Chapter Text
Jinx had thought she'd seen the end of it with Lux. A small, light moment between the two shared in her apartment before going back to begrudging mutual silence. Sevika and her always had those moments from time to time too, so why would it be any different this time?
But… but then things… got weird. Really weird.
Specifically: with Lux.
"Jinx! It's nice to see you bright and early. How was your journey here?"
"Hey Jinx! I was hoping to catch you on your break! Have you eaten yet? I got some extra with me that I wanted to share."
"Oh Jinx! There you are! Hey, I heard about this one store called Delicatessens and I've been thinking about checking it later this week. I heard they have foreign stock there and wanted to check if they had anything from my homeland, want anything?"
"Hey Jinx, it's good to see you. How are you today?"
Lux just… keeps… talking to her.
The girl isn't even saying anything rude or mean to her, but maybe Jinx would prefer it if she did. At least that type of treatment would make sense . Ekko and his ragtag team of Chem-punks seemed to get the gist of that just fine.
But it's not , and it never is anymore. Always friendly conversations and greetings, like all the bad interactions shared between the two had up and evaporated with a single stay at her home.
"See you tomorrow Jinx, can you say hi to Tatters for me?"
Jinx had no clue how to respond, nor what the hell to do. She was too dumbfounded to be upset or happy, because when the hell was the last time she'd been treated like this? By someone new?
What exactly had Jinx done to deserve this? To be put on a spot for the receiving end of unwanted attention. Why couldn't Lux just go back to just placidly acknowledging her presence? It was so much easier keeping her heart from hurting back then…
…
But… Jinx couldn't help but wonder...
Is this… what it's like to have a friend?
" Hey, if you ever need help with that prosthetics business of yours, I wouldn't mind helping. I have a lot of free time after work, so don't be a stranger, alright?"
To… have someone just… there?
It'd been awhile since…
" -Jinx! We are NOT using our patient's reports as fire kindle , that's strictly against our rules and a dangerous fire hazards- JINX!- "
Jinx hated selfish people. Pilties who owned more than they were worth, Zaun's wealthiest who earned their bank off of royaly screwing other people over. They always demanded to be heard, always wanted more than their puny small little selfish selves were worth.
Jinx is so so selfish.
Because…
She can't help but like it a little.
Monster .
To feel so… free. Like maybe for once in a long long while, she didn't have to go live day by day acknowledging the permanent red blood on her hands.
Maybe she can just be Jinx. Nothing else.
Not a jinx, not a wanted terrorist, not a family annihilator.
Just…
"Jinx! You're late! You made me think you weren't coming today! Who would I get to talk to then?"
Cherished. To one person. Is that… so much to ask?
"Everyone betrays us, Jinx." A scratchy, familiar voice drawled, voice reverberating along the walls of her head. "We cannot trust those who are foreign to us, nor those who show us kindness. In the end, they will always want something from us that they can use against us: our trust."
Right. 'Thank you Daddy Dearest for your helpful insight.' She thinks numbly. Jinx would very much appreciate it if her head stopped patronizing her with dead voices just to get some rise out of her. Leave them in their damn graves already, they don't deserve this shit.
But… he does have a point. She's getting too ahead of herself, isn't she? Was she an idiot or something? How had this blue-eyed girl manage to weave through her defenses? Maybe she's gotten rusty.
Maybe she's gotten weak-
" I'm not weak ." Jinx mumbles harshly, clenching a hand around the tool in her hold.
"Did you say something?" A soft voice called over her shoulder, seemingly passing by and hearing the low mumble. Jinx fights off the curse on her tongue and shakes her head, returning to dealing with her patient's infection. She's cutting off dead skin, ready to stitch it back up at a moment's notice.
Lux hums, pressing a quick hand against Jinx's back as she passes by with a brisk walk. Jinx freezes under her palm.
"You were hurt and you needed help." Was all Lux had said to reason her actions on helping Jinx. Childishly innocent,like talking to the quiet kid just because they looked lonely. Her words reek of unsullied ignorance.
But then again, Lux has said that she's been in the Underground for a few months now. Most curious Topsiders nowadays can't stand a mere few hours down in the Lanes, let alone days. For Lux to have achieved that…
It makes her different.
Different, because if she really hasn't given up on her goal despite seeing and wallowing in the nitty gritty of Zaun's streets for so long, then she just isn't the same as those Topsiders.
It makes her different, from those cruel monsters that take families away. She had gotten so riled up from just seeing the treatment Zaun in general suffered at the hands of Piltover. Lux had shown… real emotion then.
Anger. Anger for Zaun, and anger towards Pilties.
Jinx looks at Lux now, and all she can see is an enigma. Not a teeth-baring sharp-eyed Piltie or a Sludge-filled bloodthirsty Zaunite. No dangerous-red alarms echo in her head when she gets too close, nor do they promise violence when she sees her treating all those pathetically sick and weak patients with a blinding smile.
She's… different. Lux is not a Piltie or a Zaunite.
Not just nationality wise, but kind-heartedness too. No one in either Upside or Underground are truly virtuous, they always want something from the other.
Lux is different. She showed it as soon as she walked through that tent the first time. She truly proved it when she held Jinx's hand as the other broke down, a sacred and utterly vulnerable state that little to no one has gotten the chance to see.
Lux is different.
And…
And…that means…
Jinx… She can… trust her too.
She can have this. This… friendship.
Because whenever she sees Lux bound up to her now with that gleam in her eyes and that excited smile, like she's happy to see Jinx , she truly can't help but stare in fascination.
