A/N: This fic is less of romance and more of the sort of brotherly relationship between Jesper and Kaz, and this one is literally just them getting into a massive fight after CK (for the sake of plot) and then apologizing and getting food together not even three hours later lmao. Thought this was a fun idea, enjoy!

Brothers

The Slat boomed with the usual noise of the Dregs, talk drifting in and out of the ears of everyone in the small place. Kaz, Jesper, Inej, Wylan, Rotty, Roeder, and Anika sat around one of the tables, cards laid out in front of them, each talking and enjoying themselves. It wasn't often that Inej visited, nor that Jesper and Wylan came along with her to the Slat, though they always had a good time. Kaz would never admit it to anyone, including himself, but he did value these times, little snippets of how he could be. He sat at the head of the table. He was the dealer. Jesper was the one who had suggested it, complaining he would never stand a chance if Kaz was dealt a hand.

Kaz didn't mind, he wasn't much of a gambler anyways, and he always preferred to watch the game transpire. Jesper, who sat to the left of Kaz, looked stressed but not so stressed that he might combust, no one was enough of an idiot to bet when he was involved. All the chips were worthless, only there for show and a good time. Inej had a wonderful poker face, though he could see through it that she was confident in her hand. Rotty looked bored. Wylan looked relatively sure of himself. Anika simply stayed calm.

The game progressed within the span of a few hours. The silence was only interrupted by the calls and the bets of the players. Everyone was focused. Kaz stretched out his leg a little further. He had been settled comfortably in his chair for quite some time, but he was growing rather restless. Jesper tried to ease the sharpness of the unspoken words.

"This table's awfully dull," he said, stretching.

Inej responded with, "Means it's a good focused game, Jesper."

"Way to shoot down the mood."

Silence.

Jesper sniffed. "You know, it smells a hell of a lot like Goodman in here," he stated quickly, leaving barely any room for processing. He shot a smile at Kaz.

Kaz raised an eyebrow, still trying to figure out what the word that had sounded like, 'goomen' was. He decided to humor Jesper.

"What's 'goomen?"

Jesper looked triumphant. "Nothing much, what's good with you?"

If the table had a mouth, it would have groaned. Everyone around him looked both mildly amused and annoyed. The eye roll that Kaz fought was astronomical. Instead, he glared hard at the Zemeni man, who leaned further against the back of his chair, a smug expression on his face.

"You are the bane of my existence," Kaz muttered, finally letting the eye roll take control.

"What, can't you take a joke?"

"Can't take off that ridiculous attire to put on something reasonable?"

Jesper's eyebrows knitted together and he frowned, though there was still a severely playful undertone in his whole demeanor.

"At least I know how to have fun. And have a sense of humor," he retorted coolly.

"Clearly not a sense of style, though."

"Can we get back to the game?" Wylan chimed in. He seemed to think this was escalating a bit too fast.

"Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's not enjoyable." Jesper sounded a little more frustrated. Good.

"C'mon, guys," Anika added.

"You're an eyesore, Jes. Enough to give anyone with eyes a headache," Kaz rasped, looking back to the cards he was shuffling nonchalantly.

"That's unnecessary, Kaz—" Inej was cut off by Jesper.

"At least I can manage to tell my friends what I'm thinking or planning," he said, leaning onto the table with his elbows. He was clearly challenging Kaz.

"No one ever said we were friends, Fahey, and everything I do and say has a purpose. Everything is necessary," Kaz spat. The table went silent for a moment. Jesper had very visible hurt in his eyes. Kaz stood casually, setting down the deck, brushing himself off as he took up his cane. "I'm done with this. Do what you will."

Jesper stood angrily. "Oh yes, just walk away from this. Walk away like you do every single person who gives a damn about you. Kaz Brekker always has his motives! Tell me, Kaz, is it necessary when you have breakdowns over whoever the hell Jordie is?"

Jesper realized his mistake far too late. The entire room froze, the room hushing hesitantly as people registered what Jesper had shouted. Kaz's entire body went rigid, ire blinding him to everything, rooting him hard to the spot. Except the memories. He shook them off as quickly as he could, turning slowly, body shaking, to glare at Jesper over his shoulder. Jesper felt his body run cold at the look in Kaz's eyes, he had never seen anything like it. He hit a nerve very hard.

"What did you just say to me?"

The words were low and barely audible, but they stabbed through the air sharper than a sword, and they rang throughout Jesper's ears louder than anything.

"Kaz, I didn't mean—"

Kaz turned to face Jesper, not taking a step forward. "Say it again," he spat. Jesper did not speak, not sure if that's what was actually wanted. Kaz took a calculated step closer, rounding the table just barely. Despite his height, Jesper felt like he was being looked down on.

"Say it again."

Jesper swallowed and looked down at his feet, whispering, "I asked if… if the breakdowns you have about Jordie were necessary."

Kaz got too close for Jesper's comfort at the moment, forcing eye contact. In a blink of an eye Kaz brought the crow head of his cane upwards, the sharp beak resting against Jesper's jaw. The rage Jesper saw in the man's eyes was inhuman. His mouth went completely dry. Everyone surrounding the table was beyond on edge. Inej could be heard trying to de-escalate the situation, but whatever she was saying, Kaz completely disregarded.

"Don't you ever speak his name again. You are no longer a part of my crew, so what I do or don't tell them is none of your damn business," he growled, words slow and menacing. He took a step back accompanied by a deep breath through his nose. Whatever weakness was just put on display for all of the surrounding Dregs, Kaz did not want to think about. "I'm going to bed."

Everybody heard as Kaz disappeared up the stairs, heard the cane thunk against the wood, the uneven pattern of angry footsteps, the door slam, even the sound of something being thrown. Jesper sank down slowly into his chair. Whatever 'friendship' that had previously been between the two men seemed to no longer exist.

Nobody at the table spoke for a good few minutes, though some whispers and usual chatting returned from the mouths of the Dregs. Inej didn't know what to say, to either of them, nor how to try and fix this. She decided to try and start with Jesper. He had moved to a sofa in the corner of the room, face resting in his hands, elbows propped on his knees, Wylan rubbing his shoulders. She sat beside him without a sound.

"Jesper," she ignored his jump and look of surprised, "how are you feeling?"

He shook his head. "Like an idiot. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, you shouldn't have, but he shouldn't've said you weren't friends either." Wylan nodded in agreement.

"You both said some shady things. You both need to apologize, if you want to fix it," Wylan said calmly. Jesper only nodded. He knew they were right, but he still didn't know where to even begin.

"How do I start?" he asked, glancing at Inej.

"I'll go talk to him, to see if you even have a chance."

She departed without another word. She decided to take her usual route into his room rather than the door, jumping out of a window and scaling the wall to the sill of his. She was pleased to find it unlocked. Exempt from any creaks, she easily cracked open the window and slipped inside, landing gracefully on her toes.