Chapter 1
They had to stumble, uncoordinated from exhaustion and minor injuries, back to the Club. Inej and Jesper helped Kaz, his cane destroyed in the fight. Nina kept a hand on Wylan to ensure he did to struggle, and Matthias followed them closely.
And then Kaz touches his side and pulls his gloved hand away. Blood made the slick leather slicker , shiny and red.
“Oh, fuck,” he says softly, and the promptly passes out. Matthias carries him the rest of the way back, and then into one of the upstairs rooms.
Inej and Jesper keep constant watch after they call for their Medik and he was patched up. Jesper fixed the cane, and Inej sharpened her knives.
“What are we going to do?” Inej asks softly. “The Gulls, Lions, and just about every other gang have been joining forces against us. We were out for dinner and got ambushed. Kaz could have -”
“Do not think like that,” Jesper says, hard. “We have to cut and run. Haskell can handle the Dregs for a few months. Until everything gets cold again.” His voice softened back down.
“You think Kaz will want to go?”
“No,” Jesper sighs. “So, he’ll be sleeping the whole way.” Inej frowns. “Nina!” The other must have been close by, because she, Wylan, and Matthias come in at once.
“What is it?” Wylan asks in worry.
“We’re leaving,” Kaz says hoarsely. Jesper and Inej turn to him, unaware he had woken up. Inej hands him some water and helps him sit up. “You’re right. We have to go, we’ll get our territory back once this is all over.”
“Where will we go?” Wylan asks.
“How will we get there?” Matthias adds.
“We can go to Novyi Zem,” Jesper offers. “My dad owns farmland outside of Coften. We’ll be safe there.”
“And there's a ship of cargo leaving tonight,” Inej offers. “We’ve been sending aid supplies for the refugees. We can get on board, it's one of ours.”
“Good. Pack quickly. We’ll need to move before the next bell. Matthias, go with Wylan to his apartment,” Kaz agrees, nodding.
“I think I have enough clothes here,” Wylan shakes his head. “It’ll be faster, anyways.”
“Okay,” Kaz nods.
–
The crew quarters are… cramped to say the least. Even with Nina and Matthias sharing a bunk, there was little space for more than a foot between them. Jesper watches from the small window as the sea passed. Kaz did sleep most of the way - his injury and his innate hate for water helped with that. And his threat at Nina to put him to sleep or he would get Matthias sent back to Hellgate.
The trip was almost too short, but Jesper knows it was his own nerves. He hadn’t seen his father in a few years, and the last he was going to University.
Now he was bringing five other criminals - all of which he’s shared a bed with more than once. Mostly Kaz and Inej, but their bond was much older than the others. He had not even met Wylan or Nina before they had first encountered their lust for each other.
And aside from that, their injuries weren't perfectly hidden.
Wylan had a large bruise that formed on his left cheek and temple. Inj had a cut lip, a soft bruise around her neck, and a cut that made her limp just a bit. Nina had a bullet graze - Jesper’s - to her shoulder that limited some movement. Matthias had a few scraps all over, along with swollen bloodied knuckles. Kaz had been cut deep on his side, which limited just about all of his movement even with his cane, and a couple of facial bruises. They had no Grisha Medik and only a street doctor. Jesper had, likewise, a few cuts, facial bruising, and a ring around his neck.
His father will be able to look past it for Jesper. He hoped. Saints, he was ready to be home. He also had no clue how he was going to explain it, or where they would sleep. Probably the barn. The Hayloft was actually a nice sleeping spot.
He looks at Inej, just as she looks at him. They share a soft smile, and he only has to lean over to kiss her head. “I’m excited to meet him, your father.”
The others were asleep, just Inej and Jesper awake.
“Are you?” Jesper asks, smiling at her. “I think Kaz is too. I used to talk about him a lot more…”
“You’re afraid you’ve disappointed him,” Inej says.
