Chapter Text
It started with small things. The workshop smelled of sawdust and oil, a scent that had long ago worked itself into the walls, into Wylan's clothes, the home Wylan and Jesper shared, into the cracks of his hands no matter how often he scrubbed them clean.
Morning light splilled through the windows in pale strips, catching dust that floated through the air. Wylan reached for a pencil tucked behind his ear. His fingers met nothing. He dropped his hands, and checked the table in front of him, misplaced he thought. He chaked it up to staying awake throughout the night. He patted his coat pockets. Nothing. The workbench. Nothing. He looked beneath a stack of blueprints, then the floor under his stool. Yet again, nothing. A headached sigh escaped him.
"You lose something?"
Jesper leaned against the doorway. He looked as though he'd been awake for hours already, despite the fact his hair was a mess, as always when Wylan didn't come home some nights.
"My pencil.."
Jesper blinked and stared for a moment in confusion.
"The one behind your ear?"
Wylan's hand flew up to his ear, touching wood. The pencil was exactly where it had always been.
"Right.."
Wylan cleared his throat. Pink burning into his cheeks. Jesper laughed and crosseed the room.
"I was starting to think i'd have to stage a rescue."
Wylan nudged him with an elbow as Jesper stole the pencil from behind his ear and twirled it between his fingers.
"I knew it was there the whole time.."
Wylan mumbled grabbing the back of his neck with his left hand.
"Liar"
"I was testing you, seeing if you were paying attention or just staring at me."
Jesper grinned, he was staring, but he was also paying attention.
"And? Did i pass?"
"You passed."
Jesper looked entirely too pleased with himself. Wylan shook his head and returned to the workbench, smoothing a page. The commision should have been simple. Measurments. Blueprint. Assembly. He'd done work twice as complicated without thinking. Today..he stared at the numbers.
Five.
No.
Six.
He frowned. Why had he written a six? He scractched it out. Rewrote it. Then paused.
"..No."
His eyes skimmed the page again, and again. The measurments refused to settle into anything familiar, the numbers danced on the page.
"Wylan"
Jesper had spoken twice before Wylan looked up.
"Hm?"
"You've been staring at that paper for five minutes."
"I have not"
Jesper raised an eyebrow.
"You've blinked twice."
"I was thinking.'
"You looked like you were trying to win a staring contest."
"I was."
"And?"
"The paper won."
-
Jesper knew something was off with Wylan. He just couldn't put his finger on it. He'd been more dazed as of recently. Well, at least that's what he thought as first. At first it happened with simple things that you could easily forget. Like where you had placed something or what you said during a conversation that took place hours ago.
Now, it started to get concerning. It happened multiple times a day. Jesper began to think it was because Wylan had been staying up later, since Kaz was so particular with when he needed blueprints and when he needed Wylan to make more bombs.
Then, one day, it happened. Wylan had stayed at his workshop one night, trying to finish up his work. Jesper hadn't thought too much about it. It was becoming common that he spent nights at his workshop instead of at the slat. Wylan usually showed up later the next day, looking like he just fought a bear. As the afternoon of the next day approached, Jesper still hadn't seen Wylan yet. Jesper would've already gone to the workshop to check up on Wylan, but of course, Kaz needed him to keep watch at the Crow Club. Something with Pim and him not being there. It was stupid. Why Jesper of all people? There was plenty of other people at the club who could keep guard. Not many Kaz trusted enough though. Maybe Jesper should be honored instead.
When Jesper was finally relieved of his duties, he immediately made his way to the slat. He hadn't seen Wylan make his way through the club any time, but maybe he had come straight home. He found his way into his room, expecting to find Wylan there. He wasn't.
"Wylan?" Jesper called out. No response. He searched around the room, as if Wylan would be hiding somewhere. He wasn't anywhere to be found. Jesper had to tell himself not to panic. Wylan was just staying at his workshop. 'Maybe he overworked himself and didn't have enough energy to make his way home.' He had to convince himself. He would just have to wait until tomorrow to see his precious boyfriend.
Tomorrow came. Still no Wylan. Jesper sighed as he got ready. He missed his boyfriend. He missed teasing him as they woke up next to each other. He missed getting ready in the morning with him before making their way to the club together.
He walked into the club. Everyone else was already there. Everyone except Wylan. Kaz spoke first.
"Where's Wylan?" he asked. If only Jesper knew.
"He was at his workshop last I checked. Why?" Kaz and Inej shared a look. 'Not good.' Jesper thought. Inej opened her mouth next.
"I just came from there. I was supposed to see how far he had gotten with the blueprints," a pause, "He wasn't there, Jes." What.
"I checked up on him yesterday. He said he would be done soon and that he'd be heading home." Nina said.
"What, no, he wasn't there. I thought he would be there. I got home late. Had to take Pim's shift last night." Jesper said quickly. Panic began to set in between the crows. Wylan was missing.