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happynowyo · 1 year

Text

The deal

Fandom: Six of Crows

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x fem!Reader

Summary: You work in a brothel and all of the sudden Kaz Brekker becomes a frequent visitor who prefers to stay in the shadows until you come up to him first.

Warnings: soft Kaz, mentions of touch aversion

Word count: 2,7k

— Let me guess. Are you going to use an excuse that you're looking for something again?

— No, this time I'm only looking for you.

Your mother once warned you about how cruel the world was and how important it was to be careful. Young girls often caught the attention of slavers and it would probably break your parents' hearts if they knew exactly how your life had turned out after their death. Your aunt was supposed to take you from Fjerda to Ravka, but your ship was attacked by pirates and instead you ended up in Ketterdam when you were fifteen.

In some way you were lucky. You got a place at the Rainforest, an extremely posh and expensive place. The guests were usually wealthy travelers, diplomats, or members of the Merchant Council, so you didn't have to worry about your safety. The girls had to keep the good mood of the clients, but everyone put a different meaning to the words. Some wanted only sex, some wanted company to talk to. They were all escaping loneliness, and you couldn't blame them for that.

But among the row of all the others, only one guest was special. The tapping of his cane on the wooden parquet was unmistakable. You had to have lived in Ketterdam as a complete hermit, blind and deaf, if you didn't know who Kaz Brekker was. Rumors about him flooded the streets, intimidating and exaggerating every little thing about him. But there was no doubt that this guy was very dangerous indeed. His cane broke a lot of bones, and his brilliant mind ruined a lot of lives.

It was not for you to judge how people preferred to rest in their spare time. Sometimes you spotted Jesper in his another funny hat at the playhouse across the street from your second-floor window. You two even talked a couple of times when you ran into each other on the street after the establishments were closed. But seeing Kaz Brekker at the Rainforest required a special occasion.

He seemed like a complete stranger in the place. His eyes were constantly scanning the room, his whole body was tense and looked more like a wax statue than a living person. He was clearly uncomfortable in the brothel, even if he tried to hide it, and his face remained a perfect blank sheet that could easily be given a slight interest. You might have believed it, but a few years at the Rainforest had taught you much better insight into men. Being able to read the slightest visible reaction was part of your job.

Anyone else came to a brothel for entertainment. People wanted to get some female attention and flirtation, to drink and spend a huge amount of money so they could leave at dawn with a smile and a sense of having had a good time. They came "from somewhere." But Kaz Brekker came "to somewhere." He was cautious, but at the same time quite determined, and he clearly had a purpose of some kind. You had seen him at the bar a few times, but then he disappeared faster than you could figure out what kind of drink he had in his glass.

It took a whole week before you realized exactly what was going on. Kaz carefully looked around the main hall, but never went any farther. You had to be a guest accompanied with a girl to go up to the second and third floor, where the girls' rooms for work and the office of the accountant and the club owner were located. You wondered what Kaz wanted to find that was so important that he didn't entrust the job to Jesper, who could pretend to be a client and sniff it out. From what you had heard, Kaz Brekker was probably the only man in Ketterdam who didn't use brothels for their intended purpose.

— Do you need any help or are you going to keep looking around every corner and memorizing what time the guards at the entrance change?

You walked up to him first, leaning innocently beside him on the bar, and glanced curiously at his glass. Vodka and ice? The club's shelves were stocked with liquor, but Kaz Brekker certainly had to stand out in this one, too. The simpler, the better, that's for sure.

— What makes you think I'm interested in security? — Kaz's husky voice carefully concealed his surprise, as if he'd been so caught up in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed you approaching. And it was further confirmation of how different he was from the people around him. People didn't come to brothels to drink in silence and think about personal things.

— Well, I have eyes, and I can use my mouth to find out that you haven't been with any of the girls, even though it's the fourth time you've been here in a week, — you chirped, giving one of the clients a smile before you turned your attention back to Kaz, your tone changing to more businesslike. — The cane and gloves. This black suit. If you want to go somewhere incognito, I suggest you use a disguise in the future, Kaz Brekker. Everyone is capable of recognizing you in this town, as well as exactly what you're known for. Are you planning another heist here?

Kaz was ready to curse himself for how obvious it was. A foolish scheme had turned out to be an even more foolish finale. He had originally wanted to dig into the situation himself, after Inej had given him the details of the owner, the number of girls and the size of the rooms. But one look at the crowd was enough for him to spot you and that dark blue dress with the veil you wore that first night. Like the sky in the middle of the night. A mystery lying in plain sight. It wasn't until his third night that he was able to find you among the other girls in the hall, guided by the shade of hair he remembered, when he could finally see your face.

Perhaps all these years the Saints had shielded him from unnecessary sympathy and feelings for someone just to give him the illusion of invincibility. He loved nothing and nothing could be taken from him. Kaz believed this as if he really didn't have the ability to feel anything. And that's why he was so shaken by how much he remembered that image of you with the veil and how much he wanted to know more about you. He was so unrestrainedly crushing on you that he still hadn't moved forward with the plan. He needed the access to the second floor, but he didn't have the courage to come up to you and pretend to be your client. Kaz shook at the thought of touching you and the anxiety came along with nausea almost instantly.

— There will be no heist. I just need to look at a couple of documents. I won't even take them with me, — Kaz replied discreetly, forcing his appraising gaze to stop on your face. Too beautiful. Too distracting. He shouldn't have told you anything but he hoped his honesty would buy him a way out.

— I can help. In exchange for a favor, of course.

You leaned closer to him in a trusting manner, and your fingers gently touched Kaz's shoulder. Just for a second, so lightly that the touch seemed phantom and unreal. Whatever past Kaz held, it made him keep his distance from people in a literal sense. Your observation of the previous nights was enough to realize that Kaz was not a fan of touches, even casual ones. The gloves clearly served him as an extra layer of protection, though you were curious about what had happened to him that caused such a reaction. Many girls in brothels reacted similarly negatively to touching after a while, but Kaz didn't seem like the kind of person who would work in such an establishment.

— Okay, let's say I would agree to your terms. Hypothetically. What would you ask for? — it was hard for Kaz to imagine what a girl like you might need. Money? Freedom from your indenture? Or someone else's death? He knew how much brothels disfigured and perverted the psyche, no one remained a saint there.

— You will take your gloves off next to me. No touching. But you will take them off so we are equal.

You were absolutely unwavering in what you said. Some tension thickened between you, and the air seemed almost electrified. Kaz Brekker was a threat to everyone in Ketterdam, but something told you that he could show an unusual softness around you. You'd met guys like that before. They built themselves up to be important and confident, they controlled other people's lives, but when they were alone, they all wanted to give up some of their control. To give it to someone else, to breathe easier. You wondered if Kaz was really the same.

He threw a quick glance toward the exit, as if miscalculating his escape route, but finally nodded in silent agreement. A smile bloomed on your lips, and you wrapped your fingers lightly around Kaz's wrist over his jacket to lead him up the stairs. The guards let you through without any questions, and you wondered if they knew who the dark-haired guy with the cane next to you was. If they did, they would have preferred to kick him out in fear that he would pick all the locks and stashes in the brothel.

You led Kaz to the very last door and carefully looked around before nodding approvingly. Time was short, but you had no doubt that Kaz would manage to find what he needed.

— All of the owner's papers are here, so as all the accountant's reports. He'll be back in half an hour, after lunch, but if I were you, I'd hurry, — you warned him with a charming smile, without any guilt for taking a criminal to the brothel's main office. — Be a good boy and come see me afterwards. Second door on the left. I've heard you always stick to your part of the deal.

You didn't wait for his answer and went to your room. You had time to open a window and fix your hair before a polite knock reached your ears, and then Kaz came inside. Quite pleased, judging by the look on his face. Whatever he was looking for, he found it. The door closed behind him with a quiet click, though you knew no one would dare disturb you anyway.

— You could have told me. I wouldn't have wasted my time, — Kaz's voice, despite the accusation in his words, was filled with real amusement. His blue eyes twinkled with surprise, though he quickly returned to his usual reserved look.

— I wanted to watch you at work. How fast you can do it. Your fame runs far ahead of you.

You shrugged innocently, smiled softly, and then stepped back, resting your back against the windowsill. The light breeze from the open window played mischievously with your hair, and you threw your head back for a moment, closing your eyes to relax. When you looked up again, Kaz was already in front of you. His cane had been left next to a nearby chair, and his last step toward you was extremely neat, since Kaz was trying not to put pressure on his bad leg.

— I know a couple of Healers. They could have helped you with your leg. Your life would have been a lot easier, but I guess you thought about it and gave up that option. Do you use this pain to punish yourself? — you spoke more quietly, and everything inside you froze with a strange anticipation.

Tension rang in the air and only got stronger as Kaz slowly began to remove his gloves. When was the last time he'd done this in front of someone? Had it even happened once? He looked so vulnerable, so collected and soft at the same time, that you immediately wanted to praise him. It was clearly a huge step for him, and you were about to ask why he decided to do it after all, but Kaz beat you to it, breaking the long pause.

— To remember. Pain reminds me that I am alive. That I have some weaknesses. Given what I do, it's easy to believe in my own invincibility. I've seen it bring people down, — Kaz's voice lowered and literally vibrated.

What was happening seemed like a real obsession to him, but he was already here and this was his chance, so he cautiously took another step, standing quite close so that your chests almost touched. The stale smell of water crept up his nose as the first sign of future panic, but Kaz did his best to get rid of it. Some things have to be done the other way around, so even though all his instincts were screaming for him to step back, he shortened the distance between you and touched your hair unabashedly, tucking the strand behind your ear.

