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Tears flow from Jinx’s eyes. Her grip on Ekko tightens. His raspy breathes echo through the tunnels. A firm hand intertwines with Jinx’s, telling her to stop. Eyes pleading at her to stop. To run. She couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to leave him.
“I’m not letting you die!” Jinx growls. Determination pulses through her veins as she uses her good arm to drag him further. Heavy footsteps bounce off the walls of the pipes. Each step was a warning of Sevika and her men growing ever closer. Ekko grips Jinx’s arm.
“It’s okay,” Ekko tries to soothe her. Though his words were kind, he wasn’t giving her permission. He was telling her to run.
“It’s not okay!” Jinx exclaims. She feels herself sinking to the floor. Her world is falling apart at the seams. And she’s helpless to do anything. She begins to hit her head, trying to think of a solution. Ekko can’t stand to see her like this. Tears threatening to burst from him as well. He crawls to her. Fire shoots up his legs. Ekko gasps as he moves towards her. She feels his arms wrap around her. She turns her head to see him, his eyes. Those reassuring eyes, even in the darkest nights they held hope. Even in their darkest hour, he still has hope. He cradles her close to him. Small kisses on her forehead. Something warm drips onto Jinx’s forehead. A mixture of sweat, tears, and blood. She cries harder. A soothing hand begins to stroke her cheek.
“You need to go,” Ekko says. He can hear Sevika and her men growing closer. Their boots thumping rhythmically like the bells in Piltover.
“I’m not-“ Jinx begins to sob harder. Pink tears mix with black eyeliner.
“Shhhhhhh,” both hands reach up towards Jinx’s face, forcing her to look at him. “You need to protect this,” his gentle hand gazes at her stomach. Footsteps are approaching their destination. Ekko breaks their hug. Pushing Jinx away. She stares at him, leans in for one final kiss.
“I love you,” Ekko mouths. She smiles at him.
“I love you most,” She mouths back. Then she runs.
Ekko watches as she fades away.
“Where is she?” Sevika growls. Ekko remains silent.
Their voices drown as Jinx runs further into the tunnels. Make it to topside, find Vi. That was her only hope. Her heart stops beating for a second. She hears gunshots in the faint distance. She closes her eyes and still herself. There was no going back. His sacrifice would not be in vain. She refuses to let tears blur her vision. Not when she had something worth running for. Not when there’s hope.
A small girl and her mother gaze out at the sparkling water below. A mass of footsteps pass her and many onlookers watch the scene unfold.
“Mommy, what’s going on?” She peers at the crowd with curiosity.
“Shhh, I don’t know. Keep your head down. This is no place for a child,” her mother says. Taking her daughter's hand leading her away. The little girl watches as a petty blue hair lady speaks to one of the weird enforcers.
“Mommy she’s crying,” the little girl observes. The mother also watches from a safe distance. A scene of three women, one talking franticly, tears and scattered sentences, one holding a gun to her with concerned eyes, and another walking up and ready to embrace the blue-haired woman.
“Come along, that’s enough excitement for one day,” the mother says to her daughter, carrying her away from the crowd.
“We will get through this,” Vi whispers. Jinx looks at her sister. Vi can see a girl, alone and afraid. She was safe with Vi. She was always safe with Vi. A breath escapes Jinx that realizes she’s been holding in. That’s when the tears fall. The pain she’s been holding in for as long as she remembered spills over. Vi holds her tighter. There will be a lot Vi will have to do to keep her sister safe, but she knew, no one was going to tear them apart, not this time. Vi could feel her sister's strength leave, as Jinx was having trouble standing. Her exhaustion kicks in as she feels her world turn black. “Get me a medic!” Vi yells.
“Hey sis,” Vi taps gently on Jinx’s door. “How are you feeling?”
“Fat,” Jinx states. 9 months pregnant and ready to burst. She has been bored out of her mind. Not to mention having a constant emotional battle for the first 5 months. Grieving for her beloved, having to battle the council in regards to her crimes, and doubts she had if she would even be a good mother. Vi was there every step of the way. Thank goodness the council had protective shields. If they had blown up in that explosion, Vi was more than sure the circumstances would have been different. They agreed with the council, as long as Jinx remained under the care of Caitlyn and Vi, she could raise her daughter in peace. It was a relief. But now the real challenge begins. Motherhood. Being cooped up in one room for her last month of pregnancy made her feel stifled. Vi chuckles at her sister's restlessness. A gentle hand weaves through Jinx’s hair. She can see the worry that clouds Jinx every night. She places a reassuring hand on Jinx’s stomach. “Hey,” Vi lowers her face close to Jinx. Jinx’s pink eyes stare worriedly back. “You are going to make the greatest mother in the world.”