“He wanted me to be a Medik, a lawyer. Anything other than a jurda farmer, or a gangster,” he shrugs one shoulder. “Anyways. I wonder if the animals remember me. We had this big old ox that Ma used to plow the fields with. He only listened to her, really,” Jesper sighs fondly. “And this ratty old cat that's probably as old as I am.”
Inej smiles, happy to hear him talk about his home. “Tell me more, and come lay down.” He complies, laying down in the hammock. She lays beside him, head on his chest. He tells her more about the small farm just to the north of Coften.
They end up falling asleep, and by sunrise, they were finally in port. Jesper charms a man about their age to take them to the Fahey farm since they likely couldn't make it on foot in their conditions - mostly Kaz’s.
The farmhouse was just as Jesper remembered. There was an old faded barn with sturdy fences to hold the animals, and a house that used to be yellow - his mother's favorite color.
“We can take it from here,” Jesper says to the young man. “Thank you.” He handed him the promised payment and help Kaz and then Nina from the cart back. Wylan and Inej get help from Matthias, and slowly but surely, they walk toward the house. Jesper knocks, soft at first then harder once he gets no answer. Inej helped Kaz stand, and he was no doubt in pain.
A Kerch-born man rounds the corner of the house, peeling off his gloves. He’s fair-skinned but tanned from long hours in the sun. He has red hair, a shock to the group, and kind green eyes that survey them quickly. First Wylan, Nina, Matthias, Kaz, and Inej, and then finally, his son that was leaning to knock again.
“I’ll be damned,” he says. His voice still has a Kerch accent. “Jesper Fahey, come give your father a hug !” Jesper laughs, a bit wet, and moves to do so, before he stops.
“You weren’t just mucking were you?”
“Oh, shut it!” Colm says, latching onto his son. Jesper laughs, hugging his father back tightly. Inej shares a soft look with Kaz. The leader shifts his weight and promptly almost falls over. Inej yelps and barely catches him.
“Da,” Jesper sighs, turning back to his partners. “These are my … friends. Inej, Kaz, Matthais, Nina, and Wylan.”
“Oh, she’s really pretty,” Colm says. His eyes were on Inej, which yes she is. “Is she your girlfriend?” Jesper flushes, which tells Colm as he really needs to know. He pats Jesper on the back. “I hope you can work,” Colm says. “And you’re lucky. I just put on some lunch.”
“You went back outside after starting the stove? Da, we’ve talked about this!” Jesper chastises, making for the door. Predictably, unlocked.
“Well, I had work to do!” Colm defends, following him. “My only kid ran off to university! ”
The five still outside share looks before Kaz shrugs and Inej helps him inside. Jesper pulls out a chair for Kaz after turning off the stove.
“You cannot light the stove and leave it!” Jesper returns. “You’ll burn down the house.”
“It’s fine, Jes,” Colm says. “What's wrong with that one?”
“Do not call Kaz that one ,” Jesper shakes his head. “An unproperly healed break.”
“Be kind and get your friends some water, jes,” Colm says and starts pulling out plates.
“Oh, we’re not hungry, Mr. Fahey,” Kaz says with a thin smile.
“Eat,” Colm sets down sets of plates. “You look like you’re wasting away.” Kaz tries to argue, but Jesper just shakes his head, plates being joined by mismatched glasses of water. “Sit, sit!” the group follows the order and they sit around the large table. “You always have to bring me strays, Jesper.”
“You like my strays,” Jesper returns, watching as they begin to eat. They were hungry, but Kaz is also a polite gremlin of the dark. Jesper would shoot him if he was any other way with his father. “I’ll be back. I’m going to go outside.”
“Oh, here,” Colm hands him a plate and something wrapped up in a gingham cloth. “Your mother's favorite.” Jesper gives a sad smile. He checks in with Inej and Kaz before both nod and he leaves the house.
Colm watches the five eat like they haven't in days, smiling to himself.
Well, yeah. He does like Jesper’s strays.
Sometimes.