— It's a good strategy, but I feel sorry that you have to use it, always feeling pain with every move, — you didn't try to move away, nor did you comment on Kaz's actions. The attraction between you could be felt under your skin. Kaz was handsome as hell, and part of you wished he could have been a mere client. So you could flirt and touch him without any consequences, without making him uncomfortable.

— Your strategy is pretty good, too. In a few years you've made a great career move, from a usual servant to an accountant of one of the top brothels. Do you still work with clients?

— I'm a fast learner. And yes, I don't have to sleep with anyone anymore, but sometimes I still spend time around big clients to make sure there aren't any problems.

Kaz nodded, not really paying attention. He could hardly think about anything right now while his whole body was in a state of peak tension. For the first time in his life he was so attracted to someone, and it shook him to his core. Kaz wanted to go further, but his mind was frantically trying to figure out exactly what was going to happen. Was your attraction mutual? If he risked touching you for real, how quickly would panic overshadow desire? If you knew about who he was, did you realize the danger he brought with him?

It was literally written all over his face, all those difficult choices that plagued him so much that you made the decision for him, gently reaching forward with your palm. He could touch it or he could step back. During the healing process even the tiniest step was important. You kept your eyes on Kaz, studying his graceful facial features with pleasure, and you couldn't ignore how handsome he was. Kaz could have had any girl or guy at the snap of his fingers, but he was so uptight and so caught up in his work that he didn't notice anyone around him. Or he didn't want to notice because of his obvious problem with touching.

— What were you looking for in the papers?

You tried to distract him, continuing to watch as his fingers slowly came close to yours. There was barely a millimeter of space between you, but even that sent a wave of heat through your body. You could feel the touch even so, though it never really happened.

— The list of investors. And the guest list at the anniversary party. I was asked to find some compromising information on an official from the Merchant Council, — Kaz looked embarrassed and twitched his lips guiltily, taking a step back as panic reached his lungs and cut off his oxygen.

— I can get you an invitation. If you agree to visit me again. There's an old hotel in the west side of the town. I rent a room under its green roof, the biggest one. If you crack the lock before I get there, after midnight, I'll be especially pleased. Do you want me to be pleased, Kaz?

You returned the previous minimal distance between you and leaned into Kaz's ear with a charming whisper, casually running your palm along his shoulder and chest, leaving tiny millimeters to the actual touch. You wanted to test your guess and see if he wanted you the same way, or if you just made up the fact that there was a spark between you.

You got the best answer when Kaz nodded and briefly touched your palm with a light kiss, like a true gentleman.

#six of crows #kaz brekker #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker x fem!reader #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker x you #shadow and bone

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auroravictorium · 1 year

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question...? (k.b.)

Do you wish you could still touch her?

Summary: set prior to the midnights series, this is "you're on your own, kid" from kaz's pov! kaz spends much of his time at the crow club thinking about you, and he wishes he could do something other than think and watch from afar. Pairing(s): kaz x fem!reader (pining by kaz) Word Count: ~2.4k Warnings: violence [blood, stab wounds], death of unimportant character, drinking by jesper, inej and reader, mentions of past trauma [nearly drowning, death of sibling] and explicit mentions of kaz's haphephobia Genre: pretty fluffy until kaz finds reader

Author's Note: i have returned with a gift - "you're on your own, kid" told from kaz's pov, as promised! and happy trailer release day everyone! (i haven't recovered, how are you guys doing) only 26 days until the actual season comes out hehehe. by the way, HIGHLY recommend reading "you're on your own, kid" before reading this for more context! happy reading loves <3

you're on your own, kid (reader's pov) / grishaverse masterlist

Kaz hated patrolling the Crow Club on a good night, and he hated it even more when the patrons were rowdy and the walkways crowded. The Club was sweltering with the heat of the muggy summer and of moving, laughing bodies. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck, and he longed to be anywhere else; each time someone stumbled into him as they tried to move to another table, he wanted to either vomit or toss them outside for a dip in the East Stave.

He roamed the floor, eyes scanning for fake coins and card blunders. Right away, he knew tonight would be a good night for the Club: tonight's gamblers were eager, impatient, and careless. They slid kruge after kruge onto the table, hoping the luck would turn in their favor, only for them to wind up broke when they made reckless moves. Only the thought of money filling the Dregs' coffers kept him from spiraling into a completely terrible mood.

Every so often, his eyes flicked toward the bar, hoping to catch you at work. If he was lucky, you'd look his way, and he'd get the chance to see you offer him the ghost of a smile while you poured drinks or cleaned glasses. You were the patrons' favorite, and it wasn't difficult for Kaz to understand why. You offered each one a smile and made cheerful conversation while making their drinks; if they were inebriated enough to be making emotional confessions or trying their luck at getting close to you, you would reach over and give them a reassuring pat on the shoulder or hand, and you would pull away with a watch or necklace slipped under your sleeve. The patron would be none the wiser, give you a tip for the excellent service, then return to his table and continue gambling away his earnings.

Kaz couldn't have chosen anyone better to work the watered-down bar, except tonight, you weren't there. Your absence was unusual; rarely were you late or missing without reason, but he refused to consider the worst. You could handle yourself. Behind your kind smile was ruthlessness, and he knew what it could do. He'd recruited you for a reason.

He circled the Club again, trying to get his mind off you, but he spotted you hurrying inside and through the crowds of patrons on his third loop around the outer ring of tables. You reached the bar and immediately got to work, and Kaz's grip loosened on his cane when he saw you were unharmed. His knuckles ached, and he looked down at his gloved hand. Had he really held on that tightly?

Kaz crossed to the bar after a few minutes and tapped his cane against the ground to get your attention. You jumped and turned to face him. He scanned you from head to toe, taking in your mussed hair and slightly wrinkled clothing. He gave no outward reaction to your tardy, disheveled appearance, but again, the part of him that shouldn't have been concerned about you was relieved. "You're late," he finally said.

"I overslept," you responded. Your fingers fidgeted at your sides, and Kaz could tell you were waiting for him to snap. It was the reputation he'd carefully tended and let grow, and he knew he should uphold it. He should tell you that it was unacceptable, warn you that he didn't tolerate even a moment of lateness. Lateness on a job would get you killed. Lateness in the Club would lose the Dregs money.

But, Saints damn him, he couldn't bring himself to say anything of the sort to you. As he surveyed you, that softness and concern he felt for you made itself known once again, just like it had each time he'd seen you in the past six months. At first, it was his heart beating a bit faster. Now, it was his breathing catching and his pulse roaring in his ears when you looked up at him. His palms got sweatier in his gloves, and he was struck with the sudden urge to gently dab away the bead of sweat that had formed on your temple.

He didn't know what was worse, the sharp spike of fear that ran through him when he realized he wanted to touch you or the resulting nausea that twisted his stomach so harshly that he almost needed to step out of the Club right then.

"Don't let it happen again," Kaz muttered. He turned and limped away as if he suddenly had something else to work on. He probably did, but he couldn't remember a single one. All he could focus on was his need to get as far away from you as he could before he thought about how beautiful you looked when your hair framed your face and the dim light of the Club sparkled in your eyes.

Damn it. He needed a drink. If distance couldn't keep his head free of you, maybe alcohol could.

Kaz continued his scan of the Club, hoping it would distract him from the way his heart raced in his chest each time he thought of your name. He positioned himself near one of the busiest tables and looked over the cards each of the gamblers held. For a bit, the distraction worked, and then he made the mistake of looking over at you again.

Jesper had made his way over from the door and was ruffling your hair with a grin, and you were grimacing and swatting at his hand. The two of you looked happy to be bickering, and Jesper threw his arm around you and grinned with a shot in his hand. He teased you about something, and you shushed him before ducking under his arm and scowling.

Kaz forced himself to look away and unclench his jaw. Something had come over him when he saw the two of you. It burned beneath his skin so fiercely that it took most of his self-control to keep himself where he was instead of going behind the bar and shoving Jesper away from you. He didn't know where the urge came from. All he knew was that he wanted to be the one with his arm around you, but terror drenched him like ice-cold water, reminding him that he couldn't be that close to you. His chest tightened with panic, and he returned his gaze to the cards of the men in front of him.

The attempt to ignore you didn't last. He looked up again and watched as Jesper left with another ruffle of your hair and a smile. Fresh anger sparked within him, and his grip tightened on the crow's head of his cane. He took a deep breath and turned his back on the rest of the Club. What the hell is happening?

He had never felt like this, like any semblance of control he had over his emotions was crumbling. Kaz prided himself on his ability to keep his shit together, yet here he was, moments away from snapping. On the outside, he was as stoic as ever, all clenched jaw and sharp eyes. Inside, he was fighting a battle that should have been easily decided. The rational side of him knew he could not afford distractions, but part of him longed to be the one close to you.

The irrational side of him considering such things should have drowned with Kaz Rietveld in the harbor.

The rest of Kaz's time at the Club was an agonizing battle to keep himself calm and bring himself back to rationality. He firmly refused to look your way and even made a detour along the East Stave on his way home to clear his head. He moved slowly along the canal, partly to buy himself time to avoid seeing you with Jesper and partly because the damned humidity made the pain in his leg nearly unbearable. As he limped toward the Slat, he wondered what was wrong with him. Usually, he could banish thoughts of you without a problem. He'd been able to for the past six months since he became aware of a nagging tenderness for you in the pit of his stomach.

He entered the Slat in a terrible mood and intended to walk right past Jesper and Inej in the corner with their drinks. He wanted nothing more than to be left alone to plot a new job and get his mind off you.

"Boss! Did you get the last of 'em?"

The Saints were laughing at him. He was sure of it. Kaz clenched his jaw and slowly turned. His eyes glinted with the promise of violence, but Jesper, bless him, either didn't notice or didn't care about Kaz's exceptionally foul mood. "What?"

