Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"NOOOOO!!"

The second time Ekko opened his eyes, he was welcomed by a broken voice that came from everywhere and nowhere all at once, muffled beneath the deafening sound of people shouting and something growling that must be coming from a kind monster.

His head snapped toward the sound, scanning the battlefield, trying to place it, but Ekko saw nothing.

Nothing except the chaos happening before him.

Figures in armor, soldiers he wasn't familiar with, moved in hurried movements. Ekko wondered what it was. He just came back from a very weird universe, and now this?

When he finally recovered from the shock, his pulse quickened in his ears as he full took in the whole figure of the monsther they've been fighting.

The creature before him was no mere beast, but a nightmare given flesh. A monstrous fusion of man and animal. 

Its huge form was almost made of molten veins as the lava flows through his body. Its eyes burned a deep, unnatural red, like embers in the dark, filled only with hunger to kill. Behind its snarling lips was a flashed of sharp teeths, mouth dripping with molten saliva. And in every breath it took sent heat waves among the people that circled it with their weaponed drawn.

A guttural roar erupted from its throat, as he tossed the few soldiers around him. Ekko felt the very ground beneath his feet shake. They clearly had no plan on how to kill this monster.

"—sha!!"

Here's the distant voice yet again, but this time, it was much clearer and... oddly familiar to Ekko.

His head jerked toward the sound, eyes darting through the smoke and movement as they blurred together. It was hard to see or focus, until he cought a sight of someone sprinting through the center of the battlefield.

Looking at the figure, Ekko felt something twisted deep in his gut.

Nonetheles, his eyes continue to followed her figure straight to the center, and hs heart nearly stopped when he saw a small figure, seems like a child, beneath the towering size of the monster. But what made him lose his footing was the familiar gun on its trembling hand.

"ISHAAAA!!"

The name tore from the running figure, but it was already too late. The next moment, the world was consumed in blinding blue light. And in the midst of it, in that unbearable, searing glow, Ekko saw the small figure begin to disintegrate before his very eyes. Her form slowly disappeared like dust caught in the wind, glowing, and fading before her body was completely gone.

No.

Instinct took over. Ekko’s hand flew to his Z-Drive, gripping it tight and yanked the cord with everything he had.

⨲⨲⨲

Jinx was DEAD.

Like incredibly-horribly-absolutely-completely-dead. 

Well, not technically, but she might as well be. It was almost guaranteed because once his old man found out what she'd done.... He'd kill her.

Or worse… he wouldn’t, and he’d make her do it.

“Shit, shit, shit,” she hissed, pacing across her cramped hideout. The flickering bulb overhead cast wild shadows across the walls, each one twitching like it shared her panic.

"This isn’t happening. This is NOT fucking happening,” she muttered, yanking at her hair as her boots scraped the floor. A kick sent a half-empty paint can flying, splattering blue across the ground.

Her chest tightened, breath coming too fast as every nerves in her body sprackling alive. Then she froze, eyes staring at the her reflection on the broken mirrow, trying to recognize the girl staring back at her.

She stared at it more, straining for a better look, but all she saw was a girl who looked too small for the world she lived in.

Her hair once meticulously braided in a single one, was now a mess,  with loose strands sticking out in every direction. Her eyes looked dull and haunter with dark circles around it that made it obvious she hadn't slept in days.

Honestly, she looked more of a ghost than a girl.

"Gee, I look like shit," she muttered.

Her blue eyes drifted down to her stomach, flat under her cropped-top shirt. She stared at it like she could make everything disappear. Her finger toyes with the fabric for a second before her trembling hand brushed her still flat stomach.

The touch felt wrong and foreign at the same time. Like her own body had turned againts her. Instantly, she yanked her hand away as though burned.

A memory crossed her mind that had led her here. Her grip tightened on the table to stay upright. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to her.

It had been one reckless night.

One stupid, meaningless night at Babette’s Brothel with some random boy around her age she barely remember. All she know was he was familiar, and maybe he's one of the factory rats or shimmer runner working for Silco's.

That night, Jinx wasn’t looking for anything except an escape… a distraction from the voices in her head. So she’d grabbed that man, spent the night with him in a dingy room that reeked of sweat and smoke, and left before dawn without a second thought.

That should have been it. Over. Done.

But now... now everything was ruined.

She gritted her teeth, eyes locked stomach. It wasn’t like she hadn’t noticed the signs. The morning sickness, the weird cravings, the mood swings, but she ignored them all. Told herself it was impossible since her body had never work 'normal''  anyway.

Missing her period for a few months wasn't new for her. Not when her diet was whatever unidentifiable slop of the Undercity to offer. Nutrition wasn't exactly the priority in this place.

But it wasn’t just one or two months this time.

It had been four months now.

Four months of denial. Four month of lying to herself.

And now she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“Shit,” she whispered, her voice cracking as her legs gave way, slumping into the nearest chair. “I fucked up.” that tear the Undercity anymore.

Her hands covered her as the truth hit her straight. She wasn't just some unhinged, run-away troublemaker 

She wasn't just the Jinx who killed her family.

Jinx the Unlucky one

Now, she's the Jinx who knucked up by some randos.

The word felt wrong in her mouth, like it belonged to someone else. It didn’t fit her. It didn't fit the destruction and death that followed her name. It didn’t fit with the bombshell psychopath people feared in Zaun.

But here she was.

Jinx yanked at her blue hair, a frustrated sound escaping her throat. She wasn’t built for this. She wasn’t ready. Hell, she didn’t even want it. But what she wanted didn’t matter anymore. It was too late.

“One night,” she talked to herself, almost sobbing. “One fucking night. That’s all it took.”

Her stomach twisted, not from nausea this time but from the crushing weight of her new fucked up reality. She was going to be a — fuck, I can't even fathom myself to think about that!

In Zaun, girls her age getting pregnant wasn’t rare, but most didn’t survive long enough for it to matter. Life in this place was brutal. And kids are considered burden, not  blessing. Food was scarce, medicine even scarcer. 

And Jinx? She was no exception. She was part of the same broken system, scraping by on Silco’s scraps.

A baby in this hellhole? Ridiculous! The whole thing is ridicolous.

She couldn’t even protect herself from the shitty horrors of this place, let alone a child. And what would the kid even become? Another pawn for Silco? Another failure like her?

The thought alone made her want to throw up.

"Not happening at all," she said, louder now, as if she could shout reality away. “I’m not cut out for that shit. I’m not Vander. I’m not Silco. I’m not… my mom. I’m just—” Her voice broke, tears stinging her eyes as she whispered, “I’m a Jinx.”

Jinx pressed her hands to her face as the truth sank further deeper. What kind of parent could she even be when she barely remembered what one felt like? Vander had tried, but he was long gone. Her mom? All Jinx remembered was her scent. 

And her sister… Vi had been the strong one. The responsible. The protecttor. But she was gone too.

Yes, she has Silco. He’d saved her after everything, after that night. He’d become something like a father figure. But he wasn’t the kind of parent you wanted when you had… this.

Jinx stared into the mirror again. Wide, terrified blue eyes looking back from a face sge hardly recognized. Disgusted, she tear her eyes away.

Jinx wasn't Vi. She wasn't a protector, nor responsible type of person.

She was the mistake.

The Jinx.

hot tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away roughly.
“A kid doesn’t need someone like me,” she muttered. “They need someone… stable. Someone who isn’t...” She trailed off, her gaze falling to her trembling hands.

“You really screwed up again this time, Powder... You really are JINX!”

The words slithered through the air, followed by a mocking snicker. Jinx spun around, but there was no one there. Her eyes darted back to the mirror, and the last flickered of the light, there she saw the deformed figure of Mylo.

His face stared from one shard of glass, eyes glowing white and bulging, his grin wide and cruel. His body flickered between two awful forms. One almost human, except for the gaping hole in his chest. And the other twisted, as if he was being electrocuted.

On another shard, Claggor's face appeared with a mournful expression, then instantly flickered like Mylo's. Unlike his brother, Claggor didn't say anything.

“What’s Silco gonna say when he finds out? What’s anyone gonna say? You think you’re special, Jinx? Nah. You’re just a screw-up. Always have been.”

“Shut up, Mylo. Please!” Jinx hissed, stepping back, her fists clenching so tight her nails broke the skin.

Mylo leaned closer, his face flickering in and out of the light, grin stretching far too wide.

“What’re you gonna do, Jinx?”   he hissed, voice scraping againts her mind. “Silco’s gonna find out, and when he does—toast. Toast! TOAST!” His head tilted unnaturally as his hollow eyes bore into her. “You’re not just a screw-up now, Jinx. You’re weak! WEAK!” His grin widened more, splitting his face in a hideous imitation of a smile. “You’re gonna get it killed... and then Silco’s gonna kill you. Just like you got us killed!”

Jinx clutched her head, shaking. “Then what do I do? What am I supposed to do, Mylo?”  She closed her eyes tightly, trying to block them out, but their voices wouldn’t stop.

He pulled back, hovering just out of reach with his face half-covered in darkness, and sneered. “Hide it,”  he cooed. “Hide it forever. Don’t let anyone see. And maybe... just maybe...” He leaned in close again, his smile almost brushing against her face. “…that thing will take care of the problem itself.”

Clenching her teeth, Jinx grabbed the mirror and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, and the pieces rained to the floor.

“Please… leave me alone. Please, Mylo.” 

The flickering bulb buzzed louder, shadows twisting around her like they were alive. Jinx pressed her palms hard to her temples, trying to drown out the voiced. And when she finally looked up, the room was empty again.

⨲⨲⨲

Sevika’s metal arm slammed down on the desk, the impact shaking the room and scattering her boss' papers across the floor. Calmly, Silco's eyes flew to her direction, looking at her blankly tat only made Sevika angrier.

“She’s a fucking liability, Silco!” Sevika snapped, jabbing a finger at the map spread across the desk. “Do you have any idea how many of our people she’s taken out? Firelights? Fine, she can handle them. But now it’s us bleeding out because of her!”

Silco stayed silent, one elbow resting on the chair, the other hand swirling his glass of whiskey in slow circled. His good eye caught the light and it was cold.

“She’s dangerous,” Sevika went on, pacing across the room. “Not just to them, but to us, Silco. everything we’ve built. And what do you do? You give her more responsibility? You let her run shimmer routes? How many more bodies until you get it through your head?”

Above them, unseen, Jinx crouched on a wooden beam. Her knees were pulled tight to her chest, fingers gripping the wood hard. Her expression was black as her eyes never left the scene below. Metal hand's shouting didn't even make her flinched. She'd heard worse.

It had only been a week since Jinx had found out the truth. She hadn't told anyone, even herself. Still fully believing that everything was just a fucking dream. So she’d thrown herself back into work. Missions. Explosions. Anything loud enough to drown the noise in her head.

Silco hadn’t argued, perhaps hoping that the work would calm her. But that bitchy woman, Sevika, had raised an eyebrow but ultimately let it go, likely thinking Jinx needed to prove herself.

But it had gone wrong. Horribly wrong.

Out in the field, Mylo's annoying ass had hunted Jinx again. Screaming in her ears. With Claggor, they were sorrounding her. Whispering, laugjing, reminding her of very failure she is. 

Could no longer take it longer, Jinx's vision blurred  and snapped. In one shift, her hands moved on their own. And by the time the ringing had stopped. the body of Firelight's member was everywhere. So were several of their own.

Jinx doen't feel any ounch of regret, other than shame of not including Sevika on that bloodbath. Wasted potential honestly.

“Incompetent!” Sevika spat now, slamming her fist on the desk again. Papers jumped. “She’s a ticking time bomb, Silco. And when she blows, we’re all going down with her.”

Jinx's mouth twitched faintly with that. Her finger traced small carving of monkey, bomb, and a flower in the wood beam. 

When Sevika finally ran out of breath, Silco set his glass down and leaned forward. "I heard you, Sevika. Loud and clear," he said quietly before standing from his massive chair and walked towards the window with overlooking city sprawling outside. His hands folded neatly behind his back, gaze distant as if he were already playing ten moves ahead.

she engraved years ago. A monkey. A bomb. A cute little flower.

When Sevika finally paused, her breath heavy with frustration, Silco leaned forward, placing the glass down. “I heard you, Sevika… Loud and clear.” 

Sevika turned to face him, her jaw set, clearly still fuming, but she stayed silent.

“You think I don’t know what she’s done?” Silco asked. He pushed himself up from his chair, moving to stand by the window that overlooked the sprawling undercity. His hands clasped behind his back, and his gaze seemed distant for a moment, as though he were calculating a dozen steps ahead.

"And I do agree that Jinx is dangerous. Truly."

She turned toward him, jaw tight. "Then why she's still here, Silco? You need to ditch her before that danger could drown us all to hell."

Jinx's jaw tightened with that statemend, biting her lips until the taste of the blood hit her tounge. Silco would never do that! He coudn't...

The man stood by the window in silence for a long moment, the faint glow from the outside flickering across his face, highlighting his destroyed eye in the darkness.

"Because that danger," he began, turning to face Sevika and walked back to his desk, "is exactly why she must remain." He trailed a hand across it, gaze flickering over the words and numbers, but not actually reading them.

"You don't leash a wildfire, Sevika. You learn to dance with it. To channel its heat," he paused before looking back at Sevika with intensity in his eyes. "Jinx burns brighter than anyone in this place has ever seen. She embodies that truth more perfectly than any soldier or us ever could."

"You’re gambling everything on that girl, and it’s going to cost us.” Sevika shook her head.

"Jinx is my creation. The one person in this filty world I truest to do what needs to be done. Can you say the same about anyone else?"

Her shoulders tensed before stepping closer. "I turned my back on Vander because he was weak! Because he coudn't make the hard calls. And now, you're starting ti sound just like him." Her metal hand tightened into a fist

“I followed you because you had vision. Because you had strength. The strenght of making the Undercity we deserved. Don’t make me regret that.” She turned for the door. “Send her away before it’s too late, Silco. Otherwise, the next time you blink, she’ll have that gun pointed at you.”

The door slammed behind her, leaving the room steeped in silence.

Silco let out a long breath, then sank back into his chair. “You can come down now, dearest.” His voice softened slightly, eyes flicking toward the ceiling.

With the slight creak from the beams above, Jinx let herself fall, not minding how unsafe it was. She landed with no effort in sitting position; knees closem arms around them, and face hidden behind the curtain of her blue hair.

“You were listening.” Silco regarded her calmly, gaze softening.

She didn't answwer right away. Still burrying her head in her arms as she let out a shaky breath. "She hates me."

A small smile formed Silco's lips, nodding. "That was never a secret, daughter."

"I hate her."

"And that, too," he replied evenly, laughing a little.

Silenced settled between them with only the faint sound hissing from Silco's radio, playing a slow piece of orchestral music. Watching her, Silco leaned forward and rest his elbows on the desk, watching her closely.

“You’ve not been yourself this past week,” he said after a moment. His voice wasn't cold, nor soft. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Jinx?”

Her body went rigid, fingers dugging into her knees. Jinx opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her throat locked up it seems.

“Don’t do it, Powder,”  a familiar, taunting voice whispered.

Her heart sank. The air seemed to tighten around her, and slowly, she lifted her gaze to Mylo looming behind Silco with his grin stretching wide and hollow eyes.

“You know how this ends. He’ll be disappointed. He’ll see what a screw-up you are, and then... poof!! Gone. You’ll lose him, just like you lost the rest of us.”

Jinx’s chest tightened, her fingers twitching as her pulse roared in her ears. “No... you don't know that,” she whispered, shaking her head.

“Go on,” Mylo continued, circling Silco like a predator stalking its prey. “Tell him. Watch the look in his eyes when he realizes what you’ve done. Watch him leave you too, Pow... der.”

“Go away,” she whispered, voice shaking.

Silco’s brow furrowed slightly. “Jinx?”

“If that will happen… Guess what??! You’ll gonna end up alone again. Poor Pooowwdderr!!”

"Shut up,” she muttered in despair. Then louder. “Shut up!” Her hands shot up to her ears as she began to rock on the desk, eyes squeezed shut

Worried for her daughter, Silco stood swiftly and moved around her side of the desk and knelt. His face was compose, but corncerned was leaking over ot. He reached out to Jinx, placing his hands gently over hers and pulled them from her ears. It was a rare gesture coming from someone like him. 

"Jinx," he called softly. “It’s all right. It’s just me. There’s no one else here.”

“Jinx,” he said softly, his voice steady and quiet. “It’s okay. It’s just me. There’s no one else here.”

Jinx opened her one eye, full of fear and doubt.

“They’re not real,” he continued. “No one’s here but us. They can’t touch you, and they can’t hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

For a moment, Jinx just stared at him, her vision blurry through the tears streaking down her cheeks. Slowly, her shoulders loosened, and her hands stopped shaking beneath his.

"I'm sorry."

Silco shook his head, his eyes softening as he gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Jinx,” he said firmly. 

"No," she breathed out, shaking her head violently. “For the things I’ve done… And the things I'm about to do." Her gaze fell into the floor.

That caught his attention. Silco’s expression shifted, good eye narrowing as he patiently waited for her to continue, Jinx bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Janna knows how much she wanted to tell him about the growing parasite inside her that terrified her more than death ever had.

However, despite her will, Jinx couldn't formulate a proper sentence for that. “I—” she began, but her voice faltered.

"Tell him, and you'll lose him."

Silco noticed the shift immediately. His gaze sharpened. “Jinx,” he said softly, leaning closer. “Whatever it is… you can tell me.”

“No, I can’t,” she said quickly, shaking her head again. “You won't understand.”

“Then help me understand,” he urged, his hold tightening slightly. “Whatever burden you carry, you don’t have to do it alone.”

Her chest tightened, breath hitching as the walls around her crumbled further. “You’d hate me if you knew,” she whispered at last.

Silco’s expression softened in a way few had ever seen. The ruthless lord of Zaun faded, and what remained was the man who had founded a broken child and chosen to keep her.

"Don't say that. I could never hate you." Gently, he cupper her face and tilted it toward him, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “You are mine, Jinx. My child. My daughter. And nothing will ever change that."

Jinx stared at him, and in his eye, she saw something she hadn't seen in anyone other than him: love and sincerity. Her lips quievered and a stranged sound caught in her throat before she threw herself into his arms.

Still stunned, his arms came around her shaking body as sobs broke free againts his chest.

"Hush now, little one. Hush. I'll be here when you're ready."

⨲⨲⨲

How many days had it passed?? Well, it had been three week, and Jinx still didn't have a damn clue on what was supposed to do.

On the surface, nothing had really change. She still blew things up for shit and giggles and tinked for Silco's goons. It was all normal, just like before!

But behind those shits, Jinx was almost loosing her sanity completely. Her body had massively changed since three weeks ago! Her stomach had started to swell enough to make her notice. And the worst part? Her moods had gone completely haywire as if she wasn't already mad enough.

And five days ago, Sevika had gotten the full blast of it. Literally.

She'd barely walked into her hideout to inform her about the new mission and Jinx snapped for her mere presence alone. Before she knew it, haft a clip later, Sevika's metal arms had became like swiss chees with smoke curling from the fresh bullet holes.

Jinx winced at the memory. Sure, Sevika was a bitch, but she hadn’t exactly deserved that.

Later that day, guilt had fulled eaten her enough for her to drag herself to the woman's chamber with a bag of stools. Without uttering any singled word, she rewired some of the broken ones and patched the damage. And when its finally done, she gave the arm a test slap and forced a grin.

"Next time, announce yourself before you show your ugly face!"

Sevika only rolled her eyes and grunted with a nod. Jinx doesn't wait around to hear all her bullshits that was definitely coming and slammed the door into her face. She'd shoot Sevika again before sitting through that.

As for Silco.... Well...

She was thankful that her father hadn't said a word after her meltdown on his office. And just like he said, he was waiting. Letting her decide when to talk. And sometimes, that patience alone made Jinx feel guilty. And other times, it made her want to just scream.

Nonetheless. she wasn't going to tell him the thruth. That's the one thing she was certain. Never! Not even if he threatened to kill her.

After all, Jinx already had a plan for this thing.

Option one! Pick a fight with Sevika and make sure she will hit her straight to her center.
Pros: the problem would instantly be solved.
Cons: it hurts like hell. Physically and on her ego.

Option two! Hide the pregnancy for as long as she could, give birth in secret, and dump the child somewhere safe.
Pros: no pros unfurtunately
Cos: risk of discovery at anytime and giving birth would probably kill her.

As for a moment, Jinx still hadn't make up her mind. She was still busy dealing with tons of mission that Silco had given her. And today was no exception. Another shipment to guard and make sure it got to its desitination intact and no damage.

Of course, Sevika was swith her. Looming beside her like a pissed-off shadow she wanna light so bad for her to dissapear. Supposedly, she was there to “guide and protect” her, according to her very loving father, but Jinx knew the truth. Silco had sent Sevika to babysit her. To make sure she wouldn’t screw up again.

And that thought alone was enough to drive her mad.

"Tsk!" Jinx clicked her tounge and shook her head, still annoyead with the situation. She was crouching high above on the ship's steel beam, watching at the docks where Silco's men were loading barrels of shimmer onto the cargo ship.

With her position now, it felt like she was a cat and was watching the mice below scatter just for fun. But honestly, she was soooo bored. All she did was drum her fingers idly againts the metal just to entertain herself.

She shifted her weight, leaning back at the metal. “Bored, bored, bored…” she sang softly while tapping. “C’mon, show your asses, bug-boys! Amuse me!”

As if on cue, the hum of machine started. It was faint at first until it rose like a swarm of wasps. 

That sound made Jinx's cute, little heart flutter in excitement. Time to kick some Firelight asses!!

The group swoop in from the fog, riding their glowing howerboards and mask that's covering their ugly faces. They were circling the whole ship at first before the first blast hit from the far efge of the docks, making the ship shake and tilted slightly. 

In the blinding sound and white comming from the grenade they threw, the group dove in with their batons raised. Screams and weapons colliding were everywhere, but it didn't stirr Jinx above.

With an evil smile and twinkling eyes, she watched as the chaos slowly bloom below. The once clean wodden floor, slowly turned red. That color made her finger twitched agint her thigh, itching for the trigger.

“Not yet…” she whispered, hungry for more blood. “Not yeeet.”

One thing that always amazed and annoyed Jinx at the same time is how the annoying group of bugs moved accordingly as if they were dancing in one song.

The moment several of them landed on the ship, Silco's men fought to hold the line.

Sevika was among them. With her huge mechanical arm swinging around, she caught the attacker's weapon and slammed the poor bastard into the ship's railing. From her distance, Jinx swear she could hear something crack on that man's body.

"Keep them off the shipments!" she ordered while holding another another on their head and threw them away.

Still above, Jinx hummed cheerfully, swaying side to side like a little girl watching a very interesting show. 

The fight below continued to move alon. As the group move forward, Silco's men scrambled to defend the remaining crates, being a mess as they shouts to attack.

“Now this,” Jinx whispered, lips curling into a sharp grin, “this is what I missed.”

"Shit! Fuck! Shit! Shit!"

She whipped her head to Sevika's direction when she heard her distress voice. Not that Jinx cared, but she would love to see the woman in fear. Following Sevika's gaze, Jinx smile turned into frown.

The one particular member of the group hurled a small device in the middle of melee. It hit the deack and detonated, flooding the whole ship of blinding white light. Good thing Jinx quickly closed her eyes.

Sevika's arms snapped up to shield her face. While around her, Silco’s fighters stumbled, blinded and panicked. The firelight took this oppurtunity and surged forward and instantly flooded the cargo with flammable liquid. One spark, and it would all go up.

“Dammit! I can’t see—Fuck! Jinx!” Sevika shouted.

“Oppp~!” came the singsong reply. “And my holy name is called!”

An eerie voice echoed from above, hidden behind the thick fog. To those who heard rose their head to see and saw a blur of blue and shadow before a sound hitting the floor. Some of them back off when the flames and smoke curled around her body, and the ligh reflected her wide, unblinking eyes.

She's here!

"Well! Guess someone's been playing with fire..." she purred, tilting her head as her smile split wider that it should've. "How 'bout I joined you all? You with that, and me with my bug spray? Hmmm?! Hmm?!" Her hand flexed on her small weapon befoe spinning it on her hands.

The groupd frozed with that. And even through their mask, Jinx could feel their hesitation and fear rippling through them as they slowly turned their heads at her. And that makes her soul more alive.

"Guess you'll never aswer." She shrugged. "Okay, then!"

In one fluid motion, she yanked a bomb from her belt and tossed it into midst. The firelights quickly scattered, shouting and diving for covers. And not so long, the explotion ignited, and shards of burning wood and metal quickly rained down the place.

The smoke swiftly mixed with the fog, making for everyone to breathe properly. The groupd cough as they struggled on their feet.

One of them, their mask was split from the blast, stumbled to their feet, ears still ringing. Their eyes squinted, looking for any signs of danger, and when they spotted what they were looking for, their feet froze in fear.

Jinx stood in the center, untouched and unscattered. The flames curled harmlessly around her boots, painting her pale skin and sharp grin in shifting gold and red.

She tilted her head at them, her smile stretching further. “Well…” she cooed, lazily putting her hands on her hips. “That was fun, wasn’t it?”

One firelight took a step back, and she noticed.

“Oh, don’t run yet,” she purred, raising her weapon to point at the person. . “We were just getting started.”

"P-Please! D-Don't kill me! I have a kid, and—"

The sound followed made the other on board sweating with bullets. The person were unable to finish their words as bullet went through their chest. But the sound of a body hitting the floor ignited the group's anger back.

"Uhm, so who's next?"

Victory was not for anyone but her. Jinx owned that name.

Hatred in their eyes, the Firelight leader shouted with order, and not second long, the members was already charging toward Jinx.

“Aww, all this just for little ol’ me?” she cooed, clutching her chest dramatically. “You shouldn’t have~!”

The first attacker swung their sparking baton at her head, which she quickly avoided by ducking. Before the person could move for another hit, her pistol pressed to their stomach, and Jinx pulled the trigger with no remorse. The person dropped without even a scream.

One.

Two more rushed her, and Jinx leaped forward, laughing as she plucked a grenade from her belt. "Catch, lovebirds!"

Two and three! Oh, this is so fun!

Jinx dance through the chaos. spinning, twirling, ducking, and firing. Every movement she made was graceful and beautiful Like a ballerina with her choreographed routine. Bullets become her music, and blood as her applause.

Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!

Another firelight lunger from her side, blade glimming under the night. She caught it easily in the middle of swinging before twisting their hand until a sharp crack reached her ears. Shouting in pain, the person was shove aside and fell writhing.

“And that makes ten~!” she announced, happily clapping her hands.

By the time she paused, the docks were littered with the bodies of her dance partners. Jinx was quite sad by not having enough body to torture with. She is enjoying, and she can't have that happiness dissapear just yet.

She whipped her head around, and finally saw a lone Firelight standing near the edge of the ship with an owl mask decorated by splash of blood. But what annoyed Jinx was wasn't moving at all with their stupid weapon raised.

Jinx tilted her head. The grin on her face twitched, flickering between amusement and irritation. He was her height and age, maybe. With his posture and body built, Jinx could tell he was a man.

And suddenly, she a familiar tug in her gut. Her body tensed.

Quickly, she pushed that thought with a snort. “Well, what do we have here, Bird Boy? What’s the matter? Scared that big bad Jinx will clip your wings?”

Then person behind the mask still doesn't move, annoying Jinx more. Not able to wait any longer, she step closer with her gun spinning between her fingers.

"I swear I don't bite! You don't need to fear me. I am harmless. See!" Innocently, she spread her arms and gestured the lifeless body around her.

Still nothing.

Her smile vanished and sighed dramatically. “Fine. I’ll start.”

She lunged, gun flashing toward his chest. But the mad dodged fast at the last second. His baton snapped up and sparks bursted as it collided with her pistol. He stumbled on his feet but didn’t fall.

Her eyes lit up. "I like that!"

She attacked again, faster this time, laughing between each strike. He parried, barely keeping up, every hit driving him backward.

“Seriously?” she taunted, twisting her wrist and slamming her gun against his guard. “That’s your plan? Just stand there and take it?” She leaned close, their faces are barely an inch. "Pathethic!"

Jinx pressed her advantage further. movements quickening with every second had passed. Each strike she gave came sharper, faster and unpredictable. However, the boy manage to barely blocked them all.

He's good.

"You're not even trying, Bird Boy! Why are you even here?!"

Jinx saw the flicker hesitation in her eyes. But she could only care less. She swung her gun up, poiting it directly at his head.

“Say goodnight—!”

Her world spun out of the sudden without even her realizing why. A forced slammed into the lower part of her ribs, knocking the breath from her lungs as she was sent crashing on the other side of the ship. 

“What the—?!” Jinx hissed, clutching her stomach as the hot pain flared though her body. She looked up, snarling, only to see the Firelight leader standing between them and the boy. "Did I say you're included in the game?! It was only us playing!"

The leader completely ignored her as they turned to the boy. “Get to safety. Now.”

The boy hesitated, his masked face turning toward her for one second before nodding and run to where his hoverboard.

When the leader made sure the boy managed to get away, they face Jinx fully. “This isn’t the end, Jinx," they said with anger and destain in their voice. “You’ve taken too many lives. Next time, I’ll put your head on a platter myself… and gift it to your precious father."

Jinx let out a strangled laugh before coughing hard, blood instantly smeared her lips. She pressed a hand to her stomach, wincing at the deep ache where their kick had landed. Fuck this man; how could he kick someone as little as her?

“Oh, that’s cute,” she rasped, glaring up at them before laughing mockingly. “If you’d actually fought with your people instead of hiding behind them, maybe they’d still be breathing, huh? S-Stupid motherfucker.” Her voice cracked, but her grin didn't falter.

The leader said nothing with her insult, but she knew very well she hit that fuckass in the gut. The person turned their back at her and mounted their hoverboard. And not so long after, they soarned into the air and dissapear intol the peeking light of the sun as it began to rise.

And that's how the battle ended.

Jinx remained where she’d fallen, staring after them. The docks were quiet now, only the faint hiss of dying flames filling the air. Pale light spilled across the ship, cathing the casualty.

Biting her lips, she slowly lay back againt the deck. Chest having and one hand instinctively pressing to her aching abdomen. 

“Guess my problem just solved itself,” she muttered under her breath, eyes unfocused in the sky above. "A toast!"

Chapter Text

His grip on his weapon tightened further until it hurt holding it. Every part of his being screamed to move, to fight, to stop her and helped his friends, but his body refused to fucking listen.

His longing gaze only locked on her. On his Powder.

No... she's not Powder anymore. But Jinx.

The little girl he'd once known. The little girl who easily used to cry when being teased by her brothers about her inventions. The little girl who always laughed at his corny jokes, and the little girl he'd once loved... was gone.

What standing before him now wasn't her. It was Jinx.

Oh, how he truly missed that little girl, and wished to have her back.

But she was far more different now. Jinx moved like a chaos itself. SHe was wild, unpredictable, and most of all, terrifying.

Firelights fell one after another, unable to keep up with her, as she laughed menancingly and without remorse. Nothing like the soft, breathless giggle Ekko remembered before. 

As he kept looking at her, his heart breaks further and further. Her wanted to move, not to fight, but to reached for her. To stop her and shake her out of his madness.

His feet took a cautious steps back when her blue eyes, those same blue eyes that he loved staring at and be drown by all emotions dancing around them, found him the moment she was done finishing his friends.

For a moment, as their eyes locked, Ekko saw a flicker of recognition on them. His heart quickly made a jump in his chest. Did she knew? Could she tell who I was beneath my mask? The though alone made his pulse crazy, pounding loudly in his ears.

Is she realized, if she knew, Ekko didn't know what would happen. But deep inside him, at the back of his mind, thought that it would wake something in her. That mayve she'd remember that she still had someone... someone who hadn't turned his ack on her, and someone who would still open his arms if she just reached out.

But then, just as quickly, it was gone. The spark he saw in her eyes that almost felt like Powder flickered out, and replaved by that wild, unhinged glint that now belonged to JInx. The small hope died with it, leaving him small and broken under the white light of the dying moon.

The thought was absurb and ridiculous even! He should've known. Jinx jist slaughtered haft of the people he'd sworn to protect! There was no coming back from that. No remdemption, and no happy reuniun between them.

"Well, what do we have her, Bird Boy? What's the matter? Scared that big bad Jinx will clip your wings?"

Ekko watched her close in, spinning her gun just to bait her silence. Still, he doen't move nor spoke, which clearly, pissed her off to her limit. And that somewhat pleased him. She was still the same girl who easily get annoyed with even with small things.

However, that feeling instantly faded the moment she flashed her weapon straight to his chest. He met the strike with his own weapon, sparks flying between them as metal meet metal.

He staggered from the impact, but didn't fall. And her eyes lit up in a way that made his skin crawl.

"I like that!

She came at him again. Father and more unpredictable every movement this time. She was fast, but Ekko too. In every attack she made, he parried and blocked them a step at a time.

