Work Text:
There they stood in Jinx's quarters or could Ekko even call it that? It was more of a creative chaos, the kind of space that perfectly reflected the mind of its owner. Her blue hair was cut short. It wasn’t messy, unlike you'd expect if she did it herself. It was jagged but deliberate as if even her impulsive choices came with uncanny precision. Ekko couldn’t help but notice the difference between this version of her and the Powder from the other world.
Powder's hair was always uneven, choppy bangs framing her innocent face. Vander probably still took care of it in that timeline, trying to preserve a sense of normalcy. The thought stung, the memory of the three of them together tugging at his resolve. He clenched his fists in an attempt to focus. -Why are you here, Ekko?- Jinx’s voice was cold, detached, as lifeless as the dull gleam in her eyes.
Those eyes… they were nothing like the bright gaze of the girl he once knew, nor the Powder from the other timeline. No, this was Jinx, a version of her twisted by pain and circumstance. But now wasn't the time to think about this. Now was the time to act, to convince her to join in the upcoming war. The war that would result in the death of all humans, Piltover or Zaun, didn't matter. What mattered the most was survival, and she was the key to success.
Ekko stepped closer, his voice dropping to a quieter, more desperate tone. -I know it seems crazy, but Hextech sent me into another reality.- Jinx’s eyes narrowed, a subtle furrow forming between her brows. A smile pulling at the corners of her lips. Ekko expected as much. She wasn’t going to make this easy. -Yeah, right.- She scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. He would say just about anything to talk her out of killing herself, out of ending the pointless cycle of misery and death.
Without her, Vi could finally find peace with Caitlyn, and with Isha dead, Violet was the only person she cared about, in her own fucked-up way. -I’m serious, Jinx. Everyone was there, Milo, Claggor, Vander...us.-
-Us?- She repeated, her tone flat and dismissive. She sat on the edge the metal platform, legs dangling lazily as she rested her elbows behind her. She wasn’t even looking at him anymore. Ekko stepped closer, his voice insistent. -I saw Piltover and Zaun united. The future Vander dreamed of for all of us. Where we... you were happy.-
-Happy.- She spat the word like it was poison. - And what about it? - She asked in the most indifferent tone he had ever heard from her. Jinx wasn't even pretending to care. She was waiting for him to leave her alone so that she could finish what she had started without interruptions or annoying conversations about how life was worth living. Maybe it was, but not for her, Isha was the last person who could bring some light into her dark world. And that light died with her little sister or daughter she didn't know how to describe the bond they had.
-I still don't see the point of you telling me this, Ekko.- Jinx turned her head towards him. She saw how tired he looked, his usual white marks were smudged. He looked older than she remembered, more worn. Ekko took a deep breath, his frustration barely contained. -This is the world we could’ve had if Hextech didn’t exist. I don’t need you to believe me. I need your help. Help me save Vi, help me save all of us.-
The mention of her sister made Jinx’s jaw tighten, and her scoff was laced with annoyance. -Vi.- She muttered under her breath, rising from the platform and walking toward her desk. Ekko followed her, grabbing her arm before she could escape the conversation. She tensed, her gaze snapping back to his, nostrils flaring with anger. -Fuck off Ekko.- she hissed, pulling against his grip. - I will after you agree to help me. - He pulled her closer by her arm and looked at her skinny face. How dare he? She probably thought. How dare he expect anything from me after all these years? - You promise to leave me alone after it's done? - The only time he saw her angrier was that night at the bridge. Before he almost killed her if it wasn't for whatever Silco allowed to be done to her to save her life.
The memory of her bloodied face staring at him as he beat the shit out of her haunted his mind. -I promise.- His voice was barely louder than a whisper. -Fine.-
Preparations were more productive than Jinx had expected. Ekko had managed to convince her, though she still wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was desperation. Either way, they sat together, sketching out plans for a hot air balloon that could give them an aerial advantage over Ambessa's army. The last time she saw him was at the bridge. She half expected to kill him in the explosion she caused. Jinx was almost sure that he joined the crew of her hallucinations and came after her to make her life even more miserable.
Jinx’s hair was tied up in space buns to keep it out of her face as they worked. Ekko watched her from across the table, unable to stop himself. - You're staring. - She said, without looking up from the paper. -Sorry.- He muttered, quickly averting his gaze. He didn't suggest that hairstyle, she picked it up herself. The only thing that disguised her from her other self was the fact that she was skinnier and much paler than Powder. Only now did it dawn on him that Jinx was malnourished and was rarely outside. That was the reason for their different appearance.