Fascinated that… this is all for her.
All for Jinx: the wolf in sheep's clothing of Zaun, prowling and playing nice with everyone when she could attack and tear them apart at any time.
Monster. Unforgivable. her demons bit out,
Jeez, I get it. Heard you the first time.
She is a monster; it's undeniable. Lux may have spouted some very convincing words out of her smart pretty mouth, but forgiveness simply wasn't feasible for her. Jinx may have been a genius tech-wise, but Lux came off as well-spoken and smart in her own merit; a master at putting thoughts into words. Hell, she even had Jinx believing her at one point!
Jinx knows better though. She may not know what people come to think of her, but she knows what she is-through and through .
But despite that, maybe… some other developments are okay.
Jinx glides her pink eyes back up to Lux, spotting her diligently writing a report to a returning patient who stood by the tent's entrance. Even when Lux's face is turned away, Jinx can still spot that small yet reassuring smile the other seemed to wear like a blanket.
'Maybe… we can be friends .' Lux had sheepishly suggested, posture reserved and cautious yet eyes sparkling hopefully. Jinx has never been big on literature, but maybe all those snobbish egotistical asshole-preachers up North had finally had something right: words really could tear you apart and rebuild you all at once.
…
…Friends, huh?
Maybe…
she can have this.
Jinx slowly blinks back to reality, her environment fizzling back into her peripheral vision. She idly ignored the whispers and small eyes clawing for her attention, instead widening her eyes slightly. While she was still stuck in her head, her mind had subconsiously fully stitched and cleaned her patient's wound and had failed to register the red blemish appearing beside the stitches. Jinx glowered and cursed under her breath. Man, she really needs to stop doing that. Stitching ain’t the same as tinkering idiot. From her short yet very educating weeks spent here so far, there were certain acts that needed her to actually pay attention.
Jinx walked to the Tent’s large-scale desk, wrapping her slender fingers around a golden handle and pulling a small cabinet open, revealing a small yet expansive collection of a spectrum of colored powders. ‘Something to treat minor inflammation…aha!’ she grinned triumphantly, fishing out a specific vial.
Capsaicin . The hot stuff in chilis. Ironic, seeing it’s remarkable medical effects on skin contact versus it’s disastrous application on open wounds. Hopefully she’ll avoid accidentally rubbing this shit on her eyes or something. It’s jar was small and fit in between her index finger and thumb, the film dyed a powdery distant red. A small little tag was tied to its opening, courtesy of Lux.
Despite appreciating Goldie Locke’s organization, there was one slight itty-bitty problem: the jar was empty.
In fact, now that Jinx really assessed the cabinet, it seemed most vials we’re barren and vacant. How hadn’t either of them noticed yet?
“Hey Lux!” Jinx called over her shoulders, still running a gloved hand over empty jars, “There's something up with the drug cabinet. How am I supposed to get my patients high in these conditions?” Jinx heard a huff, along with heavy-booted footsteps coming behind her.
“While your use of the word ‘drug’ isn’t factually incorrect, we are using it for express medical use. Unless you want to tell me something?” Lux questioned, though Jinx could hear the small teasing tone under it. Jinx grinned playfully, eager to match the other’s energy.
“ Course not Goldie Lockes! ” she gasped, “I may be fine with petty insults, but I draw the line at accusations. Have a little faith in me, why don’t you?” I may be an infamous and highly unstable terrorist, but I’m not some addict! Jinx had to physically fight off the urge to let the line spill from her barely-contained wild grin.
Lux cracked an amused smile, “Alright alright, you’ve convinced me.” she bent forward slightly, peaking over Jinx’s shoulder as she focused in on her, “So, what’s wrong here?”
Jinx hummed, “Empty. Most of them, at least.” Jinx inspected the jars again, empty vials clinking together as she pulled a few out. “If it wasn’t for the fact that we lock this desk up every night, I’d have figured we’d been burgled. How’d it get this bad anyways?”
It’d be slightly strange if Lux hadn’t known this, as she didn’t seem too surprised as she nodded resolutely, “Yeah, I noticed just this morning. I made a list of them already, and planned on restocking at the Boundary Markets after this shift ends,” her focused look wavered as she smiled apologetically, “I’m sorry I hadn’t told you earlier, really should have.” she surmised.
The shorter of the two chooses to ignore the apology, instead raising a confused eyebrow, "You- wait, the Boundary Markets? Have you ever even been there?" Jinx speculatively questions. She can't imagine a person like Lux even stepping foot in a place like the Boundary Markets without calling the attention of some bad people. Then again, maybe the princess could just use her witch’s spells and befriend her would-be murderers and be on her way.
Surprisingly, Lux scowled at the question, "Of course I've been there.” she curtly explained, “I wouldn't plan to go buy something there If I've never seen it. It's the most foreigner-friendly place in Zaun Jinx, I'm not that ignorant." She pouts, and even though Lux is taller than Jinx, she manages to look more like an upset teenager rather than an actual threat.
Jinx snorted, rolling her eyes as a wider smirk fought its way onto her face, "Foreigner-friendly?" She giggled maniacally, " Yeah sure , Foerign friendly as can be-if you like getting all your money scammed. No place in Zaun is 'Foreigner-friendly' " She mocks, mimicking quotation marks with her mismatched nails. Her words seemed to falter something in the other's eyes as her face fell slightly.
