the spoiled son of a criminal kingpin, the boy was not that bad. Just a bit energetic, isn't he?" I said with my thoughts back to Appelbroeck. Jesper laughed. ,,That boy was a right little shit." He meant.

I stopped him. ,,We can't tell Kaz about Alby." I said holding Jesper's arm. ,,Child's a demon. But no good will come of it." I looked at him and nodded slightly. ,,Thank you." I said sighing. ,,This isn't your fight, you know. Clearing our names, this feud Kaz has with Pekka." I smirked. ,,Jesper Fahey, are you worried about me?" I asked leaning forward to him. ,,I saw your face when the Crow Club blew up. You didn't know what you're getting yourself into." He said like i didn't already knew that. ,,Yeah, well...Well i know now. And i'm not going anywhere." I said walking towards our hideout. 

As i got inside, i saw Kaz who turned to me. Jesper closed the door behind us and stood next to me. He looked at Kaz face which was bruised and then at the bottle of alcohol in his hand. ,,The Dregs have opted to join us." Me and Jesper looked at each other. ,,Well?" Kaz asked. ,,Yeah you were right." Jesper said. ,,No glass factory, just a country estate." Jesper told him. ,,Was the boy there? What's his name?" We both kept our mouths shut. ,,Don't pretend otherwise. He renamed the Crow Club the Kaelish Prince and Pekka would never see himself anything other than a king." Kaz stepped closer to Jesper. ,,So, what is the boy's name?" Kaz hissed at him. I looked at Jesper who struggled with his next word. ,,Alby." He whispered looking at Kaz. ,,Alby Rollins." I stared at him. Kaz walked away. ,,You promised." I whispered. ,What are you gonna do with him?" I asked Kaz with the feeling of a lump in my throat. ,,Kaz, he's just a kid." Jesper shouted to Kaz in the other room. ,,Kaz?" I came into the room. ,,Alby Rollins can't help who his father is." I said thinking of myself. ,,And you...You can't punish him for that." He glanced at me. ,,I won't help with that." He turned his head back from me. ,,You won't have to touch a hair on his head. But you are going to help me blow up everything Pekka holds dear." I stared at him and stummered: ,,You said no more explosions." I said walking up to him. ,,Not that kind. I finally found a weapon to end all of this." He looked at me. ,,What weapon?" I asked. He smiled at me. Kaz smiling was a weird thing for me. ,,Suffering." 

I turned around and walked back to Jesper. ,,Why did you tell him?" I asked him. ,,I cannot lie to Kaz, Wylan. I'm sure he'll be okay." Jesper said quiet. I looked at him stunned. ,,Alby's just a kid. He didn't asked to be Pekka's son. I don't care if Kaz kills Pekka, but he should not drag Alby into this." Jesper looked at me. ,,You should trust Kaz. He may be a criminal, but he still has a heart." Jesper just meant walking away from me.

Chapter Text

That night i stayed up for a long time, working on a compound that mimic firepox like Kaz wanted me to do. Everything was quiet except for the bubbling noises that the liquid gave from itself as it brewed over a warm flame. I took a round bottle, with a Quaver note written on it, that had a green liquid in it. As i dropped a few drops in the bubbling brewing i heard footsteps behind me. My head turned around looking out for the person who just came in.

,,Oh hi." I smiled at Jesper who was looking interested at the brewing. ,,Still working are we?" He asked. ,,Oh i'm just making something for tomorrow. What are you still doing awake?" I asked, turning back to the many bottles, looking for the one i needed now. ,,Couldn't sleep." Jesper answered. There was silence for a while. ,,I'm..." i placed the bottle i just took in front of me down.

,,I'm sorry what i said back there. I know i should trust Kaz, and i do, really. It's just, i don't want him to do anything to that child." I tried to explain. ,,Hey, i totally understand. I don't want that either. But the thing is, Kaz' the boss." Jesper meant taking a bottle and looking at it. ,,So just because he's the boss, we have to do whatever he wants?" I raised my eyebrows. ,,Of course not. But we have to trust and believe in him, although it can be hard to do." I chuckled. ,,I mean he's really scary sometimes." Jesper said putting the bottle away again. 

,,I think you should go to bed. Tomorrow is a special day, where we need to be awake." He meant stretching. ,,I could say the same thing to you, Mister." I said as i cleaned my hands with a towel.  ,,Well, let's both go to bed then." Jesper meant. ,,See you in the morning." I smiled. ,,See you in the morning." Jesper repeated with a smile. 