"The men with the fake money." Jesper swirled his drink around in his glass and knocked the rest of it back. Inej passed the rest of hers to him, shaking her head. "I told Y/N-"

Something crashed into the floor above them, and Kaz's head snapped upward. He held up a hand to silence Jesper. Footsteps scuffled against the ground, and more thumps rattled the ceiling. Dust shook free from between the floorboards, which wasn't out of character for the dilapidated Slat. The loud noises definitely were, and the hair on the back of Kaz's neck prickled.

His gut twisted, but not with nausea. Later, Inej would call it a sign from the Saints, but Kaz preferred to call it intuition. He bolted up the stairs toward the attic, ignoring the agony in his leg and Jesper and Inej leaping up to follow him. Kaz knew. He knew something was wrong and that you were hurt, and he wouldn't let his damn leg stop him from figuring out what was happening.

A few Dregs peeked out of their rooms when they heard the commotion and saw Kaz, Inej, and Jesper rushing past to get up to the attic. Some followed, drawing their weapons, and they nearly tumbled into each other to follow Kaz through his office and into his room. Inej and Jesper readied their own weapons but stopped when Kaz held out his cane to block them.

You stood over a body, your clothing and face splattered with blood and your chest heaving. Your hand was red to the wrist, and a dagger dangled from your fingertips. Red drops beaded against your skin and fell to the ground.

You raised your blade again as Dregs poured into Kaz's room, your eyes darting nervously between them. For a moment, you were completely still, then you seemed to realize there was no danger. Your arm dropped to your side and hung limp, and your gaze went unfocused as blood spread rapidly through the shoulder of your shirt.

"Saints," Jesper breathed beside Kaz, taking in the scene. An assassin had gotten into the Slat and was no doubt going for Kaz. The Dime Lions were growing bolder. Nobody seemed quite sure what to do about that, and their utter shock at the incident rendered them unresponsive to your dagger hitting the floor.

"Get Nina," Kaz said, looking over his shoulder and scowling at the wide-eyed Dregs behind him. With some satisfaction, he watched them flinch. They deserved a lot more than a scowl for leaving you to fight alone. You idiots should have helped her. Maybe she wouldn't have been injured if you had. "Now," he added sharply, waiting for them to move.

They left, nearly tripping over themselves to get out of Kaz's line of fire.

Kaz returned his attention to you and started to limp toward you. He looked between you and the dead Dime Lion, then his gaze lingered on the deep wound in your shoulder. His lips pursed with worry. "Grab her," he said, directing the order at Inej and Jesper and surprising himself with how softly the words came out.

He wanted to reach out and hold you against him as if he could shield you from the man you'd killed. But the harbor, ever-present, threatened to sweep him away for even daring to think such a thing. He was suddenly nine years old again, clinging to his brother while bodies floated around him. The memory, cold and terrifyingly real, forced him to look away from you and down at the blood seeping into his floor. Why is blood easier to take in than the thought of touching you?

Inej and Jesper moved forward to grab you and led you into Kaz's office, away from the carnage. Kaz stayed, looking down at the Dime Lion and trying to think of a response to the events of the evening.

Yet, even as his mind spun with ideas for how to handle this and exact revenge on the Dime Lions in the most painful way possible, he thought of you. You had taken down a man twice your size without backup. You were wounded. You were covered in blood. You would have a nasty scar if Nina didn't tend to the wound soon.

You had potentially saved Kaz's life.

Kaz moved to the doorway to his office, leaning heavily on his cane. His leg seared with pain now, aggravated from his sprint up the stairs to get to you, and he bore most of his weight on his left leg as he settled against the doorway and examined you.

Nina was hard at work healing your wound, and you pressed one hand to your injured shoulder to keep it immobile. Inej and Jesper were starting to wipe away the blood on your face and neck and whispering back and forth. Despite the activity around you, you looked up and met his gaze.

Kaz's breath caught as you met his stare. He tried to think of something to say, anything. But words failed him, as they often did when you were involved, so he settled for a quick nod to acknowledge what you'd done. It wasn't enough, and he knew that.

But as he watched some color return to your face, his shoulders loosened. He would get the chance to thank you properly someday, and he would make sure it would be enough then.

TAGLIST: @tonberry-yoda, @b3kk3r-by-br3kk3r, @futurecorps3

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lee-writes-things · 1 year

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but like imagine this, if there were deaths in a third soc book:

wylan would die first (from an explosion, oit of irony) because we can all agree he's like a son to kaz, and it would be devastating. so then kaz has all this pent-up emotion. and jesper's unhinged gambling addiction gets worse, which gets kaz even more worried. because he's like a brother to kaz. and he does something reckless on this job, which therefore gets him severely injured, and he dies in inej's arms. and that leads to inej trying to help jesper cope while also suffering internally herself.

when news reaches nina in ravka, she thinks that kaz forged inej's signature at the end of the letter as a cruel joke. she went along with it anyway since she missed when the crows were all together. nina brought a few traditional ravkan treats that she knew kaz liked no matter how much he denied it. when she arrived at the slat, it was empty. nina went to the crow club and found inej with a far away look. she gave up on trying to help jesper with his addiction. im too lazy to be in writing mode, so im gonna half-ass the rest. anyway, nina had to snap inej out of her daze and ask her where kaz was. that's when inej finally broke down, and any word she muttered was incoherent. after what felt like ages, jesper went over to the two girls and told nina what happened. "the ol' dirtyhands finally kicked the bucket. thought he was immortal for a while. wylan went just before him."

there was nothing else but sobs that day and screaming out to the sky why everything that happened happened. bit over a week later, there was a joint service. inej engraved two slabs for the two out of wood with the first knife kaz gifted to her. she renamed it. sankt rietveld. and that's how she got assigned a new job. revenge. with a gloved hand holding her knife. (shitty ending, not enough detail, but here you go)

before, there were six of crows. then five. now only three.

i originally shared this with a server im in and, therefore, was banished to hellgate by my friends for making them all cry. oops. anyway, fuck you guys [affectionately but not really].

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thebadgerclan · 1 year

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Sister

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x sister!reader

Summary: No one knew that Kaz had a sister...

Idk why or how I came up with this, but I loved the idea too much not to write

Also third person just fit this one lol, I’m not the biggest fan, but let me know what you guys think

No one knew that Kaz Brekker had a sister, few people even knew about his older brother. But he had: back when he was Kaz Rietveld, the only thing on his mind being whether he could convince Jordie to buy him a hot chocolate, there had been a third Rietveld. Jordie, the eldest, entrusted with his father’s fortune, Kaz, the impressionable, joyful young boy, and Y/N, only a year Kaz’s junior.

When the firepox came, and Kaz succumbed to the fever, she had as well. And when Kaz woke to find Jordie cold beneath his touch, her body had been nowhere in sight. Was she dead, or had she somehow survived? It was easier to assume the former, for Kaz to forge ahead alone in the world. All three Rietveld siblings died then, but only Kaz was reborn, vengeance burning like an inferno in his heart. For Jordie, for Y/N, he would bring Ketterdam to its knees.

Years later, Kaz would learn that she had indeed survived. After the plague had passed, a pair of Ravkan nobles arrived in Ketterdam, offering to take in the orphans the firepox had created. “It was a Ravkan ship that brought it,” they said. “If our country can give these children a life, then we will take them.” She’d been one of the first children taken, adopted by the Duke and Duchess themselves. Y/N had been raised in Ravka: learned their language, their customs, their faith. And when she came of age, she was presented to court, as all the children of nobility were, to make a good marriage.

Y/N had been lucky. She had not only made an advantageous match, but she’d found true love as well. Her new husband doted on her night and day, granting her every wish. And when she wished to discover whether her brothers had survived the Queen’s Lady Plague all those years ago, she discovered her husband had many connections in which to obtain that information.

It hadn’t been easy, but Y/N’s husband had found him. Kaz wasn’t a common name, after all. When he’d received the letter, he’d thought it a joke, but as he read on, he realized the letter contained details that no one but his sister could have known. Kaz, it said. If you’re reading this, then I want you to know that I’m alive. I was adopted and taken to Ravka after the firepox passed. If I’d have known you survived, I would have insisted they take you too. But I had no clue where you were or if you and Jordie had made it.

I want you to know that I’m alive, that I’m safe. Life in Ravka has been good to me; I’m married now! Saints, I think you’d adore my husband, the two of you are exactly the same. At least… how I remember you to be. Please, Kaz, write back to me. Let me know that you’re alive, that you’ve survived, that I haven’t been mourning you for no reason for 15 years. I’m afraid I can’t disclose too much about my life in writing, but if you give a letter to a woman named Lila at the Ravkan embassy, she’ll ensure it gets to me. I love you, brother, time has not changed that. -Y/N.

There had been no last name affixed, no address, so naturally, Kaz’s interest was piqued. For months, he corresponded with her through Lila, learning more about who she was, her life in Ravka, and who she’d married. It interested him not only because the information might be useful one day, but because Y/N was family, she was his sister. Indeed, the information was useful, as Kaz and his Crows had been tasked with a nearly impossible job.

A Shu priest had hired Kaz to steal what she claimed was a relic of Sankt Kho, one that had been taken from the temples of Amhrat Jen decades ago. But, as Nina so aptly pointed out, breaking into the Grand Palace’s religious archives would break at least a dozen Ravkan laws. “We’d be arrested immediately and labeled as heretics as well as criminals. The Apparat himself would try to oversee our executions.”

“I have a way around that,” Kaz had said, but Nina wasn’t convinced. “Do you? I know your tricks Kaz. Those archives are guarded day and night, there’s one way in and one way out, no windows, no secondary escapes. Do you think you can waltz right in and take Sankt Kho’s relic?” “Not quite waltz, but yes.” The Heartrender snarled. “Short of a letter from the Queen of Ravka, there’s no possible way you can get in there alone. Do you have that, Kaz?”

