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webslinger-holland · 11 months

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The Emperor of Magic | Part 3

Summary: The crows make their way out of the court with the prisoner. On their way to Ravka, they are faced with a problem that can’t be solved easily.

Warning: +18 Warning, particularly gruesome chapter which includes death/murder, mentions of blood, swearing, arguing

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x Fem!Reader

Type: Series

Word Count: 3.5k

Series Masterlist

The large metal door of the cell swung open to reveal the presence of the emperor herself. The officer stood in the doorway of the cell. With great hesitation, Kaz and Matthias moved to stand on either side of the officer. They both looked into the dark and cold cell.

All of the sudden, the officer breathed a sharp gasp. He went to grab his chest as it sounded like he was struggling to breathe or he was having some sort of heart attack. Before Kaz or Matthias could question anything, the officer collapsed to the ground. The two of them slowly turned their heads to look at the unfazed emperor.

In utter fear, Kaz went to reach into the cell to grab the handle of the door. He slammed the large metal door shut in hopes that it would protect them against her.

Unbeknownst to them, the rest of the crows were standing right behind them. The officer had fallen unconscious by the hand of their very own heartrender, not by the emperor in the cell. Slowly, Nina’s hands fell back down to her sides. She shook her head.

“You really think she’d just kill him like that?” Nina asked them sarcastically. “She’s contained remember?”

In response, Matthias and Kaz went to look behind themselves at the rest of the group. They both seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief, having realized that they were actually safe from the emperor and that the officer wasn’t dead.

Now that the whole crew had arrived, it was time to break the prisoner out of the cell. First off, Wylan passed out some of the weapons he had stolen in the armory. Inej inspected the knives and Jesper inspected the small guns. Finally, the boss went over the plan one final time with the rest of them.

“When we get inside, Jesper will break the chains. Each of us will grab one and lead her out of the cell. Then Nina and Wylan will clear the way for our escape,” Kaz reminded them.

“Right,” Matthias nodded. “And how are we getting out of here?”

“Through the tunnels that run underneath the city,” Nina explained. She had seen a number of hidden manhole covers throughout the city. There was bound to be one nearby.

“They’ll lead us straight out of the court,” Inej explained. Kaz nodded his head once in acceptance.

Once everyone got into position, Kaz went to open the large metal door of the cell. They filed in one by one. Now Jesper quickly got to work with the chains. He grabbed hold of them tightly, using his ability to manipulate metal in order to break the chain from the wall. He handed the chain to the respective crow. He did this for each of the four chains.

As an extra form of security, Wylan slipped a brown burlap bag over her head. He was especially careful not to touch her in fear that he’d be exposed to her magical abilities. He quickly stepped away from her.

For a split moment, there was a stunned silence that fell over them. The boss took the time to glance at each of his crows, hoping this wasn’t going to be the end. Now they just needed to get out of the court alive.

It felt like he was tasked with gently waking up a vicious and dangerous sleeping dragon which could destroy him at any given second. With great hesitancy, Kaz shook the chain he was holding once or twice. The emperor was slow to lift her head, but she did so.

He went ahead to pull on the chain, urging her to follow him out of the cell. Though Kaz could practically feel the uncertainty leaking from her. He knew he was taking a risk because this was something that she hadn’t done since her time her. He figured that it was only a matter of time before she would come to the realization that she was being broken out of prison. She might have already realized it.

After a beat, the emperor of magic rose to her feet and began to follow them out of the cell. They guided her with the four massive metal chains, leading her through different hallways and doorways. Upon rounding a corner, Nina found one of the grates that lead to the tunnels. She had found it earlier on their way to the cell. She went to open it up.

Suddenly, the sound of a commotion was heard through the cold hallways. The guards must have stumbled across the empty cell because they began arguing amongst each other. The footsteps began drawing closer as the guards spread out in search of the fugitive.

“They’ll be coming soon,” Matthias explained.

“Working on it,” Nina said as she pulled the grate off the wall.

They didn’t waste any time in entering through the tunnel that would lead them below the city. The guards were getting closer with each passing second. However, Nina made sure to close the grate behind them. Just as she slipped into the shadows of the tunnel, she faintly heard a group of soldiers marching past the spot they had just been standing at.

Though the tunnel was quite narrow, the crows made sure to keep their distance from the emperor. They didn’t want to accidentally bump into her. They continued on by leading her through the tunnels.

Navigating the tunnels was no easy task, but they knew that they needed to head north in order to get out of there. They made sure to head in one direction to the best of their ability. A few right or left turns were made, but they were able to keep on track easily enough. It was a couple hours before...

“It should be straight up ahead,” Matthias stated. He glanced at some of his surroundings. “This looks familiar.”

“Be on the lookout,” Kaz ordered. “There is no telling if we run into guards once we are out.”

Carefully, Nina went to remove the grate that separated the tunnels from the outside of the court. She placed the grate to the side and slipped out. She moved her hands to be at the ready just in case they ran into anyone. The others followed behind her.

As if on cue, the Black Protocol alarm began to resound from inside the walls of the court. That meant the whole court was going into lockdown until they found their missing fugitive. The soldiers had been ordered to make their way to the walls so that the prisoner wouldn’t be able to escape.

Though they were already outside the walls, the crows were quick to make their escape into the forest so that they wouldn’t be seen by anybody. Their intention was to lead the emperor of magic as far away from the court as humanly possible.

At some point, word was bound to reach the other kingdoms in the land. The other king and queen will hear that their grand prisoner had escaped the impossible confines of the prison. A bounty was going to be placed on her head for her recapture. And the crows were going to cash that in relatively soon.

Now heading south, the crows stumbled across the small hidden place where they had buried some of their valuable belongings. Now Wylan reunited with his explosives, Jesper found his precious pearly guns, and Inej clung to her favorite knives. Even Kaz was more than happy to be reunited with his trusty walking cane as his leg had been bothering him for some time.

Moving on, the group of seven made their way further south with the intent of heading into Ravkan territory. It took a few hours, but they eventually wandered into the sandy dunes. The sun began to rise and the heat only followed.

The heat of the sun finally peeked since it had reached midday. The blinding rays of sunlight had no coverage from clouds, brutally beating down and reflecting off the dunes of sand. With this heat, everyone grew tired and weary rather quickly.

Having passed into Ravkan territory, the cool comfort of snow had long since disappeared. The vast dessert dunes of Ravka would eventually come to an end, especially once they came to the palace. But for now, they were forced to endure with the heat.

At one point, Matthias went to look over the stretch of his shoulder. He looked back on the place he used to call home as he was still able to see it from many miles away. He silently wondered if he’d ever go back or ever be accepted back.

The crows kept trudging along with their feet lazily dragging in the sand. It would be dangerous to stop now since they were transporting a very dangerous fugitive. Naturally, Kaz was leading the group while holding onto the chain attached to the emperor’s frontside. He occasionally would look over his shoulder to make sure everything was still running smoothly.

On the right side, Jesper held one of the massive chains in his hand. He’d often wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand or fix the way his hat fell on his head. On the left side, Wylan and Inej took turns holding the chain as it was quite heavy. They were also the two smallest members of the group.

In the back, Matthias held the final chain. Though it was rather heavy, it wasn’t to him. Nina walked along beside him with her hands constantly at the ready. Though she had been instructed to not use her powers unless absolutely necessary. If she ended up using her powers. she’d be exposed by the emperor by letting it slip that there was a heartrender amongst them.

Out of nowhere, the emperor of magic came to a slow halt in her steps which caused the others to slightly tug at the chains because they expected her to keep walking with them. Without hesitation, Kaz whipped his head around to stare directly at the emperor’s covered head. He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously before cautiously pulling the chain once or twice to encourage her to move along. But she stayed put.

“What’s happened? Why’d she stop?” Jesper asked for some kind of explanation. The five crows casted uncertain glances to their boss.

“I don't know,” Kaz shook his head. He was looking the most annoyed right now.

“D-Do you reckon she’s tired?” Wylan tried to reason. They turned to look at him with blank expressions on their faces. Wylan further explained himself. “Maybe this is her way of saying she’s tired and needs a break.”

“We can’t stop,” Kaz almost cut him off. “It’s too dangerous. We can’t let our guard down.”

As if on cue, a heavy rumble sounded in the long distance. If one could describe the sound, it almost sounded like a mountain caving in on itself or the sound of thousands of boulders crashing into one another. Before anyone could remotely question it, the earth began to shake violently. The crows did well to maintain their balance.

The rumbling sound continued as the earth groaned in pain. Unbeknownst to them, the tremors of the reverberating earthquake could be felt over the stretch of hundreds of miles. After some time, the earth began to settle down once again. The crows felt slightly dizzy, but they were fine otherwise.

“What was that?” Inej asked slightly worried.

“That was no earthquake,” Kaz said slowly. The others looked directly at him in utter confusion. They went to follow his line of sight which settled on the emperor herself.

“Y-You don’t think,” Jesper tried to get out. He almost laughed at the nonsense idea. “There is no way that could have been her.”

“Don’t underestimate her,” Kaz ordered blankly.

“She’s bound though,” Wylan added. “She can’t use her magic because her jacket was made by a fabrikator--” Wylan’s voice was cut off.

Because it was almost like the emperor heard him talking. What shocked him the most and what made his sentence fall short was the fact that she had turned her head to look directly at him despite wearing the covering over her head. His breathe caught in the back of his throat, holding it in anticipation.

Kaz watched carefully.

Very slowly, the emperor shifted her body in order to look behind her. While it almost looked like she was now facing Matthias, the truth was that she was looking behind him and slightly upwards. Her ‘gaze’ fell on the vast structure of the Ice Court in which they had just left.

“She feeling sentimental?” Jesper wondered.

“Don’t joke. Not now,” Inej demanded of him. She watched for something.

“Why is she looking at the court though? What’s it to her?” Matthias asked. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He directed his attention back towards the court which stood in the far distance from them.

All of the sudden, Matthias could feel his heart sinking in the deep confines of his chest. The once grand walls of the court that had been known to be impenetrable had begun to crumble and collapse. If they had been closer, they were bound to hear the screams and cries of people coming from the city as the walls came crashing down around them, killing hundreds without spare.

“Oh my god,” Inej gasped, stumbling backwards slightly.

“Holy shit,” Jesper replied with wide, bulging eyes.

Wylan went to cover his mouth in utter shock and Matthias began clenching the chain tightly in anger. Because it wasn’t just the walls around the fortress that collapsed. Within seconds, the rest of the structure started to give away and cave into itself. The military stronghold was no longer there, having been reduced to ash, cloud, and debris.

Before the court was even done falling to pieces, the emperor of magic redirected her attention back to her frontside. Unlike the others, Kaz was not as fazed by her show of power. It had first been the earthquake and now the decimation of an entire city. He had known her powers to be great, but never imagined she would go to these lengths.

It wasn’t just the heat that was getting to him. Matthias began to feel a new type of rage ignite within him. This felt like a personal attack on him. That was his home for a time and despite what others may say, those were his people. Now they were gone.

His heart was filled with the thirst for revenge. He only saw red, blinding by his anger and hatred. His jaw locked in place and he bit his tongue until he could taste blood in his mouth. He tore his gaze away from the sad scene of the city, refocusing his sight on the backside of the emperor. He was seething now.

“We...cannot go on,” Matthias breathed angrily. He clarified. “She cannot.”

“Matthias,” Nina tried to reason with him sympathetically. She placed her hand on his arm which was instantly yanked out of her reach.

“This needs to end now. She needs to be silenced,” Matthias claimed.

"You’re not suggesting we just kill her here,” Jesper argued. “The whole reason we broke her out of the court was to get the bounty that would be on her head. Think of the money we will make!”

“I don’t care!” Matthias barked. “She is a murderer. She’s killed thousands.”

“We’ve all killed people,” Jesper threw out. “Not nearly as much as her, but we aren’t saints either.”

“Jesper,” Wylan warned him.

“What’s to stop her?” Matthias dropped the large metal chain into the sand. He strode directly towards Jesper, almost as if he was looking for a fight. “What’s to stop her from destroying the next city we enter and killing everyone in it?” Matthias wondered.

“She will be contained,” Jesper said through gritted teeth. He pushed back by pressing his chest against the bigger guy. “She doesn’t know what city we are going to next. She only destroyed the court because she knew she was leaving it. Plain and simple,” Jesper stated.