As i carried a chest with me, followed by Jesper i talked to him. ,,You know i most places, Sankt Emerens is just a simple harvest festival. Nothing on this scale." I meant looking at him. ,,Well in the Barrel, Patron Saint of Brewers gets the respect he deserves." Jesper meant as he walked up to an empty table. ,,Sankt Emerens drowned in a grain silo trying to drive out rats." I said. ,,Any holiday that mixes cold brew with a little light role-play is fine by me." Jesper meant placing his chest next to mine on the table. ,,Careful! Break one and there'll be an uncomfortable role to play for nine to twelve hours." 

Nina sat on a table behind us in a blue dress. I think she was reading something. ,,Cautionary note taken. Danger..." he pointed with his hands to the chests. ,,fun." He said as he pointed to another box. He took out a red beak mask and held it up to his face. ,,Not many people can pull off a beak." He grinned at me. ,,Go on. Your turn." He said waving me to him. ,,Uhm." I looked at the box. ,,Oh, don't forget your gloves." I said to Jesper who just put on a red feathery hat. ,,Ah perfect." I said holding a mask up. ,,Covers my hole face." I said holding it up to my face. ,,I kinda like your face." Jesper meant. I lowered the mask smiling lightly towards him. But then his eyes were focused on something different. ,,Hey." He said to Inej. I made place for her. ,,Smells like these haven't been washed since last year." She said in a turquoise costume. 

Then Kaz came to us. He opened one of the the chests that Jesper and i had carried there and looked at me. ,,It'll mimic it in every way?" He asked me. ,,Mhm." I nodded. ,,Good." Kaz said as he closed the chest again. He then glanced at Jesper. ,,You're gonna say you can't do this without me, yeah?" Jesper started. ,,And that you hate it when we're angry at each other, but sometimes brothers fight. And that when all this is over, you're gonna open a tab for me at the club of my choosing, 'cause when Pekka's gone, you'll take it all." Jesper said with a smile. ,,That's what you were gonna say." He pointed at Kaz. ,,Yes?" He looked at him, now without a smile. ,,There's a cap on the tab. But otherwise yes. To all of that." They looked at each other. ,,Then let's go take down the king." Jesper said before Kaz looked at all of us. ,,The plan is this. Jesper and Wylan, you're gonna hand out Komedie Brute costumes and vials of the compound to all of the Dregs." Jesper looked at him. ,,Per Haskell's gang?" 

,,Our gang now. By sunset, the streets will be crawling with Sankt Emerens revelers. They'll provide us with the cover we need. Hit all of Pekka's businesses, the clubs, the brothels. All to destroy Pekka's reputation. Inej will cover Fifth Harbor, and when the chaos begins, she'll hand the note to Pekka's driver." Nina came up to us listening to the plan. ,,Nina and i will handle the Emerald Palace. See you there." Kaz ended. ,,No mouners." Jesper said. ,,No funerals." Kaz and Inej said chorus.

,,Why do you guys say that? Why isn't it just "good luck" or "be safe" ?" I asked Inej and Jesper. ,,We like to keep our expectations low." She said before following Jesper who was already walking. I raised my eyebrows stunned and then followed them. 

As we both handed out the costumes and the compound to the Dregs, we didn't exchanged any words. After everyone had their costumes and bottles of the compound, Jesper turned to me. ,,Time to get changed." He said taking his own costume. So we changed. Jesper was dressed in red and i was dressed in a more silver-ish color. Our faces were hidden under our masks as we entered the streets. We sprayed all the clubs full with the compound.

,,What now?" I asked putting the empty bottle in a small bag i had hugging around my hips. ,,I'll get to Kaz and Nina. I think it'll be safer for you to not go with me and rather go back home." Jesper said his mask on his head, not covering his face anymore. ,,Well i guess i will see you later then?" I asked softly. ,,Yes, see you later." Jesper meant with a smile before leaving me behind. 

As the stars showed themselves, i carried the chest with Jesper back to me. ,,So how does it feel to be a free man again?" I asked looking behind me to Jesper. He laughed. ,,Amazing!" We walked down the stairs. ,,Yeah?" I smiled. ,,Like the world is full of possibilities." We placed the chests on down on the table. ,,Such as?" I asked looking at him. ,,A decadent night on the town." He leaned on the chest on his side and smiled at me. ,,Cub Cumulus is often a fun time. And my friend Poppy has a new show at the Blue Paradise. Which I've been dying to see,so, uhm..." I raised my eyebrows interested. ,,Oh." I let out. ,,You could come with me." I chuckled as i kneeled down looking for something. ,,Sure." I added looking up to him.