What Ekko thought that he was winning, not until her weapon was already pointing directly in between his eyes. All because he hesitate to strike her for a fucking moment.

Ekko hesitated once more, glancing back at Jinx with pity in his eyes before bolting for his board and vanished into the fog

He wanted to say something. He wanted to shout her name, "Powder!!" and tell her to stop, to come back, to remember who she was. But the words stuck in his throat, choking him.

She's gone Ekko. She's not Powder. She died on that day, remember? Don't be a naive, even just for once in your life!

A bitter smile slipped out of him, his lips trembling, as tears gathering stung at the corner of his eyes. He had failed her. He had failed to sabe her from this broken world... and from herself.

The memorey came unbidden he stored from the deepest part of himself. It had been few days after the said news of the explosion of Silco's hideout. It was also the day everything went to shit.

Vi was gone, or maybe dead. Vander, Mylo, and Claggor were death. And Powder she.... she had vanished without any trace.

Ekko had searched for her in desperation through the every streets of Undercity like a madman. Every place, every ally, every possible abbandoned buildings — he had scoured them all. 

He’d asked everyone who might’ve seen her, but the answers were always the same: empty stares, shaking heads, and muttered “Sorry, kid. Never seen that face.”

And as the weeks passed, and his searched for her became a ritual of pain, a cruel thought began to creep in.

What if she's already dead?

That question haunted him every night, twisting his gut and heart, making it hard to breathe and function back properly. Ekko pictured her weak, small body being crushed under the big rubble, her bright eyes went dimmed forever.

That thought alone made him sick.

But the other possibiity was there too. That she wasn't dead... That Powder was alive. Out there somewhere, scared and alone. He woudn't just assumed that she was dead without seeing her body.

So Ekko kept searching, even when hope felt like a thread stretched too thin, even when it felt like he was chasing shadows. Because if there was even the smallest chance that she was out there, he had to find her.

She was family. His only family, and family shouldn't stop looking.

And then, one night, he finally did.

She was alive!

Powder was itting by the docks with her knees pulled tightly againts her chest and staring out at the dark water. The wind off the river tucker her barid hair, but she didn't seem to feel it.

She looked so small, smaller than Ekko remembered, very different at the same time. Her eyes were swollen and red, her cheeks was strained with dirth and tears. And in her hand, she held something he almost didn't recognize by its look. It was a monkey toy she always carry before that now became dented and blackened with soot.

"P-Powder," he whispered, laughing of relief before his shoulder sagging with the weight of weeks searching for her and now she's here. He wanted to run to her, to grab her, to hug her tight, and tell her it was over, that she wasn’t alone anymore. Instead, he took a slow, careful step forward.

“Psst… Powder.”

But she didn't move an inch. Powder was still sitting on the same spot and stare at he same river. The monkey toy clinked softly in her hands, with its broken cymbals tapping together every now and then, making it too eerie in silence.

His smile faltered. “Powder?” he tried again, louder this time.

Still nothing.

The air felt heavier somehow. Ekko’s stomach turned as he glanced around, half-expecting someone else to be there that would make sense why she was acting this way. But the pier was empty, and its just Powder and him.

So, why??

He gripped his staff tighter and took another step closer. “Hey… it’s me,” he said softly, his voice low and careful, like he was afraid he’d scare her off if he spoke too loud. “It’s Ekko. You’re safe now, okay? You’re safe.”

Still nothing. No reaction or flicker of recognition. What's happening to her?

Something was wrong. Terribly, painfully wrong.

Deciding to take things further, Ekko reached out hesitatingly, hand thrembling as it hovered over her shoulder. And the moment the tip of his finger touched her sleeve, Powder flinched violently,

Her whole body jecked back like she'd been burned at finally snapped to his with her wide, teary eyes. And the moment their gaze finally locked, it felt like they didn't know each other. Like they were complete stranger with no memories in the past.

Still, Ekko smiled at her. "I finally found you, Powder."

"E... E-Ekko? Is that really you?" her lips quivered, clutching her croken toy closer to her chest.

“Yeah, it’s me!" He nodded, hope flooding back into his chest. “I looked everywhere for you. But you don't need to worry now. I'm here. You're safe, okay?"

Powder didn't smile, not even a little. And that put off the small hope he had.  Her gaze dropped to her ruined toy, fingers trembling as she turned it over her hands. 

She stood before him now, small yet towering in a way that made Ekko’s heart twisted painfully. With their eyes locked, he could see how her eyes were cold and empty.

“I am home, Ekko,” she said, her voice eerily calm. “We don’t need you.”

The words hit him like he was stabbed wih a knife mutiple times and for the last one twisting until he bled to death. His throat tightened as he shook his head, desperate to understand.

“W-What are you talking about, Powder? Powder, you—” He paused, his eyes widening. “Who’s ‘we,’ Powder?”

She looked down at him again, and slowly smile,  stretching too wide. her blue eyes glinting with madness and felt so wrong that made Ekko's blood run cold.

Her breathing quickened, her head jerking slightly to the side as if listening to something he couldn’t hear. Her lips parted, but no words came out, only the faintest, broken sound.

Powder’s dead,” she said sweetly. “I killed her.”

Ekko froze, feeling the world around him stopped spinning.

“Powder, stop. Stop messing around, please,” he whispered, forcing a shaky laugh that sounded more like a sob. “You’re just… you’re just tired, okay? Let’s go home. Or—or we can grab food from Jericho’s, yeah? Your favorite?” He smiled weakly, voice trembling. “You’re just hungry, that’s all. You just—”

He cower when she stepped closed, her hand snapping up to grab his jaw. Her nails dug into his skin as she yanked him toward her. Their faces were inches apart, close enough for him to see who she really was now. The Powder, he knew, would never do this to him. But Ekko was too stubborn to understand.

“I’m not Powder,” she whispered, every word dripping venom. “I. Am. Jinx.”

Ekko’s breath caught, the sound breaking in his throat.

“And Silco,” she added, her tone colder now, crueler, “is my family. Not you, Ekko.”

Something inside him shattered. his vision blurred as tears welled in his eyes, his chest aching so hard it hurt to breathe.

“No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “No, you’re wrong. You’re still Powder. You’re still—”

But before he could finish, she shoved him back hard. He stumbled, nearly falling, but he found his footing. That was it. The final blow.

His heart pounded in his ears as he staggered upright, staring at Powd— no, its Jinx now, one last time. Then, with a sound caught somewhere between a gasp and a sob, he turned and ran.

Ran from the docks.

Ran from the girl he’d once called family.

Ran from the truth he couldn’t bear to face.

“Say goodnight—!”

Jinx dissapeared in his vision as her voice snapped him out of his thoughts. His head jerked up, and for for a split second, the world seemed to stand still. Her silhouette glowed in the blaze behind her, the flames dancing around her like a crown. The barrel of her gun gleamed under the light as it was aimed sqaurely at his head.

Shit, I lost focus!

Ekko barely had time to register the moment. His heart pounded as he saw her finger tighten on the trigger, the deadly inevitability of what was about to happen sinking in.

This was it.

And strangely, the fear never came. Instead, a calm feeling settled over him. His thoughts slowed, drifting away from the gun, the fire, the pain, and toward everything that had led him here.

He thought of the Firelights. Their laughter, their strength, the family they’d built from the ruins of Zaun. The kids they’d saved, the lives they’d rebuilt, the hope they’d fought for. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. It mattered.

We did good, he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. I did good.

Then another face came to him, it was Benzo. Ekko could almost see him standing just beyond the flames, arms crossed, wearing that same smug grin that always made Ekko roll his eyes.

“’Bout time you showed up, kid,” Benzo’s voice echoed in his head, warm and teasing. “Always knew you’d make it here eventually. Guess you’re not late this time.”

A quiet laugh escaped him. Ekko could imagine Benzo throwing his arms around his shoulders, laughing that deep, reassuring laugh, waiting to welcome him to whatever lay beyond this life.

Yeah, maybe this wasn’t such a bad way to go. Not if Benzo was waiting on the other side.

He closed his eyes, the world narrowing to the sound of his steady heartbeat and waiting for the faint clink of a gun about to fire.

But then...

Before Jinx could pull the trigger, a force slammed into her side and sent her flying across the deck. The shot was never fired as her gun clattered to the floor.

Ekko’s breath caught as he blinked through the haze, trying to make sense of what had just happened. When his eyes focused, he saw the figure standing between him and Jinx.

“Get to safety. Now," their leader ordered in full authority, leaving no room for arguement.

Ekko hesitated once more, chest rising and falling rapidly as he looked past the leader to where Jinx lay. She was on her side, gasping, her face twisted in pain. One arm clutched her abdomen tightly, the other braced against the blood-stained deck.

Yet despite everything. Despite her killing all his people, Ekko felt something being twisted inside him. Anger burned hot in his chest, but beneath it was a faint, unwelcome pity to her. And Ekko hate himself for it.

His hands tightened around his weapon. Don’t, he told himself. Don’t go to her. Don’t you dare.

He tore his gaze away and ran. But as he leapt onto his hoverboard and sped into the fog, he couldn’t help glancing back one last time.

⨲⨲⨲

"What was that, Ekko?!"

Ekko sat on the edge of a crate, his head low, fingers gripping the weapon resting across his lap. Cold sweat still clung to his skin, his pulse quickened as the memory of him being frozen with a gun on his head.

“Are you even listening to me?!”

Tessa's voice came again, louder this time making his head snapped up to meet his glare. She was standing few paces away, arms crossed tightly over her chest. And now without his mask, he couldfreely see the dissapoinment and anger in her eyes. Her silhouette loomed against the map of Zaun plastered on the wall behind her.

"Sorry," he muttered, lowering his gaze back. He coudn't bare looking straight at her for so long.

“You could’ve died, Ekko. Do you get that? Do you understand what would’ve happened if I hadn’t kicked that bitch away?”

He fell into silence, jaw tightening. He coudn't argur because Tessa was right.

“She had you dead to rights, and you just… froze,” Tessa went on, pacing the floor with measured steps. “You’re supposed to be our next leader. The example these kids look up to! What do you think would’ve happened if you hadn’t made it back? What kind of message would that send?”

“I know,” Ekko muttered, barely lifting his voice.

“Do you?” she snapped, turning to face him again. “Because it sure as hell didn’t look like it out there!”

His grip on the weapon tightened, feeling the frustration to himself that had been simmering and finally slipped out.

“I said I know, Tessa!”

The room fell silent for a moment. Ekko dropped his gaze again, shame twisting in his chest. Talking back to his commanding officer wasn't something that got brushed off easily. It didn't matter if he would be the next one. Right now, he was just a mere member. And in this groupd, disrespecting the higher command was close to unforgivable. And if she wanted to, Tessa could take that title awa from him in an instant. There were other Firelights who could step up for the role, like Scar. The one thing that separate him from them was that Ekko was just better.

"I'm sorry for my sudden outburst. I wasn't thinking straight."

He heard the woman sighed through her nose, gaze lingering on him. She was silent for a minute, and when she spoke, her voice was now slighty gentle." You cannot let her feel you like that, Ekko. You freeze once, it's instinct. You freese twice, and it's a death sentence. And I'm not losing you over her? You hear me?"

Ekko nodded, eyes still downcast. "Thank you for today, Tessa. I owe my life from you."

“When you’re ready,” she said, stepping closer and resting a hand on his shoulder. “we'll need to arrange a funeral for them. They deserve that much… especially after tonight.”

He swallowed hard and nodded. Tessa gave his shoulder a firm squeeze before straightening.

“Get some rest,” she added, her tone gentler now. “You’ll need it.”

And with that, she turned and headed for the door. The faint creak of the hinges echoed through the small room before the sound of her footsteps faded down the hall.

Ekko sat there for a long moment, staring down at his staff, looking at his bent and distorted reflection in the metal part.

Later that night, beneath the single bulb, he lay on his narrow bed, starring at the ceiling as his mind woudn't stop replying the things that happened in the memorial.H e could still see the solemn and anger from their faces as they stood in front of the painted faces on their fallen comrade. He could still hear the cries of their love ones as they laid their things down as a symbol of them.

Ekko turned onto his side, pressing his face into the thin pillow as his chest tightened. The grief was familiar now, but it never hurt less.

When he still coudn't sleep. he let out a frustrated sigh and swung his legs over the side of his bed and sat up. The cold floor prickled againts as he stood, crossing to his small kitchen to drink a water. The trickle of water was the only thing that kept the silence from feeling suffocating. And as he lifted the glass to his lips, the fight replayed in his mind, specifically her and felt a sudden surged of anger.

Abruptly, an idea slipped through him. Now that she's weak, maybe this is the chance to end her

Ekko imagined it briefly. With Jinx is finally gone, Silco would be weaker, and his hold in the undercity would wear out since Jinx is his strenght. Without her as his weapon, maybe they could strike at Silco himself and finally free the Undercity from his hold. 

But even in the anger he felt, with the imagine of her being dead, something else tightened in his chest that he quickly shoved away. But her pained face keeps flashing in his mind. His grip tightened around the glass as tried to pushed that away, but it keeps coming back.

Her pained face. He could almost hear her ragged breathing, the way it hitched as if she were choking on her own pain. 

"Stop," he told himself, but the imagine woudn't quit.

Frustrated, he slammed his hand against the counter, chest heaving. It is the right thing, Ekko. She's not Powder anymore.

Without another thought, he yanked his old jacket from the back of a chair and shrugged it on. He didn't bother to think about what he was about to do, or how it may endanger his life. This was the only way.

Ekko managed to sneaked out of the base without alerting the night patrol. The moment he slipped out from one of their hidden passageway, the familiar syneched of zaun hit him instantly. And despite the late hour, the city was never truly asleep with drunk people slumping agints the wall, girl leaning out from the brothel's door, calling for their next costumer, and the children sleeping on the sideways.

These things are one of the most common things in this place. It never changed.

He just kept walking cautiously until Silco's place came into his view. The sight of The Last Drop somewhat pulled a happy memories of his past. This place had been his second home, filled with people he truly loved. It was warm and welcoming. And now, that warmth was gone. It no longer the home he used to know.

Ekko wait around the shadows as his gaze fixed to the guarded front entrance. And in this situation, there was no way he could walk through that door and live still alive. He needs some other way to get inside without Silco noticing.

His eyes flicked upward, tracing the shape of the rooftop outlined against polluted sky. He took a deep breath and gripped his hoaverboard. Determined, he kicked off the ground and launched himsef into the air, still in the shadows.

The moment he reached the rooftop and hit the rafter with a roll, his eyes sweep for any signs of life, and when he made sure it was safe, he started moving quietly.

The metal door stood a little ajar, and it was a stupid, small thing, but it felt like a gift for him. Ekko was about to slip toward it when a sound, a faint scrape of someone lossing balance, reached his ears. He whipped his head up to the direction and nearly had a heart attack.

“Pow— Jinx!” he yelled before he could stop himself.

On the edge of the roof she stood, hands lifted, eyes shut as though she’d been balancing on the wind, was Jinx. And when she heard her name, she turned to him with suprise across her face and immediately replaced by annoyance.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Ekko coudn't answer because the whole damn reason he's here was to kill her. That had been his plan, to sneak in, finish her, and end everything before more people got hurt. That was why he was here

So why had he stopped her when she was about to take the matter on her hand? Why did his heart nearly stop when he saw her standing there, ready to jump?

When he didn't answer, Jinx's eyes narrowed and stepped back further from the edge, her hands curling into fists as she glared at him, and that nearly killed Ekko.

“Hey— stop!!” he blurted, taking a little step forward, his hands raised. “I’m… I’m just—just here to see you, J-Jinx.”

“To see me?” she repeated, tilting her head. “For what reason, Ekko?”

“Just making sure you’re fine,” Ekko said. “That’s all. So please… step away from the edge. I just wanted to talk to you. Like... like a friend.”

Her glare at him hardened before flickering it down to his hoverboard, then back up. She let out a humorless laugh. “Didn’t know you were a Firelight now. How amazing.” She scoffed, turning her back to him, shoulders tense. “Go home, Ekko. I don’t feel like fighting you tonight.”

“Can you at least look at me… Powder?”

Jinx felt like she was slapped across her cheeks. She was paralyzed for a moment before slowly turning back to face her old friend. Her hands twitched, her fingers flexing as if reaching for a weapon.

“Don’t,” she hissed. “Don’t call me that.”

“But it’s who you are,” he said softly, almost pleading now. “You’re Powder. You’re my friend.” Ekko wasn't sure why he said that because they are not. Not after everything, and not after her killing his friends.

Completely pissed off, Jinx finally stepped of the edge, walking straight at him with her gun already drawn, pointing it directly at his chest. Ekko quickly put down his staff and raised his hands slowly.

"Easy now. Easy..."

"Go away now, Ekko. Or your blood will rain over this place."

His heart was now beating loudly, but he didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on her own despite the threat in her voice.

“One.”

Ekko’s breath hitched, but he remained where he stood.

“Two.”

Her finger trembled on the trigger; quivering the gun against his clothes. Then before “three” could fall from her lips, Ekko moved, stepping close and wrapped his arms around her.

She went rigid in an instant, the barrel still grazing his sternum before slacking and sagged to her side. She was shaking, but he held her tighter.

Chapter Text

Jinx’s chest rose and fell sharply, pain flaring in her abdomen in every breathe she take. Blood streaked the corner of her mouth, which she quickly wiped with the back of her hand, wincing. 

“Jinx! Let’s get you up—” one of Silco’s goons said, rushing forward, worried because they knew very well that is something had happened to her, it would be heads being detached by their body. 

“Fuck off,” she snapped, swatting his hand away.

Another tried to help, and she hissed, “I said don’t touch me!” Her glare made them both back off instantly. 

Jinx gritted her teeth as she propped herself up, leaning against a crate for support. Her hand pressed against her throbbing abdomen to where the kicked had landed. It hurts like hell! 

Her swirling vision flickered to the damaged shimmers, then up towards the rising sun over the rooftop. She raised her hand to shield her eyes against the blazing, when suddenly, a huge shadow blocked the light. 

“Looks like you’re hurt,” came a familiar, gruff voice.

Jinx groaned, rolling her eyes, before dropping her hand to her side. “Oh, great. Sevika. I am perfectly fine. Gee,” she said with full of sarcasm. 

The woman paused, thinking, before shifting on her feet as her gaze swept towards Jinx's state, eyes lingering to the hand on her abdomen. 

“No, you’re hurt. I can't even paint the face you're making,” she said flatly, nodding to her side. 

Jinx let out a dramatic sigh, flopping her head back in exasperation. This ogre is such a slow poke! She don't even know how to fucking paint! 

When she didn't answer, Sevika shifted on her feet and crouched slightly. “I’ll carry you.”

“What? No!” Jinx's eyes widened, instinctively scooting backward to get away from the woman, only to realize there was no more space. “Get the hell away from me, Sevika! ” She tried to stand but nearly collapse again. 

Sevika arched her eyebrow at her before hoisting Jinx up and slung her over her broad shoulder like a weightless sack of potato. 

“Put me down, you big metal freak!” Jinx yelled, pounding weakly against her back. “I can walk! I can crawl if I have to, just let me fucking go!”

“Be quiet, kid,” Sevika muttered, starting to walk. “You’re lucky I don’t toss you in a shimmer crate and roll you home.”

Defeated, Jinx groaned let her carry her in an embarrassing way because she knew this crazy woman would do what she had told her. 

She was slouching on thd couch, one arm wrapped protectively around her sore body, eyes fixed on the far wall, and mind drifting somewhere. It was only the faint sound of the glass clinking together that brought her back to the present. Across the room, Silco and Sevika stood near his desk with each drink in hand. 

“To a flawless execution,” Silco said smoothly, that familiar rasp of his voice curling into satisfaction.

Sevika smirked and raised her drink. “And to keeping the Firelights running in circles,” she replied before emptying the glass. 

They looked pleased. Who wouldn't be? The shipment the Firelights had fought so hard to destroy hadn’t even been real, but a bait. The real shimmer shipment was safely delivered, and the trap had worked perfectly. Hence the small celebration they are having. 

"Daughter?" 

Jinx turned her head when her name was called, and the moment their gaze met, she almost combust as he was looking at her intently. She instantly get conscious on her situation because there's no way he knew about her secret in simply just looking. 

"Y-Yes, Silco?" Jinx wanted to slapped herself when her voice sluttered. 

"Are you quite well? You've been staring on that wall. Is there something I need to worry of?" 

Jinx blinked, her fingers tightening around her stomach. “I’m fine, Silco. You worry to much, ” she muttered, forcing her tone to sound flat and empty.

Silco frowned slightly but didn’t push. “Alright then. I just must say that you did well in your mission, as always, Jinx. You made me proud.”

Her fingers twitched at his words. She glanced at Sevika, annoying her, and caught the faint roll of her eyes before looking back at Silco. Mission successful! 

He gestured to the desk. “Join us for a toast?”

Jinx hesitated. For a second, she thought about getting up, grabbing a glass, pretending everything was fine, but her body ached too much to play along. She forced a small smirk. “I’m fourteen, old man. Still can’t drink, remember?”

Sevika snorted. “Didn’t stop you before.”

Jinx shot her a glare but let it slide. She pushed herself off the couch, wincing at the movement. “I’m gonna rest,” she muttered. “I’ll use the room here.”

Silco had renovated her room to match her style just to make her feel at home, but no matter how good it was, it didn't feel like it for Jinx. The memories tied in every corner of this place had never brought her comfort, only nightmare that she couldn't silence. 

Still, it was close walk than her hideout, and right now, with every step sending a sharp pain through her abdomen, that was enough. It was easier to drag herself there than limp all the way back to her own place.

“Are you sure you’re fine?” Silco asked, his tone dropping lower. He set his glass down and took a step toward her. “If you’re hurt, I can call the doctor to—”

“No!” The word came out from her was to loud for her liking, making it looked like she was hiding something, which clearly she was.

Silco and Sevika both looked at her, startled. Realizing how sharp she sounded, Jinx forced a crooked grin, waving her hands. “I mean— no thanks. I’m fine! Totally fine! Just a little tired, that’s all.” She kept smiling, backing toward the hall. “Just need some rest. Nothing to worry about.”

Before either of them could say another word, she turned and hurried off. Once the door closed behind her, her smile fell away. Leaning against the wall, she let out a shaky breath

The moment she finally reached her room, she dragged herself toward the bed and collapsed onto the bed, first first, and groaned. Every inch of her body ached and dired, but her mind kept reeling on things. And when she could no longer breathe, she turned and lay on her back, staring up to the glowing stars embedded at her ceiling. She remembered Silco putting those on his own. 

Instinctively, her hand hovered over her stomach before resting there gently. Her fingers traced slow, absent circles over the fabric of her shirt and felt the pain. She replayed the moment she took the kicked and her body hitting the deck hard. She hadn't thought about it, still too caught to the adrenaline and tension. But now in the silence, the worry began to creep in. 

“You still in there, bud?” she murmured softly, her wide eyes flicking down to her flat stomach and poked it lightly when it didn't answer back, but only the dull ache that refused to fade. “Not a fan of getting kicked, huh? Because same,” she whispered, smiling. 

Then, abruptly, her smile faded when a cold thought crawled into her mind. What if the kick had done something wrong? What if it was gone? The idea hit her so hard it made her difficult to breathe properly, which is so utterly maddening because just weeks ago, Jinx wanted it gone. She'd wished for it to vanish, to let her be free of the reminded of everything she didn't want to face. She'd begged the universe to make it dissappear before it could grow further into something worse. 

And now, here she was, terrified it might be gone. 

“What the hell is wrong with me?” she whispered, turning to her side and pulled her knees close to her chest. 

"Do you know that I hate you? I haven't even seen you yet, but you're already not listening to your Ma—” she caught herself, swallowing hard, “—me.” Her hand kept moving in circles over her stomach as she talked to it. She heard somewhere that talking to it was supposed to be good for their development, and Jinx thinks that she was crazy enough to believe that shit. 

For a moment she was quiet, lost in a small rise and fall beneath her palm. Then, with a shaky laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she whispered, “You’ve been a pain since the start, you know that? So a little kick wouldn’t kill you, right?”

Realizing how stupid she sound like, sJinx let out a bitter sigh and slammed her hand lightly against the bed frame. “Why do I even care? You’re not… you’re not supposed to matter. Not to me.”

“Killer. Killer. Killer.”

Jinx groaned painfully when Mylo's voice hissed loudly in her ear. She buried her face into the pillow to at least lessen the noise, but it was no use at all. “Stop it, Mylo,” she muttered, exhausted. “I don’t have the energy for your games right now. Go bother me some other time.”

There was temporary silence before his annoying voice came back in. 

“Shut up, Mylo. Please,” she muttered, her jaw tightening, fingers digging into her side.

“Killer! Killer! A jinx! Jinx! Jin—”

Then suddenly, his voice stopped when Jinx felt a faint nudge on her palm. She froze, eyes opening slightly as she looked down to her stomach. And there it was again! A small, gentle kick!

Her breath hitched, and she sat up too fast, wincing as pain shot through her abdomen. As her hear beats loudly in disbelief, she gently pressed both her hand against the spot, waiting for it to move again. 

Go on... Mama's waiting. 

Unfurtunately, nothing follows after that, but Jinx was glad, feeling her chest loosed with relief. Tears stung her eyes as she laughed softly, yet sounding like a cry. 

“Was that… you?” she whispered. “You’re alive,” she breathed, smiling through the blur. “You’re really okay, huh? Little Kicker.”

“Who are you talking to right now, Jinx?”

The warmth drained from her face instantly. Body went rigit and head snapping toward the door where Sevika was leaning against the frame with her arms crossed, looking intently at her. The fragile moment she shared with the life inside her instantly shattered when Jinx realize the possibility of Sevika knowing her secret. 

Her hands flew away from her body as if she burned, scrambling to her feet and almost tripped. 

“S-Sevika?” she stammered, her voice trembling. “What are you doing here?” How can she never heard her or felt her presence at all?

Sevika pushed off the doorframe and took a few steps forward, her boots heavy against the floor. “I asked you first,” she said coolly. “But fine, I'll play along. Silco sent me to check on you. He’s worried.” Her gaze hardened. “There. Now answer mine.”

She stopped a few paces from Jinx, her eyes narrowing slightly before it traveled down to her abdomen. “Who were you talking to… and why were you holding your stomach like that?”

Jinx couldn't move at all, mouth opening and closing as she scrambled for words. Shaking, she clenched her hands at her sides as her mind think for any way that didn't sound like a lie. 

“I— I wasn’t talking to anyone,” she blurted out too quickly, eyes darting around. “What do you mean touching my stomach? I was just…” She stopped, her hand twitching, tempted to reach up and touch it again. 

Sevika’s brow arched, her stare was sharp as if she could read her inside and out, and that scared the hell out of Jinx. “Don’t lie to me, kid,” she said quietly but with force. 

“I’m not lying!” Jinx snapped, folding her arms across her chest. “I was just… thinking out loud, alright? Is that illegal now?”

Brat, Sevika thought as she studied her. Her gray eyes was sharp as she tried to piece the puzzle in front of her. Then, slowly, her expression shifted as her thoughts clicked into place. 

“Right,” she said finally, nodding with a small sly smile on her lips that made Jinx's chest tighten. After another brief look, she quickly turned away and started walking toward the door. 

Jinx's head snapped to the side of the room where a shadow lounge on the edge of the bedside table, elbow on knee and smirking. “She’s gonna rat you out. That woman will tell Silco. When he finds out… oh, it won’t be pretty, Jinx,” Mylo sneered. 

Her breath hitched in panic. The pounding of her chest grew louder and louder as she watched Sevika's back retreating toward the door, and without second thought, Jinx langed and grabbed her on her good arm. 

“Don’t tell Silco. Please, don’t.”

The woman paused momentarily before turning at her with a flat and unreadable expression. Jinx held her breath as the silence stretched between them, holding Sevika's arm tight and looked her with her blue, wide eyes, pleading. 

“I-I mean it, Sevika,” she stammered. “You can’t tell him. You just can't! ”

Sevika let out a short, bitter laugh. She stepped closer, face hard. “You’re with child, aren’t you?” she said bluntly. “Don’t bother denying it. It’s written all over your face.”

Jinx couldn't dare to answer that very question. Her hands went lip and slide from Sevika's arm and fell helplessly at her sides, shaking. 

“Guess it's true then. I thought you were just being your usual crazy, but no. It’s worse.” Her eyes dropped to Jinx’s stomach, then back up with a sneer and leaned closer. “You better hope he hears it from you first. Because if I have to tell him…” She didn’t finish the sentence to scare Jinx more, which is working big time. 

Jinx’s jaw tightened, her nails biting into her palms as she glared up at Sevika. “You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed, trembling with rage. 

Sevika gave a short, humorless laugh, her metal arm flexing as she straightened to her full height. “Try me,” she said simply, turning on her heel, and before long, the door slammed shut behind her with a sharp sound. 

For a long moment, her body refused to moved. Ears still ringing by the sound of the door. Then, slowly, her hand drifted to her body and brushed over it. “She'll tell him…” she whispered. Her knees finally gave out, and she sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around herself as panic clawed at her chest. Her breathing came in short and shaky. Jinx was scared. So, so scared. 

“Told you so,” Mylo whispered by her ears, followed by laughing. 

“Shut up,” Jinx muttered, pressing her hands over her ears. “Please, Mylo. Please! Leave me alone.”

But Mylo kept bugging her, his laughed echoed and multipled before it bounced of the walls until it was all she could hear. The room felt smaller and the air thick with every second passed, making it soffocating for her part. 

Unable to endure the sensation, Jinx quickly stumbled to her feet, clutching her head as her eyes darted to the door.  She needed to get out. She needed air. She needed space before she broke completely. 

Jinx snatched her coat from the chair and stormed out of the door. The corridors outside were quiet, making her every sted echo. Good. No one would stop her this time. 

Her feet move fast, mind blurring, until she finally reached the stairs leading to the rooftop. The moment she shoved open the heavy metal door, the cold night air smack her in the face, biting her skin. Jinx suncked in a deep breath. The air wasn't clean at all, but it was at least little enough to clear her raging mind. 

The wind tangled her hair, pulling at the loose strands as she walked to the edge of the building. Below her, the city of Zaun sprawled out on all its broken glory, lights blinking. 

Finally, her breathing goes back to normal. She hugged her arms around her body, and let the familiar noise below drown the voices nothering in her head. 

“We are fucked up, y’know,” she talked to it, watching the people below. “Big time.” 

She took a slow breath and closed her eyes. The wind howled around her, whipping her hair into her face and tugging at her coat. Without thinking, she opened her arms wide, letting the cold gusts hit her full-on, making her feel like flying freely. And by doing so, her boot scraped against the metal edge, the sudden slip jolting her back to reality. She gasped, arms flailing slightly before she caught her balance again. 

“Whoops! ” she let out a shaky laugh. 

“Pow— Jinx!”

She instantly opened her eyes, body went rigid, when she heard her wrong name, the one she didn't want to hear ever again, and turned sharply toward the voice. 

Little Man?? Of course it was him. Who would dare to still call her with that name the that man? Ekko was standing a few steps away from her, acting like a ghost that didn't freaking know ehn to stay dead. Her heart made a little jump, though Jinx couldn't tell if it was from the surprise or whatever she don't want to name. 

“What the hell are you doing here?” she snapped, trying to sound annoyed instead of… well, something else. She didn’t want him to see the flicker of panic that had hit her first.

The man had the nerve to not answer he and just stand there, looking like a complete idiot. Jinx knows what he was currently thinking, it could be him saving her again like he said before. And that look made her chest twist, and she hate herself for reacting like that. 

When he didn’t speak, she took a step back, closer to the edge. Maybe just to see him flinch. 

“Hey— stop!” he said quickly, taking a step toward her, hands up like she was some fragile, cornered animal. 

And it worked! I'm such a genius, Jinx thought to herself. 

“I’m just… I’m just here to see you, J-Jinx,” he stammered.

She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “To see me?” she repeated, mocking him. “For what reason, Ekko?”

Inside, though, Jinx's pulse was pounding. Because she didn’t understand either. Why was he here? And why, after everything she’d done, did his voice still sound gentle like it used to before? She hate how her body respond to that. 

“Just making sure you’re fine,” he said. “That’s all. So please… step away from the edge. I just wanted to talk to you. Like... like a friend.”

Friend? The word echoed through her mind and made something twist in her chest. Her eyes flicked to his hoverboard, then back to him, and she let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Didn’t know you were a Firelight now. How amazing.” She turned away, not wanting him to see her face. “Go home, Ekko. I don’t feel like fighting you tonight.”

“Can you at least look at me… Powder?”

That name again. Clenching her jaw, she slowly turned to face him, hand twitching to her weapon as anger boiled up under her skin. She wanted to shoot him straight to his head and end it all. 

“Don’t,” she spat. “Don’t call me that.”

But Ekko never listen. He never know ehn to to fucking stop. 

“But it’s who you are,” he said softly. “You’re Powder. You’re my friend.”