“Arguing won’t solve anything,” Inej interjected.

But Matthias and Jesper chose to ignore her comment.

“Are you so blinded by your own greed that you care not for the wellbeing of others?” Matthias quipped.

“Matthias,” Nina said rather loudly. “That’s enough.”

Throughout the argument, Kaz didn’t feel the need to interrupt them. He kept his eyes on the prisoner just to be safe. He halfheartedly listened to the pointless argument, dealing with the back-and-forth bickering nonsense. He didn’t care at all, at least not until...

The emperor went to turn her head to look directly at Wylan for the second time. The leader of the crows made the connection almost instantly in that moment. He glanced between the two of them.

“That’s it,” Kaz said mostly to himself. He called for the attention of the other crows which took a second because they were all still bickering amongst themselves.

The five crows looked at him expectantly, choosing to listen to what he had to say.

“Kaz,” Inej said softly on the left side. She readjusted the large chain in between her hands. She saw the slight hint of panic in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” Inej wondered.

“She showed her hand,” Kaz concluded. “She’s messing with us.”

“H-How do you know that?” Nina stuttered fearfully.

“She’s not in our heads, is she?” Wylan wondered. He shifted from one foot to the other nervously. She was still looking directly at him which made him afraid. He cowered in his place.

“No,” Kaz shook his head. “Not yet at least.”

“Then what is it?” Jesper wondered.

“Look at the chains,” Kaz ordered. “Who holds them.”

Though Matthias had let go of his behind them, Jesper and Inej were still holding onto theirs on either side. And Kaz still held onto the chain at the front of the pack. The crows were slightly confused.

“Now who did she look to?” Kaz quizzed them. Each of the crows ended up turning their heads and looking directly at Wylan who hadn’t held the chain in a while since it had been Inej’s turn.

“Does this mean--” Jesper began.

“She can see him,” Kaz concluded. “Or she knows exactly where he is.”

Now Wylan felt a sudden urge of a newfound fear and anxiety wash over him. He felt vulnerable knowing that she knew where he was despite not holding onto a chain. It shook him to his core.

“So she knows where we all are,” Jesper stated.

“Not necessarily,” Kaz pointed out. “She knows there has to be at least four of us because we each hold one of the four chains. She must have felt Inej and Wylan switching every now and again.”

“But she doesn’t know about Nina, then?” Matthias interrupted.

“Correct,” Kaz nodded. “And I’d like to keep it that way. Nina is the only one who’d come close to taking her down.”

“I’m still confused. How does she know exactly where I am? I could be standing over there and she shouldn’t know that,” Wylan said while pointing a couple feet to his left.

“I don’t know yet. We haven’t touched her. She can't hear us or see us,” Kaz listed off. He remembered some theories suggesting that she was already all-knowing, but if that was the case, they’d be dead by now.

As if the emperor was apart of the conversation, she went to adjust her gaze to face the heartrender of the group. The others shifted uneasily in their place.

“No, she definitely knows Nina is here,” Jesper pointed out.

“How is that possible?” Nina asked fearfully. “I haven’t held a chain. She shouldn’t know I’m here.”

So Kaz was forced to think it over. It was like he was trying to solve a puzzle in his brain. He racked his mind of the endless possibilities. He tried to remember everything he had read for the past three years, trying to come up with some kind of explanation.

“Heartrender,” Kaz mumbled to himself. He looked up at Nina for a second. “Looks to the heartrender. No,” Kaz dismissed his initial thought.

The other crows glanced between one another in slight confusion. They didn’t seem to understand what he was getting at. But the fear was starting to set into all of them.

“Looks...to...the...heart,” Kaz pieced it together. He spoke ever so slowly. “She feels our heartbeats. That’s how she knows exactly where we are.”

Just then, a demonic voice sounded in the back of Kaz’s mind. It was something only he could hear and it chilled him to his bone just hearing it. To anyone with sense, it would have sounded like your conscience speaking to you. Only this time, it was a very distinct voice that wouldn’t belong to any human. It could only belong to someone who possessed the magical ability to manipulate someone’s mind. And all it said was...

“Very good, Rietveld.”

TAGLIST:

@d34drapunzel @adorawritesalot @vixythepixie @theghostofshadows @lonelywitchv2 @arcadialine @zeeader @cleverzonkwombatsludge @shara-ne @iloveinej @ireallydontcareanymorebrooo @mystic-mara @missymisha @tremendoushearttaco @home-of-disaster @gh0stgirl333 @harrydimples @marina468 @phoenix666stuff

#Kaz Brekker #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker angst #kaz brekker series #kaz brekker x inej ghafa #kaz brekker x you #kaz brekker imagine #six of crows #nina zenik #jesper fahey #matthias helvar #wylan van eck #inez ghafa

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gardenofbookworms · 24 days

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april's monthly: from bee and rose

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

▪︎ adventure/fantasy novel ▪︎

everyone wants something—money, revenge, freedom, love, risk, recognition—tangible or otherwise. but how far are you willing to go for it? how many rules are you willing to break, how many things are you willing to risk, how many people are you willing to lose? is it all worth it, in exchange for what you long for most?

kaz brekker certainly has the will. a cold-blooded thief to the end, he’s known as dirtyhands on the streets of ketterdam, the dirty and crowded kerch capital. there’s absolutely no job he won’t take—anything for the right price. money and greed are his gods, and the revenge they’ll get him, brick by brick, is what he craves above all else. he’s willing to do anything to get what he wants, even break into the world’s most impenetrable safe in its most impenetrable fortress in its harshest, iciest, strictest country—and steal the world’s most valuable man.

it's an impossible job; but then again, kaz makes everything impossible, possible. but of course there’s a hitch; this time, he has to rely on other people to get what he wants. desperate people, people willing to risk their lives for the grand prize—four million kruge each. to kaz, that’s everything he needs to burn his enemies’ world down. to his crew, it's a ticket out of the city—to freedom.

enter inej, the best spider ketterdam has to offer, desperate to pay off her contract and leave the city. nina, a grisha struggling to survive an ocean away from home. jesper, a risk-addicted gambler trying to keep it all together. wylan, a runaway with a gift for chemistry. and matthias, an escaped convict desperate to return home to his beloved fjerda and see to it that nina is dead. there's only a very small chance the crew makes it out alive with their prize. most likely, they’re all going to die—and worse, without being paid.

▪︎

from bee

this book has been on my list for a very, very long time. when i finally got off my ass and read it last year, rose was so excited because they had read it a while before me already. like they’re about to say, there are a zillion good quotes for reference material, and we even use them a lot ourselves.

but about the book itself? soc got me into the “group of rivals band together with a common goal” trope. the way bardugo goes about it is just perfect—it seems that everyone is involved with something unfathomable. and as much as they want to stick to their morals to get past it, the road is tricky (and of course they can't walk it alone). and a note about the character’s pasts: they don't feel made-up, as outlandish as they seem when you boil them down. they're complex and thought through and diverse and give the characters something solid to run towards or away from. all in all, an amazing start to an amazing series.

from rose

i first heard about this book in a very dark little corner of the internet, when a few mutuals read it (together?) and posted about it. it was at least a few months before i actually got around to finding a copy and reading it, but i have never been more grateful for that dark little corner than i was then (okay, so that’s not entirely true, but still).

by the time i made it to, say, halfway through the book, i was absolutely in love with the story—the characters, the plot, the witty humor, everything. and as much as i love the author, none of her other books have quite lived up to the amazingness of this duology. bardugo writes with suspense that will make it literally impossible to put the book down, even if you’re rereading. the wit and humor of the characters is insane; their banter is so much fun to read, and, if you’re like me and love throwing little references into conversation, there is so. much. material. to go off of. and a little side note to bee—jesper is a gay goat lover and there is nothing you can say to change my mind.

▪︎

bonus: spotify playlist!

#six of crows #leigh bardugo #bees + flowers = garden #book recommendations #bookblr #books

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she-posts-nerdy-stuff · 2 years

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The symbolism of flowers in Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom

I posted about my favourite pieces of symbolism in these books a while ago and people really like it so I though I’d explained on this one. There are spoilers ahead!!!

The motif of flowers is utilised throughout the Duology to represent key moments, irony, parallels, and relationships.

The most ironic is probably the White Rose. White roses are traditionally a symbol of innocence and purity, so naming the pleasure house where Nina works after them is particularly ironic. It’s also enhanced by the description of the flowers growing on the building itself; Bardugo explains that the despite the manager of the house claiming “my girls are as sweet as my flowers”, the only type of white rose strong enough to survive the damp, cool weather of Ketterdam year-round is naturally scent less and all of the flowers are “perfumed by hand”. This deepens the sense of irony and plays a key part on the ongoing theme of façade that can be seen in both the pleasure houses and the city as a whole

Probably the first one you thought of when I said flowers: the wild geraniums. Wild geraniums begin as the favourite flower of Inej’s mother, when her father tells her that “lots of boys will bring you flowers, but only one boy will learn your favourite flower. Your favourite song, your favourite sweet. […] He will have taken the time to know you, and that boy will win your heart”. They become a symbol to represent Inej’s understanding of true love - the way her father left these flowers throughout their home for her mother to find - and her longing for family. They come to symbolise everything that makes her feel safe and loved, and eventually that symbol is projected onto being with Kaz. When she and Kaz fall off the bridge in Crooked Kingdom, they are surrounded by falling wild geraniums

One you may not have noticed: tulips. The tulips in Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are used as a tool to show Nina and Matthias’ relationship (and sorry, but this is a sad one). In Six of Crows, Inej says that when Nina laughs Matthias “perks up like a tulip in fresh water”. This is played off as a comedic line, since Matthias does not at all resemble the imagery of a small delicate flower, with Nina laughing and saying “the tall, brooding, yellow tulip”. Here, the yellow is presumably in reference to his blonde hair as a typical trait of those with his nationality, however yellow tulips are also know to symbolise cheerfulness and hope for the future; hope for Matthias’ future spent with Nina and the relationship that will develop over the course of this book and the next. However, this becomes heartbreaking when Matthias dies and the flowers lain on his chest are tulips. These, if I remember correctly, are red tulips: a symbol of love, passion, and lust. So that no suspicions about the body are raised, Nina has to cast the flowers into the canal, and arguably this symbolises the end of that love and passion for which there can no longer be any hope.

This one I didn’t notice until I read something about wisteria entirely unrelated, then reread the passage shortly after. Wisteria are important in the scene of Crooked Kingdom when Jesper and Wylan go to visit what they believe to be the grave of Wylan’s mother. Wisteria grow outside the hospital and on the table inside. These flowers are known to represent different things in different cultures, but in Korea they refer to a devotion that transcends death, and in Japan they are known for success and longevity. They are sometimes considered to be linked or parenthood or motherhood, I believe this to be based on the Korean meaning, and life or immortality. For Wylan’s discovery that his mother is still alive, each of these factors is incredibly important.

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jazzythursday · 9 months

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🦜🦆🐦🦉🦤

Hi friend! Thanks for the birds! (Qs)

🦜 a pretty quote (you like the prose, or symbolism, or it's poetic, or you just like how it feels/the word choice!)

There’s a very special place in my heart for describing characters through another’s pov. This one is from Call to Rest/Call to Wake:

Wylan is interesting. He’s endlessly fascinating and constantly surprising. He’s a charming contradiction. A mosaic of conflicting information that buzzes in Jesper’s brain with the same rush of taking an unlikely shot and watching it hit right where he’d told it. Wylan is smoke and gunpowder wrapped in soft wool and cotton. The bite of teeth only to be soothed quickly with a kiss. Wylan is beautiful, and Jesper is a little bit obsessed.

🦆 asker's request: something that grew on you that you didn’t like at first, but you like now

This is such a good request, but also I had such a hard time with it lol. This one isn’t so much a quote I didn’t like at first, as much as it’s a quote I had to rewrite about a hundred times before I stopped hating it. From post s2 reveal:

Wylan nurses a cold drink by Jesper’s side and laughs along as Jesper and Nina commiserate and sing poor renditions of drinking songs. They spin and dance and Wylan finds himself drawn into the middle of all of it. In spite of how close a call it had been, he can’t dredge up any of the residual worry he’d expect. It’s too hard to fear death, when the way Jesper kisses him makes him feel this alive.