,,Um...something's off with you." Jesper meant as i got up again. I searched for my next words. ,,The night that we first met, well, I left you because i assumed that's what you were going to do." I told him. ,,Oh. Okay..." Jesper straightened his posture. ,,No- I...Uh... I just thought that someone like you wouldn't want anything more." Jesper looked on the ground with a few meters away from me. ,,Especially after just one night, so I..." I thought for a moment. ,,I thought it was easier to cut my losses." 

Jesper looked away. ,,Yeah, i get it." He said with a smile. Not a happy one. Just a smile. ,,Yeah, i mean, my reputation isn't entirely unfounded." I nodded slowly turning my had down. ,,I like the chaos. The gamble of Barrel life." Jesper said. I smirked. Then i walked up to the end of the table, organizing the glasses. ,,Never knowing what comes next." He looked after me. ,,I might very well have left you first." I stopped the organizing and met the eyes of Jesper Fahey. ,,But that was before i got to know you." He said walking closer to me. ,,I can't make you any promises. Or predict what might happen between us. But i can tell you that..." Jesper took a deep breath. ,,I'd like to find out." I turned my head away from him, letting out a smile. 

Did Jesper Fahey just tell me that he wanted to have a romantic relationship with me? Me Wylan Van Eck? 

I didn't know what to say. ,,You may have gathered this about me, but silences, they really aren't my favorite thing in the world." He said as i ran across to him and then kissed him on the lips. I held his face in my hands as my lips pressed against his. His hands wrapping around me. As our lips parted i smiled at him. ,,That was even better then the last time." Jesper whispered smiling.

,,Well, if you need a fuller reminder..." I said grabbing his arm and dragging him to my bed.

Chapter Text

1In the morning, as the sun shined into the room, me and Jesper laid in bed. It was all quiet. No screaming people, no fighting. Only the people on the streets were to hear and Jesper who babbled. I wore his white shirt and looked at him with a smile. ,,I must admit," Jesper started. ,,I quite like the way you look in the morning." I smiled and hid my face behind my hands. But Jesper laid his fingers on my chin and lifted my head towards him to give me a kiss. I laid my head on his chest and his arm wrapped around me. ,,You hungry?" He asked me. ,,Nina once mentioned a breakfast place that set waffles on fire. Or was it sausages?" He asked himself. ,,Nah. Can't remember, I wasn't listening." 

,,I don't know if i'm really ready for breakfast just yet." I said looking at Jesper. ,,Oh." Jesper smirked as he kissed me again. He leaned over me. But then there was banging on the door. ,,No!" Jesper sat himself up looking at the door. ,,Downstairs, now." Kaz commanded through the door. ,,Ravka needs saving." Jesper sighed and i laid my head back annoyed. 

,,Not even one morning." Jesper complained putting on his shirt. ,,What does Ravka need from us?" I mummered as i buttoned my shirt. ,,Let's find out." Jesper meant taking his guns and putting them into the gun holders from his belt.

,,The Neshyenyer? Sankta Neyar's blade?" Nina asked looking at the woman and man who sat across from her on the table. ,,So you haven't completely forgotten what you were taught in the Little Palace. Just your loyalty to Ravka." The woman leaned forward glancing at Nina. ,,Ravka? Or Kirigan? It didn't take him to destroy a city for me to question my loyalty." Nina hissed back. Jesper and i exchanged eye contact. Then Jesper sighed and turned back to the others.

,,So, now that we all know that you two have history, what's the payment for this particular job?" He asked the two. ,,Name your price." The man said eating breakfast. ,,It matters that much." Jesper's eyes got big, but mine focused on the letter in Nina's hands. ,,Is that the Lantsov family crest?" I asked. ,,You know it is, because it's hideous." Nina meant, eyes on the woman. ,,Prince Nikolai request your services to retrieve and deliver the Neshyenyer to Alina Starkov in East Ravka." The man explained. ,,She's returned?" Nina asked, her voice higher. ,,As has the Darkling. With an industrucible army of shadow monsters."

