Work Text:
28 May.
In just one day, Little man would be 20. Oh my lord. Jinx was going even more crazy than she already was. There were just so many things to do. Bake the cake, organize a surprise party, invite peeps over..
The problem was Jinx being unorganized as hell. She doesn't even know where to start!
The only thing she had was the gift for Ekko. She made it months ago for some reason. She had a good idea, and really just made it. It was already put in a box and wrapped with colorful paper, tied with a carefully made bow.
So what do we do when things go wrong and life is stressful?
We interrupt Vi.
Vi's home - Okay, it was actually Caitlyn's - wasn't too far from Jinx's -... Okay, it was Ekko's.
As soon as Jinx arrives, she dares not to waste a single moment. She started repeatedly knocking at the door while also ringing the doorbell.
Inside, Vi and Caitlyn were binging some kind of series on Netflix. Earlier, they were playing Wild Rift and Vi, competitive as she is, bet Caitlyn that she can't be the mvp. Few more minutes of nonsensical arguing on this topic and Caitlyn, finally decided to show Vi she can be something of a... Little, tiny daredevil and said that the one who gets to be the mvp will choose which series to binge.
Caitlyn eventually won the desired title, which didn't really make Vi happy; Seriously, losing a bet she started on her own?
Now they were laying down in bed, with a bag of chips between them, watching The Office.
Vi wasn't really enjoying this series... But she didn't hate it neither. Who knows, maybe it gets more interesting later on.... The loud banging at the door and the doorbell ringing caught the two girls of guard and for a moment there they thought thieves were coming. Or the FBI.
Swiftly, Caitlyn goes to see who's outside.
...
A stressed blue ball of energy, fidgeting with her left braid. Caitlyn opens the door and welcomes the smaller girl inside.
"Jinx, welcome, come on in."
"Hi, Cait." Jinx forces herself to sound a little less hostile towards Caitlyn.
'Don't call her sister snatcher, don't call her sister snatcher' Jinx thought to herself.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Vi hears the familiar voice of her sister and comes to see her.
"Where's Vi?" Vi heard her sister asking Caitlyn, who was serving her tea already.
"Right here." Vi enters the living room, a smile forming on her face. She makes her way to the couch where the other two were sitting comfortably, drinking tea - Well, mostly Caitlyn.
"Join us for some tea, Vi." Caitlyn offered nicely, Vi nodding slightly at it. The tea was of a nice, rosy color and its aroma was certainly pleasant.
"So... Pow-Pow, what's the problem?" Vi asks, out of the blue.
"What do you mean?" Jinx knows exactly what Vi's talking about, but pretends she doesn't. It really wasn't hard to see if she was stressed - she wears all of her emotions on her sleeve. Plus, she was willing to tell Vi all about it a bit later, so it was okay.
"You look troubled. You aren't that hard to read, y'know?" Vi explains, then sips tea.
"Maybe we can help?" Caitlyn offers. She really was trying her best to make a friend out of Jinx.
Seeing as she doesn't really have a choice but to spill it right then and there, Jinx asks them "Well then. Do you guys know what's on 29 of May?"
"Little man's birthday?" Vi asks back, in unison with Caitlyn that also added "That's Ekko's birthdate."
"It sure-"
"And you have no idea what to do first?" Vi interrupts Jinx, smirking.
Jinx sighs, and answers with a "Yup." - How did Vi guess that, anyway? Probably big sister talents.
"Well then, I can help you write a list of things you need to get done, if you'd want." Caitlyn added just while observing Vi's teacup was empty.
"That would be a great way to start." Vi replies, as Caitlyn refilled her teacup.
"Thanks, cupcake." Vi muttered, smiling softly to Caitlyn.
"Anyway, yes, we were talking about lists." Jinx interrupts to two, seeming almost amused.
"Yes, lists." Caitlyn repeats. "I'm gonna go get a sheet of paper." She added, leaving the two sisters alone in the room.
It was silent. Which was weird, since Jinx was in this room. And wherever she is, there's a big, loud explosion coming right up.
"So.." They both start in unison.
Now they were looking at each other, their eyes slightly widened... However, that did not last very long as both sisters started laughing. Just like the good old times, no?
Caitlyn swiftly returns with a clipboard with a sheet of paper and a pen.
