Shadows and Demons || Kaz Brekker x Reader

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A/N: This won't be perfect as I do not have a perfect memory or access to the books so just bear with me :)

-Y/N POV-

I soundlessly slip out of the window in Pekka's office and make my way to the roof. The clear night sky of Ketterdam looms overhead, a peaceful blanket of dark covering the whole city.

The shadows give me perfect cover as I skip between buildings, making my way across the city to my destination quickly and quietly. Rollins caught word of a job, some wealthy merchant named Jan Van Eck and wanted me to check it out. Whatever it was, it must be worth his time.

I fly over the rooftops and eventually end up at the building next to my desired destination. After Pekka got me out of the Menagerie, he had me doing different jobs like this. Gather information. Bring it to him. Put a knife in whoever needs to keep their mouth shut. In return, I don't have to go back and get proper training.

I begin to make the climb down the side of the building.

"Going somewhere little birdie?" A teasing voice calls from below me. I let out a startled noise and lose my footing, then the next thing I know I'm falling from a 4 story building.

It's times like this when I wish I was as skilled as Inej with this kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm still good, just not as good as her.

I brace myself for the pain that comes with hitting the concrete after plummeting multiple stories, but it never comes. Instead I find myself slowly opening my eyes, only to be met with the smirking face of my best friend. Other than Inej, of course.

"Xavier! What have I told you about following me on my missions?" I scolded him. His smirk widens.

"What have I told you about my unwavering defiance towards everything you tell me not to do. Besides," he helps me get to my feet, "You should be thanking me. I won't always be there to catch you whenever you fall 4 stories."

I glare at him. "I wouldn't have fallen in the first place if it weren't for you."

"Again, you're welcome."

"Shut up."

He crossed his arms and feigned confusion. "Now, why would my dear uncle be sending our best spider out and about at this hour on a night like this?"

I rolled my eyes in response. "Take a wild guess."

"Well, I assume he told you to look into a job, and he probably told you he didn't know what it was about. But, at the same time, he has other spiders to do the job, so why send his precious little Raven out to risk getting intel for a job that might not be worth it."

I raise my eyebrow. "Your point?"

Xavier sighed. "My point is he already knows what the job is. He just wants you to find out more information. And doesn't want the other gangs to know he's on the job."

"That seems about right. Regardless, I have a job to do." I push past him and soundlessly start to climb up the next building.

When he first purchased my indenture, Pekka taught me how to shoot and got the best of the Dime Lions to teach me to pickpocket. Not that they were very good in the first place. His nephew, Xavier, was the youngest of the Dime lions, being the same age as me. We would train together and watch each other's backs, even though not many people had the guts to mess with Pekka Rollins' family. However our little "friendship" or whatever you want to call it, did come in handy when the other Lions got a little too... brave.

Luckily, I can take care of myself now. I don't need him or anyone else to be my knight in shining armor.

I land carefully on the rooftop of the merchant's home before climbing down and positioning myself outside of a window. I give it a firm tug. Locked.

I curse under my breath. I could do a lot of things, but picking locks was not one of them. I wouldn't have enough time anyway, considering it would take me probably 40 minutes before it actually opened (and that would be because I got mad and started throwing things at it until the lock gave way).

Quietly, I sneak to the window below to see if there is another way in. Thankfully, this window was open. I began to open it slowly, careful to not make a sound, but the sound of approaching footsteps stopped me. I swing around with my back pressed against the wall, out of sight. Peeking over my shoulder and into the window, I see two men deep in conversation who conveniently stop right in my line of vision.

The first man is clearly a merch, looking older and a little on the plump side. He had light hair that was fading fast and a stern expression. The other man looked more like a boy, not much older than me, but his back was turned to me. He wore a polished suit and held a black cane with a silver crow head.

Based on that information alone, I knew exactly who this was. The one and only Kaz Brekker. I had heard about him many times as one of the new upcoming Barrel bosses, but Pekka doesn't seem to care about him in the slightest.

Their conversation was hushed, so I couldn't hear much, but I did get a few things:

The Ice Court.

Jurda Parem.

Thirty million kruge.

What kind of job did this guy have that could pay that much money? And what in Ghezens name is he paying Kaz to do?

Even a fraction of thirty million kruge is enough to change so many lives in the Barrel and help so many people. The girls at the Menagerie... they could get out. They could get their freedom, something I doubt I'll ever experience. Maybe I could convince Pekka to help those girls... if he even gives me my share in the first place.

Before I can be seen, I silently leap away from the house and back the way I came.

Pekka should be very interested in what I have to say this time