Chapter Text
Jinx had never been one to take advice—especially not from someone like Ekko. Yet, here she was. His words had struck a chord she hadn’t known was still there. After hours of convincing, a few explosions due to some failed experiments, and a mountain of promises, she finally agreed to fight alongside him. It wasn’t just about Zaun anymore—it was personal. Ekko had asked her for a favor and a chance to maybe fix something.
She just had to take the chance and try.
Her laboratory-turned-hot-air-balloon hovered high above the battlefield, blasting loud music down below and announcing their arrival. She outfitted the place with everything she could think of: bombs, enough bullets to make any Enforcer jealous and plenty of tricks. If she was going to join this fight, she’d make damn sure Noxus remembered her name.
Leaning back in her chair, Jinx tapped her fingers on her knee impatiently. The faint hum of anticipation ran through her veins as her eyes scanned the horizon. At her feet, Pow-Pow sat ready, its ammo chamber loaded to the brim. Fishbones leaned casually against the wall at her right, it was her trump card and a last resort if things got too hairy. She barely heard Ekko shouting over the music, but the few words she caught were enough: strategy, cover, stick together. The usual Ekko stuff.
"Stick together? You sure about that, Boy Savior?" Jinx yelled up to Ekko loud enough for him to hear her over the music.
His response was drowned out by the roar of the battlefield ahead. Screams, metal clashing, and the unmistakable sound of Piltoven gunfire. Jinx’s grin widened. She gripped the wheel, spun it hard, and sent her airship careening toward the fight. Her bombs rained down leaving colorful smoke in its wake.
That was Ekko’s signal. He gave a sharp whistle, and the Firelights jumped off the ship in perfect synchronization. Their hoverboards were in their hands as they divided into the fray. They began their assault, weaving between Noxian lines like streaks of green neon light. She had caught a glimpse of Ekko’s white hair and the bright neon pink spray paint on his chest. The Firelight’s teamwork, precision and speed had given them more than enough of an edge in this fight. Being able to weave through the chaos and sowing disarray in their enemies ranks.
From her vantage point, Jinx watched it all unfold. Ekko and his Firelights moved across the battlefield like green neon whisps—their neon green engines and chemtech made it pretty easy to spot them. Meanwhile, Zaun's ragtag militia had arrived and they arrived with a score to settle. The Zaunite militia wasn’t anything too special, they were originally citizens with their own makeshift weapons who decided to fight back. It wasn’t the prettiest army, but it had teeth. Especially when Sevika was leading the charge, that woman had more fight in her than any Noxian would.
And Jinx was their wild card.
Perched high in her floating fortress, Jinx provided them air support as Pow-Pow spitted down lead and death from above. She had moved around the battlefield with reckless precision as she forced the Noxian below to choose —die by her bullet or get sniped by one of the Enforcers.
she provided air support, her machine gun spitting lead and mayhem into the Noxian forces below. She moved with reckless precision, her airship darting around the battlefield like a predatory bird. Her bombs forced enemy units into tight clusters, setting them up perfectly for the Firelights or Sevika’s crew to finish off. Annoying them into submission? That, she could do.
But Jinx’s focus was divided. Her eyes scanned the battlefield relentlessly, searching for her sister.
“Sis?” She muttered under her breath as she searched for the similar pink hair. “Where are you, sis?” Her fingers tightened their grip around Pow-Pow’s trigger.
Until she caught the glimpse of that god-awful Enforcer armor and her sister’s pink hair. “VI!” Jinx screamed, her voice cutting through the noise. Her heart leapt for a second—until she saw the situation. Vi was pinned down, her squad was being pushed back by the Noxian advance. They were losing ground fast.
Jinx didn’t hesitate. She swung Pow-Pow onto the railing and opened fire, the recoil vibrating through her arms. Bullets rained down, shooting the Noxian away from her sister.
“Ekko!” she barked into the comms. “Got Vi in my sights. She needs backup—now!”
“On it!” Ekko shouted back. Moments later, a handful of Firelights broke formation and soared towards Vi, weaving through Noxian fire to get to her. They reached her in seconds, cutting down her attackers and giving her a chance to regroup.
But the battle wasn’t over. Jinx pushed her airship closer, raining down more bombs to keep the pressure off her sister’s unit. Her movements became more erratic, almost desperate, as her worry for Vi grew. For all their fights, for all the pain between them, she couldn’t lose her— not again.
