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It was an absolutely, totally reasonable excuse to text your best friend at 4 AM to tell them to skip shooting day of episode 75 (the one where Miss Fortune is fighting off the flounder-headed alien Zoe arts-and-crafted for the show) to go hang out. A very serious excuse!
Yasuo may be a huge fanboy for the Star Guardian shtick, but he missed Jinx more than anything at this point. Even for only a little while.
The flight was so long, but despite the exhaustion, Yasuo was feeling great to finally be done with touring. He was scrolling through his text messages and listening to one of Seraphine’s newest songs on repeat. He had one of his light novels under his armpit. The rest of True Damage walked next to him as they chatted away about anything and everything.
“I’m starving! Where do you want to eat, Yas?” Qiyana elbowed into him as they walked. Yasuo pulled one earbud out and looked over his shoulder. “Dunno yet.”
“I could totally go for a steak,” she said while yawning. “I’ve had enough plane snacks.”
“Qi, you could’ve eaten anything you wanted during that whole flight. You just chose not to.”
“I know! But the flight attendant was giving me that nasty ass look, and I do not want spit in my food.”
“I think you’re imagining things.”
“Whatever, I spared myself from eating someone’s grummy germs.”
The two of them were the first ones out, and immediately Yasuo noticed a flurry of balloons heading towards them. The carrier was smaller than the rest of the guests, who were waiting for loved ones, so many people turned to look down towards the rushing individual. They practically bumped into every unsuspecting person and got a couple of insults thrown at them. Yasuo narrowed his eyes, then Qiyana noticed too.
“Jinx?”
This was a guess because all he could see in the end was the massive balloon bundle and a pair of legs. Qiyana looked at the balloons and crossed her arms. “Friend of yours?” She asked with a huff. The paparazzi would be coming around the corner pretty soon if they didn’t leave quickly. They were only allotted some private time before the word slipped, and the cameras came flashing.
Right behind the two came Ekko, Senna, Lucien and Akali. They had big smiles on their faces as they chatted about audience reactions and the various weird things they’ve done on stage. Akali had her arm around Ekko’s shoulder and kept pinching his cheek over silly remarks he’d say. Ekko noticed the balloons first when they all got together.
“Oooh, is that… Jinx?”
Yasuo waved them all off as he rushed over to the balloons and whispered, “Jinx, is that you?”
“Oh my god, yeah, hey! I literally can’t see right now, so let me know if you’re gonna give me a hug.”
“What’s with all the balloons?”
“To congratulate you on a successful tour? Durr.”
“Y-Yeah, but you’re…”
“Well, I can’t let everyone see me now can I? Hellooooo super star Jinx. I know I couldn’t bring the camera people over to you guys.”
“That’s… considerate of you.”
“I know right? So you coming with me or what?”
“You’re kidnapping me?”
“Like I always do!”
Having overheard their conversation, the crew silently approved of Yasuo leaving them without him even having to turn his head to see their reaction. They were going to do their own thing anyway to take a breather after a long 3 months. Ekko, Senna and Akali in particular were about to have their debut in Star Guardian on episode 80.
Akali tapped one of the balloons then flicked it in the direction of where Jinx’s head would be. “Enjoy your balloons, Yas.”
Qiyana gave Yasuo a hug on the side then punched his arm as a small formality of their goodbyes. Senna, while holding Lucien’s hand, and Ekko walked past them too. Ekko blew a nice, large bubblegum as he walked past her, unamused by her presence in general. He popped his bubble right next to the balloons within earshot of Jinx. “See ya, Yas.” He gave a small salute with two fingers and walked away.
“Is that Ek-?!” Yasuo steered Jinx away before she could yell out a reply. They went to a secluded area near the bathrooms. (It smelled terrible which is probably why no one came around it.) Before he could turn around properly to address Jinx, a handful of the balloons bounced against Yasuo’s face, and he dropped his novel. A letter flew out from within the pages.
Jinx popped her head out between all the balloons and glared in the rest of True Damage’s direction.
