One-Shots // Book Compilation

• Jesper x Wylan •

TITLE: A Tense Exchange
WORDS: 4,214
COMPLETED: 6/22/21
UNIVERSE: Six of Crows // Leigh Bardugo

  For the first time in a long time, Jesper Fahey's hands were trembling as he gripped onto his two revolvers. Anxious didn't even begin to explain how the boy felt, eyes glued to the scene taking place in the streets below. Currently, he was perched up on one of the balconies of a Dime Lion casino. However, it gave him a wide field of view over the bustling streets of Ketterdam.

  Kaz Brekker stood in his typical confident stance, eyes trained on the man they'd come here to meet: Pekka Rollins. It was an exchange, yet, these two always had something else up their sleeves. And Jesper did not support this exchange. He never would. Every cell in his body was vibrating with nervous energy.

"Brekker. I'm going to trust you've brought it," Pekka questioned, his eyes fixated on Kaz. Kaz was leaning heavily against his cane, an expression of disinterest on his face; as if he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. But every Crow would know that it was just a façade. The Bastard of the Barrel was worried. Because they couldn't afford to mess this up.

"Quite foolish of you to trust me, really. But yes, I have it," Kaz replied, straightening himself up a bit and gesturing towards one of the doorways.

  Matthias Helvar walked out with a large trunk in his hands. He made it to Kaz's side before dropping the box, all attention hyper-fixated on it. Pekka gestured towards the trunk, wanting them to open it and prove that they had what he asked for. Matthias unlatched the clasp, pulling the lid open and displaying what was in the box. A pleased expression settled over Pekka's expression, apparently seeing exactly what he'd wanted to see.

  Now it was Pekka's turn to gesture towards one of the casinos. And from the doorway marched two men. The first was one of Pekka's grunts, dragging the other individual behind him. The second man was the reason that Jesper's breathing had hitched, all thoughts ceasing to exist in his mind and instead using the space to stress about this situation. Wylan Van Eck was being practically dragged by the grunt, wrists bound together with fraying rope and attired in a dingy white shirt and burlap trousers. Dirt and grime were caked into his alabaster white skin, meanwhile his golden hair was a mess of unkempt curls. Fury ignited deep inside of Jesper's soul.

  Wylan Van Eck had been taken after the Crows' last heist at one of the Ketterdam merchants' mansions a few weeks back. He was supposed to set off some explosives as a distraction, but it never happened. And the merchling was never one to be late. Jesper had known something was wrong almost immediately. Wylan was completely gone without a trace. Inej was sent to scour the streets in search, but still couldn't find anything. Only a few nights ago, Kaz received a letter from Pekka Rollins. Jesper had been ready to raise hell almost immediately, but Kaz wouldn't allow him to. Instead, a plan was conceived to get Wylan back from the Barrel Boss.

"Ah, good. Glad to see that we both held up our end of the deal," Pekka joked; Kaz didn't laugh. Instead, Kaz's attention drifted towards Wylan, who looked like an absolute wreck.

"Great. Let's trade," Kaz snapped as Pekka sighed, wrapping an arm around Wylan and pulling him into his side. A dagger was placed against Wylan's side as Jesper's insides froze over. Carefully, he aimed a revolver at Pekka.

"Not so fast, Brekker. I want something else, too. And you knew about that," Pekka demanded as Kaz narrowed his eyes down.

"Yeah? And you're not getting it. Give me back my demo man. And preferably unharmed," Kaz's voice was sharp and his cold stare was lethal. Honestly, it was amazing that Pekka hadn't died just from the hostile glare.

  Inej dropped from the rooftops down to Kaz's side, annoyance setting on his expression. She didn't even acknowledge Kaz, her eyes remaining on Pekka Rollins, who stared right back at her with immense interest. She rose to her feet, holding her chin up with confidence while beginning to head towards Matthias and the trunk. Kaz grabbed onto her elbow, forcing her to meet his eyes.