#kazmine

song: blood // water, by grandson

“There’s something wrong with you, Brekker. I don’t know what you are, but you’re not made right.”

“Greed is your god, Kaz.” He almost laughed at that. “No, Inej. Greed bows to me. It is my servant and my lever.”

“there was no part of him that was not broken, that had not healed wrong, and there was no part of him that was not stronger for having been broken. the cane became a part of the myth he built. no one knew who he was. no one knew where he came from. he’d become kaz brekker, cripple and confidence man, bastard of the barrel.”

“jordie was lying next to him, staring at the sky.                           “don’t leave me,” kaz wanted to say, but he was too tired. so he laid his head on jordie’s chest.”

“you’re a thief, kaz.” “isn’t that what i just said?”

“how do you know my name?” “i know all children’s names.” “you do?” “oh, yes. albert who lives next door and gertrude on ammberstraat. i live under their beds and in the backs of the closets.” “i knew it,” the girl breathed, fear and triumph in her voice. “mama said there was nothing there, but i knew it.” she cocked her head to one side. “you don’t look like a monster.”

song: you should see me in a crown, by billie eilish