🐦 a romantic quote (can be sweet or sad or sexy, or just your favorite interaction between them!)

I have a lot of favourites from I Need to Leave (Please Stay), but this is definitely one of them:

He leaves Jesper, after a night of wonderful, wonderful sex. He leaves Jesper in bed, pre-dawn just barely peeking through the curtains of the room they’d occupied the night before. Jesper Fahey is gorgeous, even puffy from sleep and softly snoring into a pillow. He has the most perfect lips Wylan has ever seen, skin like rich caramel and coffee and limbs like overgrown tree branches stretching up to the sun. His body is the perfect size to cover Wylan’s entirely above him. He thinks it may be the closest he’s felt to safety in years, long before coming to the Barrel. He’s disastrously lovely, kinder to Wylan than he thinks he probably deserves. Wylan leaves before he’s left, and he shakes then, too.

🦉 a clever quote (something you're proud of!)

Also from I Need to Leave (Please Stay):

Jesper fists his hands in the collar of Wylan’s shirt, pressing him back and drawing him in all at once. Wylan is between Jesper and the wall of his bed, kept and safe under the at once familiar and yet completely new weight of him above. His coat—red—is discarded somewhere along with his hat. His smile is burning, beautiful, and the kiss he pulls him into is a charged, heady thing, open mouthed and full of promise. It is the electrostatic attraction between opposite charges. The ionic bond between metal and nonmetal that forms Strontium Chloride, each touch sparking bright red in the dark. The world is made of skin and skin, lips and lips, atoms and atoms. It is a lit fuse. It is a prime number in an infinite sequence. It is a suspended chord held in a long appoggiatura, resolving into the harmony of a vast and swelling orchestra.

🦤 a quote you had to delete :( (but still wanna share!)

Pretty sure this was originally from Careless Is the Fall, but it didn’t fit the section it was for:

Wylan learned to be careful early, though he thinks he may have forgotten that lesson somewhere along the way. Maybe between his swim in the canal, his trip into the Fold, and meeting Jesper.

#wesper #shadow and bone #wylan van eck #six of crows #jesper fahey #jazzy writes #ask games

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kazscrows · 1 year

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Six of Crows Reread 🪶

Chapter 30: Jesper

Jesper wants to be mad at Kaz for this insane plan but he can’t be

Because Kaz Brekker gives him what he craves. An adrenaline rush. That thrilling feel of suspense. An exciting risk-

It was a little like a party he’d once gone to on West Stave. Someone had filled a city fountain with champagne, and it had taken about two seconds for Jesper to dive in with boots off and gullet open.

Now it was risk filling up his nose and mouth, making him feel giddy and invincible. He loved it, and he hated himself for loving it.

I joked earlier that Kaz gets a thrill from nearly dying, but for Jesper it is actually 100% true

He should be thinking about the job, the money, getting out from under his debt, making sure his father didn’t suffer for his antics. But when Jesper’s mind even brushed up against those thoughts, everything in him recoiled. Trying not to die was the best possible distraction.

It’s potentially a very costly distraction

You know because the cost is death

“Those are pieces of the kefta that Grisha wear in battle. They’re trophies.”

“There are so many.”

Hundreds. Thousands. I would have worn purple, Jesper thought, if I’d joined the Second Army. He reached for the fizzy elation that had been bubbling through him moments before. He’d been willing, even eager to risk capture and execution as a thief and hired gun. Why was it worse to think about being hunted as a Grisha?

He hasn’t accepted this part of himself

His mother was Zemeni, but his father had the Kaelish blood that had given Jesper his grey eyes, and he’d never quite shaken the superstitions of the Wandering Isle. When Jesper had started to show his power, his father had been heartbroken. He’d encouraged Jesper to keep it hidden. “I’m afraid for you,” he’d said. “The world can be cruel to your kind.” But Jesper had always wondered if maybe his father had been a little afraid of him, too.

Well this is why he struggles to accept his powers

Jesper doesn’t let Wylan come help him knock out the guards, but then get himself practically stuck dangling over their heads when there’s too many

I love that Wylan’s solution is to belt out the Fjerdan national anthem

“Is that how you shut up and stay out of the way?” Jesper whispered as they dragged the guards’ bodies out of view behind one of the stone slabs.

“Is that how you say thank you?” Wylan retorted.

But of course Jesper has to act annoyed instead of thankful

At least Wylan’s got spine

“Wylan gestured to the guards. “Is it safe to leave them, you know—”

“Alive? I’m not big on killing unconscious men.”

“We could wake them up.”

“Pretty ruthless, merchling…”

I had to include this conversation it’s too iconic now

But yeah Wylan’s never killed anybody he’s just a little excited-

Or maybe nervous is a better word

And now Jesper has to weaken the chains via fabrication… fabrikation.. is that the word for it?

With the small science—

Jesper hoped the others hadn’t met with any surprises.

Maybe Matthias was wrong about the White Island. Maybe the shears would snap in Wylan’s hands. Maybe Inej would fail. Or Nina. Or Kaz.

Or me. Maybe I’ll fail.

Six people, but a thousand ways this insane plan could go wrong.

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#shadow and bone #six of crows #jesper fahey #inej ghafa #kaz brekker #wylan van eck #matthias helvar #nina zenik #grishaverse #reading #books #soc #kazscrows #kazscrowsreadssoc

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aphroditestummyrolls · 8 months

Note

🏅🌙 🧠

Hi 🥰 hello

🏅 What is something you recently felt proud of in regard to your writing (finished a fic, actually planned for once, etc).

I actually finished Keep You Safe! 🥹 I am so proud of that story! But, I’m also so proud of all of the stories I’ve written/started for Six of Crows. I still feel so compelled by my WIPs, and so motivated to write, even with the Focus Issues™️ I’ve been having. I’m really feeling good about my stories more frequently than I’m feeling self conscious, and that’s rare.

🌙 What time of day do you prefer to write? Why?

I used to be a morning writer— I just felt like my mind was clearest in the early hours. But now, I’m a mid morning to evening, equal opportunity writer, and I’m most likely to edit in the early morning.

🧠 What’s an idea you have that you can’t quite call a WIP yet?

I have ANOTHER “Colm discovers Jesper’s Ketterdam Life” fic in my brain, and it’s not outlined or written in any capacity, but it makes me INSANE.

So, let’s set the scene— this is a show verse story in which the ice court heist straight up doesn’t happen. Inej comes to visit fairly regularly. Nikolai’s pardon successfully got Matthias out of Hellgate and they are working their shit out. Wylan’s past came out shortly after they returned from Ravka when his father started sending letters to the Slat, and they became more genuinely threatening. Any animosity about his hiding his past has faded in the face of his life being threatened, and Jesper is just trying to keep him safe. They are so deeply in love.

The story starts about three months since Ravka and the Fold, and the crows are on high alert— recently, Jan sent someone to try to kill Wylan. It was a botched attempt, but Kaz is taking no chances. Wylan hates it, but he’s escorted by someone (usually jesper, because he would come hang out with him anyway) to and from his workshop. Kaz is taking this very seriously, and plotting the downfall of Jan Van Eck with each passing second. But in the meantime, they have to keep Wylan alive.

One morning, Rotty doesn’t meet him outside the workshop like they agreed. And Wylan is a little nervous, but decides to walk back to the slat alone.

Meanwhile, simultaneously, a man is wandering in from fifth harbour, trying his best to conduct his own search for his estranged son after the staadwatch proved useless. He’s starting to feel a bit hopeless, when he hears gunshots. He doesn’t even have time to wonder, because a young man is stumbling, running headlong into him, and when he grips the boy to help him stand, his hands come away bloody.

Colm is desperate to find Jesper, but he looks at this boy and he feels so terrible— he can’t be any older than Jes. He has to make sure he gets the help he needs, that he’ll be okay. But, when he tries to take him to the hospital, the boy insists that he take him to “the crow club— it’s closer. He, he might send someone to the hospital.”

So, colm takes this gravely wounded young man to the crow club. And finds more than he bargained for.

One day soon, maybe I’ll write this one out— it’s so fun, and juicy. I have so many ideas for it, as like, a slower, more angry and resentful “Colm and the Crows” story. One that really examines his dynamics with each of them. 👁️👁️

Thanks for playing!

#ask games #if colm fahey has one fan I am them #wesper #six of crows #shadow and bone netflix

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plaidbooks · 11 months

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Would you consider writing something for Helnik? “Two idiots in love” 🥺🙏🏼🩵

Matthias paced the small hideout that he was sharing with the Crows. It had been three days since Nina had gone out to do something for Kaz--he didn't deem anyone else important enough with any information on what, exactly, Nina was doing.

Before she had left, Matthias had almost given her well wishes. Almost.

Instead, he had opened his mouth, intending to tell her to be safe, but Jesper had cut him off, and Nina replied with some quip before disappearing out the door.

Now, all Matthias could think about was how his last words to her weren't anything important. In fact, he couldn't even remember what his last words were to her.

What if something had happened? She could take care of herself--he knew that well enough--but she wasn't a fighter, not like the rest of the Crows. Not like he was. And here he paced, stuck in this cramp hideout, unable to be out with her.

"You're pacing is making me nervous," Jesper said from his seat on a stool.

"Everything makes you nervous," Inej shot back with a smile, indicating that she didn't mean it. Even if it was true; Jesper's gambling addiction made him jumpy when he was sitting and doing nothing.

Matthias ignored them both; he just kept up his pacing, waiting for the moment Nina came back to him.

When had he started caring so much? Sure, they had kept each other alive, saved each other multiple times. But when had she gotten this far underneath his skin?

The door opened and Matthias whipped his face towards the sound, his legs finally stilling for the first time in three days.

And there she was.

Nina's cheeks were red and she was panting as if she had sprinted there. Her hair--which was in an elegant up-do three days ago--had started to break free, half of her locks cascading down her shoulder. Her clothes had some rips and tears in them, but there was no sign of injury.

Instead, she had a triumphant smile on her face, her eyes glittering. A key dangled on a cord, the latter gripped in her fist.

Before she could say anything, though, Matthias was on her, kissing those plump lips with a fervor that surprised even him. She let out the softest sound of shock before kissing him back with a smile, free hand threading in his hair.

"Hello to you, too," she murmured as he broke away for air.

Matthias didn't know where to start. "It's been days--I didn't know if--and you look so--"

Nina disentangled herself from his embrace, tossing the key to Inej before turning to face Matthias once more. "I look so what? Disheveled?"

"Tired?" Jesper offered.

"Out of breath?" Inej chimed in.

"Beautiful," Matthias corrected. "You look so beautiful."

Nina's fiery eyes softened at that, and she leaned in to give him another kiss. The look of adoration on Matthias's face took her breath away, and the feel of his lips on hers was something she would never get tired of.

"Oi--go find somewhere else!" Jesper said, shielding his eyes childishly.

"Do you know how many times I've seen you kissing Wylan?" Nina shot back, making Inej giggle.

And just like that, the moment was over. But Matthias's heart beat in time with Nina's.

#helnik #matthias helvar x nina zenik #my writing

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wondereads · 1 year

Text

My Opinions on Shadow and Bone Season 2

As an original reader of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, I wanted to share my opinion on the new season since it's been pretty contentious. Check under the cut since it's probably going to be pretty long and there will be spoilers

I love the title cards for each episode

In the same vein, the map method of moving from place to place is great

Mal is much more likable in the show than in the book. In particular, he's much more supportive of Alina

I have to think of Alina as a different person than from the books. In the books, she hated her power and the pressure that was put upon her, but in the show she thinks of it as her calling

As such, the ending makes sense for this version of Alina, but it does have a lot of implications going forward

Personally, I like the RaR ending where Alina loses her power because I feel that is a happy ending for book!Alina. However, I think it was clever to change the price to Mal, but in a different way

Everyone was shitting on Nikolai's casting, but not me. From day one, I said he'd be able to pull it off, and he did. Amazing casting choice!

Kirigan/The Darkling is just so...annoying? This may be biased because of my intense hatred for Darklina, but it seems like the show is going out of its way to make him sympathetic because he's popular, and it just irks me at every turn. He isn't even an intriguing villain at this point

Genya and David were lovely, but David dying out of nowhere? Why? I haven't read KoS, but in SaB and SoC he is alive and well. His death is jarring, unwelcome, and doesn't even do anything narratively or character-wise

Who is this random Tidemaker bitch who just...appeared? She isn't in the books, and every scene with her was boring as hell. Yes, even that major combat scene in the finale with the two others, which dragged out for way too long

Zoya was a queen, no complaints

But what the fuck was that sword plotline? They didn't even end up needing the sword?