“Actually I do.” Jesper, Inej, and Wylan looked on with disbelief. “All Saints, you can admit defeat, you know? We won’t judge you!” Kaz pulled a letter from his coat and tossed it on the table. It bore the Lantsov seal and the Queen’s signature, and Nina gaped. “And how did you manage to get your hands on this?” Kaz, if there’s ever anything you need, know that I will use the full extent of my powers to help you. I couldn’t help you before, brother, so let me help you now. Of course, if it’s blatant murder, then I’ll have to deny. We can’t have the Queen of Ravka tied up in a homicide, now can we? “Because,” Kaz said, hesitant to reveal this, the ace up his sleeve, his final secret. “She’s my sister.”

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

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aysegust · 11 days

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MORE THAN A HEALER. - K.B

Pairings: (Kaz Brekker x Reader)

A/N: Hello beautiful people, I hope you’ll like this part. I kinda feel doubt writing this… I wanted to show as much of Kaz’s vulnerable side. Which was ultimately is Y/N… I kinda mess up with the storyline of the canon but who cares? We are doing what we want. It’s a fanfic! I ended things openly so maybe I’ll write a third part but I don’t think so here is the final part of Just A Healer fiction.

Word Count: 3.279

Warnings: Slight abuse but nothing further, mention of Wylan as subtle. :) Angst but Fluff in the end.

You can read the first part here: Just A Healer. - K.B

It all happened too fast, so quick.

One thing you knew was how ugly Pekka’s face at the moonlight the next thing you knew was the pain behind your back.

Suddenly, the loss of vision and consciousness was just beginning of something disgusting.

It all happened too fast, Y/N.

Slowly, when your eyes opened, you looked around. Your vision was still blurry at first but after few seconds your eyes adjusted to the light.

The place surrounded in a dim light whereas it was cold and concentrated. But where were you? You thought to yourself. The place looked like it was a dungeon and the window was barely just there. It was so small that you couldn’t see outside that much.

You closed your eyes for a moment. Trying to memorize every detail about why you were here and what happened.

“Shit.” You cursed bitterly. Pekka found you were a Grisha and wanted to hurt Kaz so you were kidnapped and yet the worst part is… Pekka Rollins isn’t going to be the one who kills you, it will be Kirigan. That son of a bitch. You thought.

You touched to your neck and healed the wound. Well, it was a benefit for you to be a healer, you could heal yourself quickly. You got up after the dizziness was over. You looked around and there wasn’t any useful for you to protect yourself from. There were only straws on the ground.

You sighed and the looming feeling hit you again. Just like before. What if Kaz wouldn’t find you? What if he thinks you betrayed him too?

But he was a clever man, he would investigate this. Your thoughts went on and on again. Not before you got cut by Kirigan’s shadow… As the thought crossed your mind, you heard a sound. Footsteps.

Suddenly the door opened and you saw Pekka’s guys. You could handle the two of them in a combat fight but there were coming three more.

One of the guy smirked devilishly to you. “Don’t be naughty, you witch.” He said harshly. You wanted to punch his nose but you were outnumbered. Quickly that guy handcuffed you and put a chain on your handcuff. He was leading you forcefully to walk behind him.

As you unfortunately, forcefully walked behind him, you looked around. Observing the place and the Dime Lions. It was cruel, walking straight to your death.

But you had to put your shit together. You weren’t going to give up so easily. You will gonna escape that place, you just needed the right moment.

As you went outside through the doors, you looked at the Harbor. Either you were going to face Kirigan or he was coming for you.

As you saw six guy in the corner of the deck, you then looked at the three guy on the ship. Well, it wasn’t going to be easy. Hell, when things were easy?

You closed your eyes for a moment. Walk through the fire, Y/N. You thought to yourself, trying to encourage yourself to make everything better, you opened your eyes and looked at the sky.

Maybe he was worried?

Was he?

Three hours passed, you were supposed to meet Kaz in his office. Well, he wanted to debrief you about the upcoming plan he was working on. He had already told Inej and Jesper but he wanted to talk to you about it alone.

Well, your presence calmed him. He wasn’t much of a man shows himself but around you, at least his thoughts were stable and he can feel himself relax a bit. Not only you were just a healer, but his healer too.

Of course, he thinks you are more than just a healer. Because you were gracious. Everything he wasn’t be and deeply inside, he admired it. The pasts of himself, his crows wasn’t bright.

If it were bright then none of you wouldn’t be in the Barrel.

You were a precious asset for the team and Kaz, well, he felt more than that but he was just too scared to admit it. How could he?

Feelings are just a burden. Caring only makes you weak and Kaz couldn’t be weak.

He is feared, the Dirtyhands. Bastard of the Barrel. The trick is the not love anything else. He always thought it. Whenever doing some paperwork or looking at building map’s, sometimes you crossed into his mind. Recently, the severe times of you crossing into his mind just rises and he felt, he felt uncomfortable but weirdly good.

So, three hours passed… where were you? Kaz. thought to himself. He got up from his chair and walked out from the door to heard the loud noise coming from the tables. He looked at the bar-side and no trace of you.

Then he saw Inej, the Wraith, entering to the Crow Club with worrying glances. Their eyes met briefly and Inej straightly walked to Kaz’s side.

Kaz felt uneasy but he didn’t show it. He just stood there monotony. “Kaz, we need to talk.” Inej said with a hurry. She looked really worried.

Kaz led her to his office and once the door’s closed, he turned to her and waited for her to speak.

“It’s about Y/N.”

Kaz never felt this fear before. The way his heart beaten so fast, it was cruel. It wasn’t fair. He looked at Inej as his eyebrows furrowed. “What happened?” He said curiously not showing Inej how he is feeling inside, that anxious feeling grows bigger every passing second.

“I was wandering around the Barrel, and catching up with some informations.” She paused to catch a breath. “There are rumors about a Grisha in the Barrel. A Healer.” She stared at Kaz for a moment. “Turns out Pekka Rollins, caught the Grisha and he is going to send the Grisha back to the Ravka. Through the Fold.”

Kaz closed his eyes for a moment. He needed it. Suppressing what Inej said was a hard truth. “It is Y/N. Pekka Rollins caught Y/N.” Inej said it with a pure worry. Her eyes flashed so wide and she feared of losing her dear friend.

Kaz’s whole life stopped at that minute. The man, who took his brother from him, is going to took his healer from him too. He couldn’t.

Kaz couldn’t let that happen. He waited to take his brother’s revenge. He couldn’t lose Y/N. He couldn’t.

He looked at Inej with anger range filling his eyes. “Find out where Pekka hides Y/N, if he’s going to send her to Ravka, they will be on the Harbor. So it must be close to that place.”

Inej nodded and walked hurriedly towards the door then she looked back at Kaz. “What are you gonna do?” She said softly. “I’m gonna make him suffer.” He replied coldly.

After Kaz came up with a plan, it wasn’t going to be easy but they had to save Y/N. So that’s what mattered. He tried to calm himself, he had to get his things together for your sake. But Kaz wanted revenge. He wanted blood.

As they pulled you over harshly and forced you to enter the ship, they threw you to the basement of the ship. As you whined in pain, you blinked rapidly and looked around. After you were pushed, you felt dizzy but you closed your eyes and pulled yourself together. You gotta do something.

There must be a way to get rid of these handcuffs, you thought. You got up and looked around. There were stocks of some oranges, cucumbers and other conserves.

After quietly searching the basement, you saw a dagger. It was placed closer to the fruits. You took it and tried to open the handcuff with it. It was hard, since you were handcuffed and trying to hold the dagger while working hard for opening the handcuff, you sweared.

Being a soldier and being one of Kaz’s crows helped you learn new skills. You were talented, strong. You weren’t weak. Most Grisha’s in Ravka prejudiced healers. They thought they were weak whilst they had several powerful gifts. But you never saw your gift as a weakness. It was your biggest strength.

After putting a work on it, you unlocked the cuffs and brushed your palms lightly. You took the dagger and closed your eyes for a moment. Your heart raced so fast, you had to collect your thoughts.

You opened your eyes and walked slowly to the stairs. As you slowly opened the cover, you heard footsteps, so you closed it back and pulled yourself back. Then you heard a man’s voice. The guy was laughing and the next minute, he opened the basement’s door. He looked at you on top of it and smiled at you cockily.

Of course you sat back before he opened the cover, you acted like you were cuffed. He then slowly walked down the stairs and closed the cover. “Look at you, witch.” He smiled. “When I’m finished with you, you are gonna regret why you just didn’t kill yourself.” He smirked disgustingly and placed his hand on your chin harshly. He then, licked your cheek. You felt disgusted and you squeezed your eyes shut. “Oi, the thing’s I’m gonna do to you…” He whispered to your ear.

You slowly pulled the dagger and while he was kissing your neck, you stabbed him on his chest. Then he whined in pain and looked at you with shock. “When I’m finished with you, you’re going to regret why you, just didn’t kill yourself, you fucking bastard.” You whispered with anger. Then by the time he was about the react your words you broke his neck.

You got up and took a deep breath. There was eight of them left. You stayed still for a moment. It was all happening too fast, your mind was spinning and you just felt the fear mixed with disgust so badly.

Then as you hurriedly walked to the upstairs, you opened the cover but you heard a muffled sound. Something was odd. You slowly lifted your head and looked around.

As the Crows located where Y/N is, they went on their way, Inej was on the roofs, as ready as she’ll be, Jesper was very furious when he learned your kidnapping. Jesper and Kaz went to the Harbor and while they were hiding behind some of building, they saw you with handcuffs, as they forced you to walk to inside of the ship.

