Precious Things

Kaz excuses himself soon after to check in on Jesper. The gunslinger was in the loft, watching the stars out of the window. Kaz leans next to him, turning his eyes upward. “Stars are pretty out here,” Kaz says softly. 

“Yeah,” Jesper sighs softly. “Did Da send you?”

“No,” Kaz says, taking his hand. “I figured I’d be best suited to hear you out.”

“Why's that?”

“Because I lost my mom too when I was a kid.”

“Kaz, I don’t want pity,” Jesper says desperately. “I understood why she did it. I do. I know she knew the cost. But I can’t understand why she left me. I was a child! I watched her die. I held her hand. I watched her chest stop moving. Da will never understand that. He loved her, but she was my mother.” Silently, Kaz wrapped his arms around Jesper. 

“I’m sorry, darling,” he breathed.

“Thank you,” Jesper returned. They part after a moment and then turn back to the sky. Their hands stayed together, and they watched in silence. Jesper and Kaz do that a lot. Jesper is typically loud, exuberant, and always talking, and Kaz is the exact opposite. 

But here, together, and alone, Jesper has no reason to pretend and Kaz is always quiet, but he doesn't have to hide behind his armor. Not with Jesper, never with Jesper, or Inej. Jesper leans over, placing his head on Kaz’s shoulder. Kaz rests his cheek on Jesper’s head, sighing softly. 

“You should talk to them tomorrow,” Kaz says softly. “At least Leoni.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re mad at her.”

“Will you be with me?”

“Always,” Kaz agrees. “Plus, if your dad finds out about my side, he’ll probably ban me from working.”

“Oh, saints,” Jesper laughs. “So all it takes to have the mighty Dirtyhands sit out is the aggrieved dad of his boyfriend?”

Kaz gives back his soft laugh, “Maybe. Anyways, he’s already dividing the work between everyone.”

“Let me guess,” Jesper sighed softly. “He’s having Matthias plow the fields. Nina and Inej are gonna be looking after the animals. You and Wylan will be…” he trails off for a moment, and Kaz looks down. Jesper doesn't say anything for a long moment, just breathing. “You and Wylan will be…” he repeats. “I dunno.”

“Wylan and I are supposed to be helping Matthias.” 

“Yeah, that,” Jesper says softly. 

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” he nods. “I’m just…” he shrugs. “You’d’ve loved my mom.”

“She sounds like a wonderful woman.”

“She was.”

Again, they fall silent, but Kaz speaks next. 

“I used to miss the stars. You can’t see them in Ketterdam. But in Lij…” Kaz exhales gently. “They were so bright. Like little fires in the sky.”

“Yeah,” Jesper nods. “Fine. I’ll talk to Leoni.”

“Thank you,” Kaz kisses his forehead. Jesper nods. They could hear faint chatter from the house, but Jesper continued to look outwards, towards the blots of Coften and at the stars. 

“Mama used to say that the stars were a gift from Sankt Sol,” Jesper says gently. 

Kaz gives a gentle snort. “I think I like our little saint much more.”

Jesper sighs, “And who’s that?”

“Our sankt of…” he putters a moment. “Sankt Jes of guns and gamblers.”

Jesper laughs softly, “No, thanks. I’m fine just being your sharpshooter.”

“Good,” Kaz says lightly, but Jesper knew there were layers of meaning behind it. He nudges closer. “Because you were ours first.”

“Hey, Inej,” Jesper greets. Inej walks silently towards them, effectively trapping Jesper between her and Kaz. Jesper opens his arm, and Inej happily steps into his space. “I love you two.”

“We love you too,” Inej says softly. “Oh, the stars are beautiful.”

“They are,” Jesper agrees. “They really really are.”

“Just so you know,” Inej says, amused. “They sent me ahead to make sure the two of you still have clothes on.” Kaz and Jesper laugh, but Jesper breaks off into a yawn.

“Let's get to bed,” Kaz offers. The three set up the blankets across the flat parts of the hay, so they could lay without being poked. In the heat of summer, the blankets to cover them would hardly be necessary, but they still have them stacked in case someone wanted to use one. Matthias peaks over the edge of the hayloft before he sighs,

“Thank, Djel,” and finishes climbing up. Wylan follows and then Nina. 

“You okay?” Nina asks Jesper, soft and kind.

“I’m okay, seriously. Surprisingly, Kaz is an expert at talking about feelings,” Jesper teases. 

“Ha, ha,” Kaz says, rolling his eyes. 

“Da’s gonna wake us up early,” Jesper offers. “We should get some sleep.” they lay down in a heap, almost. Kaz slept on one end, bracketing Inej between him and Jesper. She slept half Jesper, who was trapped when Wylan took up the other half of his chest. Nina sleeps beside Wylan, and one of Matthias' huge arms falls across them, settling on Wylan's side. 

They slept peacefully, and when Jesper woke up to the sun on his face, the scraggly cat he was talking about, was resting peacefully on Kaz's chest. Colm shouts a few minutes later, which wakes the rest of the crew. They change in turns before heading to the house. Colm has already started on breakfast, much to Nina's delight. 