Tolya and Tamar were amazing character-wise, great sibling energy

Tamar just one chance please

Now for the Crows...oh, the Crows

Freddy Carter absolutely destroyed it as Kaz, he was superb

Unfortunately, a lot of his backstory feels rushed, and while I loved the scene with Pekka, it didn't have nearly enough buildup considering it originally occurred in the latter half of CK

Inej was also great, but her and Kaz's relationship was also rushed. Almost all of the major scenes (most of which happen in CK!) between them have occurred, which leaves...what? for any potential spinoff

Inej left? WHY. That is the CULMINATION of her character arc, not halfway through! I think they're trying to play it safe in case they get cancelled, but I'd much rather have a loose thread never tied up than an unsatisfying end

Also the 'I will have you without armor or not at all' is set up as if Inej has an issue with the physical contact. She would never do that, considering she has similar issues herself. The original quote is because Kaz has the emotional intelligence of a stack of kruge

While I found Jesper and Wylan adorable, they were rushed as well. It felt very insta-lovey, especially considering they slept together before? How? Wylan is a recent addition to the Barrel when he meets the Crows

That piano scene made me cringe I'm sorry

Matthias' arc seems pretty on-point, and his conflict is pretty well-portrayed for something mostly psychological

Nina was wonderful, simply a delight

I do wish she hadn't said Matthias was her 'true love', they wouldn't really be at that point

Also, at the end, I wish Matthias hadn't seen Nina. It would definitely set up their whole conflict much better

A lot of CK development happened in this show, which a) ruins the whole slow-build that a lot of people loved about SoC and b) means either the potential spin-off will be lacking in emotional depth or they'll be bringing in other conflict (which I don't even want to think about)

That's pretty much all I have to say. I liked some parts, but I really don't like a lot of the changes. A lot of people have said that we knew it was going to be changed, to think of it like fanfiction, but there's a limit to how much can be changed before it is no longer an adaptation. With the amount of fundamental character things that are being changed, I am finding it harder and harder to enjoy this show. I have no issue with plot differences, but Netflix is speeding through these heavy-hitting, developmental scenes that completely change the context and, as such, change the characters. I worry for the SoC spin-off, if we do get it.

#shadow and bone #shadow and bone season 2 #sab #sab season 2 #six of crows #siege and storm #ruin and rising #crooked kingdom #opinion #tv show #analysis #adaptation

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jackwolfes · 2 years

Note

stranded/amnesia wesper sounds sooooo painful

you were right this hurt 😌

send me a prompt

“Who are you?”

Jesper glances up from his attempt to sort through the contents of Wylan’s satchel, getting desperately hard to make sense of what he has. He doesn’t want anything to start a fire, not while they’re still stuck, forced to lie low while they wait and wait for Kaz to find them.

His eyes meet Wylan’s across this dark, damp space. There’s anxiety in them, casting the blue that’s usually bright and pure and blameless with unease.

Jesper doesn’t blame him.

“My name is Jesper,” he croaks, voice rough with dehydration. His hand fidgets with one of the vials stuffed with powder he’d found in Wylan’s bag. “We’re— hiding.”

Wylan nods. He fidgets where he’s curled up in the corner. The bandages stuck carefully to his forehead are dotted with blood. They’ll need to be changed, but Jesper isn’t a doctor. He did what he could with the limited materials he had, when Wylan was still unconscious, with gunfire still loud outside the safe house he carried them to.

Jesper is mostly just glad that he woke up.

The fighting is done now. He prays to about five Saints that Kaz knows where they are. He sits and sorts through the things they have, trying to make a plan for escape and not let panic grip his lungs.

Wylan shifts, fiddling with the torn part of his sweater sleeve.

“Why are we hiding?” he asks. Jesper swallows. He’s asked before. He’s been repeating plenty of things, and it’s making Jesper nervous. He isn’t a healer, but Wylan needs a healer. Not— this.

“So we don’t get shot,” he says. “We’ve been here— two days, or so.”

He watches Wylan nod. He’s always been curious, desperate for information. It’s what Jesper loves most about him, although to limit that list to even a few is a difficult game.

“Okay,” Wylan says. “I think— I feel like I trust you. Is that weird?”

Jesper smiles. “Not at all, merchling.” Wylan smiles back at him, warm and soft and— if not good, then okay. Alive, at least, and surely that’s all that matters.

He sees Wylan shift again. He tucks his hands between his chest and his folded up knees, smiling faintly.

“I’m sorry,” Wylan murmurs, again, “but who are you?”

#asks #anon #wesper #soc #fics

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basimenkidu · 1 year

Text

how did they ruined the Shadow & Bones - Six of Crows?!

*spoilers* might be in these areas IF you didn’t read the books

I don’t know where to begin but I’ll start somewhere;

and if I missed or said something wrong you can write me...

it was like they united last two books but at the same time they removed the middle parts that I think has really important effect on the story line. there are so much parts in Six of Crows books that they didn't put on the show to just make it suitable for the Shadow and Bone books. and also deleted many more parts from the second book Siege and Storm in the middle of somewhere when Nina met Kaz, they were supposed to save Mathias and go to a heist together at Ice Court to steal a DeKappel painting by making deal with Rollins that Kaz saved from Prison. but instead they went on some other robbery that even doesn't exist and Kaz just said that 'I can only give you a guards name and you can visit him.' that's all... and the story-line completely changed. “We’re going to untie you,” said Brekker. “I hope prison hasn’t robbed you of all your manners or good sense.” Matthias nodded, and the bronze girl took a knife to the ropes binding him. “I believe you know Nina,” Brekker continued. “The lovely girl freeing you is Inej, our thief of secrets and the best in the trade. Jesper Fahey is our sharpshooter, Zemeni-born but try not to hold it against him, and this is Wylan, best demolitions expert in the Barrel.” “Raske is better,” Inej said. The boy looked up, ruddy gold hair flopping in his eyes, and spoke for the first time. “He’s not better. He’s reckless.” “He knows his trade.” “So do I.” “Barely,” Jesper said. “Wylan is new to the scene,” admitted Brekker. “Of course he’s new, he looks like he’s about twelve,” retorted Matthias. “I’m sixteen,” said Wylan sullenly.

Jesper & Wylan happened too fast. there was a man named Van Eck that becomig problem for Kaz at the beginning where he’ll deal too. what happened to him?! we only saw Rollins because he was the one who killed the brother. “Meet Wylan Van Eck,” said Kaz Brekker as the boy’s cheeks flooded crimson. “Jan Van Eck’s son and our guarantee on thirty million kruge.”

Inej says a line that "Inej shook her head. “When I go to Ravka, it will be on my own ship, piloted by my own crew." and also wanted to save refugees, so they made her leave like that in the show. Stupid! she wasn’t going anywhere in the middle of everything like that.

Alina suppossed to travel with Nikolai's men and Apparat at underground tunnels like a month or so, while they were running from Darkling but that wasn't in the story at all. in that moment there were times that Nikolai and Alina got really close to each other and like kissed etc. while Mal is feeling a little bit distant and blame himself that he can't give her much so let her decide some things etc. and in that process the Darkling's end came in a really stupid way! that it doesn't even suit his power at all. From miles beneath the earth to miles above. I could scarcely believe any of it, that Nikolai had found us, that he was safe, that we were all here. A tide of relief washed over me, making my eyes fill. “First vomit, then tears,” Nikolai said, coming up beside me. “Don’t tell me I’ve lost my touch.” “I’m just happy you’re alive,” I said, hastily blinking my eyes clear.“Though I’m sure you can talk me out of it.” “Glad to see you too. Word was you’d gone underground, but it wasmore like you’d vanished completely.” “It did feel like being buried alive.” “Is the rest of your party there?” “This is it.” “You can’t mean—” “This is all that remains of the Second Army. The Darkling has his Grisha, and you have yours, but...” I trailed off. “All that remains,” Nikolai repeated.

Genya and David with them at the underground too. David wasn't dying like that and he seemed much more strong and tough in the books, at least for me, in the show he's like weak and cry baby... not what I've imagined at all. Genya was getting that scars on her face by defending Alina on the ship when she's with her.

“You will remain untouched and protected, Sankta Alina,” said theApparat. “I cannot extend the same courtesy to those you would callfriends.” Apparat was this disgusting to let her hostage... in the end there was a part where it showed Alina's power turns Dark; that was happenning when she was linked with Darkling while they were escaping/fighting, not she kills him and use Mezost and her power turns dark.

when they were going for destroying the Fold Nikolai was with them too. not some trio women march was it.

Baghra wasn't with Alina when she was searching for Firebird. and... I don't remember that Mal being Sturmhond and getting away with one of Nikolai's flying boats and Inej going with them at all. THAT'S NOT EXIST!! Sturmhond never give up on his alias and Mal doesn't leave Alina like that. sure Mal is a Firebird, right? NO! I wanted to say this but they even made me doubt myself that he wasn't the Firebird!! so hear the lines on the books; “Mal!” I shouted. My pack was at the edge of the plateau, along with my rifle and bow. I made a dash for them, and the firebird came straight at me. It was huge, white like the stag and the sea whip, its vast wings tinged with golden flame. They beat the air, the gust driving me backward. Its call echoed through the valley as it opened its massive beak. It was big enough to take my arm off in one bite, maybe my head. Its talons gleamed, long and sharp. this was the time when Nikolai gets his scar on his shoulder, not from the fight in the palace; if I'm not wrong... A shadow soldier swooped down. In horror, I saw it held Nikolai struggling in its arms. Any bit of courage I had evaporated. I couldn’t see Nikolai ripped limb from limb. “Please!” The word tore from me, without dignity or constraint. “Please don’t!” The Darkling raised his hand. I clapped my fingers over my mouth, my legs already buckling. But the nichevo’ya didn’t attack Nikolai. It tossed him onto the terrace. His body hit the stone with a sickening thud and rolled to a stop. “Alina, don’t!” Mal tried to hold me back, but I broke free of him and ran to where Nikolai lay, falling to my knees beside him. He moaned. His coat was torn where the creature’s claws had shredded the fabric. He tried to push himself up on his elbows and blood dribbled from his mouth.“This was unexpected,” he said weakly. “You’re okay,” I said. “It’s okay.” “I appreciate your optimism.” there was so many adventures with Nikolai's crafts etc. all that fight and excitement were gone. and all there was a fight with Grisha army of Darkling.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said firmly. “I’ll pay it.” Nikolai considered this, then said, “Very well.” “That’s it? No sage words? No dire warnings?” “Saints, Alina. I hope you weren’t looking to me to be the voice of reason. I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret.” He paused, his grin fading. “But I’m truly sorry for the soldiers you lost and that I didn’t do more that night.” Below us, I could see the beginnings of the white reaches of the permafrost and, far beyond, the shape of mountains in the distance. “What could you have done, Nikolai? You would have just gotten yourself killed. You still might.” It was harsh, but it was also the truth. Against the Darkling’s shadow soldiers, everyone—no matter how brilliant or resourceful—was close to helpless. “You never know,” said Nikolai. “I’ve been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet.” “Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake.” “Well, now you’ve ruined the surprise.” He pushed off the railing. “I need to pilot us over the border.” “The border?” “We’re heading into Fjerda.” “Oh, good. Enemy territory. And here I was starting to relax.”“These are my skies,” Nikolai said with a wink. Then he strolled across the deck, whistling a familiar, off-key tune. I’d missed him. The way he talked. The way he attacked a problem. The way he brought hope with him wherever he went. For the first time in months, I felt the knot in my chest ease. Nikolai's father The King wasn't dead but just has inflicted from the poison by Genya and says those line himslef after the attack. “I poisoned my skin,” Genya said harshly, “my lips. So that every timehe touched me—” She shuddered slightly and glanced at David. “Everytime he kissed me, he took sickness into his body.” She clenched her fists.“He brought this on himself.” “But the poison would have affected you too,” Nikolai said. “I had to purge it from my skin, then heal the burns the lye would leave. Every single time.” Her fists clenched. “It was well worth it.” Nikolai rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Did he force you?” Genya nodded once. A muscle in Nikolai’s jaw ticked.“Father?” he asked. “Did you?” “She is a servant, Nikolai. I didn’t have to force her.” After a long moment, Nikolai said, “Genya Safin, when this war is over, you will stand trial for high treason against this kingdom and for colluding with the Darkling against the crown.” The King broke into a smug grin. But Nikolai wasn’t done. “Father, you are ill. You have served the crown and the people of Ravka,and now it is time for you to take the rest you deserve. Tonight, you willwrite out a letter of abdication.” Mal was like this; “What changed?” “You. I saw it that night in the chapel. If I hadn’t been so scared, I could have seen it before.” I thought of the militiaman’s body falling in pieces. “Maybe you were right to be scared of me.” “I wasn’t afraid of you, Alina. I was afraid of losing you. The girl you were becoming didn’t need me anymore, but she’s who you were always meant to be.” “Power hungry? Ruthless?” “Strong.” He looked away. “Luminous. And maybe a little ruthless too. That’s what it takes to rule. Ravka is broken, Alina. I think it always has been. The girl I saw in the chapel could change that.” “Nikolai—” “Nikolai’s a born leader. He knows how to fight. Knows how to politic. But he doesn’t know what it is to live without hope. He’s never been nothing. Not like you or Genya. Not like me.” “He’s a good man,” I protested. “And he’ll be a good king. But he needs you to be a great one.” I didn’t know what to say to that. I pressed a finger to the window glass, then wiped the smudge away with my sleeve. “I’m going to ask him if I can bring the students here from Keramzin. The orphans too.” “Take him with you when you go,” Mal said. “He should see where you come from.” He laughed. “You can introduce him to Ana Kuya.” “I already unleashed Baghra on Nikolai. He’s going to think I stockpile vicious old women.”

