Chapter Text
Wylan groaned when the doorbell echoed through the house. He had been trying, and of course failing, to make heads or tails of the files left open on his father's desk. He wanted to know what got him, what pulled Jan Van Eck under. But instead he was met with constant people knocking down the door for meetings or media or a comment from Wylan about his father being taken into custody.
"I make no comment about-" Wylan's words were knocked from his chest by arms swooping around him and spinning him in the air.
"Oh baby-" Jesper cheered, lifting Wylan off the ground. He kissed Wylan's cheek. "You have no idea how much I've missed you, my love. Oh my god, you have no idea." Jesper let Wylan's feet touch the ground but he didn't let go, peppering kisses over his laughing face.
"Jes, stop-" Wylan giggled. "Hi." He smiled, finally getting to see the gorgeous steel eyes he had missed so much. He wrapped his arms happily over Jesper's shoulders, leaning up on his tip toes to nudge their noses together. Wylan couldn't help but kiss him.
Jesper was beaming. Wylan had never felt so in love. His knight in shining silks and plaid. The silk shirt and faux kilt was a look that Wylan would usually roll his eyes at and fawn over in private, but after just over two weeks apart- Wylan was drinking in his visage like the fountain of youth. He had never felt more alive.
"I can't to get you out of here." Jesper said between kisses. Wylan laughed softly, leaning out the door to peer down the drive.
"Are you planning on one man army-ing it?" Wylan chuckled, his smile barely faltering.
"They gave me a five minute headstart." Jesper picked Wylan back up, spinning him again. "Knew I wouldn't want to share you right away. So, y'know." He held Wylan so close to his chest, as if he was trying to press them into one being. "God, I love you."
"I love you too." Wylan kissed him, never more excited to feel Jesper's soft lips against his than he was after a drought of the feeling. "God, I missed hearing your voice."
"I would've called but-"
"But Kaz wouldn't give you the burner number, I know." Wylan shrugged. Jesper looked more confused than Wylan expected.
"Wait. Burner?" Jesper shook his head. "What do you mean burner?"
"The phone that Kaz put in my flute case? You didn't-?" Wylan rolled his eyes with a silent gasp. "Kaz didn't tell you."
"Oh I'm going to kill him." Jesper looked back down the driveway, spotting something out of Wylan's view. "I'm gonna kill you, Kaz." He yelled down to where Wylan assumed the small moving truck was parked.
The click of Kaz's cane was loud against the stone walkway. "What did I do now?"
"Uh... had contact with Wylan and didn't tell me?" Jesper pulled Wylan tight to his chest. He turned so his shoulders were to Kaz and Wylan was safely kept away from him. Wylan tucked his face into Jesper's chest, not quiet ready to look Kaz in the eye yet. Even with all Kaz had done to help him, he still felt the shatters of his heart stabbing in his chest. "How could you? I trusted you." Jesper joked, scoffing.
"It makes the reunion all the more sweet." Kaz smirked. "Does it not?"
"Alright fine." Jesper dropped the pseudo upset act, giving Kaz a smile and a wink. "You make a fantastic point, darling-" Jesper mirrored his grin, pulling Wylan from his chest to press a kiss to his lips. "A great reunion indeed."
"Good to see you unshackled, Wylan." Kaz was unreadable. Wylan leaned against Jesper as he finally met Kaz's eyes. Jesper reached a hand out to Kaz, who of course didnt take it. He stepped just slightly closer.
"I... missed you. Kaz." Wylan sighed, the admittance made him feel hollow. "Thank you. For whatever you did." Wylan almost missed the twitch to his lips, Kaz barely smiling.
Jesper slipped around Wylan, his hands still around the smaller man's waist. Wylan watched him with a smile, barely noticing Kaz step closer. He startled when he felt a gloved hand on his cheek.
"You understand it was just business, right?" Kaz's voice lowered to a whisper.
Wylan's brows furrowed. He shook Kaz's touch from his skin. "Just business?" Wylan frowned. "Which part? Hmm? The breakup or just about all of it. Was it business to hurt me, Kaz?" Wylan didn't still hurt, despite the wanting feeling in his chest that tried to convince him it was all for show.
"This is hardly the time." Kaz dismissed, adjusting his glove. "Besides, I thought you missed me." Kaz seemed to laugh to himself.