“Vi!” Jinx screamed again, praying that her sister would hear her and get out of the way. Her sister looked up this time, their eyes locking for the briefest of moments. There was recognition there—shock, maybe even a flicker of something softer—but it vanished as quickly as it came. “Vi!” Jinx screamed as Vi shouted something back that never reached her ears.
Jinx froze as she watched Vander raise his sharp claws against Vi. “No!” She cried, unloading several rounds into his back. The bullets hit, but they did nothing, bouncing harmlessly off his grotesquely hardened skin.
Shit.
This monster was her dad –well once her dad– roared as shook off the bullets and turned his sights to her. Jinx’s blood ran cold as Vander slipped out of the opening in the wall and jumped. “Oh, crap.”
With inhuman strength and speed, Vander launched himself into the air, landing with a thunderous crash onto her airship. The entire vessel shuddered under his weight, the hull groaning as it tilted precariously to one side. Jinx was thrown from the helm, her hands scrabbling desperately for something to grab. She barely managed to clutch onto the railing, as she pulled her body up and ran to the helm.
“Powder!” Vi’s scream was painful as she watched her sister slowly being cornered. Vander’s movements were enough to sway the ship to whatever side he was on at that point and Jinx could do little to keep herself from being thrown off the steering wheel.
Vander loomed over her as she attempted to readjust herself and to keep an eye on her sister. Weird mechanical robots attempted to grab Vi as Ekko shot her a look and Vi ran up the stairs. As Vander approached, each step rattled the ship further as it tilted ever closer to the tower. His monstrous form loomed over Jinx, his shadow consumed her as she looked up at the man who was once her father. There was nothing in his eyes, absolutely nothing.
“Dad?” Jinx muttered as she prayed she could find something.
Vander raised his arm up as if to finally put her out of all of her suffering.
It didn’t come.
Instead, a metallic clang rang out, followed by a tremor that rocked the ship. Jinx opened her eyes to see Vi standing between her and Vander. Vi got Ekko’s help to reach her as she threw herself at him and punched him with everything the Atlas Gauntlet had.
“Do. Not. Touch. Her!” Vi screamed as she delivered a devastating punch to Vander’s chest. The force of the blow sent him staggering back, but it wasn’t enough to knock him down. Vander recovered quickly, swiping at Vi with a clawed hand. She dodged narrowly, countering with another punch that cracked the airship’s deck beneath their feet.
Jinx struggled to pull herself up as the fight raged around her. The ship groaned louder, tilting further and closer to the tower. She glanced toward the helm—now unmanned—rushing to attempt to correct. The airship was veering off course, its trajectory dangerously close to the tower.
“Jinx! Hold on!” Ekko’s voice shouted as Jinx’s eyes snapped over to his direction.
Jinx looked up to see Ekko swinging aboard the ship, his hoverboard abandoned in favor of quick action. He darted past Vi and Vander, narrowly avoiding a stray swing from the monster, and made a beeline for the helm. Grabbing the wheel, he motioned Jinx to let go and help Vi. He yanked it with all his strength, trying to regain control.
The airship screamed as it careened toward the gates, its engines sputtering in protest. Jinx stumbled back into the railing and clung to it for dear life. Vi was far too busy to notice as she desperately tried to keep Vander off them. All Ekko could do was brace for impact.
The impact was catastrophic. The airship crumpled like paper, her once-proud invention reduced to nothing more than a mangled pile of scrap metal. Jinx was flung clear of the railing, the force of the crash slamming her into the hard ground below. Pain erupted through her body, as she struggled to her feet. The pieces of the railing scattered around her and pinned her in place. For a long moment she laid there as the road spun.
“Powder!” Vi’s voice cut through the ringing in her ears.
Jinx blinked, her vision clearing just enough to see Vi scrambling toward her through the wreckage. Before she could say anything, Vi was already on top of her, gripping the twisted remnants of the railing that pinned her down. With a grunt, Vi wrenched the wreckage off her sister’s shoulders and tossed it aside.
“You alright?” Vi asked in a soft tone. It was back like they were kids again; it was the same comforting tone that had once haunted her. Her eyes scanned Jinx’s body over and even managed a reassuring smile.
Jinx swallowed hard and gave a shaky nod. “Yeah... I-I think so.”
