With Hope, the Beginning of Better

Chapter 9: Who Said We Couldn't Have Fun?

Sorry for dumping a bunch of chapters at bunch but I really haven't updated in a while on here.

Summary:

So here's your long-promised fluffy chapter! I really feel we never get to see them just chill and be kids so this chapter was really special to me in that way. I especially love it when Kaz pretends to be annoyed with his crows and secretly loves it lmao.

Again, while my posting schedule has been relatively constant these past few weeks it is likely to change in the coming weeks.

Notes:

Hope you enjoy!!

Jesper

Jesper felt like he needed to dispel the bad mood. He always felt this way but with Wylan's injury and being cooped up in Kaz's room for Saints knew how long, he wanted something to distract him. That's not to say he hadn't already made countless trips down to the first floor of the Slat to talk with the other Dregs. In the end, though, even that hadn't done enough.

So when Kaz and Inej entered through the window, Jesper raised his eyebrows in a teasing expression.

Kaz barely looked at him as he said, "Shut up, Jesper."

"But I didn't even say anything," Jesper whined playfully.

"We both know what you meant to say, Jesper," Inej muttered while rolling her eyes.

"So...I was thinking..." Jesper started.

"We know it's bad when Jesper starts thinking," Kaz remarked.

"Wha...hey!" Jesper shouted.

"You're talking about my boyfriend here," Wylan added from the bed, "The one who came up with the idea for the antidote for jurda parem and therefore altered the course of world history. Not even you could've done that, Kaz."

"I've altered world history in the important ways. Besides, someone else would've thought of it sooner or later."

"You're just pissed and jealous it wasn't you, Kaz. Ah, the kruge you missed out on," Wylan replied. Jesper rubbed his forehead in disbelief. The boy really didn't have a sense of what was good for him.

"Anyway...I'm pretty sure Jesper here was saying something," Inej said, exasperated.

"A boy's sleepover," Jesper replied simply.

"No," Kaz said in kind.

"Kaz, it's worth trying. Nina and I had a sleepover when we met in Ravka and it was really fun," Inej commented. She went over to Kaz and whispered some words into his ear.

"Okay, fine," Kaz grumbled after Inej finished. Jesper and Wylan shared a knowing look while smirking. "I'm sleeping on the floor on a cot," Kaz finished with a glare, "You two can figure everything else out."

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"Okay, I think we should start with Never Have I Ever," Jesper began. They had set up a few pillows on the bed and had placed a small lamp on the tiny shelf beside the bed. The three boys were relaxed on the bed, some excited and others annoyed.

"Now what stupid game is this?" Kaz rasped, pulling at the cuffs of his black gloves and not actually caring for the answer.

"Okay, so you basically say something you've never done before and anyone who has done it has to drink a shot," Jesper explained while grinning maniacally.

"You've been living with me for months. No, Jesper," Wylan deadpanned, looking at Jesper with an affronted face.

"Ughhhh...fine. Without the drinks, then. Just raise your hand, I guess. The boring version. I'll begin. Never have I ever...knowingly talked to royalty."

Kaz begrudgingly raised his hand. "It's not my fault you two dunderheads couldn't figure it out."

"We love you too, Kaz," Jesper continued, "But we didn't know about Sturmhond and I haven't seen Nina since she's become a princess. Lucky girl but honestly not unexpected. That girl has enough charisma to put all of Ketterdam under her spell."

Jesper decided he had more than enough charisma to do the same but decided not to mention it.

"Your turn."

Seemingly bored, Kaz mentioned, "Never have I ever called my significant other 'pigheaded'."

Both Wylan and Jesper sheepishly raised their hands while Wylan's face turned a dark shade of beet red.

For a while, Wylan sat in deep thought. It seemed a small revenge was in order tonight. "Never have I ever called my significant other 'an investment'."

"We're past that now," Kaz groaned while tilting back his head, "I've apologized to her numerous times and she forgave me."

Wylan rolled his eyes while making a mocking face. "Sure thing, boss," he said in a tone that suggested Kaz would never again truly be his boss.

Jesper hadn't even noticed Kaz moving but now the boy was making a coin disappear and reappear through his fingers, not noticing Jesper gawking at it. Kaz flicked the coin in the air towards a closet and seemingly from nowhere, Inej appeared and caught it.

"Inej, are you kidding me. You seriously couldn't resist," Jesper deadpanned.

Inej snorted while flipping said coin into the air. "Haha, no. A chance to get tea on you guys and miss it? What do you guys think I'd do? And yes, it took about six months but I did forgive him."

Kaz smiled. "You are too good at your job, and too good a person, Inej, treasure of my heart."

Now Inej laughed, throwing back her head and sending echoes throughout the bedroom.

"Shhhhhh! Do you want to wake the entire Slat up?" Jesper whispered loudly.

Kaz sent daggers at Jesper with his eyes but they all continued with the game.

"Never have I ever learned magic tricks," Jesper muttered, still in awe.

"Seriously, Jesper? I'm not even bothering to raise my hands for this one. And no, I'm not teaching you. Don't even think about it ."

They played for a while longer, this time Truth or Dare. Inej confessed to having a stomachache for an entire day after having a few too many Ravkan waffles with Nina. Jesper dared Wylan to kiss him. They kissed for a minute before Kaz had had enough and threatened to dump their corpses in the middle of Geldstraat if they didn't stop. Nothing was as surprising, though, as Kaz admitting he liked hot chocolate.

"No. Way," Jesper said, saying what everyone was thinking. That's when he noticed, Kaz's eyes seemed to have lightened from the pitch black of midnight to the warm dark brown of hot chocolate.

"Kaz has a sweet tooth, Kaz has a sweet tooth," Wylan teased. Kaz didn't miss a beat and threw a pillow at Wylan's head. Soon, pillows and insults were flying around the entire room as they were laughing.

After the entire room was a mess of feathers, Kaz got up and dropped himself on his cot.

"I don't mind sleep deprivation but you guys are wasting my time. Let me sleep," Kaz groaned, shutting his eyes.

"Aaaand he's back," Wylan and Jesper mumbled at the same time. Inej just smiled fondly while shutting off the lamp and then climbing out the window, signaling the time for them to finally sleep.

Wylan snickered, though in a friendly, teasing manner. "Hot chocolate. What's next, Kaz Brekker petting goats?" Jesper laughed softly, as to not let Kaz know. It all seemed in vain, though, when they heard Kaz speak.

"Corpses. Geldstraat," Kaz rasped with a full-blown glare. That shut them up.

Notes:

Kaz Brekker will actually pet goats in this fic lol :)