Chapter Text
October 9, Saturday (Part 3)
9:55 p.m. (???)
“Jinx appears to be doing well tonight.”
And with those few words you jolt back to planet earth. You stumble and little, and Silco’s arm tightens around your waist.
How could you possibly have forgotten about Jinx?
Because you’re dancing with her scar-faced, gap-toothed, scoundrel of a father!
“The first few days after her violent episodes are the most unpredictable. It’s been a relief for me to know I have someone capable watching over her.”
The leaden weight in your stomach sinks lower. All that spinning you're doing is suddenly making you feel queasy.
“Has she given you any trouble?”
“Not a lot, no.”
“You have a calming effect on her. I must ask, what is your secret?”
“I wish I knew,” You answer with a single, nervous laugh. “Hey Silco, about your daughter…”
“Yes, I was just about to ask. Where is she?”
“I’m not sure.”
His brows knit together. “You’re not sure.”
Probably could have said that better.
You wince. “I just mean that Jinx left.”
“She left.”
It’s hard to keep your cool when his eye is sparking at you like a flint.
“She met a friend while we were down in the arcade, and when I excused myself to use the restroom she left with him.”
“Him?”
“Thomas’ son, Ekko.”
You had hoped this piece of information would calm him, but this only serves to agitate him more. His hand moves from your waist to your elbow as he propels you off the floor.
“When did they leave?”
“About fifteen minutes ago,” You gasp, struggling to keep up with his long strides. “I was on my way to tell Sevika when Charles stopped me.”
“You were going to tell Sevika before telling me?” He hisses.
“Well you’ve been busy tonight, and I thought — ”
“You thought what? That you could avoid getting into trouble if the news came from my trusted lieutenant?”
Your face reddens. “No! I was just trying to avoid causing unnecessary panic.”
Like this.
He doesn’t seem to have heard you.
“I should have known this would happen.” He mutters, and you can’t help thinking the same thing, though for a completely different reason.
This is not going well.
He directs you into a relatively secluded corner of the room and pulls out his phone. You watch with growing apprehension as he begins to pace.
“Sevika, contact Singed and put him on alert. We may have a situation on our hands.”
“A situation?” You balk. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
He ignores you. “No. Jinx has run off with the boy. Yes. Reactivate it immediately, and make sure Thomas is prepared to leave when I give the call.”
Reactivate what?
Whatever it is, it sounds drastic.
As soon as he hangs up you jump in. “Shouldn’t you wait to see if there’s a problem before running--?”
“You don’t know what that boy is capable of.”
“He seemed perfectly normal to me. I don’t think—”
“Precisely, you didn’t think.”
He prowls forward until you’re practically toe to toe. Even though you’re almost equal in height he still manages to loom over you.
“I thought I’d made it perfectly clear what was expected of you," He snarls.
You stiffen. “You asked me to come and keep Jinx company, and I did. Capably, I might add.”
A tick develops in his cheek.
You struggle to keep your cool. “I don’t like that she ran off without telling me, but I can't be a jailer to a seventeen year old. She can take care of herself.”
“Under normal circumstances it might not be a problem, but in her current condition…”
“I've been with her all night, and there were no signs that she wasn’t in her right mind. There’s no reason to believe her and Ekko are going to get into trouble.”
“It’s not her that I’m worried about. That boy is nothing but trouble. And you let my daughter play into his hands.”
“Play into his hands? You act like Ekko's some kind of criminal mastermind. He's just a kid."
The corner of his mouth sinks lower as he frowns.
“She’s going to be fine, I promise.”
“You’re in no position to make any such promise,” He runs his fingers roughly through his hair. “How could you have let this happen?”
“Let it happen?” You scoff. “She didn’t even give me a chance to stop her! And even if I had been there, who’s to say I could have stopped her from leaving short of tying her to a chair?”
“I guess we’ll never know.”
You flush. “Are you actually making this situation my fault?”
“You are the adult I put you in charge of Jinx's well being, so yes, I’d say you are at fault.”
“If Jinx had just said something before she left, we could have avoided this situation.”
And this conversation.
“Are you trying to throw the blame on my daughter?”
“No! But you have to acknowledge that Jinx is a part of the problem.”
“She can’t help the way that she is.”
You snort. “That's ridiculous. Jinx is one of the most intelligent teens I’ve ever met, and she’s just as capable of change as you and me. You have to let her accept the consequences of her own actions.”
“You don't get to tell me how to parent my child.”
“She’s not a child, Silco! The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can prepare her to be a functioning adult. You’re not doing her any favors by forcing me to take responsibility for her mistakes!”
“You have no idea what’s best for my daughter.”
“And neither do you, apparently!”
His eye glares dangerously under brooding brows.
You glare right back. “You’re not the only one who loves that girl, you know. You asked for my help, so let me help! This doesn't have to turn into a big thing. Let me try doing things my way.”
“Because that’s worked out well so far.”
“You’re one to talk.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
You raise your chin. “You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, right?”
He snarls, and once again you're toe to toe, chest to heaving chest.
Tension fizzles in the air.
Deep down you know that you should probably be afraid of that feral look in his eye, but you’ve gone past the point of reason. An explosive has been rigged, and both of you have the trigger. All it would take is one wrong move, and everything would go up in flames.
Go ahead, make my day.
“I was beginning to wonder if you got my message.”
In the millisecond it takes for you to register the text alert, the tension is diffused. Silco's eye shutters, and a stony mask takes the place of his sneer.
You stick your hand in your purse and yank out your phone to scowl at the incoming text.
“Hiya toots! No need to freak. Ekko wanted to see my studio but he didn’t have a lot of time so we decided to go home so I could show him some of my pieces for the show!!”
You read it twice before shoving the phone into Silco’s hand.
Read it and weep.
You watch as his face cycles through a stunning array of emotions. He takes a deep breath, and though it appears to take colossal effort, he manages to school his expression before handing the phone back without comment.
“Well,” You say stiffly as the silence stretches. “If we're done here, I’m going to head out.”
“Very well,” He looks up at the ceiling. “With the question of Jinx’s whereabouts resolved, I have time to attend to a few matters of business. It would probably be best if you found your own way home tonight.”
“Fine."
He's refusing to look at you, which is annoying but probably best for you both. The look on your face certainly doesn’t scream peace on earth and goodwill towards men.
Why is it always like this?
The second you and Silco start to find equilibrium, something happens to throw things back into chaos.
And it’s always Jinx.
You turn on your heel and march away, frustration adding to the noise that grows as you reenter the bustle of The Fissures. You have no idea where you’re going, or how you’re going to get home.
Until you once again hear the faint voice of Obi-Wan, and feel your phone vibrate in your hands. It’s a text from your mom.
“I hope you’re having a good evening sweetheart! Are you still available for lunch tomorrow?”
The answer to all your problems immediately hits you.
You hit the call button.
“Hello sweetheart!”
“Hi mom. Are you doing anything right now?”
“Not really, no. Just watching a movie and starting a new puzzle.”
“Do you think you could come pick me up at The Fissures?”
“Absolutely. I just need five minutes to pull myself together and then I’ll be right over.”
“Thanks. And do you think I could stay the night at your house tonight?”
“Of course. Is everything alright?”
You’re embarrassed to feel your throat tightening up.
“No. Everything’s all wrong.”
A pause.
“Well you can tell me all about it on the drive home.”