Friend. Again with that fucking word. Unable to hold it together and pissed off, she finally move away from the edge like he wished for, stepping forward to his direction, and drew her gun in one swift motion, pointing it right at his chest. 

"Easy now. Easy..."

“Go away now, Ekko. Or your blood's gonna rain all over this place.” Her voice was cold, but it doesn't erased how her finger shook slightly on the trigger. She doesn't wanna kill him. 

“One.” Her throat tightens, breath shaky as she felt the weight of the gun and the heat of it in her palm. She can do it. I can do it! 

“Two.”

The barrel quivers against his shirt. Jinx was still looking at his face, eyes narrowing to the bead of sweat at his temple and the shallow rise of his chest. He was scared. Jinx could see it the way his jaw tightens, in how his throat moves when he swallow. But beneath that fear, they're something else that cuts deeper. 

Longing... 

The kind of look that says he still sees her. The kind of look that wants to believe that she's the same girl he once knew before. And that make her chest painfully because she had seen that face before. 

The same pleading and desperate look flashing in his eyes right after she'd slapped him. Right after when he looked back at her, it was with that same expression. 

Her hand felt numb around the gun. She wanted to hate him and pull the trigger to end it all, but all she could see was the same boy from her memories. The same boy whp used to laugh with her. The same boy who used to reach out his hand every time she fell. 

Jinx's grip slightly faltered. The ice in her fingers slowly spread to her chest and freezing her in place. 

Then, before she can say the three, Ekko moves and close their distance in one step, wrapping his arms around Jinx. 

Everything snaps. The gun still pressing to his chest, but only for a second, as the cold metal slides, and sags as her grip fails. Her muscle lock into place before is shook so hard Jinx wanted to scream and cry at the same time. It's been so long since someone hug her like this. 

"It's okay..." 

She breathes in his scent. The faint, familiar thing that twist something cruel and tended in her. For a short while, she hates him for still being alive, and hates herself more for letting him touch her. 

Oh, how much she missed him.

"It's okay..." 

“W-What are you doing?” Jinx muttered, hating how weak she sounded. 

Ekko's arms only tightened around her, chin feasting lightly atop her head. “Hmm? ” he hummed quietly, like he was trying to memorize the sound of her breathing. “Stopping you from killing me, I guess.” 

She tried to shoved him off, weakly at first, then harder, but it was all useless. His grip against her didn't even bulge. The warmth of his embrace was comforting, but it was also suffocating her. Jinx was a strong woman. She wasn't weak. Silco made sure of that. But right now, in his arms, she didn't feel like it. You'd be the death of me, Ekko! 

“Let go of me, Ekko!!” she demanded. “I’m not Powder! She’s gone! She’s dead!”

She could feel how his breath hitched. Good! But he didn't move away. “You’re still here,” he whispered, his words warm against her ear.

Her throat burned on how soft his voice was, but Jinx quickly shove that feeling away. “No,” she said again, louder this time, and pushed him with trembling hands. “I’m Jinx! I’m—” Her words caught, swallowed by the sob that broke free before she could stop it. Her whole body trembled, the gun hanging uselessly in her hand now.

“Why are you doing this?” she choked out like a child. “Why won’t you just leave me alone?”

Why does he keep bringing things back? The name, the memories, everything with one look at her and it all made it impossible to forget. 

Jinx had buried Powder a long time ago. The sweet, inoccent cold who wanted to build things was already gone. Dead and rotting under the weight of all her mistake. And what left was her, Jinx. The killer. The monster that everyone feared. That was who she was now... Who she had to be. 

So why?... Why did he have to look at let like that? Why did he have to say her name in that way? Why did his arms around her make her feel like she still existed?

“Because deep down I know you’re still in there. And I’m not giving up on you.”

The words slammed into her like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe. She felt her body tremble, her knees weaken, the strength draining from her limbs. Luckily, his arms held her steadily, and that was enough to make her break apart. Unwanted tears spilled down Jinx's cheeks before she could stop them

“I hate you,” she whispered, her voice trembling as she gripped his jacket in her fists. “I hate you so much.”

She hated him. Hated how much she wanted to believe Ekko. But there no saving her. Not after what she'd done. Not after all the blood on her hands. There was no Powder to save. Only Jinx.

“I know,” Ekko murmured softly, his voice almost breaking. “…I know.”

She hated him for making her feel again. For reminding her of the past. For tearing open the wounds she had worked so hard to numb. There was no Powder to save. Only Jinx.

She was hugging her knees closer, chin resting on them as she stared blankly out over the Zaun. And for once, her silence wasn't filled with Mylo's taunting voice. Here she was sitting beside someone she'd spent years calling an enemy.  Ekko was sitting next to her, his posture loose but his eyes sharp, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Neither of them was spoke, silence stretching in between, but it wasn't awkward at all. 

“This place hasn’t changed much,” Ekko said finally, wary that she'd bolt iif his voice was too loud. 

“Hmmm, feels smaller,” she said, “Used to feel big when we were little.”

He smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. We used to cram everyone up here. Vi, Claggor, Mylo, you, me…” He paused, his voice softening. “You always stole the best spot.”

That got the smallest huff of air from her. “Mylo always said this was his spot.” She nodded toward the far section of the rooftop. “Said it had the perfect view.” Her lips twitched into a small, brittle smile. “Perfect view, my ass. He just liked being able to shove us off when he got bored.”

Ekko let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “Yeah… typical Mylo.”

The laughter faded as quickly as it came, and silence settled again. Both of them stared out into the city, pretending for just a for a short moment that nothing had changed. 

“I remember the last time we were all up here,” Ekko said quietly after a moment. “Vi brought those stale sandwiches she stole from the market. Claggor pretended to like them so she wouldn’t feel bad, yet almost choking trying to prove it.”

A small laugh escaped Jinx, muffled against her arms. “And Mylo wouldn’t shut up about how gross they were.”

Ekko smiled a little. “And you,” he added, glancing at her, “you spent the whole day running back and forth to the bathroom.” His smile turned into loud laugh. “That was hilarious.”

Jinx finally lifted her head slightly, resting her chin on her arms as she looked at him. Her eyes narrowed, but couldn't hide the small smile from the corner of her lips. "Fuck you, Ekko, for remembering them. Fuck. You."

Ekko laughed, leaning back with that familiar grin. “Oh, come on,” he teased. “You knew those sandwiches were bad, but you still had to take one more bite.”

She shot him a glare, though the corner of her mouth twitched. “I was hungry, you little shit.”

He chuckled. “That's why you got sick. I don’t know what was funnier, Mylo gagging over the smell or you swearing off those poor sandwiches. ”

Jinx groaned, hiding her face in her hands. “You’re such an asshole,” she muttered.

His laughter echoed for a second before fading. She peeked at him through her fingers and saw his eyes fixed on that old clock he always carried.

“Curfew hour for the Princess?” she asked, arching an eyebrow teasingly. “Gotta get home before the Firelights start worrying?”

Ekko gave her a small, sad smile and stood. “Yeah… guess so.”

She finally looked up there was a bitter smile on her face and gone almost as soon it appeared. “Well,” she said softly, forcing a bit of her usual crazy sound back into her voice, “it’s been nice talking to you... not as an enemy, Ekko.”

Time passed, yet Ekko didn’t move. He stood there, shoulders tense, eyes fixed on her like he was fighting himself inside. Then, finally, his voice came out softly and said, “Why don’t you come with me? Leave Silco… leave all of this. You deserve better, Jinx.”

Jinx blinked, staring at him in disbelief. For a second, she wondered if he’d lost his damn mind. Her? The killer who’d just blown up half his people hours ago? The one every Firelight wanted dead? Yeah, he was out of his mind.

Here he was again, looking at her desperately and trying to save her from Silco like a broken CD struck on repeat. 

“It’s a trap, Jinx. He’ll lead you to your end,” Mylo’s cold voice whispered in her ear. 

Jinx shook her head hard, pressing her palms against her temples. “And what?” she snapped, glaring up at Ekko. “Get killed by your friends?” She laughed sharply and broken. “I killed a lot of them earlier, you know. You should’ve seen it.” Her grin stretched too wide, eyes glinting with something wild. “Still think I deserve better now?”

Ekko flinched, his jaw tightening. For a moment, anger flashed in his eyes, but it softened into numerous of emotions, and one of them was pity. He crouched down, lowering himself to her level.

“I’ll talk to our leader,” he said quietly. “I’ll make her understand. Just… trust me, Jinx.”

“Liaaaar!!” 

Jinx’s fists trembled at her sides, her mind spinning with voices that wouldn't stop. She wanted to scream, to break something, but instead, she bit her tounge hard until she could taste her own blood. 

“Too bad,” she said, forcing the words out between clenched teeth. “That’s not gonna happen for the third time, Wonder Boy.” She looked away, curling in on herself, shoulders drawn tight. “Now go home,”

Ekko watched her for a moment, wanting to reached for her, but stopped himself. Still comtemplating, he straighted to his feet and took a slow step back. 

“We’ll never see each other like this again,” he said quietly. “The next time we meet… we’ll be enemies.”

Jinx didn’t turn around. Her eyes stayed fixed on the city lights below, her lips curling into a crooked, empty smile. “Can’t wait to finally kill you,” she said sarcastically, but the words tasting like ash.

Ekko’s chest ached, but he only nodded. He climbed onto his hoverboard, its low hum cutting through the silence.

“Goodbye, Jinx.”

There! He finally knew my name! she thought with a bitter smile as her eyes followed him glide away with his hoverboard. 

⨲⨲⨲

Ekko really meant what he said that night. He never show his ass even again. Not even once. Jinx never saw him on the streets, or even in the aftermath of the Firelights raids. It was like he'd dissappear completely, keeping his promise to stay away. 

And part of Jinx hated how much she noticed his absence. 

Every time a shadow moved too fast or the faint hum of a hoverboard echoed in the distance, her chest tightened, instantly following it with her gaze, only to realize it was in fact not him. Her own mind would trick her for second that it's him, but it never was. He really was gone. 

“Coward,” she muttered bitterly one night. But even she knew it was a lie. Ekko wasn’t a coward. He was too brave, too hopeful for his own good. Brave enough to believe she could still be saved.

His absence was supposed to be fine. It was fine. She didn’t need him or his stupid speeches or his stubborn, hopeful gaze. She didn’t need anyone. That’s what Jinx kept telling herself.

But as days bled into weeks, and weeks into months, her thoughts kept circling back to that night. Forget about him, Jinx. Just like how he forgot about you. That was the mantra she repeated every time his name tried to surface. What mattered now was Silco and her work. That's all! 

Speaking of her old man. Jinx was actually contemplating on showing her ass always to him like she used to. Afraid that he already knew the secret she'd been keeping for months.

But what shocked her the most was Silco never changed. He still acts the same with his short-tempered self and bossy ass. After that night, Jinx had expected for Sevika to spill the truth like snake she is. Jinx was fully prepared for his disapproving look, the cold words, and the speeches that would remind her that she owned him everything. 

Yet, nothing happened at all.  If anything, Silco seemed busier than ever. Sevika, though… Sevika was different.

That woman had always hated her. She never missed a chance to remind her how reckless, unstable, and impossible Jinx was. It was almost comforting, in a twisted way. That was just how things worked between them.

But lately… her those too had stopped. She knew the whole secret. She could just run to Silco, wave the truth in his face and watch Jinx burn. 

Unless…

The thought made Jinx’s stomach twist. Sevika didn’t keep secrets out of kindness. She was too smart, too cruel, too loyal to Silco for that. Her fingers twitched at her sides as her thoughts spun faster. Maybe Sevika was saving it. Waiting. Keeping it tucked away like a blade she’d pull when the time was right. And the worst part? Jinx couldn’t tell what she was waiting for. 

It started a few months back, on a night that was supposed to be like any other. Jinx was in her workshop, goggles on, grease on her hands, muttering nonsense to herself as she adjusted Fishbones’ launcher mechanism. The world around her was just the sound of metal and the music from her player, until something was smacked down her worktable. Jind nearly jumped out of her chair. 

Blinking, she looked down at the object and saw a paper bag. The smell of warm, rich, real food hit her before the confusion. Not the usual cold leftovers or scraps she usually shoved down here throat. 

Her brows furrowed. “Okaaaayyy…” she muttered, glancing up. Sevika was already walking away. “Poison?” Jinx called after her, haft joking. 

Sevika stopped at the door, glancing over her shoulder with that unimpressed look she always had. “Eat that,” she said flatly. “Your thin body needs more nutritious food now that you’re not just feeding yourself.”

And poof! The bitch was gone! 

Since that night, it became… a thing. Sevika started showing up every few days with a decent food, some bread or meat, sometimes even fruit. Jinx didn’t ask where it came from. All she did was pretend not to care while secretly looking forward to it because, yeah, having a parasite inside her was not for the weak. 

It wasn’t just the food, though. This time it annoyed her the most. Sevika started getting her reassigned. No more raids or front-line fight against the Firelights. Sevika had also convinced Silco to station her on less dangerous operations like guarding shimmer supplies far from the enforcers and even farther from the Firelights WITH HER. And when Silco agreed, Jinx had almost exploded. 

Yet, despite all of that, she never argued because she knew exactly what Sevika was holding over her head. The thought of Sevika spilling everything to Silco was enough to keep her painfully quiet. 

Jinx was leaning on the wall, arms crossed and fingers tapping rhythmically against her elbow. She didn't know why she was in this place... Okay, she did know. What she wanted was ask that woman why she kept stick he nose into her life lately. Her presence alone was enough for her, and having her act like goody-goody person would make Jinx more insane. 

Not so long, the door finally swung open and spit out the annoying person she'd been waiting for. Her serious expression immediately turned into frown when she spotted Jinx. 

“What do you want?” Sevika asked flatly. 

Jinx pushed herself off the wall, eyes narrowing as she planted herself directly at her path. “What’s your deal, orgre? You've been very weird to me lately, and it's making me want to puke.”

Sevika raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Be specific, kid. I don’t have time for your silly games.” 

“The food,” Jinx snapped, jabbing a finger toward her chest. “The assignments. The ‘hey, let me make sure Jinx doesn’t starve’ act. What’s your deal, huh?!”

Sevika stared at her for a moment, silent, like Jinx was the problem here and not her, before sighning deeply, tired of the kid's bulls. “You think too much,” she muttered, stepping past her.

Jinx moved fast, blocking her again. “No, you don’t get to walk away! You don’t do anything without a reason, Sevika. So what is it, huh? You trying to make me owe you something? You want me to beg? ’Cause newsflash, that’s not happening. At. All! ”

What a brat! Sevika’s jaw tightened, her gaze flicking briefly down to Jinx’s stomach before she met her eyes again. “You think I’d waste my time playing mind games with you?” she said quietly. “You’ve got enough voices in your head doing that already And if I wanted to ruin you, I've have done it already.”

Her body went numb. The words hit a little too close. “Then why? Why pretend to care?”

“I’m not doing this for you,” Sevika went on. “I’m doing it because Silco would lose his damn mind if something happened to you. That’s it.”

“Liar,” Jinx hissed sharply. “You don’t give a shit about what Silco thinks. You never have.”

Sevika smirked faintly. “Maybe not,” she said. “But I know what he’d do if you went down, and I’m not dealing with that mess.”

She froze, her glare flickering. “…but you hate me, do you?”

Sevika glanced at her, then back at the floor. “That wasn't even a question to begin with,” she said. “I can hate you and still… not want to see you die.”

“Wow,” Jinx scoffed, rolling her blue eyes, “real confidence booster, thanks.”

Really a brat. Sevika rolled her own eyes with that thought. Of all children, why must Silco chose this piece of shit. 

“I know what it feels like to be thrown away by family. To have them turn their backs on you for a mistake you didn’t even mean to make. It eats you up, makes you think you’re nothing. Makes you think you deserve it.”

Jinx's boldness slowly subside. Sevika sharing her past was once in a blue moon. Not that she was curious about her useless past, Jinx just thought that the woman had no childhood at all because looked at her face. It says it all. 

“I hate you,” Sevika said again, softer this time. “But I’m not letting you go through that. Not with half the city after you. Not when you’re…” Her eyes flicked briefly to her abdomen before returning to her face. “…like this.”

Jinx stiffened, her fingers twitching. “I don’t need your pity,” she muttered, still being hardheaded as she is. 

“This isn’t pity,” Sevika said firmly. “It’s survival. Your survival. No matter how shitty you are, you need a place that keeps you breathing, and whether you like it or not, this is it. Silco, me, this crew. It’s all you’ve got.”

Her glare wavered, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn’t like that answer. "So, what? You're my babysitter now?" 

Sevika huffed a dry laugh. “If that’s what it takes to keep you alive, then yeah. Guess I am.” She passed her, and this time, Jinx was planted on her spot. “Now eat something and get some sleep. We've got a long day tomorrow.”

Yeah, she's right. Ever since Silco took full control of the Chem-Barons, everything had become his burden. That means shimmer shipments came more often and the risks had doubled. And every job needed more guards, tighter routes, and longer hours, and somehow, Jinx always ended up in the middle of it all.

Sevika had tried to talk Silco out of it, saying Jinx should stay on the safer side of things, far from the enemy’s reach. But her father needed his best out there, and that's Jinx. She didn't complain, of course. She liked being needed and useful. It was just that her situation made everything a little complicated. 

"Jinx." 

She nearly jumped out of her skin when someone suddenly spoke, spinning around to see Sevika standing just a few feet away. 

“Ever heard of knocking, musclehead?” she snapped, trying to play it off, tugging her jacket down again like it would make a difference. 

Sevika just shrugged, unimpressed. “Didn’t think I needed to. You take too long staring at yourself anyway.”

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror, pretending to ignore her. “Some of us actually care about looking good when we blow stuff up.”

“Yeah, sure,” Sevika said dryly. “You done?”

Jinx ignore her question, zipping her jacket all the way before giving her reflection one last quick glance. The lump in her stomach wasn’t too obvious. Well, a little bit. But if someone wouldn't stare for too long, they wouldn't notice. 

“Still not good at this whole ‘hiding’ thing, huh?” she asked dryly, gaze flicking down for just a second before meeting Jinx’s eyes again.

She forced a grin, though her fingers fidgeted with the zipper. “What’s it to you?”

“How long has it been?” Sevika asked instead of answering. 

Jinx shrugged, pretending not to care. “Dunno. I don’t count. Just… been a while, I guess.”

“Doesn’t even look like you’re pregnant,” Sevika said bluntly. “Your belly’s so small people might think you just came back from Jericho’s.”

Jinx blinked, then burst out laughing. “Ha! You’re not wrong,” she said with a crooked grin. “Doesn’t matter. No one's paying that much attention anyway,”

Sevika gave her a hard look. “They will if you’re not careful.”

She rolled her eyes, slinging her weapon over her shoulder before brushing past the woman. “Whatever, Lefty.” But before she could take a step out the door, her annoying voice came again. 

“What are you gonna do when it’s finally here?”

Confused, Jinx glanced back with a slight frown. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. That thing. What's your plan when it comes?” 

Jinx let out a sharp sigh, running a hand through her messy blue hair. “Leave it somewhere, mayble,” she said flatly. “Find someone who can take care of it. Feed it. Give it a shot at something better than… this.” She gestured herself. 

Sevika said nothing as she watched her intently. 

“But I dunno… I got used to it, I guess. It’s been with me through all this crap. So, might as well keep it.” She tried to sound like joking, but it must have pissed off the menopausal woman by the look of her face, hardening. It quiet scary if you look at it. 

“You’re just a fucking fourteen-year-old girl, Jinx.”

She rolled her eyes at her. “Uhm, duh?! There are girls younger than me popping out babies all over Zaun. Ever walked through the lower lanes? Half of them are like twelve!”

As harsh as it sounded, it was true. Jinx had seen it herself with girls barely being teenager forced into motherhood by desperation, ignorance, and worst of all, cruelty. Victims of sexual abuse, having their future stolen before they even began. It was the kind of ugly truth in Undercity knew but never spoke about. 

“What about Silco? You think he’s just gonna let this slide?” she asked harshly, eyes darkening. 

Jinx only gave a haft shrug, slipping some bombs into the hidden pocket of her jacket. “Guess I’ll be killed,” she said dryly. “You must be thrilled of me being gone.”

⨲⨲⨲

The night filled with shouts and the annoying buzz of the Firelights hoverboard as they flew around the place like some stupid cockroaches. Jinx moves as fast as she can pass the ship's deck as bullets sparks flew just behind her. The outfit she'd thrown together looked great, but it wasn't made for something like this. And with the additional weight she was carrying, aside from her own, her move felt slower and slower. She hated how early she got tired and how the tightness on the abdomen part bother her so much. 

“Shit,” she hissed, shoving a crate toward one of the attackers to buy a few seconds.

Five of them left. She’d already taken down two, but these ones were tougher, faster, and more coordinated than the last Firelight she'd killed. Maybe they’d juiced up on shimmer too just to kill her off. Luckily, she managed to killed them off before they could. 

As her hands was fumbling to reload one of her pistols, an old friend suddenly lunged at her with his weapon raised hight, ready to knoch her off to her head. 

“Oh, hey there, Birdy Boy!” she taunted, mocking that person, and Jinx swear that behind those mask, she saw how his gaze burn at her. She blew him a kiss and laughed maniacally. She loves pissing him off. 

On whichhhh she regretted a second later. Fuck! 

Jinx's smile faded the moment he lunged again, faster than she expected. His weapon sliced through the air, only missing her by inches as she stumbled back. I shouldn't have said that, man, she though, catching her breath. And that was her another mistake. His next attack came down directly to her head in a blur. Her pulse was pounding loudly in her ears as she threw her arms up in instinct for protect herself. But before the blow killed her, something metallic clashed against it, sending him against the railing. 

Jinx took a glanced and saw Sevika before her, standing firmly with her metal hand up. “Stay where you are, kid,” she ordered, stepping forward. 

Jinx sighed, returning to reload her weapon with a flick of her wrist. “Sure thing, Mom,” she muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

While Sevika fought off the attackers that came from her each side, Jinx caught a flicker of movement from far side, creeping in with their weapon ready. Without hesitation, she aimed and fired. The next thing she knew was the masked man dropped instantly with bullet between his mask. 

Sevika quickly spun around, glaring. Jinx only smirked, lowering her gun. “What?” she asked innocently, shrugging. “You’re welcomeeeee.” I just save your life, you ungrateful bitch. 

“Did you even hear what I just said??! ” 

Jinx blinked back, faking a confused look. “Huh? What was that?”

“I said—” But before poor Sevika could finish, a Firelight wearing a wolf mask lunged from the side and kicked her hard in the chest, sending her into a pile of crates with a painful sound. Jinx's eyes followed her direction. 

“I’m listeningggg!” she drawled sarcastically, cupping her mouth with her hand, nefore turning to the Firelight's leader with her weapin ready. 

“Now it’s just the two of us, Jinx.”

Jinx arched a brow, lips curling into a teasing smile. “Oh, great. A dramatic one,” she said, spinning her pistol idly between her fingers. 

The Firelight ignored her quip, glancing toward their squad. “Leave us,” they commanded. The others hesitated, especially Birdy boy, but only a moment before retreating, leaving the two of them alone under the burning ship. 

“Cute,” Jinx said, leaning in,. “Sooooo what’s the deal? Got a crush on me or something? Hate to break it to you, Wolfy, but you’re way too old for my type. And I'm not exactly available as of the moment.” She innocently tilted her head with a small pout.

The person was lef stunned for a second before deicing to peeled the mask off,, making Jinx's smile slipped. Behind the mask was a sharp feature, eyes cold, fixed at her, of a woman. She shook her blonde hair loose and let them fall over her shoulders. 

“This is the last thing you’ll see before I cut off your head,” the woman said calmly, but dead serious. She reached behind her back and pulled out a scythe, catching the light on its blade as she rested it on her shoulder. 

Jinx blinked, body rigid for a moment, then exploded into a blarring laugh, clutching her ribs. “Okay, first of all,” she wheezed between gasps, “that weapon? Totally badass upgrade. Last time I saw you, you were swinging around a stick!” Straightening up, she wiped a tear from her eye. “And second… seriously? I thought you were some ugly, smelly guy under that mask. I mean— come on, who wouldn’t? I apologize for being little misogynistic, m'lady, ” she teased before laughing again. 

The woman didn't even budged or looked annoys at all. She was just standing and watching Jinx, already tired of the whole thing. “Are you done talking?” she asked flatly after Jinx finally got over her nonsenseness. 

Before Jinx could even open her mouth to quip another banther, the woman moved FAST as fuck!  The scythe sliced through the air, missing Jinx’s head by inches. The wind from the swing brushed her cheek as she threw herself sideways, rolling to her feet with her pistol already up. She fired twice, but the woman already moving, twisting her body to cleanly deflect the shots. 

Jinx grinned, breathless but exhilarated. “Oh, you’re fun,” she said, eyes glinting as she fired again. 

When her bullets clicked empty, the woman took this opportunity to drive a kicked into Jinx's side, on which she quickly caught it with her arms. But the blow rattled through her bones. 

“Okay, oww. That hurts, man!” she hissed, shaking her arm and stumbling back. Her compusere wavered enough for the Firelight to notice. 

“You’re slipping, Jinx.”

Jinx’s eyes darted to the scythe, her mind racing. She spun her empty pistol once before holstering it with a smirk. “Nah. Just saving the fun part for later.”

The Firelight’s stare hardened. “You’ve got nothing left.”

“Wrooong,” Jinx sang, dragging out the word as her hand slipped into her jacket. “I’ve always got something.” With a flick, she tossed a small round bomb into the air. It beeped with blue color once, and she saw how the woman's eyes widened. 

“Happy birthday!” Jinx shouted, diving aside as it exploded.

The blast wasn’t big, but it sent the Firelight stumbling. Good!! Smoke and debris bursted around them, but Jinx isn't done. Another bomb flew from her hand, and this time the Firelight leader sadly recovered from the shock and sliced it in haft. The explosion it made was useless. 

But that second was all Jinx needed. She grinned sharply as she yanked Zapper from her holster, slammed in a fresh charge, and aimed it right between the woman's eyes. “Say hi to Vi for me!” 

And still, the Firelight moved faster than Jinx could blink and gave her a sharp kick on her hand, sending the weapon through the air before it clatter across the floor. 

“Hey! You can’t just do that to my gun!” Jinx snapped, shaking out her throbbing hand. 

The woman didn't respond and waste no second. She swung, forcing Jinx to duck and roll, but the woman was relentless, and already closing in before Jinx could get her footing. In seconds, they hit the floor hard with the Firelight pinning her down.

“Get off me, bitch!” Jinx spat, head snapping to the side from the force of the blow. She gritted her teeth, her hands flying up to shove the Firelight off balance. She wasn’t a close-range fighter. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t hold her own.

Jinx’s fist cracked against the woman’s jaw, but the Firelight barely budged. The return punch slammed into Jinx’s ribs, knocking the breath from her lungs. She wheezed, forcing out a growl as she drove her elbow into the woman’s gut. And it was hard enough to make her falter. That was Jinx's only opening. 

She twisted sharply, rolling them over until she was on top. Her fists flew angrily. She didn't even care where she hit, but she made sure the woman would bleed. Unfortunately, the Firelight caught her wrist mid-swing, and with rough yank, she dragged Jinx down by her collar, their foreheads nearly slamming together. Jinx's world blurred for a second with lights flashing in her vision. 

“Fuck—” Jinx hissed, dazed.

“You’re out of your league, Jinx,” the woman snarled, flipping them again with brutal force, pinning her wrist to the cold metal. 

Jinx let out a ragged laugh. “Out of my league? Bitch, I am the damn league!”

With a quick twist, she hooked her legs around the Firelight’s torso and shoved hard, sending the woman stumbling back. Both scrambled up, panting heavily, their eyes locked in. Then Jinx's gaze flicked sideways when she remembered Fishbones, right where she left it, and her wicked smile snapped back into place. 

The Firelight lunged. Jinx dodged at the last second, slipping past her and sliding across the deck. Her fingers closed around the launcher’s handle, and she swung it up with practiced ease.

“Ohhh, now we’re talkin’,” she purred, resting the weapon on her shoulder. The Firelight froze on the sight, scythe in hand, and body tensed for incoming impact. Jinx winked and pulled the trigger. “Say cheese, bitch!!”

The rocket shot out with a sharp sound, slicing through the smoke fire before exploding on impact. The blast lit up the deck and the shockwave knocked crates over and sent the Firelights stumbling as their leader was thrown back like a ragdoll. And when the smoke finally thinned, the woman lay motionless on the side with her armor scorched and destroyed. Blood seeped through the gaps, pooling beneath her. One arm was gone, torn clean off by the blast, and every breath she took came out in a weak, broken rasp. She tried to lift her head but collapsed again, a low groan escaping her lips.

The fight around stopped. Every Firelight froze, their focus snapping to their fallen leader.

“Tessa!” Birdy Boy shouted, starting forward, only to be grabbed by another.

“Don’t,” the other whispered, mournfully looking at their leader as she raised her trembling hand. A weak order for them to stop. Even haft of her body already buried to her, she still act as a heroic leader they have. 

Pathetic! Jinx walked slowly to the woman's direction with her boots thundding early over the wooden floor. She wanted the moment to stretch. She wanted the woman to feel every second of helplessness. Jinx wanted her to suffer more. The leader turned her head, eyes glassy, and fixed on Jinx with an intent to kill despite her very situation. 

“This’ll be your end,” Jinx murmured, more to herself than anyone. She reached for Zapper where it lay, swung it up, and leveled it at the woman’s forehead. The gun trembled in her grip.

“Gotta admit, you were tougher than most.” Her blue eyes flashed mercilessly. “But today’s your last show.”

Yet, instead of fear that she must have feel, the woman only managed to smile as the blood continue to spatter her lips. “…y-you’re… c-coming… with me, b-bitch,” she rasped, struggling. 

Jinx smirked faintly, tilting her head to the side as if amused before finally pulling the trigger. Except the shot never came. 

A sharp, burning pain suddenly stored through her abdomen. Jinx eyes widened in shock, breath hitching as she looked down and saw a knife burying deep into her body. Blood already spread fast through her clothes. And before Jinx could react, the woman yanked the blade out and then came the second deeper strike, twisting it with her remaining strength before yanking free again. 

The pain stole Jinx's voice, a wet grasp tearing from her throat ash stumbled forward before finally falling down to her knees and pooled the floor below. Their eyes met and Jinx saw the weak, victorious smile on her lips before the woman limply tilted her head to side, light fading from her eyes. 

The weapon slipped from Jinx's hands, clattering clouding against the deck before falling in silence. Her knees buckled as she pressed her trembling hands against her stomach, feeling the warm blood seeping through her finger freely, unable to stop it. Her breathing becomes erratic, and the more time had passed, the more it's difficult to breath. Her entire world around her came blurry and tilted. 

“JINX!”

The voice sounded so far away, muffled as if it was coming from underwater. The noise of the night also had faded, slowly being swallowed by the ringing in her ears and the loud beat in her chest. 

“JINX!”

Her eyes fluttered weakly, and then, there was nothing but darkness. 

Chapter Text

“Clear the space!” Ekko shouted, his voice echoing through the huge room. The other Firelights scrambled to make room, pushing aside boxes and equipment as the group carried their injured leader to the center of the room. The Firefighters who joined the mission moved quickly, carrying their leader on a stretcher as blood dripped onto the floor with every step.

“She needs medical attention—NOW!” Ekko barked in urgency, desperate to save her.

They set the stretcher down gently, and Ekko crouched beside it, his owl mask discarded to reveal his sweat-drenched face. His chest heaved with each frantic breath, his wide eyes scanning over the wounds that marred her body, the deep gashes, the scorched burns, and the gaping wound in her forehead that made bile rise in his throat.

“You’re not going to leave me, too,” he muttered under his breath, his trembling hands cradling her bloodied face. His voice cracked as his thumb brushed away a streak of soot from her cheek, as if cleaning her up would somehow bring her back. “Stay with me,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “Please stay with me.”

The medics rushed in, their faces pale as they took in the full extent of her injuries. One of them hesitated, her hand hovering over the leader’s neck as she searched for a pulse.

“What are you all doing? Help her!” Ekko snapped, his voice cracking.

The lead medic exchanged a glance with her colleague, her face crumpling as tears welled in her eyes. Her hands faltered, trembling as she turned to Ekko. “Ekko…” she began softly, her voice heavy with sorrow.

“No,” Ekko said sharply, shaking his head. His hands curled into fists, his knuckles white as he glared at her. “No, don’t say it. Don’t look at me like that.” His voice cracked, the panic in his tone cutting through the room.

“E-Ekko…” the medic said again, her voice breaking. "She's gone."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut, the air leaving his lungs in a sharp, broken gasp. His hands froze where they rested on her face, his eyes wide with disbelief as he shook his head.

“Don’t!” he shouted, his chest heaving. “She’s strong. She’s the strongest person I know. She’s tougher than this. You can save her. You have to!”