,,I do not like the sound of that." Jesper said taking a sip of the liquid in a shot glass. ,,She needs the blade to kill them. It's the only thing that might work." The woman said. ,,Retrieve the blade and the Prince will pay what you ask." The man looked at Kaz who didn't said a word. ,,But i like the sound of that." Jesper grinned towards the man. ,,I assume same goes for you." The woman asked Kaz. ,,I'd welcome the chance to help your prince spend his country's money." Kaz looked at her. 

,,I don't need Kruge. I need to get someone out of Hellgate. Lantsov must be able to pull strings with the Kerch Goverment." Nina looked begging at the two. ,,For a certain Fjerdan?" The woman asked grinning. ,,He must be quite the slab of fur." Nina rolled her eyes. ,,The offer is the offer." The man said again. ,,Prince Nikolai is a man of his word." 

,,But we need to go now." The woman meant. We looked at Kaz. ,,It's settled. We're in." He meant putting the letter away. ,,And your Wraith? I was expecting to see her." The woman asked. ,,She's gone." Kaz said. ,,No, she's not. Not yet. She's-" Kaz stopped Jesper. ,,Not an option." He glared at him. 

Jesper sighed and then stood up and left, followed by Nina. I looked after them until they were gone, then looked back at the table. ,,I'll be right back." I said slowly walking away. Before i got upstairs a girl stopped me. ,,I'm sorry, Wylan Hendriks?" I looked confused at her. ,,Yes?" I asked looking at the girls face. She held a letter in her hand. ,,This letter is for you." She handed it me over and i looked at it. It was the same font like always. I pressed it against my stomach as i smiled at the girl. ,,Thank you." I pressed out and walked back to my room. On my way i tore the letter apart and threw it in a trashcan in the hallway.

I had no interest in the letter my father had written to me several times before. The feeling of anger made itself visible in my body. I shut the door behind me. Even without the talent to read, i could imagine what was written on those papers. Some insults towards me surely were written on the pages and i had no interest to even try to understand all the lines and curves. 

With my mood down i took my coat from the ground.

As i wanted to go out of the room, i heard a soft knock on the door. ,,Yes?" I asked putting on my coat. The door got opened by a taller person. ,,Oh, hi." I said towards Jesper who leaned in the door frame. ,,You alright?" He asked looking at my face, where the angry grimace softened into a small smile.

,,Yes, of course," I said. ,,Where did you go?" 

,,To Inej. Are you sure you alright? I heard the door shut even from far away." 

Jesper looked worried at me. ,,Yeah, of course. It was just so windy and the window was open." I meant smiling at him. He straightened his posture and then laid his hands on my cheeks. I looked at him with big eyes. As his lips pressed against mine, he took his hands off my cheeks and wrapped them around my waist and lifted me up. I let go off his lips and laughed. ,,Let me down Jes!" I cried. 

,,Hahaha!" Jesper giggled turning around himself with me in his arms. I had pressed my eyes close and clung onto Jesper. As he stopped i looked back at him, who softly smiled at me. ,,You're a great person Wylan Hendriks." 

Hendriks.

,,You are the best person Jesper Fahey." 

I smiled back before giving him a short kiss on the lips. ,,They are waiting for us." I meant. Jesper sighed but nodded slowly. ,,Yeah, you're right. I'll go and get Inej,"Jesper said. ,,One last kiss?" He asked looking at me with puppy eyes. I smirked and gave him a kiss before walking out of the room. 

Chapter Text

As i had made my way back to the bar, where the man, Tolya, the woman with the name Zoy and Nina stood, we waited for the other crows. ,,The Neshyenyer at Ahmrat Jen is definitely a fake." Kaz meant coming towards us, giving Tolya and Zoya cards. ,,Which we told you. Perhaps now you tell us something we didn't know?" Zoya's eyes followed Kaz who walked to Nina and me.

,,According to my contacts, it's been stolen by a thief known as The Disciple." Kaz said. ,,He had a penchant for stealing Saint-related relics while on jobs." He held the cards towards us. We both took one.

,,So he's a thief and a collector?" I asked. ,,And retired." Kaz added. ,,But he has since put a few pieces of his collection on the black market."

Tolya took a bite of his bread, but talked. ,,So, to get to him, we go to his fence." Kaz nodded. ,,Ohval Saran. She has a tea shop in Bhez Ju," He said. ,,To speak with her, we have to order yellow chrysanthemum tea, off-menu." 

I took the other card that laid in front of Kaz, which he had placed there, and tried to find the difference between the two cards in my hands. 