'What a posh looking pen.' Jinx thought, looking at the pen in Caitlyn's hand.
"Let me help you note everything you need to do." Caitlyn kindly offers, taking a seat just next to Jinx.
She was clearly trying to make a friend out of Jinx... Which wasn't necessarily bad. But for Jinx, it seemed kinda weird. Why would someone so respectable, calm and responsible want to even talk with the exact opposite of themselves?
"Okay.." Jinx was thinking. What was the first of the many things she had to get done?
"Write 'Organize the surprise party'." She said and Caitlyn started writing.
"Wait, surprise party?" Vi asked, looking childishly at her sister.
Jinx turns her head to her sister. "Yup." She smiled.
"You never really grow, do you?"
"Nope."
"Good."
Caitlyn finishes writing and asks "Second thing?"
Jinx turns her head to Caitlyn and thinks intensely™ again.
"Bake a cake?"
Caitlyn writes the second thing to do, then turns her head to Jinx to ask her "You... Don't exactly know how to cook, do you?"
Jinx looks awkwardly at Caitlyn, then shakes her head. Great. She doesn't know anything about cooking, and if she'd try to make even a sandwich, the kitchen would be on fire and god would be dead, along with Gordon Ramsay.
"Caitlyn can help you." Vi added, then took a sip of tea.
"Thanks, but I mean cake, not cupcakes." Jinx joked, making Vi giggle a bit.
"I'm pretty sure I can bake other desserts... Not just cupcakes." Caitlyn commented, remembering the fiasco from last week, when she tried making lasagna... Was not the best experience. The pasta sheets were over boiled due to Vi and Cait's makeout-in-the-kitchen session.
"Other things to do?" Vi asked, suddenly remembering the to do list.
"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Note 'Invite people over.'"
"And who are you planning to invite?" Vi asks, curiously looking at her sister as Caitlyn rapidly scribbles.
And then, Jinx realised there weren't exactly a lot of people she wanted to invite - not as many as you would see at a normal party, anyway. Sure, she could invite the Firelights. But honestly, she wasn't really the biggest fan of them.
"Well, firstly, I plan on inviting myself." Jinx started, making the other two giggle a bit. "Then you and Cait."
"Is that it?" Caitlyn asked, waiting for Jinx to continue the list.
"Yea."
"So um.. Quiet, small party?" Vi added. Jinx took it as a rude, half assed way to mock the fact she didn't know a lot of people, despite her extroverted and fun personality.
"Maybe small, but absolutely not quiet!" Jinx exclaimed. She was planning to blast Ekko's whole playlist. After she got his phone. To actually see his playlist. Heh.
~
~
~
Tomorrow is little man's birthday and there was Jinx, who was slightly less stressed about organizing the whole thing - of course, Vi and Caitlyn were a huge help.
She woke up earlier than normally, at around 4 am. Technically, it was already 29 may, but way too early. She looked around, still a bit sleepy, laying comfortable on the bed. Turning around her head to right, there was Ekko, sleeping peacefully. She thought his quiet snores were cute.
She gets up from the bed, as silent as she could. She walks to the door and just as she wants to leave the bedroom, she takes one more look at the sleeping boy. God, so peaceful.
She leaves, closing the bedroom's door as quietly as she could. She goes in the living room and finds the list she made yesterday with her sister and Caitlyn, in the same place she placed it last night - hidden between the sofa's cushions.
First thing written, 'organize a surprise party'.
Okay, no, that was dumb. How would she organize a surprise party in their own house, while he's there, too?
And she thinks at a solution: skip the first step, until a bit later. She'll think of a way to make him leave without being suspicious. This way, she can organize the party. Or, if she was lucky, he would later go to work. Maybe... Wait, he was totally going to work! He had that dumb meeting with the firelights.
Skipping on to the next one, we have the birthday cake. Jinx was a total uhh... Opposite of Gordon Ramsay. Which wasn't going to help a lot.
She took her phone, deciding to ask for help. Normally, she wouldn't ask for help, especially from that-one-you-know-who person, but this time? There wasn't really a choice.
'Ey sis, good mornin' She types to Vi. Unsurprisingly for Jinx, Vi read the message quite fast. Surely, those two idiots were still awake, watching the series Caitlyn recommended.
'good mornin. Tf u doing?'
'Breathing, hbu?'