“No,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “No, she’s not. She’s breathing—look! She’s—” He stopped himself, his eyes scanning her chest, willing it to rise and fall. But it didn’t. He leaned closer to his leader, his forehead nearly touching hers as he muttered frantically under his breath. “Come on, Anna. You don’t give up. Not on us. Not on me. You promised.” His voice broke on the last word, a choked sob escaping him.

He collapsed beside her, his head resting against the stretcher as his body shook with grief. His hands clutched the edge of the stretcher, holding on as if it could keep her tethered to the world. The other Firelights stood in silent mourning, and their heads bowed as they watched their leader’s still form. The weight of her loss pressed down on all of them, but none more than Ekko. For a long moment, the only sounds were his quiet, broken sobs echoing through the base.

Ekko sat in Anna’s room, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed. The soft glow of the single lamp on the desk cast long shadows across the walls, the faint smell of her jasmine tea still lingering in the air. His red, tear-streaked eyes stared at the floor, unfocused. His fingers gripped the edge of the chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He felt hollow. The silence in the room was deafening, and it felt fucking  wrong. Anna’s room had always been filled with life. Her voice, her laugh, and her sharp wit cut through the noise of the base. Without her, it felt… empty.

Anna wasn’t just a leader to the Firelights. She was their heart. The younger kids adored her, always flocking to her whenever she returned from a mission. She’d bring them scraps of candy or small trinkets she’d picked up in the Undercity, her pockets never empty when it came to them. Her laugh would echo through the halls as she told them stories of her own childhood, stories that made them forget, even if just for a moment, the harsh reality they lived in.

The older members respected her deeply, trusting her judgment even in the most dangerous situations. She was calm under pressure, decisive when it mattered most, and always put their safety first. It wasn’t just loyalty that tied them to her... it was love, the kind that only someone who had fought for and protected them could inspire. She had a way of making everyone feel like they belonged, like they were more than just survivors scraping by in Zaun’s shadows. She gave them a purpose, a reason to fight.

The door creaked open behind him, and Ekko didn’t move.

“Everyone’s looking for you,” came a low voice.

Ekko glanced up and saw Scar stepping into the room. His usual serious face and confident posture softened. The older Firelight hesitated near the doorway, his gaze flicking to Anna’s desk and the scattered papers still lying there before landing back on Ekko. He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze drifting back to the floor.

“I didn’t ask to be found,” he muttered. "Leave me alone."

Scar walked closer, stopping a few feet away. He crossed his arms, his expression torn between sympathy and concern. “She really meant everything to you,” Scar said softly.

Ekko let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah. She did.” His voice cracked slightly, and he quickly cleared his throat, trying to steady it. “After Vi and the others… after everything, she was all I had. She wasn’t just our leader, you know? She was..." His voice trailed off.

After losing everyone in the past, his friends and his family, it was Anna who had taken him in. It was Anna who saved his life when he was a lost, scared kid running through the streets of Zaun with no one and nowhere to go. She’d patched him up when he got hurt, fed him when he went hungry and taught him how to survive.

Anna became his new family. A mother.

Ekko sighed, leaning back in the chair and rubbing a hand over his face. “She was my family,” he admitted. “A mother, a teacher, a pain in my ass—everything.” He laughed weakly, though it held no real humor. “We used to argue all the time,” he said, his voice distant. “She’d tell me to think things through, to stop letting my emotions get the best of me. I’d tell her she was too careful, too cautious. But no matter how much we fought, she never gave up on me.”

Yes, they fought sometimes. She had a way of pushing him that drove him crazy, always challenging him to do better and to think bigger. She’d scold him when he was reckless, but only because she cared. And when the weight of the world felt like too much, she’d remind him that he didn’t have to carry it alone.

And now she was gone.

Chapter Text

The first thing Jinx felt when she regained consciousness was pain.

A deep, relentless ache, the kind that made her whole body feel like it had been set on fire and left to smoulder. Her head pounded, her limbs felt heavy, and her stomach…

Her stomach felt wrong.

Her eyes fluttered open, the light above her stabbing into her skull like needles. She winced and tried to move, but her body refused to cooperate. Every inch of her screamed in protest, and she let out a weak, rasping sound that barely passed for a groan.

“Awake?”

The voice was low and familiar, and when her blurred vision finally adjusted, she saw someone she wished she hadn't, at least just for today.

Silco.

He was sitting on the chair beside her bed. His elbows resting on his knees, his face haggard, and his mismatched eyes shadowed with exhaustion. His good eye flickered toward her, softening just slightly when he saw she was awake.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said quietly, his voice unusually gentle.

Jinx blinked at him, her mind sluggish and disoriented. She tried to speak, but her throat felt raw, and only a croaky whisper escaped. “W-what… h-happened?”

Silco leaned forward, his hand brushing lightly over her hair. “You were hurt... Badly,” he said carefully. “But you’re safe now. I made sure of it.”

Jinx’s brow furrowed as fragments of memory clawed their way to the surface of her brain. The fight. The Firelights. The wolf-masked leader that is actually a woman all this time and… the knife. Her stomach.

Her eyes widened, and her hand shot out, trembling as it moved toward her abdomen. But before she could touch it, Silco caught her wrist.

“Don’t,” he said firmly, his grip gentle but firm.

“S-Silco…” her voice cracked, panic creeping into her tone. “Was it..." her voice faltered, unable to utter the word.

"...yes."

The room fell deathly quiet. Jinx searched his face, her chest tightening as she took in the way his lips pressed into a thin line, the way his eye dropped to the floor, unable to meet hers.

Her heart sank, her hand falling into her lap. Tears blurred her vision as she tried to look away, her hand clutching the blanket as sobs continuously came out from her lips.

“I had to save you,” Silco said quietly, his voice strained. “You were dying, Jinx. There wasn’t any other choice.” His face twisted with grief, his hands clenching into trembling fists. “I did what I had to,” he said, his voice rising slightly before softening again. “You’re still here. That’s what all matters to me. You... alive.”

Jinx shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. Her chest heaved with each broken sob. Her trembling hands travelled downward before they hovered over her abdomen to at least feel it. 

The faint curve of the bump was still there. Her fingers pressed against it lightly, almost hesitantly, as though she were afraid it would disappear beneath her touch. For one fleeting moment, a shred of hope sparked in her chest.

Her teary, bloodshot eyes flicked down, and she waited.

Waited for the familiar flutter.

Waited for the small, sharp kick that had kept her awake for so many nights.

Waited for any sign that the little life she had grown to care for was still there, still fighting.

But nothing came.

Her hand stilled, the silence around her louder than any scream could have been. The hope that had ignited in her chest snuffed out in an instant, leaving behind an unbearable emptiness.

Her lips quivered, and her voice broke the suffocating quiet, weak and hesitant. "Are you mad at me?" Her gaze went to the man beside her. "...Silco."

Silco’s head snapped up at her words, his golden eye narrowing as he furrowed his brow. Clearly, it wasn’t what he expected to hear from her. For a moment, he didn’t respond. “J-Jinx,” he stammered finally, his voice trembling as he leaned forward. “Why would I… Why would I be mad at you?”

Her lips twitched into a fleeting, hollow smile, the kind that didn’t touch her teary eyes."For this..." She gestured weakly at herself. "For being weak as always... for breaking your trust... for everything." She let out a bitter, shaky laugh, one that made her whole body shudder as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

Silco’s mouth opened, but no words came. He watched her, his chest tightening as she turned her head back toward the ceiling. “If I were you,” she continued, "I’d be mad too. So… I’d understand if you said yes.”

Silco reached out, his hand trembling as it settled gently over hers, which still rested on her stomach. "I could never be mad at you, Jinx. You're my daughter."

Jinx’s breath hitched, her tears slipping freely down her cheeks as his words sank in.

Silco stood slowly, his movements deliberate, his movements slow and measured, as though every muscle in his body was weighed down by the weight of the moment. He leaned over her, his mismatched eyes locked on hers, conveying a depth of emotion that words could not express. He cupped her face gently in his hands, his thumb brushing away the tears staining her cheeks.

“You need to rest,” he whispered. “Your body’s been through so much, and you need time to heal. Do you understand?”

Jinx nodded weakly, unable to find the words to respond.

Silco bent down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there for a brief moment. When he pulled back, his expression was softer, pained, but filled with resolve.

“I’ll have to go,” he said quietly, his hand lingering against her cheek for one last second before he straightened. “But I’ll send Sevika here to watch over you.”

Jinx’s lips parted as if to protest, her blue eyes fluttering open weakly to meet his. “W-wait…” she whispered.

She tried to fight her drowsiness. She still had so many questions that needed to be answered, but her muscles felt like lead, her limbs too heavy to lift. Exhaustion pressed down on her like a crushing weight, pulling her deeper into the bed. She clenched her fists weakly, fighting to stay awake, to keep him there long enough to say what she needed to say.

"Don't worry, I'll be back later."

Before Jinx could respond, her eyes fluttered shut, her body finally succumbing to the overwhelming fatigue as Silco walked away. Her breathing slowed, and though her lips moved faintly as if she were still trying to form words, no sound came. 

“Why didn’t you tell her the truth?”

The gravelly voice startled him, and he turned his head slightly to see Sevika leaning against the wall. Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but there was a weight behind her words that demanded an answer.

Silco didn’t respond immediately. His gaze shifted back to Jinx, his mismatched eyes softening with an emotion he rarely allowed himself to feel. He watched her for a long moment before exhaling heavily, his shoulders sagging.

"Because it would break her."

He closed the door gently, his hand lingering on the handle for a moment before turning to Sevika. His gaze was distant, haunted as if reliving the past few hours over and over in his mind.

He could still hear Jinx’s screams. It was guttural and unrelenting, still echoing in his ears as Singed carried out the procedure. Every second of it had been agony, not just for her but for him as well.

He had made the call to save her at any cost. That was never in question. Singed had originally planned to inject the shimmer directly into Jinx’s veins, a method that would have acted faster but was far more volatile. At the last moment, though, Singed had changed his approach, opting instead to have Jinx ingest the shimmer.

It was a calculated decision on Singed's part; one meant to minimize the immediate risk of her body shutting down under the shimmer’s violent reaction. But even with that adjustment, the process had been brutal. The shimmer tore through her, its power surging and twisting inside her like. Silco had seen its effects countless times before and had even used it himself, but watching it destroy Jinx, hearing her agonized cries, was almost more than he could bear.

And then there was the babe.

The shimmer didn’t distinguish between its targets. It didn’t care if it was stabilizing Jinx’s failing body or tearing through the fragile life inside her. The odds were slim, infinitesimal that the fetus could have survived such an assault. Singed himself had admitted as much.

“It’s likely gone,” Singed had said, devoid of emotion.  But then he had added something that Silco couldn’t forget. “But there’s a possibility, a small one, but not impossible, that it could endure the shimmer. If it does, it won’t be the same. The shimmer could alter it, mutate it. There’s no way to predict the outcome.”

A possibility. That was all it was. A faint, fragile thread of hope.

But Silco had seen what hope could do to Jinx. Hope was cruel. Hope was a blade that cut deep, and the wounds it left behind never fully healed. If he told her there was a chance, if he let her believe that the life she had grown to care for might survive, and then it didn’t…

He couldn’t bear the thought of it. He couldn’t bear the sight of her breaking, shattering into pieces he might never be able to put back together.

So he had lied.

He told her it was gone. That the shimmer had done what it always did, torn through her without mercy. It was kinder, he told himself. Kinder to let her mourn now, to let her accept the loss and begin to heal, rather than cling to a hope that might destroy her in the end.

As he stood there, staring at the small gap in the door where Jinx slept fitfully inside, he knew he had made the only choice he could. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

“You think she’ll forgive you when she finds out?” Sevika asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Silco’s gaze hardened, his shoulders straightening as he brushed past her. “She won’t need to know. As far as she’s concerned, it’s already gone. And that’s how it will stay.”

He walked down the hallway without another word, his footsteps echoing softly against the walls. Sevika stayed where she was, her sharp eyes flicking toward the door where Jinx lay sleeping. She let out a low sigh, shaking her head as she muttered to herself.

“Guess we’ll see how long that lie holds up.”

Days blurred together, one melting into the next, as Sevika found herself taking on a role she never anticipated. Silco was consumed by his responsibilities as the leader of the Chembarons, his days and nights spent overseeing shimmer shipments and ensuring his organization’s dominance in the Undercity still on top. His visits to Jinx’s room became infrequent, almost nonexistent, leaving an empty space that Sevika reluctantly had begun to fill.

Not because Silco had asked her to. No, he hadn’t even hinted that Sevika should keep an eye on his “little spawn.” This was her own decision, born from something she couldn’t quite put into words.

It had started after one of Silco’s goons, a thin woman with wiry blonde hair, had walked down from Jinx’s room with a tray in hand. Sevika had been passing by when she noticed the tray’s contents. Not a single bite had been taken.

“Did she eat anything?” Sevika asked, stopping the woman.

The goon shook her head, her face pale. “Not a crumb,” she muttered before walking off, leaving Sevika staring after her, the untouched food still fresh in her mind.

From that day forward, Sevika took it upon herself to bring food to Jinx. She told herself it was practical; if the girl starved to death, Silco would spiral, and that was a mess no one in the Undercity wanted to deal with. But the truth ran deeper than that, though Sevika would never admit it aloud.

When she stepped into Jinx’s room, it was like walking into a shadow of who the girl used to be. The bright energy, the chaotic spark that had once defined her, was gone.

Jinx lay curled up on her bed most days, her body dwarfed by the blanket she kept pulled tightly around herself. Her blue hair was unkempt and unbound, the strands sticking out in wild angles like she hadn’t bothered to brush it in days. Her eyes, once so vibrant and full of devilishness, were dull now, rimmed red from tears she didn’t bother to hide anymore.

Sevika feels like she saw her like this before... before, when her entire family was killed by her.

“Eat,” Sevika would say, placing the tray of food on the edge of the bed. Sometimes it was stew, sometimes bread or meat, whatever she could scrape together.

Jinx would glance at it briefly, her eyes flicking up to Sevika’s before shifting away. “Not hungry,” she muttered more often than not, her voice hollow.

“Doesn’t matter,” Sevika would retort gruffly, crossing her arms and planting herself in the bedside chair, refusing to go away not unless she'll fucking eat. “You’ll eat, or I’ll force it down your throat.”

That usually earned a weak glare or a bitter scoff from Jinx, but even then, she rarely took more than a few bites. Sevika had to settle for knowing that something was better than nothing.

The room itself reflected Jinx’s state of mind. Her usual mess of blueprints, gadgets, and scraps of metal lay untouched, scattered in disarray. The crib she’d once built with such care sat abandoned in a corner, its pink and blue paint dulled by a thin layer of dust. The bunny plush she’d stitched up so meticulously now lay on the floor, one of its ears bent at an awkward angle. They were not supposed to be here, but Jinx just ordered Silco's goon to bring them here over for no reason at all.

There was no fire left in her, no fight. Just an empty, aching sadness that seemed to seep into every corner of the room.

Sevika watched all of this, her stomach twisting with something uncomfortably close to guilt. She didn’t care about Jinx, not really, not in the way Silco did. But seeing the girl like this, hollowed out and broken, was… unsettling. It reminded her too much of herself after her own world had fallen apart.

"You don't have to do this actually."

Sevika froze, her metal fingers curling slightly as she turned to look at her.

"The baby's gone. You can stop being so caring to me. You can now start hating me." Jinx continued, her dull eyes locking onto Sevika’s.

Sevika sighed. "I don't need to have the baby to be alive nor me liking you to keep you alive, kid," she said bluntly. “You think I’m doing this for you? I’m not. I’m doing it because if you die, Silco will lose his shit, and I don’t feel like dealing with that mess.”

Jinx’s lips twitched, almost like she wanted to smirk, but the expression never fully formed. Instead, she sank further into the bed, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

“Figures,” she muttered. “Even you’re just doing it for him.”

Sevika didn’t respond immediately, her gaze lingering on the girl who looked so small, so unlike the crazy, lunatic person she was used to. Finally, she pushed off the chair and walked toward the door.

“Eat the damn food,” Sevika said over her shoulder, her tone gruff but not unkind. “You’re not doing yourself any favors by starving.”

Jinx didn’t answer, her gaze drifting to the food as Sevika left the room.

One day, as Sevika placed another tray of food on the edge of the bed, she paused, noticing something different. For once, Jinx wasn’t lying beneath the blanket or curled up in the corner.

She was standing.

Her small frame looked even thinner than usual, her blue hair tangled, but her posture was steady. She stood by the corner of the room, looking at the makeshift cradle she’d built months ago. The bunny plush sat inside it, its stitched seams visible even in the dim light. One of Jinx’s hands rested lightly on the cradle’s edge while the other hovered over her lower abdomen, her fingers brushing it absentmindedly.

“How painful is it?”

Jinx spoke up, her voice so faint Sevika almost missed it.

Sevika blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What?”

Jinx didn’t look at her, her gaze fixed on the cradle. “Giving birth, I mean."

Sevika frowned, leaning against the wall as she crossed her arms. "Look at me and tell me, do I look like I just gave birth to something living?” she replied flatly, studying the girl carefully. “Why are you asking me this?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Just curious.” Jinx shrugged, turning back to the cradle. She hesitated, her hand tightening slightly on the edge of the wood. “How about my mom? Did she struggle when she had Vi and me?”

Sevika stiffened slightly, the unexpected question hitting a nerve. She let out a small sigh. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Felicia and I weren’t exactly close enough to talk about that kind of thing.”

Jinx tilted her head slightly, her expression blank. “Felicia…” she repeated softly.

“If you want to know more about her, ask Silco,” Sevika added gruffly. “He and Vander were close with her. They’d know more than I do.”

"...oh," Jinx said quietly. The room fell into an uneasy silence again.

Sevika shifted uncomfortably, sensing the mood drop. She wasn’t good at this, comforting people, talking about feelings. But for some reason, she found herself speaking up.

“Actually…” she started, her tone softening, “I’ve never been through it myself, but I’ve seen someone give birth.”

Jinx glanced at her from the corner of her eye, intrigued despite herself.

Leaning against the wall, Sevika's gaze fixed on the distance as she recalled the memory. “It was… something. Painful as hell. The woman screamed and struggled the whole time. It was like her body was at war with itself, but she pushed through it.” Her voice grew quieter, tinged with so much respect. “Despite the pain, the fear... everything, she gave birth to a boy.”

Jinx raised an eyebrow, turning to face her fully with a faint smirk on the corner of her lips. “Strong woman.”

“Yeah,” Sevika said with a faint nod, a small, distant smile tugging at her lips. “My mom was always strong.”

Jinx froze, her eyes widening as she stared at Sevika. “Wait, your mom? You’re saying that was your brother?”

Sevika nodded, her expression hardening slightly. “He came along later after me.”

Jinx tilted her head, studying her curiously. “Didn’t know you had a sibling. Makes sense, though. You’ve got that whole ‘eldest sister’ energy.”

“I was the eldest,” Sevika corrected, her voice lowering. “He didn’t last long."

Jinx blinked, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. “What? Why?”

She shrugged. “Infection,” she said simply. “My father couldn’t afford a medic to help my mom during the birth. It was just him and me.” 

She paused, her voice steady but tinged with bitterness. “I was barely old enough to understand what was happening, but I had to help. I held her hand and did what little I could while she screamed through the pain.” Her prosthetic fingers twitched slightly as if the memory had lodged itself deep in her bones. “But without proper help… things went bad. Real bad. He was gone after a week.”

Jinx frowned, her gaze flicking back to the cradle. “What about your mom? How did she take it?”

Sevika’s expression darkened, her voice dropping even lower. “She was heartbroken. She barely made it through that week, sick as hell from the birth. But after he died…” She let out a short, bitter laugh. “She followed. Same reason—an infection and so much sorrow.”

Jinx’s hands curled around the edge of the cradle, her knuckles whitening slightly. “She didn’t survive?”

“No,” Sevika said, shaking her head. “We were too poor to get her help. I watched her waste away, just like my brother.” She looked down, her hand twitching on her side. “She was strong. But even strong people break when they’re left to fend for themselves.”

Jinx didn’t say anything for a long moment. She stared at the cradle, her lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, she muttered, “Guess the world really doesn’t care about strong or weak. Just takes what it wants.”

Sevika snorted. “Yeah. That’s about the size of it.”

Jinx gave a faint, bitter smile, but her eyes remained fixed on the cradle, her thoughts distant. “Your mom sounds tough, though,” she said quietly. “Stronger than I’ll ever be.”

Sevika frowned slightly, watching her. “What’s in your mind, Jinx?”

Jinx hesitated, her fingers curling tighter around the edge of the cradle. “Will I be like her?” she asked quietly, not looking up. “Your mom, I mean. Ending up dead from the sorrow of giving birth to a dead baby. Any day now, and I’ll find out.”

Sevika’s eyes softened, her lips pressing into a thin line before she spoke. “You don’t need to worry,” she said firmly. “Silco’s got the best people ready to assist you when the time comes. He’ll do everything to keep you safe, Jinx. He won’t let anything happen to you.”

Jinx let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow and sharp. “Yeah, sure,” she muttered. “He couldn’t even visit me for days. Too busy and doesn't care about me, I guess."

Sevika’s frown deepened, and she pushed off the wall, taking a few steps near Jinx. “He’s busy, yes. But not because he doesn’t care. He wants to see you, Jinx, but his work keeps him away. You just need to trust him.”

When Jinx didn’t respond, the silence grew between them. Sevika decided to speak. “Do you know that… even before all of this, Silco took a liking to you?”

Jinx blinked, glancing up at Sevika with a flicker of curiosity and confusion. “What do you mean?”

Sevika sighed, her gaze softening as she leaned against the table beside the cradle. “He was there when Felicia gave birth to you. Vander wasn’t even around for the first time. He was too busy trying to keep everything together in the Lanes. So it was Silco who stayed by her side. He held her hand when Connor fainted in the middle of it all. He was even the one who cut your umbilical cord and held you first.”

Jinx’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting as she stared at Sevika.

“And it didn’t stop there,” Sevika continued. “When you grew up, he always had his eye on you. He gave you gifts, things he thought you’d like. Sure, he gave Vi stuff too, but yours were always bigger, always more. He’s loved you for as long as I can remember, Jinx. You’ve always been important to him.”

Jinx’s gaze dropped to the cradle, her fingers brushing against the painted surface as if searching for something tangible to hold onto. “I don’t remember any of that,” she muttered.

Sevika let out a soft chuckle, though it lacked any real humor. “Figures,” she said, shrugging slightly. “You were just a kid back then. Too young to notice all the things he did for you.

For a moment, Sevika’s mind wandered an image of Powder as a small, bright-eyed child flashing through her memory. She remembered the way Powder used to trail after Vi, always looking for approval or a reassuring word, her little inventions clutched in her hands like treasures. That little girl had seemed so fragile but full of wonder, a polar opposite to the Jinx who stood before her now.

Jinx was quiet again, her hand hovering over the bunny plush inside the cradle. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “Do you think he still sees me like that?”

Sevika straightened, her expression firm. “I think he still loves you like that... it was never gone,” she said simply. “Even if you don’t see it. Even if he doesn’t always show it, that man would tear the world apart for you, Jinx.”

Jinx’s shoulders sagged, her gaze still fixed on the cradle as she processed Sevika’s words. Somewhere deep in her chest, a faint, flickering warmth tried to fight its way through the haze of bitterness and doubt.

⨲⨲⨲

Over the next week, Jinx’s condition began to improve, albeit slowly. The deep wound in her abdomen, which had once seemed like it would never heal, was now closed, leaving behind an angry, jagged scar. Whether it was the shimmer that had sped up the healing process or just sheer stubbornness on Jinx’s part, no one could say for sure.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she had started leaving her room. Not to roam the streets, especially with her current condition, of course. Silco had made it clear that she wasn’t to go anywhere except The Last Drop or her hideout. But even that small change made a difference.

Jinx had returned to her tinkering, retreating to her hideout, where she spent hours surrounded by her gadgets, scraps, and blueprints, white muttering things in the space. Her hair, once wild and tangled, was now brushed and unbound, falling loosely around her shoulders as she worked. 

But it wasn’t just her work that kept her occupied. When Jinx wasn’t tinkering, she had taken to bothering Sevika, an activity she seemed to enjoy far more than Sevika did.

One afternoon, Sevika returned to her room after a long day of overseeing shimmer shipments, her prosthetic arm creaking slightly as she pushed the door open. The sight that greeted her made her stop in her tracks.

Jinx was sprawled across Sevika’s bed, her legs kicked up over the side as she flipped through a thick, battered book. Her face was in full concentration as her blue eyes scanned the pages with curiosity and amusement.

“I don’t see you as a book person, Sev,” Jinx said in a teasing tone without looking up. “This is new.”

Sevika frowned, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. “What the hell are you doing in here?” she grumbled, crossing her arms.

Jinx finally looked up, a wide grin spreading across her face. “Relax, Sev. I was bored, and your room looked way less depressing than mine.” She held up the book, wiggling it slightly. “Besides, what’s this? I didn’t know you had interests.”

Sevika sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she walked over to the bed. “It’s just a book,” she muttered, snatching it out of Jinx’s hands. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

Jinx laughed, hopping off the bed and stretching her arms above her head. “You’re so touchy, Sev. It’s cute.” She wandered over to the corner of the room, where Sevika’s armor and weapons were neatly arranged.

“Don’t touch anything,” Sevika warned, her tone sharp.

Jinx glanced over her shoulder, smirking. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Sevika watched her with a frustrated face, her eyes following her as she walked with her hands on her back. “You’re supposed to be at your room or hideout,” she said finally. “Why are you here?”

“Well! Because bothering you is way more fun!” Jinx replied with a wink. She twirled one of Sevika’s smaller tools in her hand, balancing it on her finger like a toy.

Sevika rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

“Yup!” Jinx said cheerfully, tossing the tool back onto the table, creating a loud sound.

Jinx’s sharp blue eyes darted to a corner of Sevika’s room. Her attention snagged on something half-hidden behind a stack of books. Her gaze narrowed before widening in surprise.

“Wait… is that a painting?”

Sevika’s own eyes went wide, and she moved with urgency, stepping toward the corner. “Don’t touch that,” she barked, but it was too late.

Jinx was already there, snatching up the canvas with nimble fingers and spinning around with it. Her grin stretched wide as she held it up to inspect it. “Holy shit! I didn’t know you paint, motherfucker! This is gold!”

Sevika’s face crumpled, her jaw tightening as she fought the urge to rip it out of Jinx’s hands. “Give it back, Jinx,” she growled.

Jinx ignored her, turning the painting slightly as if analyzing it under better light. “I don’t see it in you, Sev,” she said teasingly, her voice practically dripping with mockery.

Sevika glared at her, her patience running thin. “Why? What do you see in me?” she snapped, crossing her arms.

Jinx tapped her chin in an exaggerated way as if pondering the question. Then, without hesitation, she grinned. “Well… an ugly ogre who punches people out for fun and spends all her money on brothels just to feel loved and get fucked. There! Satisfied?”

The words hung in the air for a moment.

Sevika’s eye twitched. Okay, she thought grimly. That was TOTALLY harsh.

“Real nice, kid,” Sevika said dryly, though there was a faint edge to her voice. “You ever think about getting a job as a motivational speaker?”

Jinx snickered, carefully placing the painting back where she’d found it. “Relax, Sev,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “I think it’s cool. You’re all grumpy and tough, but secretly you’re sitting here painting. It’s kinda... cute, not going to lie.”

“Cute...” Sevika repeated flatly, the word dripping with disdain. She hates being called cute. She hated that word, loather it, and of all people to use it to her, it had to be a shithead. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she straightened up, glaring at Jinx. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” she challenged in a low and dangerous voice.

Jinx tilted her head, her blue eyes darting around the room as though she was deep in thought. Then, with a shit-eating grin, she shrugged and pointed at Sevika, then to her. “Uh… we’re the only two people here. Duh!” she said, her tone oozing mock innocence.

Sevika sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “If you’re done snooping around my room, get out,” she muttered, but her tone had lost some of its bite.

Jinx winked at her as she sauntered toward the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret, Sev,” she said with exaggerated seriousness. “Your reputation is safe with me.”

As the door clicked shut behind her, Sevika let out a long exhale, running a hand through her hair. “Brat,” she muttered under her breath. She needs a fucking alcohol right at this moment.

⨲⨲⨲

That night, as Sevika was finally winding down after a long day and dealing with Jinx’s crazy shits, a knock echoed against her door. When she opened it, it was one of Silco's goons.

“Silco wants to see you,” the man said simply, adding, “In his office. Now.”

Sevika groaned, running a hand down her face. “At this hour?”

The goon didn’t respond, only shrugging before retreating down the hall. Reluctantly, she closed the door of her room and made her way to Silco’s office. Pushing open the heavy door, she stepped inside and paused when she saw him.

Silco sat at his desk, his good eye focused intently on the small mirror propped up in front of him. In one hand, he held a makeup brush, carefully applying a layer of foundation over the scarred half of his face.

Sevika leaned against the doorframe, watching him for a moment before speaking. “Why are you still doing that?” she asked in curiosity. Sevika took a step closer, her arms crossed as she studied him. “Jinx is used to your scars now. It’s not like before.”

Silco’s hand stilled briefly, the brush hovering just below his eye. His gaze flicked toward her reflection in the mirror, but he said nothing at first.

The first time Jinx had come to him, she'd clung to Sevika as her life depended on her. When she’d finally turned her eyes toward Silco, her reaction had been immediate. She would cry and scream as she hid her face in her hands, terrified of the jagged, melted scars that carved through half of his features. It had been that moment of her being scared of him that had struck Silco to his core. He had decided, right then and there, to learn how to change that.

So Silco had taught himself makeup. Painstakingly, awkwardly. Hours spent in front of mirrors, blending, covering, hiding. All to make his face look less monstrous in her young, frightened eyes. Over time, she stopped crying. Then she started talking, trusting, even smiling. And he hadn’t stopped using the makeup since.

“I’m used to it now,” Silco said finally. “Routine, I suppose.”

Sevika didn’t argue, though she gave him a pointed look. “So,” she said, her tone shifting, “why’d you call me here? At this hour, no less?”

Silco placed the brush down on his desk with deliberate care, his hand resting briefly on the polished wood before turning his swivel chair to face her fully. His gaze was sharp and calculating, but there was something softer beneath it. A rare crack in his otherwise impenetrable behavior.

“How’s Jinx?” he asked.

Sevika blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity of the question. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, letting out an incredulous laugh. “You disturbed my rest just to ask me about your daughter?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You could just go see her yourself and find out.”

Silco didn’t flinch at her tone. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his hands resting on the armrests as he studied her. “Humor me,” he said simply but with authority.

Sevika let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “She’s better,” she said finally. “The wound’s healed, just a scar now. She’s been tinkering again, getting back to her old self—whatever that means. But…”

Silco’s eyes narrowed slightly. “But what?”

Sevika hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gauged his reaction. “She’s still… off. Not like she was before the injury. She’s hiding a lot, I can tell."

Sevika crossed her arms, watching him closely. “You should talk to her, Silco. You’ve barely been around since all this started. She might not say it, but she notices.”

Silco’s good eye flicked up to hers, sharp and calculating. “I have responsibilities,” he said coldly, though the defensiveness in his tone betrayed him.

“And she’s one of them,” Sevika shot back firmly. “If you’re going to keep calling her your daughter, you’d better start acting like it. Because right now? She’s not feeling it.”

Silco let out a slow breath, his shoulders sagging ever so slightly. “I’ll see her,” he said quietly, his voice devoid of its usual sharpness. “Soon.”

With that, Sevika turned on her heel, her heavy boots thudding against the floor as she made her way toward the door. She was just about to leave when Silco’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

"I'm... afraid."

She glanced over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “What?”

Silco’s gaze drifted to the mirror on his desk, his hands resting on the armrests of his chair as he stared at his faint reflection.

Silco leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped tightly together. His good eye gleamed with uncertainty she rarely saw in him. "I am afraid of possibly her lashing out her anger at me," he said, his voice trembling faintly. “She already blames me. I saw it in her eyes and face. That I killed her child.”

Sevika’s jaw tightened as she turned back fully to face him, crossing her arms. “She doesn’t just blame you,” she said bluntly. “She blames herself too. And that’s exactly why she’s afraid to talk to you, Silco. She thinks you’re mad at her. That she let you down.”

Silco’s eye snapped to hers, narrowing slightly. “I would never—”

“Yeah, well, try telling her that,” Sevika interrupted, her voice edged with frustration. “Do you two even hear yourselves? You’re both scared of the same damn thing. Afraid the other hates you, afraid to face each other. It’s exhausting.” She ran a hand through her hair, muttering under her breath, “You both shitheads are gonna make me go gray if I have to deal with this much longer.”

Silco didn’t respond immediately, his jaw tightening as he stared at the desk. His fingers drummed lightly against the wood, a rare sign of unease from the usually composed man. “It’s not that simple,” he murmured. “You weren’t there when looked at me. The hate in her eyes…"

Sevika sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Yeah, she’s angry. But it’s not hate, Silco. She’s hurting. And so are you. Maybe if you’d stop avoiding her and actually talk, you’d figure that out.”