“Can you believe I’m going to be shooting with them soon?” Jinx sighed. She moved forward so that all the balloons behind her, and her little hand held a bunch of white strings. She looked down glumly. Then she noticed the stuff on the ground. “Hey, is that- what I think it is?”
Yasuo quickly gets down and picks up his things. He slams the letter in like a bookmark and clutches the novel in his hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
“But Yas-”
“Hey,” Yasuo put his hand on Jinx’s shoulder and gave it a small, reassuring squeeze. “I’m okay. It’s nothing. We have each other. We’re both avoiding people we don’t like, so let’s just do that, deal?”
Jinx, with her focus zoomed to the max on the letter sticking out, gave a little pout. “Yeaaah,” then just like that she sprang up to her usual mischievously cheerful self and gave him a hug. “It’s great to see you, my guy.” She didn’t trust people much, but if Yasuo said he was okay, then it’s okay.
Yasuo let out a light chuckle. “Of course,” he hugged her back and gave her small pats on the head. “Thanks for the balloons, by the way.”
“You’re welcome!”
When it came down to it, Jinx had the bright idea of going out to the beach. The hot, lazy summer day was too pretty to waste indoors and too excruciating to stay out of the water. Ahri was definitely going to be pissed when she realizes Jinx didn’t show up to the shoot, but it’s fine. Everything’s fine.
Jinx was the designated passenger princess as she stuck her head out the sunroof of Yasuo’s rental car. Her braids were whipping and flying around wildly against the wind, while Yasuo blared pop punk music (it was the only type of music they both could ever agree on). Yasuo couldn’t help but crack a smile as he heard Jinx shouting with joy whenever he sped up faster along the highway. It’s nice to know their relationship never changes.
But it’s true what people say. Jinx and Yasuo do not look like they belong together. Not in an acquaintance sense. Not even in a rival sense. Yet, they were best friends.
For Jinx, Yasuo was calm and solitude enough that every time Jinx forgot to reply for several weeks at a time, he’d never get mad at her for it. He’s patient like that, and Jinx enjoys the stability of their friendship. For Yasuo, Jinx is constant noise that disturbs the doom-n-gloom thoughts that Yasuo creates in his mind a lot. She was a constant reminder to be present in the moment when all he does is chase after something he can’t have and run away from what he’s got. She too, in a way, is a stable piece in his life.
In the distance, Jinx could see the ocean, and Yasuo could tell her excitement by the fact that she was wiggling her toes against his carseat. “See something good up there?” Yasuo hollered over the music and the wind.
“Sure fucking do, Yas!”
Yasuo kept his eyes on the road but caught glimpses of the ocean waves. The sparkle of the vast sea was enough to get Yasuo daydreaming about the light novels he’d been reading. All the scenarios he could think up with a view like that. He sighed to himself - he truly is a massive dork for thinking that before anything else.
Then before he could make a turn off towards their destination, Jinx plopped down from the sunroof and said, “Yasuo! The pier there reminds me of one of your light novels. The way with uh that one story with the girl that turns into a monster in the moonlight.”
It’s almost like she can read his mind.
“You don’t say,” Yasuo grumbled, half embarrassed with himself that this was his legacy with his best friend.
“I’ll show you!”
When Yasuo finally pulled up to the beach, they hopped out of the car and made their way towards the boardwalks. Jinx linked her arm around Yasuo’s as they strutted their way closer to the ocean. It was pretty risky that the two of them went out in public like this, but it’s no secret that they loved running away from crowds. Most people surprisingly don’t realize who they are until they really look at them.
As they avoided being spotted amongst the people, Yasuo and Jinx walked around big crowds whenever they could. If they did bump into someone, Yasuo would tip his shades down and give them an up-nod while Jinx would give them a huge wave of her hand. Most get confused before realizing it’s them but then by the time they say something, the duo are long gone. Yasuo still thinks Jinx is crazy for not wearing any sandals on the hot ground, but Jinx was pretty adamant that she ‘wasn’t a pussy.’