Vi offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet as Jinx winced and stumbled, her legs protesting every step. They stood together, taking in the scene of destruction around them. Smoke and fire curled into the sky, the wreckage of the airship scattered across the battlefield. The clash of steel and the shouts from the battle outside had faintly reached their position.
Panic rose in Jinx's chest as she noticed that Ekko was nowhere to be seen. Ignoring the pain in her legs, she limped toward the largest pile of wreckage, her heart pounding in her ears. “Ekko!” She screamed, desperation cracking her voice. Her eyes darted over the wreckage, looking for any sign of him.
“Ekko?” Vi echoed as she glanced at the rubble. Her eyes darted frantically from one pile of debris to the next. “Little Man?!”
For a horrible, gut-wrenching moment, there was only silence.
Then, a weak, muffled voice broke through. “I’m alive…”
Jinx’s breath hitched as she spotted movement beneath the rubble. Ekko pushed his way through, coughing and grimacing as he crawled out from beneath a collapsed beam.
Without thinking, Jinx fell to her knees in front of him, her trembling hands reaching out to cradle his face. “You’re okay,” She whispered, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. She stroked his dirt-smeared face, her fingers gently brushing away the grime. “You’re really okay…”
Ekko gave her a weak grin, his voice hoarse but teasing. “I told you,” His voice trailed off as he held his own wounds. “I won’t die and leave you alone. I promised.”
Her tears freely flowed down her cheeks as pulled him into a tight embrace. “Thank god…” Jinx cradled body as close as she could as she cried into his neck. “Got all of your insides?” She asked between her tears and sobs.
“Yeah… yeah. Everything’s still in place... I think.” Ekko replied as he pulled away from her to sit up and pulled her back in.
Vi let out a bitter, breathless laugh, the sound more relief than humor, as she knelt down in the rubble. For a moment, she’d thought the worst, and the weight of that even being a possibility crushed her. Without hesitation, she pulled them both into a fierce embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around the two people she couldn’t bear to lose.
“You scared the hell out of me, both of you,” Vi said, her voice cracking as tears slipped down her cheeks. She didn’t bother wiping them away. Her grip tightened, as though holding them like this could keep them safe. That’s all she wanted to keep these two safe.
“We’re okay,” Jinx sniffled against Vi’s shoulder, her tears soaking into her sister’s shirt. “We’re okay,”
For a long moment, none of them moved. The trio just held their hug and cried until the world melted away. It was like they were kids again, back when things were normal and there weren't any wars to fight.
Ekko was the first to break away, standing slowly as he brushed dirt from his shirt. His eyes darted toward the battlefield, then back to the ZDrive
Jinx frowned, noticing the resolve that hardened in his gaze. “Where are you going?” She asked, grabbing his hand before he could step out of her reach. Her voice was tinged with worry, her grip refused to let him take another step away from her.
Ekko hesitated, his voice was heavier, more determined now that he had a small taste of what could be. “There’s something only I can do,”
Jinx’s frown deepened. “What? Do what ?” Her voice rose, more frantic now. She motioned to him with both hands, as if trying to encompass his injuries, his exhaustion, his everything. “What the hell are you thinking ? You can barely stand!”
“I’ll be fine,” Ekko said, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Trust me.”
“That’s not funny,” Jinx shot back, her voice cracking. Her eyes searched his face, looking for answers, for reassurance, but finding none. “What are you trying to pull? You don’t even know what you’re doing, do you?”
Ekko hesitated, hse had managed to get him to second guess himself. She was right—he didn’t know what exactly he could do, but he had to try. This had all gone too far and he was the only one with the ability to rewind this back. He was the only one who could’ve made a difference.
“What did I promise you?” He asked gently, his voice steady despite his heart screaming to stay. To stay with her and stay for the battle to come.
Jinx blinked, the question catching her off guard. “That you wouldn’t die and leave me behind,” She muttered, her confusion and fear bleeding into her voice.
“Exactly.” Ekko squeezed her hand gently. “And I don’t break my promises. Just trust me, alright?”
The words hit harder than she expected. Jinx’s lips quivered as she shook her head, this wasn’t happening. It couldn’t.
“Ekko…” Her voice was so small as she begged him to stay.
“I’ll be back,” He interrupted, his smile softening. “When this is all over, I’ll be there. I promise.”