Kaz looked at the rooftop and tilted his head. Inej understood that the plan was on. The Wraith, as she landed on the ground, she hid so perfectly behind the shadows. Well, she was tiny but very strong. She hid behind some of cargo sacks. There was two man standing close to her, so Inej moved behind them silently and slit their throats ever so flawlessly.

There were three guys on the ship, while two of them were standing on the deck. One of the guy on the ship walked to the basement while there was two of them stayed present on the ship. As they were controlling the area.

It was Jesper’s turn. Now it was time to expose themselves. Jesper walked arrogantly on the ground. He looked at the two man. “It’s restricted area! Go away,” One of the guy, whose were standing on the deck warned Jesper as he was walking closer to them. “But would that be fun? Seriously?” He then hit the guy’s face with his gun.

As the other guy reacted to Jesper by pulling his own gun, Jesper grinned and fired his gun. “Never dare to held your gun to me again!” He lashed out and looked at the two guy on the ship. They were trying to hit Jesper with their guns but Jesper’s reactions was too fast.

Then he pulled his own pistol and as he is being the Sharpshooter, he never misses.

After Jesper’s killing the other two guy, Kaz walked to the deck and got on the board. As the basement’s door opened and revealed you to his eyes, your eyes met and he felt his heart skipped a beat. “Kaz?” You said surprisedly. He didn’t understand why you got surprised about seeing him.

You quickly pulled yourself and walked to his way. As you looked around, you saw the other men of Pekka’s bodies around the ship and the deck. “You came for me.” You looked at Kaz and felt tears brimmed in your eyes.

He furrowed his eyebrows. As he was about to say something, Jesper pulled you in a tight hug. Was he crying, what? You thought. “Jess, are you crying?” You smiled with tears. “You bloody idiot! Of course I am!” He pulled you closer to himself, suddenly you were out of breath. “Jesper! You are squeezing me-“

He let you go softly. “I’m sorry, Y/N. It’s just you know…” You smiled and squeezed his hand. While Kaz backed away, Inej hugged you softly. You could see the tears in Inej’s eyes. Which ached your heart.

“We have to go, there would be a mess.” As Kaz said, you and Inej let go of each other. You looked at Kaz. “What?” You asked. Kaz looked at you briefly. “This is just one thing, Pekka Rollins wouldn’t know what hit him.” He said with harsh tone.

“Kaz, what did you do?” You asked worriedly. He looked at you bitterly. “Something I should’ve done before.”

He didn’t reply anything further as all of you went back to the Slat. Well, while you were on the way back to the Slat, you watched Kaz. All of the way back… You just feel this thing inside you, where you couldn’t just pretend things anymore.

When you went back to the Slat, you heard a loud explosion coming from the streets. “What is happening?” You said it confusedly. Jesper glanced at you softly. “We are gonna be in a big fight, Y/N.” You looked at him as your eyebrows furrowed. “What?” You didn’t understand. “The boss, well, he just blew up The Dime Lions.” Jesper looked at you amusedly. You were in a utter shock as you heard what Jesper said.

And there was a boyish looking guy appeared as he was walking out on Kaz’s office. “Who is that?” You asked as you showed the boy who walked out on Kaz’s office. Jesper amusedly grinned. “He is the one who blew up the places.” You looked at Jesper with wide eyes. “Bloody hell..” You said.

After you left Jesper’s side, you walked hurriedly towards to Kaz’s office. You knocked the door and after a moment you opened it and saw Kaz was looking to the sky. “Can I come in?” You said softly.

He then turned to you and gestured you to step inside. “Kaz.. Did you blew up Pekka’s properties?” You looked at him worriedly which he was finding it uneasy. He was fighting himself everyday trying to keep you in a distance but after today, he just wanted everyone who wronged him, pay.

“I did.” You looked at him in a shock as he said it. For a second he refused to meet your gaze. You didn’t know what to say to him. You weren’t expecting him to save you up in the first place but he did. You approached slowly to his side. Careful to not bother him.

“Thank you, Kaz.” You were feeling this thing in your chest, whenever you see him, your heart beats faster. He was just so distant but after tonight, hearing what he did… maybe he cared for you.

“You are welcome.” He said quietly while he looked at you in a different way. But all you were wondering why he did all of this. You needed a clarification, an answer. What he did was a huge thing. “Why?” You said, nearly a whisper. He raised an eyebrow at your question. He knew what you were asking, he was just choose to ignore it.

But you insisted. “Kaz- Why did you did all of this? It’s a declaration of a war.” You were trying to reason with him. The question you wanted to really ask was hanging dry in your throat. He was watching the skyline of Ketterdam, there were noises. After the explosion, siren sounds and other’s faded in distance as you went on. “Why did you save me?”

The question you asked triggered something him in inside. He closed your eyes for a moment as he tried to collect his thoughts. “You are one of us.” He said straightly. “Crows are loyal to their fellows. One of them in the pack gets hurt, they will protect them.” You looked at him. Your eyebrows furrowed.

“While I was in that dungeon, the thoughts were going on and on in my mind…” You admitted softly. “I thought lot of things, primarily how to escape this place but something happened… and I thought-“ You paused. His eyes were on you at the whole time you were speaking. He was observing every little detail about you. Every little mimic, expression. His heart crushed when he saw tears in your eyes.

“I thought maybe, uh, you would think I betrayed you.” He looked at you with a furrowed expression. You didn’t look at him so you explained further. “You know, I betrayed my own country. I ran away from the King’s orders. I know you don’t trust me and I felt maybe you thought that way too after my disappearance.” You said it without catching a breath.

You were too scared to meet his gaze. “No.” It was hard for Kaz to open up his feelings. He had just shown the world that he cared for his crow. Which was a weak sign for the others. But he could’ve manage it. He could’ve make them suffer. Because he was feared. He declared a war against Pekka. But the way you said these things pissed Kaz.

Well he didn’t trust you for a long time. Of course, Kaz is a careful man. Man of mind and he is too cautious when he takes a move. But after seeing what you do, helping his crows and proving your loyalty at every time. of course Kaz trusted you.

“Y/N,” Kaz whispered. His voice sounded crispy. “I do trust you, more than you know.” You looked at him as a tear slipped away to your cheek. “I cannot offer you more but, never forget that you are valuable to the team…” He paused, struggling inside. Because once he admits to you, it would change everything.

“Valuable to me…” You smiled softly. You wouldn’t push him for anything. “Thank you, Kaz.” You said it again. “If we go to a war, we’ll go… I’ll always be there for you.” You said surely. What you were feeling Kaz was more than just companionship, you loved being near to him. It doesn’t matter how twisted he is and well, you loved him.

It was all you needed to hear. So you stepped away and approached to the door side. He turned and watched you to walk away. For once, don’t disappear. He thought. He looked at his gloves and closed his eyes momentarily. “Stay,” He said briefly. It sounded like a muffled sound but you heard anyway. You paused at your step and didn’t dare to look at his way.

“Stay here.” He said and then you turned to him. When you met his gaze, you felt the warmth inside your body. Who knew, in Kaz’s coldness, there was warmth.

#kaz brekker #shadow and bone #kaz brekker angst #kaz brekker x reader #kazzle dazzle #kaz brekker x you #reader insert #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker x y/n #kaz rietveld #kaz brekker x fem!reader #kaz brekker fanfic

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iliveinarainbow · 1 year

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!SHADOW AND BONE S2 SPOILERS!

now here’s the thing: was it book accurate? no it was not, but i didn’t hate that

i appreciate that even though they changed a lot when it came to the plot they were still able to stay true to who the characters are, and for the most part show characters did what their book counterparts would’ve done so i’m ok with the changes

-no comment on david’s ending bc i still haven’t accepted his ending in the book so i’m choosing to live in denial :)

-MY BABY GENYA, i’ve read the books so i knew what was going to happen but my god i’m heartbroken

-zoya (aka my wife) deserved more screen time

-jesper only recognizing wylan when he was on top of him was so funny for no reason

-inej on the rooftop with the gutter guy… i was PETRIFIED just staring at my screen like an idiot

-the kanej scenes when inej was hallucinating? I WAS SPEECHLESS, and a little confused ngl

-the nina and kaz dynamic was EVERYTHING

HOWEVER, the whole helnik cliffhanger thing… no thanks, i truly wish the crows had managed to get to matthias bc as someone who loved the society i’m still traumatized four years later, WHAT IF THEY DONT GET A THIRD SEASON AND MATTHIAS IS JUST STUCK IN HELLGATE?!

(crooked kingdom spoilers: yes i’ve read the book, yes i know how matthias’ story ends, no i do not want to see that on my screen but i still would’ve loved a helnik reunion)

#shadow and bone #six of crows #shadow and bone netflix #shadow and bone season 2 #shadow and bone s2 #shadow and bone spoilers #wesper #kanej #helnik #zoya nazyalensky #inej ghafa #genya safin

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she-posts-nerdy-stuff · 3 months

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Parks and Rec quotes x Six of Crows characters probably part one but this is longer than originally intended bc I didn't want to cut any of them

Jesper: When they say 2% milk, I don’t know what the other 98% is

Matthias: Any dog under 50 pounds is a cat, and cats are pointless

Nina: Guys love it when you can show them that you’re better than them at something they love

Kaz: Cats and dogs should be rewarded for not being people. I hate people

Inej: Oh, I have a medical condition alright. It’s called CARING TOO MUCH! And it’s INCURABLE!

Wylan: I’m fine. It’s just that life is pointless and nothing matters and I’m always tired

Nina: We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third

Kaz: I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name. Best friend I ever had. We still never speak sometimes

Jesper: I’m allergic to sushi. Every time I eat more than 80 sushi, I barf

Kaz: I just slept seven hours, which is twice as long as I usually sleep, so I’m a little disoriented

Wylan: One time my refrigerator stopped working; I didn’t know what to do. I just moved

Jesper, holding up a dishevelled stop motion figurine: Could a depressed person make this!?