“I don’t get how that makes me a pussy; it makes me smart for thinking I don’t want to burn my feet off.”
“It’s not even that hot! It’s like walking on a toasty blanket.”
“More like a grill at a BBQ.”
“You, sir, are a massive pussy.”
Yasuo rolled his eyes. “So where are we stopping? I thought the spots behind us were pretty good.” It was busy today at the beach, so it was hard to find places where the two could just relax. Yasuo didn’t seem to care, but Jinx was getting anxious with all eyes on her once people started catching on to who they were. She loved attention but not for when she was pretty much doing nothing!
They came up to a small area where the restrooms were, and a long fence extended all the way down the beach that separates the beach from the parking lots in the back.
“Uhhm, I may have arranged something for us if that’s okay,” Jinx says nervously.
Yasuo’s hair whipped around in the wind into an unkempt mess. He had it in a nice ponytail too.
“Oh? What did you have in mind?”
Jinx swung her braids around as she balanced herself along the small fence. Something about this made her look more girly, and Yasuo couldn’t help but feel relaxed that Jinx was so carefree despite all the drama he knew she was going through on the side. He may have been on tour the whole time, but he checks his socials pretty often.
The waves kept crashing into Jinx’s words, but her voice was so crystal clear that no sound could interrupt it. She said, “My boyfriend’s private beach! I- uhm, I asked if we could spend the day there so we wouldn’t have to hassle looking for a place, plus I haven’t seen him in awhile either.” She bites her lower lip nervously as if thinking this is a bad idea. “Sooo… a stone hitting two birds, ya know? Right?” Then in a lower tone, “that’s how it goes, right?”
“Your boyfriend?”
Yasuo didn’t know why he raised this as a question. Out of all that, that was all he could ask about. He’d met the man before. He can’t say that he liked the guy very much, but they’ve been happily dating for 3 years now, so there’s no point in holding any negative feelings over it. Yasuo very much remembers Jinx’s 21st birthday, where she exclaimed to him how she’ll hook up with the first man she sees at the first stroke of 12 AM before going into the club like some reverse Cinderella type shit. Now, they’re officially dating.
Most people had a problem with Jinx before, but ever since they got together, it only solidified their hatred for the girl. Jinx says she doesn’t mind, but Yasuo can tell that she feels a little more alone now. Yasuo always has it in the back of his mind that he should be there for Jinx more often, but music always gets to him first.
That’s just like him. Full of regrets.
Jinx laughed. “Yes, my boyfriend. You remember? Silco?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Great! So, c’mon! We’re not that far now.”
Jinx rushes down the wooden fence and makes onomatopoeia sounds like a rocket. She raises her braids up high as they flow behind her. Yasuo panics for a second and runs after her. The sun beats down on his skin, and it already feels like he’s melting. Its rays quickly melt him down until he’s a sweaty puddle. Jinx looked so much like a model in a high end magazine with her cool smile and perfect skin, not a single drip of rancid sweat. The breeze does wonders on her body, making her silhouette look fresh and pretty.
Yasuo, on the other hand, looked like he had run a marathon. He wasn’t picture perfect quite like Jinx, and he certainly didn’t look like a model with how run-down he looked. Strands of his wet hair matted over his face. God, he really needed to get back into shape. Despite the lean figure, he’d been skipping several work-out days because he was too tired to do the exercise. That and he gets peer pressured by Qiyana and Ekko to have junk food and play video games. Now those two can keep a model figure without so much as going on a diet - it pissed him off! (Affectionately, of course.)
They eventually came up to a neighborhood area that’s pinched between two tall hotel buildings. They towered over them enough to provide shade from the blistering sun. Jinx immediately recognized the pearly white beach house up ahead. The way she tapped her feet excitedly with her knuckles close to her face made Yasuo think she was about to burst with joy. Looking around, it wasn’t too hard to point out that there was no one around on the beach itself but loud music blared at the house.