Silco’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze flicking toward the door as if picturing the path to Jinx’s room.

“Just go,” Sevika said after a moment, her voice softer now but still firm. “You’re both driving yourselves insane over this. Stop thinking so damn much and go.”

Silco exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping. Sevika turned again, heading toward the door. This time, she didn’t stop. As she walked out into the hallway, she muttered to herself, “God help me. These two are gonna be the death of me.”

After leaving Silco's office, she had intended to head straight to her quarters and get the rest she deserved. But no, because, of course, she couldn’t leave things alone. After all her complaining earlier to Silco, she ended up checking on Jinx.

"Stupid kid," she muttered under her breath, rubbing the back of her neck.

She first checked Jinx’s room, pushing open the creaky door. The space was dark and quiet, eerily still, with no sign of its usual occupant. The untouched tray of food on the desk told her everything she needed to know. Jinx wasn’t there.

That left only one other place.

Jinx’s hideout.

The path there was familiar to Sevika by now, though it wasn’t a place she particularly enjoyed visiting. Jinx’s hideout was hidden within the skeleton of an old ventilation system, part of an abandoned mine shaft that connected to The Last Drop. The giant fan at the center of the space loomed like a rusted relic of a bygone era, its blades frozen in time, no longer functional thanks to the power being cut off long ago.

For Jinx, it was the perfect spot to camp out, isolated, quiet, and cluttered with scrap metal and tools she could use for her tinkering. To anyone else, it was a suffocating, claustrophobic mess, but for Jinx, it was home.

As Sevika approached the entrance, she could already hear faint noises coming from inside. A mixture of clinking metal, muffled curses, and the occasional hum of a tune Jinx was undoubtedly making up on the spot.

Sevika stepped into the hideout, her eyes adjusting to the neon lights cast by the flickering bulbs Jinx had strung up haphazardly. The place was a disaster zone of gadgets and half-finished projects, blueprints scattered across the floor like discarded napkins.

And there, in the middle of it all, was Jinx.

She was perched on top of a rusted workbench, one leg dangling off the side while the other was tucked under her. Her hair, now unbound but slightly neater than before, fell over her shoulders as she concentrated on the device in her hands, a small, sleek contraption that looked like it could either explode or fly.

“Still alive, I see,” Sevika called out, crossing her arms as she leaned against the entrance.

Jinx jumped slightly, nearly dropping the tool she was holding. She glanced over her shoulder, her blue eyes wide before narrowing when she spotted where she was. “What are you doing here, Sev? Thought you’d finally gone to bed.”

“Could say the same for you,” Sevika replied, gesturing to the disaster surrounding them. “It’s the middle of the night, and you’re here playing mad scientist.”

Jinx snorted, turning back to her project. “Better than sitting around doing nothing.”

Sevika sighed, stepping further into the room. “Silco’s worried about you, you know,” she said, her tone gruff but not unkind.

“Yeah, sure he is,” Jinx muttered sarcastically, not looking up.

Sevika frowned but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she scanned the room, taking in the clutter and the faint hum of machinery that filled the air. It was so very Jinx.

“Why do you keep holing yourself up in here?” Sevika asked finally.

Jinx shrugged, tightening a screw on her gadget. “Because it’s mine,” she said simply. “This is the only place that feels like it’s mine.”

Sevika didn’t argue with that. Instead, she gave a slight shrug and uncrossed her arms, turning on her heel to leave. “Well, then I’ll take my leave and finally get some damn sleep,” she muttered.

“Sure!” Jinx called after her, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Hope the bedbugs bite you real hard!”

Sevika rolled her eyes as she approached the doorway, already halfway out, when the sound of a grunt and a loud clanging of metal made her freeze in her tracks.

She whipped around instantly, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Jinx was no longer on the workbench. She was hunched over, clutching her abdomen with one arm, her other hand braced against the table to steady herself. Her face twisted in pain, her breathing uneven.

“JINX!” Sevika’s voice rang out as she rushed toward her, her heavy boots pounding against the floor. She stopped just short of touching her, her hand hovering helplessly as panic began to claw at her chest. “What is it?! What’s wrong?!”

Jinx’s knees buckled slightly, and she gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead. “H-hurts,” she managed to gasp, her voice shaky and strained. “F-Fuck, Sevika.”

Sevika’s sharp eyes flicked downward, and her breath caught in her throat. The fluid was spreading across the fabric of Jinx’s pants, dripping onto the floor. It didn’t take a genius to know what that meant. This was a situation even she wasn’t prepared for.

“Shit,” Sevika muttered under her breath, her mind scrambling to process the sight. Her hand hovered awkwardly near Jinx’s arm, unsure whether to steady her or scoop her up entirely. “That’s—Jinx, that’s your water breaking.”

“No shit!” Jinx snapped through gritted teeth, her voice a mix of pain and panic. Her knees wobbled, and she clung to the edge of the table for support, her breaths coming in shallow gasps.

Sevika swore under her breath, her arm shifting slightly as she struggled to figure out what to do. Her mind raced. Silco. She needed to get Silco—or at least someone who knew what the hell they were doing.

“Alright,” Sevika said, trying to keep her voice steady as she placed a firm hand on Jinx’s shoulder. “Hang on, kid. We’re gonna get you to your room. Just hold on.”

Jinx let out a sharp cry, her grip on the table tightening as another wave of pain wracked her body. “Sev,” she whimpered, her voice trembling. “I-I’m scared.”

Shit.

“You’re gonna be fine,” she said firmly, trying to project confidence she wasn’t entirely sure she felt. “You hear me? You’re gonna be fine.”

Without wasting another second, Sevika slid her arm under Jinx’s knees and the other around her back, lifting her carefully but swiftly. “Alright, hold on,” she muttered, her jaw tight as she made her way toward the exit.

Jinx’s arms wrapped weakly around Sevika’s neck, her head resting against her shoulder as she let out a shaky breath. “Sevika…” she murmured, her voice so faint it barely reached her ears.

“What?” Sevika grunted, glancing down at her, her jaw tight with both frustration and worry.

“If I die,” Jinx said faintly, her lips curving into a weak smirk, “I’m haunting you forever.”

Jinx only let out another wheezing chuckle, her head pressing lightly against Sevika’s shoulder. For a moment, Sevika froze, her expression caught between disbelief and exasperation. This girl had the audacity to laugh in the middle of her crazy situation right now.

"Fuck off, kid!"

This crazy bitch, Sevika thought, her jaw clenching.

Chapter Text

It was the pain in her abdomen that roused her in the deep sleep she barely had most of the time. It was sharp and relentless as it radiated all the way to her lower back. It felt like when she had her monthly period but a hundred fucking percent worse. In all the pain she had experienced in her entire life, THIS was supposed to be the reason she was killing herself. She would rather accept ten stabs in her body than whatever the fuck it is right now.

She groaned, stirring on her bed. Her hand instinctively pressed against her stomach, and it felt tight—hard, almost like a rock beneath her fingers. Her eyebrows furrowed as she shifted slightly, trying to adjust herself on the mattress. “What the hell…” she muttered under her breath.

But just as quickly as the pain had come, it faded, leaving only a dull ache behind. Weird. Jinx scowled at the sensation, rubbing her belly absentmindedly before rolling onto her side. She shoved the thought away and forced herself up. No use thinking about it

Life went on as usual, or at least, Jinx tried to pretend it did. She paced between her hideout and The Last Drop, moving back and forth like a restless ghost. The boredom was eating her alive, so she filled the time however she could.

She spent hours bothering Sevika, lounging in her room, and pretending to care about whatever boring shit she was doing. She sat in on Silco’s endless, endlesssssss meetings with the ChemBarons, rolling her eyes as they droned on about their precious shimmer shipments and the ever-growing problem with the Piltie pigs.

Through it all, she ignored the pain that crept back every now and then. At first, it was easy. The tightness in her abdomen would come and go, nothing unbearable. But the longer she ignored it, the longer the pain seemed to last, and it was getting harder to brush off for Jinx.

Jinx was slouching in Silco’s office one evening, lazily spinning one of her bullets between her fingers as she half-listened to the conversation happening around her. It was another meeting, another set of problems, the same shit as always. Not until something caught her ear.

“The Firelights are getting bolder,” one of the barons grumbled; Jinx thought her name would be Renni or some sort. “It’s bad enough they’ve been disrupting our routes, but now they’ve doubled their efforts. They’re making it harder to move shimmer through the usual channels.”

“They’re angry,” another chimed in, shaking his head. It was Smeech, the fucking ugly rat she had ever met. “You heard what happened. Their leader... she’s dead. Killed during the ambush at the docks.”

Jinx’s fingers stilled around the bullet.

The leader. The woman in the wolf mask. The one she had fought, the one who had nearly killed her. The one she had killed first. Her lips twitched slightly, barely a smirk, but there was something bitter beneath it. Well! They should’ve been faster if they wanted to keep her alive.

But what really caught her attention was what came next.

“The new leader isn’t playing games,” Margot-the-baddie murmured, she remembered having a little crush at her when she first met her. “The Firelights have always been a nuisance, but now they’re a genuine threat. We’ll need to double security around all shimmer operations. I don’t want a single vial falling into their hands.”

Jinx leaned forward slightly, her interest piqued. More menace than the last one, huh? She could picture it already—the Firelights, mourning their dead leader, their hatred simmering into something sharp and ugly. If they were dangerous before, now they’d be desperate. And desperate people were unpredictable. This was about to get a whole lot more fun.

Jinx barely stifled a yawn as she slouched deeper on top, blinking sluggishly at the endless droning of Silco and his loving friends. How the hell are they still talking? Their wet fucking mouths just wouldn’t shut up.

She groaned under her breath, stretching her arms over her head. The meeting had gone on for HOURS, and the more she sat there, the heavier her eyelids became. She was half awake now, barely listening, her mind drifting in and out.

Then, another wave of pain rippled through her abdomen. She tensed slightly, inhaling sharply as the pressure flared and wrapped around her lower back. She swallowed thickly, forcing herself to keep still. The pain she was feeling was becoming harder. The intervals between each wave of pressure were getting shorter, the sensation lingering longer than before.

With an irritated sigh, she stood up from the big wood where she sat and stretched. The movement made her stomach tighten again, and she bit the inside of her cheek, forcing a smirk. “Welp, this has been thrilling,” she muttered, mostly to herself, before walking toward the secret passageway she built.

Back in her hideout, Jinx wasted no time. She got straight to work, pushing everything else, especially the damn discomfort in her belly, to the back of her mind. If she was going to be in pain, she might as well do something productive.

If the Firelights thought they could mess with her and Silco, they had another thing coming. And that new leader of theirs? The one taking over after their oh-so-beloved dead one?

Jinx smirked. She’d kill them the same way she killed their leader. What a brilliant fucking idea.

The thought made her giggle under her breath as she reached for her wrench, muttering to herself as she tightened a bolt on one of her devices, picturing how it would go.

But even as she worked, the pressure in her abdomen persisted, coming in waves, sharper, longer. It was almost distracting. So, she did what she always did when she needed to focus.

She hummed. Softly at first, just under her breath, but then the melody formed into a song she was familiar with.

"Dear friend, across the river. My hands are cold and bare.

Dear friend, across the river, I'll take what you can spare.

I ask if you have a penny…"

Her fingers stilled slightly on the metal before she continued.

"My fortune it will be. I ask you without envy..."

It was the same lullaby her mother used to sing to her and Vi when they were little. Back when their home was small but warm. Back when things still made sense. Back then, when their parents are still alive. Back when she had it, she used to sing to the little shit, too, especially when it moved inside her, restless at night. This was the song that always seemed to calm it. But in the current time, there was no more little shit listening to her anymore. Jinx hummed the next part, her hands continuing their work. And just like magic, the pain in her stomach eased slightly. Not gone, but manageable.

"Still alive, I see."

A familiar voice called out behind her, making her jump a little. Annoyed as hell, she glanced over her shoulder and glared at the biggest shit she ever saw in her fucking life.

“What are you doing here, Sev? Thought you’d finally gone to bed.”

“Could say the same for you,” Sevika replied, gesturing to the disaster surrounding them. “It’s the middle of the night, and you’re here playing mad scientist.”

Jinx snorted, turning back to her project. “Better than sitting around doing nothing," she lied. She heard the ogre sigh and her footsteps coming near her.

“Silco’s worried about you, you know."

Jinx rolled her eyes, knowing how wrong Sevika was. She tightened her grip on the screwdriver, twisting it harder than necessary. Worried? Yeah, right. If Silco was so fucking worried, then why hadn’t he come to see her? She wasn’t stupid. She knew avoidance when she saw it. It had been days since she’d last seen him, not since… that night.  And Silco? He had barely looked at her since.

She told herself she deserved it. That she had fucked up so badly, so irreparably, that, of course, he wouldn’t want to see her. She had made a mess of everything—gotten herself injured, ruined whatever plans he had for the Firelights, and, worst of all, lost something she hadn’t even realized she cared about until it was too late.

So yeah. Maybe this was what she had coming. But even knowing that, even telling herself over and over again that she deserved his silence, it still made something deep in her chest twist painfully. She was his fucking daughter. And he was avoiding her like she was just another problem to be handled. Jinx clenched her teeth, her hands shaking slightly as she forced herself to focus on the device in front of her. Fine. If Silco didn’t want to see her, then whatever. She didn’t need him anyway.

“Yeah, sure he is,” Jinx muttered sarcastically, not looking up.

Sevika didn’t say anything right away, but Jinx could feel her staring. Watching. Judging.

She hated it.

"Why do you keep holing yourself up in here?" Sevika finally asked.

Jinx shrugged, keeping her hands busy, twisting a bolt tighter than it needed to be. "Because it’s mine," she said simply. "This is the only place that feels like it’s mine."

She decided not to add that nowhere else did. That her room felt too empty, too still. That The Last Drop felt suffocating. Even when she was surrounded by people, she felt like a ghost walking through them.

She heard Sevika shift, then sigh. “Well, then I’ll take my leave and finally get some damn sleep.”

“Sure!” Jinx called after her, voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Hope the bedbugs bite you real hard!”

She heard Sevika mutter something under her breath as she walked off, but Jinx didn’t bother paying attention. She turned back to her project, tightening another bolt, and then...

Pain.

A sharp, twisting, ripping pain that went straight through her abdomen and lower back.

Jinx gasped, her fingers slipping, and the wrench tumbled from her grip, clattering onto the table along with other metals. She barely had time to register it before her legs buckled, and she caught herself on the workbench, her body trembling as she doubled over

Drip.

A wet sensation rushed down her legs.

Jinx’s breath hitched as she forced herself to look down. Fluid spread across the fabric of her pants, pooling beneath her feet.

Her stomach dropped.

No. No, no, no, no—

A strangled noise escaped her lips as another sharp wave of pain slammed into her. Her hand flew to her belly, cradling it as her body hunched instinctively.

Footsteps. Heavy boots. Fast.

"JINX!"

Sevika’s voice rang out, rough with urgency, but Jinx barely heard it through the roaring in her ears. She felt Sevika’s presence, close to her, hovering but not touching. Like even she didn’t know what the hell to do.

“What is it?! What’s wrong?!”

Jinx tried to speak, but all she could do was pant through the pain. “H-hurts,” she gasped, her voice shaking. “F-Fuck, Sevika.”

She had been through pain before. The kind that left scars, the kind that burned deep. But this? This was different. This was something she had no control over, something that was tearing her apart from the inside out.

She heard the woman swear under her breath. “That’s—Jinx, that’s your water breaking.”

“No shit!” Jinx snapped through gritted teeth, her voice a mix of pain and panic. Her knees wobbled, and she clung to the edge of the table for support, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as another contraction ripped through her body.

"Alright." Sevika moved quickly, her strong arms wrapping around her. "Hang on, kid. We’re gonna get you to your room. Just hold on.”

Jinx whimpered, her fingers twitching weakly against the older woman’s poncho. She couldn’t stop shaking. Her mind was barely holding onto reality, flickering between the blinding pain and the cold, creeping terror settling in her chest.

“Sev,” she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. “I-I’m scared.”

That was the worst part of all. She never said those words. Not out loud. Not even to herself. But right now, they slipped out so easily, and she hated it.

Sevika’s grip tightened around her. “You’re gonna be fine,” she said firmly, like it was a fact. Like she believed it. “You hear me? You’re gonna be fine.”

Jinx wanted to believe her.

Then another contraction hit, and her whole body tensed, a choked cry escaping her throat.

Sevika adjusted her grip and lifted her up, one arm under her knees, the other bracing her back. Jinx would’ve laughed if she wasn’t so busy trying not to pass out because, damn, Sevika was ugly as fuck when she was worried.

She barely registered anything else as they moved, her head lolling weakly against Sevika’s shoulder. Her vision blurred, the edges of the world growing hazy. Her fingers curled into the fabric of Sevika’s poncho, clinging onto her like a lifeline.

“Sevika…” she murmured, her voice faint.

“What?” Sevika grunted.

“If I die…” she whispered, barely able to keep her eyes open now. “I’m haunting you forever.” Even through the haze of agony, Jinx managed to let out a weak, wheezing chuckle.

For a split second, Sevika froze.

"Fuck off, kid!"

Jinx let her head rest against Sevika’s shoulder again, her smirk fading as pain pulled at her.

⨲⨲⨲

"LET IT OUT! PLEASE!"

Jinx’s own scream tore through her room, bouncing off the walls and drowning out every other sound. The metallic scent of blood was thick in the air, mixing with her own sweat and coiling in her lungs. Her body arched off the bloodstained sheets, her fingers gripping the mattress so hard her knuckles turned white.

The pain was unbearable—searing, stretching, tearing her apart from the inside out. Her legs were spread wide, pinned in place by two midwives kneeling between them, their hands working frantically as they barked orders she could barely comprehend.

A choked sob wrenched out of her, broken and desperate. But the pain wasn’t stopping. Jinx’s wild, tear-streaked eyes darted across the room, searching for someone to hold onto. Her gaze landed on Silco.

He was there, standing on the other side of the room, but it seemed like his mind was nowhere to be found. His mismatched eyes were locked on her, wide with something she had never seen on him before—shock.

Jinx let out another strangled cry, her back arching again, but Silco didn’t move. He just stood there, hands trembling at his sides, staring like he was watching something he couldn’t understand.

Her vision blurred as she turned her head toward the only other person in the room who actually looked present.

Sevika.

She was standing stiffly by the cradle Jinx had built. She wasn’t looking at the birth happening in front of her—her gaze was locked onto Jinx instead, her expression serious, her brows furrowed dee, and looking so worried, but Jinx didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Another wave of pain crashed over her, and she let out a desperate sob, her entire body shaking both from exhaustion and pain. She didn't know how much time passed. Minutes? Hours? It didn’t matter. She wants to end this NOW.

“Please!” she choked out, her voice breaking as her fingers clawed at the sheets. “I can’t— I can’t!”

Her chest heaved, her vision swimming, her limbs trembling violently. It hurt too much. Her body was giving out. She couldn’t do it.

"You're almost there! Keep pushing!" one of the midwives urged.

Jinx squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head rapidly. "I c-can't!" she repeated, her voice cracking. She didn’t know if she was crying from the pain or the fear clawing up her throat. Probably both. She had faced death before. She had stared down the barrel of a gun and felt the sharp edge of a knife against her skin. But this?

This felt like dying slowly.

"It's crowning!"

Everything was a blur. The pain, the shouting, the hands pressing against her legs, the unbearable pressure in her lower body—it all melted together into one jumbled, agonizing mess. Jinx barely registered the voices around her.

"PUSH, JINX! PUSH!"

She barely even knew where she was anymore. Her head lolled to the side, her body trembling from exhaustion. Her throat burned from screaming, her vision hazy with sweat and tears. She could feel her pulse pounding behind her eyes, feel her fingers digging into the bedsheets so hard they might tear.

“You’re almost there, Jinx! Just one more push! You can do this.”

One more. That’s what they kept saying. Just one more. But she was so tired.

Her body shook violently, her limbs trembling as she slumped back against the pillows, her breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. Her vision blurred, sweat dripping into her eyes, and for a terrifying moment, she felt like she was slipping.

No—no, stay awake!

Her fingers twitched against the sheets, searching, reaching for something—no, someone. A sob tore from her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut, and in the darkness, she saw them.

Vi and their mom.

Her fingers twitched, reaching out for hands that weren’t there. She needed them. Needed them to hold her, to tell her it was going to be okay. To wipe the sweat from her brow, to brush the hair from her face, to squeeze her hand and whisper, You’ve got this, baby girl. We’re right here.

But no, they weren’t here. No one was.

Another sob wrenched its way out, and she opened her eyes, and then, before she even realized she was saying it, the word tumbled from her lips in a desperate, breathless plea:

“D-Dad…”

Her voice cracked, barely more than a whimper. It was strained, but she didn’t care. She needed him. Jinx needed her father. Her only family. Her wide, tear-filled eyes darted across the room, searching for him through the haze of pain. She barely recognized the wrecked, vulnerable look on his face when their eyes met.

Silco stood frozen, his lips slightly parted, his mismatched eyes wide in something dangerously close to fear. Don’t just stand there, you old man! her mind screamed, panic flaring in her chest. I need you!

And then, finally, finally, he moved. She barely registered the moment he dropped to his knees beside her, barely noticing the way his hands trembled as they wrapped around hers, grounding her, anchoring her.

“I’m here,” he murmured, his voice steady even though his grip was too tight, like he was afraid she’d slip away if he let go. “I’m here, Jinx. You’re doing fine. Just breathe. Just breathe, child...”

Breathe... Right, breathe, Jinx.

Jinx sucked in a trembling gasp, her body wracked with exhaustion. She squeezed his hands, clutching onto them with what little strength she had left, as if holding onto him would somehow make this easier. But guess what? It didn’t.

Another wave of pain crashed over her, worse than the last, and she screamed, her back arching off the bed. Silco flinched, but he didn’t pull away. He just held her through it, his knuckles turning white under her grip.

She barely heard the midwife’s voice over the sound of her own ragged breathing. So she clenched her teeth, screamed, and pushed. For a terrifying moment, the world spun. Her vision swam, the edges darkening, her ears ringing as she gasped for breath. And then—

A sound.

A high-pitched, piercing wail.

Jinx’s breath hitched.

The sound was distant like she was hearing it from underwater, but it was real. It was sharp and loud and alive.

Alive...

Her body went still, her fingers twitching weakly in Silco’s grasp. She felt like she was floating, like the whole world had tilted, like everything around her had become too much and not enough all at once.

It cries? she thought sluggishly. I thought it was dead?

Her vision blurred again, and suddenly, other sounds filtered into her ears: their voices and movements, but none of them made sense. It was like she was trapped in some kind of warped dream, her mind struggling to process what was happening.

The darkness at the edge of her vision pulsed, creeping closer.

She tried to refocus. She could see Silco’s mouth moving, could see Sevika’s silhouette standing by the cradle, could see the midwife holding something small and wriggling.

But then...

"....It’s dead."

The words came like an echo, distorted, distant.

Dead?

But it just cried?

What happened?

She tried to speak, tried to lift her head, tried to ask. But the darkness was faster.

It swallowed her whole before she could fight it, dragging her under.

⨲⨲⨲

Jinx’s eyes cracked open, and instantly, she regretted it. Her whole body felt like it had been crushed under tons of weight, like she’d been thrown off a building, dragged through the dirt, and stitched back together with barbed wire. Every inch of her ached, her muscles stiff and sore.

Her throat was dry, probably from all the screaming. Her limbs felt heavy, unwilling to move, but the worst of it all was the dull, throbbing pain lingering deep in her abdomen and below.

For a moment, she just lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling of her room, her mind sluggish, clouded, trying to piece together why she felt like this.

Then, it hit her.

The pain. The blood. The voices yelling at her to push. Silco’s hands gripping hers.

The cry.

Jinx sucked in a sharp breath, her hand flying to her stomach. It was still there, still slightly swollen, but… off. Panic flared in her chest as the memories from the night before came crashing down on her.

She had given birth...

“….It’s dead.”

...with a dead baby.

Jinx’s blood ran cold. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her chest felt tight like something was squeezing the air out of her lungs, but no sobs came. No tears spilled down her cheeks, even as her vision blurred. She wanted to feel that it was only a lie. That her baby's alive.

Jinx pushed herself up from the bed, her body sluggish and aching, but she didn’t care. The moment her feet hit the cold floor, she felt dizzy and lightheaded, but she kept moving. Step by step, she made her way toward the cradle.

Empty.

Her breath came slow, but her chest felt like it was caving in. She lifted a hand, her fingers brushing against the hanging toys. The small mobile spun at her touch, and the soft lullaby playing from its tiny speaker filled the silence.

"Dear friend, across the river.

My hands are cold and bare.

Dear friend, across the river.

I'll take what you can spare."

It was her voice. It was the baby's favorite, so Jinx had recorded it herself. A stupid little idea she had one night when the little shit wouldn’t stop moving. She used to sing that lullaby all the time. And just like that, the baby would settle. As if it had actually listened to her. Now, the sound felt wrong since the song was meant for something that no longer existed.

The door creaked open behind her, and heavy boots stepped inside.

"Jinx!" Sevika’s voice was sharp and urgent. Within seconds, she was at her side, her good arm steadying Jinx, afraid that she could collapse on the spot. “What are you doing?! You're supposed to be in bed.”

Jinx barely reacted. She just stood there, staring at the empty cradle. Her fingers twitched, brushing against the spinning mobile again, watching it move like it still had a purpose.

“Where’s Silco?” Her voice came out rough and rasping, barely her own.

Sevika hesitated. “…Preparing the funeral.”

Jinx’s breath hitched. So, it was really dead. Her eyes flickered up to Sevika, tired and dull. “Where?”

Chapter Text

The years passed in a blur of blood and smoke. Jinx had thrown herself back into the world with a vengeance, carving her place back into Zaun like she never left. Within a month of giving birth, of losing it, she was already back in the Lanes, tearing through the bastards who had dared to think her absence within Silco's side meant weakness. They had been wrong. So wrong. She reminded them why her name was feared. Why Jinx was a name whispered in both awe and terror.

The first few weeks had been rough. Her body still felt… off. Sluggish. Weak. But she pushed through, forced herself to move, to be better.

Days turned to months. Months turned to years. And just like that, the past was nothing more than a bad memory.

Well, almost. 

Mylo and the others still haunted her, whispering in the back of her mind like a broken record. They wouldn’t shut up about it. But she learned to tune them out. To ignore them. To drown them in the noise of bullets and explosions and fire.

The Piltie pigs were still a pain in her ass. So were the Firelights. She had killed plenty of them, and they had killed some of hers. It was the game, the dance they played over and over again.

Then, one day, destiny played its little joke.

Firelights had hijacked another shipment for Silco, same old, same old, when she came face to face with the one leading the charge against her.

And holy shit. It was Bird Boy.

She had been in the middle of shooting down some Firelight grunts, giggling to herself as they scattered like roaches when she caught sight of him.

The same boy who had frozen up the last time they fought?! He was leading the charge against her now?!

Jinx nearly choked on her own laughter. It was so ridiculous... so unbelievable that for a second, she thought her mind was playing some sick joke on her.

Jinx was having fun, killing and killing a Firelight after another Firelight. She could feel her adrenaline surging through her blood vessels. Fueling her thirst for blood. She was doing good, great to be exact, if not just she saw a girl with pink hair, and for a split second, Jinx thought— no, believed that it was Vi.

Which is not! Her sister is dead! A long, LONG time ago. This couldn't be her, right? But the resemblance—

The world tilted for a second. The smoke, the gunfire, the shouts, it all drowned under the hissing sound in her ears.

Jinx inhaled sharply, fingers tightening around the woman's wrist painfully. " V-Vi? " she rasped Her stomach twisted, her vision narrowing on the woman in front of her.

The woman didn’t answer, but Jinx wasn’t really expecting her to. Instead, something worse tore through her mind. Scribbles. Her own thoughts... her past, clawing at her skull.

"Why did you leave me?! ”

"BECAUSE YOU’RE A JINX! MYLO WAS RIGHT!"

Her hands shook. Her vision blurred. The words came like knives, twisting, carving through the cracks in her mind. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Jinx was so preoccupied that she didn’t even realize the woman had moved and didn’t see her set the fire until it was too late.

Flames swallowed the ship in an instant. Jinx inhaled sharply as the fire swallowed the ship, consuming it in a violent blaze of violet and pink. The heat rushed toward her, licking at her skin, pulling her back to her reality.

A gunshot split the air, and the Firelight woman crumpled down to the ground.

Jinx exhaled, zapper still raised, her hands trembling against the trigger. Smoke curled from the barrel.

"NOOOOO!"

The raw, gut-wrenching agony of the scream made Jinx’s head snap up. Birdboy was already by her body, shaking hands and pressing against wounds that wouldn’t close. He was saying something, but Jinx couldn’t hear. Then he turned to her. Even with the mask, she felt the rage burning behind it. Felt it coil and lash out like a beast, hungry to kill, like a fire, ready to consume her whole.

Then he moved. FAST! All Jinx saw was a flash of green and a crack of his staff as he swung. Jinx barely flinched. Instinct took over. She took her mini-gin, Powpow, and squeezed its trigger as she shouted.

Bullets shredded through the space between them. Birdboy twisted out of the way, barely avoiding a direct hit, but the others, his people, weren't as lucky. The Firelights scrambled, dragging their fallen, smoke billowing around them as they vanished into the shadows.

Jinx only stopped when she heard the click of an empty chamber. She stood in the wreckage, panting, sweat sticking strands of blue hair to her forehead. The Firelight woman's body lay still. The flames crackled. The scent of blood and burning metal filled her lungs.

She barely noticed the hand that wrenched her around.

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GUARD THE CARGO!" Sevika’s snarl came like a whip, sharp and biting. Jinx just grinned, still breathless, tilting her head up at the taller woman and glaring.

⨲⨲⨲

"It wasn't a mishap; she froze up and lost her shit... again. I could handle those brats. She's a problem... and we know it all."

As expected. The moment they stepped into The Last Drop, Sevika stomped ahead, wasting no time. Jinx barely had time to roll her eyes before the bitch ogre was already at Silco’s side, throwing a tantrum like some oversized, grumpy toddler.

" We? " Silco finally set his pen down. He leaned back in his chair, turned slightly, and locked his cold gaze onto Sevika. "Who's we ?" 

Sevika only managed to look down as she chugged her drink Jinx’s smirk grew. Ohoho, someone’s in trouble.

SIilco’s eye glinted dangerously. “I expect better from you than excuses, ” he said coolly. “It was your job to ensure things went smoothly.” His glare sharpened. “You failed.”

Jinx had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

Sevika shifted, but she kept her mouth shut. Silco didn’t break eye contact. “Don’t disappoint me again,” he said like a blade, cutting Sevika deep. Then, just as smoothly, he turned his back to her, dismissing her without another thought. Sevika only managed to grunt and left Silco's office like she was about to cry.

Jinx grinned, rocking on her heels. Too bad for her, she mused. Silco will always be on my side. Always.

Silco groaned, tossing his paper onto the table, and massaged his temple. "The world's growing smaller every day. Thanks to the Hexgates. And now, we're cut off." He reached out for his favorite toy and assembled it easily. "The Topsiders are leaving us further and further behind."

After blabbering into the empty chair like a madman like he was (like father, like daughter, I guess), Silco finally spoke up to her.

"What happened?"

"She already told you?" Jinx rolled her eyes and huffed.

“I’m asking you .”

Jinx clicked her tongue, debating whether she should even answer. Then, with a sudden movement, she flipped onto her stomach and let herself fall onto Silco’s desk, limbs folding up as she curled her knees close to her chest.

THUD.

His neatly stacked papers went flying. Jinx rocked slightly in place, her chin resting on her knees. “One of those Firelight wackos was a girl… w-with pink hair.”

Silco made a small noise of acknowledgment. “Hmm.” That was all. No reaction, no surprise. Just understanding.

Jinx barely noticed as Silco turned his chair toward her, offering the syringe he used for his damaged eye. Without hesitation, she reached for it, but in doing so, her fingers brushed against his hand just for a second. Without hesitation, she took it, shifting closer.

She held Silco’s neck, steadying him as she prepared the syringe. Their faces were close—so close she could see the faintest scars on his skin, the dark rings under his eye, and the way he never flinched or pulled away. 

Silco tilted his head, exposing his neck to her like he always did, completely trusting. It was strange sometimes—how much faith he had in her, despite everything. He trusted her.

“Your sister is gone… you know that as well as I do.”

Jinx’s fingers froze for half a second.

Gone.

The word echoed in her skull, bouncing off the parts of her that she refused to acknowledge. Vi is gone. Vi left me. Vi forgot about me. Vi doesn’t care.  But then why.... why did her chest feel so tight?

Jinx forced a laugh, rolling her eyes as she prepared to plunge the syringe in.

