#*cries in jesper feels*

[darlingmoppy]

Hey hey WHO WAS GONNA WARN ME CROOKED KINGDOM WAS GONNA MAKE ME CRY HUH I DIDNT EXPECT FOR IT TO MAKE ME SOB ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH OK THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUN LITTLE TRICKERY AND CON BOOK :,(LOOK AT THE MESS IVE BECOME) NOT COOL LEIGH NOT COOL MAN

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Don't Go Blindly Into the Dark

Summary:

To hide that he can't read, Jan Van Eck has been forcing his son to pretend he's blind since he was eight years old. Wylan is now attending Ketterdam University, and meeting Jesper Fahey may very well be about to change his life. But is he safe to tell Jesper the truth? And what will Jesper say if he does?

Jesper is struggling to weigh up his life in the Barrel and his life at the University of Ketterdam, and there's a good chance that his growing debt is about to make the decision for him. He hasn't attended class consecutively for months, but maybe that will change when his newest project includes partnering up with Wylan Van Eck. But can he really leave the Barrel behind him? And how long can he keep up the pretence of who he thinks Wylan wants him to be?

Tags: @justalunaticfangirl @lunarthecorvus

If anyone else would like to be tagged let me know :)

Content warnings for this chapter: death, weapons, violence, murder, attempted murder, implied sa references, descriptions of dead bodies, blood, wounds, loss of parents, loss/refusal of cultural identity

AO3 link

Chapter 27 - Inej

For a while, Inej had just sat there and stared at the body. Ten people. She had now killed ten people. 

“You’ve got to stop keeping count,” Jesper had told her gently, months ago, after the sixth.

A guard on duty during a museum job, the sixth one. Inej had cried, afterwards, when they got back to the Slat and she finally had a chance to be alone. Jesper had found her and they’d sat together on this very floor, his arm over her shoulders, as she wept silently and tried to pray. Some had been worse than this - this was quick, clean, as close as she could hope for to painless - and some had been better. She didn’t cry for all of them, but the ones she did she knew the tears had been building behind a dam for too long and this was just the final shove that sent the wall crumbling and the river flowing free. Her mourning rose up and crawled over the edges of that deep, aching well inside of her, where all the tears she’d been too afraid to spill were waiting in the darkness to drown her, and she wondered if the grief was for the strangers or herself. How terrible of her, to grieve for the girl she’d been instead of the corpses rotting in her arms. 

She didn’t cry this time, but the threat was ever-present. Time seemed to pass strangely and in slow bursts until Inej realised that the sun had set and risen, and that at some point she had dozed where she knelt. Her leg was stiff and the pain was almost unbearable, but she could not sit here like this anymore. Liesbeth’s blood was pooled into the underside of her body with nothing to keep it moving, hanging in ugly purple blotches along the base of her neck, her bare arms, leaving her face ghostly white. When Inej dared to touch her she found that her limbs had long since gone stiff. They would stay like that hours yet, but that was fine. She had settled her moments after she fell, her mother’s knife pressed to her chest, her legs straightened, her puncture wound covered. There was little Inej could do about the blood that had spilled or the fact that Liesbeth’s other arm was refusing to be moved from where it had drooped across the floor, but she arranged the woman’s hair over her shoulders and briefly pressed their foreheads together as she whispered a prayer of safe passage. It was as close to dignity as she could give her. 

“Where is it?” asked Kaz, barely even looking up from his desk. 

It had taken all of the energy Inej could muster and more to get herself to the Crow Club. The pain was unbearable, a silent scream gathering inside her with every step and reach and climb she forced herself to do through gritted teeth, and the beast of a thing very nearly released itself when she tumbled through a Crow Club upstairs window and nearly fell right down the stairs. Luckily for her, Kaz had been on the mezzanine watching the progress of play across the floor below. He beckoned Pim to cover for him, then let Inej follow him to his office. Pim had stared at Inej as though she’d started to scream at the top of her lungs and do a tap dance, but she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised by that if he’d seen her coming in. The Wraith did not fall, did not falter, did not stumble. 

As soon as they were inside Kaz’s office and the door was closed behind them, Inej fell so hard against a chair it almost collapsed. She proceeded to groan into it until she’d run out of breath, her forehead pressed against the wooden back even for a minute after she was done so she was pretty sure she was going to leave a temporary indent in her skin, before she finally managed to lift her weight back up on her good leg and move herself to sit properly. Kaz stood, watching her, leaning against his cane in silence. She felt the blood rise in her cheeks, some horrible frightened thing crawling inside her with shame and fear and maybe even fury, and before he could even say anything she managed to spit out:

“It’ll be fine. Give me a week, maximum, and it’ll be fine,”

He’d just raised a slow eyebrow, and then taken his seat across from her. There was silence for a moment, as Kaz began to glance through some of the papers on his desk and did not look up. 

“Are you going to tell me why you’ve dragged yourself across rooftops on an injured leg and tumbled into the middle of my club wearing nightclothes with blood around the cuffs?” he asked, as calmly as if he’d been asking whether she was available to switch a shift, “Or are we waiting for another exciting surprise?”

Inej could have choked. She’d forgotten she was wearing her pyjamas, not even given it the briefest thought. If it was possible for even more blood to rush into her face than what already had, it definitely did. Saints, if the ground opened up beneath my chair right now I’d probably say thank you. 

“I-” Inej almost coughed. Words had left her and her voice was trying very hard not to exist, “I don’t-”

Kaz watched her for a moment, then stood up and crossed the room to one of the cupboards that lined the wall. His cane thudded loudly against the boards. Inej barely had the presence to let her eyes follow him; the pain and the panic and the something else - the thing that had been borne inside her holding Liesbeth Stoevelaar in her arms and sitting with her body for so long - were so blinding, thick and heavy like a fog that would not lift or a hand too strong for her to free herself from its hold. She had to fight not to flinch when Kaz dropped a small stack of clothes onto the desk in front of her, and for a moment she just stared at them as he walked back out of the office. That was what Kaz kept in his cupboards? Clothes?

Inej tried to get changed quickly, but with every movement her leg was screaming at her. When she was finally dressed and Kaz had returned, she told him that Liesbeth was dead. She didn’t tell him everything. 

She didn’t tell him that she’d thought she was going to die, in that moment when she saw the woman in her room and the pain was too great for her to move. She didn’t tell him that Liesbeth had wept in her arms and she had held her until she took her final breath. She didn’t tell him anything really, except that she had killed her. 

“Saints,” Liesbeth had said, as she stepped into Inej’s eye line, “I thought she’d never leave,”

Inej had really thought that she was going to die. Liesbeth didn’t seem to notice.

“How’s the leg?” she asked, smiling like a wild cat about to pounce. 

Inej said nothing. Her hand crept slowly towards the night stand, praying she would manage to open the drawer and collect her claws in time. Liesbeth pushed the little dining chair that Nina had brought in across the room and in front of the door - “To make sure we have some privacy,” - and then sat down in it. She was less than a metre from Inej’s feet. 

Inej did her best to shuffle slightly farther from Liesbeth, as though that would somehow make a difference, pulling herself up with shaking arms and dragging her leg behind her. Liesbeth crossed her legs and then leant forwards, planting her elbow on her knee and her chin onto her hand. 

“I’m very sorry, Inej,” she said, after a moment, “I want to make sure that you know that,”

“For this?” Inej managed, nodding towards her leg, “Or for what you’re planning to do next,”

“Well, in all fairness that wasn’t quite my fault,” she said lightly, “My blade wielded by another’s hand - on that, I don’t suppose you still have my knife, do you?”

Inej stared at her, then pulled the drawer of her nightstand open and picked up the dagger that Nina had forced out of her leg mere hours ago. Liesbeth smiled. 

“Oh, I’m glad,” she whispered, sounding disturbingly earnest, “Thank you,”

She stood up and tried to take the knife, but Inej leaned back and gripped it tightly in her palm. Liesbeth stood with calm patience as Inej turned the blade over in her hands. It must have been of some significance to the woman, because its heavy black handle deterred it from being an obvious choice and Inej’s blood was encrusted inside the grooves of a blooming rose engraved across the wide base of the metal. 

“Who gave it to you?” she asked softly, lifting her eyes to flick over Liesbeth.

“Doesn’t matter now,” she sounded less convincing this time, “The hopes and dreams of dead men exist in that knife, and I am relieved to have them returned to me,”

The hopes and dreams of dead men. Did she mean the potential of what the lives she’d taken could have become? Were Inej’s dreams to join this blade, forge this dark and heavy metal? Inej didn’t even know what her dreams were anymore. 