“Kind of a weird spot to have a private place,” Yasuo commented as he pointed at the hotels.
“Oh, uh, yeah, Silco owns those. When he’s here, no one’s allowed in unless he says so. When he’s out and about, then it operates like normal.”
Jinx explains this so matter-of-factly that Yasuo doesn’t even begin to bother wanting an explanation for… anything really. They walk on towards the house, and Jinx simply kicks around the sand as she walks.
Between the two, you couldn’t get any more opposite - Yasuo with his deep frown of curiosity and Jinx’s huge grin of anticipation.
She side-eyes at him to see his face and thinks to herself how nice it was to finally see him too. Deep down, she was a little worried. Having her boyfriend and her best friend in one place was a lot to take in. Of course, Jinx talked Silco’s ear off about Yasuo, but she can never be too sure.
Once they finally got up to the house, Jinx sauntered on over and hollered to be let in through the gates. There’s a code - she knows it - but it’s more obvious that it’s her if she just screams about her presence. It’s the Jinx way of doing things. Everyone knows her voice even through the blaring music. Silco’s two bodyguards greeted her in, and by greeting her, that meant they opened the gates and stared down at her with disapproval. Jinx flashed them a toothy grin then skipped inside. Because regardless of whether they approved her or not, Silco did and that’s the only opinion that mattered on the premise.
“C’mon, Yas!” Jinx hollered from inside as Yasuo shrugged past the men, who clearly seemed as though they thought he was an intruder. However, neither of them said anything.
When Yasuo looked up, he saw Jinx standing there with one hand on her hip and the other was twirling her braid. She stood tall and proud as the backdrop behind her was a sight of utopia. Colorful umbrellas accompanied every lounging chair right next to the occupied pool. The sun hit just right and made the pool glisten with iridescent colors. It stretched out pretty far and was filled with models in flirty bikinis and low tier celebrities with their good spirits in hand. Good reputation. There was enough alcohol to go around for everyone and more.
Further inside was the patio with glass doors. Yasuo could see the bar inside, where more people were relaxing with their cold beverages. He couldn’t find where the music was coming from, however.
“Soooo? Pretty snazzy place, huh?”
Yasuo shook his head with a cheeky smile before shoving Jinx away by the shoulder. “Looks all right,” he tells her, which only riles up a scowl on her face. “Just alright?”
“Yeah,” he gets up in her face (which he has to slouch down to do so) and continues, “it’s just alright.”
“You’re ugly,” Jinx sticks out her tongue in playful mockery as Yasuo straightens up right and takes in the view. At least the sun’s out of his eyes for now. His first thought was to go in and get himself a drink. He avoided getting shitfaced during the tour, but now it’s all over once he gets a shot in his hand.
Jinx begins walking towards the bar before Yasuo could move his feet. She waves back at him and gestures at the poolside. “Find us a spot and I’ll be right with you!”
It’s nice that even in a private area like this, people weren’t vying for their attention. Yasuo had to push through crowds, but here it was dandy. People still stared at him with interest, but it wasn’t unbearable.
Guess the drinks will have to wait.
Over with Jinx, she was rushing towards the sliding door then she jumped inside. Her eyes scanned the inside of the house as she felt awkward because of sudden eyes on her. She nearly froze, but she needed to push through to find him. He had to be here somewhere.
“Ah. There you are.” A familiar voice. Jinx’s attention nearly snapped as she whipped herself around towards the voice. Her boyfriend came down the stairs in formal wear that’s unbefitting for a pool party.
From where Yasuo stood, he caught a glimpse of the man too. All he could see of him was a hand and brown spectator shoes. His hand held a cigar, already lit with little embers within the ash. The hand waved the cigarette around, the one one directed a conversation with it. With each movement, a different reaction came out of Jinx. She went from bubbly happy, to curiously still, to heightened panic, to simmered down worry, to nodding ethusiastiastically. Yasuo raised an eyebrow at this. What the hell were they talking about?
“So you should definitely put some swim trunks on,” Jinx demanded with finality.
