Chapter Text
But how would he see Jordie now? As a mark? Another dumb pigeon looking for a shortcut?
Kaz didn’t know.
Kaz Rietveld was born on a farm near Lij, Kerch, an island nation on a planet in the far reaches of the Outer Rim. The people there had never heard of Jedi before.
Kaz Rietveld was seven years old when his mother died. The remaining three Rietvelds mourned. The family grew closer together.
Kaz Rietveld was nine years old when his father died. His memory would forever be tainted by the sight of his father’s mangled corpse strewn across the field. He cried with Jordie. Jordie sold the farm and the two left for Ketterdam.
Kaz Rietveld was ten years old when he lost everything. The Queen’s Lady Plague came and went, taking with it the only family he had left: Jordie. When his brother died, Kaz cried for the last time.
Kaz Rietveld was ten years old when he died. He would forever blame Jordie’s death on himself.
Kaz Brekker was ten years old when he was reborn. He started wearing gloves and erased the Rietveld name to begin a new life. Kaz became Dirtyhands that day.
Kaz Brekker was ten years old when he was sent to jail for the first time. It would not be the last. He bragged to the gangs that courted him, spinning the tale of the murder of the Rietveld brothers at his hands. They believed him.
Kaz Brekker was eleven years old when he killed a man intentionally for the first time. He felt nothing, only emptiness.
Kaz Brekker was twelve years old when he joined the Dregs officially.
Kaz Brekker was thirteen years old when the Clone Wars began. Lazarus was too far away to know anything about it, let alone be affected. They had been cut off from the rest of the galaxy for millennia, and would continue this way.
Kaz Brekker was fourteen years old when he was arrested for the last time. Later, he robbed the bank that helped Pekka Rollins con Jordie and him. He left 50,000 kruge richer and one leg forever crippled. He started using a cane.
Kaz Brekker was fifteen years old when he became one of Per Haskell’s lieutenants. He met Inej Ghafa for the first time.
Kaz Brekker was fifteen years old when the Jedi arrived for the first time in his lifetime. There was darkness in the Force around the planet, and they came undercover only to witness Sankta Alina destroy the Shadow Fold and bring balance back to the Force. The Jedi left immediately after that, and none were any the wiser of their presence.
Kaz Brekker was sixteen years old when he met Wylan Van Eck for the first time.
Kaz Brekker was seventeen years old when he broke in and out of the Ice Court.
Kaz Brekker was seventeen years old when he allowed himself to feel for the first time. He held Inej’s hand, Wylan and Jesper lived together in the Van Eck mansion, and Nina and Matthias came and went. Life was good.
But how would he see Jordie now? As a mark? Another dumb pigeon looking for a shortcut?
Kaz didn’t know.