“If you tell me who gave it to you,” she said, voice still soft and low, “I’ll give it back,”

Who was she, but a thief of secrets? Even now. 

Liesbeth squared her shoulders, but did not falter when she said:

“My mother,”

Inej nodded.

“Let me draw my knives,” she gestured to the open night stand, “And then we can talk,”

“You can hardly move,”

“Correct. You might stand a chance,”

Liesbeth laughed, and Inej was surprised to realise that it was not at her expense. 

“Oh, Inej, I’m so sorry. Yes, take you knives, and give me mine. I really did like you, you know?”

“I quite like you, until you tried to kill me,”

Inej wasn’t looking at Liesbeth then, her focus was on the nightstand as she reached slowly to her weapons, so when she glanced back up she was taken considerably aback to realise that the other woman was crying. Silvery tears tracked down her cheeks and droplets glittered like diamonds as they formed in the corners of her eyes. 

“Liesbeth?”

“My knife,” she whispered, and Inej held it out to her, “Thank you,”

Inej nodded slowly as Liesbeth took the blade, not sure what else to do but continue to tighten her grasp on Sankt Petyr in her palm. 

“I’m sorry,” Liesbeth whispered again, “Really, I am. But I have to,”

“You don’t,” 

“I do. I can’t… I can’t let him do that again. I have to fix things or he’ll- I have to fix things,”

“Do what?” Inej managed, trying to back herself far enough away that the wall would somehow magically disappear and let her try to flee, “Who’s-?”

“I can’t do that again,” she shook her head, and Inej could see her fingers shaking, “He’ll make me, unless I put things right. Unless I prove that I’m still worth something more to him than that,”

“Liesbeth-”

“I’m so sorry, Inej,” she lifted her blade with shaking hands, “There are gods, there are mortals, and there are sacrificial lambs,”

Inej could barely piece together what had actually happened in that moment. The blade was moving towards her and, perhaps more on instinct than intention but she wasn’t really sure, her own knife had flown upwards. She must have moved just fast enough, or Liesbeth must have hesitated just enough, or maybe both or maybe neither; maybe this was just as it was supposed to be. Maybe it didn’t really matter how, but Sankt Petyr’s blade was lodged between Liesbeth’s ribs and both of them knew that she was dying. For a moment nothing happened, then Inej pulled her blade back to the safety of her arms. Liesbeth choked quietly, her knife falling from her fingers, and collapsed. 

Inej almost fell from the bed as she hurried to catch Liesbeth, and had to drag herself messily to the ground so she could kneel, bad leg stretched at the only angle she could stand, and hold Liesbeth’s quivering form in her lap. 

“My knife,” Liesbeth managed, through tight and failing breaths, “Please…”

Inej picked it up and pressed it back into Liesbeth’s palm. 

“My mother,” she whispered, tapping the rose engraving, “She didn’t call me Liesbeth. That’s the Kerch version. It changed when she died, when I was suddenly to be Kerch and Kerch alone. But my mother was Ravkan. I am Ravkan, somewhere in here,” 

Inej nodded, trying to smile at her, brushing a piece of hair away from Liesbeth’s eyes.

“She named me after her,” she pointed to the rose again, “That’s my name. My real name. Can you…” her voice caught in her throat, fresh tears springing to her eyes, “Can you say it? Please,”

Inej thought she might start crying too, but the press of tears slipped silently inside of her instead and found its pathway to that well. 

“Lizabeta,” she said, cradling the woman as though she could protect her, as though she weren’t the one who’d hurt her.

“I wish I remembered her story. I… I tried to pray, lots of times, but I don’t remember how to. I was so little when my mother left, and we weren’t supposed to speak of Ravka after that,” her tears continued to fall, “Do you think she’ll still accept me, on the other side? Even though I stopped praying?”

“She will,” Inej nodded, almost frantically, “They all will. You didn’t stop, Lizabeta, I promise you. You found new ways to pray, and she heard every one of them,”

There was a pause. Liesbeth, Lizabeta, probably only had seconds left. But still Inej slipped her fingers between hers and whispered:

“Do you want to hear her story?”

“Yes. Yes, please, that… yes,”

Inej knew that the woman was dead before she finished the tale, but she sat and told it to the final word anyway. Sankta Lizabeta of the Roses; the woman who turned the tide of an army with a swarm of bees, the woman whose blood stained white roses red. And eventually she lay the Sankta’s namesake on the ground, pressed her mother’s blade beneath her palm, and prayed for her. 

“Goodnight, Lizabeta,” she whispered, “Goodnight, Liesbeth,”

[barrel-crow-n]

Something that makes me crazy is the difference in how Kanej deals with their issues.

Kaz was hurt so he hurt others. He got scammed so he became the scammer. He was beaten up so he became the one beating people up. He found a way to thrive in the toxic cycle of violence in the Barrel. This keeps him alive, but makes him a bad person. Kaz doesn't care. Kaz left decency behind the second that was what was necessary to survive. He shrugged it off like a cheap coat. Don't like touch? Simple. Break anybodies wrist that dares touch you; break their arm. Give them a reason to keep away. Make them scared because that keeps you safe (and as a result will keep them safer from you).

Inej was hurt so she prevents others from being hurt. She hunts down slavers so children won't have the same fate as her. She can't just leave decency behind, her values and beliefs won't allow it. She does penance after every kill, she cried after killing the first time, she isn't keen on violence and only does it when completely necessary (at odds with Kaz that attacks at the slightest provocation to the point of everyone giving him a wide berth). The violence committed on her makes her angry (and righteously) but she doesn't lash out at everyone like Kaz does, she holds that back for a select few, to make them pay for the suffering they've caused.

Kaz felt like he died and became someone new so he leaned into it. He change his name from Rietveld to Brekker, he became someone new, a stranger. Nobody knew who he was, or where he came from. Kaz Rietveld was dead, and a monster had taken his place.

Inej also says that she feels like she died. She says that the girl she had been died in the belly of a slavers ship. However, unlike Kaz, she refuses to change her name. And dehumanisation links to this!

Kaz was dehumanised so he dehumanised himself further. Dirtyhands. Per Haskell's rabid dog. Demjin. Kaz thrives in this, because it makes him feel safe, it makes him feel untouchable. Kaz Rietveld was weak, so was replaced by Kaz Brekker. When that isn't enough, Dirtyhands is there to get the rough work done.

Inej was dehumanised so she humanised herself. She is not a lynx or a spider or a wraith. She is Inej Ghafa. She is a pirate vigilante, rescuer of slaves. And the interesting thing is that Kaz offered this to her too! He asks her "Is that what you prefer to be called?" (referring to her name, Inej Ghafa) when buying her indenture at the Menagerie. He is offering her the same thing he did. A change of name, a clean slate. But she declines. She is a Ghafa and no matter what happens to her, she always will be.

Kaz was traumatised so he isolated himself. He holds people at arms length because he sees them as weaknesses, or as obstacles between him and his revenge. He put his gloves on and doesn't take them off, he failed once with Imogen and decided to never try again. He yearns for connection but it only serves to isolate him further. Because they have no idea what it's like to watch friends hug, knowing you can never have the same. Kaz builds up armour (the gloves) but he doesn't tackle the root problem that is his fear of touch. He tried once and failed and quit (which is actually out of character for him, in contrast with him learning magic ceaselessly until he has mastered it - and shows how terrified he is and how disgusted he is at himself) and this serves to make him feel like he just can't. Like the dream of friends is hopeless.

Inej was traumatised so she seeks human connection. She has Jesper and Nina. She has the other Crows. She tries to heal, to open herself up. She might still flinch at touch occasionally but her friends are helping her and she wants to try and heal. She knows how to ask for help.

In all, Inej's ways of coping are a lot healthier. Kaz is stuck in a toxic cycle, and has been for years, but Inej is giving him a way out of it. Finally, he can make the step towards proper healing. He won't change his name back. He won't stop being a gangster. But he can feel more comfortable in himself and with his friends. And that's what Inej wants to give him, because she knows how important that is.

[undiscovered-horizon]

"Apple tree" - Kaz Brekker x Reader

[nudity]

SUMMARY: No one recognizes the melody Kaz sometimes hums to himself while lost in thought. Neither does anyone know where he disappears for entire nights or why he seems happier when he returns.