Lux stumped out of her scowl, face dimming as she glanced towards the ground with furrowed brows, "I… it isn't?" She asked, "But… I could've sworn…'' the other mumbled.
Jinx curses under her breath, watching the sunlight in Lux's expression cloud over with an embarrassed type of reevaluation. Jinx grinned her teeth together, almost wishing she hadn’t opened her stupid mouth in the first place. It was a sad sight, really; to have your own expertise and assurance take such an embarrassing and blatant hit. Then again, it would be news Lux eventually would have needed to hear if she wanted to properly situate herself here. To know how to properly pick out the bad apples from the bunch, not just determine something like that at face value.
Jinx had to relearn it all for herself not even two years ago, and the process had been nothing short of hellish. Jinx may not have believed in higher forces, but she prayed for Lux's sake that someone would take pity on the lady.
And just like that, an idea strikes Jinx; and she can feel her face tugging into a wicked smile.
"Let's go," Jinx suddenly implores, trotting over to where their coats lay and daintily picking both of them up, "I'll show you what to get and not get, most places there like to scam but you can find a real treasure if you look hard enough. Oh !" She calls, throwing Jinx's borrowed trench coat over an unsuspecting Lux, "-I can also show you the art of haggling! It's kinda essential in Zaun if you're staying long-term." It can't beat pointing old Pow-Pow to their head and asking for it, but haggling does the trick too.
The other flounders the coat and just as Jinx had hoped for, the other's upset expression is replaced with one of surprise and bafflement. "What- right now?! Jinx wait, w-we can't leave! What if someone gets hurt and we aren't here to help them?"
Jinx shrugs, "Maybe they should have thought about that before they got hurt. C'mon , it'll be quick!" She implored, quickly putting up an 'OUT ON A LUNCH BREAK' sign. She could hear the other's protest, but Jinx paid them no mind as she got on her backpack, teasing and excited grin pulling at her features.
The emotion thumping against Jinx's body was nice now, warm and natural in a way that her body readily moved to. She felt more belonging in her skin now, like her body wasn't threatening to split in two. Looking at Lux's disarrayed yet sheepish look had its own familiarity with it, and Jinx let her chaotic self back off it's leash.
"Jinx! It's the middle of the day, we can't just leave!" Lux pleaded, “Look, we can go after work if you want to, but we can't right now!"
"Aw c'mon, stop whining so much! Plus, it'll be night by the time that comes around it'll be super packed. Do you not want to walk that far? Here, let me pick you up."
"It's not that Jinx, we have a job to d- H- HEY! Stop- put me down! I-i can walk just fine, I-i assure you!"
---
Jinx's boots stepped cautiously over the bricked street, careful not to slip over the walkway’s slippery surface. Snowdown was fast approaching now, festive decorations along the market and just about the worst of the winter season following close behind it. High-quality shops with real windows and towering buildings were built along the street, a large juxtaposition to the Slump’s roadside markets. They were equally as crowded and loud, but at least the brightened and foggy sunlit atmosphere didn’t make it seem like you were one wrong move away from getting mugged.
There were decorated wreaths placed along the doors and red ribbon streamers hanging along the street’s lamp posts. It was no wonder it was by far the most presentable part of Zaun; it looked just as magical as the regular streets of Piltover. It was beautiful, a Sump kid’s Snowdown would be made just by visiting the streets.
“It’s beautiful,” Lux breathed, and even though half her face was covered with a mask, Jinx could hear the amazed smile in her voice. Looks like bringing her here hadn’t been such a bad idea. “And so well maintained as well. Though, based on what you’ve said, I’m assuming that’s for appearances, is it not?”
Jinx hummed and hopped over a mound of clean snow, and she simply pretended she didn’t almost slip and fall on her ass just then, “Ding ding ding! We have a winner,” she cheered, “The Boundary Markets are exactly what their name implies: the boundary point between Piltover and Zaun. Since there’s no direct Hexgates leading to Zaun, the wealthy of Zaun put all their extra dirty money into this place. It’s why everythings overpriced to hell too, those leeches.” Jinx mutters disdainfully. While Silco never actually allowed her direct contact with those greedy numbskulls, Jinx always had a curious streak in her, ending with her shuffling through the vents to hear what they discussed. Whenever the ownership of Mineral Mines or Boundary Markets showed up, each and every single one fought tooth and nail for their ownership.
It’s been a long while since she’s last seen them. And there’s some indescribable pure joy that pierces through Jinx’s heart at the thought of Sevika having to deal with those rats.
Lux, however, doesn’t seem too surprised at the corruption now, “Still though, you can at least see the care that’s gone into building this place, even if it was for the sake of a clean mask.” she hummed idly, fixing the banners and decorations with another look of grandeur, “However, I don’t remember there being decorations last time I visited. It almost reminds me of Demacia’s streets during our Yellow Springs festivals… with less spring, of course.” She turned to look back at Jinx, “What are you all celebrating?”
“Oh, it’s just Snowdown. We celebrate the beginning of the new year, exchanging gifts and getting together for parties. Zaun’s a… community driven country, despite what those Chembarons want you to believe,” Jinx raised an eyebrow, face unimpressed, “How come you don’t know this? It’s like… basic Zaun knowledge 101.”
Jinx watched with amusement as she saw the blonde flush furiously, scowl tugging at her features, “Oh, cut me some slack. I’ve only been here for a few months, alright? And whenever one of our patients talked about it, I was too embarrassed to ask them to clarify. Like you said, it’s basic knowledge here.” Lux turned her gaze downwards, face still red with embarrassment, “I didn’t want them to think i was dumb, alright?”