“I wish he could have met her…” Jinx sighs. Leaning back on her pillows. Vi strokes Jinx’s belly.
“I… he would have been proud. Proud about how far you’ve come,” Vi kisses the top of Jinx’s head. “So… have you decided on a name yet?” Vi changes the subject. Jinx turns and smiles.
“He was always a light in the darkness. She will be that light now. I was thinking… Hope,” Jinx beams. Vi smiles back. Tears were in both sisters' eyes. Vi leans in and hugs Jinx.
“I think that’s perfect,” She whispers lovingly.
“Mommy! Look! One day I’m going to fly one of them!” Jinx’s daughter said. She points to a ballon in the sky.
“Maybe we will one day,” Jinx laughs. This was Hope’s first time going to Progress day, it was Jinx’s as well. Watching as her six-year-old daughter stares at the balloons in awe, Jinx sighs contentedly.
“Perhaps one day, you’ll fly one of those. And protect the people of Zaun and Piltover,” Jinx pats her daughter's head.
“I’m going to make it where Zaunites and Pilties get along together! Just you wait mommy,” Hope exclaims. Jinx smiles softly. She hopes that’s true. Hope knew where she came from, but she shares the same dream her aunts and Jinx have, one day, little girls and boys would be able to dance and sing, laugh and create without the fear of crime and being slaughtered. Somewhere safe.
“Come and play with me!” Her daughter exclaims. She ran towards a shooting booth game. Jinx follows but a hand reaches for Jinx’s shoulder.
“Don’t push yourself,” Vi whispers, concerns lacing her eyes. Her sister stares back. Giving a soft smile.
“You can’t bubble wrap be forever,” Jinx says kindly. Vi tries to hide her sad eyes as Jinx’s daughter runs over and grabs her hand.
“Come on Mommy! Look at this!” Hope pulls her mother forward.
Vi watches as mother and daughter run off into the fair.
“She’s getting really big,” Caitlyn says behind Vi, making Vi smile. Caitlyn kisses her wife. Interlacing their hands.
“She looks weaker every day,” Vi sighs. Cait squeezes Vi’s hand.
“I know,” Cait says. “We’re going to get through this,” Caitlyn reassures Vi. Vi knows what’s coming. She tries to swallow the tightness in her through. A tear escapes her as Jinx and Hope battle each other in the shooting match. Jinx won, pumping her fist in the air. A giant firelight plushie was given to Jinx, which she handed off to her daughter.
Jinx sighs as she goes for another round of heaving. Vi holds her sister's hair back. Slow circles rub her back. The past five months, Jinx had become even thinner than Vi thought possible. Worried pale eyes look over at Vi.
“What’s going to happen to her… when I'm gone,” Jinx asks. Shaking a bit. Some pink tears slip from her face. She leans on Vi. Her vision is swimming as the room spins.
“Hey, you know Caitlyn and I aren’t going to let anything happen to her,” Vi reassures her sister. She can feel something warm on her shirt. More tears spill now.
“I don’t want to die,” Jinx croaks. Vi places her head on top of Jinx.
“I know,” she says as she lets out her silent tears.
“How is she?” Caitlyn asks. She coughs Vi after helping Jinx back into bed. Caitlyn sets down a cup of tea.
“Worse,” Vi answers. She felt like screaming. There was nothing they could do for Jinx. Kindred has finally come for her. Once again, Vi was completely and utterly helpless. Maybe if she-
“Stop,” Cait commands. Looking like she was about to throw a biscuit at her wife.
“What,” Vi groans, leaning back on the sofa.
“That path. There’s nothing you could have done for her. The shimmer is wearing down her body. We’ve tried every option, but the shimmer is too much for her system to handle anymore,” Caitlyn states. “We have tried everything,” she says as she places her hands on Vi’s.
“Auntie Caitlyn,” a voice breaks their conversation. They turn around to see Hope staring wide with eyes at them. “Mommy said she wants to speak to you.”
Caitlyn looks over at Vi. Vi just shrugs. Her guess was as good as Caitlyn as to why Jinx wanted her. Caitlyn stands up, heals clicking again the floor as she walks over to Jinx’s room. She takes a breath as she knocks on her door.
“Come in,” A weak voice answers. Caitlyn opens the door. Jinx was staring out the window, hair freed from her braids. Sprawled out in every direction on her bed. She looks over at Cait. Eyes are not quite pink anymore, but not the blue hue they used to be as vi described.