“You’ve convinced me,” her boyfriend deadpanned.
“Have I?” Jinx says almost too eagerly.
Then her boyfriend came into plain sight that even Yasuo could see. The man stood tall with an air of confidence that reeks off villains. It was sophisticated and daunting. Just as Yasuo remembered him.
“No, I was merely… playing with you,” Silco says upon cupping Jinx’s chin. She narrowed her eyes at him and reached up to pinch his nose.
“Silco, seriously, you can’t come to your own pool party and NOT swim. That’s like… social suicide.”
“How is that ‘social suicide’?”
“You’re a party pooper.”
Silco groaned but leaned down to give a soft kiss on top of Jinx’s forehead. “Silly girl. Fine, I’ll be back in a bit. I appreciate you coming to see me first before running off again.”
“Of course, daddy,” then Jinx gave him a huge hug. Yasuo had still been watching but decided that must have been the end of the conversation. He stretched his arms and went over to a lounge chair nearest to him. It was right under a red and white umbrella too huge for just one person. He never realized they made them this big. It looked comedic. He sprawled himself out, dropped his shades over his eyes and played the waiting game. Whoever was picking the music had some good taste because he could listen to these tracks all day.
“By the way, Jinx,” Silco made a point to catch Jinx before she left the house. She tilted her head towards him and waited for him to continue.
“I wanted to mention that I hired a DJ.”
“Oh cool! I know Yasuo could use a break-”
“The man seemed to know your friend well, so I figured he was perfect for the job. Knows what he’s doing and could make good company. I told him you two were coming soon, so I hope-”
“Wait, wait, wait, he knows Yasuo?” Jinx felt her heart racing. “Who exactly did you hire?”
“Yasuo,” a small voice echoed forever into Yasuo’s ear. It sent chills down his spine and had his arm hairs rise up. His heart beat fast in an instant as if spooked by a ghost. It can’t be.
Yasuo opened his eyes and looked up from the corner of his eye to see his brother. Yone. In the flesh.
“It’s good to see you, little brother. I hope my letters have been reaching you well.”
The calmness in his voice was very much like Yone, but that only riled up a special type of anger within Yasuo. This kind of anger is only reserved for him.
For the longest time (5 years, 3 months and 26 days to be exact), Yasuo had been avoiding his older brother. He’s his only family left, but it didn’t matter. Every time he mailed him a letter, called his phone (he repeatedly changed his number), and tried to see him at meet-n-greets, Yasuo evaded him. It’s not something people really know about, even Jinx doesn’t quite know the answer as to why he feels this way. Everyone just knows that Yone is persistent, and Yasuo wants nothing to do with him. He’d been looking for his little brother for years and when he finally found him, Yasuo tried his hardest to make it impossible for them to reunite.
There was a gentle smile on Yone’s face. The sound of laughter all around only added salt to injury. Yasuo’s heart sped up so fast as if trying to burst its way out of his chest to escape. He didn’t move.
“Yone,” was all that he uttered. Before long, Yasuo hadn’t even realized that his brother was sitting next to him until he pressed his forefinger against his shades so he could properly eye Yasuo. He pulled his hat off after getting under the umbrella and dipped his blue-tinted sunglasses down after making Yasuo pull down his. Small clicking sounds of his ear ring waving around could be heard. He really grew out his hair. Whereas Yasuo’s was pulled back, Yone’s hair was pulled apart into two loose braids the way that Jinx does her hair.
“I’m glad you remembered my name, stranger. I was beginning to think you didn’t actually recognize me.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Yasuo huffed. “I can’t forget my only brother.”
Yone nodded and scooched closer to his side where they both shared the chair evenly now. It took a lot out of Yasuo to not just yell at him to leave, but something about Yone made Yasuo weak. This could just be the side effect of being the younger brother. All the naturality of Yasuo’s coolness washed away with him by his side.
“I picked up on DJing after seeing some of your concerts,” Yone said casually as he flipped his hat around. “I see why you chose music in this manner. It’s been quite a blast, if I must say.”