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parkersbliss · 3 years

Text

Tough | K. Brekker

pairing: kaz brekker x reader

warnings: blood, cursing, kaz being a simp

wc; 2K

synopsis: mission gone wrong… gone right?

prompts: 028: “hey, hey, hey, I’m right here.” 030: “you could’ve died!”

a/n: I don’t know how I always end up so off track

Masterlist | Taglist | Prompt List

—

“This is ridiculous,” Jesper hisses, looking between you and Inej. “Someone tell him that!”

You raise an eyebrow at him. “Tell Kaz to back out of a job? No way.”

“I prefer to keep my head,” Inej said.

Jesper rolls his eyes. “You’ll lose it either way at this point!”

“Jesper, it’s fine.”

“No, it’s not! Do you realize how-”

“Shut up, Jesper,” Kaz scowled through the earpiece.

Jesper mumbles something under his breath, but you don’t catch it.

“How’s everything looking, Kaz?” Inej asked.

“One last round of guards, and then you two can come in.”

You nod, securing your gun in place as you stand up.

“If you two don’t come back, I told you so!” Jesper said.

“If we don’t come back, we probably ditched you,” You quip back.

Jesper scoffs, standing up. “At least I still have Wylan.”

“No, you don’t,” Wylan responded through the earpiece.

Jesper throws his hands in the air, “No one appreciates the voice of wisdom around here.”

“(Y/N), Inej, go.”

Inej takes the lead, climbing the gate and dropping safely on the other side. You follow after and make a run for the main entrance. You hide behind a column, holding your breath as two guards walk back to their posts. A hand sticks out from the opposite column on you, and Inej makes a hand signal that means go.

With what you hope are quiet footsteps, you emerge from behind the column and follow Inej to the hallway to the left. You patiently wait as two Grisha emerge from the bedrooms, and in the span of a few seconds, it takes the door to close; you both rush in.

Inej opens the closet, throwing you a kefta, and you gasp at the softness of the fabric.

“Do you think we can keep these?” You jokingly ask.

“Unless you want to be an even bigger target in Ketterdam: I’d advise not.”

“They’re bulletproof and warm,” You said, slipping on the blue kefta with red and yellow detailing.

Inej only hums as she slips hers on, which has green swirls embellished on it.

“Tidemaker,” You said.

“Inferni,” Inej replied. “Suits you.”

You both walk out of the bedroom, the kefta’s making it easier to walk through the palace undetected. The Grisha all automatically assumed you belonged there. They didn’t bother to take a good look at your face.

“Status?” Kaz asked.

“On track,” You said softly, passing by two Grisha’s.

Kaz nods on his side, dressed as a guard inside of the palace. He waits patiently by the door for the two of you. He can just barely spot Wylan in the distance, acting as a servant to the Queen.

She was too stuck up to ever notice or acknowledge any of the servant's names. Similar to the Mercher’s back in Ketterdam.

What snobs they are.

Kaz watches as you and Inej round the corner. The Kefta’s fit both of you surprisingly well. He nods at you two, giving Wylan one last glance before going to unlock the Queen’s room. His fingers and quick, and the lock cracks open in a few seconds.

In those few seconds, someone screams. You can hear Wylan laughing nervously before being pinned down by a guard.

Kaz instantly stops what he’s doing as you all watch the scene unfold. They disarm him, grabbing a remote and throwing it across the floor.

“Get back!” Kaz shouts as the button lands first onto the ground. There’s a moment of silence, utter stillness as you and Inej look toward the Queen’s room, and then it explodes. The blast echoes through the castle and shatters everything. Pieces of rumble rain down as the building begins to shake.

You slam against the adjacent wall, coughing at the dust and groaning. Blood trickles down from your forehead, and your entire body aches.

A low moan catches your attention, and you look up to see a crystal chandelier, cracks surrounding the ceiling it was attached to.

“(Y/N)!” You can hear Kaz scream as it gives way.

You don’t have enough time to get away, you know that. Your vision was still blurry, a loud ringing in your ears. You were too disoriented to even comprehend the idea of being pierced with the decorative piece.

But Kaz isn’t.

He lunges forward, tackling you to the opposite end and shielding you with his body. He’s holding his breath the entire time, counting in his head and reminding himself that it’s just you. If he lets go, then you’ll be dead.

Don’t let go. He repeats it like a mantra inside his head, focusing on the sound of glass shattering as you both skid across the floor.

Sharp glass shards pierce his jacket and skin, but he’s barely fazed by it. It gives him something else to focus on other than the feeling of you.

“Don’t move,” You said quietly, and you can see his eyes widen because by saints he needs to, or he’s going to pass out. “Kaz, if you move, you’re going to push a piece of glass further into yourself.”

He starts shaking his head because the feeling of you breathing under him is overwhelming. Your voice had snapped him out of his daze, and now he was fully aware and fully scared. He doesn't know why. It's you and you were the one person he wishes he could be able to touch, but right now, he can't.

“I can’t,” He whispers.

“Kaz, don’t.”

“Please.”

“Hey, hey, hey, I’m right here,” You assure. “I’m alive, okay? Just breathe slowly until I can get out.”

Kaz closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Every nerve in his body is screaming. It’s worse than the shard of glass sticking out of him. He can’t do it.

“Kaz!” You scream as he rolls off of you and onto the floor.

Almost instantly, the glass pierces through him, and he groans. There’s a huge shard sticking out of his stomach, and you can feel panic surging through you.

Your instincts overwhelm the pain, and your senses come rushing back to you. There’s no way you can grab the glass without cutting yourself in the process, and Kaz would bleed out before you can do anything.

“Kaz Brekker, don’t you dare die on me.”

“I’m not trying to,” He hisses back.

“Inej!” You shout, searching for the Suli girl through the rubble.

“A healer,” Kaz coughs out. “You look Grisha, call for a healer.”

You blink, still amazed how Kaz’s mind is still working, before standing up. “Healer!”

On cue, a girl with a red kefta and silver detailing runs over from the area where Wylan was. You don’t want to imagine how many others are hurt. Behind her is Inej, who nods at you, and you thank the saints for her.

“I need to get the glass out," The healer said.

You look at her, then back to Kaz. “Okay. I can do that. Trust me."

“What you did was stupid,” You said to Kaz, kneeling down by his side once more.

“You were going to die,” he protests weakly.

You slowly grip the glass tightly, trying to ignore the sharp sting of it as the jagged sides cut through your skin.

“You could’ve died!” You scowl, but Kaz could hear the fear in your voice. “You still could.”

“It’s better me than you.”

“No, it isn’t,” You reply, “Kaz, how can you not see it?”

“See what?”

“That I'm in love with you!”

His eyes widen, and at that moment, you grab the glass and yank it out. Kaz screams out in pain, shutting his eyes. “Fuck!”

It’s the first time you’ve ever heard him curse.

The healer jumps into action. She leans over Kaz, and with a single motion of her hand, stitches him up.

She looks at you, and before you can say anything, she heals the cut on your forehead and the gashes on your hands.

“Thank you,” You said.

She nods, and Inej thanks her as well before turning her attention back to you and Kaz. “We need to go, like now. Wylan’s already running out the door as we speak.”

You nod, looking to Kaz. “Okay, can you walk?”

Inej hands him his cane, and he uses it to steady himself. “I can.”

“Okay… can you run?”

“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” Inej said, tugging on your kefta and gesturing to the guards eyeing you down.

“We’re running!” You announce, taking off with Inej and Kaz on your heels. The guards immediately start pursuing you, and you try to lose them in the many hallways.

“Where the hell is Jesper when you need him?”

“Right here!”

“I’m here as well!” Nina shouts, coming to a stop behind him. “The Kefta’s suit you two.”

“Thanks.”

Jesper winks before beginning to fire as Nina drops their heart rate.

“I take it the mission was unsuccessful?” Nina asked, turning to run when the guards become too many.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Jesper said.

“I would,” Kaz seethed.

“Yes, well, you happen to be the most pessimistic person here,” Jesper replied, firing a shot at an approaching guard.

“(Y/N) confessed her love for Kaz,” Inej said through labored breaths, finally reaching the exit.

Nina whirls to face you, “What?”

“About damn time,” Jesper grumbled, ignoring the look Kaz gives him.

You roll your eyes at him, grateful to see your getaway carriage on time.

“And then she pulled a piece of glass out of him,” Inej added, opening the door and hopping into the carriage.

“Oh wow, that’s really the cherry on top of it, isn’t it?” Jesper asked sarcastically.

“You guys are the only people that gossip while being chased down with guns,” Your driver, Matthias, chuckled.

“When else are we supposed to be doing it?” Nina asked, getting into the seat next to him and grabbing the reins.

“Oh sorry, didn’t realize there’s a time and place for it. I’ll stop being a criminal and getting chased now,” You sassily replied, climbing in behind Kaz.

“Just go!”

Nina and Matthias don’t have to be told twice, and you all take off, leaving empty-handed, or so you thought.

Jesper and Wylan sit across from Inej, you, and Kaz. The curly-haired boy holds a bag tightly to his chest, and you’re not oblivious to it.

“What’s in the bag?” Inej asked.

Jesper grins. “Why thank you for asking. Care to share, Wylan?”

The boy rolls his eyes and opens the bag, revealing a crown.

“Oh my god,” You gasp.

“I told you we weren’t leaving empty-handed,” Jesper smirks, leaning back and ruffling his boyfriend's hair.

“How?” Kaz asked.

“Stole it from the queen after the explosion and quite literally ran for my life.”

“We taught him well.”

The ride back to Os Kervo is long, and most of the Dregs fall asleep, except for Nina and Matthias, of course.

Inej rests her head against the window, using her hoodie and scarf as a pillow. Jesper does the same, with Wylan resting on his shoulder.

However, you’re wide awake, not finding a comfortable position to sleep in.

“Did you mean it?” Kaz whispered, turning to face you.

His features stick out more in the moonlight, casting sharp shadows across his face. His blue eyes feel like they're piercing you in a single gaze.

“Mean what?”

“What you said before you yanked the glass out of me, or was it just a distraction?”

“Oh,” You said softly. “I meant it.”

“I mean it too.”

You raise a questioning eyebrow at him.

Kaz realizes he has to say it back. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he felt like a child once again. There were butterflies in his stomach as he speaks. “I love you too.”

“Is that so?” You ask, a slightly teasing tone to your voice, and he knows it.

“I don’t risk my life for just anyone.”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t.”

“I also don’t offer my shoulder to sleep on to anyone.”