-You're still staring, Ekko, what's up?- Her eyes lifted from her work with a playful spark. How many years has it been since he saw it for the last time? -It's just... Powder... the other you did her hair the same way, except she had bangs.- Jinx rolled her eyes. -You don't have to keep lying. I already said I'd help.-
-I'm not lying, Jinx.- Ekko snapped. -I was serious from the beginning.- He dropped his pencil to the table. -I need your help because you're a genius. You can't change the past, but you can do everything in your power to save the future.-
-Let's pretend that I believe you.- Jinx said as she supported her head on her fists and tilted her head. -What were we like?- They spend the next hour improving their design as Ekko told Jinx about their other lives. He left out the fact that they were dating, there wasn't any point in making things awkward between them right now. Sentence after sentence, she started believing him, especially after he told her about the machine they built together. He didn't miss her glassy eyes and shaky chin when he told her about Vi's death. -Ironic, she has spent her whole life trying to protect us, and the only time we were safe was when she wasn't alive.- Jinx said in a monotonous voice. If her Vi found out about this...
-No.- Ekko interrupted her. -You were all alive because her death made everyone realize how dangerous Hextech was, they shut down the whole operation. She was never the problem nor the solution, she was just a child.- His eyes met hers, pink from shimmer but still resembling Powders so much. -Just like we are.- He said it more to himself than to her. -We haven't been children for a long time.- Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away.
-I was a child there though, I was allowed to be one, and we even went dancing one time.- He saw as it piqued her curiosity. - It's a shame you're not like Powder.- Jinx’s eyes snapped to his, anger flaring in her expression. -Sorry to disappoint then.- She snarled, standing abruptly and taking a few steps away to calm herself. Ekko sighed, getting up to follow her. -Jinx, you know it's not what I meant.- She spun to face him, her fist colliding with his chest. The punch wasn’t hard, she wasn’t built for physical strength but it still delivered the message.
-Oh, I’m sure it’s exactly what you meant.- she sneered. -Boy savior coming to rescue poor Powder from herself.- Her voice reeked of irony. -You don't need rescuing.- Ekko replied, his voice calm despite the storm that was going on in his head. -You did just fine by yourself for all these years. I need your brain, not your heart.- Her expression flickered, momentarily stunned by his words. What does that have to do with anything?
-My heart?- she asked, walking even closer to him, their chests almost touching. The last time they had been this close was on the dance floor before their stolen kiss on the rooftop. Ekko’s heart raced as he remembered it. He still wanted her, now he knew that he wanted Powder because she reminded him of Jinx. Of what they could have. But she wasn't her, even if their DNA was the same, their souls weren't.
He remembered how Powder had looked at him in a lovesick way. It was such a contrast to the cold, calculating gaze Jinx gave him now. Ekko didn't mean to say this and expose himself, but at this point, did it really matter? He already told her about her sister's death; he might as well tell her the whole story. -We were a couple. In that world, we were a couple. - He took a step back from her before she could hear the rapid drumming of his pulse through her shimmer-enhanced senses.
She blinked, brushing her hair away from her face and crossing her arms. -I know, I was surprised too.- He continued. Jinx's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she looked small. Vulnerable. But the moment passed, and her glare hardened again. -I kinda figured it out by the way she was acting.- He had never outright asked Powder what they were, but the kiss they’d shared spoke volumes. It wasn't their first one, not with how comfortable she was with him. And the portraits...so many paintings of her, scattered around her home. He must have made them for her.
-Did you kiss her?- Her tone was sharp, he felt as if her gaze would burn holes in him if it could. Out of all things, why did she have to ask him about that? -What?- He said with a dumbfounded expression in order to buy himself a few more seconds to process the question. -I said, did you kiss me?- Ekko didn't miss the fact that Jinx said me instead of her. Did she see Powder and herself as two sides of the same coin? Somehow connected?