Inej: *concerned blinking*

Nina: There’s never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food

Jesper: Time is money; Money is power; Power is pizza; Pizza is knowledge - let’s go!

Jesper: If I keep my body moving, and my mind occupied at all times, I will avoid falling into a bottomless pit of despair

Nina: I have several men in rotation. One’s waiting for me in the car. Don’t worry I rolled the window down for him

Kaz: I like saying no. It lowers their enthusiasm

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nerdlingmerchling · 2 months

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CROWS AND LOVE LANGUAGES

Physical touch.

Am I surprised this one came on top for Jesper? Not at all.

In the show, Kit plays Jesper as someone who's VERY TACTILE and sensual at his core; experiencing the world primarily through bodily sensations.

His signature move? The pat on the shoulder. He does that to people he doesn't know that well (Arken). He also has no misgivings hugging strangers (Markus the circus guy).

He pats Wylan on the shoulder several times as they get to know each other, even holds his hand for the whole “Jesper Fahey, are you worried about me” conversation.

And when he and Wylan are figuring out their relationship, whenever Wylan's within touching distance, Jesper has an arm around his shoulders. When they first arrive in Shu Han, and Wylan is upset about Jesper finding out he can't read, you can tell how much the physical distance between them pains Jesper. Physical touch is a big part of how he seeks and gives reassurance and comfort, and not being able to do that makes him anxious. At the same time, he’s able to respect boundaries, and as much as I’m sure it must be difficult for him, he's able to refrain from touching Kaz.

His friendship with Inej also involves a lot of physical affection : hugging, face touching, forehead kissing. It’s also true in the books. I remember a scene, much like the one in the series, where Kaz wishes he could be like Jesper and spin Inej around in his arms. Jesper is about as tactile as Kaz isn't.

I’d argue that physical touch is also a big part of who BookJesper is. Let’s remember that in trying to figure out romantic chemistry between him and Wylan, a lot of it was riding on how it would feel to kiss Wylan (“it’s the kiss he’s been waiting for. It was prairie fire…”)

Words of affirmation

I marked that this one would come in third ; the poll put it in second place.

A love language is how you show love, and also how you want others to show you love. And I think Jesper craves words of affirmation. What makes me say that? His bragging and his cockiness.

He says : “I'm so handsome” because he wants to hear “you're handsome, Jesper.”

He says: “I’m fantastic” cause he wants to be told he's indeed fantastic and a good friend.

He says: “you're going to tell me you can't do this without me” because he wants Kaz to tell him “I can't do this without you because I value your skills and I love you like a brother”.

I'm not saying Jesper has low self-esteem, or confidence issues as such. He just wants to feel loved and appreciated through words. He's known to be a flirt, and seemingly good at it, so that means he has some talent when it comes to complimenting people. I persist to think, however, that in Jesper's case, his actions tend to speak louder than his words.

Acts of service

I thought acts of service would come in second place. As it turns out, it comes in third.

I think acts of service are a big part of Jesper's personality. He's very loyal, and he'd do anything for the people he cares about.

In the show, it transpires in his friendship with Inej. He offers to follow her to the Menagerie to watch her back. He agrees to kill someone for her, because she asks him to. Sure, he whines about it, but you know he's gonna show up when you need him to.

In the hallucination sequence, his mother tells Jesper “you risk your life for your friends all the time” and he replies “but they never ask me to”. And that's the definition of an act of service : giving something without the other having to ask, and not expecting anything in return.

I also think that giving Wylan a key to his room was much more about an act of service (providing a space where he'd feel at home) than about the key as a physical gift in itself.

Vote for Inej's love language HERE

#crows love languages #six of crows #shadow and bone #jesper fahey #wesper #wylan van eck #inej ghafa #kaz brekker #matthias helvar #nina zenik

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jccatstudios · 5 months

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I have been following your soc comic adaptation and it just so good!!! I love how you draw them!

I have just one question: Why did you not include Inej's opening musings about Kaz on the first page? (Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason etc) I actually really like how there is not text on the first two pages, it's really atmospheric and moody so this really is not a criticism, I don't want to insult you. I guess I was just wondering what the thought process behind that was?

Oh, I've been wanting to talk about this for a while! Buckle up, this is gonna be one of my long comic rants. (Also, no offense taken at all! Anyone's welcome to question my artistic choices and I'm always happy to take critique, even though that isn't your intention.)

So, the thing is I actually planned on including that first paragraph into the comic! Here's when I first shared the thumbnails on here. Just for the sake of this post, I'll insert them here too.

The boxes are meant to be where excerpts of that introduction would go. When I was creating the thumbnails, I was thinking about how iconic these lines were and how well they introduce the world and characters. I even finished the pages with the intention to include those lines. This is from my original csp file.

When I lettered it all out, I felt like something wasn't right...? Hard to explain. I wanted silence for the opening and the narration took that away. I then thought about the reader who'd go into this without reading the novel first, wondering if they'd be thinking, Who's this Kaz Brekker guy? Is it this character on the page? It's clearer in the book, but I didn't think it paired well with what I drew. I didn't want any confusion. It's also Inej's chapter, and while Kaz's parts take up most of it, I still wanted it to feel like her POV and her story. We can hold off officially meeting Kaz until page four.

But the main reason I took it out comes down to my philosophy when it comes to comic adaptations. I believe that an adaptation should use the original story in the best way for the secondary medium. A comic adaptation should play to the strength of comics, not the original source material.

Time and time again, I see a lot of comic adaptations of books try to use a book's strength instead of a comic's. When that happens, you get pages upon pages of narration boxes and exposition that could've easily been told in a single panel's image. If you want to read excerpts from the original novel, go do that! They're beautiful and well-crafted and you should be reading the original anyway! If you're making a comic adaptation, make a comic, not an illustrated version of the novel (that's a whole field of its own).

This whole thing really ties well into what I'm doing for Chapter 3. Kaz is such an internal character, his chapters have a lot more exposition that isn't setting description or character actions. I've had to do a lot more of my own writing for this chapter than the last just to turn that exposition into his own voice as an internal monologue. Sometimes, it's just a change from "he" to "I," but there are other times I've had to write new dialogue and find ways to naturally flow between thoughts. If I didn't do the work to adapt the expository text and instead just put in narration boxes of text from the book, there would be a greater disconnect between the reader and Kaz. Third-person limited works great in books and doesn't separate the readers from the story, but in comics, first-person internal dialogue keeps the readers inside the scene better.

If I were to redo Chapter 2, I think I would try to find a way to incorporate the information from the chapter intro better. I think by losing the intro I initially planned to include, I didn't establish certain ideas very well. Ketterdam and Kerch are established later on pages 4 and 5, but I don't think I ever go back and mention The Barrel. Also, the idea that Kaz is deliberate, even if his reputation says otherwise, is important too. I've made sure to fix this kind of issue in Chapter 3 and keep record of what kind of information I'm losing as I adapt it.

#comic rant over!#thanks for the ask I really love talking about this stuff #soc comic adaptation #asks #comics talk

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dwyntwo · 2 months

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I looooove the SOC fandom. BUT. Something that annoys me just a tiny little bit is how lots of people have dead-set opinions, especially on Kanej, and take them for the absolute truth, and everyone who doesn't agree is wrong and "can't read".

There's especially lots of debates around the "No armor thing". How often do I come across posts that say "PSA, Inej didn't mean _______ when she said that, she meant _________". Then the notes are like "Honestly, anyone who doesn't see that this is how she meant it lacks literacy skills".

First of alll...quit insulting real people to defend your opinion over book characters. It's not that serious tbh. Being in a fandom should be fun, don't create drama, it's not worth it.

Secondly, didn't we learn in English class that all interpretations are correct as long as you can prove it? Maybe, just maybe, you aren't actually right. You can debate over it, just...don't act like you're the one who gets it and everyone else is "stupid".

Third, you know what, some people DO lack literacy skills. Some people DO read the books as shallow entertainment. Some people DON'T analyze the characters and draw all the correct conclusions. AND THAT'S OKAY.

I also saw one post where people literally took a screenshot of a young woman's TikTok where she called Kaz an evil Sherlock Holmes and all the comments were making fun of her. Guys...not cool.

At the end of the day, no matter how much the book means to me, it's just that: a book. The characters aren't real. You can have your opinions, it's okay. You can dislike a certain character, you can think they acted wrong in certain situations even if everyone else thinks they were right, you can think Kaz is an evil Sherlock Holmes if that's your interpretation. Everyone is allowed to enjoy the book in their own personal way.

Either be respectful when you see a take you don't agree with- debates with different view points, opinions and interpretations can be wonderful and enriching-, or move on, but quit insulting and even bullying people, please.

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

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theseventhcrow007 · 1 year

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Poison Apple (Kaz Brekker x Reader)

This title will make sense later I promise lol.

HI GUYS >:D First oneshot on this website, inspired by my last post. Hope you enjoy <3

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x Reader

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 858

Warnings: Mild Language, Alcohol

Part 1/?

The club is crowded tonight. More crowded than usual, you’d noticed. Maybe it was because of the ambassadors that had been visiting. Maybe it was because of the news of the ambassador that had been assassinated earlier in the week. People had assumed a Grisha was potentially behind it, naturally; or so the rumors said. But then again, rumors in Ketterdam weren’t the most reliable sources.

But that wasn’t the reason you were here. Someone had been following you, and you were fairly sure you knew who it was, even if you couldn’t see her. Inej Ghafa, the Wraith. Why she was trailing you, you didn’t know but in your mind the best way to potentially find out why was to head to the Crow Club.