Your eyes brighten. “Kaz?”

He gives you a small smile, “I can take it.”

“Are you sure?”

“If it means both of us get some shut-eye, yes.”

A slow smile spread across your face as you pull up your own hoodie, having shed the Kefta long ago. It was too bulky for you.

You slowly let your head fall onto his shoulder, and his breathing stutters for a brief moment before relaxing again when he can feel your heartbeat. It should freak him out, and it does, but he stays strong. That’s what you do for the people you love.

You tough it out.

That, and Kaz falls asleep a few moments later with his own head resting on yours.

— END —

🏷 Kaz Brekker Taglist: @ms-awkward @kykymyeon @alcottsangel @kaqua

want to be added? click here!

#you definitely awoke to them all screaming bc of how cute you guys are #kaz threatens to bleach their eyes #kaz brekker fanfic #kaz brekker x you #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker one shot #kaz brekker fluff #kaz brekker angst #kaz brekker fic #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker #six of crows #crooked kingdom #shadow and bone #soc #sab

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swanimagines · 2 years

Note

Can I please request a prompt fic for Matthias Helvar with prompt E27 Thanks!

Fandom: Shadow and Bone

Prompt: E27. Waking up after a nightmare

A/N: I hope you like it!

Warnings: nightmares, mentions of blood, death and violence

Word count: 608

Blood. It was everywhere. The road had been painted by blood all over - were you too late?

You spotted Inej, lying behind a crate and ran to her, rolling her over, only to see her eyes staring up, seeing nothing and a stream of dried blood was staining the corner of her mouth. You looked up and saw Kaz sitting there slumped over, and with shaky hands, you pushed him up to lean against the crate but you immediately saw that he was dead too. He too had dried blood around his mouth, even though he looked more like he was just sleeping as his eyes were closed.

You stood up, trying to find the rest of your friends - someone had to be alive. They were all good at fighting, it would be unlikely that all of them were dead. Unless it had been an ambush which Kaz couldn't have predicted. Which was basically impossible.

Right?

But as you pushed yourself up from Inej and Kaz and ventured forward, you were met with Nina's body. You didn't even have to go over - her face looked like it had been shot off and blood had been splattered on the wall behind her. Soon after, there was Jesper and Wylan. Jesper looked like he had cradled Wylan's body into his lap with the last strength he had. You checked over him too, but as expected, Jesper didn't have a pulse either.

Then, finally, you saw Matthias. You gasped and ran to him, sighing in relief when he groaned in pain. Blood was tripping down from his mouth too, but you could save him. But as soon as Matthias opened his eyes to look at you, his mouth turned into a snarl.

"This is your fault, Y/N." Matthias's voice held a deep tone of disgust and hatred. You shook your head.

"No, don't say that." you choked out and Matthias coughed, blood splattering on your face.

"If you had been here on time, we all would still be alive."

"No!"

"You know it's true," Kaz's voice suddenly said from behind you and you turned around, seeing all your friends standing behind you and a hand closed around your throat.

"You deserve to die too." Matthias growled and you felt life escaping you.

---

"Y/N!" a voice roared and you shot up on your bed, tears streaming down your face as you sobbed and felt arms encircling your shoulders and a kiss being pressed on your shoulder.

Your breathing evened out little by little as Matthias's strong arms held you and he shushed you.

"I... I- it... I thought that..." you choked out in hiccups and Matthias tightened his arms around you for a moment, making you stop.

"It was just a nightmare. I'm here," he quietly said and you took a look around your shared room at the Slat and let out a sigh after you realized that it indeed had been a nightmare. The most horrible nightmare you had ever seen, but still - it was just a nightmare.

"I don't think I'm able to sleep anymore," you swallowed. "I... it-"

Matthias sighed, cutting you off. "We don't have to sleep if you can't. Come here."

He gestured you towards him and you pressed yourself against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He stroked your head and pressed a kiss on the top of your head, and the horrors of your nightmare began to fade. Matthias made you feel safe and loved, and you knew he would never blame you for others dying in real life.

It was just a nightmare. Nothing more, and Matthias made you fully acknowledge it.

#matthias helvar #matthias helvar x reader #matthias helvar imagine #matthias helvar x you #matthias helvar x y/n #matthias helvar drabble #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone #shadow and bone imagine #sab x reader #sab imagine #sab #imagine #imagines #reader insert #my works #gn reader

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persephones-wren · 3 years

Note

heyy! Could I request a Kaz brekker and reader fic where shes really sensitive and kind and the opposite of him and they're dating but he seems to be spending more time with inej planning a heist and reader gets jealous and during the heist she saved inej from a bullet, getting hurt in the process and tells Kaz,in a delirious state, that shes happy she saved inej for him and everyone helps him plan a picnic for her while shes healing and suprises her? Its quite a long request but it would be wonderful if you wrote it!! thanks💕

Ends of the Earth (Kaz Brekker x Reader)

Hope you enjoy reading! I had a lot of fun writing it :)

Warnings: reader gets shot, that's about it?

Genre: Angst to (minimal) Fluff

Word Count: 2126

You’re not sure how you could have ever expected him to return what you felt for him.

You and Kaz were essentially opposites- he was a hardened criminal, you were more of a person who just ran with the wrong people. He was mean and commanding, you were sweet and endearing. Where he’d kill people with no hesitation, you’d probably be torn over it for the rest of your life.

Though the Barrel seemed to have no room for someone as kind as you, you had found yourself to fit fine along with rest as someone to watch over the rest. Your skill of memorization was appreciated when Kaz needed to reflect back on a certain part of the plan, and besides, having someone counteract his cruelty was appreciated by the others.

Sometimes, like now, it was hard to be a part of the Crows. Watching Inej stand by his side, watching them work together like well-oiled parts of the same machine, it was bittersweet. You couldn’t help the jealousy that overtook you, but kindness was ingrained in you. You couldn’t hate him. You couldn’t hate Inej.

“So we’ll take them out there. Inej, I’m going to need your backup here.” His voice snaps you back into the moment.

“Got it.” She nods.

“Before then, though, You’ll be stationed here. Y/N, I’m going to want you to stick close to her. She can fight for the both of you in case anything goes wrong.”

You’re useless, you berate yourself. You’re going to need Inej to save you. Maybe if you could defend yourself the way she could, he’d like you more.

“Understood.”

“That should wrap everything up. We’ll meet at the usual spot tonight. We’ll take transport there and sneak in. From there, everything should go according to plan.”

…

Night quickly falls, and you’re all gathered.

“To reiterate, I’m going to go grab the paintings. Inej and Y/N, stick together and communicate when it’s safe. Jesper, you’re going to shoot out the lights when signaled, and make sure that carriages are ready when it’s time. Wylan, wait it out here with him. If all goes to shit, blow this place. Clear?”

Echoes of agreement echo from around you, and you nod. This should be an easy heist.

“Y/N, c’mon. Let’s head over this way.”

Inej takes your wrist and leads you to the edge of the building. Her stare is intimidating as she surveys the building, before turning back to you.

“I’ll scale the walls, and then I’ll use the rope to pull you up. We can wait on the top of the building for a bit, before slipping in through a window. That okay?”

Damn her for even being considerate to you. And you still have the nerve to be jealous over her. Her and Kaz are so similar- they’d be perfect for each other.

You still can’t find it in your heart to be completely happy about that.

“Y/N? You alright?”

“Huh?” you snap out of your reverie, and give a bashful smile. “Yeah, that’s good. I’ll spot you. Hopefully I’ll be able to get up there…”

Inej throws you a reassuring smile back. “You’ll be okay.”

You watch with awe as she scales the building with no issue, truly living up to the nickname she had been given. She’s nearly invisible as she reaches the top, you note. She’s incredible.

You wait on the ground patiently as Inej lowers the rope, before you hear voices.

You stare up at her, wide-eyed, before running and diving behind a tree.

“The wine good tonight?”

It’s a guard. Your heart rate quickens, and bring a hand over your mouth. Quiet your breathing. If they catch you, you’re dead, and you’ll be the dead weight of this mission.

“I don’t know, haven’t had a drink yet. Maybe once everyone’s gone. Ha! The Stadwatch won't penalize me if there’s no guests to guard!”

“Yeah, that’s the spirit! All we have to make sure is no scum tries to steal the painting.”

“Like anybody would dare show their face here.”

The other guard laughs, and you wait with baited breath as they finally round the corner.

You check both directions, before you quietly slip out.

“Inej?” you’re quiet and slightly shaken. Death and capture was always palpable on these missions, but it had come swinging at you quicker than you had expected. “You still there?”

“Yeah,” her voice comes from above. “I’m here. You’re fast on your feet. Good thinking.”

“Thank you, and thank you for waiting.”

The rope drops down for the second time, and you take a hold of it, pulling yourself up with a bit of her help. Your hands finally grasp the ledge of the building, and Inej extends one of her hands to help pull you up. You’re hauled onto the rooftop, and though it’s a bit ungraceful, you’re okay.

“Thanks,” you whisper.

“No problem.”

Your eyes are both directed on the walkways below.

“You scout out for guards down there, and I’ll check for guards in the windows? We should signal to Kaz soon.”

“Sure.”

You keep a careful eye down below, hearing Inej scurry to different window points. You watch as she slips to one of them, peering through.

“Just our luck,” she mutters cheerfully. “This window’s fine. Let’s open it. I’ll go first, but send a flare for Kaz. I’m going to need that window open as soon as that flare goes up.”

“Alright.” You take a deep breath, before shooting the flare off. Inej thrusts open the window and pulls you in behind her.

You watch a figure walk past the doorway. That should be Kaz, and now, he should be slipping past you to go to the next doorway to take the painting-

“To the roof again, now-” Inej says, and starts to step out behind the boxes, and the figure turns back.

That’s not Kaz.

A click.

She’s going to be shot.

You’re acting on pure impulse and nerves when you shove her aside, and the bullet pierces through your shoulder. You crumble, and Inej tries to keep you from completely collapsing.

You grit your teeth. You’re trying not to let tears stream down your face, but everything hurts and Inej is over you and she’s saying something but you can’t hear her-

You try to force yourself to sit up, and you see a cane poised to hit the guard over the head. You turn away, and thank your murky hearing that you can’t hear the scream that emits from the guard.

Kaz.

“What happened?” His voice is losing it’s cool quickly.

“She was shot by the guard, I don’t think she’s quite registering it-” Inej’s voice is more panicked, but she forces herself to be analytical. “She’s going to need treatment, and quickly.”

“Okay,” he breathes in sharply. “Okay. Go down the hall, grab the paintings, and meet Jesper by the transportation. I’ll get her out.”

“Okay.”

Inej dashes down the hall, and he takes in your state. Your pupils are blown wide, and you’re trying not to cry, but it hurts.

“Kaz,” you breathe out. “Thank the Saints. Is Inej okay?”

He frowns at that. What about Inej? Inej was fine, you’d been shot. Did you have no self-preservation instincts?

“Inej is fine,” he mutters.

“That’s good,” you sigh out. “That’s good. I don’t quite think I’m going to make it out here alive, so just in case I don’t, I love you. Though I’m glad she’s okay, for your sake.”

His frown deepens. “I’m sorry? For my sake?”

“You’re in love with her. She with you. You guys can live your happy ending. As happy as the Barrel can get, anyway.” Your smile is slightly delirious, and he knows you’re not thinking rationally.

“Stop talking.”

“I’m sorry, are you mad at me? Please don’t be mad at me. I didn’t-” you cough, “think I’d die, but if it’s for you and Inej, then I think it’s worth it.”

“Nobody is worth your life,” he nearly yells. “You’re not going to die, Y/N. I won’t allow it.”

“Please, just let me stay here. They’re going to find you if you don’t.” “I don’t care.”

He’s pulling off his jacket and carefully using it as a tourniquet for your shoulder.

“Can you walk?”

“Kaz, please-”

“Can you walk.” It’s a statement, maybe a threat.

“Maybe- maybe with a bit of support,” your words are weak. You’re running out of time. “The world looks sideways, though- face it, Kaz, I’m not going to make it. I don’t want to be dead weight, your touch aver-”

“I’m not going to combust into fucking flames if you lean on me! Goddamnit, let me help you!”

His anger startles you. You hold back more tears as he pulls you up. At least he took the care to pull you up by the other arm. “Okay.”