"Of course." Wylan scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I suppose I have to make an appointment then, Mr Brekker? Book a time to have a real conversation with someone who claimed to care about me." Wylan wanted to get in Kaz's space. "I can miss you and still be hurt by you, You know."
"Wy-" Jesper tried to get him to ease, but Wylan was two tired, too exhausted, too done to face Kaz and be told he cant be at least very pissed off. "Maybe Kaz is right? We can do this after we get you home."
"If Kaz wants me there. He needs to prove it." Wylan slipped from Jesper's arms. He stood tall as he could in front of Kaz.
"I do." Kaz rolled his eyes.
"Great. Prove it." Wylan snapped.
Behind them, down the walk, Inej, Nina and Matthias started making their way. Nina took a step to swoop Wylan into a hug but she stopped. Seeing him sizing up Kaz had the three of them rushing to try and calm the tension.
Inej saddled to Kaz's side. "What has he done now?" She asked Wylan directly, seeing the closest the crowd had seen to an angry Wylan.
"I am simply asking him to prove he wants me to go home. I know he fought for me, I know he did all this to pull the rug out from under my father. But did he want more to have me back or did he want more to take my father down?" Wylan crossed his arms, standing tall despite being shorter than Kaz. Kaz smirked.
"Can't it have been both?" Kaz tilted his head, seeming almost condescending. It sure looked it to Nina who put a hand on his shoulder before he shrugged her off.
To Jesper and Inej however-
This was the closest Kaz got to actual flirting.
"Perhaps." Wylan matched the tilt of Kaz's head, blue eyes watching icy blue. "But that doesn't mean you can just hurt me and expect me to run back because you have Jesper and Inej to comfort me."
"What else would you do, hmm?" Kaz's grin didnt faulter. "Stay in this hell? You know you'll be better at home. With us." Wylan scoffed, shaking his head.
It was... strangely entertaining watching them dance around each other like this. It was clear that Wylan just wanted Kaz to say what he wanted, to say what he was refusing to admit. And Kaz was enjoying dangling his refusal over Wylan's head. Which one was going to give first was hard to tell, but Inej and Jesper were eyeing each other over the boy's shoulders.
"Go get your things." Kaz waved a hand. "Had you even unpacked?" Wylan's silence answered for him. Kaz chuckled softly. "As i figured. What room?"
"Fourth in the left wing." Wylan said. Matthias pulled Jesper off with him into the house. Jesper faintly muttered something about there being a left Wing to this unreasonably massive house. Nina hooked her arm through Inej's and they followed behind Jesper and Matthias. "Of course, I didn't unpack, Kaz. I knew you had a plan. Knew even before the phone in the flute case."
"So you trusted me?" Kaz gave him a soft look now that they were alone. "You knew I wasn't going to let him keep you. I needed Van Eck and Hoede to think I didn't care. They needed not to suspect that I would pull them down to get you back." They had grown physically closer now that Kaz had lowered his tone. "I'm sorry but that's how it had to be." Kaz sighed.
"When Hoede found out I had dirt on him, on your father-" Kaz closed his eyes, leaning his head to the sky with a bear smile. "Having you publicize our... break to your father was part of the bait. They thought I was happy with whatever they'd done. Their plan to keep you away." Kaz looked almost soft, now that Wylan had him alone. "I had a meeting with Hoede after. He asked me about you and it... hurt. To tell him I didn't care what Van Eck had done to you.
Wylan's hand rested on Kaz's crossed arms. "They threatened me to you?" Kaz didn't meet Wylan's eyes as he nodded.
"Van Eck told me of his plans to marry you off. Archaic, honestly. I pushed Natalie to apply for the tutoring spot and figured she would fit his ideal wife, as alarming a consideration as it was. Natalie understood what she was going into."
"You pushed Natalie?" Wylan asked, pure surprise crossing his expression.
"Of course. You think I was going to let your father make a single unaffected decision about you?" Kaz scoffed. "I had a hand in every game of cards he was playing. Manipulating him the whole way down until he stopped threatening you and you station. When they found I had created a case against them with some of their most trusted workers? That shook them to their cores." Kaz's grip on his cane shifted, Wylan watching it out of the corner of his eye. "I wanted you home. I want you home still." Kaz admitted, dropping his gaze to meet Wylan's. "Happy?"