And that's when it clicked for her. Staring at the girl now, Jinx seemed to realize just how out-of her depth the other seemed. Going to a foreign land like Zaun and simply having to play the act of knowing the land’s ‘street smarts’ so that she wouldn’t be taken advantage of by some bad apples. It made a lot of things make sense really: Lux’s tendency of steering away from political discussions with her patients and her embarrassment at assessing the Boundary Market’s pureness. It’s ridiculous, the fact that Jinx hadn’t pieced it together sooner.
Lux may have carried herself with the confidence and assurance of a queen, but the underlying vulnerability was simple to see.
It was… eye-opening. Jinx sorta forgot people could be so… complicated.
Like her.
“Hey hey! don’t worry about it,” Jinx assured quickly, “Your rich-girl status is safe with me Blondie, so don’t feel bad about asking about Zaun-stuff. I’m like… your tour guide now! Yeah!”
Lux sighed tiredly, but seemed to considerably brighten at the other’s words, “Thank you Jinx, it means a lot.” The words we’re sincere and thankful, and it made Jinx stiffen and twitch in place. She had gotten used to dismissing her client’s heartfelt thanks with the same precision as swatting away the annoying voices that hounded her everyday, but Lux’s words seemed to snake through her defenses and make her heart hurt. She seemed to have a skill for doing that.
“If you’d like,” the golden girl continued, “-I can tell you about Demacia’s customs to return the favor. I’d feel bad if you did all of this for me without at least giving you something back.” her suggestion was earnest and heartfelt, but Jinx had the inclination to think that whatever dumb vulnerability pulled at Lux was the same one making her feel guilty now.
“It’s whatever Luxie,” Jinx started, now nearing the door to their destination, “Personally, I’m not too interested in this Dementia place of yours, but you can do whatever you want.” They reach the well carved door, a pine wreath dotted with specs of snow hanging from it’s center. “Is this the place?”
“It’s Demacia, ” Lux stresses, but still nods in confirmation to the other. Jinx takes it as her go-ahead, reaching with a gloved hand to open the spotless golden doorknob. With a chime and a creak, she opens the door.
Immediately, the instinct to close it latches onto her brain. An immediate action, almost.
You see, Jinx forgot a crucial element about the Boundary markets: not only did the furnished and well-maintained streets of the upper level try to imitate those of Upsides, but their shops were practically the spitting-image of your average over-the-counter drug stores. But it’s none of her business, like it wasn’t the business of any sane-minded Zaunite who had the wisest inclination to keep their mouths shut. It was fine.
Except no- not fine -actually, because just looking at the spotless golden furniture pisses her the hell off. Because Jinx, for the past year or so, had seen with her very eyes what the gold just a piece of this place could do for others. It could finally bring proper rooming for individual orphans she visited instead of having to watch mountains of them flood out of a single room. It could raise proper funds for Mineral Mines so that they stopped losing limbs.
It makes her realize just how little those forsaken Chembarons have been doing, stuffing all their money into appeasing foreigners in hopes of stuffing their own pockets, not anyone else's.
A scary type of rage seethes through her because of that. Silent and dormant, but clawing at her veins with hounds and screams of injustice and how it’s not fair not fair.
But, ultimately, it was whatever.
She should have expected the interior to be like this, but then again she hadn’t exactly been expecting herself to react so viserily. It was like being thrown right back into the dead center of Piltover, and the world was just asking her to get angry.
‘Screw the world. Screw this shit, just get the drugs and get out. ’ a voice helpfully added, and Jinx wouldn’t have been happier to comply.
The creature behind the counter dressed sleek and spotless and looked like the definition of a sleazy businessman. Well, business-cat would have been a better description, seeing as his whole body was covered in orange fur and his hands looked suspiciously tipped with claws. It’s a staggering contrast, observing the difference between the Lane’s bulky and scar-riddled sellers versus the one’s up here.
And if you were to ever accuse Jinx of being more unbearable simply because the privilege of this damned place got her in a mood, she’d tear off your arm and leave you with one of her business cards.
“Good morrow’ fair gentleman!” Jinx bellowed with a blatant accent, santuring over and leaning against the counter, “My name is Jinstastorous the third, and me and my friend here are here for your drugs, please and thank you.” she demands, and Jinx mentally pats herself on the back. Another successful request, she even said please and thank you!
“ What are you doing? ” Lux whisper-yelled into her ear, and Jinx simply ignored the other’s pleas. She’ll just have to watch and learn, no way to do baby steps now.
The cat, however, seemed less than impressed even while sporting a polite smile, “Ah yes, that is what some tend to desire when they shop at a drugstore. Now, I sincerely hope you’ve come here to properly buy something for the sake of medical use. If not, I’m sure the services you’re looking for can be found in the Slums” he suggested with a polite wicked smile.
Heh. Heh heh.
Y’know what? This isn’t nearly as fun as Jinx thought it’d be. They should go back to shoplifting. Or maybe she should change career paths into becoming a professional cat-euthanasia worker.
Except the thought of Tatter’s big large yellow eye flashes through her mind and Jinx crushes the idea. Too much work anyways.
Maybe she should just strangle the guy.
Lux- apparently sensing the killing intent between the two -stepped in beside Jinx, handing over the list she had just made that morning, “Me and my friend work at a small clinic sir. We ran out of a lot of things just this morning and we’re just here for a refill.” she assured with a blinding smile, letting the man pluck the piece of neat parchment in between his slender hands. Jinx swore the man raised an eyebrow as he read over the list’s writing.