“Are you going to stand there?” Jinx teases. Caitlyn jumps a little.
“Right,” she says as she pulls up a seat. Cait sits in silence. Jinx just stares at her blankly.
“Can you do two things for me?” Jinx asks. Caitlyn was hesitant, but nods and continues to listen.
“First, promises me my daughter will remain with you and Vi. I don’t want her to be thro-“ Jinx’s shaking hands were stilled by Caitlyns as Cait cut her off.
“I can promise you. Vi and I are not letting her go anywhere. You do not need to worry about that,” Caitlyn firmly says. The determination in Cait’s eyes eases Jinx’s mind. She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Also… The other thing. How good are you at writing?” Jinx asks. Caitlyn is taken aback by that one.
“Depends, what do you need?” She asks.
The day finally came for Kindred to claim Jinx. There was no pain. A swift and merciful arrow from Kindred as Jinx’s last image was her family standing around her. One hand holding onto Vi for dear life and the other wrapped around Hope. Jinx smiles lovingly at her daughter as she took her final breathes.
"I love you," she whispers. "More than all the stars in the sky."
The house felt empty with Caitlyn, Vi, and Hope. The first few months were rough. Crying and sorrow echos through the house. But soon. Pain turns into memory. Jinx’s daughter would soon be turning 7. Vi and Caitlyn were determined to make this kid have the best birthday ever.
“Cupcake, you got the cupcakes?” Vi asks. Poking her head out from the kitchen.
“Yes yes,” Caitlyn dismisses her wife as she stacks the presents neatly in order.
“So, do you think we’ve done enough?” Vi worries. It was this girl's first birthday without her mother, and they wanted to make sure it was still filled with love and joy. Caitlyn rests her hands on Vi’s shoulders.
“Yes,” Caitlyn states. Calm eyes reassure Vi.
Regardless of the absence of her mother. Hope was overwhelmed with the amount of love her aunts showered her with. It took two hours to get through all her gifts. She was stunned by the amount of thought her aunts put into that day.
“Is there anything you wanna do on your special day?” Caitlyn ask. Hope stares into the distance. She turns to her aunts. A bit tearful.
“Can we go to the docs? I want to see the airships,” Hope requests. Caitlyn and Vi set off immediately with Hope to see the airships.
The rest of the day was spent with Hope watching the airships fly to and fro from Piltover to the unknown. It was a beautiful sight. Vi could understand why both Jinx and Hope loves the airships so much. She and Caitlyn turn to Hope when they hear sniffles. Tears show in Hope’s eyes. Though she tries to hide it. Vi bends down to Hope’s level. Pulling her into a hug. A few tears wet Vi’s jackets.
“Let’s go sit down,” Caitlyn suggests. The three walk over to a bench overlooking the airships that are about to take off. Hope watches the airship crew prepare. People walking to and fro, checking the ropes and an engine test. Some men preparing backup fuel. She watches as men and women lean over a table. Marking places on a map. She wished her mom could see this. Vi wipes some tears that boiled to the surface.
“I’m sorry,” Hope croaks. Caitlyn and Vi look at each other in surprise.
“For what?” Vi asks.
“For ruining today,” Hope says. “I know you and Caitlyn worked hard and-“ Hope turns her attention to her aunt’s face. As arms wrap around her, Vi looks over at Caitlyn. Her own tears threaten to come loose.
“Give it to her,” Vi smiles. Caitlyn reaches into her bag and pulls out an envelope. Caitlyn hands it to Hope. Hope looks up at her aunt, searching for an answer. We’ll help you read it. Caitlyn says. Remembering the girl was only 7.
“Dear Hope, happy birthday,” Cait reads out,
I hope you’re having a wonderful birthday. I know Caitlyn and Vi are working hard to make you the happiest birthday. Remember to be kind to yourself. Don’t forget to never lose who you are, no matter what other people say. The years ahead are going to be hard, but remember, you are Ekko, the leader of the firelights, and my daughter. I got to watch you grow up for six years, and I can already tell you’re going to change these cities for the better. Ekko and I are proud and excited to see what you’re going to grow up to be. We are always watching over you. You are strong, kind, and smart. But most of all. You’re important. You are the Hope of Piltover and Zaun. I love you more than every star in the sky. Don’t forget to cause some mayhem for your aunts now and again. Happy Birthday, my dear child. I love you.