'Me too. So, why the late night message?'
'I need help. Rn. It's urgent.'
And Jinx's phone starts ringing, Vi was calling. Video chat, too! Oy, just now, Jinx observed how big her eyebags truly were. She picks up and sees both Caitlyn and Vi, looking sleepy but also high on caffeine. Truly, Jinx didn't feel bad anymore about her eyebags - her sister's were worse
"You two look high." Jinx kindly, politely greeted the two.
"The human crystal meth talks." Vi greets politely right back at her little sister.
"You told us you need help." Caitlyn started talking about the sole purpose of that call. It wasn't something common for Jinx to ask for help. Vi was sure it was something of grave importance. So damn sure.
"Right! I have absolutely no idea on how to bake. Help me."
Umm yeah, grave importance, as Vi thought.
"Not to worry, I will help you." Caitlyn offered. Vi was also useless in the kitchen so she couldn't really offer much help to her sister, even if she wanted to.
"Hold on, let me google a good recipe, but first, what flavour do you want?" Caitlyn continues.
"Mint and chocolate? Micolate?"
Truly, Jinx never ceased to impress the two.
Does that flavour even exist at this point?
After a solid 2-minute-research on the ever so trustworthy google, Caitlyn didn't seem to find any micolate cake recipes. You know what that means? It means you have to do it yourself.
Back at the simple, vanilla cake recipe that everyone knew.
"250 grams of plain flour, 200 ml of buttermilk, or plain milk, 2 large eggs-" Cait starts literally rapping the whole recipe.
"Slow down there, cowboy." Too bad she got interrupted by Jinx.
"Add a tea spoon of baking Powder." Vi added.
"Is that a fucking joke?" Jinx asks, slightly, ironically offended by Vi's horrendous attempt at humour.
And they go on and on, Caitlyn actually trying to help as the two sister act like two.. Sisters.
Eventually, by 5:24, the cake is in the oven, getting its nice tan.
Jinx just hoped she didn't add too much baking powder.
And it was actually looking decent! Hah, Caitlyn really knows what she knows, doesn't she?
Jinx thought, if it looked actually half decent now, how heavenly would it look with all the decorations on? Probably not as perfect as those ones made by professionals, but it sure was something!
~
The Wondeful Creation™ was out of the oven, on a pretty plate. And it really was something. Soft and so fluffy, nearly as soft as Jinx's cheeks :)
"That looks pretty good, not gonna lie." Vi complimented, followed by a long, tired-sounding yawn.
"Are you tired? Really?" Jinx asked, like it was normal to be awake at this time.
Silence for 3 seconds, then Caitlyn interrupted it with a nice, friendly "That looks great! Do you need help decorating?"
"Thanks but naaah. Y'all need to sleep. Really."
"Good night then." Caitlyn smiled, Vi yawning again in the background. "Bye bye." Jinx ended the call just now. Right after that, she yawns.
'Oh damn Vi's yawning is contagious.' She thought.
O-kay, now to decorate this baby.
~
~
~
Yay, good morning time :D
The sun was rising slowly but surely on the sky. Jinx never really got back to sleep, as she didn't have much time left. Seriously, it took a lot to actually decorate that cake. She wanted to try and make some kind of breakfast too, but unfortunately for her, Ekko already woke up by 6 am.
She didn't hear anything, and assumed he was asleep, but of course, he was awake. Ekko came by surprise in the kitchen and wrapped his hands around Jinx's waist, a hug from the back. Luckily he didn't see the birthday cake, as she already placed it in the fridge.
Jinx was taken by surprise, which was not bad. It was actually nice. Jinx thought he should do these kinds of things more frequently.
"Good mornin' to you too." Jinx started smiling. Being hugged by Ekko sure was pleasant.
"You know what day's today?" He asked, sounding sleepy but enthusiastic, kinda like a little child on his birthday.
"Hm. Sunday?" She knows very damn well what he is hinting at, but, she won't answer that. Instead, she'll tease him with obvious answers, and let all the best stuff for later - the surprise party- , when he comes back from work.
"Try again."
"25 December?" She replies again, totally wanting to see how long they're gonna go like this.
"No- wait, it's not even winter."
"I don't know what day it is." Jinx deadpanned.
"29 May.. Rings any bells?"