Yasuo’s ears burned red. “You… picked up DJing?”
Yone turned his gaze over to him and smiled again. An easy, brisky smile as affable as the summer day. “Yes, I’ve been doing it for a year now, so nothing crazy. I take up small gigs. A small hobby.” Yone laughs at the thought. “I doubt I could ever put in the hours the way you do, brother. I’m proud of your hard work. I… Admittedly, I’ve kept up with you since day one.”
Yasuo wanted to slink away, be anywhere else but here. He didn’t understand why he was confessing such things. He expected to be scolded the way he used to be when they were kids. The fact that he isn’t doesn’t lighten the pain, it only makes it worse. Guilt arises within him, and he’s left speechless.
Fortunately, they didn’t have to talk anymore. Jinx returned with Silco by her side.Her happiness felt fake on her face like makeup as she tried to seem cheerful about seeing them. She bit her lower lip as she looked between the two brothers. “Soooo… I see things are going well?”
Yasuo’s slumped posture mixed with the annoyance across his face was all Jinx needed for an answer. However, both she and Silco see the look of satisfaction in Yone’s face and neither of them want to break that sense of peace.
“Everything’s been great. I’m very glad I took up on that offer from you, sir.” He dipped his head as a small bowing gesture over to Silco, who lifted his hand casually. “It was nothing. I figured my darling’s friend needed a break from his touring, so a different DJ seemed suitable. A family reunion hadn’t been part of the plan, but life does strange things like that.”
Yasuo could tell they talked, and being her best friend and all, he knew Jinx was feeling guilty about all this. The front of her foot kept rotating and digging into the cement as if squishing a bug. There was a nervous twitch to her, but she kept her smile painted on her face. To anyone else, she looked hyper and that’s about it.
While Yone was still looking at Silco, Jinx mouthed ‘sorry’ over to Yasuo. It only led to him giving her a stink face.
“Brother,” Yone turned to Yasuo, in which he quickly shifted to a neutral expression when their eyes met. His whole body went still as if turned to stone. For some reason, the sternness in his voice made Yasuo want to be obedient.
“Care to join me at the bar?” Yone slumped down until his elbow rested on his knees before raising his sunglasses back into place. “Or you’ve changed your ways?”
Yone was cheeky like that. He knew Yasuo was at his best when he could see the bottom of a beer bottle.
Yasuo had a million of cheeky one-liners to retort back to him, but all of them never came out. He grunted as he got up from his spot before wrapping his arm around Jinx impulsively. She was lightly taken aback by this and looked back at Silco, who simply followed after them. He shrugged.
Silco was typically the jealous type, but it was reserved for discussion in privacy. However, when it came to Yasuo, he had no inkling of jealousy to speak of. Despite their closeness, he understood that was just the nature of the friendship. Besides, it would bring bad press to all three of them and some if Silco did anything. They looked cute together. The rumor mill of them always brought juicy gossip and money.
Silco calls for one of his bodyguards to come over, then they engage in some private conversation. Low whispers were exchanged, and then he walked off to do whatever it was that he was told to do.
Yone got up as well, put his hat back on and rushed to catch up. They all entered and went straight to the bar.
But before that, Jinx still worried about Yasuo.
“I’m really sorry,” she murmured to him. “I had no idea. Not a clue! I would’ve told you if…”
“I know,” Yasuo said softly. He was a ticking time bomb at this point but he knew it really wasn’t her fault. She gets barely any chance with her lover, so communication isn’t exactly the strongest thing with them either for little things like this. How were they supposed to know that the DJ Silco hired was the one person Yasuo didn’t want to see the most? Not even True Damage knows how deep the cuts go.
“It’s okay. I can handle myself.” Yasuo gives Jinx a noogie to which she laughs in response. She shoves him off and bounces to her usual self. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Let me know if things go wrong,” then she makes shadow boxing jabs into the air. “I’ll knock ‘em out.”