Nina said something in Shu and Tolya looked stunned at her, before saying in Shu something. Nina smiled walking towards him. ,,Let's discuss. Tell me more." She said in Kerch, walking with Tolya away. I looked after them for a second, but then turned back to the cards in my hands, trying to figure out what was written on it.

In that moment both Jesper and Inej came downstairs. Kaz glanced at them and then snatched one of the cards out of my hand. I flinched and looked after him, how he walked up to the two. ,,I see you couldn't help yourself, Jes." Kaz held the card towards Jesper, who exchanged a look with Inej. He took the card and walked past him, towards the bar, where he took a shot glass and drank it. 

I still tried to figure out what was standing on the card in my hand. But all i could see, where lines of ink on brown paper.

,,How have i wronged him?" Jesper asked coming to me. ,,Hm?" I asked not looking up. ,,,The passport," Jesper said. ,,He made me even older than the last time." Jesper complained. ,,Technically, you are older than last time." I meant. But Jesper looked annoyed at me. I looked back at him, giving him a short smile. 

,,Saints," Jesper scoffed looking at my passport. ,,that's a terrible name." My heart beat fastened. I looked around and then came a bit closer. ,,What does it say?" I asked the boy next to me. ,,What, can't you read it?" Jesper asked.

There it was. The question i did not wanted to answer. My throat got dry and i couldn't say a word. I looked around, avoiding eye contact, embarrassed. ,,Uh," Jesper looked away from me and then at the passport. He tried to laugh it off and said: ,,Can barley even read it myself."

,,I should pack." I pressed out and walked away. I run into a waitress and apologized before walking away. I hushed back into the room, i had just walked out a few minutes ago. My throat still dry and my heart beat ten times faster then usual, i took my bag and packed explosives, defensive powder and a few other powders that would be useful in a fight. 

The time that it took for us to sail over the true sea and get to Bhez Ju, i had not talked to Jesper. I felt too embarrassed about the fact that he now knew that i wasn't able to read or write. The reason my father wanted me to die. 

As we stood there, in the town with all the people chattering and shopping for food, clothes, jewelry, and other things, we watched Inej with Zoya and Tolya praying at the center of the town. Jesper glanced at Kaz, who was glaring over to the others. Tolya came over to us, of course he had food in his hands. Turning around to face the three girls, Jesper avoided the sword that would have hit him, if he hadn't tilled his head.

,,Just so you know, it's considered bad luck not to honor the dead during Suntsa Sar." Jesper chuckled. ,,If i believed in luck, i'd be in less debt." He scoffed.

,,And i'm more concerned with the living." Kaz meant glaring at the boy, only a bit older than him. ,,Tend not to your ghosts and they will come back hungry." Tolya grinned. 

,,The tea shop should be open now." Kaz said walking away. 

,,Want a piece?" Tolya asked Jesper, who refused.

,,Tolya, uh," I smiled at him. ,,I was actually looking to buy some firing powders." Jesper and Tolya looked at me. ,,Do you wanna come?" I asked the taller boy, who gave Jesper a look. I started walking with Tolya behind me. 

,,Always been a fan of shopping." Jesper said following us. 

,,Huh, For explosives?" 

,,Sure." Jesper said, but i knew he didn't meant it. 

As the two boys had made themselves comfortable on a small table, i was looking through the powders. I took a small bottle of red phosphorus, which was a pretty rare one, and continued looking.

I haven't even noticed the boy that stood next to me before he took the bottle out of my hand. ,,What's that one?" Jesper asked me. I cleared my throat and answered. ,,That's red phosphorus." I said taking the bottle away from him.  ,,It's rare in Ketterdam, but when you mix it with potassium chlorate, you get a surprisingly strong contact explosion." I told him, showing the two powders. 

,,How do you know what mixes with what?" He asked. ,,It's just chemistry." I said. ,,And i had a tuto-" I paused. I almost had said "Tutor" which wouldn't be really great for me. ,,Uh, just trail and error." I lied nervously. 

,,With explosives?" Jesper asked me, not really sounding fascinated by it. I nodded. ,,Eh, well, when the sample sizes are small enough, the explosions are relatively manageable." I said looking at the table with all the powders.

,,You keep all of that in your head and you still got all your fingers." I softly smiled. ,,You might just be the smartest person i know." Jesper said smirking at me. My gaze hardened and the smile vanished. I sighed. ,,Tolya, could i get your help?" I asked walking away from Jesper.