Chapter Text
Kaz Brekker didn’t need a reason. Well, he had a reason for most things. But he clearly didn’t need a reason to be a complete pain in her ass.
“Here’s your takeout.” She dropped the plastic bag down on the counter. It landed with a thunk. Kaz’s eyebrows flickered to her from the drink he was making.
“What, I don’t deserve food?” he asked.
“Not at three in the morning!”
“Time is a construct.” He handed the customer the drink and untied the knot of the bag and started to take out the boxes.
“My sleep - why am I discussing sleep with you? You get three hours of sleep a week.”
“Three’s my lucky number.”
“You’re going to be lucky to be alive when I’m done with you,” Inej muttered, sitting on a barstool at the counter. The world was asleep, but the Crow Club was alive. Chappel Roan blasted in her ear as couples swayed around. The disco lights burned into her eyes and the stench of a crowded club crawled its way into her nose.
“Someone’s in a mood. Can I offer your saints a mojito?”
She glowered at him. “Very funny. You know, we should throw a contest for how long you can go without making fun of my saints. It would be the one game you lose.”
He shrugged. “Opportunity cost.”
“You're horrible.”
“Yet you're here.”
“Because you called me at three in the morning and made me wait outside in the dark for your General Tso’s!”
“And?”
“I could've been killed! I could've been kidnapped!”
“Eh, you would've fought them off.”
Complete pain in her ass.
“See, you like the compliment, you’re just too proud to admit it.”
“And you’re too proud for your own good.”
“Always worked out for me.”
Inej sighed and dropped her head onto the counter. “What is the world going to do with you, Kaz?”
The paper of the box rustled. “The real question is, what am I going to do with the world?”
“And you say you’re not a theater kid.”
He gagged. “Gross, don’t compare me to Nina.”
“Yeah, you don’t compare.” He glared at her this time. Inej smiled.
“I think someone threw up in that spot an hour ago.” She jerked up, clutching onto the stool to stay seated. Kaz smirked.
“Very funny,” she said, relaxing. Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder. Inej grabbed it and twisted it, pulling the assaulter forward.
“What the fuck, Inej?” His pained face came into the light. Inej’s eyes widened, and she dropped his hand.
“Sorry, Jes,” she said, smiling sheepishly. Kaz snorted.
Jesper turned to him. “Oh yeah, laugh at my pain. See if I care.”
“Why, thank you for the permission, Jesper. I’ll be sure to laugh every time.”
“Ass,” he grumbled, wringing his hand and leaning against the counter. “Get me a beer, will you?”
“You can’t even afford the foam.”
Jesper glared. “Can’t you make an exception for your best friend?”
“See, today it’s an exception, tomorrow it’s the second Great Depression.”
“Drama queen.” He turned to Inej. “What’s your responsible ass doing at a gay bar at three in the morning? A little curious, a bit single and ready to mingle?”
“What’s your broke ass doing at a casino?” Kaz called.
Jesper glared and gave him the finger. Inej bit the side of her mouth to keep from laughing, but it was hopeless.
“You too, Inej?” Jesper mimed stabbing his chest. “I’m wounded.”
“Get Nina to heal you,” Inej quipped.
“You called?” Nina floated over to their corner.
“Speak of the witch, and she appears on her broom,” Kaz muttered.
“Fuck off, Brekker. I’ll start burning sage.” She came to Inej and hugged her over the counter. She smelled of alcohol and some vaguely fruity scent. “Are you playing delivery boy again?”
“As usual. I never get a hefty tip, though.”
“Of course you don’t, Brekker’s not going to end up a billionaire if he pays you 20%.”
“Kill yourself, Zenik.”
“Drown in a twenty-foot pool, Brekker.” Kaz opened his mouth to retort, but a group of students came over.
“What, no hug for me?” Jesper said.
Nina studied him for a moment. “Nah.” He scoffed in offense. She grinned. “Just kidding.” She leaned over and hugged him too.
“Is that a new perfume?” he asked, pulling away.
Nina’s eyes lit up. “Yes! It’s Kate Spade New York Pop.”
“It smells good,” Inej chimed in.
“Thanks, darling. You two want anything?”
“I wanted a beer,” Jesper muttered.
“Then a beer you shall get. Inej, anything non-alcoholic?”
“Just a water.” She sighed.
“One beer and one water, coming right up,” Nina said cheerfully.
Jesper turned to her. “What, you tired?”
“No, I’m wide awake at three in the morning.”
He shrugged. “Everyone here is.”
Inej shook her head. “Met anyone yet?”
“Oh, I’m always meeting people. No one ever compares to you, though, Ghafa,” he said, lowering his eyes at her.
Inej rolled her eyes. Nina snorted as she came back with a tray of beer and water.
“Stop corrupting Inej, Fahey, she doesn’t deserve you,” she said, handing Inej her water.
“Excuse you, Inej loves me,” Jesper retorted. “I’m a privilege.”
“If you’re a privilege, life is a scam.”
“For once, I agree,” Kaz said, coming over.
Jesper made a sound of protest. “Hey, stop ganging up on me!” Jesper protested. “Inej, you love me, right?”
“Of course, Jesper.”
Jesper smiled smugly. “See? Inej loves me.”
“I love Nina, more, though.”
Jesper’s jaw dropped and he gave her a look of pure betrayal. Nina cackled.
“Sorry, Jesper,” she said, grinning, “it’s too late. We’re already in our passionate honeymoon state.”
“The only state you’re in is a wrecked one. Look at your hair,” Kaz muttered.
“Oh, you cannot be talking. You look like you’re recovering from cancer.”
“I’m gonna give you cancer,” Kaz grumbled, although he ruffled through his very short hair. Inej held back a smile.
“Yes, prove to everyone that you aren’t a med student.”
“I’m going to bankrupt you.”
“As an econ major?”
“No, as Kaz Brekker. It doesn’t take a graduate to steal the two dollars in your bank account.”
Nina scoffed. “More than you have. At least I don’t put all my money in stocks.”
“That’s how you get more money!”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what they said, and then the Great Depression happened.”
Kaz stopped cleaning the glass in his hand and looked up at her, eyes blank and unblinking. Nina placed her hands on her hips and stared right back.
“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” Jesper whispered. Kaz snatched his beer from his hand and chugged it in one go.
“Hey!”
“Devil,” Nina whispered, gazing in horror at him.
“Aren’t you not allowed to drink on the job?” Inej said, raising a brow.
“A beer a day keeps the witch away,” Kaz muttered, turning to the counter. Nina gave him the finger. Inej smiled. She was pretty sure this was not what her parents had in mind when they sent her abroad for college, and probably not what she should’ve been doing, but in moments like this, with all of them bantering and Nina and Jesper grinning and flirting, Kaz glaring at them (he was enjoying it inside, Inej knew it), she found it hard to care about anything else.
And then Kaz had flung half his chicken at Jesper and Jesper had dumped her water over him and Nina was snapping photos of Kaz with wet hair, customers forgotten. Complete pains in her asses.