WORDCOUNT: ~ 1.5k

>>Grishaverse-inspired playlist<<

In those rare moments when Kaz is too focused on something to pay attention to the material world, a soft hum would escape his lips as though the tune could finally wriggle out of his cluttered mind and dance along the cold winds of Ketterdam. Set free, at last!

Jesper once asked him about the melody but Kaz only gave him a puzzled look as though he wasn’t aware of his own habit. Knowing that they can’t possibly force anything from their hard-headed boss, the Crows began making bets among themselves:

‘Probably just a barkeep’s song he can’t get out of his head.’

‘Some kind of a meditation technique.’

‘Maybe it’s a song from his neighbourhood?’

‘Lullaby his mother sang to him!’

But all of their guesses were equally good. Although, a more accurate expression would be ‘equally incorrect’. As months turned into years, the mystery remained, while the nosy rogues still aren’t any closer to solving it. What’s worse, they are beginning to run out of ideas.

Arguing about the melody in hushed voices, they never see him leave - only notice his sudden absence. This part of the enigma, however, is well-known to them: Kaz will reappear in the late morning the next day, a lot more patient and relaxed than he was the night before. Where could he possibly vanish to, they wondered.

Kaz hears himself quietly sigh in relief when your quiet voice reaches his ears. The longed-for sound comes from the hall, growing louder as you walk into your bedroom. Sitting on your bed with his back against the wall, he has a perfect view of your silhouette rounding the corner and entering the room. An uncomfortable tightness presses down on Kaz’s chest, the very same sensation he felt that fateful day when your eyes met. Despite all this time, he hasn’t yet gotten used to the sight: you emerge from the hall as though you were just breathed into life, with the softness of something oblivious to the terror of the surrounding world. He likes that thought, no matter how naive it is - that he can both have you all to himself and protect you from what he is. 

“Near my garden bloomed an apple tree,” you sing to yourself. “Bloomed in white, it had red apples.”

There’s something in your voice that he can’t quite put a finger on - a sense of longing, melancholy, as though the song becomes a coded message when it brushes past your lips; like there’s a heartache you haven’t yet shared with him. He sometimes wonders how many tears you’ve cried when he wasn’t looking but the thought makes him too angry to entertain it for more than a handful of seconds.

The lack of attention you give Kaz is quite deceptive. You’re standing right in the middle of the room, undressing a little too temptingly for it to be an accident. There’s no shame or shyness left in you - after all, he’s seen all of it before, many times. His eyes burn your skin in the same way a ray of sunshine feels against cold cheeks in the middle of winter. You bask in it, the desire that still burns after all those years, even if he doesn’t quite realize it.

“Who will pick them for me when my Johnny is cross?”

A horse’s neighing diverts Kaz’s attention from you to the cracked-open window. It’s like a robbery - the smallest gap can be an entrance. Or an exit, for that matter. Although your voice is hushed, audible only to him and yourself, Kaz begins to feel envious at the notion that the night breeze could possibly carry this sweet tune to undeserving ears. Perhaps it is childish of him to think that he could have exclusive ownership of you and this little song, to finally have something he can call his own.

“He’s angry but I don’t know why. Used to visit me but I don’t know why.”

His gaze returns to you, watching closely as you sit at the vanity. The oil lamp beside you lights up only half of your face, making you appear somewhat elusive, a bird of paradise that shall escape the moment you loosen your grip around its wings. You’re taking off your jewelery, putting it away to assorted boxes with utmost attention and care. Kaz can relate to this, in a way - years ago, when your romance was only buds about to bloom, he warned you that you should find another man, someone who can give you the lavish lifestyle you deserve and intimacy you certainly want. But you were more than unwilling to listen and that was, perhaps, your last mistake as the moment you gave yourself to him, Kaz was going to fight tooth and nail to keep the status quo. He is a crow, after all - a greedy collector of treasures.

“He visited me all spring, asking mother when I would grow.”

For the first time this evening, your gaze deliberately meets his. You’re still sitting at the vanity, sideways to Kaz, and you have to look over your shoulder to see his face. In that moment, there is something so divine about you, he begins to doubt his senses. His mind relates to various frescos and paintings of the Saints he has seen. Those same pieces of exquisite artistry bring thousands of people to their knees, bowing in front of faces as gentle as yours. Their hearts suddenly rejoicing in the presence of merciful, watchful eyes that only know love and care. No Saint has ever watched over him, so perhaps it is only natural that he should start praying to you. Epiphany, after all, is not an artifact of pews, old pages and litanies - it is the moment you see yourself through the eyes of your lover, only to realize that not an ounce of your soul could ever be unlovable.

That look in your eyes - he both hates it and yearns for it. It’s like you’re staring at something worth admiring. Kaz always thinks he sees there a note of mercy; a look of compassion and understanding given to a wounded animal that tries to remain threatening. Maybe you have fallen into a trap he didn’t even know he had set.

A few minutes pass by when you and Kaz simply watch each other. The silence is filled with nothing and everything at once - unspoken promises, words of poetry and grandeur that would only attract malice if said in Ketterdam.

“Something’s on your mind,” he breaks the comfortable quietness.

“You should get some rest, love.”

Kaz has a burning suspicion that you know very well what you’re doing to him with your small, albeit still groundbreaking, confessions of adoration. The closer he grew to you, to more of those affirmations he began to notice. Mostly, they aren’t straightforward but like snowdrops in February, they are apparent to those looking for them and by the Saints, does Kaz Brekker look for the confirmation of your love, never quite satiated. In words of care, ‘go to sleep’ or ‘eat something’, he’s learned to find intimacy beyond spoken language.

“I didn’t come here for rest,” Kaz informs. No one in their right mind would choose sleep over the presence of something too divine to be considered only human.

A wide smile creeps onto your face. How is he supposed to remain ‘the Bastard’ when you’re looking at him like that? 

“Then what for?” you coax.

He cocks his head, staring at you with a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Perhaps I just enjoy the view.”

“Oh my, did you just give me a compliment?” Jokingly, you put a hand on your chest. A giggle escapes your lips. 

“Would that be so awful?”

You stand up from the vanity, making your way towards him. His watchful gaze never leaves you, painting Kaz something of a predator - waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce. Climbing into your bed, you lay beside him.

“So awful I’d stay up all night thinking about it,” you say in a hushed tone.

Ever since he’s gotten comfortable with that, the motion of laying his head against your chest feels so natural to Kaz that he can hardly believe he has lived most of his life without doing so. Your muffled heartbeat rings in his ears and he unknowingly takes a deep, slow breath - you’re right here with him. Most importantly, you’re okay and that’s enough for him to put his thoughts at rest. Your hand brushes through his hair. To Kaz, intimacy feels perfectly strange.

In a voice barely louder than the calm rhythm of your heart, you finish the song that has bewitched Kaz about as much as you have:

“He visited me all summer and I kissed him for that. He visited me all autumn and I put apples in his pockets.”

When his consciousness dances along the line of sleep and wake, he feels your warm lips softly kissing his forehead. Maybe he has been wrong all along and it was you who had trapped him. Not that he has any desire to break free, of course.

[dasiesanddarkness]

when either Kaz or Inej is having a bad touch day they use butterfly kisses to show affection instead

it starts with Inej as a way to help Kaz at the very beginning of their relationship, but then later when Inej is having a terrible time and can't be touched Kaz asks her to hold out her hand and then he does it and Inej almost cries

Inej will do it in front of others, but it takes a much longer time for Kaz to feel comfortable with it. when he does it for Inej in front of Jesper for the first time she grins so wide at him and later tells him shes proud of him and Kaz is so pleased with himself for making her happy

[luvhughes43]

the proposal & the engagement

[blake hughes au]

request(s): Nico and Blake. Can u do something where Nico ask her to marry him? Maybe when they win the Stanley cup? & Nico proposing to Blake! Maybe at the lake house or in Switzerland?

word count: 1.4k

the past few games were tight, and blake could feel the tension in her body as she watched the periods drag on. the devils needed this win to take the cup, and the energy in prudential echoed the importance of the game.

"i think i'm going to be sick," blake announces as nico jumps onto the ice in the third period. "we're so close," she says, squeezing the hands of jesper bratts girlfriend.