Your mother, Jinx
Hope stares at the letter. Tears fall as Vi and Caitlyn wrap her in a hug. The sound of the airship can be heard in the background taking flight. Her crying slows as she watches the airship. A small smile forms on her face. Tears still dripping from her face. She feels a hand on her shoulder. Caitlyn with her tears smiles down at her. A hand cups the side of Hope’s face.
“Your mother made one for every birthday. So she would always be with you on your birthday,” Caitlyn says. Hope smiles as tears continue to flow.
“Happy birthday Hope,” Vi says. Both Cait and Vi wrap their arms around Hope. They watch as the airship leaves on its journey. They knew one thing. There was hope, for a brighter future. Hope knew she would do something, she would make her mother and father proud.
Happy 9th birthday, Hope. Is today everything you wished for? Maybe you’ve moved on from playing with bugs and imagining you're a bird in the sky. But don't forget not to grow up too fast. You have all the time in the world to be an adult. You only have seldom time to be a kid. I love you more than all the stars in the world, happy birthday Hope.
Your mother, Jinx
Hope re-reads that note 5 times. It was true. She had moved on from bugs and pretending she was a bird. But… maybe for today. She could honor her mother’s wishes.
“Vi!!! Can you take me firelight catching?!” Hope exclaims running down the stairs.
Vi looks up at her niece. “Of course! But what happened to the declaration that you were ‘too old’ to firelight chase?”
“Well…….. I changed my mind,” Hope claims grabbing a net.
Caitlyn opens the kitchen door. “Be back before dinner, I’m making a roast.”
Happy 18th birthday, Hope. Wow. You’re an adult. I’m so proud. Have you met anyone special? Remember it’s okay to still be figuring things out. Don’t rush into any decision without consulting someone. I wonder if you’ve become an inventor like your father, or an excellent weapon craftsman-like your mother. Or maybe, you’ve become a pilot, like you’ve been wishing ever since you saw that airship during Progress Day. Don’t forget these next years are the best years of your life. Don’t waste them! I love you more than all the stars in the world. Happy birthday Hope.
Your mother, Jinx
“That’s beautiful,” a man says as she reads him the letter.
“Yeah, my aunts traveled to Piltover’s Flight Academy just to deliver it!” Hope smiles. A warm feeling settles in Hope's stomach. She sheds a tear or two. Her radiant smile lit up the room.
"I miss her," she says. Curling up on the crate she was perched on. The man uses a sleeve to wipe them from her face.
“Hey, no crying!” He exclaims. “You’ve been preparing for your pilot's license for months now! You gotta make your mother proud!”
Hope nods. She will. She knows she will.
Happy 26th birthday, Hope. It’s already been 20 years? How can this be, you were so small in my arms. Perhaps you have a little one of your own now? Wherever life takes you, I know you’re making a difference along the way. Don’t forget to still have fun. Even when the world feels like it’s crashing down, don’t forget to smile. Only do what makes you feel joy. Don’t worry about what others think. They’ll understand one day. Your father and I are proud of you. I love you more than ever star times 10. Happy birthday Hope.
Your mother, Jinx
Hope smiles as she reads the letter in one hand. Holding her newborn in the other. Vi walks back and smiles.
“This building looks amazing Hope,” Vi says.
Hope nods. It took a lot of work. Against Vi’s wishes, Hope and her husband moved to Zaun and started a school for next-generation children and adults. It was a safe place. Sure it had its ups and downs, but Hope and her husband managed to grow their small school into something bigger. While her lover taught and his co-workers would teach the principal subjects, Hope would take the kids to Piltover to explore opportunities. It wasn’t anything major. But it was a step toward a better future. While her aunts fought for the people of Zaun's voices to be heard, Hope would help integrate the two cities as one.
Vi reaches out her hand to hold Hope’s child. She smiles at Hope. “If your mother and father could see this, they would be so proud,” Vi whispers. Staring down at the innocent of the newborn infant, resting comfortably in her arms. Oblivious to the harsh world around it.
“I know,” Hope smiles.
—Bonus—
Jinx opens her eyes. She lays in a pool of water that reflects the brilliant stars that stretch infinitely in all directions. As her eyes adjust, she sees three figures. She sits up, her limbs feeling like when she was 10. She’s hasn't felt this good in a long time. In the distance, One was a white lamb, and the other a terrifying Wolf. Yet she felt no fear. Only peace. One of the figures starts running towards her. She smiles. Tears flow down her eyes. But they weren’t pink. They were as clear and pure as the water below. She could hear the figure call out her name. She sprints towards him. Laughing that same laugh when they were kids.
“Ekko!” She yells with delight