“We’re under Director Vito’s demands, Sir,” Lux adds hopefully, and it was suddenly as if the atmosphere had changed. The tension present in the man's face eases almost instantly and his smile becomes welcoming. “Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier,” he beamed at Lux, very blatantly ignoring Jinx now “We’re… very good associates with the Director. I’m glad he sent someone… competent to buy from us.” he dipped for a moment, and grabbed an empty cardboard box.
When the bow was filled and taped shut, blaring ‘FRAGILE’ sticker placed on it’s side, Jinx was all but ready to take it and leave. She’d take her fill of pestering some unfortunate bastard down in the Slumps, and preferably not while surrounded by the embodiment of Piltover sticking it’s foot into her lanes. As she reached for the box, the clerk dragged it away from her reach.
“Ah-ah, we’re not done just yet,” he informed curtly, “The total will be over five-hundred gold. Special discount courtesy to Mr. Vito.”
500 GOLD?! Who the hell did this guy think he was?! That was more than her fucking rent! He probably had some Baron’s dial on his landmine or something, inflated his sense of worth in the grand scheme of Zaun’s hierarchy. Gods, she hated people like this: all snark and snobbish attitude without even the status to back it up. All bark no bite, like a crummy flashbang.
Lux hadn’t seemed at all bothered by it and began happily searching for her wallet, and Jinx almost wanted to burn holes into the other with a mixture of shock and disgust. Was she really just… fine with this?! Had she paid this bastard the same amount each time?? Maybe Lux was more of a lost cause than she initially seemed. The other stopped only when Jinx silently elbowed her, humming with her index finger and thumb as she pondered thoughtfully.
“Hey Clerk, I think both you and I know that this amount you're charging is a little-” she pouted, gesturing her hands out, “ -much , don’t you think? How about we play two-fifty and we’ll be on our way. You wouldn’t like it if Director Vito caught wind of this, would you?”
The man didn’t seem deterred, “I apologize miss, but this is the amount I charge everyone. No matter whose jurisdiction you’re under, the price stays the same. I can’t exactly keep a roof over my head if I take pity on every poor little orphan, drug-addicted Undergrounder that walks through my door. I'm a seller, not a charity worker. Now- ” he started evenly, “I suggest you pay at full price, or I’ll have to call in Enforcers to escort you out.”
Now, Jinx wasn’t one for hyperboles much, but she can assure that from the very core of her heart, the only thing she could see was red. She’ll kill him, she’ll fucking kill him-
The only thing that stopped her was Lux suddenly twining her fingers in her own and quickly tugging Jinx behind her taller body, resolutely throwing a hefty bag of coins onto the counter, “Five hundred gold, right?” she asked, voice defusing and almost breathless, “Well here you go, you can have it.” she snapped.
While Jinx’s anger had been anything but snuffed, it had quelled at the surprise she got when she looked at the back. While Lux had been testy about the exchange, the gold sprawled over the table was a lot more than what the average person should be carrying. And she had given it up so easily too!? Even now, the determined, focused, and slightly irked expression gave way to just about zero doubts.
Jinx knew she had compared Lux’s heritage to a Pilties, but she didn’t actually know she had the same funding as them.
The clerk looked on with equal levels of bafflement written on his face, before settling into a more appeased grin as he smirked, “Glad doing business with you ladies. Be sure to tell the Director I said hi.”
Before Jinx could but-in with an ever so graceful “ Fuck you ,” Lux curtly responded first with a surprising hot edge, “ Oh yes , I’m sure he’ll be delighted in your courteous words." She fixed him with a passive yet predatory glare, "In fact, I'm sure all your clients below the Entresol level will be more than happy to hear just what you think of them," and just like that, the man’s self-righteous smirk fell into a paled ghostly expression. Lux continued, "Oh, but that would just be terrible for business, would it not be? Considering, like so many others, you bottom feeders likely make your living relying on their charity. Hearing such terrible things about their own loyal clients would evoke a sense of betrayal. Ah, such a shame. After all-" Lux tilted her head slightly, a small smile no longer innocent or kind; instead filled with a graceful and terrifying kind of maliciousness, "We all know what kinds of things revenge can bring about."
And with that, Lux picked up the box and passed it to Jinx’s awaiting hands before turning around fully, heading for the door with a dark yet unbothered cast of shadow over her eyes. She skillfully caught the free hand of a stunned Jinx, murmuring a low " let's go. " as she tugged the other along. The rusted chime of a bell rang as Lux almost blew it open, heading down the stone steps as Jinx tried to keep up.
"Lux," Jinx breathed, eyes widened out as she tried to form the words. "I- what- How I'd you do that?! You didn't just chew him out, you fucking tore off his head and drank his blood Lux what the hell!?" She gapes with stars in her eyes. Never would she have thought someone as seemingly kindhearted and too-generous-for-their-own-good as Lux could decimate someone so coldly just with their words.
"It was nothing much," she hummed, "Just some bargaining" Lux explained but didn't make a move to stop as she led them down the stairs, brows furrowed and features still pulled tight and tense in a braley-contained scowl and holy shit she was terrifying .
Terrifying, hulking imposing and dragging Jinx along by the hand as if she were leading a puppy.