-Yes.- He replied, voice shaky. -Why?- Her voice wavered, and she took a small step back. She needed to know why he did it. Did he have any feelings for Powder, for her? Could she even count it as having feelings for her? -Because she was my girlfriend.- He began, the truth spilling from him before he could stop it. -I did something to upset her and we made up earlier that day, it just felt right at the moment.- He hesitated, then decided to lay it all bare. -I wanted to kiss her. I did not get to spend that much time with her since all my energy was focused on building the machine that would take me back here, but I learned that she's impulsive, sensitive, very talkative, and sweet. She's a great dancer and basically the smartest girl in the world.-
With every word, he got closer and closer to her. He could see the tears brimming in her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, not as a lover but as a friend, as a childhood friend who cared about her. -You seem like you loved Powder very much.- She tried to keep herself from sobbing. Whatever her other version was like, she captured his heart. She placed a shaky hand on his back in an attempt to pull him closer. She couldn't remeber last time someone had held her so gently. -Yeah.-
-I am not her.- She said as if reminding herself. -I know.- He replied. -But I fell in love with Jinx before I met Powder, she only made me realize that.- He knew he had a crush on her as a little boy, but he thought that it passed. He never would have imagined that his heart beating out of his chest was a sign of love, not the pump of adrenaline every time he saw her down Zaun streets. Her arms tightened around him, and for the first time, she let herself lean into his embrace. -I will never be fine, you know that, right?-
-I don't need you to be fine to love you...Jinx. -They sank to the ground, Jinx settling between his legs as he held her. For the first time in years, the voices in her head were quiet. When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were streaked with tears. Her trembling hands cupped his face, wiping away the ones he hadn’t even realized he’d shed.
-Could we pretend,- she whispered, -like it’s the first time?-
The words echoed something he’d said once, not so long ago. His breath hitched as he nodded. Ekko leaned in, his lips brushing against hers softly, tentatively, as if testing the waters. She froze for a heartbeat before melting into him. The kiss deepened, each of them pouring years of longing, pain, and unspoken words into the connection. Jinx moved first, pressing closer to him, her hands sliding from his cheeks to tangle in his hair.
There was a desperation in her movements, like she was afraid this moment would shatter if she didn’t hold onto it tightly enough. Ekko's arms wrapped around her waist to pull her flush against him. The world around them didn't exist. All that mattered was the heat of her body against his, the softness of her lips, and the faint taste of salt from their mingled tears.
She parted her lips to allow him to enter her mouth, she sighed as she felt his tongue brushing against hers. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t Silco’s weapon, Zaun’s ghost, or Powder, she wasn't even JInx. She was just a girl, kissing a boy who had somehow always been there through all this mess. Ekko’s hands traveled up her back, one settling on the nape of her neck while the other cradled her jaw, he could feel her teeth nibbling at his bottom lip. Jinx's kisses were different from Powder's and he loved every second of it. They were more aggressive, hungry and they fit his Jinx just right.
Despite her enthusiasm his touch was careful, gentle, as though he was afraid of breaking her. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, his lips moving against hers with a mixture of passion and tenderness that left her breathless. She broke away for a moment, gasping for air, but her lips found his again almost immediately.
This time, the kiss was slower, more deliberate. Her hands slid down to rest against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. Ekko pulled away, he kissed her cheeks, her jawline, her temple, anywhere he could reach, scattering soft, feather-light kisses across her skin. Jinx’s breath hitched at the intimacy of it all, her heart swelling in an almost foreign way. She let out a shaky breath, her forehead pressing against his as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. She hated how much she wanted to cling to the comfort he offered.
She leaned in again, her kisses grew feverish, almost frantic, as though she was trying to drown out everything that happened with the taste of him. Ekko responded just as fiercely, his grip tightening on her as he matched her intensity. His hands slid down her sides, gripping her hips as her fingers tugged at the fabric of his shirt. Ekko kissed her back with everything he had, his lips moving against hers as if he could pour all that he wanted to say into that connection.
This girl had always been in his heart, even when he didn’t fully understand it. Jinx eventually slowed, she pulled back just enough to look at him, her gaze searching his face. His eyes were full of adoration, of understanding, of something she hadn’t dared to believe she could ever have again. She stared at him, wide-eyed, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. His hands rested on her waist, holding her steady as her fingers traced the line of his jaw, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling. Ekko pressed one last kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there as if trying to memorize the feel of her skin. -As much as I’d love to keep going,- he said with a soft laugh, his voice still thick with emotion. -We’re still in the middle of a war.- Jinx wiped the tears from her face, managing a shaky laugh of her own. -Let’s do this, Ekko.- She said as she buried her face in his neck one last time.