“What can I get’chya?” You looked up from your seat, to see the bartender. “Whiskey.” You replied curtly. The man nodded, fetching a small glass and filling it with whiskey before setting it in front of you. You muttered your thanks to the man and sipped from the glass. You scanned the room, looking for the Wraith, but there was no sign of her.

You were torn from your thoughts when the bartender set another drink in front of you. “I didn’t ask for this.” you said, clearly confused. The man gestured to the back of the room. You gave him a quizzical look before turning around.

A man wearing a hat and a long coat waved you over. “Who are you?” you asked. “Nobody you need to worry about love. The boss wants to see you.” He laughed at your clearly confused face. “And what the hell does the King of the Dregs want with me?” He shrugged. “Dunno. Didn’t ask.” Still smiling, he pointed to the stairs. “Up the stairs, third room to your left.” You nodded, but he stopped you before you headed up the stairs. “Oh, the name’s Jesper, by the way.”

“Jesper,” you repeated. “I’m y/n.” He tipped his hat towards you. “Pleasure to meet you.” As you headed up the stairs, a million things ran through your mind. That’s why the wraith was on your trail. But what did Brekker want with you? You’d been known as a skilled pickpocket, as well as being the brains behind many projects, but known well enough to get his attention? The Bastard of the Barrel. Dirtyhands himself had noticed you. You passed by each of the doors, until you found Brekker’s office.

Before you even got the chance to knock, a voice spoke from inside. “Come in.” His voice was even, commanding. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t disobey. Hesitantly, you opened the door. There he was, his back turned to you, staring out into the rainy evening. He turned around and spoke. “You must be y/n. Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. The first thing you noticed were his gloves. You’d always wondered what lay beneath them. Rumors were all you’d heard. Not human, pure evil.

You sat down, waiting for him to say something. “I’m assuming you’re wondering why you’re here.” He said. You nodded. “I’ve heard of you. Your skill set. You see, I’ve been hired for a job, and I’m in need of someone with your abilities. I’m willing to pay generously.” You furrowed your brows. “Why me?” He clasped his hands together. “Why not? Word gets around quickly in the barrel. You’re quick, efficient, willing to do what it takes.” He replied. “How do you know this?” You ask. The barest trace of a smile graced his lips. “I have my ways.”

The wraith, you realized. “How long have you been tracking me?” You asked. “Long enough.” Brekker looked over your shoulder. “Took you long enough.” You turned around, startled by the young Suli’s presence. “Saints.” you muttered. Inej frowned at that. She walked brusquely past you and handed something to him. They exchanged a few quiet words before the wraith left.

“So you want me to work for you. What’s the catch?” You asked. “There’ve been too many who have been disloyal. If you’re to accept this job, you’ll need to prove yourself.” He pulled an apple out of his pocket, and cut a slice, with a knife. Inej’s knife you realized. He handed you the dagger, with the apple stuck to the tip of it. “This knife may or may not contain poison on it. If you’ll choose to eat this, you’ll have the job, and an antidote, should there be poison. If not, forget we had this meeting and return to the 5th harbor.”

Reluctantly, you took the dagger from his gloved hand. You stared at the apple slice, and contemplated leaving then and there. You looked back to Kaz, who waited for you to make your decision. Finally, you bit the apple slice, chewed, and swallowed it. You set the knife back on the desk, waiting for convulsions, or something to happen, but nothing did. Kaz nodded, and pulled a vial out from a drawer in his desk, and pushed it towards you.

“There’s the antidote. Welcome to the Dregs.”

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loststarphounix · 2 months

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Gundham’s biggest rival for Kazuichi’s feelings is definitely Rantaro. Like yeah he suspected that Hajime was another person he had battle against for the mechanic’s affections, but then he got together with Fuyuhiko and Nagito and that soothed his worries. He’s been playing the long game, trying to get the others trust before he makes his feelings known. It’s been somewhat successful- Kazuichi is more friendly towards him and likes hanging out, but he still doesn’t know the goths feelings for him.

But in their third year, Class 79 enters their first year and somehow the Ultimate Adventurer crosses paths with Kazuichi and the two seemingly become inseparable overnight. Rantaro always finds the time to come visit their class just to see Kazuichi (and Sonia and Ibuki but not nearly as much) and they go off campus alone nearly every weekend. It’s maddening and the breeder feels like he needs to act now before it’s too late.

He has the support of nearly the whole class - they’re tired of seeing the breede and mechanic have their “will they, won’t they” weird tango thing. Seriously, Hajime, Fuyuhiko and Nagito were never THIS bad. There’s even a betting pool hosted by Hiyoko (the brat) on how long it’ll take them to get together. Some have already lost, with the longest time period being five years-

So, as you can imagine, they’re all pretty much done with the whole thing.

One day, Gundham is hyped by Ibuki, Sonia and Hajime to try to ask the other out and they make their way to the garage, just to find Kazuichi leaning against his work bench, with Rantaro standing so close it looks like he’s boxing the other in. They’re both smiling like they’re sharing a joke, until the mechanic sees them and pushes off the bench.

“H-hey guys!” He waves, face beet red as he awkwardly smiles at the group. “What are you all doing here?”

Rantaro merely smiles serenely as he stuff his hands in his pockets. “Yo.”

Gundham frowns, pushing his scarf up to cover his face while Sonia and Hajime’s mouths twist into awkward upticks.

“HI HI HI HI!” Ibuki skips into the garage, her bubbly energy more than enough the banish the awkwardness, “We came to see if Zucchini wanted to go out to that new night club tonight! Ibuki wants to dance till her heart gives out!”

The smiles grows into something more fond as Kazuichi chuckles at the girls antics. “Maybe not until your heart gives out, but yeah! I could definitely do some dancing!”

”We were just talking about that actually,” Rantaro smirks, “I was just trying to convince Kaz to go with me. But more the merrier.”

“We’re gonna paint the town red!” Ibuki cheered.

“Wait - all of you? You mean Gun too?” The mechanic looks at the taller teen, his expression slack with disbelief.

Sonia, seeing her friend in mild distress, steps up. “Do not be fooled! Gundham is a demon of many talents and can certainly ‘shred the bed’!”

“It’s ‘cut a rug’, Sonia.” Rantaro beamed and glanced at the breeder. “I liked to see it. Never seen a demon dance before.”

Huffing, Gundham lowered his scarf at glare at the green haired boy. “Then prepare to be amazed, mortal! My serenade is bound to drive you to madness!”

Rantaro simply smiles serenely, but Kazuichi gives him a curious glance. He seems to want to say something, until he’s interrupted by an another student who tells him about a generator malfunction and they both rush off. The rest trail off in a less hurried manner, the up first year giving his phone number to Hajime when he discovers he doesn’t have it, before they split up. Ibuki is excited for tonight, loudly proclaiming all the fun and wonderful things they’ll be able to do.

Hajime laughs at her theatrics before turning to the other boy who has been suspiciously quiet throughout their whole conversation. “How come you never told us you could dance? Kazuichi loves dancing, you know.”

To his surprise, the breeder suddenly looks - scared? He looks away from them, burying himself into the folds of his scarf as he admits in a hushed, shameful hiss.

“I…I do not possess the ability of dance bewitchment.”

And the other three stop in, eyes wide in surprise.

Well. Fuck.

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danggirlronpa · 4 months

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Okay so you said we can send transfem headcanons SO here's two wlw Kazuichi ships. A messed up one and a cute one for flavor.

Kazujunko in this context is so interesting to me because I think Junko would realize Kaz is trans before she's even fully realized it herself, and absolutely use that to manipulate her into despair. She'd play the part of supportive girlfriend who teaches her about make-up and clothes but then fill her head with how the rest of society will mistreat and disrespect her, and how that will never change. How she has no option but to join her, and destroy society before it destroys her.

On the cute side: Soudabuki! I think Ibuki would do great at pulling Kaz out of her shell, help her find a style that fits her and makes her feel comfortable in herself for once. Plus, Kaz has a lot of issues with her appearance and self esteem so I think someone like Ibuki, who would 100% tell her she's hot to her face without shame, would do wonders for her. Also Ibuki directly rejects her in canon, so I think I'd be funny if Ibuki wasn't into guy Kaz but the second Kaz is now a girl Ibuki goes full AWOOGA for her like she does for Peko.

YEAAAH these are both so good!! Tbh I have a big brOTP soft spot for. Well, all the SDR2 kids, because I think SDR2 does by far the best in this aspect, but in particular Kazuichi and Ibuki. The whole scene in the second chapter of everybody meeting up at the restaurant is just so fundamentally Queer Teen Friend Group Meeting Up Outside School Hours. A lesbian and someone who thinks they're the token straight (they are not) talking about how hot girls are. Guy everyone in the friend group has a crush on was dragged along because he has nothing better to do. Everyone here should be tested for autism. It's all there babey

And Kaz and Ibuki in particular have a soft spot for me because they satisfy a big narrative hole in SDR2, with Kazuichi as the only survivor without someone who sacrificed themself on his behalf, and the third trial being the only one that doesn't have this sort of self sacrificial theme. I privately like to pretend that Ibuki somehow kept Kazuichi from getting the Despair Disease as her Best Bro She Talks Abt Girls With.

I love them as a M/F friendship, because I just love M/F friendships so much. But I'm DELIGHTED by the concept of transfem Kazuichi/Ibuki. The pipeline of "bro I talk about hot girls with" to "hot girl I talk about with friends" is so real. Kazuichi like "We'll still be cool right? We'll still talk girls?" and Ibuki going "Yeah of course! (HAJIME GET OVER HERE KAZ HAS BOOBS AND THEYRE SO HOT)"

#and we ALWAYS love a manipulative junko ship!!#i just chose to focus on kaz and ibuki because When Will I Ever Get The Chance To Gush About Their Friendship/Possible Lesbian Romance Again #asks #anon #talk to the mod #transfem kazuichi

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swanimagines · 2 months

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Bastard and the Blood Princess

Chapter 5

Read it on AO3 | Read it on Wattpad

The journey had gone in complete silence for some moments, you sitting across from Arken and inspecting him as he looked at his pocket watch, while telling you to load more coal every once in a while. You saw shadows going over the train a few times, indicating something moving over. Maybe they were trees, maybe they were ruins of old buildings - but you were pretty sure they were Volcra.