“I know... I know! Sisters, right?” She let out a dry chuckle, tilting her head. “Can’t live with ‘em, can’t stuff ‘em back in the ol’ babymaker.” She laughed again at her own joke. Silco, as always, just stared at her with that same bored expression, stoic man as ever.

Jinx huffed, exhaling into the syringe, letting it make a soft whistling sound before flicking it lightly with her fingers.

“Today’s screw-up will set us back weeks.”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she flopped against the back of Silco’s chair, her head dropping beside his, her breath tickling his collar.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, twirling the syringe in her fingers like it was some kind of toy ship. “Phewww∼”

Silco’s eye flicked to her. “I need to know that I can rely on you.”

Jinx kept spinning the syringe between her fingers, watching the needle glint in the dim light. Then, a firm grip on her wrist stopped her. Silco’s fingers tightened around her as he turned to look at her fully.

"I'm doing this for us, Jinx. All of us. The sons and daughters of Zaun deserve more than their runoff."

Jinx yanked her wrist back, her lips twitching slightly at the edges. “It won’t happen again,” she said in a hushed voice.

"I know..."

Jinx exhaled slowly, turning her focus back to the task at hand. She steadied her grip, placed the syringe near his ruined eye, and pressed it down.  Silco groaned, his teeth clenching as he inhaled sharply, his entire body going rigid from the searing pain. His fingers dug into the chair, knuckles white as he heaved, breath labored. Unfazed, Jinx simply sat back down, curling into herself with her knees pressed to her chest, watching how his fingers trembled slightly.

“Sevika will clean up today’s mess,” Silco spoke after his suffering.

Jinx’s nose scrunched up immediately, her face twisting with irritation. “Sevika?!” she scoffed, throwing her arms up. “That ogre couldn’t clean a dust bunny with a blowtorch.” She huffed, kicking at the desk with her boot. Ever since their weird little truce years ago, they were back to hating each other’s guts.

Silco exhaled slowly, pressing his fingers against his now-treated eye. “She’ll suffice. You should focus on your gadgetry.”

Jinx groaned, dramatically looping her arms across his desk, letting her head pressed against the wood.

“Take some time.”

Her breath hitched slightly. “I... I-I don’t need time,” she stammered in a small voice.

Silco didn’t look at her. He simply turned his back. “Take it anyhow.”

Jinx bit the inside of her cheek. Her fingers curled slightly. For a second, she thought about arguing back. Then she didn’t.

With an irritated huff, she pushed herself off the desk and marched out the door, slamming it behind her without another word. Out in the hall, she stuffed her hands deep into her pockets, kicking at the floor as she walked.

Sometimes, I really hate that old man.

⨲⨲⨲

As per Silco's request, Jinx did take some time for herself...

Actually, she lied.

Because, of course, she did. Doing nothing? That wasn’t her style. That wasn’t her. So, instead of wasting away in her hideout, she decided to have a little fun. And by fun, she meant traumatizing the absolute shit out of Piltover.

It had all started with a little rumor she picked up. Between the drunken murmurs in Babette’s brothel, the loose lips of Silco’s goons, and the terrified whispers in Zaun’s streets, she kept hearing about it.

A fancy new project.

Some rich Piltie pricks messing around with Hextech crystals—tiny little things, but with enough juice to work magic. And that got Jinx's attention. So, obviously, she had to get one.

Maybe for her, because the thought of playing with something that powerful made her itch with excitement. But mostly for Silco as a sorry gift. He would be delighted if he saw one. Then, he'll pardon her and be his loving daughter like always she is.

But, who the hell would’ve thought that her “taking some time” would lead to:

1. Creating some of the most amazing weapons she couldn’t have even imagined before.
2. Finding out that her dear, traitorous sister Vi was ALIVE all fucking along!
3. Learning that said traitorous sister was dating some rich Piltover pig officer who had a personal vendetta against her. The audacity of that lesbian bitch?!
4. And, oh yeah—finding out that the Firelight leader, Bird Boy, the one she had been fighting again and again, was actually— the fucking little man, EKKO?!

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Jinx let out a half-maniacal, half-hysterical laugh, but it died on her lips as something ugly twisted in her chest.

Her sister was alive.

Her childhood best friend was leading the gang that was actively trying to destroy everything she built.

And now, both of them, Vi and Ekko, were after her.

Jinx’s breathing hitched, her fingers tightening into fists as she paced, her mind spiraling.

She felt… cheated.

Vi was alive. Had been alive this whole time, living in Piltover after being imprisoned and playing house with some rich Piltie enforcer. And EKko? Had built a whole army behind her back.

And her? What did she have? She had Silco, yes. But he lied to her! But people? People who were hers? People who would never leave her?

…No one.

Vi had moved on. Ekko had moved on. And Jinx?

"They replaced you, Jinx. To them, you are nothing but a small fragment of Powder... a memory. They want Powder back, not you. Not Jinx!" Mylo's voice whispers behind her ear, his voice hollow.

He's right. She got no one. Jinx was still here. Stuck. Frozen in time while everyone else left.

Jinx glared at the retreating figure of Vi and her shiny, pristine Piltie girlfriend, her sharp grin twisting into something feral when Vi’s eyes met hers. For a moment, it was like looking at her in a familiar yet completely foreign way.

She scoffed, dismissing the moment with a wave of her hand. The sound of her mocking laugh followed Vi until her sister disappeared behind Ekko’s frame.

“Oh, look who’s here!” Jinx rasped, her voice dripping with poison. “The Boy Savior.” She tilted her head, watching him, daring him to respond.

Ekko sighed deeply, his shoulders rising and falling before a smirk broke across his face. He let go of his timepiece, letting it dangle and sway from its chain. Its rhythmic motion caught the faint light, glinting through the night.

For a moment, Jinx froze. He changed. The boy who used to look like a twig ready to snap in a strong breeze had grown into something solid. His frame was broader now. He was no longer the scrappy kid she used to tease. Today, Ekko stood tall, holding his baton with purpose, with the weight of being the Firelight's leader etched into every inch of him.

Ekko had changed.

Jinx chuckled, raising Zapper with a smirk plastered across her face. Her surprise melted into looking at him the way a predator sized up its prey.

“Ha!” she barked, loading the weapon. Her blue eyes gleamed under the flickering lights as she shifted her stance, facing Ekko side-on like a duelist ready to make her mark.

Ekko didn’t flinch. He just waited with his baton steady and swaying timer between them. And that made her mad. His calmness grated at her nerves, but it was the fire in his eyes that made her pause. He wasn’t looking at her like he did back then—not with hesitation or guilt. 

Her Ekko had changed.

Today, Ekko was ready to fight her, face her head-on without the weight of the past holding him back.

The air between them grew heavier, wrapping them with silence like a coiled spring ready to snap. Jinx couldn’t stop the manic giggle that bubbled up as she raised two fingers to her head, making bunny ears as if mocking the seriousness of the moment.

With the sharp click of his timer, Ekko moved.

Jinx’s world blurred—time stretching and snapping all at once. And for a brief, fleeting second, she saw him. Not the Firelight leader charging at her with an intention to kill, but him.

She saw a boy, all bright eyes and boundless energy, wielding a toy sword far too big for his small hands. He had a grin that could light up the Undercity, daring and reckless, challenging her to a game she never wanted to lose.

The past rushed forward like a cruel joke. She saw herself, Powder, a child again, pointing her paint-filled gun at him, laughing as she fired bursts of color. He would duck, twist, and leap effortlessly, dodging every attack while laughing. It had been a game, a dance between them, filled with teasing shouts and breathless laughter. But eventually, she’d get him. A single shot of paint would splatter across his chest, and he’d drop to the ground in exaggerated defeat, clutching at the imaginary wound, and Powder would laugh.

She missed him... 

She missed them.

It was just a game then. Always just a game. But now? Now, it was life and death. And this time, if she landed a hit, there wouldn’t be paint staining his clothes. There would be blood.

The vision of young Ekko shattered like glass, replaced by the present—the harsh and unforgiving present. The weight of reality came crashing down, and the playful boy she once knew was gone, replaced by a warrior with fire in his eyes and vengeance in his bones

Her grin twisted into something darker, more desperate, as her fingers tightened on Zapper's grip, knuckles white as she pulled the trigger. The gunfire roared through the air, but Ekko moved effortlessly, instinctively like he had always moved. He ducked, rolled, and twisted around every shot with the same ease he had dodged paint splatters as a child.

Then, in a blink, he was flying above.

Jinx’s breath caught as she looked up, watching him descend toward her, baton raised, ready to strike.

She could have shot him.

He was right there—wide open, completely exposed. A single squeeze of the trigger, and she could put a bullet through his chest before he ever touched the ground.

But she couldn’t.

Flashbacks surged through her mind. Ekko grinned, breathless, as they ran through the Lanes together, weaving between crowds, slipping through narrow alleys, and laughing like they had no care in the world. Ekko sat beside her on the rooftops, painting messy pictures of her on rusted metal; he and she would pose while for his reference. Ekko, bruised and scuffed, offered her a hand after she tripped during one of their games, eyes bright as he helped her up. Ekko and her flipping off enforcers as they rode his bike. Ekko and her dancing like there's no one beside them.

Ekko, trusting her. Being on her side. Life was so better back then.

Jinx’s hands trembled. She couldn’t do it.

Instead, she twisted her wrist at the last second, angling Zapper away, like how Mylo did before. The gunfire erupted wildly, bullets ricocheting in every direction, tearing into walls of the bridge— anything but him.

The impact came a second later.

Ekko’s baton slammed into her head, the force sending her staggering back, pain exploding through her head. She barely managed to catch herself before she fell, gasping through clenched teeth.

Pain crashed through her like a relentless tide, each punch driving her deeper into the cold ground. She tried to resist, to push him off, but Ekko was stronger than she remembered and stronger than she ever wanted him to be.

His fists rained down, full of anger, his breaths ragged with frustration. Jinx barely registered the taste of iron coating her tongue, the warm trickle of blood running down her nose. Her vision blurred, her world reduced to the rhythmic impact of his knuckles meeting her flesh.

She could have fought back. Could have drawn her gun, could have ended it with a single shot. But she didn’t.

Because this was Ekko, she couldn’t hurt him even if he had no problem hurting her.

Ekko’s baton pressed hard against her throat, pinning her down. She wheezed, coughing, trying to find air that wouldn’t come. She heard him snarl through the haze and saw the pure anger and hatred in his eyes as he raised his fist for the final blow.

His fist hovered in the air, his breath ragged, muscles coiled tight and ready to strike. But as he looked down at her, something in his eyes shifted with a flicker of hesitation, of something painfully familiar. His fury, so fierce and blinding a moment ago, began to crack, giving way to the boy she once knew.

Jinx’s vision swam, blurred by the sting of sweat and blood. Her chest heaved as she struggled for breath, the weight of his baton pressing into her throat. But even through the haze of pain, she saw the softness in his gaze, the one that made her heart twist in ways she hated.

Why do you always look at me like that, Ekko?  He was supposed to hate her. To end this madness, to put an end to everything she’d become. But instead, he hesitated

Jinx’s lips quivered, her bruised face pulling into a small, sad smile. She didn’t have much left, not after everything she’d lost, everything she’d destroyed. But she could give him this. One last memory of the girl she used to be. Her fingers loosened around the Chomper, letting it roll from her grasp and fall to the ground between them.

If this was the end, at least she’d make sure the last thing he ever saw…

…was her smile.

He's going to kill her!

For Anna and his comrades she killed without any ounce of mercy. They were all gone because of this monster! They were all gone because of Jinx! She had killed them without mercy. No second thoughts. No hesitation. So neither would he. Ekko’s heart pounded like a war drum, each beat screaming for vengeance. 

Ekko ran as fast as he could, dodging bullets just to reach her, and finally killed her. He had seen that look in her eyes before. A wild and dangerous one, the same twisted grin and the same cruel glint in her eyes that made his blood boil every time he watched her cut down his people like they were nothing. Like they were insects under her boot.

A monster. That’s what she was

He may have had a lucky day because he dodged all the bullets that rained down at him, especially since it all came from Jinx. By the time he reached her, his shaft split against her cheekbone, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. He punched her nonstop. Every punch, every hit—it was for them. For Anna, for his fallen comrades, for every Firelight she had gunned down without a second thought. His fists rained down, fueled by grief, anger, by justice.

Jinx barely fought back. She tried shoving weakly and twisting beneath him, but she wasn’t fast enough or strong enough—not against him.

Good. She deserved this. Jinx deserved all the pain.

His heart pounded violently in his chest, drowning out the world around him. This is it. This is where it ends.

He raised his fist, ready to land the final blow. Ekko’s breath came in ragged and uneven, chest rising and falling as if he had just run a mile, but it wasn’t exhaustion that made his hands tremble. It was rage. His heart hammering so hard against his ribs it felt like it might burst, every nerve in his body screaming for him to bring it down, to finish this, to finally put an end to the chaos she had unleashed on them all.

But the way she looked at him made everything come crashing down.

No, Ekko! She is a monster!

Her wide eyes shimmered under the dim glow of the fire's flickering lights, two oceans of endless, suffocating blue. They were so different now, haunted, bloodshot, rimmed with exhaustion and madness, but still, beneath all of that, they still belonged to Powder.

She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t begging. She just stared at him, and Ekko felt something inside him crack.

His vision blurred. His grip faltered.

No. No, dammit! Don’t stop!

She killed them!

She ruined everything!

She deserves this!

So why did his fists feel so damn heavy?

Why did he feel like the one suffocating?

His breath hitched as he raised his fist for the final blow, but his hands wouldn’t move. His fingers trembled, his whole body locking up.

He couldn’t do it. And he hated himself for it.

Because no matter how much she still looked like Powder, no matter how much those blue eyes looked at him in a manner that he didn't like, the truth was in front of him—  A killer. A destroyer. The reason why his people had suffered.

And yet, every time he faced her, every time he had the chance to end this once and for all, he hesitated.

Just like before. Just like always. It made him sick.

He should be angry. Furious. He should hate her as much as she hated him. But instead, all he could feel was the crushing grief of the past, the unbearable ache in his chest every time he saw her instead of the enemy she had become.

This was his fault.

If he had been stronger back then—if he had reached out more, if he had tried harder—maybe Powder wouldn’t have become this. Maybe she wouldn’t have fallen into Silco’s hands further, wouldn’t have turned into Jinx, wouldn’t have left him standing here, torn between the past and the present, between a friend and an enemy, between love and war.

Jinx took the moment where he was distracted, her fingers moving fast before Ekko even registered what was happening. By the time his mind caught up, it was already too late, and next was a grenade tumbling between them with its pin already pulled. And the last thing he saw before the explosion was Powder's smile.

Ekko barely had time to stumble back before the explosion consumed everything between them. The force sent him flying, his body hitting the ground hard enough to knock the air from his lungs. 

The world spun. His ears rang sharply, high-pitched scream drowning out every other sound. His vision blurred, flickering between light and shadow, and his limbs felt distant and weightless, yet every nerve in his body screamed in agony.

Ekko gasped as his lungs burned, inhaling thick smoke that choked the air from his throat. He coughed violently, the force of it rattling through his broken ribs, sharp pain stabbing deep into his chest. His body screamed in protest as he tried to push himself up.

He cried out, collapsing back onto the scorched ground, his fingers clawing at the dirt as he tried again. His breath came in ragged gasps, and when he coughed again, something warm and coppery spilled from his lips. He barely had the strength to turn his head, spitting blood onto the debris-covered ground.

His mind was hazy; thoughts became sluggish, drowning under the weight of pain and exhaustion until he realized something. His heart lurched.

"P-Powder…" The name barely made it past his lips, weak and trembling, broken between shallow breaths.

No. No, no, no.

A surge of desperation jolted through him, overriding the pain. He gritted his teeth, forcing his arms to push against the trembling ground, muscles burning as he dragged himself up. His legs barely held him, his knees buckling as he staggered forward, one foot dragging after the other. He had to find her.

"P-Powder?!!" His voice cracked, hoarse, and desperate, cutting through the ringing in his ears. His wild gaze swept the battlefield, searching for any sign of her. For a moment, there was nothing. Just the flickering embers of destruction, the suffocating weight of silence.

Then, a cough and a weak, painful groan reached his ears. Ekko’s head snapped toward the sound, his breath hitching in his throat. His eyes locked onto a crumpled figure a few meters away, barely moving.

Powder.

Relief and terror crashed into him all at once. "P-Powder!! J-Just… j-just hang on—" His voice wavered, each word strained as he forced his broken body to move. "I'm… I-I'm coming!"

He stumbled, nearly falling again, but he refused to stop. Because no matter how much it hurt, no matter how much his body screamed at him to collapse, Ekko had to reach her.

Every time he took a step, Ekko could barely keep himself balanced from his shaky and weak legs. His hands scraped against the bridge wall, struggling to keep him upright as he reached her. But when he finally closed the distance, his breath caught in his throat.

Jinx was barely recognizable. Her body was crumpled at an odd angle, her clothes torn and covered in dirt and ash. Her face was streaked with blood and soot, her skin pale, almost ghostly. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, labored breaths. The sight of her in such a state sent a jolt of fear straight through Ekko’s heart.

He dropped to his knees beside her, not minding the rough ground beneath him that probably scraped his knees. His hands trembled as he reached for her, brushing the soot away from her face, his heart pounding with each passing second.

"Powder…" His voice was barely a whisper. Ekko couldn’t afford to lose her.

Frantically, he slid his fingers to her neck, pressing gently but firmly to check for a pulse. His breath caught as he felt her weak and faint pulse,  but it was there. He let out a shaky sigh of relief, his body sagging with the weight of it. But he was still worried; she may have a pulse, but her condition was far from stable.

"P-Powder?" His voice cracked, and he leaned in close, hoping for some sign of life. His fingers brushed against her blood-streaked cheek, and he pleaded softly, "Come on, just… open your eyes. Please…"

With trembling hands, Ekko gently lifted her, maneuvering her into a more comfortable position. He winced at the effort, his body protesting every movement, but he couldn’t stop.

She was slipping away, and he couldn’t let that happen. His mind raced with options, but none seemed viable. There was only one thing he could do now.

"I’m taking you to the Firelight hideout," he whispered to her, though he wasn’t sure if she could even hear him.

But as he prepared to lift her into his arms, a voice shattered the silence, slicing through the air.

"JINX!"

Ekko’s whole body froze, and his blood ran cold. The voice echoed, sharp and filled with panic. He knew that voice. He stood, frozen, his were wide, unable to pull themselves away from her still form. A part of him wanted to stay, wanted to fight whatever was coming, but another part of him wanted to run away and hide.

But how could he just leave her like this?

His pulse hammered, his gaze flickering back and forth between the figure who had called out her name and Powder. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, torn between two impossible choices.

"JINX!"

When he felt the voice becoming louder and clearer, Ekko grabbed his hoverboard and launched himself into the air. The wind rushed past him as he sped away from the bridge with his heart heavy. When he took enough distance, he took one last glance and saw Silco holding Jinx tightly, and his arms curled protectively around her lifeless body. 

Kill... Kill... Kill...

Jinx could still remember herself feeling like she was floating. Weightless... Disconnected.

Kill them all...

She remembers being not inside her body anymore. Looking at herself being dragged through the filth and grime of the Undercity's underbelly. She could see herself... her arms hanging uselessly at her side, blood smearing in dark crimson against the cold metal.

She blinked slowly, and for a second, she saw herself the way she really was. A wreck. A body. A dead girl breathing.

Kill! Kill! Kill! 

She watched Silco's voice breaking as he held her hand but blurring together. He was yelling at Smidge. Barking orders. Begging for her life.

She had never heard him like that before.

Everything around her moved too fast. Too damn fast. Instantly, there was a flash of purple and a needle. Smidge was hovering over her with his face stone-cold. The bright, unnatural glow of the liquid filled her vision, searing itself into her mind as the syringe plunged into her veins.

White-hot pain exploded through her body. Jinx arched off the table, her back bowing, a scream ripping from her throat, and it barely sounded human. Fire spread through her veins, every nerve igniting at once, burning, burning, burning, and burning!

Pain came rushing back, hot and suffocating her in agony, burning in her veins, in her ribs, and in her lungs. The air felt thick, heavy with shimmer, with the stink of blood and metal. Everything around her blurred, shapes twisting, shifting, faces warping into something unrecognizable.

Stop! Stop!

She saw young Vi, that frail, pathetic little thing, laughing. Mocking. And beside her, she saw her younger self, Powder.

Jinx’s breath hitched. "V-Vi?" she rasped, her voice cracking.

The moment the name left her lips, Vi changed. Morphed. Stretched and warped into her older self.  And in her hand was a gun, the barrel pressed against Powder’s head.

Jinx’s stomach dropped.

“You’re sister’s Jinx!” She heard Caitlyn's voice ringing out like a death sentence.

Then—BANG.

The shot rang through the air, deafening her. Then, Powder... was gone, and in her place was Caitlyn

Jinx screamed. "NO! NO! NO!!" Her eyes widened, her body jerking, thrashing, fighting, but she couldn’t move. Straps. Metal. The cold bite of restraints dug into her wrists, her ankles, and her head.

Caitlyn’s face hovered over her now, void of sympathy, void of anything human, as she held the syringe closer to her. Behind her was Vi, smirking as she watched her suffer.

"I understand," Caitlyn said, tilting the needle and watching the liquid slosh inside. "This will be painful."

Jinx’s breath stuttered, chest rising and falling in panicked, uneven gasps. "NO! Noooo!" she screeched, thrashing wildly against the restraints.

"I'm afraid—" Caitlyn’s voice distorted, her face shifting, warping, and suddenly, it wasn’t Caitlyn anymore. It was Smidge. He loomed over her, plunging the fluid into her veins.

Jinx arched violently, a strangled scream tearing from her throat. Her vision shattered, fracturing into jagged pieces of light and shadow, past and present, screams and silence.

And then—

Nothing.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

KILL THEM ALL!

The moment her eyes snapped open, the voices screamed.

Then, she felt a strong need. A craving so intense it drowned out every thought, every feeling, every memory. It clawed at her, dug deep into her skin, and wrapped around her throat.

It whispered, low and insidious, curling around the edges of her mind.

Kill... All of them... All of them!

Violet and her Piltie girlfriend.

I'll kill them all.

Silco...

—

The gunfire stopped.

Jinx stood there, her breaths ragged, her fingers still curled around the trigger of Pow-Pow, even though the barrel was empty. Her entire body trembled, her mind still drowning in chaos, in static, in voices screaming, laughing, whispering.

Smoke curled in the air. The scent of gunpowder mixed with the thick smell of blood. Then, there was silence.

Catching her breath, Jinx's now pink eyes landed on the person slumping in the chair where he had been bound. The light in his mismatched eyes slowly faded. Blood pooled at his side, dripping slowly from the wound she had put there.

Her stomach dropped.

No.

Silco.

Dad.

A choked, broken sound clawed its way from her throat as she stumbled forward, throwing her gun aside as it burned her. Her knees hit the ground in front of him with a painful thud, her hands hovering over his chest, over the blood, over the wounds she gave.

"No, no, no, no, no." Her voice cracked, high and desperate, shaking with each repetition. She pressed her hands against his wound as if she could stop it, as if she could undo her mistake. Silco’s body jerked slightly, a weak, dying breath leaving his lips.

"I'm sorry." Jinx gasped, her voice breaking into sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Tears raced down her cheeks, dripping onto his vest and mixing with the blood.

She had done this.

She had killed him... Her father...

The man who had picked her up from nothing, had taken her in when no one else would, had called her daughter when everyone else called her broken.

Memories came through her mind. His hand in her hair as she rambled about her inventions, his voice murmuring reassurances when she felt the walls closing in, the way he always came back for her.

Despite everything, despite all her failures, all the blood, all the times she had made mistakes that should have cost her everything—

Silco loves her in a way other people couldn't.

Jinx sobbed, her forehead pressing against his chest, her body shaking violently. "I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to—please d-don't leave me, Dad." Her voice cracked, barely a whisper.

She raised her head when she felt his fingers, weak and trembling, brush against her cheek. Slowly, painfully, he turned his head to look at her. His single eye, unfocused and fading, still so, so gentle.

"I never would have given you to them... over anything."

Jinx sucked in a sharp breath, her entire body freezing. Even now, when she had given him every reason to hate her, to cast her aside, he still chose her.

Always her.

A weak, bloody smile pulled at his lips. "Don't cry..." he whispered as the light slowly slipped away in his eyes. "You're perfect."

His chest rose one last time. His hand, once resting against her cheek, fell. His body, once warm, went still and slowly cold.

Her trembling hands cradled his face, her thumbs brushing over his bloodstained cheek. "No..." she whimpered, a fresh sob breaking from her lips. "No, no, no. Come back to me, Dad.... please." She lowered her head, her forehead pressing into his lap, just like she used to when she was little, curling into his warmth as if she could still find comfort there.

She was alone... once again.

Feeling everything drain from her body, grief, anger, hatred, exhaustion, and guilt, Jinx slowly pushed her to her feet with Zapper hanging loosely in her grasp. She took a shaky and uneven glance when she took one last glance at Silco again.

“P-Powder?” Vi’s voice was hesitant and uncertain, as if afraid of what might come next.

Powder's gone.

Jinx sighed long and slow and turned back toward the metal chair, the one she had painted just for herself with JINX scrawled messily across the surface in bright pink. She ran her fingers over the lettering, tapping the armrest once, twice, three times. Then, with a quiet exhale, she sat.

Her arms draped lazily over the chair’s sides, her head tilting back slightly as she closed her eyes. For a moment, she let the silence settle, calming herself. And when she opened them back, a glowing pink and sharp as a knife glare was set on Violet.

“I thought…” she murmured, voice breaking, “maybe you could love me like you used to.” The weight of the words filled the space between them.

Vi flinched, her eyes glistening, her lips parting as if to say something. Jinx waited, but nothing came. Jinx swallowed, shaking her head. Everything inside her felt twisted and ruined.

“Even though…” Her voice caught up like it physically hurt to say the words. “Even though I’m… d-different.” The word tasted bitter in her mouth, like something that never should’ve existed.

She blinked away the sting behind her eyes and scoffed, forcing a smirk, forcing the hurt back down, away, where it couldn’t reach her anymore.

“But you changed, too…” she muttered before forcing herself to stand, grabbing the Hexgem and her gun. The gem pulsed with a bright blue glow, crackling as she absentmindedly turned the small one between her fingers before she slotted it into Fishbones. The shimmer of its blue light from her gun reflected against her skin, casting eerie shadows that danced along her face.

“So here’s to the new us,” she murmured, stepping away.

Vi’s voice still echoed in her ears. Pleading. Desperate. Asking her to come back, to choose her, and to forget all the things that had already burned to the ground. But there was nothing left to go back to. Nothing except the truth. And the truth was she was a jinx. A curse. A walking, breathing tragedy. Everyone who ever loved her either left her or died.

And Vi? Vi was still naïve enough to believe they could fix it.

Stepping out above the building where she could see everything, the city of Piltover stretched out before her, bathed in red. The night was thick with smoke, the distant fires from the bridge cast a deep crimson glow over the buildings, making the world look like it was bleeding.

The Council Chamber stood in the distance, grand and untouchable. How many times had they sat there, deciding Zaun’s fate? How many times had they turned a blind eye, letting people like her suffer and rot?

"Show them... We will show them all." She could still hear Silco's voice behind her back.

Silco's right. He was always right. And tonight, Jinx will show them all.

Her fingers trembled as tears slipped down her cheeks, burning hot against her cold skin.

She pulled the trigger and the missile lit up, a brilliant blue light flaring to life as it roared to life, launching into the air. Jinx screamed, a bare, guttural, heartbreaking sound as the missile surged forward, cutting through the blood-red sky, slicing toward the Council tower, the heart of it all, like a final, irreversible decision. 

The very place where Zaun’s fate had been sealed over and over again. Where their suffering had been decided with ink and pen, with greed and apathy.

They would feel it now. They would feel what it was like to have their world shatter.

Jinx watched as the rocket descended. A beat of silence.

Then, a loud explosion and fire.

A surge of light and a shockwave ripped through the night. The sky bloomed in blue. Smoke curled, debris rained down, and the world trembled beneath the weight of what she had done.

Jinx lowered her gun, breathless, chest rising and falling in ragged, uneven gasps. She turned away, stepping into the night, leaving the flames behind her. Zaun would never be forgotten again.

It was done.

⨲⨲⨲

Well! It’s all going to shit.

The thought barely scraped across Jinx’s mind as she drifted deeper into the Pilt River’s murky water, her arms wrapped tightly around Silco’s lifeless body. The water pressed in from all sides, a heavy, suffocating embrace. Tiny bubbles of air trickled past her lips, floating lazily toward the distant surface. Everything above was light. Everything below was darkness.

They were both sinking, her and Silco, down to the darker part of the river.

Up above, in the world she was leaving behind, the Chembarons were already waiting like vultures, ready to tear the Lanes apart. Petty thugs and wannabe kingpins squabbling over scraps, the streets falling into shambles, just like when Vander was shoved off his throne.

Except this time, there was no Silco to piece it all back together.

No Silco at all.

Her grip on him tightened.

Silco…

She wanted to look away, to keep her eyes closed, to pretend this wasn’t happening, but she couldn’t. Her gaze stayed locked on his face, closed eyes, and parted lips. His body was cold, motionless, and just another weight pulling her further down.

And it was her fault.

Because someone put all these holes in you, huh?

Jinx let out a sob, more air bubbling up between them, her tears vanishing into the river as if they had never existed at all. She hugged him tighter, the same way she had all those years ago when she had lost everything the first time.

Vi used to say I could fix anything. Her nails dug into the fabric of Silco’s coat, before I broke everything.

Her long braids floated around them, wrapping around his body like veins. Like she could physically keep him here. Like he wouldn’t slip away if she just held on tight enough. But nothing was enough.

Her breath hitched violently, her chest spasming. Her body ached to breathe, but she didn’t want to. Not yet. Not when this was the last time she could hold him.

Vi used to say a lot, she and Silco. Always bossing her around. Always telling her what to do. And now— It’s so quiet.

What am I supposed to do with that, Silco?

Jinx’s forehead pressed against his, the cold of his skin burning into hers that will leave a mark on her brain permanently. She forced her eyes shut, willing herself to remember all of him. The way he had smiled at her. Laughed. Argued. The warmth of his voice when he called her daughter.

Her fingers trembled as she finally, reluctantly, let go. The last thing she felt was his hand slipping from hers; his last role in the world of the living was cut.

And Silco began sinking further through the darkness she couldn't reach. Jinx reached for him, her arms outstretched even as he drifted deeper into the darkness, swallowed whole by the abyss.

"Have you had enough?"

Jinx’s eyes snapped open, and she screamed. A raw, ragged sound tore from her throat, her body convulsing, her lungs burning, her head splitting open. The force of it sent a violent ripple through the water, bubbles bursting around her as her mind shattered.

How funny this very river took the two people she cared about, and she had let it.

⨲⨲⨲

Silco’s office was cold. It never felt like this before.

The dim glow of the desk lamp barely cut through the gloom, casting long, stretched-out shadows across the cluttered paperwork. Jinx sat perched on his desk, her knees pulled close to her chest, the faint sound of water dripping onto the papers beneath her. but she didn't care.

She just spun the syringe between her fingers, the one he always used. The metal catching the low light with every rotation. Her thoughts was everywhere but here, and her hears was stinging from the constant voices inside her skull, gnawing at the edges of her sanity. But despite all of it, her eyes never moved from that one spot.

The chair sat empty.

He would never be there again.

Her fingers twitched, the syringe slipping for just a second before she caught it. Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Her lips parted slightly, a shaky breath pushing past them as she tightened her grip on the cold metal.

The door behind her creaked open, then clicked shut. Jinx didn’t move.

"Jinx!" Sevika’s voice cut through the silence like a gunshot. It was tight, but also relieved.

Footsteps. Then, arms, strong as they wrapped around her. Jinx’s breath hitched, her body stiffening as Sevika held her close, her grip firm and desperate, like she had been looking for her forever.

"Jinx," Sevika said again, pulling back just enough to look at her. The news reached me that you bombed the Council. Was it true?"

Jinx barely blinked. Her fingers twirled the syringe lazily. Her expression was cold. She shrugged and nodded.

"And Silco? Where... Where’s Silco? Have you seen him? I’ve been looking for him all over Zaun." She looked toward the darker corners like she expected him to step out from the shadows.

Jinx froze.

For a second, she didn’t breathe. Then, slowly, her lips parted. "He’s gone," she whispered. Jinx forced herself to look at her, her head tilting slightly. "Silco’s dead, Sevika." The words felt like acid on her tongue.

Sevika staggered back a step. “W-What?” Her voice cracked. All emotion was devoid from her face, her arms dropping to her sides. “Who... Who killed him? Was it your sister’s girl—” She stopped. Her whole body went rigid as realization hit her.

Her gray eyes went back to her, narrowing as her jaw clenched. "Y-You... it's you who killed him."