"i don't think i can watch," one of the other wags replies before throwing her hands up in front of her face.

before anyone else can succumb to their nerves, meier shoots the puck into the back of the net and the arena erupts into cheers. "theres still two minutes left!" blake shouts, locking arms with the girls beside her. they were all wrought with anxious nerves and energy, that the only thing they could think of doing was hold onto each other.

the rest of the game goes by quickly, and it's announced that the devils won the game. "they did it!" blake screams, jumping up with the rest of the girls. she quickly grabs her phone, making sure to take a quick few shots of nico and her brothers celebrating their win.

soon enough, blake and the families were brought onto the ice. there wasn't a second to congratulate her brothers before nico scooped blake up in his arms.

"we did it, schatz" nico beams with excitement as he hoists blake up into the air. she wraps her legs around his waist easily, the words "Hischier 13" proudly on display across the back of her jacket.

"i'm so proud of you," blake cries, pulling away from nico's neck to kiss him. "you played so good... i love you... that was so hot..." she speaks between enthusiastic kisses.

when they finally calm down a little and blakes set back on her feet, nico makes blakes heart start racing again. "marry me," he says simply, as if it's the most normal thing to ask after winning the stanley cup.

"what?" blake gasps, her hands never loosening from around his waist.

"marry me, please schatz" nico repeats, a doopy smile etched across his face.

blake squeals, and repeatedly nods her head in approval. "yes - yes of course i'll marry you!" she removes her hands from around his waist and instead places them on both sides of his cheeks. nico leans forward and softly kisses blakes pillowy lips before theyre dragged apart by excited family members - nobody but themselves aware of the proposal.

∞♡

a few days later, when they are no longer hungover and exhausted, blake brings up the proposal again. "you know, when you propose there's usually a ring..." she teases.

nico looks at her softly and blake swears she could melt with the intensity of his beautiful brown eyes. "it's coming, i have plans set up" he assures her, opening up his arms which she gladly walks into.

she lays her head on his chest, "a double proposal... this is very intense,"

"nothing but the best for you," he kisses the top of her head, ignoring the mess of suitcases and clothes strewn around their room for their upcoming trip to switzerland. "i can't wait to give you the ring," he kisses her again.

"i'm waiting happily.. just don't take too long. i cant wait to 'officially' be your fiancée," blake leans up to look nico in the eyes once more.

"you won't have to wait long, i'm too excited to be your fiancé" nico smiles.

∞♡

blake.hughes

📍 valais, switzerland

liked by nicohischier, jackhughes, trevorzegras, and 42 871 others

blake.hughes sundays <3

tagged: nicohischier

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nicohischier waking up next to u is my favourite part of the day❤️🌞

jackhughes did not need to see the first pic but its nice that u two are having fun!

lhughes_06 sundays <3 at the lake house pls im bored

jackhughes missing ur dad ?

lhughes_06 that was a long time ago.. it's time we moved on

lucahischier no tag but im right there in the 2nd pic...

bestie ur glowing !!

user07 mom and dad are in switzerland🫡❤️

user51 she looks so happy ugh i will never get over them😭🫶

user23 the last pic.... ohhh blakes been feeding us for YEARSS

the first week in nico's hometown goes by in a blur. every relative, close friend, and neighbour wanted to congratulate nico and there were lots of catching up to do after the long and tiring season.

also, blake was proud to announce that her german speaking skills have gotten so much better of the course of the 4 years she and nico have been dating. it was relief knowing that she could keep up with his families conversations - even if she still wasn't the best speaker.

they had been so busy the first week that blake didn't notice her family suddenly going ghost for the 12ish hours it took to fly to switzerland. nor did she really notice the excited glances shared between nico's family as they wished them off on their hike.

∞♡

"nina's so sweet. she's been teaching me more german while you were hanging out with friends earlier and i really think i'm starting to understand better," blake explains as she trails behind an overly excited nico. "i just need to work on my speaking and pronunciation.. but each time i hear you guys talk i swear i'm getting it! i think by next summer if i keep practicing i'll be able to have full conversations,"

nico looks back at blake with nothing but pride. "i love you,"

she laughs, "i love you too?"

suddenly, they were both standing on top of a gorgeous mountain with the sun shining on both of them. as expected, blake steps forward to admire the view. "after all these years coming up here, i don't think i'll ever get used to it," she enthuses, and nico hums from behind her as he gets down on one knee.

"aw, nico look there's a dog all the way down there-" blake turns around and gasps. even though she was expecting another proposal with a ring this time, she's still surprised.

"blake, last time i wasn't as prepared as i shouldve been," nico chuckles nervously and blake giggles. "these last few years have been a dream and i can't imagine not waking up next to you or not wanting to spend all of my time with you. youre my best friend and i love you so much. will you officially agree to marry me?" nico asks, holding out the ring box and opening it slowly.

"of course i'll marry you," blakes voice is muffled as she drops her hands away from her mouth. "i love you so much," she cries, holding onto nico tightly when he finally stands up.

when they pull apart, he slides the beautiful gold diamond ring onto her finger.

∞♡

"congrats you guys!" jack shouts as soon as the front door of hischier house opens.

"youre here?" blake cries out, palms digging into her eyes as happiness floods through her.

"sweetie congradulations," ellen speaks softly into blake ear as she brings her daughter forward into a bone-crushing hug. "show me the ring," she asks happily, and blake gladly obliges.

"i can't believe you guys are all here," blake sniffles, looking up to see her brothers - trevor included - and her immediate family.

"i'd never miss your engagement goldie," trevor jokes as he slings an arm around blakes shoulders. "you did good," blake glances over at her fiancee who was talking animatedly with his friends and family - recounting the proposal to the fine details.

"i know," blake smiles sappily and turns to her oldest brother.

"i'm proud of you, goose" quinn teases but blake can see the tears lining his eyes. "you're so grown up now," he breathes out, pulling his sister into a hug that jack and luke aren't shy of joining.

over her brothers shoulders she spots her dad next to nico's and she excitedly flashes them her ring.

∞♡

blake.hughes

📍 valais, switzerland

liked by nicohischier, jackhughes, _quinnhughes, and 57 012 others

blake.hughes future mrs 🤍

tagged: nicohischier

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nicohischier my beautiful bride 💍 i love you ❤️

ninahischier love you two so much !!! congratulations💘

jackhughes brother in law secured

_quinnhughes congrats you guys!❤️

trevorzegras can't believe youre actually engaged (i was literally there) 😭😭😭

bestie i'm. sobbing. so. hard.

user09 did he propose while hiking?? omgg too cute😭

user63 OMFG?? OMFG??? OMFG???

user14 they're engaged😭😭😭

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[lilisouless]

Matthias: Nina, every time you ask something from those teen magazines, someone ends up crying

Nina: nah, it’s harmless,this people are mature. Hey guys, I have a fun question, from your friend group, who is the last one you’d like to marry

Everyone: I am not answering…

Inej: Matthias!

Matthias: at least you had the decency to pretend to think about it

Jesper : yeah I’d say Matthias too

Nina: mine is Wylan

Matthias: mine is Kaz to-wait, Wylan?

Nina: i know you are surprised but if I married Kaz or Wylan I’d end up sick for different reasons but in Wylan’s case i would feel bad to cheat or poison him like I would for Kaz

Kaz: which is the reason why my last choice would be Nina

Nina: now Wylan won’t feel guilty when he picks me

Wylan: but I wasn’t going to pick you

Inej: so,me? I get it, Nina is more similar in personality to Jesper

Wylan: no, i was actually going to say Kaz

Kaz: what?! …ahem…i mean…what? Wylan…why me? I mean, not that it matters, but since there are two women in our friend group…

Wylan: well,getting married doesn’t mean consummate the marriage, so i can have a chaste marriage

Kaz: i get it but…You are not attracted to women

Wylan: i am not attracted to you either

Kaz: yeah but…i am technically on the demography of people you are attracted to, at least more than those two

Wylan: nah. I think if you group the people I am not attracted to,it’s “women” and “Kaz”

(Five minutes later)

Matthias: i told you someone always cries

Nina: i am sixty percent sure Kaz was telling the truth about having an onion in his hat

[lady-ashfade]

Hello Darling, I was wondering if I could get Kaz thing were him and reader have know each other for ages and like with Jordie and she is the old person Kaz is kinds ok with touching, so one day when a heist goes wrong and Y/N gets hurt and Kaz is like freaking out thinking she's going to die and stuff and its like super fluffy and and like Y/N heals and Kazoo like doesn't leave her side

If you could do this it would be amazing

I’m right here.

