Chapter Text
You know I miss you…
Jesper has grown to appreciate the qualities of a quieter house - the Slat was very rarely quiet, and if it was, something had likely gone terribly wrong. He’d never had much of a track record for staying around in quiet places (his university dorm, his father’s farm), so coming to like the peace that the current owner of the Van Eck mansion brings to the place (and to Jesper) is impressive growth. He’s not shy about telling people so.
But just because Jesper has grown to like and respect the quiet ambience of a healing house, that doesn’t mean he wants it all the time.
“We’re hosting a dinner party!” he calls in delight, and bursts into the music room. Wylan is lying on his back on the large rug in the middle, tapping out a rhythm on his vest buttons.
“Oh,” he says, sitting up with a bemused smile. “That’s…nice. Did you want to run it by me first?”
Jesper puts on his most dashing grin, which he knows from experience works very well on Wylan. “Can we please host a dinner party, treasure of my heart?”
Wylan blushes, but holds Jesper’s gaze in challenge. “And who are we inviting to our dinner party?”
“Oh, only our nearest and dearest. How about: the King and Queen of Fjerda, the city’s most profitable Barrel boss, a slave hunter, your mom, and my dad?”
“No Queen of Ravka and her consort?”
“Eh,” Jesper flutters his hands around his face, then graduates to fluttering them around Wylan’s when that’s not enough for his excitement. Wylan sputters, but lets him get his jitters out. Ghezen, Jesper is a lucky man. He may just have to make sure Wylan knows that Jes knows how lucky he is tonight…Alright, sure, but focus, Jesper!
“She probably wouldn’t say yes.”
“Probably not, no.”
“Let’s host a dinner party,” Jesper whispers in Wylan’s ear. “Let’s host a dinner party and get our chaotic group of friends together and celebrate.”
“Yes, yes, I know it’s a good idea. Let’s plan it tomorrow, though.”
Wylan stands, so Jesper stands so he can be beside him and take his boyfriend’s hand, just because.
“Why tomorrow?” he asks.
Wylan starts leading him to the door of the music room. “I think you’re going to be busy doing other things tonight.”
Never let it be said that Jesper doesn’t catch on quickly. Nor that he doesn’t have a brilliant boyfriend.
“Sir yes sir !”
The dinner party, as it were, is pretty quiet, all things considered. Kas is still picking at his food while Inej sits and murmurs quietly by his side. It’s amazing to Jesper to see how relaxed his old friend is with Inej there, and in a mercher’s house of all places (never mind that the mercher is Wylan). If you squinted at Kaz out the side of your eyes, he might look more like a boy spending time with his friends than a terrifying Barrel boss. Inej is also the most content Jesper has ever seen her, with the sparkling spirit of purpose in her gaze, though she wobbles a little when she walks because she is more used to sea than land at this point. Kaz always watches her with something soft in his black eyes (you have to look for it very carefully, but Jesper is an expert in looking). He wonders if he would be jealous of Inej, in another life, but he also thinks he wouldn’t want to give this one up to try and find out. He likes this one where his friends are learning to be soft and his boyfriend doesn’t have to learn to be as hard as the rest of them once were.
Nina and Hanne, though neither of them look like who they’re supposed to, are chatting with Wylan’s mother. Nina seems to be overjoyed to be back around people she can be herself with, but it’s weird to see her and not see the Nina Jesper knows and loves. It’s a phantom reminder of having two Kuweis around. He shudders. Jesper doesn’t know what Hanne looked like before adopting the form of the Fjerdan crown prince. Nina watches her move about the room with a painfully careful zeal that reminds Jesper not everyone Nina loves can be here. They all observed a moment of silence at dinner for Matthias, but everyone is still acutely aware that someone is missing, even Jesper’s dad.
Wish you were here, buddy , Jesper thinks. May Djel keep you .
Speaking of Colm, Jesper turns and finds his dad holding out a drink to him. Wylan is now guiding everyone back to the table for dessert, and Inej and Nina immediately start poking fun at Kaz for not finishing his main course before the last one is served.
“It’s nice to be back in the city,” Colm says to his son. “Never thought I could say something like that, especially since last time…”
“...last time you were part of an international plot where people got arrested and killed and kidnapped?”