Jinx grinned, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Ting, ting, ting! Absolutely correct!" She spread her arms wide, mocking an applause. Her voice sounded happy, but her face was empty.  "For once, Sevika," she continued, her pink eyes glowing like embers in the dark, "you’re right."

The moment the words left Jinx’s lips, Sevika moved fast. Jinx barely had time to process it before she was slammed back against the desk, the force rattling the papers and sending the lamp teetering. The cold wood pressed against her spine, her legs dangling as Sevika’s hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing it tight. Jinx let out a choked laugh, her fingers twitching around the syringe still clutched in her grip.

Sevika’s face was twisted with rage, and her teeth clenched so hard Jinx swore she could hear them grinding.

"You crazy little shit!" Her voice was low, trembling, not with fear but with barely contained wrath. Her grip tightened, and for a second, the air in Jinx’s lungs locked in place.

Jinx grinned despite the lack of oxygen. “What can I say, Sev?” She gasped out, her voice strained but still dripping with amusement. “Guess even I surprise myself sometimes.”

Sevika snapped. With a furious snarl, she lifted Jinx off the desk and slammed her back down with a sickening crack. The syringe rolled from Jinx’s fingers, clattering onto the floor as black spots dotted her vision. “You don’t get to joke about this, Jinx," she spat, her voice sounding venomous. “You don’t get to stand here and act like it’s all some twisted game.”

Jinx coughed, her nails digging into Sevika’s arm, but she didn’t fight back. Didn’t try to stop her. She just stared up at her, pink eyes wide, like she was daring her to go through with it.

“You have no idea what you just did,” Sevika growled, her breath ragged as her grip tightened around her. “Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to Zaun now?! Do you even care?!”

Jinx giggled, the sound hollow, her lips curling into something sad and broken. “Zaun’s been dying for years, Sev. Just needed a little push.”

Sevika’s vision blurred with red. She could snap her neck right now. It would be easy.

So easy.

Her fingers flexed as she struggled to keep control, to stop herself from doing something she might regret. But then Jinx did something that made Sevika’s blood run cold. She leaned forward against the grip strangling her, and with that manic, knowing grin, she whispered, “Do it.”

Sevika’s breath was ragged, her chest heaving as she stared down at the girl beneath her. The girl who had taken everything.

Silco and the order he had built from the ashes of nothing. Her only friend... was gone because of her.

Sevika felt something crack inside her. She wanted to do it. Fuck, she needed to do it. Needed to make her pay. Her fingers trembled, and then— She let go.

Jinx dropped like a ragdoll, slumping against the desk, coughing violently as air flooded back into her lungs. She didn’t look surprised. Just… disappointed. Sevika took a step back, fists clenched, trying to steady her own breathing. Her entire body felt like it was on fire.

Jinx wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand, smearing the spit and blood that had gathered there. Then, slowly, she looked up at Sevika, pink eyes glimmering with so much sadness, heavy enough for her to bear.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Jinx tilted her head, her voice hoarse but laced with amusement. “Not mad enough, huh?”

Sevika turned on her heel and stormed toward the door. She needed to get out. Now. But before she left, she stopped at the threshold, gripping the doorframe so tightly her knuckles turned white. Without looking back, she spat out her final words.

“You’re on your own now, kid.”

And then with that, she was gone.

⨲⨲⨲

The day started like any other. Well, as normal as it gets in Undercity. The air reeked of pollution, burnt oil, and old metal, with the sun barely bothered to shine through the dark sky.

Jinx kept her hood up, the cloak draped over her as she weaved through the alleyways. The fabric clung to her shoulders, doing its best to keep her hidden from the prying eyes of the hungry Zaunite. Willing to do anything for a bounty.

After she bombed the Council, which caused death to the three councilors (rightfully so), Jinx was playing safe, lying low until things cooled off. Her identity wasn’t exactly a secret anymore, not with wanted posters plastered on every crumbling wall and corner of Zaun. The enforcers were trying hard to catch her. Really hard.

Not that she minded the attention. If anything, she thrived on it. But there was a limit to her tolerance, especially when the posters featured an ugly and exaggerated mockery of her fucking face. It was contorted into an almost cartoonish level of madness, her wide, unblinking eyes drawn as if they were about to pop out of her skull. The furrowed brows and the unnaturally sharp angles of her features seemed to scream unstable at anyone who looked at it.

Well, sure, she is mad, Jinx would never deny that, but the way they’d inked her image made it seem like she was foaming at the mouth or moments away from biting someone’s head off.  Tsk, they could’ve at least made me look cool. Pathetic.

She pulled her hood lower, glancing over her shoulder as she walked. No one seemed to notice her. Good. She didn’t need another reason to start shooting. Jinx just wanted to pick up some supplies and maybe tweak Fishbones later. That baby needs a little more upgrade to kill more enforcers.

A little alone time with her inventions. Jinx nodded. Yeah, that’s what exactly she needed.

As Jinx continued to walk, a sharp cry caught her ears, yanking her attention upward. Someone was fucking falling FAST!

What the hell? Jinx doesn’t remember having rainy weather for today, but instead of rain, it was a human falling.

She barely had time to react before the falling human being, a tiny human in a helmet and goggles, collided with her. The impact knocked her flat on her back, and she hit the ground with a loud sound. Jinx sat up slowly. Her movements slowed as she processed what had just happened. Her head tilted, and her pink eyes narrowed into sharp slits, the shimmer bubbling in her veins, begging to be let loose. Who in their right mind thought they could just fall on her?

She glared down at the tiny figure sprawled across her lap, her fingers twitching as she considered reaching for one of her weapons. But then the kid sat up, sniffled, and wiped the snot off her face with a trembling hand.

Brown hair... Golden eyes...

Jinx froze in her spot.

The kid was small, no older than five or six, smaller than most street rats she’d seen around Zaun. She has messy brown hair that stuck up in every direction. Her golden eyes, wide and terrified, darted up to meet Jinx’s, and the moment their gazes locked, the kid visibly trembled, shrinking into herself like a scared pup.

Jinx's annoyance simmered down just a pinch. She hated when her plans got interrupted, but this? A scaredy kid? That was a new one. Before she could say anything, she heard voices above.

“Oi, brat! You think you can run forever?” one of the thugs sneered, leaning over the edge of the enormous broken pipe.

Jinx's gaze flicked upward, spotting three large goons standing on the jagged metal above them. They clearly belong to Chembarons, Jinx thought. The three thugs didn’t waste any time sliding down the wall, their weapons glinting under the Undercity's dull light.

The kid whimpered and scrambled closer to her, clutching at Jinx’s cloak like her life depended on it. Jinx stiffened, leaning back slightly as the kid’s trembling hands tightened around the fabric. She wasn’t used to people getting this close, not without trying to stab her or blow something up. The touch felt foreign and unsettling, but Jinx didn’t just shake her off.

The thugs reached the ground instantly, their boots clanging against it. One of them twirled a baton in his hand, creating a sharp whistle as the weapon cut through the air. “Looks like you got some company,” the tallest one said, his voice low and mocking. “How ‘bout you come back with us, kid? Or maybe we’ll teach you a lesson first.”

The kid whimpered again as tears began to well up in her eyes. She didn’t cry, at least not yet, but Jinx could feel her small frame trembling like a leaf in the wind. The sight made something snap inside Jinx.

Of all the things she hated about people, the one that burned her the most was people like them. Grown adults are preying on those weaker than them. Bullies who picked on those who couldn’t fight back. If they were gonna mess with someone, at least pick someone their own size. Not someone who was too weak even to lift a stick.

It made Jinx remember her old self—the scared, helpless little girl who was too weak to fight, the one who cowered and ran away first.

Her jaw clenched as the memories flashed through her mind, uninvited and unwelcome. She hated feeling weak, hated remembering. But the kid’s trembling hands and tearful eyes darting toward the bad guys were too familiar.

Her lips curled into a crooked smile. Slowly, she let her hood slide back, revealing her face to the thugs.

They froze mid-step. Their cocky smirks melted away, replaced by wide-eyed recognition. One of them, the smallest of the three, muttered, “J-Jinx…” under his breath as if saying her name too loudly might summon death than they could handle.

The fear in their eyes was almost satisfying. Almost.

Jinx shifted slightly, still seated, her hand gently cradling the kid’s head to duck. Then, with a swift motion, she pulled out her beloved Zapper and aimed it at them. Sitting comfortably, her finger found the trigger, and with a crackling burst of bright pink light, the first thug went down, and then the second, and the third one.

It was very satisfying to see.

Sparks danced in the air, the sharp scent of ozone lingering as their bodies hit the ground, twitching and groaning in pain. Jinx leaned back, casually blowing the pink smoke curling from her gun, a bored expression etched across her face. Her shimmering pink eyes drifted down to the kid, who peeked out from behind her hands, ears still clamped tightly shut.

With an exaggerated sigh, Jinx lowered the gun, only to suddenly whip it back up and point it at the kid.

“You feel it?” she asked, shaking the gun slightly. The kid flinched but didn’t move far, her wide golden eyes fixed on the weapon. Jinx tilted her head, her voice dripping with a twisted kind of amusement. “That...”

She swished the gun in the air, making an exaggerated wishow, wishow sound as if imitating something. Then, she playfully tapped the body of the gun against her own cheek. Her gaze, half-lidded but intense, returned to the kid.

“...that buzzing behind your eyes?”

The kid blinked, frozen in place. Jinx shifted the gun again, pointing it back at the kid, her grin widening. “Because you know,” she started, her voice dropping to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper, “in a moment, it could all...”

She spun the gun to her own temple, miming pulling the trigger, then flicked it away with a quick “phew!”  and a chuckle.

“Hmm...” Jinx leaned forward again, pointing the gun back at the kid, but she wasn’t scared anymore; Jinx noticed. It was more like looking at her with admiration. Crazy kid. “Best feeling in the world, kid,” she murmured, her grin softening into something more wistful, though the edge of madness never left her eyes.

The kid’s head tilted, her gaze slowly drifting to the side, where a wall was plastered with dozens of ugly, smudged wanted posters. Jinx followed her eyes and groaned, rolling her own in exasperation when she saw the familiar crude drawings of herself.

“Yep!” she said dramatically, standing up and tossing the kid’s helmet into her hand. She spun it casually before plopping it back onto the kid’s head. “That’s me. You ever need to curse a sibling, a family, or, I dunno, a whole society...”

She tipped the helmet, blocking the kid’s view entirely before spinning on her heel, her cloak billowing slightly as she began to walk away. “My card!” she called out, pointing lazily to one of the posters on the wall.

Behind her, one of the goons let out a weak groan. Jinx didn’t bother looking back. She didn’t need to. They wouldn’t be standing up anytime soon. Pulling the hood of her cloak back over her head, Jinx disappeared into the swirling smoke, leaving the girl alone.

Chapter Text

Isha spent the next of her days running away in the streets. She had managed to escape the mine, but she still wasn’t free. The men were still after her life.

At night, she sought refuge wherever she could—beneath rusted bridges, inside abandoned pipes that carried foul, toxic water, or huddled beneath stacks of discarded machinery. The air around her reeked of the industry: thick, oily, and suffocating. She overheard small conversations with strangers as she darted through the streets and alleyways, piecing together the name of this dark, sprawling undercity. Zaun.

Isha had to learn quickly to navigate this dangerous world. She scavenged food from trash heaps, stale bread, or half-eaten scraps tossed aside by the fortunate few. Sometimes, she lingered near food vendors in crowded markets, her small hands darting out to snatch a fruit or loaf of bread before vanishing back into the shadows.

But the streets were merciless. More than once, she was caught. Once, an angry merchant grabbed her wrist. Another time, a gang of older children cornered her in an alley as they took the loaf of bread she'd stolen. She learned to stay out of sight, to move quickly and silently, to disappear into the maze of Zaun before anyone could notice her.

The night came. As she lay awake, curled inside the massive rusted pipe, feeling the cold metal against her skin, Isha heard voices nearby. They were muted at first, then louder as they approached. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as she heard the men's familiar voices.

“She couldn’t have gotten far,” one growled. “Keep looking. Boss doesn’t pay us to fail.”

Isha’s heart raced. The men who had hunted her since the mine were here. Panic gripped her, but she forced herself to remain still, biting down on her trembling lips to keep herself from making a sound.

The footsteps grew fainter, then vanished altogether. She exhaled shakily, pressing her forehead against the cool, damp metal, and held her helmet close to her heart.

One evening, as she walked through the dark streets of Undercity, looking for someone to rub for food, a firm hand gripped her shoulder. Her heart pounded as she looked up and saw three men in business coats with their weapons hanging at their sides.

"There you are, little kid," one of them sneered. "Come with us if you still want to live."

"Mmm!" Isha yanked her arm free and fled, sprinting down the narrow alleys, weaving through the towering pipes of Undercity.

She risked a glance over her shoulder and the men were still chasing her. One of them lunged, fingers grazing her sleeve, but she twisted away and bit down hard on his hand before tearing free.

Her lungs burned, her legs ached, but she kept running. Then, ahead of her, she spotted the broken pipe that hung over and should be connected to another. It was a dead end. She slides to a stop, looking down at the terrifying drop below. She hesitated, her heart hammering, but an approaching men told her she had no choice. The men were closing in fast. She turned forward and braced herself, and before they could reach her, Isha took a deep breath and jumped.

Her fingers caught the edge of the pipe, her body dangling dangerously over the drop below. Her arms burned as she tried to pull herself up, but the surface was slick, making her grip slip. She kicked her legs, straining, gasping, and... fell down below.

"Ahhhhhh!!" she screamed, thinking that this day must probably be her death.

However, the ground she expected she would fall on turned into someone's. Isha crashed into a person, the impact sending them both sprawling to the ground. A sharp grunt escaped her mouth as she hit the person, her breath momentarily knocked out of her. She wiped at her nose with the back of her hand, sniffling as she scrambled up to apologize, but the words died in her throat the moment she looked up.

A pair of glowing pink eyes burned into her, sharp and dangerous, pinning her in a place like prey caught in a predator’s gaze. Isha's body locked up and quivered, fear clawing up her spine. She thought the woman would hurt her, too, but her pink eyes softened, and she looked up to where she had fallen.

Isha followed her gaze, her stomach twisting when she saw the men from before scaling the walls and gliding down fast.  She scooted back on the ground, legs trembling, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She had realized that her back was now near to the woman's.

The thugs landed with a heavy sound, their boots clanging against the ground. One of them smirked, twirling a baton in his hand, the sharp whistle of it cutting through the tense air.

“Looks like you got some company,” the tallest one drawled with amusement. His gaze flicked to Isha, then back to the woman. "How ‘bout you hand the brat over nice and easy? Or maybe we make things fun and break a few bones first?"

A shiver ran down Isha’s spine. Her breath hitched as fear clawed at her throat. She curled into herself, pressing closer to the woman, her small body trembling. Tears welled in her wide eyes, blurring the figures of the men in front of her. She didn’t know this woman or know if she was kind or cruel, if she would help or simply step aside. But at that moment, with nowhere left to run, she could only hope that whoever she was, she wouldn’t let them take her.

She felt the woman behind her shift slightly, and in an instant, the men who had been so confident just seconds ago stiffened. Their smirks faltered, their postures grew tense, and their hands twitched toward their weapons.

She barely had time to look up to the woman before a firm hand pressed against the back of her head, forcing her to duck. And then—

Gunfire.

The deafening roar of gunfire shattered the air. Isha flinched, her small hands covering her ears as she crouched low. The sound reverberated in her chest, each shot sending a jolt through her trembling body.

The next thing Isha heard was the body hitting the ground loudly. When she realized that no sound followed, she slowly peeled her hands away and looked around. Her breath came out short and shaky when she saw that the men who were after her were stilln't moving.

She swallowed hard, wide, unblinking eyes darting up to the woman, the one she had crashed into, the one who had just taken them all down without so much as standing up. The hood had slipped back, revealing her fully now clean blue hair in braids, the neon pink eyes that were still glowing faintly under the low light, and the manic grin twisting at her lips.

She was about to cry when the woman raised her gun up, pointing it lazily at her forehead. Isha’s breath caught in her throat, her golden eyes wide with panic as her fingers dug into her knees

“You feel it?”

Isha blinked, confusion cutting through the haze of her fear. Feel what? She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, as the woman swished the gun back and forth, making playful sound effects. It would’ve been funny if it weren’t so terrifying. The gun tapped against the woman’s cheek, her head tilting as her eyes narrowed, a wicked grin stretching her lips.

“That buzzing behind your eyes?”

Isha swallowed hard, her mind racing. Buzzing? Behind her eyes? No—there was nothing there but the faint pulse of terror pounding in her temples. She didn’t know what this woman was, but she knew she wasn't in her right mind.

When the gun spun toward the woman’s own head, Isha flinched. She gasped, her hands almost shooting up as if to stop her, but the woman mimed pulling the trigger with a joyful"phew!" that sent Isha’s stomach into knots. It was absurd. It was horrifying. But it was impossible to look away.

When the gun was pointed at her again, Isha froze, but this time, something inside her shifted. Her fear, while still very real, was no longer all-consuming. Her gaze flicked between the woman’s eyes and the gun. The fire behind her stare was wild and untamed, but there was something else. Something like freedom. Something like power. Isha wasn’t sure if it was admiration or madness taking root in her chest, but the fear began to fade.

“Best feeling in the world, kid,” she murmured, her voice quieter now, laced with something strange and wistful.

Isha’s lips parted, but no words came out. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to process the storm of emotions churning inside her. All she knew was that, at that moment, she couldn’t look away from the woman.

Isha’s wide eyes flicked toward the wall. The jagged edges of a wanted poster curled in the wall. Some of it was smudged, but she could still see the wild blue hair and face. The words beneath the image read PILTOVER WANTED.

Jinx.

The name alone sent a fresh admiration down Isha’s spine, realizing who that woman is. She had heard the stories. Everyone in Undercity had. A crazy woman with the bombs and the gun, laughing while she tore people apart. The unhinged menace that even the toughest of criminals avoided. The girl who ruled the Undercity. 

Jinx.

And now… that woman was right in front of her.

Isha sat frozen at her spot, feeling impossibly small as those creepy, glowing pink eyes flickered down toward her.

"Yep! That’s me. You ever need to curse a sibling, a family, or, I dunno, a whole society..."

The woman stood up, a helmet clunked back onto Isha's head, and the world momentarily dimmed. The faint metallic scent of old sweat and the dirt of her old helmet filled her nose. Isha’s breath hitched as she clutched the sides, adjusting it with her fingers. When her vision cleared, she looked up just in time to see Jinx spinning on her heel, her cloak sweeping around her like smoke in the wind.

For a long moment, Isha just sat there, frozen. Her chest heaved, though no sound escaped her lips—only the shallow rhythm of her breath, fast and uneven.

"My card!" It was her voice that Isha heard the last thing before Jinx walked away. The smoke swirling around her seemed to swallow her whole, and the sound of her boots fading into the distance echoed in Isha’s mind long after she was gone.

Her heart beats fast from so much admiration. Isha had spent her whole life in the shadows, skittering like a rat through the cracks of Zaun, trying to be small, trying to be invisible. But that woman? She is the force of nature that people feared, respected, and whispered about in hushed and scared voices.

She was everything Isha wasn’t.

Fearless. Untouchable. Free.

Her gaze drifted back to the posters, her eyes locking onto Jinx’s. The very blue hair, the frown on her face, and the pink eyes burned like fire. Isha reached out slowly, her fingers brushing the edge of one of the papers before tearing it down, folding it carefully, and tucking it into her clothes. Her hands lingered for a moment, brushing over the pocket

Isha let out a slow, shaky breath, her golden eyes burning. She wanted to be like that. Isha wanted to be like her. To stand tall. To make people fear her name. To never cower, never beg, never be trapped in a box or a cage or a closet ever again.

Isha stood up slowly. Her fingers tightened over the folded poster in her pocket as she took a hesitant step forward. Then another.

She swallowed hard, adjusting the helmet Jinx had so casually placed on her head. It was too big, slightly askew, but she didn’t fix it. Instead, she took a deep breath and moved.

One foot in front of the other. Following the path Jinx had taken.

⨲⨲⨲

"So whose kid is that?"

"Dunno. Why don’t you ask her since you’re the one so curious?"

"Tsk."

Isha had been watching the fireworks and catching the sparks that fell from the air, her wide eyes tracing the way the glowing embers drifted down like fallen stars. But at the sound of their voices, her attention snapped to the two figures looming over her.

One had striking pink eyes and wild blue hair, a sharp grin tugging at her lips. The other was taller and broader, her intimidating frame radiating danger, like she wouldn’t hesitate to snap Isha in half if given the chance, like what she did on the talking rat a while ago. Isha could still hear his bones snapping into halves as she crushed him with her bare hands. And yet now, she was standing casually and having a full conversation like it was just another ordinary day.

A cold weight settled in her chest. Instinctively, she took a cautious step back. Yeah, she is amazing but also terrifying.

"Fine, fine. You ugly baby."

Jinx nudged Isha’s shoe lightly with the tip of her own boot. "Did you just follow me here?" she asked, tilting her head.

Isha didn’t answer; she just stared at her with wide, golden eyes. Jinx huffed and nudged her shoe again, a little firmer this time.

"Did ya hear me, kid?"

After a beat of silence, Isha gave a small nod and let out a low grunt in response.

Jinx raised a brow. "Got parents? ‘Cause I bet they’d be real thrilled to know who you’re following around."

Isha shook her head. They're dead... long dead, she thought.

"Ah. Another orphan, I see," Jinx mused, rocking back on her heels before turning toward the taller woman beside her. "See that, woman? Did that satisfy your curiosity?"

Sevika didn’t answer. She wasn’t looking at Jinx anymore. Her cold gray eyes were fixed on Isha, studying her with an intensity that made the little girl run away. Isha cowered, gripping the edge of Jinx’s pants as she peeked at the older woman. But Sevika didn’t remove his gaze or at least blink. She just watched her, like she was peeling her apart layer by layer.

Jinx clicked her tongue. "Ugh. Stop doing that, Sevika. You’re scaring the kid with your ugly face."

Finally, Sevika’s gaze flicked away, but not before she rolled her eyes, lips curling into a slight frown. "I’ll see you when the plan’s set," she said, turning on her heel and walking off without another word.

Jinx hummed, nodding dramatically. "Mmm! Looking forward to it, big guy."

Sevika didn’t look back. "Throw that stray away," she called over her shoulder. "She’ll just be a nuisance to us."

When Sevika was no longer in their sight, Jinx put her hands on her hips and then glanced down at Isha. "Ya heard her?" She tilted her head lazily to the way where Sevika went. "Now, shoo. I’m not fit to be your babysitter."

Without waiting, she took off, sprinting toward the nearest wall before leaping onto a ledge. In a fluid motion, she grabbed onto the edge of the building and hoisted herself up easily, disappearing over the top.

Isha watched, her mouth slightly open. W-What... Why was she always running? Her brows furrowed, and her hands curled into fists in frustration.  Without thinking, she took off after her.

Wait for me! Her little legs struggled to keep up as she scrambled toward the base of the building. Her little legs burned with effort. I just got little legs!

The streets of Zaun were dangerous. Very, very dangerous. Not only that, it was also noisy, filthy, and reeked of chemicals and pollution. If someone weren’t careful, they’d probably end up dead.

But not her.

Isha knew these streets like the back of her hand. It was where she belonged—and had been since her new family sold her. Though that doesn't mean that she looked graceful as she navigated them—she scrambled over rooftops like a clumsy spiderling, gripping the jagged edges with small, unsteady hands. But she was still just a kid. She had time to learn.

From her wobbly feet, Isha's golden eyes traveled up ahead to the blue-haired woman who moved across the rooftops like it was a game. She jumped like danger was her closest friend, like falling wasn’t even a possibility.

She had to be crazy. Or maybe not. Isha wasn’t sure. She was supposed to stay far, far away from someone like her, yet something about her felt… safe even though she had the kind of face that said otherwise.

Isha didn’t know why she was following her. She hadn’t planned this. It wasn’t logical. But something in her gut told her to keep moving and chasing. Maybe it was because of how effortlessly the woman fought. Or maybe it was because, for once, someone had saved her without asking for anything in return. No one had ever done that for her before.

She scrambled faster, her fingers stinging as they gripped rough, crumbling concrete. But the lady moved so fast, so Isha did, too. She probably thinks she can lose her. Well, I wish her tough luck because Isha wasn’t letting her out of her sight. Not now. Not ever.

Jinx muttered something over her shoulder, and Isha barely caught what it was all about,  but the frown on her face and the way she rolled her eyes said it all. She wasn’t happy about her tagging along. Still, Isha followed her, hopping from rooftop to rooftop. Her foot slipped once on a loose tile, and her palms scraped against the rough rooftop edge as she caught herself, but Isha just ignored the sting. Pain was nothing new to her.

Then came the last jump.

The gap was farther than any of the others they'd crossed so far, but the lady barely paused. Her movement was so effortless as she launched herself into the air, landing gracefully on the lower building and then on the bottom below.

Isha only managed to stare at her wide eyes in awe. She made it look so easy!

Isha glanced down, and her stomach twisted. The bottom was far—too far. If she fell again, there’d be no lucky landings this time. The rooftop beneath her feet suddenly felt ten times higher, the edges sharper, and the wind felt colder against her skin. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. She looked up just in time to see the blue-haired woman walking away, putting more distance between them.

No!

Her pulse pounded in her ears. She couldn’t let her get away. Not now. Not after everything.

Sucking in a shaky breath, she stepped back, willing her legs to move despite the terror coiling in her gut. I can do this. Pain wasn’t new to her. Fear wouldn’t stop her now.

Before she could second-guess it, she bolted forward. The rooftop blurred beneath her feet as she raced toward the edge. And then, with a final push, she jumped.

For a split second, she felt weightless. Flying.

I can do this! I can—

"Alright, kid! See ya, never—" Her voice cut off.

Isha’s feet missed the ledge. The world tilted, the sky twisted, and the ground rushed toward her. A scream tore from her throat, arms flailing, and mind screaming. But instead of slamming onto cold, filthy concrete, she crashed into something soft. No—someone soft.

"Oof!" The lady's voice erupted beneath her, the sound of impact punching the air from her lungs.

Isha’s eyes widened in horror. No, not again!

Her limbs scrambled beneath her, pushing herself off as quickly as possible, hands flying to clutch the oversized helmet on her head like it might tumble off. Her heart slammed against her ribs, every frantic beat screaming the same thing: She’s gonna kill me. Please, no. This wasn't my fault. I just lost my footing.

Every instinct told her to run. She’d been in situations like this before—she knew what happened next. A slap. A punch. Maybe worse. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for it. But… nothing happened.

Isha cracked one eye open, barely breathing. The woman only groaned. Annoyed or frustrated, but not angry. With a grumble, she shoved Isha off her—not with the force of someone looking to hurt her, but with the kind of exasperation that came from dealing with an inconvenience.

“That’s twice now, kid,” she muttered, rubbing her ribs. “And let me tell you, there’s not gonna be a third.”

Isha sat there, frozen, wide-eyed, and breathless. Every muscle in her body remained tense, waiting and expecting a blow that never came.

Instead, the woman sighed, shaking her head as she pushed herself to her feet. Her sharp gaze flicked down at her, scrutinizing but lacking the anger Isha had braced for.

“Get it together, kid,” she muttered, brushing off her clothes.

When Isha didn’t respond, the woman exhaled sharply.

“Uh, hellooo?? I've been talking to you since ages. Seriously, do you even talk?” she snapped, waving a hand in front of Isha’s face.

The girl flinched, shrinking under the weight of her piercing stare. Her hands curled into trembling fists at her sides, her lips pressing together as if trapping words that simply wouldn’t come.

They wouldn't. She tried many, many, many times, but the words still wouldn't spill from her mouth. Years had passed, yet the silence never left her even after she was free because deep inside her, part of her was still there. Trapped in the dark and still waiting for someone to open the door.

Silence...

The woman huffed, crossing her arms. “Wow. Great convo. Real deep,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. The sarcasm should have stung, but it didn’t, not when Isha had heard worse. Felt worse.

Isha tilted her head slightly, still watching her.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” the woman scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. “I don’t do charity cases.” Suddenly feeling all her patience drained inside her body, Jinx jabbed a finger in Isha’s direction. “Got it? You’ve got legs. They work. Use ’em and get lost.”

But Isha didn’t move. She wouldn't.

Her lack of response made the woman’s expression darken, and for a brief moment, Isha thought she really would shoot her just to be rid of her. Her breath hitched as the woman crouched back down, bringing herself level with her. The barrel of her gun hovered close—too close.

She waved it lazily like she was swatting at a fly. A warning. Isha recoiled, pressing herself further against the rooftop.

“Hello?” the woman drawled. “Am I talking to a wall?”

Still, no response.

The woman rolled her eyes. “You got a name, kid, or do I have to call you ‘Dumb Stalker’?”

Isha’s lips parted. Her chest tightened as she tried to force out a sound, a word, anything.

Nothing came.

A pathetic, barely-there squeak slipped past her throat, her voice failing her entirely. Shame burned hot in her cheeks. Her fingers curled tighter around the edges of her helmet as if holding onto it would somehow anchor her.

The woman’s smirk faltered. “Oh.” Her voice was different now. “Ohhh.” Something shifted in her sharp features, something almost pitying. Her gaze softened, and she let out a flat, humorless laugh.

“You’re broken, huh?” The word cut like a blade, deep and made her heart bleed.

Isha flinched.

The woman exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. “No wonder you’re following me. Let me guess, nobody else wanted ya either, huh?”

Isha’s lip trembled, and she bit down hard to keep it still. Broken.

Was that what she was? Something damaged, something unwanted?... Maybe.

Maybe if she weren’t, her family would still be here. Maybe if she weren’t, she wouldn’t be alone. The ache in her chest swelled, pressing against her ribs like a living thing. She fought against the sting building behind her eyes, but the wobble in her lip betrayed her.

Jinx's sharp gaze flickered, pain and pity maybe. Then, almost too quickly, she looked away.

“I mean, uh, yeah, cool. That’s fine,” she muttered as if trying to undo what she’d just said. Her fingers drifted to the end of her braid, twisting a loose strand between them.

Then, so quietly it was almost lost to the wind, she spoke, “Guess that makes two of us.”

Isha blinked, startled. She wasn’t looking at her anymore. Her face was cold, but her voice was soft and full of pain. Had she just said they were the same?

Jinx caught the girl's expression and groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically as she crossed her arms. “Don’t look at me like that!” she huffed, waving a hand toward the streets behind them. “Now get lost, okay? Shoo!”

But the Isha didn’t move. Her feet stayed rooted to the ground as if they had become part of the rooftop itself. Where would I even go? This woman was the first person in forever who had even bothered to notice her. Sure, she had yelled and threatened her, but she had also protected her. That was more than anyone else had done.

So she stared, looking at her with those cute, big golden eyes as if saying: Don’t send me away.

The woman groaned loudly, spinning in place and yanking at her braids like she was on the verge of a full-blown tantrum. “Oh, c’mon! Why me?” she whined, stomping her foot against the rooftop like a child denied candy. Yet, even with all her protests, Jinx didn’t walk away. Not really.

She stomped a few steps forward, muttering to herself, only to pause. Her body hesitated, tense with an internal battle she wasn’t quite winning. Then, slowly, she glanced back over her shoulder. Her sharp pink eyes met Isha's, and for a moment, it seemed like she might tell her to scram again.

But instead, she sighed. A deep, tired sound of defeat. Then, without another word, she started walking again. Faster this time.

Isha's heart shattered. She looked down at her shoes, feeling her vision becoming blurry. That’s it, she thought. She’s leaving me, just like everyone else.

Her chest tightened, the familiar weight of abandonment pressing down on her ribs. She had dared to hope, and now that hope was slipping through her fingers, vanishing into the cold, empty air—

"You coming or not, kid?"

Isha's eyes widened, and she abruptly raised her head. The woman didn’t turn fully, just enough to glance at her out of the corner of her eye. She waved a hand in a jerky motion.

She froze, blinking in disbelief and feeling her stomach flip. Kid? Was that… her? For a second, she couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe. The question felt surreal and impossible for Isha. Was she letting her come with her?

“Don’t just stand there like a dummy. Come on,” the woman grumbled. She turned away again, stuffing her hands in her pockets as she muttered under her breath, “Why do I even bother…”

Isha didn’t need to be told twice. Her legs sprang into motion, scrambling to keep up with the woman. The weight in her chest lifted just a little. And for the first time in what felt like forever, a faint smile curled at the edges of her lips.

"I'm back!" the woman shouted as she kicked the metal door open. The crash of metal and the echo of her voice made Isha flinch.

Her place was strange, like a giant old fan frozen in time. It's weird but better than the streets. Isha hesitated at the doorway, one foot in, one foot out. The air smelled sharp, a mix of gunpowder, smoke, and burnt wires. Neon blue and pink lights pulsed dimly from the wall, barely helping to make her see through the darkness.