Kaz Brekker x Fem!Reader

Hope I did this okay! Thanks for the request 🌸

Notes: This is short and fluffy. I also can’t do good aid or this type of thing so I hope it’s okay!

Warning: Pain to comfort, a little angst, blood, crying in pain, bad writing for sure, spelling mistakes probably.

The group rushed through the door almost breaking it off the hinges. “Get her upstairs.” Kaz shouted as Matthias held you in his arms, Nina by his side focusing on your heartbeat. Inej went to the kitchen where you kept your towels and collected everything.

You blood stained Matthias shirt and your eyes flutter, a groan or a whimper leaving your lips a few times. As soon as they got to the top floor of your home they rushed to the bedroom. “On the bed.” Nina fixed the pillows and the sheets, then patted the mattress. Matthias nodded his head and put you down carefully and tried not to give your extra pain.

Wylan almost sobbed at the sight of your arm falling and going limp. You knew who he was, who was his father and you never shamed him for it. He loved you and cared deeply, you were his best friend. Wylan turned away and into Jesper arms, who took him into his arms quickly. “Is she going to be okay?” He asked and kaz shot him a glare that he couldn’t see.

“Yes, now everyone out except Inej.” Nina’s hand tugged at your bloody shirt and they all went out quickly. Kaz stood still and looked at you, “Kaz, she’ll be fine.” Inej rushed passed passed him with her arms full and went by Nini. “I’m staying.” They didn’t have time to fight with him, but they knew even if they did he would stay.

They had no choice but pull your shirt off and leaving you in the thin layer on your chest. Kaz hated seeing your face curl into pain as they cleaned the wound. “Jordie” he remembered the small boy with a body underneath him, shaking it as he cried for his brother. He got light headed and sat down in the chair. Was he going to lose you too? Shaking his head at the thought because he wouldn’t allow that.

A scream cut him out of his thoughts, you opening your eyes as the needle pressed into your skin. “Stop! Please.” You cried at the pain in your side. Nina apologized as she teared up and Inej looked up at you guilty. “Kaz!” You looked up at him and he felt his entire body move on its own and he was by your side within seconds. “Make it stop!” You cried.

He took your hand in his and gave it a small squeeze, “You can handle it.” He stated and you shook your head. A whimper came out as the needle went back, “Can’t.” He leaned closer and rubbed circles on your hand. “You can, I’m right here.” You looked back at him and the pain became too much for you to handle, along with the blood that you lost, or the shock you felt.

Kaz watched your eyes fell closed and your hand losing its grip. He panicked and looked back at your chest and saw it go up and down. “I’m right here.” He whispered. Kaz held your hand the whole time and stayed by your side, even when it was all done. He refused to leave your side, if something happened while he was away he couldn’t live with himself.

Everyone came and stayed for a while, he was there. When everyone left to sleep he stayed there, Nina and Matthias stayed in the other room. Days passed and he was still in the room by your side. He hated the feelings of lose as if the old friend visited him again to take someone else. You couldn’t leave him, he needed you in his life. The light of his life and the feeling of comfort he so rarely felt was only with you.

Kaz sat in the chair beside your bed and his head leaned on the wall behind him with his eyes closed. You stirred yourself awake and took a moment to remember everything. You look around the familiar room and then down at the pain in your side. A bandage wrapped around your side and only in a bra. “Damn.” You cursed and put your head back.

A small snore caught you by surprise and you looked to the side and saw Kaz asleep. He looked calmer then normal but he still had a snarl on his face, it made you laugh a bit. As much as you could without hurting your side. “Kazzel.” You poked his leg. It took a moment and then shot up and it startled you a bit. He looked panicked and then looked down at you, he looked terrified.

“I’m okay.” You whispered with smiled. Kaz blinked as he saw you up and talking. “Y/n.” He pushed up and moved closer to and leaned down the bed. “Kaz, how long have you been here?” He swallowed. “As long as you have been out, you scared the others.” His hand came up to your cheek and softly moved his fingers on the skin.

“I’m not going that easy.” Smirked up at him. He looked at you and his eyes softened. Leaning himself down he pressed his lips against yours and kissed you softly. He was so afraid he would never get to do that again, or to have you in his arms or seen you smile. You took your hand and put it on his chest to remind him that you were still here.

“Good, because I don’t plan on losing you. You’ll stay with me, even if I have to bring you back to life myself.” He whispered against your lips and put his forehead on yours. And he was true, if he had to drag you out of deaths claws he would do it. He’d fight the saints himself to have you stay with him.

“You’re stuck with me, Kaz Brekker.” You teased and connected your lips with his again.

[kanejbr3kker]

Okay I always just assumed that the moment Kaz realized he was in love with Inej was when he says he wants to bottle her laugh because he kind of treats it like this huge revelation to him, especially when he says that the thought terrifies him, but then I was thinking, if he still considered Inej to just be a close friend at the time, why was she just chilling in his room with him while he did paperwork? They weren't planning out a heist, she was just there to be with him. Do you see Kaz letting Jesper do that? So when do you think Kaz realized he was in love with Inej? Obviously it was sometime between then and the first time they met, but that's at least a year if not more. Personally, I think it might've been after she made her first kill because in the book it says that she cried that night and Kaz had ignored it and I feel like he wouldn't have remembered that unless it was 1) something he really regretted or 2) a moment that made him rethink his feelings for Inej which would obviously impact him a lot in the future (or a combination of both most likely). I especially feel like it could've been this moment because Kaz talks so much about how Inej is "too good" for him and he loves that about her, how after everything she's been through, she's still managed to stay a good person, so since he's so ruthless and unafraid to kill people, seeing her feel so bad about killing someone would probably help him to realize how much he cared about her.

Anyways that's my little theory I've been working on all day (in my defense it's summer and I have nothing better to do). I'm honestly really curious what anyone else would have to add to this/share their own theory, so feel free to reblog if you have anything!

[babydollmarauders]

what about the first time the devils met el? i think that would be really cute! :)

i gaze down at the bundle in my arms, watching as she sleeps. Jack and i’s parents just left the hospital to go settle into their hotels, so the room is unnaturally quiet. Jack out in the hallway talking on the phone to Quinn.

i relax into my hospital bed, it’s around 11am, approximately fifteen hours since Eleanor was born, and i’ve only slept for two hours in that time. i’m just starting to enjoy the quiet when Jack walks back in.

“look who came to visit!” he exclaims, a wide grin on his face as a large group shuffles through the door, shy smiles on each guys face.

i can’t help but laugh. i should’ve known the team would come to meet El.

Nico, Dawson, John, Yegor, Jesper, Nate, Ryan, Dougie, and Timo all stand awkwardly near the entrance. meanwhile Luke plops down on the small couch in the room, feeling plenty comfortable, having already been here and it being his brothers baby and all.

“well are you just gonna stand there are you gonna come meet her?” i ask them, giggling at the way Nico pushes to the front of the group, quickly coming over to look at the baby in my arms.

“she’s so cute!” he tells us. “what’s her name?”

“Eleanor.” Jack replies.

“Eleanor Elizabeth Hughes.” i inform them. “El for short.”

“like Jack’s mom?” Dawson asks.

“yeah. mom cried like a, well, a baby, when she found out.” Luke says, making Jack smack the back of his head in defense of their mother.

“can we hold her?” Nico asks and i nod.

“yeah, of course!” i gently place the baby in Nico’s arms, making sure she’s positioned correctly. Nico smiles down at her, just enjoying the baby cuddles as the other boys start asking Jack and i questions about how she’s been the past few hours.

“has it been a big adjustment?” Dawson asks as Nico hands him El. Dawson grins as El opens her eyes, looking at him in confusion before closing her eyes again, not at the age yet where she cares enough about who holds her.

“it’s been different, but i think the big adjustment will happen when we take her home.” i explain, and Yegor nods his head, agreeing as the only other parent in the room. Dawson hands the baby to him.

“it’s hard at first, but definitely worth it.” Shara tells Jack and i and we both nod, as that’s what we figured.

“can’t wait for her to visit the rink!” John exclaims, watching her over Yegor’s shoulder. i laugh in response.

“you’ve got quite a while for that!” i chuckle, maneuvering in my bed to sit up more. Jesper makes it to my bedside faster than Jack can, placing an extras pillow behind my back. “thank you, Bratter.”

“well, maybe not that long. right?” Jack asks me and i smile at him.

“okay, maybe not that long.” i give in, rolling my eyes. the boys let out quiet cheers at my response, trying not to wake El.

