Crow with a Diamond eye: Kaz Brekker x Reader

chapter 7: Dresses and Knives

Shopping with Jessper proved a challenge. He kept stopping to look in the mirror or to try on a hat.

"What about this one love, I think it complements my eyes." Jessper said as he did up the buttons of a lime green waistcoat. Y/n looked him up and down.

"Your eyes are brown. It's hideous." Jessper signed and slipped of the waistcoat, placing it back on the hook.

"I reckon Kaz would approve of your attitude at the moment." Muttered Jessper.

" What is the deal with Kaz anyways, why is he making me buy new clothes? These ones fit me just fine, and the person who owned them is clearly not in need of them anymore."

Jessper's generally cheery face turned solemn.

"Kaz used to be in love, you know. Her name was Inej, his little wraith. He wanted her to stay in Ketterdam, help him run the club. Inej had to fulfill her dream catching slavers in the true sea, shutting down the pleasure houses. She wanted him to be her first mate. It was eventually agreed that they would part ways. On the day of Inej's departure Kaz got drunk. I don't know what he said to her, but it wasn't good. She left angry, told him she never wanted to see him again. And we haven't heard word from her since. The clothes you have been wearing since you got here were once hers. I think you remind him of her. Kaz would never admit it, but it pains him to recall the past."

Y/n ran her hands along the seams of Inej's old waistcoat. The fabric was heavy with memories that Y/n had never noticed before. Old rips and tears where it had been sliced by a knife or grazed by a bullet. As she did this Y/n felt something hard under her fingers. She reached into the waistcoat pocket and pulled out a small knife with a golden hilt, that shone in the morning sunlight.

Jessper plucked the knife out of her hands.

"Ah I'd have thought she'd have taken this one with her. It was one of her favourites, given to Inej by the sun summoner herself."

Mention of the sun summoner reminded Y/n of little palace, reminded her of home. She wished that she had worn her Kefta.

"Here what about this one?" Jessper's voice pulled her from her train of thought. He held an elegant red dress to her body. Y/n shook her head.

"Not that one, I can't do anything in a dress." Jessper shrugged.

"Kaz said a dress, I think it's part of his plan."

Jessper and Y/n made their way back to the crow club with empty pockets and full bags. As soon as Jessper entered he plopped down on one of the bar stools. The club was closed for the day to let the dregs to prepare without interruptions.

Kaz opened one of Jessper's discarded bags. And pulled out the red dress, one eyebrow raised.

"It's too thin. She won't be able to conceal any weapons." Y/n perched in the chair next to Jessper.

"Why did you insist that I buy a dress?" Kaz looked up at her, the dress still draped over his gloved hand.

"Because you are going undercover as a pigeon, they don't know what you look like and that's the easiest way to get you inside." He said, eyes never wavering from hers.

"I thought I was staying here, that all I needed to do was create the person."

Kaz shrugged.

"New plan." Y/n stared back at him.

"And what if I say no? You need me." Kaz dropped the dress back into its bag and approached Y/n. He was so close that she could smell the leather of his gloves. The beak of his cane lightly digging into her hip.

"If you say no, then you will never see the Little Place again." Y/n released a shaky breath. Kaz's face softened.

"You'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to you." He added as if as an afterthought.