Yasuo smiled at her but it slowly faded as Yone followed pursuit. “Won’t be necessary.”
The brothers sat at the bar which was sleek with a bourbon brown shelf case full of alcoholic beverages. Jinx sits on a high chair and keeps her eye on Yasuo while Silco stands behind her, massaging her shoulders. A near purr escapes from her.
The bartender turns to them while shaking a drink for someone else. Yasuo recognizes the man as Chuck. (Jinx talks highly about him in the sense that he’s great to make fun of.) He gives the duo an awkward smile as he pours the beverage for the other patron. If cartoony sweat drops were ever a thing, this man gave the illusion that they were. He immediately caught sight of Silco and worry-lines of panic spread across his forehead. Or was it the sight of Jinx?
Yone holds up two fingers. “Two shots. Whiskey.”
Yasuo looks at Chuck the same way an impatient child looks for help to go back home after being forced to socialize. Chuck does as he’s told, because regardless of how Yasuo felt, he didn’t want to get on Silco’s bad side for not doing his job. This was a conflicting affair because Chuck is also very familiar with Yasuo and pissing him off meant pissing Jinx off.
Chuck poured the shots and slung them in their respective directions. Both of them caught their drinks easily with the palm of their hands. Yasuo had a tendency to swirl his drink around without thinking about it. He waved it around in the air while looking everywhere except Yone.
“Ready?”
Yasuo refused to look at his brother. He instead side-eyed over at Jinx, who was getting a drink from Chuck himself. She got a shot of vodka, while Silco got… something strange. A luminescent purple drink. No point in questioning it.
But then he caught a glimpse of his hand in his peripherals. Normally this would alarm him with a swift reaction to hit whatever was close to him. However, he knew it was Yone. His hand. Yasuo still had strands of matted hair on his face, thus Yone lightly pushed some of it back behind his ear.
“Must you always fight me on everything?”
“What are you talking about?” Yasuo asked a little too coldly, only proving his point.
Yone let out a heavy sigh as he picked up his drink. “I wasn’t expecting a pleasant reunion or anything, but I had hoped you wouldn’t have such a disdainful look to your face.”
“Do you want to drink or not?”
Yone’s shoulders relaxed, and his mouth was a hard line. He nodded, and the two brothers adjusted themselves to face each other slightly.
With a light dip of his head, Yone raised his glass up and brought it to his lips. Yasuo did the same but glaring at him. With no exchange of words, the both of them dipped their head back and chugged the whiskey down. Yone forfeit his cool as he pulled his head upright and coughed, raising his wrist up to his lips. He swore under his breath. Yasuo shook his head with a grimace but took the hit better than his brother. He let out a loud sigh; the whiskey burned his throat. It was a lot stronger than anything he’d drank in the past. He needed the name.
Yone was still coughing as he tried to reach for his brother, “you can really hold down your liquor, little brother.”
“This surprises you?” Yasuo attempts to dodge his touch but Yone leans in a bit to where it couldn’t be helped. His heart leaped up with surprise. He looked down at his hand, and he could remember every line on it. It made him think about how when they were younger, he used to trace Yone’s palm because they only had each other in the night. Back then, Yone wasn’t so patient; he’d have scolded him for being annoying.
“No, it doesn’t surprise me.”
Chuck comes back to them in a hurry. The flicker in his eyes towards Jinx gives him the impression that Chuck is trying his best to keep Yasuo happy to avoid Jinx’s wrath in some way while simultaneously trying to keep up with the lovers’ demands.
“Hey Chuck,” Yasuo said, gesturing a ‘c’mere’ signal with his forefingers. Chuck leaned in.
“Keep it coming.”
One drink after the other, it didn’t stop. By the time either of them knew it, Yone was laughing in slurs. His voice sounded incomplete and wasted. Yasuo wasn’t entirely gone yet, but he was barely holding onto his brother. Jinx had retired from drinking earlier, and as the brothers walked out of the house, he saw her in the pool playing a vicious match of water volleyball. Clearly time had passed if Silco was in the water too. Jinx was really into the game, but everyone actively avoided throwing the ball down at Silco to avoid getting him upset. That was a rule in his household: don’t put out the cigar.