Dougie holds her now, his finger clutched in her tiny hand.

“you guys made a cute one, i’ll admit that.” he jokes.

“thank you dougs.” i laugh, watching as he passes her off to Timo.

“she’s so tiny.” he observes, and i nod.

“six pounds and eight.” i tell them. “twenty inches long.”

“ha! Jack, she weighs the backwards version of your number!” Ryan exclaims.

“if only she weighed it the right way.” Jack jokingly pouted but i quickly shook my head.

“speak for yourself! you didn’t have to push her out of you!” i tell him, making the guys laugh.

Timo hands her over to Nate as we continue joking, the guys all fawning over my daughter.

“oh, you’re gonna be so cute on little skates.” Nate says, looking down at her.

“welcome to the team, baby girl.” Nico whispers, looking at her from beside Nate.

Jack stands beside my bed, his hand outstretching to grasp mine as we watch our friends look at our daughter in admiration.

“i’m gonna be your favorite uncle.” Dawson speaks to her, all the guys speaking up in defense of themselves.

“let’s be real i’ll be her favorite!” “uncle Nico is gonna buy her anything she wants.” “oh please! i’ll have you all beat!”

“are you guys forgetting about her real uncle? the one that’ll be living with her and helping raise her? i’ll be the favorite.” Luke finally stands from the couch for the first time in the past forty-five minutes, scooping his niece from Jesper’s arms.

[magicandpizza]

Hi. For the prompt game - number 9 please! Love your writing, thanks!

Hello, thanks so much! Hope you enjoy :)

9. “It’s hard to get used to being someone that someone cares for.”

Jesper wakes alone, Wylan’s side of the bed cold. He frowns, listening for any sound of his merchling, but hears nothing. Reluctantly, he drags himself from the bed to pull on some clothes and shove his feet into some slippers and leaves the bedroom in search of him.

He eventually finds Wylan in the office, hunched over the desk and scribbling numbers into the margins of a stack of paperwork, illuminated only by a single oil lamp.

“Love?”

At Jesper’s voice, Wylan’s head snaps up. Jesper takes in his messy curls, the dark circles under his eyes that had appeared a few days ago, and wonders how long Wylan has been working through the night.

“I couldn’t sleep,” is all Wylan says.

Slowly, Jesper crosses the room. “You should have woken me. I would’ve read to you, or something.” He offers Wylan his hand. “Come back to bed, this can wait until the morning.”

“It can’t!” Wylan cries, his hands flying to his hair and tugging sharply. His entire body pulls taut like a piano wire about to snap. “Do you have any idea how much there is to do?”

“Wylan-”

In the stillness of the night, his voice is far too loud, frustration and fear bleeding into every word. “It’ll take weeks even to sort out everything with my father’s estates, let alone the shipping companies, and then there’s my mother-”

“Wylan!” Jesper kneels in front of him, long fingers wrapping around Wylan’s wrists and pulling his hands from his hair. “Just breathe.”

Wylan looks at him, wide-eyed and panicked, and then his bottom lip starts to tremble.

“Don’t,” Jesper says gently. “Don’t cry. It’s okay. I know it’s a lot, but there’s no time limit on this stuff. And you don’t have to do it alone. Let me help you, Wy, please.”

Wylan doesn’t say anything for what feels like a long time, silence stretching between them. Then, voice wobbly, he says, “I’m sorry. It’s just… I still can’t believe that you want to help me. I guess it’s hard to get used to being cared about.”

Jesper’s already aching heart shatters. “Darling…” He cups Wylan’s face with one hand, stroking a thumb over his cheek while he struggles to find the right thing to say. Eventually he settles on, “Your father really was an arsehole.”

Wylan chokes on a wet, startled laugh. “Yeah, turns out it leaves a mark.” He rubs at his red-rimmed eyes and offers Jesper a hint of a sheepish smile as he breathes out a heavy sigh.

“Come on,” Jesper says decisively. “Let’s go back to bed.”

[ell0ra-br3kk3r-writes]

The Phoenix and the Crow

part twenty-nine

pairing: kaz brekker x fem!reader

genre: neutral

el's thoughts: i'm backkkkk it's been so long haha sorry for the wait! i hope y'all enjoy!

masterlist

A chill settled under Y/N’s skin as they were led through the glass tunnels. She could see the guys on the other bridge and it brought her comfort for a moment before they went out of sight once again. She sucked in a sharp breath through her nose and released it through her teeth. ‘Breathe.’ She felt her mind run a million miles per hour, running through many scenarios of all that could go wrong.

With one last look, through the glass walls that surrounded them, she spotted Kaz. Her heart clenched but she was quick to take a deep breath and switched her mind off. The constant buzzing in her brain was silence for the first time in years. The last time she had felt the need to turn off her mind was when she was under the Darkling’s hand.

“You won’t tell me?” General Kirigan seethed. “Fine. Have it your way, but do know that I was trying to be merciful.” The Shadow summoner nodded subtly to the Inferni in the corner of the room. She watched the man tied to the chair struggle as he tried to pull himself free.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” His scream should have felt deafening, but Y/N’s hearing was muffled by her thoughts.

‘I’m a soldier.’ She knew her orders and she knew what she had to do. It wasn’t the first time Kirigan had asked this of her, but it never lightened the burden on her chest. To take an innocent life. ‘He’s not innocent. Says who? Kirigan.’

She flexed her gloved hands, feeling the flames’ warmth weaving through her fingers. “I’m sorry.” Click. Her mind went blank. She was conscious enough to know what she was doing but at least she couldn’t hear the pain that her actions were causing. And if she tried hard enough she couldn’t even see her flames licking up the sides of the wooding chair the man was tied to. She couldn’t see the way his skin burned under her power. She couldn’t hear his cries of pain, begging for help.

In a way, it wasn’t her. She wasn’t killing the man in front of her. It wasn’t her. It wasn’t her.

Deep down she knew she was lying to herself, and in the long run, it would do her no good. But in that moment it soothed her soul and mind. So she lied. She lied to herself and turned her mind off.

Her body moved on its own accord as she proceeded through the line of female prisoners. Stripping out of her clothes and into the scalding showers, into a large area where the prisoners were told to change into the unflattering, gray uniforms. Once they were shoved into their cells Y/N finally snapped herself out of her trance. She waited a few minutes longer before she nodded to Nina, the Heartrender knocking the other prisoners out. She started to melt the lock and pushed the door open.

“Let’s go.” Her voice was hoarse as she gestured for the Grisha and Suli to go ahead of her.

The three of them walked down different hallways. It would only take one wayward guard to ruin their plans. The scariest part was traversing the walkway through the glass enclosure, a long, brightly lit stretch that left them completely exposed. There was nothing to do but cross their fingers and make a run for it. Once they made it to the refuse room, Y/N waited a few paces down the hallway to keep watch and wait for the others to join them. Wylan and Kaz had made it soon after the girls.

“Nina,” Kaz quietly panted and nodded for her to follow him. He quickly made eye contact with Y/N, his eyes softening for a split second.

She felt the pressure in her chest release for a moment before she drove her attention back to the hallway. She saw Jesper and Matthias quickly making their way down the hall. She gave them both a tight smile and led them back to the refuse room where they found Wylan and Inej. The room was smaller than the laundry and stank of garbage. Two big rolling bins full of discarded clothes were pushed against one wall, waiting to be burnt. Y/N felt the heat emanating from the incinerator as soon as they entered and she welcomed it with a soft smile to herself.

“We have a problem,” Wylan said.

“How bad?” Jesper asked, dumping the coils of rope he held on the floor.

Inej gestured to a pair of big metal doors set into what looked like a giant chimney that jutted out from the wall and stretched all the way up to the ceiling. “I think they ran the incinerator this afternoon.”

“You said they ran it in the mornings,” Y/N said to Matthias.

“They used to.”

Jesper had moved to pull open the doors but Y/N stepped in the way. “Can’t have you getting burned.” She grabbed the doors’ leather-covered handles and pulled them open. She was instantly hit by a blast of searing sir. It carried the black and acrid smell of coal—and something else, a chemical smell, maybe something they added to make the fires burn hotter. It wasn’t unpleasant. This was where all the refuse from the prisons was disposed of—kitchen leftovers, buckets of human filth, the clothing stripped from prisoners, but whatever the Fjerdans had added to the fuel burned hot enough to sear any foulness away. She leaned in to look far below, the incinerator coals banked but still pulsing with an angry red glow.