"Hey Lux," Jinx spoke, voice falling on deaf ears, "Hey!- Luxie hey- chill out for a sec, will ya?" she urges strongly, forcefully stopping on the last step. As she finally tugged the other to an abrupt stop, Lux swiveled around to face her with her angered face (which almost made Jinx jump out of her own skin). Though as Lux finally made eye contact with the shorter, something in her expression must have given way to her worry, and the raging storm brewing behind her ocean eyes quelled as she looked into Jinx's own. "You're acting weird, y'know that?" Jinx points out with a small voice, "-And that's coming from me. Are you good?"
Lux wilts under Jinx's forign worry and has a long-suffering sigh; the noise of crowds and vendors are simply static and background noise when she's able to stand so close to the other. “I… I’m fine. I got a little… riled up is all,” she admits, eyes downcast. She tries to smile sheepishly, but the edges of it don’t seem to reach her eyes, “That… It was highly inappropriate of me, wasn’t it? I shouldn’t be acting this way, I’m better than that. I’m sorry-”
“-Oh no you don’t,” Jinx interrupts, “Don’t you dare apologize for just about the coolest thing you’ve done! Seriously Luxie! You knocked him off his high horse so hard he split his head open and bled out! ” she cheered, elbowing the other lightly as she eyed the other with awe, “How in Runeterra did you even manage that?!”
Lux flushed a deep red at the attention, stretching at her head as she laughed awkwardly, “It’s not that hard Jinx, you give me too much credit. I just threatened his finances and connections,” she reasoned, “If there's anything I’ve learned about my stay in Zaun, it’s that friendships and relationships between people are worth more than Gold down here. It’s almost like a human heart: if you don’t have it, you simply can’t live. A businessman’s code.”
Lux rolled her eyes, as if the topic bored her to death, “Trust me Jinx, I assure you you don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty of it. It’s a dreadfully boring subject and a complete waste of time to learn about business relationships unless you have a stake in it. You work alone in your business, right?” She questioned. At Jinx’s eager nod, she hummed, “If you ever need an advisor or maybe just need me to bring some bottomfeeder down a peg, you can always call me,” she almost demanded, and Jinx felt like she couldn’t have said no even if she wanted to. “Businessmen may be sharks, but you’ll be fine if you know how to carve out their teeth.”
Holy.
Shit.
The fight between having the sudden desire to never-ever mess with Lux and Holy shit holyshit Lux is actually so cool what the actual fuck clashed between her emotions, excitment and starry-eyed happiness brutally winning by the end.
“Hey Luxie,” Jinx started, “You’re actually… not half bad, y’know?” The small statement brings a genuine smile to Lux’s face, and Jinx finds it hard to believe she caused it.
Before the Golden-haired girl could respond, the shope’s elegant door kicked open. The lanky cat clerk started wide eyed at the two, breathless as he called, “Oh thank gods, you’re still here.” He rushed down, quickly intruding in the two’s space as he crouched down to the Demacian’s eye level, not even sparing Jinx a passing glance, “I-I’m terribly sorry for the way I acted Miss. Business has been slow all week and it hasn’t left me in the greatest of moods. You know how it is.” he laughed nervously, though it sounded choppy and strained.
“Here” he said, picking up a bag from his breast pocket and practically shoving it into the other’s hands, “There’s five hundred and fifty Gold in there, an additional amount as recompensation for my… unbecoming behavior .”
Lux stared down at the bag for a few seconds, passive look on her face steady as she seemed to think. She passed a quick glance behind the man’s shoulder and up at Jinx, meeting her eyes as with her own as she seemed to contemplate something. Seeming to come to a decision, she met the clerk’s eyes again with a bright beaming smile on her face, warm and sincere as the sun. “Oh Sir, there was no need truly.” she exclaimed brightly, “While I’m very thankful you have your wits straightened out enough to realize the error of your ways and seek to ask for forgiveness, I fear that you’re doing it the wrong way.” Lux conceded.
The man’s smile seemed to dim slightly, single brow furrowing, “My… what do you mean? A full refund plus an additional hefty compensation seems more than enough of an apology to me.” he huffs, “Trust me, many businessmen would give far less for much worse behavior.”
Lux laughed softly, like she seemed to derive some sick satisfaction at the man’s ignorance, “Yes well, aren’t we quite lucky we aren’t well-acquainted with these so-called ‘fellow businessmen’ of yours. They sound awfully dreadful, don’t they? No, the only thing that will truly buy my forgiveness-” Lux moves aside, shuffling over the cobblestone steps until she stands close beside Jinx, “-is a proper apology to my friend here.”
Jinx blinked stupidly, surprise coating her features as she left her mouth gape open like a fish. What… What the hell is she doing?! You already got the money back and then some ! Just jump overboard already! Glancing at the other trash of a cat-man, he seemed to share the shocked expression on his own face, not bothering to cover it up with some faux smile. He cleared his throat unevenly, “ My dear- ”
“What? She was the one you unheedingly harassed anyways,” Lux sniped with an amused smile, resting both her hands gently against Jinx’s shoulders, “You said one to me just fine, what’s the difference now? Don’t tell me… cat got your tongue? ” she quipped, but the atmosphere was to tense for even Jinx to laugh. The lanky cat man met Jinx’s violent pink eyes with his own, morose expression pulling at his features and making him look like a cross between clenched anger and disgust.
Jinx hopes he stops looking at her sooner rather than later; he kinda looks constipated.