Jinx wanted to argue, wanted to scream at him, to make him stay . But the way he looked at her—steady, calm, resolute—made her chest ache. A flash of pain crossed her eyes, but she nodded, albeit reluctantly.
“You better keep that promise,” She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ekko chuckled softly, though the sound carried a weight that he couldn’t hide. It was tinged with sadness, a farewell wrapped in a promise he desperately hoped he could keep. “I always do,” He said softly.
His hand slipped from hers, his grip loosening despite how badly he wanted to hold on. Without looking back, he turned and ran into the smoke and fire, the Z-Drive clutched tightly in his grasp.
Jinx stood frozen, her arms limp at her sides, her body betraying the storm of emotions that threatened to consume her. The sinking feeling in her chest grew heavier with every step he took away from her
What if he didn’t come back?
What if this was the last time she’d ever see him?
“Ekko…” She whispered, her voice trembling, though her voice was only heard by her sister.
“He’ll be alright,” Vi said as her hand landed gently on her shoulder, as she rubbed circles into it. Her sister’s pain brought a whole new sort of conflict. She couldn’t let her get in Ekko’s way, but at the same time, what if he didn’t come back? “Go to him, Powder. Just go.” She said, trying to sound confident.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Jinx sprinted after him, her heart pounding in her ears, as her legs carried her forward. She couldn’t let him go—not like this, not with so much left unsaid. If this was the last time they saw each other, she had to make it count. There were no do-overs, no rewinding time. This was life and death, and she wasn’t about to let him disappear without saying what she needed to say.
“Ekko!” She screamed, her voice cutting through the silence as she pushed herself to run faster. “Ekko! Wait!”
Her words reached him. Ekko skidded to a stop, his head snapping back toward her voice. He turned, his eyes widening in surprise as she stumbled to a halt just a few feet away from him, struggling to catch her breath.
“Jinx? What are you—”
She cut him off, her hands gripping her knees as she gasped for air. “Just… hold on… okay?”
Ekko waited, his brow furrowed, concern flickering across his face. He could see the storm of emotions swirling in her eyes, and it stunned him in place.
Finally, Jinx straightened, wiping her hand across her mouth as she steadied her breathing. She looked at him, really looked at him, trying to memorize every detail of his face.
“Thank you,” She said softly, her voice almost drowned out by the distant sounds of the battle.
Ekko blinked, his head tilting slightly. “For what?”
“For everything,” She continued, her voice regaining its confidence. “For being here. For stopping me. For… not giving up on me. I know we might not make it out of this. But if we do—if we get another chance…” She trailed off, her voice cracking slightly before she steadied herself again. “I just wanted you to know. Thank you.”
Ekko’s lips parted, but no words came out. He was speechless, the weight of her words hitting him harder than any blow ever had and that scared him.
Jinx gave him a small, bittersweet smile. Then, before he could respond, she turned her back on him, starting to walk away. Each step she took felt like a thousand pounds against his heart, but Jinx couldn’t face him any longer. She had said what she needed to say.
She only made it a few steps before she stopped again. Her heart pounded, she had left one thing left unsaid. Without turning around, she spoke again, making sure her voice was clear and confident.
“I love you, Little Man.”
The words hung in the air like a spark, igniting something between them that had always been there, unspoken but undeniable.
Ekko’s eyes widened. For a heartbeat, he stood frozen. Then, in one swift motion, he closed the gap between them with impressive ease. His hand caught hers, twirling her around to face him. Before she could say anything else, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was brief but electric, it held every unsaid word, every emotion they shared between them. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers, his eyes searched for any signs of something dark. Something that would make her do the unthinkable.
“I love you too,” Ekko whispered, making sure the words were only hers to hear. “We’ll make it out of this. Together .”
Jinx nodded as her heart raced, this was it. They had to go their own separate ways again and possibly for the final time. However, in this small moment, that battle was so far away. All the death, the screams, the sounds of war. They all didn’t matter.
Then, the world snapped back into focus. Ekko pulled himself away and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I have to go,”
Jinx nodded, her throat tightening. “I know.”
He gave her one last, lingering look before turning and running back into the smoke. This time, Jinx didn’t stop him. She watched him disappear, her fingers brushing against her lips as a single tear slipped down her cheek.
“I’ll hold you to that promise, Little Man,”
She had asked Ekko to keep his promise.
But, Jinx never kept hers.
She never came back.
She was just gone.
Just like that.