Chapter Text
Danger had always been a part of Jesper's life. Was it the clacking sound of Makker's wheel, the flapping of cards on the velvet cloth in the next gambling hall, or the gunshots flying in the air, from his pistols and those of his enemies alike.
Wellbeing, money, life - everything was at stake the moment he had set foot in Ketterdam, the capital city of Kerch, abandoning his plans at university as soon he had been pulled into the fun of playing some games. Just the first mistake of many more that followed.
Meeting Kaz Brekker, the Bastard of the Barrel, might have been one of those too, who hauled him deeper into the darkest part of the twisted and torn webs of criminal depths.
Kaz was cruel, calculated, and made of stone and ice — emotions never seemed to cloud his decisions — unlike Jesper, who almost never thought before he acted, always a smile on his face, and wearing his heart on his sleeves.
They rubbed off on each other. He saw Kaz' feelings under the ruthlessness, albeit he still denied them being existent, and Jesper got calmer in a way, watching out for himself.
It was not only his life he needed to protect. He had family now inside those seemingly unloving walls of the Barrel. They needed him. He couldn't keep being reckless for the sake of some thrill to get his blood pumping, swaying away the boredom that had been his constant companion over the years.
But boredom was solemnly what he had to think about, now on Kaz' side.
Knowing Dirtyhands had always a risky job up his sleeve and having his back, no matter what tricky situation he got himself in, despite how careful (or not) he was in the end, also helped a lot to keep the restlessness away.
Jesper sighed deeply.
He even had given up on gambling. Kaz had warned him of his luck running out. But now, shackled on a rusty chair, somewhere in a warehouse at the harbour, made him feel his luck finally had left him, even without the need to gamble.
And maybe, this time, Dirtyhands couldn't bait him out of this more than tricky situation.
He looked up at the man before him, that watched him with a cruel certainty. Maybe he didn't want Kaz to get him.
Not when Pekka Rollins was smiling like that.
"Well, well, look at what I have caught here?", Rollins voice was laced with malice, looking down on him, like he had just found him there by mere coincidence. As if he hadn't drugged and dragged him here.
"A little crow."
A shiver ran over his back.
He wriggled his hands again, that were bound in the restraints. It was futile. He couldn't use his Grisha abilities. He was trapped. Vulnerable. At the mercy of the man right before him and his gang, the Dime Lions, lingering in the background. They were standing in the shadows, away from the light, that glimmered over Jesper's already sweaty skin.
"Flapping its wings in distress.", Rollins' commented, trailing his nails of one of Jesper's ivory revolvers, he had taken from him, as he must've been still unconscious. "It's a tad bit annoying, you know."
He let the handle swiftly down on the Zemeni's hand, which was sprawled out on the armchair.
Jesper cried out, as he felt the snap of his finger under his ring.
"So fragile. Breaking so easily. Bet you can't fly with that anymore."
His thoughts were racing. It was pointless to ask what Pekka wanted. Under all the cruel demeanor and cold bravado, he was a simple businessman after all. It was clear Jesper was just bait for the bigger fish.
"If you break me, Kaz won't come to save me.", he said, his own words piercing through his heart. "Why would he bother, if I am no longer of use for him?" Now he was gambling again, although not in a den.
Not with money.
Instead of an answer, Rollins' let the gun's handle come down anew.
The sharpshooter suppressed another cry. Fuck, it hurt.
More than he had anticipated.
He wanted to be brave, show Rollins he had no power over him, but fear flickered over his features nonetheless.
That man wouldn't hesitate to destroy his whole hand. And then casually carry on to the next.
"You are getting nowhere with this!"
Just as Pekka opened his mouth to respond, a shadow slipped into the doorway.
Kaz walked past it, the light from the harbour outside casting an ethereal glow around him, his cane gripped tightly, eyes dark and unreadable.
Jesper’s relief mingled with terror —a paradoxical cocktail that made his heart race.
"Brekker finally decided to show up.”, Pekka sneered, a flash of triumph lighting his features.
"And I thought, I had to snip the crows wings completely, before you arrived."
Pekka’s laughter echoed against the warehouse walls, a sound that sent another wave of chills through Jesper.
“You see, I knew there is a heart in the Bastard of the Barrel after all. Who would have thought you cared so much about your little gunslinger?”
Kaz’ eyes narrowed dangerously. “You can’t just steal my belongings and break them.”
Jesper’s heart sank at the implication, feeling like a pawn in a game far bigger than him. Yes, he had degraded himself the same way before, but hearing it from his best friend...
He was neither property nor leverage; he was Jesper Fahey, and he was so much more.
And Kaz wasn't even looking at him, his gaze fixed on his nemesis.
“Kaz…”, he started, but the words caught in his throat.
Kaz couldn't show vulnerability. He needed to bluff. Like in a game of cards, with poor numbers.
And they were very poor.
"Put your weapons away."
The merchant gestured on the table to their right, and Kaz stepped closer, putting various knives on the flat surface, which he pulled out from everywhere.
Pockets, sleeves, boots. Jesper knew Kaz was armed to his teeth.
"The cane too.", Rollins commented after a while, a smug smile on his lips.
"I don't see the necessity in that.", the lieutenant of the Dregs responded simply.
"I was not asking for your opinion, barrel rat."
Another crack echoed through the hall, as the third finger broke under the impact. Jesper stifled his scream, as good as he could.
The crow cane was put onto the table without another word.
"Now strip down.", Rollins demanded, and Jesper's teary eyes darted from his leader to his capturer. He couldn't be serious?!
Pekka sighed in frustration. "I'm getting tired of this discussion, Brekker."
He pulled the table closer, out of Kaz' reach, then he placed Jesper's pistol on it.
His hand reached for the cane, letting its wooden base glide smoothly through his fingers.
It was a symbol of Kaz' obvious crippling weakness, having to rely on it to simply walk — and simultaneously of his unyielding force of power, everyone who dared enough to think he was an easy target, paid for their naivety.
"I heard this thing can break bones easily. It's Fabrikator made, right?"
"Yes.", Kaz answer was restrained. His jaw tensed. Because he knew what was about to happen. And Jesper knew it too.
It was much worse, as the crow head hit his hand. It wasn't only breaking, it was shattering. Paralyzing him through every nerve.
He screamed in agony.
"I think, I said, you can't break my belongings like that, you wanted me here, alone, so here I am. Let him go."
"Do I hear some sentiment out of those words? Wait, let me check."
Jesper screamed again. He struggled against the restraints with his intact limb, trying to escape, trying to ease the absolute anguish he felt throbbing up his whole arm, now that every finger on his right hand had been violated.
"That's enough!", Kaz shouted and anger clearly swept through. He stepped forward, trying to maintain confidence, but it slowly faltered.
Jesper could see it.
So could Rollins.
"Let Jesper go. He’s nothing to you. You want me."
“Precisely.”, Pekka’s smirk widened. "He's not my little friend. If you want him freed, there’s a price to pay.”
“Name it.” There was no hesitation.
And the gunslinger didn't know if he should feel honoured or alarmed.
“Your legs.”
A pause stretched itself inside the warehouse. Jesper's weak sobs, which he couldn't hold back anymore, filled the void. The shore outside the building was adding an everlasting back and forth of waves. Maybe, in another scenario, it could've been soothing. Now it was like a clock ticking. Pressuring for an answer, before Pekka's patience ran out. Kaz wouldn't let himself down to that, in no way, he would agree to those ridiculous demands. Jesper was doomed. Jesper was-
“A deal is a deal.", Kaz said, ignoring the sharp wheeze of terror that came out of Jesper's throat at those words. “Now free him."