“I-...” he started, swallowing the lump in his throat painfully. “I’m…” He gritted his teeth and breathed heavily between his teeth, before getting out a sharp, “ Sorry. ” The words seemed to cause him physical pain, and Jinx was more than happy to revel in his misery. He may not have been a Piltie, but gods if that arrogance didn’t let him blend in just fine.
“ Apology accepted, Sir Kitty-Cat,” Jinx bellowed triumphantly, tempted to stroke her mismatched painted fingernails behind the man’s ear as a reward for playing nice. The temptation was strong, but Jinx ultimately decided not to. Tatters might get moody if she came home smelling like a Piltie-look-alike cat. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.
Lux clapped her gloved hands together, already having pocketed the money, “Well, wasn’t that nice? Not so hard either, was it?” she smiled kindly at the clerk, he seemed to scrunch his nose up in what looked like a suppressed hiss. “Now, you better play nice with any other lower-leveled Zaunite guests you have from now on, or I will be reporting your horrendously inappropriate behavior. Come on now Jinx, let's go.” she turned, already heading down the last few steps.
Jinx didn’t wait around, quickly catching up to Lux as she carefully pressed the box against her chest, bottles rattling against one another as Goldie Lockes stalked her way through the crowd. Her stride was reserved yet confident, almost like she’d become an entirely new person. Jinx was silent behind her, still reeling from the blonde's crass and unapologetic actions. She’d not only been satisfied with an apology, but needed a personal apology on Jinx’s behalf. No one in their right mind would ask for something like that, especially not after being given such a hefty sum of Gold back. It was like eating your fill and asking for twice more.
Their walk was silent, letting the busy market fill the stillness between them. Rings of bells and scattered crowds mobbed the sides of the street, letting them peacefully walk with spacious strides. Jinx glanced down at the heavy box, before back at Lux’s pulled hood. She could feel the question eating at her insides, clawing and vying for her attention. She breaks.
“Hey… Hey Lux?” Jinx begins, a foreign type of reluctance making her skin crawl, “Why did you… make that guy apologize to me?”
She could hear Lux sigh, posture deflating as she processed the question, “Do I really have to explain that?” she eventually settles on.
Jinx almost scoffs. Yes, of course you do, you dolt! No one, in all of Zaun history, defends anyone here with that kind of ferocity! Not against people like the Chembarons, not against gang leaders, not against the rich of Zaun like that asshole clerk. Not unless you have a death wish. And Jinx had, in all honesty, likely deserved it. There are plenty of poor schmucks that deserve Lux to come to their defense! People that are much more worthy of it!!
What did I do to deserve that type of special treatment?
Why do you care about the way people treat me so much?! Can’t you see I deserve this shit?!
Monster. Unforgivable.
That’s what she is, what she’ll always be.
So stop making me think I deserve anything close to this.
“ Please, ” Jinx pleads, and the words sound much more frail and desperate than she expected. Her skin feels chaffed and her monsters want to come out of her skin; they're tired of always waiting, waiting, waiting for her to mess up and just want to tear her apart already.
The disparity in her tone seems to catch Lux off-guard too, because swerves around and looks Jinx dead in the eyes. And Jinx can only assume, with the way her disgruntled face melts into smoldered shock before jumping to intense sympathy, that Lux understands just what was causing Jinx’s anguish.
It didn’t take a skillful analysis to determine that Jinx did not trust many easily. Her heart was a frail, small thing; broken and shattered and put back together so crudely that the slightest poke was enough for it to shake and convulse sporadically. That’s why it was shut, locked up tight in the safety of solitude and distrust.
Because loneliness hurt, but it meant no one could hurt anymore.
And maybe all of Jinx’s locks rusted and became brittle, because when Lux simply pressed open the gateway to her heart, it had given way with nothing more than a rattle. Or maybe it was special access, after having observed and reassured Jinx through one of her episodes. Of either option it was, neither couldn't tell.
Jinx did not receive much kindness from many, a fact that was evident to Lux now. Jinx had acted stilted and off-keter everytime Lux had done something nice for Jinx-hell, even friendly conversation seemed to confuse the other.
Confused. Like it truly did not make any sense as to why someone would be treating her with basic human kindness. She hadn’t realized it sooner and just assumed Jinx simply wasn’t one for willingly returning affection (Kat was always like that too, always at an arm’s length) but it hadn’t connected that Jinx simply couldn’t. Because she couldn’t understand.
When… When was the last time anyone treated Jinx nicely?
The question terrified her. Because the answer to something like that may actually drive her to violence.
It also filled her with irksome rage, but was a problem she ultimately could not erase. Whoever hurt Jinx was likely long gone by now, and all Lux could do was help her pick up the pieces. To help her restore that part of her, like a good friend.
Because that’s what she needs right now above all else: A good friend.
Jinx stiffened against Lux as the other looped her arms around the other for a hug, squeezing her head against the other’s. It’s a little awkward with the large box in the way, but Lux is nothing but determined. Jinx was frail and lanky, though those features seemed to have been set in stone a long while ago. Signs of malnourishment as a child, Lux decides, before retreatreating to give the other some space and fearing that she’d overwhelm her. She does, however, bring down her hands to hold the other’s elbows, a perplexed yet unreadable look in the other girl's face.
“You really want to know why?” Lux begins, no nonsense attitude present. Jinx nods robotically, as if verbal words simply could not form in her mind, “It’s because you’re my friend , Jinx, and no one should treat anyone like that. Maybe you don’t think that yourself, but I’m not going to let anyone walk all over you like that.”