The world is spinning and his face isn’t clear, and time seems to speed up as both of you go through the hallways, finally meeting Jesper and Inej in the courtyard.

“Bloody hell,” Jesper mutters.

“Go. To the White Rose. Nina should be able to do something.” Kaz leaves no room for argument. You’re passed out now, and he’s almost thankful you can’t feel anything as the carriage rushes through harsh weather and bumpy roads.

I don’t quite think I’m going to make it out here alive, so just in case I don’t, I love you.

Were you that oblivious? Did you think he was in love with Inej? How could you be so blind?

How could you sacrifice yourself so he could live what you thought to be a “happy ending”?

You didn’t plan it, did you?

He carefully takes off one of his gloves, hovering his hand over your forehead.

You’re still warm.

He doesn’t believe in Saints, but now, he’s almost praying to them that you’ll be okay.

Please be okay.

...

Inej glances at Kaz, standing over her in the White Rose.

She’s been out for days at this point. Nina could only do so much, with whatever corpse-like power she’d gained. The rest had to be natural healing.

Inej clears her throat. “She’d go to the ends of the world for you. For your happiness.” Kaz remains still.

“Don’t make her do so again.”

Your eyes flutter open, the brightness of the room nearly rendering you blind.

Your shoulder hurts like a bitch, but besides that, you’re alive.

Happiness and heaviness fill your heart at once. You’re alive, you’re okay. What had you said to Kaz in your state?

Hopefully nothing stupid.

“You’re awake. I’m glad.”

Kaz’s voice comes from the edge of the room. He’s leaning on the wall, cane in hand. When was Kaz upfront with his emotions?

“Yeah. How long was I out for?”

“A couple of days.”

“Days?” Your voice cracks. “I didn’t think it was that bad.”

That’s a lie. You thought you were dead, for sure. He doesn’t have to know that.

“...Right.” He’s skeptical, but pushes himself off the wall and makes his way over to you. “This may be a bit early, but would you want to go for a walk?”

“Sure.” Is he kicking you out of the Crows? Why would he want to go on a walk just after you’ve woken up? You’re screwed.

He waits for you to stand, and then you’re both walking side by side, into the gardens of the courtyard. He doesn’t say anything, just leads you to a small place under an apple tree. A picnic blanket is spread out, with a small basket laying on top of it.

Your eyes widen in surprise, and a brief smile flashes across his face. “Nice, isn’t it?”

“Kaz- what is all of this?”

“You said you loved me.”

Horror paints across your face, and you lower your head in shame. “I’m sorry, I didn’t, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry, I know you love Inej, that- was a bit unprompted of me, I’m sorry-”

He blinks at your rushed words. “Y/N. I’m not in love with Inej. She’s part of the Crows, as are you. Though- if you mean it,” he clears his throat, “that you love me- then take this as a surprise first date.”

Your expression morphs into a shy smile. He’s probably not ready to say it back. It doesn’t matter. He feels the same way.

“Happy first date, then.”

You’re both talking and eating, small smiles on both of your faces, a stark contrast to the harsh atmosphere of Ketterdam. It doesn’t matter to him. You’re alive, you’re safe, and you’re with him. You’d go to the end of the world for him. He’d do the same for you.

He loves you.

#shadow and bone #grishaverse #six of crows #six of crows x reader #soc kaz #soc x reader #kaz x reader #kaz brekker x reader #kaz rietveld #kaz brekker imagine #thank you for the request!#request

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triptuckers · 3 years

Text

Come back to me - Jesper Fahey

Request: yes! "Hi, how are you? Would it be okay for me request a Jesper fic? Maybe something where the reader and Jesper are together and she is also part of the Crows. Since she has a set of skills quite similar to Inej, the two of you are usually paired up during crows missions. On this particular mission you are also paired up with Inej while the others are off somehwhere doing their part of the mission. But then when the two of you don’t appear at the rendezvous point on the agreed upon time Jesper grows extremely worried that something might’ve happened. What completly takes him over the edge is when a wounded Inej appears stating that something happened that resulted in you getting separated from each other and that she was hoping that maybe you arrived already and that’s she doesn’t know what state you might be in." Pairing: Jesper Fahey x reader Summary: When you don't show up at the rendezvous point in time, Jesper starts to worry about you, especially when Inej - your partner for the job - shows up without you Warnings: angst, mentions of blood, death, vomiting, bruises, language Word count: 3.1K A/N: you ask for angst? I shall write angst TAG LIST (Jesper Fahey): @mufnasa @mmvi-cdxx @brick-by-brick553@treasureofmy-heart TAG LIST (grishaverse): @ayushmitadutta @mrs-brekker15 @dancingwith-sunflowers @thegirlwiththeimpala @parker-natasha @story-scribbler@romanoffstarkovs @daliareads @meiitanoia @itsnotquimey @sanktaesperanza@whymyparentscheckmyphone @aleksanderwh0r3 @ilovemarvelanne1@marlenaisnthappy @brekker-zenik @just-deka @graceknxwlson @the-very-tired-mess @sassybadqueen

There's an anxious feeling in the air. Everyone's feeling it, too nervous to talk. But no one is as nervous or anxious as Jesper.

All of them are waiting at the rendezvous point. All of them, except for you and Inej. Kaz had told them to meet at midnight sharp, and almost everyone was on time. Even Jesper was, which is rare.

He'd expected you to wait there for him, to wave happily at him. You were always smiling a lot when a job went well. He was ready to greet you and pull you in a tight hug, but when he arrived with Nina, only Kaz, Matthias and Wylan had returned.

Jesper figured you'd be there, but he'd just have to wait a little longer. There was still time until midnight. But as the minutes grow, and there's no sign of you or Inej, Jesper is getting more nervous.

After a while, he can't take it anymore, and starts to pace around. He's fidgeting with his fingers or twisting his guns in the air. Anything to help him stay focused.

'Jesper, stop being so twitchy.' snaps Kaz. 'You're making everyone nervous.'

'They should have been back fifteen minutes ago.' says Jesper, matching Kaz' irritated tone. 'We all know Y/N and Inej are always on time.'

'Then worry in silence.' says Kaz.

'How the fuck can you say that?' says Jesper, getting frustrated no one seems to be as stressed as he is. 'Did you not hear me? They are always on time.'

'Well maybe-'

Kaz' voice is cut off by a sharp gasp from Nina. Jesper whirls around to see what Nina's looking at. In the distance, they see someone emerge from the shadows.

Whoever it is, they appear to be hurt. They're pressing a hand to their side and leaning heavily to one side as they walk.

Jesper's heart begins to race. He senses everyone around him tenses up as well. His hand is on one of his guns in case it's a trap.

Then the figure emerges from the dark and they see it's Inej.

While he should be glad to see Inej is alive, this makes Jesper even more worried.

Inej showing up, alone. And hurt. What did that have to say about your state? And where are you?

Jesper stands rooted to the spot, but Nina rushes over to Inej. She helps her to walk the last bit to the others. Nina starts to go over Inej' injuries, but Inej only looks at Jesper.

'We got separated.' she says, looking utterly miserable. 'There were guards we didn't expect and we would have a bigger chance of getting away if we split up. We were supposed to meet up again, but I never saw Y/N. I would have waited longer, but I need a healer or a medic.'

Jesper forces a nod at Inej. 'At least you're safe.' he says before peering in the distance, looking for you. He can't be mad that Inej made it back and you didn't. It's not Inej' fault.

'I don't know where she is or if she's okay.' says Inej, voice breaking as she speaks. 'I'm so sorry Jesper.'

'Don't be.' says Jesper, voice tense with anxiety. 'It's not your fault.'

Kaz steps in front of Inej, looking at her bloodied side.

'Matthias, Wylan, get Inej back to the Slat. Find a healer or a medic. And fast.' says Kaz.

None of them move.

'I could heal her here.' offers Nina. 'Then we can all stay.'

Jesper knows they're al worried about you. They want you to come back. Everyone always comes back. So you have to come back as well.

'It's too risky.' says Kaz. 'I need you here in case we find Y/N and you can still heal her.'

'Don't say that.' mumbles Jesper.

'Don't say what?' says Kaz.

'In case we find her.' says Jesper, repeating Kaz' words. 'We'll find her. We're going to find her.'

'Then we have to get moving.' says Nina. 'And fast.'

After Inej tells them where she last saw you, Matthias and Wylan take her back to the Slat, leaving the others behind.

'We have to split up.' says Kaz. 'We haven't been made yet, but no doubt they're going to send more guards. So be quiet, but fast. Find a way to signal the others if- when we find her.'

Without waiting another second, Jesper takes off.

He walks through the dark, listening for any sound. His heart hammers in this chest, and he's afraid someone can hear it. He's not sure if he even wants to find you. The thought of finding you heavily injured - or worse - is almost unbearable.

Right before you and Inej said goodbye to the others, you'd winked at him. Told him that you'd buy the first round of drinks that night. He'd laughed and said he would buy the first round, insisted on being a gentleman for you.

He'd never even considered you might not make it back.

Jesper manoeuvres through the dark, a hand on his gun in case he ran into trouble.

He's listening for any sound of you, or a signal of Kaz or Nina. Then he thinks of Inej, who got hurt. She didn't say how she got hurt or who was responsible. He should have asked her when he had the chance.

His eyes notice something on the ground, glistering in the moonlight.

Jesper crouches down to take a closer look at it. He thought it was water at first, but one look at the dark liquid and he notices it is blood.

Fuck.

Could it belong to Inej? Or one of her attackers? And if it wasn't one of those, did it belong to you? Was this why you didn't show up at the rendezvous point?

Jesper looks further ahead and sees more drops of blood. Occasionally there's more, indicating whoever it was that was bleeding had stopped, then continued to walk.

With newfound hope, Jesper follow the trail.

He might not like what he'll find, but if it was you, he could help. He didn't know a lot about healing and treating injuries, but he could help stop the bleeding. He'd signal for Kaz or Nina, and Nina would be able to heal you.

His pace quickens and he doesn't care how much sound he makes or who might hear him. If that blood was yours, he had to find you. And he had to find you fast.

Jesper walks around a corner and spots a figure in the distance.

They're walking slowly, occasionally stopping to lean against the wall. Then they push themselves up to keep on walking.

Jesper slowly inches closer, a hand on his gun. Then the person in the distance walks through a stream of light of a street light, and he recognises the hair colour.

'Oh, fuck.' he murmurs. Then he takes off in a run.

When he's right behind you, you turn around, knife in your hand. But Jesper can tell you don't have enough strength left in your body to fight off someone.

Jesper's eyes widen when he sees your blood soaked clothes.

'No.' he says. 'Oh fuck, fuck, no.'

It seems like his voice brings you back to reality.

'Jes?' you say in a hoarse voice. 'What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the rendezvous point.'

'Oh, saints, Y/N, this is bad.' he mumbles.

'I think you need to buy the first round.' you manage to choke out. And then you collapse in his arms.

'No!' says Jesper, louder than he meant to. But he doesn't care who might hear him right now. He's still got his guns and his quick shooting skills.

Jesper pulls you in his lap, pressing a hand to your bleeding side.

'Sorry.' you say softly.

'What on earth do you have to apologise for?' mumbles Jesper as he focuses on your injuries.

'M bleeding all over your coat. I know it's your favourite.' you say, pouting slightly.

'I'll get a new one.' says Jesper. 'Save your strength. What happened?'

'Inej and I got jumped. We ran. Inej got stabbed. Then I got stabbed. And I got shot. I also got punched in the face so I'll be less pretty with a huge bruise on my face.' you say softly, feeling your eyes grow heavier.

Jesper seems to notice and gently pats your cheek.

'Stay awake for me, love.' he says, his voice slightly trembling. 'Still need to buy you that drink.'

'Hmm.' you hum, briefly closing your eyes. 'Did Inej make it back?'

'Yes, Wylan and Matthias took her back to the Slat, she'll be okay. Like you.' says Jesper. 'Help is on the way.

You reach out and grab one of Jesper's hands. You smile weakly and Jesper shakes his head.

'No, no, don't you dare.' he says, tears forming in his eyes. 'Don't you fucking dare say goodbye, Y/N. This is not goodbye.'

'Just in case.' you say softly. 'In case I don't make it.'