"Of course, I'm happy." Wylan's face changed, the sternness and surprise falling away and his usual fairy-like wide eyed, gentle charm taking over. There was something magic about the way Wylan lit up.
Wylan moved Kaz's arms away from his chest, opening the space to wrap his arms around Kaz and hold him for a mere second. Kaz stiffened with a sharp breath. Wylan waited, for him to push him off. Kaz did'nt. He just let Wylan be near.
"Are we still... on a break then?" Wylan pressed into Kaz's collarbone. He felt a shaking hand come to rest in his hair, gloved fingers digging into the mess of curls.
"I'd rather not be." Kaz breathed slowly, in through the nose and out the mouth. He was keeping himself grounded, forcing himself to let Wylan hold him as long as he needed.
Wylan stepped back, reaching to take Kaz's hand from his hair. "I'd also rather not be, but you know you can tell me when touch is too much, right?"
"I-"
"Don't say you know. You were just forcing yourself, Kaz. I may be borderline illiterate but I'm not stupid. I can read you." Wylan held Kaz's gloved hand loosely, doing his best to just have the hand in his as opposed to holding it. "I know the signs of rising panic, Kaz."
"I will do better... I'll try, at least." Kaz pulled his hand from Wylan's. He stared at the seams on the glove for a second. The silence between them allowing for the echoing of the crows down the manor halls to reach the front door.
Kaz's contemplation was broken by himself clearing his throat. Wylan staring at him, the pink on Kaz's ears and cheeks making him look the most boyish he'd ever looked. Kaz mumbled something Wylan couldn't hear.
"What was that?" Wylan ducked closer, his blue eyes wide and wandering.
"I need you not to put your hands on me. For a moment." Kaz requested. Wylan nodded, straightening his arms to his sides. "Can I kiss you? I don't have much else I can offer right now. Not after dealing with Jesper clinging to me for two weeks. I wish I-"
"Kaz." Wylan's forceful tone was gentle to Kaz's racing pulse in the same way a damn was gentle to water. Wylan of course noticed the flinching of Kaz's brow. He lowered his tone to soothe Kaz. "You can just kiss me. If thats all you have, that's more than okay."
Kaz took a slow breath. He wanted to give Wylan more. To give him his bare hands to hold and to kiss the freckle above his left brow. But he had given too much of himself to others lately and the water lapping at his lungs was already starting to feel like too much. He couldn't even bring a hand to Wylan's cheek, the pressure alone felt drowing. Kaz leaned down to kiss Wylan.
He wished so badly that it didnt nauseate him to do so. But Kaz pushed through as best as he could, as long as he could. Holding his lips stiffly against Wylan until the taste of salt water turned sour. He stepped away like he'd been shocked. Breathing deep.
"It's okay, Kaz. You're okay." Wylan turned instantly to trying to comfort Kaz. He reached slowly to put a hand on Kaz's shoulder but Kaz bat him away with a sharp backhand.
"Don't-" Kaz gasped, the air making him cough. "Don't."
"Okay. Okay. I won't touch you Kaz." Wylan didn't sound hurt, but Kaz felt like he was. Like Kaz's refusal was burning against his affection. He almost wished Wylan would yell at him. Instead Kaz cursed himself. "What can I do to help, Kaz? Do you want me to get Inej?"
"No. No-" Kaz stepped further from him, almost shoving Wylan away. "You go get your things with the rest. I'll go back to the truck." Kaz insisted. "I need space. To be alone."
"Okay." Wylan smiled softly. "I love you, Kaz." Wylan said, heading towards the door. Kaz wondered if he realized what he had said or if it was a slip. He kept wondering as he watched Wylan dissapear down the left hallway.
Matthias was shouldering two of the totes they had packed Wylan's things into two weeks ago. He got the joy of watching the rest of the argue over who had to carry the third heaviest box- Nina citing that she'd break a nail and if they weren't brand new, she would. Jesper scoffed at her.
"Seriously, it can't be that bad." Matthias rolled his eyes. "Just leave it and I'll grab it on a second go."
"There's four of us and like maximum twelve boxes. We do not need a second go-" Jesper argued. "Someone just grab the damn box."