And she can feel him smirking, even though she doesn't see his expression.
"Nope. Absolutely no bells here."
And the charade goes on and on, surprisingly long, until Jinx reminds Ekko to take a look at his watch.
"Oh shit, that meeting with the Firelights." He remembered. Jinx thought that meeting was a bad idea: Really, on a Sunday, on his birthday and at 7:30 in the morning too!
But now? Perfect distraction. He'll be away until late afternoon. Being this lucky sure wasn't normal, but hey, if it's going smoothly, it's perfect.
He leaves to get ready for the Firelights' meeting, leaving Jinx alone, a little sad that she isn't hugged anymore. The hugs he gives were always comforting and nice, and strangely, it felt a little colder without his arms around her small waist.
~
"Buh bye" She waves at him, as she was laying comfortably on the bed.
"Take care and byeeeee"
And the door is now closed. Jinx springs up from the bed, takes her phone from the nightstand and immediately calls her sister. And she answered quite fast too! Usually, she answers much, much slower.
"Helloooo" Vi greets, overlapped loudly by Caitlyn also greeting with a polite "Greetings, Jinx."
"Hi to the two of you too." Jinx smiled, quickly observing the two of them were in Cait's car. "Where are y'all going?" She asked, curiously, thinking of places they could go. Maybe dates. At fancy restaurants. Again. That would mean the 13th time this month.
"We are on our way to you." Vi answered. "But Caitlyn is driving like a snail." She continues, earning a scoff from Caitlyn and a small giggle from her sister.
"We are close. Bye bye." Caitlyn says, focused on the road, as Vi waves and hangs up. After that, of course she turns the volume up, the music in the car so loud that it startled Caitlyn. Almost did a car crash there.
~
"I really hope you bought party stuff." Jinx starts, standing by the door, outside, seeing her sister and Caitlyn approaching.
"It would be rude to come empty handed, right?" Vi smiles, throwing her sister a bag full of 'the good stuff'. It was so heavy it almost crushed Jinx. Poor her.
"Hey-!"
"That really hurt." Jinx regains her composure and drops the bag on the floor, as it was too heavy for her to carry it. "My feelings." She continues, mimicking a hurt child, making the other two giggle a bit.
They all went inside and got to work. Vi immediately asked about the cake and how her sister decorated it, but Jinx insisted on keeping it hidden until the party. Right now, they needed to decorate the house.
As Jinx said, starting with the most crucial thing: Party hats.
Just like a curious and overly excited kiddo, Jinx took the bag and searched the party hats, throwing everything else on the floor.
She found them in no time... And Vi picked the finest of the finest. The party hats were vibrantly colored, with interesting patterns and the best part - glitter-y pom poms on top and fur at the base.
"These are just heavenly." Jinx said as she put one on her head, on her way to do the same with the other two girls.
"Glad you like them." Caitlyn replies politely, stooping down so Jinx the Dwarf can actually put the hat on her head.
"We also took other stuff." Vi continues, getting her hat too.
"By that she means a lot of soda. I think 34 dollars were spent only on soda." Caitlyn said, as she stared Vi in the eyes, deadpan and soulless.
"Hey, money are made to be spent, though." Jinx commented, petty as ever.
"True." Vi replied, only to further annoy Caitlyn, who was hiding this very well.
"True?" Jinx asks again.
"DAMAGE" Vi yelled.
And the circus continued, leaving Caitlyn the only level headed person in the room. Somehow, they still did a good job decorating the house. Somehow.
~
In the Firelights' base, everyone was joyful: it was Ekko's birthday today, aka the man that saved them all and gave them a reason to live. Everywhere Ekko passed, there was always at least 2 happy kids, exclaiming 'Happy Birthday!'. And Ekko was proud.
There were some that brought gifts for him. Like a new jacket, where everybody signed their names with vibrant colors.
It was such a great day, wasn't it?
As for the meeting? It's going smoothly and everybody is coming with great ideas on how to further help the ones that need help.
~
"Shit, I forgot one crucial thing." Jinx remembered.
"What?" Vi asks, not knowing if her sister is only joking or if she was actually serious.
"I didn't get Ekko's playlist."
That's it, the party was fucked.
Vi and Caitlyn both thought of a solution to this big problem.
