Chapter Text
Prologue
Jesper sat on the balcony of the second floor of one of the many gambling dens that littered the streets of Ketterdam, one of his pearl-handled revolvers being twirled absently in his right hand. His feet were propped on the balcony's scant railing, giving him a view of the always busy streets and alleyways that made up the place known as the Barrel, but to him it was home. An endless bout of chatter and music drifted from both the street and the packed room behind him, full of people who were throwing money and possessions with reckless abandon at the chance, the stupid hope, of winning more money to wither squander or lord over the others in their company. The young man on the balcony was usually among them, right in the center of it all with his signature smile and flirtatious attitude that often got him into more trouble than it earned him winnings, but not this night. This night he just sat and soaked it all in, letting every part of the Ketterdam night wash over him as the moon reached its apex in the night sky, shining its waning light over everything he could see.
All that occupied Jesper's mind was the people he loved the most, the ones he fought for and that in turn fought for him whether it be for honor or for something insignificant. The people that were his family, both chosen and by blood. If he'd learned anything from the Barrel, it was that family wasn't always as simple as the one you were born into, more often than not it was people you found and who found you, people you chose to stand by and to love.
But just as the Barrel itself seemed to gift you those that you can love, both as family and sometimes something more, it can just as easily take them away. The city below him could rip someone from him and leave a part of him hollow he hadn't even been aware was entirely whole before. That hollow part was a numbness inside that seemed to grow inside of you, settling into your bones, your very being, and reminding you that you were wrong, that you were too late.
Those thoughts were the ones that occupied Jesper's head, and while they weren't necessarily welcome, there was nowhere else for them to go. So, he sat in a place that once gave him brief nights filled with flutters of joy and let himself be reminded of someone he lost, someone that brought him joy in a way he hadn't expected.
A noise from behind him, the distinct sound of footsteps getting closer, cut through his stupored state. Jesper whirled around, his feet hitting the ground as his hand previously twirling one of his prized weapons now aimed it in the center of the person's chest. The person who just happened to be Wylan Van Eck. The other young man didn't look at all startled to find the Zemini's gun pointed at him, barely glancing at it and instead focusing his gaze on Jesper's own startled eyes.
"Kaz sent me up to get you," The Merchling said easily, his hands shoved in his pockets as Jesper scrambled to reholster his gun, flustered and ashamed to be so easily caught off guard. "Of course," he mumbled as he straightened up and walked the short distance of the balcony to stand beside Wylan.
"Are you sure you're up for this Jes? You know as well as I do that Kaz said we can wait and -"
"No," Jesper cut Wylan off, not unkindly but abruptly, already pushing past him and towards that stairs that he knows will lead him down to the first floor and out into the street, where the rest of the Crows are no doubt already waiting for him. "I want to do this tonight. Everything's already laid out, so it has to be tonight." He didn't say that if it wasn't tonight, he may lose his nerve. He also didn't say that he couldn't sit another night alone with his thoughts and the phantom that haunted them. But he knew that the man one year his junior that followed him diligently into the crowd probably already knew that, just as the four others that were waiting for them also knew.
That didn't matter though. All that mattered now to Jesper was that justice would be dealt by him just as swiftly and masterfully as he dealt cards. Those monsters would pay with blood, not with money, and Jesper would be the one to flush them out.
No one made eye contact with him as he and Wylan fought their way onto the street and into a neighboring alley where the four remaining Crows stood secluded by shadows, the only indication of their lurking the glint of moonlight that bounced off of a crow headed cane. The owner of the cane gripped it firmly with a gloved hand and stepped forward to meet the two men as they walked fully into the alley.
"Ready?" he asked simply, to which Jesper responded with a quick nod, not trusting himself to speak. Kaz Brekkar met his eyes, and Jesper saw within them the same burning anger that now fueled his movements and his rage-filled thoughts. Because after all, they were family.
"Let's go then," Kaz said plainly, turning and walking out into the streets, easily sidestepping drunks and scantily dressed women the same way others may dodge a pothole. Jesper a nd the rest of the Crows followed suit, and for the first time in a while Jesper felt himself relaxing as his family gathered around him, comforting him with their presence and support as they all went together as one to avenge one of their own.
As they walked silently onward, Jesper fidgeted with his shirt collar and felt the small chain that made a new home on his neck brush his hand. He immediately gripped the small star pendent studded with small diamonds that hung on the chain in his fist, finding comfort in it as he marched onward, knowing the person who once wore it so proudly would soon finally be able to rest.