"Oh, and Kaz," Colm says as they eat. "You aren't working outside."

"I can work," he assured Colm. 

"Your leg is messed up and you're favoring your side. I don't know what y'all got into Ketterdam, coming out with all those bruises, but I'm pretty sure that none of you are in university."

Jesper winces a bit, looking down. "Do we have to talk about it?"

"I'd like you to."

"I'm working with a gang, Da," Jesper says. "Kaz is the lieutenant, and Inej finds out information for us. Nina is a heartrender and was hired to help us take down a rival. Matthias is Fjerdan, a Druskelle, and we broke him out of Hellgate. Wylan is a ridiculously smart kid that Kaz hired as a demo guy. We got attacked when we went to dinner." 

Colm blinks for a long moment, before taking a long sip of his coffee. "That is not what I was expecting."

"Whoops?" Jesper shrugged. "If you want us to go, we will. We'll go, forget about this place," Jesper offers. 

"No! You're staying." Colm enforces. "Kaz still isn't going to be much in the field. Can you ride a horse?" 

"Uh, yes sir?" Kaz nods. 

"Great. You and Jes can ride around and check all the fence posts then." 

"Yes sir," Kaz nods. "I grew up on a farm too." Nina, Wylan, and Matthias look at him. 

"No way!" Nina declared. "There is no way that you grew up on a farm."

"It was sold after my dad died, and the money was stolen by Rollins," Kaz says with a huff. "You never wondered why Jesper and I get along so well." Nina opens her mouth.

"Do not," Jesper warns. "Make any sort of dirty joke in the presence of my father." Nina closes her mouth. Inej snorts and begins to pick up the empty plates. 

"Before y'all ride out, show Inej and Nina what to do with the animals, and I'll get Wylan and Matthias started in the field." 

"Sounds good," Jesper agrees, standing to help Inej. “Kaz and I will help clean up before we head out.”

“Thanks, son,” Colm rests a hand on his shoulder for just a moment. “It's good to have you home.”

“It’s good to be home.” 

They break off into groups, though Kaz lingers inside. When Jesper returns inside, after Colm, he finds his father talking to someone in the kitchen. Kaz was washing dishes, listening to them while he worked in silence. His gloves were off, obviously, and he seemed vaguely uncomfortable. 

“I wash, you dry,” Jesper nudged him to the side, taking up the task without another word. Kaz leaned against him, nodding. Kaz sets back to work, and Jesper registers that the chatter behind them has stopped. He was more worried about Kaz, ensuring the safety of his lover, mental or physical.

“That how you greet an old friend?” the woman asks. 

“No,” Jesper returns. “Because we aren't exactly friends, are we?”

“Jes,” Colm sighs softly. “Be nice.”

“How’ve you been? I didn't quite believe Colm when he said you brought friends to town. Heard you were keeping busy in the city.”

“Busy enough, anyways,” Jesper huffed. “Yeah. Needed a break, I guess.”

Kaz gives a small snort, shifting his weight off his bad leg. He shifts back a moment later when he applies pressure to his side. 

“I’m sure,” Leoni huffed. 

“I’m looking at that side before we leave,” Jesper mutters softly. “So, how have you been?”

“Good,” she replies. “So, will you introduce me to your friend?”

“Sure,” Jesper turns around, careful not to spill any water. “Leoni, Kaz, Kaz, Leoni.” he turns back to his task. 

“Colm said friends, plural.”

“We’re helping out on the farm,” Kaz answers, noting the way that Jesper’s jaw works. “So that Colm can take the day to remember his wife.”

“And who are the others? How'd you get those bruises?”

“Inej, Nina, Wylan, and Matthais. Work,” Jesper grumbles. Kaz gives him a small smile, shaking his head. Jesper finishes up and turns while Kaz dries off the last plate and puts it away.

“Work?”

“Yes,” Kaz answers for him. "I'm a merch, and they're part of my security team. There was a fight." Leoni blinks blankly at him for a moment.

Jesper snickers gently, "he's joking."

"Is he?" Leoni huffed. "He's being mean."

"Oh no," Jesper rolled his eyes. "He is my boss. There was a fight," he shrugged.  "And Kaz is always mean. He balances everyone else out." He nudges Kaz again before shaking his head. “We’re taking Jerg and Boo, yeah?”

“Sounds good. Hitch Lii so you can take some spare poles,” Colm agrees. 

“Sure thing,” Jesper nods. “Ready to go?”

“When you are,” Kaz agrees, giving him a small smile as he pulls his gloves back on. He seemed settled with them on again, making Jesper smile back at him.

“Then lets,” Jesper agrees, beginning to lead Kaz out. 

“Why don’t I go with you,” Leoni offered. “It’ll be a chance for us to talk, and the work will get done fast with the three of us.” Jesper shares a look with Kaz.

“If you want to, I guess,” he mutters, holding the door for Kaz.