"How about a song you both love?" Caitlyn asked, but Jinx's mind went completely blank, literally forgetting every song she ever listened to.
"I have a better idea." Vi intervenes, heroically.
"Say." Both Jinx and Caitlyn say, turning their gaze to Vi.
"How about you subtly send him a link for one of those blend playlists on Spotify?" She said, nuancing the 'subtly'. Jinx has a habit of accidentally spoiling surprises, sadly.
And that's exactly what they did. This way, they'd have a playlist with both Jinx's and Ekko's favourite tracks, which would be perfect.
Out of curiosity, Jinx analysed a bit. And oh damn, this boy sure has good tastes. Some of the tracks there would be 'Misfit toys' and 'Naw Naw', which, in the author's opinion, 10/10, absolutely.
Solid playlist. Perfect.
And the house looked truly festive. Jinx knew Ekko used some kind of symbol in the shape of a simple green hourglass, so she took some markers and scribbled those on the decorations and the hats. Some were pink, blue, mostly green. And it looked wonderful, even Caitlyn said so.
And it was really getting time for Ekko to come home, too. Jinx connected her phone to their soundbar, getting ready to blast that playlist the moment she hears the door getting opened.
The three of them turned off the lights and hid in the living room, where the most decorations and stuff were.
"My legs are getting fucking assassinated by this hiding spot." Vi rudely comments.
"Are we sure he is coming soon, Jinx?" Caitlyn continues, whispering.
"Yeah. Eventually."
Speak of the devil. The door could be heard opening, followed by heavy steps.
And you guessed it, it was the birthday boy, alright.
'What am I missin' here?' He thought.
'Oh god, please don't tell me Jinx is into satanic rituals now.'
He goes in the bedroom, searches Jinx. She isn't there. But some kind of decorations are. And it's unusually quiet. Which was scary, considering it was Jinx we were talking about.
He then checks the kitchen. Also empty. Was she away? He had to admit, he was a bit scared.
'How about I just go in the living room.' He thinks, walking towards the room. Something felt off.
He turns on the lights and seemingly out of nowhere, three familiar heads appear, all smiling and their joy seeming contagious. Loud music started playing, another nice surprise.
Ekko expected this, but at the same time he absolutely did not expect this. Seriously, a good track and a fun party? Sounds like a thing Jinx would do.
"Happy birthday!" The three girls exclaimed loudly and excitedly, making Ekko uncontrollably smile.
Jinx quickly left the room and came back just as swiftly as she left, with the birthday cake she made. It was so beautiful, you wouldn't believe Jinx made that. It even had little hourglasses painted on with food coloring and number shaped candles.
"Make a wish, make a wish!" Jinx exclaimed, just like a little child, despite being an adult now.
And Ekko? Just like a kiddo, too. He made a wish he never told out loud, and blew out the candles.
"Hey, look at that, Little man's not little anymore." Vi commented, smugly.
"You always say that on my birthdays." Ekko replied, turning to Vi, almost deadpan.
"Yeah, I know." Vi said, softly, grabbing everyone in a bear hug. That's why you just HAVE to invite Vi to parties.
"Vi, you've turned this party in a way too touchy moment." Jinx commented, giggling. She couldn't really say she hated hugs. But right now? As Misfit Lunatic was playing in the background? I dunno man, doesn't really work, but okay.
So on, they had fun nearly all night, dancing and chaotically singing their favourite songs. It will forever be engraved in everyone's memory how Jinx nearly shattered the window with a grape fanta glass while singing Boss Bitch. Or the time Caitlyn was dared to sing Material Girl by Vi. Truly, an awfully hard to forget experience. Or, or, when Vi and Ekko fistfighted while the other two ate popcorn, watching them. They thought Ekko broke his arm. He was fine, actually.
Or the KDA karaoke session. They customized an online lucky wheel with the members of KDA and just went with it. Jinx had Akali, Ekko had Evelynn, Caitlyn had Ahri and Vi had Kai'sa. Surpringly, Vi could dance really good. And Jinx? Hidden rapper.
They had truly, lots of fun this night, so much energy they just couldn't find themselves tired, not even one second bored.
Oh, they also played league.
Ekko flamed. A lot.
As for the gift? She didn't give him during the party. She hid the gift under his pillow, in the bedroom. This way, just before he goes to sleep after the party, he'll have one more surprise.