A clank echoed through the train, making you flinch and everyone but Arken looked up.

“What was that?” Jesper asked, moving his hands to his revolvers.

Arken gestured up. “I’ve erected a system of timers along the line. Bits of metal hung on poles to keep me apprised of our pace.”

Kaz looked at the fireplace, glancing at Arken. “How did you know where to put the poles?”

Arken smiled a little. “Physics and engineering account for… most of my success.”

“And the rest?” Inej asked as she turned to look at Arken.

“What we might call divine intervention. Others may call it luck. After all, the Fold is thick with Volcra, and the tracks are not complete.” He turned to you. “Coal, please.”

“I’m sorry,” Jesper said, his confusion shining through, “did you just say the tracks weren’t complete?”

“I said they aren’t complete.”

“What–”

Jesper almost lunged forward, but Arken stopped him by raising his hand up. “Ah, ah, ah, no moving. You must never shift your weight. There are wheels under the train, that will help us through the gap and catch the tracks again once we reach them.”

“How much longer will this take?” you asked, your eyes still glued on the crack on the roof. You had a terrible feeling, and every sense in your body told you to run.

“Patience,” Arken said, and another clank echoed through the train. “The noise might attract the Volcra, but it’s the only way through,” he continued, leaning forward and pulling a lever, and in a few seconds, you felt how the train jumped off tracks. The train shook and jumped and Arken shouted over the noise, “there’s a nest nearby, but usually I get past them unnoticed. It won’t be a problem and we’ll be fine, it’s unlikely that–”

A shriek. Another. Third, flapping of wings, getting closer.

Arken’s eyes widened and he immediately looked up. “Well, now we’ve got a problem!”

Everyone started shouting, and your breathing quickened as you saw dents forming all over the train. Jesper hugged the goat, Inej prayed and Kaz and you turned your heads as new dents formed around you. Arken ordered you to throw the rest of the coal into the fireplace, but soon, he turned grim. “We’re twenty seconds late.”

“What does that mean?” Kaz shouted over the noise, and Arken’s shoulders slumped.

“It means the train will stop inside the Fold and… we’ll die.”

You scoffed, leaning back and crossed your arms. “Should have guessed I can’t trust a strange guy with way too much confidence. I should have known that trusting him would get me killed!”

Arken glared at you, but didn’t say anything.

But then, Jesper suddenly stood up, holding the goat. He walked to the middle of the train, his eyes closed, as if all his fear had melted away and something that was not him had taken over. You almost believed Inej’s praying summoned something to take over Jesper, because that’s how calm he looked when compared to just moments earlier.

Then, he started shooting, and the train started picking up speed again when the weight of Volcras were taken off it. One of the Volcras managed to break through the roof, and Arken screamed. But Jesper, still so unbelievably calm, pointed at it with his gun, and with his eyes closed, he shot the Volcra into the head and it flew off the train.

Then, sunlight. You had gotten out.

All of you sat there for a moment in silence, just wondering about how close to dying you all had been for a moment there. Had it not been for Jesper, you’d all be flying across the Fold without your heads by now.

But you reminded yourself to get your head straight. You still had a mission. To get the Sun Summoner, and to get rid of the Crows along the way. And probably also Arken, considering he was planning to betray you.

After a moment more, Arken stood up, still shaking. “Right. Uh. We should go. There’s a pub around the corner where I’m usually meeting my clients before taking them over to the Fold, we can rest there and think about our next move.”

—

While the rest of you sat at the counter of the pub, Jesper gifted the goat to some lady who promised to take good care of him, and he gave the goat so fond goodbyes that you thought he’s going to marry it next. You watched him put a bullet around the goat’s neck, and hummed in amusement. When he came back to the table, you cocked an eyebrow at him. “You know he could get hurt if he gets near to the fire of something hot with that bullet hanging around his neck?”

Jesper pouted. “I had to give him something to remember me by.”

You nodded slowly a few times before shrugging. “Well, you can show your love in a multitude of ways I guess. I have never heard of one where you blow the other’s head off to show your love, though.”

Jesper’s eyes widened as he turned to look at you, clearly offended. “Milo is a very smart boy, he knows he can’t go near the fire.”

You couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Sure he is.”

Jesper spun around to face Inej while gesturing towards you, but she just shrugged. Jesper groaned, but then fell silent.

“Could we return to the real problem that’s waiting for us here?” Arken waved a little paper announcing a winter fete at the Little Palace. “The palace is crawling with guards and Grisha because of this party. Without Nina, we have no chance of getting in.”

“We’re in luck.” Kaz suddenly emerged from behind you. “There’s a good chance we can crack on. Now that we’re three days away from the capital, the next play is finding a way inside the Little Palace. It turns out Kribirsk Archive house the Little Palace blueprints.” He fell silent for a second.

You put your drink down. “But?”

“They’re kept under the lock and key,” Kaz sighed, but then smirked. “Far from the prying eyes of the masses.”

Jesper hit the table. “Yes!”

Arken looked between Kaz and Jesper. “What does that mean?”

Jesper patted Arken’s back. “Time for a heist.”

They stood up from the table, leaving you there, unsure if they wanted you to follow. Kaz turned to Arken, handing him some cash while muttering something and then met your eyes and nodded his head towards the doorway.

Jesper groaned as he saw you coming out behind Kaz. “We really need the Blood Hound?”

Kaz scoffed. “We don’t need her. But I can’t trust her enough to leave her alone with Arken.”

Jesper nodded, tapping his hands on his revolvers. “Right. Makes sense. Where will she be while the rest of us are inside?”

“I can pretend to be great sculptor Ivanovski’s muse,” you joked before Kaz could reply, and Kaz gave you a death glare. You sighed. "Okay, maybe not then."

Kaz turned his eyes away from you and back to Jesper. “She’s going to wait by the door as I’m tricking that archive caretaker. After I leave, I’m going to stay with her. We don’t need her until we’re in the Little Palace.”

Jesper frowned. “That’s the most crucial part of the plan. How can you know she’s not going to betray us then?”

Kaz gave you a side glance. “She won’t be able to leave without us. If she’s going to snatch the target without us and is planning to take her back to her father, she won’t get far without us catching up. She will wake up with a knife in her back as she’s paralysed and bleeding to death.”

You knew he probably said some of it to scare you, but some of it was true. If you were to betray them at the Little Palace, you wouldn’t get far. Especially not if the Wraith was after you. It would be pure idiotism to do that - you’d need to eliminate them first and only after that, take the Sun Summoner back to Ketterdam.

You knew Inej wouldn’t kill at this point, but high stakes were on the line and you didn’t believe risks were worth taking. What the Wraith would do under pressure - when her friends would be in serious danger. She cared too much to be part of a gang.

Something to use against her.

You imagined yourself bringing the Sun Summoner to the Emerald Palace. The moment they would see who you caught, your father would thrive. Dregs would be given two options, either die or join the Dime Lions. There were some who would be stupid enough to be loyal to Kaz, dead Kaz, but some would surely jump the shrinking ship.

—

The birds were singing. It was so different in Ravka, almost dream-like - blue skies, sun shining, flowers blooming. You couldn’t smell drainage anywhere, you hadn’t seen any rats, it almost felt like you were visiting the royal family, when you had been used to Ketterdam.

When you were a child, if you ever misbehaved, your father locked you into a cold cellar with rats. As you slept, the rats saw you as food, and you woke up screaming as they nibbled you. The wounds got infected sometimes, and your legs still had small scars from those times.

You learned that to prevent yourself from ending up in that cellar, you had to prove you were worth the Rollins name - being cunning and manipulative. Helping your father to trick those poor people who came to him for help. Only after being helpful in that in your early teens, you never again ended up in that cellar. You just had a natural talent to make people trust you - they never knew.

“Come,” Kaz’s voice pierced your thoughts again and he led you back to the carriage. “We are going to go and wait for Inej to come out.”

“Is everything alright?” you asked, climbing inside.

Kaz glanced back at the building before nodding at the carriage driver and climbing inside himself. “Jesper is securing her if something was to go wrong. I got us some uniforms so we won’t be suspicious while waiting.”

The carriage started moving with a tug, and with a frown, you met Kaz’s dark eyes. “Do you think I could ever be worth your trust?”

Kaz scoffed. “Me trusting a Rollins will never happen.”

“Why did you take me along, then?” you asked quietly. “Why drag me along if–”

“Pekka took everything I had left from me. The mere thought of having someone–” Kaz cut himself off and pursed his lips. “I need to find out if we really have a common enemy or if there’s a chance of you pretending.”

You felt a rush of triumph. Vengeance. He almost opened up to you.

You took in a shaky breath and held your chin up. “I swear, I’m worth your trust. Pekka needs to die for what he has done, what he did to my family - what he did to me, what he turned me into.”

Kaz looked at you from behind his eyebrows. “He will get what he deserves, whether you speak the truth or not.”

The carriage stopped again, and Kaz shoved a garment bag to you. “Put that on.”

Then, he exited the carriage, and you couldn’t help but smile. Your charm had started to squeeze its venom into Kaz.

#kaz brekker #kaz brekker fanfic #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker x reader #six of crows fanfic #six of crows x reader #six of crows #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone #grishaverse fanfic #grishaverse x reader #grishaverse #reader insert #batbp #the bastard and the blood princess

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