She placed her hand out, already feeling the heat reach her fingertips as she waved them around to mess with the ember. “Wylan get me a shirt from one of the bins.” She tore off one of the sleeves and tossed it into the shaft. It fell soundlessly, caught flame midair, and had begun to burn away to nothing before it ever had the chance to reach the coals.

She shut the doors and tossed the remnants of the shirt back in the bin. “Well, demo is out,” she said. “We can’t take explosives in there. Can you still make the climb?” she asked Inej.

“Maybe. I don’t know.”

“What does Kaz say?” Jesper asked. “Where is Kaz? And where’s Nina?”

“Kaz doesn’t know about the incinerator yet,” said Inej. “He and Nina went to search the upper cells.”

Matthias’ glower went dark as a rain-heavy sky ready to split. “Jesper and I were supposed to go with Nina.”

“Kaz didn’t want to wait.”

“We were on time,” said Matthias angrily. “What is he up to?”

Y/N had begun to wonder the same thing.

“He’s going to limp up and down all those flights of stairs, dodging patrols?” Jesper nearly scoffed.

“Inej,” Wylan called from one of the rolling bins. “These are our clothes.” He reached in and, one after the other, pulled out Inej’s little leather slippers.

Her face broke into a dazzling smile. Finally, a bit of luck. Kaz didn’t have his cane. Jesper didn’t have his guns. And Inej didn’t have her knives. But at least she had those magic slippers.

“What do you say, Wraith? Can you make the climb?” Y/N asked with a smirk.

“I can.”

Jesper took the shoes from Wylan. “If I didn’t think these might be crawling with disease, I would kiss them and then you.”

~*~

taglist: @katherinereid @littlecat21 @jahayla-parker @maliciousbrekker @brekkershadowsinger @brekkers-desigirl @clunaes @wonderland2425 @bookloverfilmoholic @karensirkobabes @bookworm-center @el-de-phi @so-get-this-sammy @skittleabyss @crispy-croke @cometsghost @auttumnsayshi

[usmsgutterson]

Hearts In Sync- Heartrender! Kaz Brekker x gn! reader

Okay!! It’s season two release day and the concept of Kaz as a heartrender is something I’ve loved and wanted to write for for a bit. I did say I wasn’t going to post anything today because I’m fairly tired and the emotions are emotioning right now (I have cried so many times today,, it’s not even funny) but I edited both this part and the second part already but forgot to post this yesterday, so I lied a little bit lol. 

This is part one! I had to split this fic up to avoid it getting to long, but fret not, the second part will come out tomorrow!

Fic type- this is hurt/comfort kind of? I can’t quite figure out how to classify it lol

Warnings- none

Kaz Brekker was known in Ketterdam as Dirtyhands. He was known as the Bastard of the Barrel, infamous for his gloves and his cane and his scowl that never lifted into a smirk for anything. He was known to be a ruthless killer, a reputation that took very little effort to maintain. 

It was low maintenance, which Kaz liked. It was low maintenance for the fact that the moment that he stretched a hand in a single direction, the automatic assumption was that someones heart either had just exploded or was about to. 

It was good, though, that his reputation was as it had been. It made people afraid, and at the end of the day, people who were afraid still made him decent money when they visited the Crow Club and were too afraid of Kaz’s intimidating presence in any one of the rooms to bother with cheating at a game of Three Man Bramble or Makkers Wheel. 

“You don’t view it as weakness now, do you?” Jesper asked. The two of them had been sitting at a table in the bottom of the Slat, the both of them drinking bourbon. “I mean, you let yourself fall in love. A man who lets himself fall in love can’t view it as weakness. Not when he’s you, and, even despite the cane, he’s practically invincible.” 

Kaz had spent many of his days observing people in love. He noticed the strengthened beats of their hearts in comparison to those who were not, the general happiness that couples carried simply by existing in one anothers presences. 

He registered his own heart as it began to race from the moment he was able to sense your presence in any given room, the smirk that he had to fight as he heard your footsteps approaching, the one he had to fight as you placed a still warm cup of coffee in front of him and sat down, the one he almost grew tired of fighting by the time he’d slid you the steaming cup of tea he’d thought to order in the final couple minutes before you were to arrive. 

“I don’t know,” he said. It’d presented itself as both weakness and strength a plethora of different times over the years. “I do know, actually, I just can’t really explain it.” 

“Ah,” Jesper gave a nod. “You Barrel bosses and your complex emotions.” 

Kaz only registered the familiar beat of your heart as you sat down to his right. 

“Barrel bosses aren’t really all that complex if you learn how to read their expressions,” you said. 

“Bold to say that when discussing a man who’s face always looks monotonous.” 

You shot Jesper a grin as Kaz slid you the tea. “Yeah. He views emotions as weakness, I think.”

“You can read his expression no doubt,” Jesper said, and Kaz found himself smirking momentarily at his bourbon. Even if his face remained monotonous, you knew the right places to look to determine what Kaz had been feeling. You saw it in a way that nobody, not even the ever so observant likes of Inej or Wylan, ever could. 

You paused, shot Kaz a look. Worth it?” 

Kaz only shrugged.

In the seconds to follow Kaz ignored the feeling of your gaze moving across his face analytically, he registered how face your heart had begun to race, felt himself fight a smirk as he realized that his heart had been beating faster than yours. 

“He’s missed me,” you said. “And he’s wondering about the deal. The bourbon he’s been drinking has long lost the effectiveness it used to carry and is now just sour and cold, and he misses the coffee he would normally be drinking during the day. Bourbon isn’t his usual, so he’s probably either looking to get some rest earlier than he would or he just wanted a quick way to get drunk enough to sleep but the bourbon hasn’t been worthwhile enough for him to have another.” 

Kaz met your gaze, blinked surprisedly as Jespers eyes widened. He seemed to be just as shocked as Kaz had been. Someone who was able to read his expressions as easily as you had always been a bit of a surprise, and it never was something he got used to. 

“The deal went fine, by the way,” you said. “All is well and good. Got the building for a discounted price after I mentioned some infidelity on the sellers part. He’s gonna be pissed when he goes home tonight to find his wife has thrown his shit onto their front lawn, but it was worth it.” 

“Ah, so the continuation of using the dirt against our enemies continues,” Jesper said, grinning slightly. “Glad to know that we of the Dregs like our traditions. Speaking of using the dirt against our enemies, however, whens the next heist?”

“Bloody hell, don’t tell me I forgot to mention it? Fuck, I knew there was something I neglected to mention last night. Do me a favor and pass the info along to Wylan as well, will you? We leave for a heist in The Wandering Isle, on the behalf of the king and queen of Ravka, in eight days time,” Kaz said. 

“Two hundred thousand is the payoff, but Nikolai has been so generous as to send along a fully manned boat and a crew to sweeten the deal. The boat is engine powered and it’s ours once the heist is said and done. Called it a gift and let me know that, should the officials from the other countries agree, we’ll be looking at closer to half of a million. Half a million across seven people is worth it, with the adage of a boat that will make getting to Ravka, leaving it, that much easier? I couldn’t refuse.” 

“Nikolai is one of the best negotiators I’ve ever seen,” you said. “Damn him and his charms. We’re sitting at two hundred thousand currently but if he and Zoya can charm the socks off of a few leaders, we’ll be getting 71,000 and some change, when split seven ways.”

“I’m in,” Jesper said. “Wylan will be, too, I think. He misses it; the usage of bombs with criminal intent. A demo man will be needed on the job, correct?” 

“A demo man is never useless,” Kaz agreed. “Especially not in The Wandering Isle. The stuff we’re grabbing is highly guarded and the penalties for taking most of it is death by hanging, and even as such, I doubt that doing so with the permission of the king and queen of Ravka will get us pardoned. The things that we’re taking originally belonged to Ravka and the other countries with which it has temporarily allied itself, but locals don’t know that, and the government likes it kept that way. A few dozen explosions will only do us good.” 

“Rest of the crew?”

“It’s us, Inej, Nina, Matthias and Wylan. Nikolai was also so kind as to allow a healer to be dispatched from his staffing at the palaces so that any fatal injuries can be treated. Provided nobody finds our boat and kills the crew, we’re practically set.” 

Jesper grinned as he got up. “I’ll go tell Wylan the good news. Enjoy the next eight days of heist prep.”

Kaz scoffed. “I will,”

Both you and Kaz watched Jesper go, a quick and easy rhythm settling over you as you conversed. You talked until you had to pick up a shift behind the bar at the Crow Club and Kaz returned to his office to look over heist plans. 

