Work Text:
Jesper Fahey had three rules in life — only bet what you can lose (he did poorly on that), always keep your guns clean (he was excellent at that) and never let anyone outshoot your own skills.
The last point was precisely why you were a problem. Within the past month, you had snatched three jobs from him. One literally right under his nose.
Some thought you were him, because absolutely nobody could handle revolvers as good as he did. But apparently you had mastered the skill he thought he was unbeatable at.
Kaz wasn’t happy once he learned about you. He had huffed and puffed, telling Jesper to “deal with it” before disappearing into his office without another word. He didn’t really know if Kaz had meant him to threaten you or shoot you, but either sounded appealing at the moment.
So when he went onto his stroll that night, he spotted you, leaning against the railing of one of the bridges, spinning revolvers in your hands — and Jesper just couldn’t help but call out. “Well, isn’t it the new golden shot of the Barrel. Did you come to gloat around my place?”
You sighed, turning towards him slowly as you kept spinning the revolver between your fingers. “I didn’t know you own the Barrel now, Fahey. Should I start paying rent?”
His left hand went on the handle of his own revolver. “That depends on whether you’ll move out soon.”
You stretched your arms. “Not until you beat me in shooting.”
Jesper raised his eyebrows. “Keep talking and I might prove a point.”
You pouted. “I thought you’d want to hit on me first.”
By the Saints, he didn’t know whether he wanted to shoot your or kiss you. He cleared his throat. “Careful, or I might think you like me.”
You finally holstered your gun with a smirk, before passing Jesper, pausing for a moment right beside him. “You’d know if I liked you, Fahey. I’d let you win once in a while.”
He glanced at you, swallowing as you offered him one last smirk, and then you disappeared into the dark alleyway, leaving Jesper staring after you.
“I thought I told you to deal with it,” Kaz’s voice suddenly said from behind him, and he almost jumped out of his coat.
“Saints, Kaz— stop appearing from the shadows like that. I know Inej taught you that but you don’t have to be like her.”
Kaz ignored him. “Why is the target still around, and you looking after them like a lovesick teenager?”
Jesper shifted on his feet. “I am not looking— I don’t have feelings for them.”
Kaz sighed. “Is that so? I told you to deal with it and not flirt with it.”
“It’s a complicated process,” Jesper muttered, before spotting the rest of the crew eavesdropping around the corner, Nina looking like she’ll tease him the whole night about his heart performing gymnastics. He scowled at the thought slightly.
He knew it was true what Kaz said, even when he tried to forbid himself from falling in love, with you of all people. He was a man who’d vow a dozen women, men, women and those who identified as neither, but now his heart had flown right beside yours, begging to be joined with your heart. And he didn’t know how to silence it. Kaz had suppressed his feelings for Inej for years, and Jesper had no idea how when he was clearly head over heels for her now that they had agreed on a relationship.
Maybe he’d make another way to deal with you, one that wouldn’t involve a gun fight.