Kaz is Wylans father figure in the way an estranged big brother, who only found out he had a little brother through a great tragedy, steps up to be a father figure.

he's trying to try his best, but he stills sucks at it, tremendously. he's not his father, doesn't want to be, but if someone asks to meet wylans father, he would show up (and he'd commit a felony to keep Van Eck away), and no one cares to question him on it. he's hard on Wylan cause he wants him to be better, but also just because he's an asshole. half the time he barely feels like he's this kids brother, cause technically he isnt, but other times he feels like if he isn't there to protect Wylan he would implode, if something happened to him he would lose a part of himself.

Kaz doesn't know where his love and protectiveness of Wylan is because the boy is one of his crows snd what's because himself in this fatherless boy and hopes to change him for the better, attempting to give him what he himself didn't have. a family, and everyone's got a role to play, even him.

Wylan doesn't question it, he's to scared to, to break and down and potentially come to the conclusion that he's just deluding himself. but then he finds himself asking Kaz for permission for menial things, not cause he needs kaz's approval, but they both like knowing he's aware of wylan's day to day activities. wylan stops stumbling over his words when Kaz makes sure he eats or stays warm during his first few winters in the barrel. eventually wylan's more than used to the ceaseless, not very concealed, worry from Kaz. before he and Jesper make it official, he plays with the name brekker. wylan brekker. cause little brothers always aspire to be like their big brothers, even just in name. (and it's so much better then Van Eck or Hendricks)

they look up to each other, in the way a big brother feels pride when they see they were successful, their kid brothers gonna be fine, and then winces when they see a little too much of themselves and not just the good parts. or a little brother who watches their big brothers every move, deciphering every glare, every twitch, every word, noting it down and practicing it in the mirror. the little brother, that for better or for worse, wants to be just like their big brother. we know they were both successful in that.

it's the rough, frankly on and off, chaotic love of an older sibling and the gentle yet demanding love of a father rolled into one fucked up relationship between 2 fucked teenagers with ✨family issues✨

Wylan needed a father, Kaz needed a brother. they got each other, two strangers who were just a little too similar, and became family.

they have a weird vibe, I love it.