'Don't say that!' says Jesper, getting frustrated with you. 'You're not dying on me now, Y/N, just hold on a little longer.'

'M trying.' you say. 'It hurts.'

'I know it does, love, just stay awake for me. At least long enough until Nina comes.' says Jesper.

'You know I love you, right?' you say softly, voice barely louder than a whisper.

'Don't say goodbye.' says Jesper. 'Don't go.'

'Say it back.' you say.

Jesper shakes his head. 'I'll tell you when you're okay, when Nina's taking care of you.' he says.

'Jesper, please.' you say, almost begging him. 'Say it back.'

'When you're okay.' says Jesper, tears now falling down his cheeks.

You squeeze his hand with as much strength as you can gather, silently asking him again.

'I love you.' he says softly. 'I always have and I always will.'

You smile weakly and feel your eyes become heavier. 'Good to know.' you whisper.

And then you close your eyes.

Jesper's eyes widen. 'No.' he says, softly shaking you. 'No, no, fuck!'

His fingers quickly search for a pulse, but in his panicked state he can barely concentrate.

'No, no, no.' he keeps mumbling.

He looks up, desperate to see Nina or Kaz. But there's no one. No one but you laying in his arms, closed eyes and a shirt soaked with blood.

'Nina!' he yells. He doesn't care who can hear him. Friend or foe, he needs someone.

'Nina!' Jesper yells again. 'Nina! Over here! I found her! Nina!'

He keeps yelling until his voice is hoarse and his throat sore. He keeps on yelling and yelling until finally, someone runs toward him in the distance.

'Nina.' he says weakly. 'I- uh- I found her.'

Nina immediately flexes her fingers and starts to work on your injuries. Jesper wants to ask her if you're going to be okay, but he's afraid of the answer.

While Nina words on healing you, Kaz finds you as well. His expression is blank as he looks at your limp body in Jesper's arms. He tries not to show it, but he's terrified as well.

Finally, Nina turns to Jesper.

'I did the best I could.' she says softly. 'We have to take her back to the Slat, find a proper healer. She might still have a chance.'

'Okay.' says Jesper, suddenly feeling numb, as if he no longer has any emotion in his body.

'Can you carry her back to the Slat?' asks Nina.

Jesper nods, rising to his feet while clutching your body to his chest.

He walks back to the Slat as fast as he can, followed by Nina and Kaz. He's trying not to look down at your face, or think too much about you.

Instead, he forces himself to focus on Nina's words.

She might still have a chance.

It was going to be okay. They'd find a Grisha healer who could help you. Who could heal you where Nina couldn't. You were going to be okay.

Back at the Slat, it looks like Inej only had minor injuries. She's sitting in a chair, fresh bandages peeking out underneath her shirt. She jumps to her feet when she sees you in Jesper's arms, and winces at the sudden movement.

Jesper doesn't say anything, merely spares her a glance as he starts to walk up the stairs to your shared room.

He pushes open the door and gently places you on the bed.

Jesper sinks into a chair next to the bed and allows his tears to flow freely. You don't look like yourself. Your face is pale, your shirt still soaked with blood. You looked like a stranger to him. He doesn't want this to be his last memory of you.

He has no sense of time, and when Nina bursts through the door, he doesn't know how long it has been. She's closely followed by a boy Jesper doesn't know.

Nina quickly introduces him as a Grisha healer, and the boy gets to work.

Nina watches Jesper, who is watching you.

'Jes?' she says softly. 'Are you okay?'

Jesper shakes his head. 'I'm going to throw up.' he says, and then he rushes to the bathroom, falling to his knees in front of the toilet. Nina rubs his back as he throws up.

He stays there, unable to look at you any longer and afraid he might throw up again. He's trembling all over and no matter how hard he tries it, he can't seem to make it stop. Nina stands between the door of the bathroom and the bed, watching both you and Jesper.

Finally, Jesper hears the healer speak up.

'That's it.' he says. 'I've healed her, she should wake up in a few days. Don't wake her, just wait for her to wake up on her own.' he says.

Jesper hears how the healer leaves, and Nina is back by his side.

'Jesper?' she says.

He looks over his shoulder at her, and is met by her smile but also her tear stained cheeks. Of course. You're their friend too.

'I'll change her shirt, okay? Maybe you can come back after that? Sit with her?' she says.

Jesper nods and pushes himself to his feet. 'There's clean shirts in the closet.' he says softly. 'Just grab one, doesn't matter if it belongs to me or her.'

He waits for a few minutes before entering the room again. Nina's changed your shirt and got rid of the bloodied shirt. Your hair is still messy and there's indeed a nasty bruise forming on your face.

But most of your wounds are covered in bandages. Jesper holds back new tears as he approaches you.

He slowly sits down in the chair and takes your hand in his. He's surprised by how warm it still is. He hopes that's a good sign.

'Y/N, love?' he says softly. 'Look, I don't know if you can hear me, but I need you to wake up, okay? Just come back to me. I still have to buy that first round of drinks. And I still need to take you to Novyi Zem to dad's farm. You still have to meet him.'

He reaches out to brush some of your hair out of your face.

'Come back to me, sweetheart. I need you. I can't do this without you.' says Jesper softly.

He sits with you for a while, just looking at you and holding your hand. Occasionally, someone comes in to check on you or Jesper. Eventually, sleep takes over.

Jesper wakes to the feeling of something on his cheek.

When he opens his eyes, he sees it's your hand. Your eyes are open and you're softly talking to someone who is standing behind him. When you notice he's awake, you offer a weak smile.

'Hey you.' you say softly.

At the sound of your voice, new tears roll down his cheek.

'Oh, saints.' he says, lifting his head and grabbing your hand with both of his, pressing kisses to your bruised knuckles. 'Fuck, I thought you weren't going to wake up.' he says.

'Can't get rid of me that easily.' you say. You look at the person standing behind Jesper. 'Thanks for the tea, Inej.' you say.

Jesper hears the door closing behind him. Though the didn't hear any footsteps, he knows Inej left the room.

You look at him again.

'Don't you ever fucking do that again, you hear me?' he says firmly. 'Never. Saints, that was awful.'

'Sorry.' you say. 'Your eyes are red.'

'Yeah, no shit. I thought you died in my arms. I threw up a lot.' he says.

'I thought I died in your arms.' you say. 'Next thing I know I wake up with Inej watching me so intensely I thought she was going to stare right through me.'

Jesper chuckles and pulls his chair closer to you.

'I'm serious, though.' he says. 'Don't do that again.'

'I won't.' you say. 'I asked Kaz to put me on some of the low risk jobs for a while. Just until I feel like I'm ready to handle more.'

'Smart.' says Jesper.

'I'm sorry, really.' you say. 'That you had to go through that. I can't imagine what if felt like.'

Jesper raises his eyebrows. 'You almost died and you're the one apologising to me?' he says.

'For almost dying in your arms, yes.' you correct him.

'Don't apologise.' says Jesper. 'Just tell me whoever did this so I can put a bullet in their head.'

This time, you raise your eyebrows. 'You think I let them get away?' you say.

'Well, I don't know. Maybe?' says Jesper. 'You could barely walk when I found you.'

'I did let them get away.' you say. 'But with at least three knives in their chest. There's a good change I hit a lung or some other vital organ.'

Jesper grins. 'That's my girl.' he says.

You smile at him. 'Now come here.' you say. 'As long as you don't lay your entire body weight on top of me, you can lay next to me.'

You carefully scoot over and make some room for him. Jesper climbs into the bed next to you and you rest your head on his chest.

'Thank you.' you say.

'For what?' says Jesper.

'Staying with me.' you say.

'Always.' says Jesper, and you feel how he kisses your forehead before you fall asleep.

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rules Here’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Marit

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thebadgerclan · 3 years

Text

Back Home

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x reader

Summary: Kaz returns home from the Ice Court

A/N: As most of my Kaz fics will, this takes place in a sort of AU where Kaz has worked through his fear of touch with his S/O

You paced around the common area of the Slat, as you had every night for the past three weeks. Kaz and the rest of the Crows were off in Fjerda, breaking a Shu scientist out of the Ice Court, and you were terrified to say the least. Not only was it the most dangerous place in the world for two Grisha, but, as you always did, you were worried for your fiance’s safety. Kaz was smart; he and Matthias had planned out every single second of this heist, you knew he knew what he was doing and that neither him nor the rest of the Crows would come home hurt or worse, but your nerves were running high nevertheless.

The goodbye you shared with Kaz played in your mind, as it had every waking second since he left. You’d thrown yourself into his arms, burying your face in his neck. Kaz had pulled off one leather glove, hand running up and down your back, settling on the nape of your neck. “Be safe,” you whispered, fighting back tears. “Please. Come home broke, but come home whole.” That was something you said before every job, every single time Kaz left the Slat. Come home unharmed, uninjured, alive. If he did that, the kruge didn’t matter.

“I will, love,” Kaz had replied, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Don’t worry, I promise I’ll come home to you.” You lifted your head from his neck, and he brought his ungloved hand to your cheek. “I love you,” you said, leaning into his touch. Kaz coaxed you to look at him, face soft, a look only you were privy to. “I love you more, my darling. And I’ll be back, 30 million kruge richer.” Then be bent to kiss you, lips firm against yours, bare hand still cupping your cheek, gloved hand coming to cup the other cheek. “I love you, Y/N. No mourners.” You smiled against his lips, though it was a slightly sad one. “I love you too. No funerals.”

Three weeks had elapsed since that last embrace, that last kiss, that last “I love you.” You knew the journey to and from Fjerda would take time, and that three weeks was a perfectly reasonable timeframe for two crossings of the True Sea and the time built in for the heist itself, but your fear for your fiance and your friends still lingered. You sat down on one of the many couches in the common area, pulling the blanket you found over your shoulders.

The front door opened, making you startle. But when Jesper walked in, followed by Wylan, Inej, Matthias, a wounded looking Nina, and last of all, Kaz, you flew to your feet, rushing over to them. “Kaz!” you exclaimed, and his weary expression broke into a smile. His cane clattered to the floor as he reached out to you. You slammed into his chest, wrapping your arms tightly around him and holding on like he would evaporate. Kaz did the same, clutching onto you like his life depended on it.

“I’m home,” he whispered in your ear, kissing your temple. “We’re home, darling. We’re alright, I’m alright.” Kaz knew that while you were worried for everyone on the job, your worry and concern for him trumped that for the others, and he sought to reassure you. You removed your head from his chest, going up on your tiptoes and pressing a deep kiss to his lips. Kaz moved a hand to the small of your back, the other between your shoulder blades, steadying you as you kissed him. Three weeks worth of embraces and kisses were spilling forth, and Kaz deepened the kiss, nearly lifting you off your feet.

“I missed you so much, my love, he whispered against your lips, unwilling to pull back and break the bubble of intimacy you’d created. But when he did, your eyes found Nina, trembling on the couch you’d vacated only moments before, Matthias at her side, dabbing at her forehead, which was beaded in sweat. “What happened?” you asked, voice lower than a whisper. Kaz’s mouth turned down into a frown. “Parem,” he said, and you gasped. “Saints, will she…” “Maybe. Maybe not. Only time will tell.”

Kaz herded you towards the stairs, longing to hold you in his arms and for a good night’s sleep. “We’re meeting Van Eck in the morning for the payout,” he informed as you entered your shared room, peeling off his leather gloves as soon as the door clicked shut. As you were already dressed for bed, you perched on the edge of the bed as Kaz stripped, washing himself with a damp rag before crawling into bed with you, clad only in boxers. He pulled you flush to him, arms tight around you, lips on yours, sweet and tender compared to earlier. “I missed you so much,” he said, kissing again as soon as the sentence was finished.

“I missed you too, Kaz. I was so worried about you.” “I was alright. We all were. A little banged up, but alright.” You snuggled closer, breathing in the familiar scent that was your fiance, smiling faintly to yourself. You kissed him again, feeling his lips quirk up against yours. But his lips parted in a yawn, and you laughed softly. “Sleepy?” Kaz smirked, pressing his lips to your forehead. “You have no idea.” You kissed his nose, Kaz’s hand slowly rubbing up and down your side. He fell asleep within moments, still holding you tight. Tomorrow, you’d be rich, but for now, you’d rest.

#kaz brekker x reader #shadow and bone fanfiction #kaz brekker x you #shadow and bone reader insert

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