Work Text:
When Kaz first saw you, you were in an alleyway all alone, fighting off a group of men who had just tried to rob you. You looked like you could perfectly predict any attack that was coming your way, even before they’d thrown their punches.
You fought them for just a few minutes, and then they all were on the ground, groaning with pain and clutching their sides and arms, as you walked away from them graciously, not even short of breath. Kaz had to say, he was impressed and made his way to you, asking if you’d be interested in joining Dregs. You had looked him up and down, quirking an eyebrow.
“You’re just a boy,” you had said.
“You’re just a girl,” he had countered back, smirking.
“I’m older than I look,” you shot back.
“And I have more reputation and power than most here,” he answered, stepping forward. “Come work for me, I can offer you food and shelter in addition to fair pay.”
Your eyes searched his face as you tucked your hands under your armpits, suddenly feeling cold from a breeze of air. “Who are you?” you asked suspiciously, trying to keep your voice cool.
“I am Kaz Brekker, the leader of the Dregs,” he told you with a drop of pride in his voice. Your eyes widened as you recognized the name.
“You… I thought you’d be older. You don’t look old enough to lead anyone, let alone a gang,” you protested. He gave you another smirk.
“I told you, I have more reputation and power than most my age," he said smugly.
“Why should I trust you? I heard you’re manipulative and deceitful,” you accused.
“You’re too valuable asset to pass by,” Kaz replied confidently.
You thought for a moment, recounting what you should do. If you trusted Kaz and he would be a man of his word, you would be safe from any people who could come to search for you from The Little Palace. But if you were wrong with trusting him, he could lock you up, sell you out or worse. But somehow, your brains still told you to trust him - it wasn’t like you wouldn’t be able to get away if things got bad. So you decided to join Dregs. It seemed like a better place than stay on the streets anyway.
You shook hands after a moment more of hesitation, and so you became a Dreg.
***
During these five years, it had became very clear you had taken a right call when you joined the Dregs. It took you only months to become Kaz’s right hand, second in command. He told you that once in the past, he was in your place, working for a boss who had been a fool, and he had taken his place after concluding he would be a better leader, and Dregs thought so too. He had more reputation and respect within them than Per Haskell had ever had.
You could be ruthless too and just as sarcastic as Kaz was, but you also had traits Kaz mostly lacked - you showed compassion and care for other Crows and Dregs. You were known to tend injured members of the gang if they needed it, fighting their fevers away and making them feel as comfortable as possible.
Normally, Kaz would think that such actions were needless, that Ketterdam would devour people if she wanted and would have told you to get back to work. But seeing you caring for a fourteen year old gang member who had fallen ill just days after joining made Kaz feel something.
If there had been someone like you when he and Jordie caught firepox, maybe Jordie would still be alive. Ever since that, he had thought that Ketterdam is supposed to teach harsh lessons to its young residents to make them survive, but kindness that you showed to everyone made him think in another way.
You spoke softly to the child, stroked her hair and helped her throw up by holding a bucket in front of her and held her long hair back before you placed another cold towel on her forehead. When the child finally fell asleep on the bed, you put the blanket around her and left the room to see Kaz standing behind it.
“How is she?” Kaz asked, and you were surprised at the question. Kaz usually didn’t care about other gang members that much, at least not to the extent to ask how they are doing or to show any concern for their well being.
But as Kaz looked at the girl sleeping with… something distantly looking like concern in his eyes, you gave a small smile and nodded your head. “She’ll be fine.” you replied with a sigh.
Kaz glanced away from the bed and towards you, his eyes wandering over your face. “You look tired.”
“Well, it’s almost midnight and I’ve been with her since sunrise, so…” you tried to brush it off as you gently closed the door but he raised his gloved hand to stop you from talking.
“You should get some sleep,” he told you. “You’ll be much more effective if you’re rested.” You could only stare at him dumbly for a moment, there was something new in Kaz’s tone as he said that to you. Something warm that made your stomach flip in a strange feeling. It was like… care? Softness? Love?
You forced the wishful thought out from your head.
“Yeah, I guess it could be good. Thanks, Kaz.” you offered him another smile, and Kaz nodded at you as you left for your room, eager to sleep after an exhausting day.
Kaz was left there listening to your footsteps echoing around the Slat, until he heard your door open and close and pressed his lips together. He stood there for another minute, before slowly making his way to the attic. His brains told him to not fall for her, don’t fall for her, she’ll just end up hurting you when she dies, you can’t keep anyone alive, but at the same time, his heart was saying the opposite.
She could help you.
No she wouldn’t, his brains argued back.
And even though Kaz had believed his brains, his cold and calculative ability to protect himself from feelings most of his life, this was different - ever since you had stepped into his life, something inside of him shifted, like a wave crashing onto a beach that would never stop coming in. He felt warm in your presence, like a lovesick teenager. He could hide it more than most were able to, and this evening was his first slip of showing he cared about you, and he noticed you had gotten confused about him telling to go to sleep too, which proved that you noticed something different too.
He made it to his own room, locking the door and standing there for a moment. He took a deep breath through his nose, wondering what his feelings could bring if he continued to show them to you. There was a fear of losing you. You being kidnapped and he’d never see you again or you dying. Or you leaving him once you’d really see what it would be like to be Dirtyhands’ girlfriend, if you even felt the same.
But deep inside, he knew you did feel the same. And he also knew you wouldn’t give up so easily. You knew the risks, and were more than capable to take care of yourself - your assassin skills were remarkable, and even if you stood in front of a certain death, there wouldn’t be anything that stopped you from fighting anyway, and if someone got out from such a situation, it would be you.
And maybe it could be you for him too…