Jinx blinks, searching Lux’s blue eyes, “ Friend… ” she echoes back, voice utterly small as she sniffs a bit, “You… you said that before too.” she whispers, “Did… you really mean it?”
Lux squeezes her elbow, and smiles sheepishly with a small laugh, “Of course I did. Why do you ask? Did you think I was lying?”
Jinx glances down, shrugging absentmindedly, “I don’t know, maybe… if I gave you some time, you’d come to your senses…or something.”she admits, the truth making her squirm in place. Lux tries with all her might to stifle the distraught she feels, because ‘who the hell convinced this poor girl into thinking she couldn’t have something as basic as friendship?’
Jinx, however, seems to have some finely tuned senses, as she seems to notice Lux’s shift in emotions and hangs her head further, hood concealing almost all of her face now. Lux, unthinkingly, acts quickly and moves to press a hand against the other girl’s cheek. Jinx seems to flinch in place, but doesn’t move away as Lux raises her head slightly back up.
“ Hey ,” Lux eases in a small, tender voice, “Jinx, I can say with absolute certainty that nothing will get me to stop being your friend. I don’t care what you’ve done in the past, what matters now is what you want to be in the future. I promise.” she says assuredly. Jinx seemed a little flushed, gaze glancing rapidly to and from Lux’s own eyes and anywhere else.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Jinx tries weakly.
Lux recognizes it: a last ditch effort. And she knows now that she’d made it past the last of Jinx’s walls. And after a long labyrinth of trial and error, Lux ends it safely as she passes a calloused thumb over a small fluorescently-pink tear peeking out at the edge of her eye.
“I know,” Lux assures genuinely, “And I’m certain this is one of the one’s I can keep.”
Maybe... she can have this.
—
If there wasn’t something Sir Luminous hated more, it was local Zaunites.
On a good day, he plays nice and gets them whatever fix they’re looking for, whether legally or not. He stands there, like a gentleman, and bears their barbaric and crass nature until they leave the store. His fur always gets bristled at even the stench of them.
On a good day, he can bear them.
On a bad day, he simply shuts the door on them. What are they to do about it? Call an Enforcer on him for classism? That’s rich.
It had been a good day, all things considered. Until the new twining pains of his existence entered his shop. Maybe he should have set the garlic outside, to keep the beasts away.
What a horrible- utterly embarrassing play of events.
They come into his establishment, tracking their dirt in, and expect him to play friendly. It’s why he’s now suddenly decided that expanding his territory up North was pushed aside for the time being as his main priority, instead being replaced with a hellbent desire to do whatever in his power to ruin their lives.
Of course, such actions were easier said than done. It was just his luck; neither of them seemed to have registered medical licenses, at least under Zaun’s boards. He’d seen the blonde one some time long ago, a few months back, and had come in under Vito’s orders. She hadn’t looked native to Zaun or Piltover, considering the pinkish skin and the golden hair, so his likelihood of finding any local connections were scarcer than he had hoped.
The blue one hadn’t been much luck either, aside from clearly identifying her as a Zaunite as soon as he’d caught the scent of Fissure and Shimmer. The latter option, of course, was what had made him so scathing towards the girl to begin with. He can smell a drug addict as well as he can smell bad feelings (both corresponding with each other of course). However, asking around proved no luck either, as his connections to lower Zaunite branches didn’t extend to individuals. And asking Vito seemed counter productive-he doubts the Blonde one will actually refrain from at least reporting to her superior.
So all in all-he’d hit the bottom of the barrel as soon as he started.
Well… all except for one factor… he supposes…
“Now, you better play nice with any other lower-leveled Zaunite guests you have from now on, or I will be reporting your horrendously inappropriate behavior. Come on now Jinx, let's go.”
A name. One he vaguely recognizes, but cannot recall for what exactly. He hadn’t known what to do with the information exactly, as no Zaunite medical records had a ‘Jinx’ filed under it either. Perhaps a nickname? The two seemed close enough to have had that (especially considering the Blue one’s general unendingly-annoying attitude, he wouldn’t put it past them).
He had been mulling over the information for a few days, pushing it aside for the time being to tend to his actual job. He had been serving just a few days after the incident when an Enforcer waltzed into his abode, on the eve of Snowdown nonetheless. They’d dwindled in numbers in the upper levels of Zaun as of recently, filtering into the deeper regiments of Zaun as if in search of… something. It had vaguely caught his attention, but he made nothing of it.
Until, of course, the Enforcer had spoken.
“Piltover’s on the lookout for a wanted criminal; by judicial force of a collaboration between the Overseer of the Underground and the Councilors of Piltover, you are obligated to put this somewhere in your shop.”
He had raised an eyebrow, but taken the paper with clawed fingers nonetheless. As the Enforcer left the shop with a chime of his rusted bell, his eyes widened at the paper.
Then, he laughed. A throaty chuckle, then tuned hearty as his chest compressed with the strength of his laugh. Of course, he won’t be turning her in just yet. He has bigger plans, after all.
His compliments to the sketch artist; they truly did capture their best features.
WANTED ALIVE - JINX
GUILTY OF TERRORISM, DESTRUCTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, MULTIPLE ENFORCER AND CIVILIAN DEATHS, ETC.
FREEDOM OF THE UNDERGROUND ENSURED UPON SAFE RETURN.
REWARD
-
10,000,000,000 GOLD
“Ah” he breathed, smirk crossing his face
What a wonderful Snowdown eve.
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Art by Me!
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