"Why don't you grab it?" Nina poked Jesper. "You're barely carrying anything."
"I've got breakables, babe." Jesper shrugged.
"Just take a second trip." Inej sighed around the stack of boxes she was carrying. Footsteps trailed towards them down the empty halls. Wylan came rushing up.
"Hi." He seemed shaken, out of breath. Wylan leaned against the offending tote, catching his breath. "So... I may have just told Kaz I love him?" Wylan slumped. "Oh god, I just told Kaz Brekker I love him."
Wylan dropped his head into his hands, groaning lowly.
Jesper tried not to giggle.
Inej kneeled down infront of Wylan, her hands gentle on his knees. She shushed him comfortingly. "It happens to the best of us." Inej joked. "What did Kaz say?" She shooed off Matthias and Nina, who were stepping in closer.
"I didn't exactly give him a chance..." Wylan groaned. "I left. I didn't realize what I had said until I was halfway here."
"Oh, baby-" Jesper put down the bags and boxes he was holding, slipping to sit beside Wylan on the tote. "It's not bad to be in love." Jesper ran a hand through Wylan's hair. He pressed a kiss to Wylan's shoulder and then his head. "If it makes you feel better- I also just kind of blurt it out when I told Kaz. He got a call from Nikolai about your father being arrested, them having succeeded in whatever plan they'd concocted. I was so happy to have you and him at my side again-" Jesper shrugged. "I couldn't stop myself from making sure he knew. Sometimes you just gotta tell Kaz."
"Well- I, for one-" Inej laughed. "Told Kaz on purpose." She shook her head with a smile. "But he loves hearing it. No matter how he reacts, he likes to hear affirmation that he is loved and cared for. It probably meant a lot to him."
"I know, you're probably right..." Wylan sighed and Jesper pulled him back into a hug.
"Look at us three." Jesper chimed. "Disasterously in love with Kaz Brekker." He smiled, swaying softly.
Inej laughed along with Jesper. Wylan sighed, falling back against Jesper. "God, What's wrong with us?" Inej took Wylan's hands in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Probably a lot more than just the Kaz thing-" She whispered and Wylan couldn't help but join in their laughter.
Getting settled back in at the apartment was a quick task. Jesper had taken lead on unpacking things for Wylan and putting it all back where it once was. Inej insisted on him sitting down for a small dinner with her and Nina, Matthias joining in by slipping a whiskey glass infront of Wylan with a silent nod.
Kaz sheltered away in his room, the door slightly open.
After their room was righted again and Wylan had a dinner and a few drinks, he fell happily into Jesper's arms on the couch. They shared chaste kisses until being interupted by Wraith. The small paw on Wylan's leg made him laugh. She pressed her whole small body against Wylan's calf before meowing loudly. Jesper broke into a soft laughter, smiling at the little cat.
Wylan picked her up and laid her belly up in his lap. The cat stretched her paws over her head, grabbing at the air. "Hello, little girl." Wylan smiled, leaning over to press a kiss to the soft fur on the cat's tummy. He could feel the purring rumbling through her. "I think she missed me." Wylan smiled to Jesper, catching him with his phone out. Clearly taking pictures of Wylan. "Hey-" Wylan giggled.
"No, keep being cute-" Jesper shoved Wylan's shoulder with a smile. "I need something to send to Kaz to get him to stop moping." Wylan smiled, picking up the cat again to bring her small nose to his. "Oh, he's gonna love these. It's his two favourite strays in one adorable picture."
"Hey." Wylan giggled through his offended tone. "Wraith hardly counts as a stray. She has a mum and a dad and everything."
"Wrong." Jesper poked Wylan's shoulder, tucking his phone away. Wylan brough the small cat to his chest, watching as she tried to burrow under the collar of his button up shirt. "She's got two mums and like four dads and is the most spoiled girl on the planet." Jesper leaned on Wylan's shoulder, running a finger gently up the kittens nose. "Nina bought her a whole princess dress."
"She didn't."
"She so did," Jesper kissed Wylan's shoulder. "Here, I've got pictures somewhere."
Jes - wraith is trying to steal wylan from us smh
Jes Has Sent An Image
Jes - id be more mad if she werent so fucking cute
Jes Has Sent An Image
Kaz - Cute.