-

Eight days later, you were standing at the ships farthest right, grin on your face and eyes brightened by the dim light of the sunset as you kept an easy hold on a cup of tea whilst the boat moved closer and closer to the Wandering Isle. 

Your forearms were draped over the boats edge, your eyes on the sunset as Kaz approached. He stood to your right, shooting you a smirk. 

“You’ve always had quite the affinity for sunsets.”

“And you have always had quite the affinity for joining me to watch them,” you said. “Not that I mind. Your presence is about the only thing that’s relaxing to me right now. I checked the forecast in the Wandering Isle. Rain for the entirety of the time we’ll be in the city, and snow the moment we’re due to leave. It feels odd to me.” 

“Rain means good luck in Ketterdam,” he’d said, and it had been true. A lot of the heists with the best payouts seemed to come about either just before, just after, or sometime during a period of rain. You should’ve been thinking of the rain to be lucky, not the opposite. 

“I know it does,” you said. “And I know you’ve thought through every possible outcome because that’s what you do, but I’m still--I just don’t trust it. I have no idea why I don’t trust it, but I feel like whatevers left that can go wrong will.” 

“If something does go wrong, we’ll fight through it together,” Kaz said. 

“I love you,” you whispered. 

Kaz turned his gaze to the skyline for a moment for a moment before he looked away. “Always.” he whispered back. 

Silence draped itself over the two of you, though it was a comfortable one as it had always been. Kaz listened to the sound of his own heartbeat for a while, only to stop and listen to yours. 

He realized rather quickly that they were beating at the same rate. It made him remember a study he’d read wherein it was found that couples heartbeats and respiratory rates often synced up, and that just made him scoff, smirking at you as he watched you drink your tea.

“What?” You asked. “I don’t have something on my face, do I?” 

“No,” Kaz said. “Just admiring the view of the sunset, is all.” 

You grinned, taking in his face. “You love me too, Brekker. I can see it in your eyes, in the fact that you’re standing closer to me than normal. You’re also worried because I’m worried, and I appreciate that. Thank you for validating my concerns.” 

“Always,” Kaz said again, and the comfortable silence took the both of you over once more, contentedness wrapping itself around you both much in the manner of a blanket as it did. 

[targaryenluvs]

In a dark and rainy night, reader and jesper spend time cuddling in bed until next morning. anything for this man because he seems to give the best cuddles 🫣

Stormy Days and Warm Beds

jesper fahey x fem!reader

warnings: none really, bed invasion courtesy of reader, cuddles n kisses?? (hope you like it 🤭) pillow fights, this is so fluffy i love it

You and Jesper had been together for only a few months. You’d been careful at the start since you knew Jesper and his uh, extracurricular activities were a known fact. He was a gorgeous, flirt sharpshooter how could he not be having fun?

You didn’t want to get your hopes up since you knew how your friend was.

But overtime his flirty side seemed to only be on around you, his smile always beamed when directed at you, he’d straighten in his chair when you entered the room and you’d once caught him whining about you being sick since he wanted to take you out to dinner.

You knew he was only yours.

And the two of you were like koalas, always clinging onto each other as if the other was a tree. You’d play with rings in order to calm yourself down sometimes, Jes would play with your hair on the regular, you’d read to him but he’d never pay attention when he was feeling extra affectionate.

Kaz even had to alter the boarding at the Slat since the two of you (Jesper begging him in his office when he had the time) always whined about being so far apart.

So when the two of you were apart, it was dreadful.

Like now, Jesper was currently out scouting with Inej and they had been for over two days. Trying to draw up a definitive schedule of a certain Museum owners daily life. They were far from the Barrel on the opposite side of Ketterdam, night and day, meaning they hadn’t come back at all.

And it was so hard to not try and run over. But Kaz explained, (multiple times since you wouldn’t take no for an answer) too many people would draw attention and you would distract Jesper vice versa.

So you settled for the next best thing, his room.

The bed was warm for some reason, the reason being Jesper had convinced Nina to swap roles with him so he could come home under the false pretence of him being ‘Too beautiful to camp out in such a dump.’

He didn’t want to disturb you so he figured he’d see you in the morning but before he could sleep his hunger became evident, so he’d gone for food downstairs.

The pillow smelt so much like him it was crazy. You’d figured it would have faded a little by now but it was so strong you were bewildered but also absolutely knackered so you ignored it, until-

“Oh. Hello random woman in my bed.” He grinned as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. (iykyk)

“Jesper Fahey I am not a random woman.”

“Samantha is that you?” Jesper joked as he approached your side of the bed as you got up and smacked him on the side with his pillow, but he quickly managed to grab it from you and throw it to the side as he took off his boots and jumped beside you eliciting a large groan from the bed underneath.

“Careful you’ll break the frame.”

“Oh no, have I seriously put on that much weight in two days? Must be all the cake.” He fake panicked whilst touching his stomach.

“Oh yeah, you’re unrecognisable.” You laughed as you laid your head on his chest whilst he brung the duvet over the two of you.

“Saints seems like I’ll have to work twice as hard to keep you in my arms love. Might as well lock you in now.” He said as his arms cages you in, then promptly attacking your side.

“Stop! Stop! I’m already here! I’m not going an-anywhere.” You cried out as you tried to wriggle out and away. He stopped and smiled proudly, “That easy huh? What do I have to do to get you out of your-”

“Jesper!”

He laughed again and you settled your arm on his chest and looked up at him as he looked down, “You take my breath away. Every time I look at you Y/n.”

You grinned, “Star struck are we?”

“Oh everyday.”

The two of you giggled and fought and kissed until the sun came up. You wouldn’t change anything about him, and he would.

Your last name perhaps?

[subject-layla]

Both Kaz and Jesper try not to show emotion when saying goodbye to Inej, but the way is completely different. Kaz is detached, we see him nod, and he looks younger asking her to stay. At the same time, he won't let himself feel, even if he is alone. He stands tall, hold his head high, pretends he isn't affected, even if anyone can see through. Jesper is the opposite, he breaks and cries, he is supportive, he doesn't ask for her to stay, doesn't offer going with her. That scene is such a nice parallel with the "I won't tell you what you should do with your chance of freedom" but also it adds so much to the dynamic. In the show! universe, for the longest time it was the three of them, the "original" crows. Now, Inej is leaving and nothing will be the same.

(I still have strong opinions about the way season 2 missed the point with so many decisions and deleting this scene is a crime truly)

[inkpot-winters]

a hozier song each for the shadow and bone characters *this is based off of the netflix series versions of the characters

Alina Starkov - Sunlight All the tales the same Told before and told again A soul that's born in cold and rain Knows sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

Aleksander Morozova - From Eden Honey, you're familiar, like my mirror years ago Idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword Innocence died screaming; honey, ask me, I should know I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door

Malyen Oretsev - Jackie and Wilson Lord, it'd be great to find a place we could escape sometime Me and my Isis growing black irises in the sunshine Every version of me dead and buried in the yard outside We'd sit back and watch the world go by

Nikolai Lantsov - Take Me To Church If I'm a pagan of the good times My lover's the sunlight To keep the goddess on my side She demands a sacrifice

Genya Safin - To Be Alone All I've ever done is hide From our times, when you're near me Honey, when you kill the lights and kiss my eyes I feel like a person for a moment of my life

Nina Zenik - Nina Cried Power It's not the wall, but what's behind it Oh, the fear of fellow men is near assignment And everything that we're denied By keepin' the divide It's not the wakin', it's the risin'

Matthias Helvar - Foreigner's God Her eyes look sharp and steady Into the empty parts of me But still my heart is heavy With the hate of some other man's beliefs

Kaz Brekker - Eat Your Young I wanna race you to the table If you hesitate, the gettin' is gone I won't lie if there's somethin' to be gained There's money to be made, whatever's still to come

Inej Ghafa - Cherry Wine Her fight and fury's fiery Oh, but she looks Like sleep to the freezing Sweet and right and merciful, I'm all but washed In the tide of her breathing

Jesper Fahey - Would That I With each love I cut loose, I was never the same Watching still-living roots be consumed by the flame I was fixed on your hand of gold Layin' waste to my lovin' long ago

Wylan Van Eek - Someone New There's an art to life's distraction To somehow escape the burning wait, the art of scraping through Some like to imagine The dark caress of someone else; I guess any thrill will do