Because of my foolishness , Jesper thinks, but doesn't say. It would make his dad sad, for one, and for two, Wylan has forbidden Jesper to blame himself unduly in the house (his boyfriend can be quite bossy, when he wants to be! Not that Jes is complaining…)
His dad shocks Jesper’s socks clean off by laughing in his face. “Well. Yes, and no. Some of that was the fun part of last time. Except for…” they both pause and smile at each other sadly, thinking of Matthias. “What I actually meant about last time,” Colm continues, “was how sad and angry you were.”
Jesper boggles at his dad. “Um. Da. Have you seen the company I keep?” Jesper gestures to where Kaz is glaring as Nina and Inej take turns taking bites out of his brunsviger cake. “I’m the happy one! I've got a hot boyfriend and a mansion to live in! Not much to complain about, do I?”
Colm is not impressed, and gives Jesper a look to make sure his son is aware of it. “I'm glad you think so, son. As long as you're being honest with yourself, and with your young man. He's a good sort.”
Jesper swallows the swell of pride and emotion that crests like a wave in his chest. Wylan is the best sort. Somehow untarnished by the same city that has chewed and spat too many of them out without a care. Somehow still wanting someone like Jesper by his steady side.
“I'm trying, Da,” Jesper says. “He makes me want to try. And you do too.”
“How are your Fabrikating lessons going?”
Jesper swallows again. He's a little uncomfortable with this conversation topic, but he's trying to mean what he says these days, so he tells his dad over dessert how the lessons are going (well enough, it seems. At least they're not like university courses).
Colm is the first one to call it a night, before they all retire to the music room for some shenanigans. Wylan’s mother leads them through a few lovely songs before also heading up to bed, and then things begin to get properly rowdy when it's just the youngins’ remaining. They sing many a bawdy tavern song, and Inej actually teaches them some sea shanties she has learned. But soon, they all find themselves winding down as well.
Jesper looks around the room, belly full and heart content. Nina and Hanne are in their own lovebird world in the corner. Inej has pulled Wylan aside, and they seem to be having a serious conversation in low voices. Half of Jesper wants to go over there, but he knows if they wanted him to be a part of the conversation they would have called him. Then, he catches Kaz’s eye over near the door. Kaz inclines his head in a way that suggests he wants Jesper to join him. Jesper’s heart thuds. Though he doesn’t want Kaz’s romantic affections, and doesn't think he ever truly did, being singled out by Kaz still manages to feel like being struck by lightning.
“I'm leaving,” Kaz rumbles, as soon as Jesper is in earshot, and Jesper fights to roll his eyes. Of course. Kaz would be the only one unable (cough, unwilling) to stay the night.
“Alright,” Jesper says, because he doesn't want to fight his friend on this. “Be safe, Boss.”
Kaz grins, sharp and feral. “Shake the habit, Jes. I'm not your boss anymore.”
Jesper merely shrugs.
“Thank Wylan for having us. It was…nice.”
“It was my idea.”
“It was a good idea.”
Kaz turns to go, and Jesper thinks that will be all, but then Kaz says something else and Jesper just about expires. “Thank you, Jesper.”
Jesper's throat works through the unexpected emotion. Before he can figure out what to say, Kaz is gone.
“Kaz said thank you to me,” he whispers to Wylan later, as they curl up into bed.
Wylan blinks, startled. “What for?”
“For the party, I think.”
“Oh.”
They’re both quiet, for a moment.
“It was good to see…everyone,” Wylan says.
“Yeah.” Jesper shuts his eyes against the sudden press of lovely tears, re-living Inej’s voice shouting shanties, Nina explaining to Hanne what goes into the Kerch dishes, and Wylan’s mother telling Kaz she likes his haircut and everyone else laughing. Wylan and Hanne dancing, because they both learned proper court dances. Kaz magicking away the silverware and Wylan catching him. Nina and Inej going off in the kitchen to gossip, and Wylan and Kaz suggesting fun haircuts Hanne could try out as the King of Fjerda. Colm grinning, telling stories about a kid Jesper to anyone who will listen. And Jesper himself. Jesper in the centre of it all, whirling around all his friends, fuelling his soul for when they inevitably have to leave again.
“I really missed them,” Wylan whispers.
Jesper kisses both his cheeks, and his forehead, and then, finally, his mouth, to drown out his sleepy chuckles.
“Me too.”