“Yasuoo!!” Jinx screams at the top of her lungs once she catches sight of him. She speedily walks as quickly as the water will let her towards the edge of the pool where she jumps on Silco to get some leverage up higher. Silco quickly reacts and tries to hold her out, and he’s practically losing his balance from all her squirming. He holds his cigar out away from him and Jinx.
“Jinx, my lovely, you are going to knock me over,” he grumbles as he tries to keep her still. Her legs kept wiggling around from underneath his arms, and her chest was firmly pressed against his face.
“Get in the water, loser! I’m NOT going to take you back to True Damage with a hangover just because your brother’s in town!”
Yasuo found himself sighing with a smile spread across his face. No matter how much of a brat Jinx was, he could still feel calm knowing she was there. Not even the alcohol could take that away. Next thing he knows, he feels Yone’s body brush up against him. His face was flushed and he had this weak, sheepish grin on his face.
“Want to join them?”
Yasuo looks to Yone then back at Jinx. “Y-Yeah, I’m going to go.”
Yasuo could hear a smile in Yone’s voice as he says, “All right, I’ll get back to the music then.”
“You’re going back? Like that?”
He definitely forgot that Yone was supposed to be DJing for the party. “Do you… have to go back?”
When Yasuo turned his head back to his brother, he noticed that he was looking at him with suspicion. “Do you not want me to?”
“It’s not that. I just…”
“YAAASSSUUUOOO!!”
The brothers jerked their attention back to Jinx, who ended up falling and flipping over into the water. Silco fell backwards and let go of Jinx in the process. When they both came up for air, Jinx was laughing wildly while Silco scolded her lightheartedly. He grabbed her and kissed her temple with playful frustration. Then he swam up to the side of the pool where he looked up at the brothers.
“Don’t worry about the music, Yone. I’ve got it arranged. Figured the little break you asked for would extend for the remainder of the evening.”
Yone looked flustered. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to step away from my responsibilities so-”
“Don’t think anything of it,” Silco waved it off as Jinx swam up right beside him. “Come on, Yas, let’s go.”
Yasuo looked at the two then out around the pool. It was so full of life that the water couldn’t catch a break to be still. People held their drinks up high and their conversations down low. The smell of sunscreen was strong, and it mixed well with the fruity smell of perfume wafting in the air. This was nice.
“She said let’s go, ‘Yas.’”
Yasuo glared at Yone. “Yeah, yeah, don’t say my name like-” Then Yone kicked Yasuo into the pool, and he fell face first into the deep end of the pool. The people that were still playing water volleyball laughed but continued on.
Jinx swam over to where Yasuo was then dived in to pull him up. “Holy shit, the water is fucking cold.” Yasuo blurted out when he resurfaced with Jinx. “Swim it off, pussy.”
“Bite me,” he retorted.
The two friends glared at each other for several seconds before bursting with laughter. They swam back towards the shallow end where along the way Jinx asked, “how are you feeling?”
“Like I drank too much.”
“No such thing.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Jinx smiled sympathetically. When their feet touched the shallow side, Jinx jumped to give Yasuo a hug. “Let’s just hang out, okay?”
Yasuo hesitates then returns the hug, giving her a pat on the back. “Okay,” he said.
When Jinx pulls away, she splashes Yasuo with water right to the face so it nearly gets all into his mouth.
“Hey! Fuck you!”
“Catch me if you can, loser!” Jinx hops backwards and winks at him before proceeding to splash him again with more water. Yasuo swims after her but not after hearing the music change. It’s his music. Not even the one from True Damage either. Just his. He sees where the music is playing now, past the people and past the huge umbrellas. Yone is there; his face was still drunkenly happy as he chatted with the new DJ - a blonde haired girl with striking abs. He nearly stops, but he doesn’t - just pushes through to get to Jinx.