“What’s with that look? Don’t tell me you’re scared, ‘cause that would be totally uncool,” the woman teased, spinning around to face her with her hands on her hips. Her bright pink eyes glinted under the lights as she gestured wildly to the space. “C’mon, kid. No turning back now!”

Isha swallowed hard but finally stepped inside. The grated metal floor creaked under her small sneakers, and she hugged her arms close as she took in her surroundings. Below the gaps in the floor, the drop stretched into deep, endless darkness. If she slipped, she'd be gone in an instant.

Jinx was now walking away, so she had no choice but to follow her. Her golden eyes scanned the place, catching the spray-painted monkeys grinning up at her from the metal and the long sofa on the far corner, staying atop the other blade with the person sitting on it. Isha was scared at first, believing that it was a real person, but she quickly realized that it was just a mannequin.

At the center of the space, a long, cluttered table groaned under the weight of tools, wires, and strange little gadgets. Some looked like harmless toys. Others looked like they could blow up half of Undercity if you threw it.

Okayyyy. Isha gulped. This place wasn’t child-friendly. Maybe she had made the wrong decision coming here.

The woman flopped into a squeaky chair by the table, sprawling her legs out like she didn’t have a care in the world. She grabbed a wrench from the mess and twirled it between her fingers, completely at ease.

“Alright, rules!” the woman declared sharply, attempting to sound strict. “Rule number one: Don’t touch my stuff. Rule number two: Don’t break my stuff. Rule number three—this one’s big, so listen up—don’t annoy me. Got it?”

Isha nodded quickly, though the woman’s wide grin made her instinctively take a small step back.

“Jinx here by the wa— oh, you can sit down! Careful on the edge, though. That thing’s barely holding together.” She waved a hand at a wobbly wooden chair nearby

Isha hesitated, eyeing the chair like it might collapse beneath her. She had learned the hard way not to trust broken things. Slowly, she lowered herself onto the edge, her muscles tensed, ready to spring away if it so much as creaked wrong.

The woman watched her out of the corner of her eye, idly spinning the wrench between her fingers. “So… you really don’t talk, huh?”

Is she asking that again? Isha mentally groaned and rolled her eyes, which is a bad move. They just met, and she's at her place; having that type of attitude would just make her no good. A bullet in the head, probably. But Isha can't stop herself from doing so.

Isha shook her head, her fingers curling tighter around her knees.

“Figures,” the woman muttered, leaning back with a dramatic sigh. “The rest of this city never shuts up, but I guess I lucked out. You’re the quiet type. This works! I talk, you listen. Perfect!”

She tossed the wrench onto the table with a loud sound. Isha flinched, her shoulders jerking up to her ears.

Jinx then leaned forward, resting her chin lazily on one hand. “Alright, kid, you got a name?”

Isha’s eyes dropped to her scuffed and dirty shoes, and she gave a small nod. She hesitated for a moment before looking up, her small hands reaching out to grasp Jinx’s hand.

Jinx arched an eyebrow, eyeing her skeptically. “What now?” she drawled, tilting her head.

Isha didn’t answer. Instead, she pointed at her own outstretched hand with her eyes, then back at Jinx’s.

Jinx squinted, trying to piece it together. “You want my hand?” she guessed, her voice tinged with confusion.

Isha groaned softly in frustration and, without waiting for permission, grabbed Jinx’s hand, turning her palm upward.

“O-Oh, okay,” Jinx muttered, blinking as she watched Isha’s small fingers press against her skin.

Slowly, carefully, Isha traced each letter into her palm.

I... S... H... A...

Isha.

Jinx’s pink eyes widened slightly as the realization settled in. “Isha,” she murmured, testing the name on her tongue. "Not bad. It fits you.” Jinx declared, nodding confidently. “Short, cute, but not too cute. Got a bit of an edge to it, you know? And…” Her grin softened, the teasing lilt in her voice fading into something quieter. “And... it reminds me of someone.”

Isha’s head tilted slightly, curiosity flickering in her wide eyes. Someone? Who was this person she reminded Jinx of? Would she ever get to meet them? Isha hoped so.

Jinx shook her head, probably mentally erasing the things that's been bothering her. “Nice to meet ya, Isha!” Jinx declared with a lopsided grin. “Stick with me, and I promise your life’s gonna get a whole lot more... interesting.”

Isha didn’t doubt that for a second.

The excitement of the moment, however, was quickly overshadowed by the weight dragging at her limbs. She shifted in the wobbly chair, trying to sit upright, fighting the exhaustion creeping in. Her body ached from running, from climbing, from constantly being on edge. She rubbed at her face, forcing herself to stay awake.

She hadn’t slept properly in days. Even when she did manage to close her eyes, it was never for long. The moment sleep tried to take her, her mind would snap awake, panic tightening around her throat. Every sound, every flicker of movement just beyond her vision was a threat. Her body had been trained to stay ready, to run at a moment’s notice.

But here, in this strange hideout of Jinx, she felt different. For the first time in forever, she wasn’t looking over her shoulder every second. Was it the place that felt safe? Or was it Jinx?

A pair of sharp pink eyes studied her. Isha barely registered it through the haze of exhaustion.

“You good?” Jinx asked, her voice softer than Isha expected.

Isha shook her head slowly. She raised her hands to sign: Sleepy.

Without the guidance of someone, Isha had managed to learn her own sign language, not just to express herself but also to communicate with the other kids in the mine.

Jinx blinked, tilting her head. Her expression twisted in confusion before she let out an exaggerated groan. “Ugh. I don’t know what that is.” She huffed, crossing her arms. “I only know, like, super basic sign language.” Squinting at Isha’s hands, she pursed her lips in thought before her face brightened slightly. “Buuut on the way you act, I’m guessing you’re saying you’re sleepy?”

Isha nodded, stifling a yawn that forced its way through. The day’s weight pressed heavily on her, making her eyelids droop.

“Alright, alright,” Jinx muttered, pushing herself up. “Let’s get you sorted out. Hold on.”

Jinx scratched the back of her head, her expression shifting as if trying to figure out what to do next. Then, with a small, lopsided smile, she turned and rummaged through a chaotic pile of junk on the other corner of her place, muttering to herself all the while.

Bits of fabric, old sheets, and maybe even a tarp or two flew out in every direction as she dug through the mess. Isha watched in silent curiosity, her drowsiness momentarily forgotten as she tried to guess what Jinx was doing. Eventually, the woman pulled out what looked like half of a blanket. It was worn, faded, and frayed at the edges but still intact.

Jinx’s sharp gaze flicked toward the other side of the giant metal fan blade where piles of random objects sprawled across the surface—dolls, broken furniture, scattered tools, and other odds and ends. From where Isha sat, it was too far to tell exactly what was up there, but Jinx didn’t seem bothered by the mess.

With a huff, she started shoving things aside, tossing them carelessly to clear some space. Then, with a grunt, she grabbed a rusty metal rack from the corner and dragged it across the room. The ear-piercing screech that followed made Isha wince, her hands clamping over her ears. Jinx, however, didn’t seem to care.

A few quick knots later, she had strung the fabric across the rack, creating a crooked, lopsided pink tent. Finally, with a triumphant nod, she shoved an old, battered mattress from the couch beneath it and took a step back, hands on her hips, admiring her work.

"Ta-da!" she declared, throwing her arms out dramatically. "Your new crib. Not bad for a last-minute construction job, huh?"

Isha tilted her head, staring at the makeshift bed. It was messy, uneven, and downright strange, but... somehow, it didn’t feel bad.

When she didn't answer right away, Jinx’s brows furrowed as she crossed her arms, her wild blue braids swaying and wrapping her body. “Hey! I busted my butt making this thing.”

A soft laugh bubbled out of Isha before she could stop it. For the first time, she stepped toward Jinx without hesitation. She placed her helmet on the side before ducking into the makeshift tent and climbing onto the worn-out mattress. The blanket smelled a little strange, like old metal and gunpowder, but it was warm and better.

“See?” Jinx said, crouching to peek inside, her grin returning. “Told ya it’s great. Way better than the ground, right? I mean, I could’ve let you sleep in a corner like a stray, but noooo, I’m nice. You should be thanking me, chi—uh, Isha?”

Before she even thought about it, Isha reached out and tugged Jinx’s hand gently, pulling her closer. Jinx blinked in surprise, her wide pink eyes locked onto Isha’s as the girl hesitated for only a moment before leaning in and pressing a small, grateful peck to her cheek.

Isha pulled back just as quickly, her face warming as she tucked herself under the blanket. A shy smile spread across her lips as she lifted her hands and signed: Thank you for today... for everything.

Jinx froze. Her mouth parted slightly, and her fingers brushed against her cheek as if trying to confirm what had just happened. For a long moment, she just stared; her expression was completely blank. It was like she hadn’t expected this, not from anyone, more or less, not from a little girl like her.

For Jinx, it was so rare for someone to be thanking her. She was used to being the cause of all the shit. This is the first time.

Then, with a sharp shake of her head, she messed up Isha's brown hair before turning on her heels. "Go to sleep," she grumbled before walking off.

Isha curled up tighter under the blanket, letting its warmth wrap around her. The strange, metallic scent of the fabric didn’t matter anymore. For Isha, it was the safest she’d felt for as long as she could remember.

Eventually, the soft clinks of Jinx’s tools and her soft muttering faded into the background as Isha’s heavy eyelids began to close. Her breathing slowed, and before she knew it, she drifted off into the first peaceful sleep she’d had in what felt like forever.

Morning came, and Isha woke up with no Jinx everywhere. She tried to look for her, but still, no presence of Jinx was found. She wanted to go out from the hideout to look further, but she was afraid that it would anger Jinx.

Waiting for the blue-haired woman, Isha sat perched on top of a giant cask. Her knees pulled to her chest as she stared at the masterpiece that was Jinx’s worktable. In her head, she called it The Table of Awesomeness.

It was covered in weapons—big ones, small ones, even ones that looked like they could zap someone into a pile of ashes. Some were sleek and polished, others looked cobbled together from spare parts, but all of them had a certain wildness to them that screamed Jinx.

Her favorite? The big shark-headed one. It looked like it could bite someone and blow them up at the same time. A total double whammy. Its barrel was so shiny that Isha could see her reflection in it, stretched and wobbly like the funny mirrors she’d seen at carnival stands in Piltover. Her helmet made her look like a big ol’ bobblehead. She liked bobbleheads. Once, she had stolen one from a fancy house in Piltover, thinking she could sell it for food. It broke before she even had the chance. Shame.

She wanted to touch the guns soooo bad. Just a teeny tiny tap. Jinx wouldn’t even notice, right? But she remembers Jinx's instruction: "Don’t touch my stuff."

Buuutttt maybe if it was just one finger, it didn’t count as touching. It was more like… poking. Isha wiggled her fingers closer. Just a little poke—

“Cool, aren’t they?”

“AHH!”

Isha jumped so high her helmet nearly flew off from her head, arms flailing as she almost tumbled off the cask. Her head snapped around, wide eyes locking onto Jinx, who was now leaning casually in the doorway, grinning like she had caught a rat in a trap.

Oh, oh. Busted.

Jinx strutted forward, her braids bouncing with every step like they had a life of their own. “They’re my babies,” she declared, waving a hand at the table. “Each one? Custom-made, unique, perfect. Just like me!”

Isha blinked up at her, heart still hammering from the scare. Was she mad? She couldn’t tell. Jinx was always hard to read. It depended on her mood.

Nervously, she twisted the hem of her old shirt and signed: Yeah, they’re cool.

Jinx crouched beside her, her purple eyes glinting like she’d just received the best compliment in the world. “You like ‘em, huh?”

Isha nodded, her helmet slipping forward slightly. The weapons were shiny and dangerous. But mostly shiny.

Jinx tilted her head. “You know how to use one?”

Isha’s stomach twisted. That question came too casually, as Jinx had just asked if she knew how to tie her shoes. Slowly, she shook her head. Guns scared her. Not the way they looked—no, it was what she had seen them do. It kills people, and Isha hates that.

Jinx’s grin widened. “Wanna learn?”

Isha blinked at her, unsure if she was serious.

Jinx stood up, spinning around like she’d just come up with the greatest idea in the world. “Well, do you know how to fight?”

Isha hesitated, staring down at her shoes. She had tried fighting once. With a stick. Against a mean pigeon. The pigeon won. Another shame.

Before she could figure out what to say, Jinx grabbed a smaller gun from the table though it was still much too big for Isha’s hands. Without warning, she plopped it into her lap. Isha scrambled to catch it with both hands before it toppled to the ground and fired.

“This one’s just about your size,” Jinx said, patting her helmet like she was some kind of pet. “Her name is Zapper.”

Oh, so she named them? Interesting.

Jinx grabbed Isha’s wrist and pulled her forward, guiding her to the very edge of the metal platform. The hideout stretched below them, deep and dark, barely lit by the neon glow of scattered lights. Isha’s stomach twisted. She swallowed hard, gripping the gun tighter. If she fell from here, she wouldn’t just break a bone, and she’d be gone.

“Eyes up!” Jinx barked, snapping her fingers near Isha’s face. “Eyes are always on the enemies, or you die. Got it?”

Isha flinched but nodded quickly, snapping her gaze back to the target metal plate on the wall ahead. About twenty meters away, a goofy, drawn monkey face grinned back at her, each one mocking her silently.

No looking down. No thinking about the fall. Just focus.

Jinx smirked. “Atta girl.”

Jinx lied. This gun wasn’t her size at all. Isha’s fingers barely fit around the handle, and the weight of it made her arms sag. It felt like she was holding a baby hippo.

“Safety first!” Jinx chirped, flicking a tiny switch on the side. “This keeps it from going kaboom when you don’t want it to. Got it?”

Isha nodded quickly, though her grip on the gun tightened. The word kaboom made her stomach twist.

“See Smiley over there?” she said, pointing at the target. “Aim for him. Don’t think. Just shoot.”

Isha swallowed hard. Her arms wobbled as she tried to lift the gun properly. What if she missed?

She squeezed her eyes shut, held her breath, and pulled the trigger.

The gun kicked back like it had a mind of its own, jerking her arms straight up. Her helmet slid down over her eyes, and her ears rang from the loudest bang she’d ever heard. It felt like an angry swarm of bees had gotten trapped in her skull.

The bullet? Yeah. It didn’t even come close to Smiley. It just thunked into the wall, sad and useless.

“Open your eyes when you shoot, silly.” Jinx chuckled, shaking her head.

Isha just stared at her, feeling her arms go completely jelly. Sorry.

Jinx chuckled, messing with her helmet. ''Nah, you're good. It's just your first time. Again?"

Isha nodded. Firing a gun was actually satisfying. It was just scary at first but by the time you feel the trigger, you feel an amazing feeling surging from your heart and travels throughout your body. Geez, Isha just spent a day in Jinx's place, and she's already becoming like her.

“Here, let’s fix your stance,” she said, crouching next to Isha. She grabbed her arms and adjusted them, tilting the gun just right at the center. “Stop holding it like it’s gonna bite you! Own it, Isha! This baby works for you, not the other way around.”

Isha nodded, but her hands still trembled.

Jinx huffed and scooted behind her, her hands covering Isha’s smaller ones. “Okay, look,” she said, guiding her into position. “Feet apart, a little wider! Straighten your knees and shoulders. Now breathe like this.” She took a huge breath in and blew it out through her pursed lips like she was trying to put out a candle from across the room. “And calm your ass down.”

Isha copied her, even though it felt a little silly.

“Perfect,” Jinx said. “Now, aim. Don’t overthink it—just feel it.” Her hands guided Isha’s, pointing the gun right at Smiley’s goofy-painted face. “And when you’re ready, you pull the trigger smoothly. Like this—”

Before Isha could even process what she meant, Jinx’s finger slid over hers, pressing the trigger. The gun jolted, but Jinx’s firm grip kept Isha steady. The bullet zipped through the air, striking Smiley right in the middle of his forehead. Dead center.

“Boom, headshot!” Jinx whooped, throwing her arms up like she’d just won the best game at a carnival. “That’s how you do it!”

Isha’s mouth fell open. Smiley didn’t look so smiley anymore, not with that hole punched clean through his stupid, grinning face.

“You see that?” Jinx's chest practically vibrated with excitement, her hands gripping Isha’s shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “You wanna try it yourself now?”

Isha nodded slowly, even though her heart was hammering against her ribs.

“Good!” Jinx grinned, patting her helmet. “Now it’s your turn to make Smiley frown.”

Isha swallowed hard and adjusted her grip. Her arms still wobbled, but she spread her feet apart and straightened her knees, just like Jinx had taught her.

Deep breath in and out.... then aim. This time, she didn’t close her eyes and pulled the trigger like how Jinx used to. The gun kicked back again, but this time, Isha was ready. Well, mostly. She stumbled a little, her small feet scuffing against the floor, but she didn’t fall, and her ears weren’t ringing as much as before. The bullet struck the target. Smiley’s left ear now had a fresh, shiny hole, like he’d just gotten a piercing.

Jinx let out a whoop, clapping her hands like Isha had just won a stuffed animal at the fair. “Not bad, kid! Not bad! Again!”

Isha bit her lip, concentrating harder than ever. She kept trying again and again, and by the fifth shot, she actually hit the edge of Smiley’s big, goofy face. It wasn’t dead center, but it was close enough that pride swelled in her chest. With a huge grin, she threw her hands in the air and did a little happy dance on the spot with so much excitement and happiness. Jinx laughed, joining in as they danced around in a victory celebration.

"Yahoo, you finally did it! High five!" Jinx cheered, raising her hand.

Isha, eager and ready, reached up with her hand wide open, only for Jinx to lift her hand even higher at the last second. Isha stopped her little cute dance, her mouth hanging open in pure betrayal. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she pointed an accusatory finger at Jinx.

Jinx smirked, tilting her head to the side. “What? I didn’t do anything!” she said, feigning innocence.

Isha squinted at her, narrowing her golden eyes into a sharp glare. I know what you’re doing. Not fair! She bent her knees and jumped, but Jinx raised her hand even higher, just out of reach. Isha’s fingertips barely brushed her palm.

Her mouth fell open. She waved her arms dramatically, trying to get Jinx to lower her hand.

“Offf! Ha! Too slow!” Jinx teased, grinning from ear to ear.

Isha puffed out her cheeks like a chipmunk, stomping her foot in frustration. Hmpf! She waved her arms again, demanding another chance, but Jinx just laughed, shaking her head.

“Nope!” Jinx wiggled her fingers, taunting her.

Isha’s helmet slipped forward over her eyes, and she quickly pushed it back into place. With a determined huff, she crouched down and launched herself into the air, and SMACK!  Her palm finally hit Jinx’s, and the force nearly sent her stumbling backward. Her legs wobbled when she landed, but before she could fall, Jinx caught her by the shoulders.

“Alright, alright. You win,” Jinx said, grinning as she ruffled Isha’s helmet. “Anyway, that’s all for today. Keep this up, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be as good as me someday!” She spun the gun effortlessly in her hands before tossing it back onto the table like it was nothing.

Isha watched it land, amazed at how it landed in its intended place despite how far it was from the table. All Jinx did was always cool in Isha's eyes.

Jinx crouched down to her level, blocking the table with her pale face. Her sharp pink eyes locked onto hers, narrowing.

“Alright, here’s the deal, kid,” she said, her tone suddenly serious. “You never, and I mean never, shoot anyone unless I tell you to. Got it?”

Isha blinked up at her, her small hands still tingling from the force of the gun. She nodded quickly, her helmet wobbling slightly with the motion.

“Good,” Jinx said, bopping her nose playfully. Then, just as quickly, that familiar evil smile returned. “But if you do have to shoot, you better aim for the head.” She winked. “It’s more fun that way.”

Isha tilted her head, processing the instruction Jinx had given to her before flashing a confident thumbs-up with her toothy grin.

Jinx cackled, throwing her head back on how confident and innocent she was. Then, without warning, she gave Isha a playful shove, one strong enough to nearly knock her over.

“Attagirl! You’re learning fast!"

Isha barely had time to regain her balance before Jinx thrust out her hand, wiggling her fingers impatiently and asking for Isha's hand to hold her.

Isha’s eyes lit up the moment she realized what Jinx was asking. Her small hands clenched at her sides for a split second, like she had to make sure this was really happening before she moved. Then, with an eager bounce on her toes, she reached out, her fingers wrapping around Jinx’s without hesitation.

Her hand was warm despite how pale Jinx was. While Isha's grip was firm and tight, she was afraid to let go, as if she wanted to savor this moment. Her heart thumped against her ribs, excitement bubbling in her chest as a giddy smile spread across her face.

Jinx gave her hand a quick squeeze, barely even noticing how much it meant to Isha. But to Isha? It meant everything.

⨲⨲⨲

Walking through the Lanes side by side and with hands together, Jinx finally arrived at Jericho's food stall. The smell of sizzling fish and fried oil filled the air as Jinx plopped down into the stools, dragging Isha in beside her.

Jericho himself was behind the counter, wiping down a glass with a rag that had definitely seen better days. His sharp eyes flicked up as soon as they entered, narrowing at Jinx with amusement. He grumbled, looking at Jinx before the little kid beside her. Isha furrowed, having no idea what he meant by that, but she guessed Jinx understood him.

Jinx grinned, swinging an arm around Isha’s shoulders. “What can I say, old man? Your shitty food’s addictive!”

Jericho snorted, shaking his head before grumbling again. Isha's brows further furrowed. How come they understand each other?

“The usual for the kid—extra crispy! And I’ll take whatever’s the greasiest today and more spice. Thank you.”

Isha eagerly bounced in her seat, her eyes shining as she glanced around the diner. She loved it here.

As they waited for their food, Jinx drummed her fingers against the table, her pink eyes flicking to Isha, who was happily kicking her feet under the booth.

“Y’know,” Jinx started, tilting her head, “since you’ve been hanging around my place a lot, I figured… maybe you could teach me some of that hand-flapping stuff.”

Isha blinked up at her, confused for a second.

Jinx smirked and wiggled her fingers dramatically. “You know, the fancy finger-talking thing you do? Sign language?”

Isha’s eyes lit up with excitement. She sat up straighter, nodding quickly before eagerly pointing to herself and then making a few quick signs.

Jinx squinted. “Okay, slow down, kid. I’ve only got two functioning eyes, and you’re already making me dizzy.”

Isha giggled silently before slowing her movements. She squeezed her dominant hand and moved it to her mouth as if she were putting food in her mouth, tapping her fingers in her mouth twice.

Jinx copied her, albeit a bit sloppily. “That means… what? Food?”

Isha nodded enthusiastically and then pointed to Jinx, making a sign that looked like the letter “L” near her chin before flicking it forward.

Jinx copied again, her brow furrowing. “And that one?”

Isha grinned and signed again, slower this time. When Jinx still didn't get it, Isha rolled her eyes and pointed Jinx through her chest two times.

“Jinx?” Jinx guessed. Isha nodded rapidly.

Jinx leaned back with a smirk, crossing her arms. “Pfft. ‘Course, my name looks cool even in sign language.”

Isha rolled her eyes playfully before tapping the table to get her attention again. She pointed to herself, then moved her hands in a way that formed her own name.

Jinx tilted her head, watching closely before mimicking the movement. “Isha.”

Isha beamed, clapping her hands together in delight.

Jinx snorted, watching her bounce excitedly in her seat. “Damn, kid. Didn’t know learning could actually be fun.” She tapped the table. “Alright, hit me with another one.”

Isha happily continued, her hands moving slowly as she patiently taught Jinx more signs

Jinx was actually getting the hang of it. She had learned some of the basic and necessary signs—stuff like "hungry," "danger," "help," and "safe." Important things, considering how often trouble followed them around. But, of course, because this was Jinx, she couldn't just stop at the essentials.

She leaned in, smirking mischievously. “Alright, squirt. Now teach me the good stuff.”

Isha blinked at her, tilting her head.

Jinx wiggled her fingers dramatically. “C’mon, Isha. You know what I mean.”

Isha raised an eyebrow.

Jinx grinned wider. “I wanna know how to say  like ‘shit,’ ‘fuck you,’ ‘bitch,’ ‘motherfucker’—all the fun words!”

Isha gasped silently, her eyes going wide as she smacked Jinx’s arm in protest.

Jinx burst out laughing. “Oh, come on! You know them, don’t you? Don’t play innocent with me, kid. I know you’ve got a little gremlin side in there somewhere.”

Isha pursed her lips, crossing her arms like a disappointed teacher. But Jinx just pouted dramatically, giving her the biggest pleading eyes she could manage.

Finally, after a long, exaggerated sigh, Isha relented. She quickly signed 'shit' under the table.

Jinx copied it instantly, then grinned. “Oh, that’s gold!”

Isha gave her an unimpressed look before signing 'fuck you' with extra flair, her small hands moving fast.

Jinx gasped loudly, hand over her heart. “Isha!” she fake-whispered. “That was so aggressive! I’m proud!”

Isha rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the small smirk forming on her lips. And so, there they were, in the middle of Jericho’s, giggling like maniacs as Isha continued to teach Jinx every single bad word in sign language.

By the time their order arrived, Jinx had managed to learn a LOT of sign language, may it be a decent one or not.

Jericho set the plates down with a grunt, eyeing them both suspiciously. Jinx gave him her biggest, sweetest grin while Isha, sitting across from her, just covered her mouth, silently giggling. Jericho just rolled his eyes and walked away.

Isha turned back to the food, practically drooling at the sight. A massive plate of extra greasy fried meat for Jinx, and fcrispy, golden-brown rice with a side of sauce and chopped meats, just the way she liked it for her. It's been a while since the last time she ate something decent food, like in front of her.

"Finally!" Jinx cheered, snatching a piece of food and immediately stuffing it in her mouth. "Mmmf—hot!" she mumbled, waving her hand in front of her mouth as the heat hit her tongue.

Isha shook her head, amused, before carefully picking up one of the meat and dipping it into the sauce. She took a bite, her eyes lighting up as she gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Jinx smirked, already reaching over to steal a fry. Isha slapped her hand away without even looking up.

"Ow! Rude!" Jinx pouted, shaking her hand dramatically.

Isha raised an eyebrow, then smugly signed: Mine!

Isha just stuck out her tongue before continuing to eat. Jinx grumbled but gave up on food-stealing... for now.

For a moment, as they ate in comfortable silence, Jinx let herself breathe. No gunfire, no explosions, no ghosts whispering in her ears. Just her and Isha, stuffing their faces in a crappy little diner like normal people.

It was… nice. Not that she’d ever admit that out loud.

Chapter Text

Jinx stretched her arms above her head, feeling the stiffness in her joints crack like old wires. She hadn't left this chair the whole night— hadn't slept or even a wink either. Not that it mattered. Sleep was overrated, anyway.

She rolled her shoulders, glancing over her shoulder, when she heard soft footsteps padding across the floor. There, standing in the dim light, was Isha. Her hair was a mess, sticking up at odd angles, and she rubbed at her sleepy eyes with small fists.

One week passed, and Jinx hated to admit it, but she was kinda feeling a little soft spot with the kid now... Okaayyy, she admit she slightly threatened her with her beloved zapper... Okaayyy, she lied. She actually threatened her big time with her beloved zapper, but it's just her being herself. 

Dragging behind her was a familiar bunny plushie, its long ears flopping lifelessly against the ground. Jinx’s gaze lingered on the toy. Huh.

She had almost forgotten about that stupid thing. Isha had asked if she could have it a while back, and Jinx, not seeing the point in keeping it, had tossed it her way with a casual shrug. The plushie had no real purpose anymore except maybe as a reminder of a little kicker who never got the chance to drag it around the way Isha did now.

Jinx pushed the thought aside with a small, crooked grin. “Yo, sleepyhead,” she greeted, watching as the kid blinked blearily up at her. “Didn’t think you’d be up this early.” She spun the small bolt in her hand, twirling it between her fingers like a toy before leaning back in her chair. "So, how’d you sleep?"

Isha nodded slowly, still groggy, blinking against the dim neon lights. Jinx smirked. She figured the kid must’ve slept like a rock. She wouldn’t blame her; the kid probably hadn’t had a decent place to rest forever. Then, suddenly, a loud growl cut through the silence. Jinx blinked, and her smirk widened when she saw Isha freeze, clutching her stomach as if that could somehow take the noise back.

Jinx raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, was that you? Sounded like a grown-ass woman!" She chuckled, tilting her chair back slightly.

Isha’s face turned red as she curled in on herself, looking like she wanted to disappear.

Jinx’s amusement faded a little. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "You want food?"

Isha only shrugged, her gaze dropping to the floor before nodding like a cute stray cat.

Jinx sighed dramatically.  "Alright, alright, I guess I can feed ya before you starve to death and start gnawing on my place." She chuckled and ruffled the kid’s hair as she passed by, making her huff and try to fix the messy strands. "C’mon, let’s see what we got."

She led the way to the small kitchen in her hideout and let the kid sit on one of the stools, now wearing her favorite helmet she grabbed on her way. She finds a glorified storage space filled with more things than actual food, considering that she rarely ate, depending on her mood. She rummaged through the cabinets, tossing aside random junk. Empty cans, an old wrench, a bag of bolts… Why the hell do I even keep half this crap?

Finally, she found something edible. "Aha!" She pulled out a slightly crushed but still sealed box of cereal and held it up like a trophy. "Food's here! Not exactly gourmet, but it'll do. Dig in."

Isha hesitated, tilted her head, unimpressed.

Jinx pouted. "What? This stuff is basically the same thing rich Piltie kids eat, just, y'know, without all the fancy bowls and spoons." She plopped the box down on the counter and then dug around the fridge. No milk. Well, whatever.

She ripped open the box and handed it to Isha. "Eat up."

Isha peeked inside, then hesitantly grabbed a handful, shoving it into her mouth. Jinx watched her closely, smirking. "Good?" Isha chewed, blinking, then looked up at Jinx with an approving nod.

Jinx grinned. "See? Told ya. Now, don't eat too fast, or I'll have to sweep you off the floor when you pass out from acid reflux."

Jinx leaned against the counter, watching the kid eat. Despite herself, she felt something… weird. It was just—nice. Like having someone else around wasn’t so bad after all.

Isha nodded quickly and held the box out toward Jinx. Jinx blinked. For a second, she just stared at the small hand offering her food. People didn't share in the Undercity. Not unless they are forced to.

A strange feeling twisted in her chest, remembering how Vi used to let her eat first before her turn, but she quickly shoved it aside, waving her hand dismissively. "Me? Nah, I’m good. You eat."

Isha still looked hesitant, her brows knitting together slightly, but she nodded and kept eating.

Jinx leaned back in her chair, lazily tossing a bolt she found earlier into the air and catching it. “You don’t need to worry about me,” she muttered. “I don’t eat much these days.”

She glanced away, her grin flickering—there one second, gone the next. “Not since that weird egg-headed guy messed with my body.” Her fingers toyed with the bolt, rolling it between them. 

She let out a chuckle, but it was hollow, empty. “I’ve gone whole days without eating before I even realized. Guess it just stopped feeling important.”

Isha paused mid-chew, watching Jinx carefully. Now that she thought about it... yeah. She was right. She rarely saw Jinx eat anything.

Yeah, Jinx always made sure Isha had something to eat every single day, even shoving snacks into her hands before disappearing back into her hideout. But actually, sitting down and eating? Not really. Most of the time, she’d just pass the food off to Isha and go right back to whatever things she was working on.

Isha frowned slightly. The last time she actually saw Jinx eat was… what? Three days ago on Jericho's stall? And even then, it was barely anything, just a handful of something small before she went full.

Jinx groaned, already seeing the questions forming in the kid’s head. "Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Why?’ Right?" She snorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well, some bald-headed demon scientist over there decided to bring me back from the dead." She paused, spinning the bolt between her fingers. 

She looked at Isha, her grin lopsided, but there was something darker in her eyes now. "Ever since then, food’s just... nothing. No taste. Just bland."

Still, as soon as the words left her mouth, their weight settled heavily on her shoulders. She twirled the bolt in with her fingers, trying to shake the feeling creeping up her spine. It didn’t work. It never did. Her mind pulled her back, dragging her kicking and screaming to that moment.

Strapped to cold metal. Arms and legs pinned down. A needle gleaming under harsh light. The sharp bite of the syringe pierced her skin. And the pain, oh, the pain, had been excruciating for her. Like fire was eating her alive from the inside out. Feeling like her veins were turning to molten glass, splitting and reforming over and over again. She had screamed. Screamed until her throat bled, until her voice cracked into nothing.

Jinx forced a grin, flicking her gaze back to Isha, but there was no real amusement behind it. Just a hollow echo of who she used to be.

Isha slowed her chewing, watching Jinx with an expression Jinx couldn’t quite place. The kid shoved another handful of cereal into her mouth, then, without a word, nudged the box just a little closer to Jinx before going back to eating.

"What?" She raised an eyebrow, confused.

Isha's face crumpled, and she motioned the food's direction with her eyes and back to Jinx, clearly saying: Eat!

Jinx stared at it and sighed, grabbed a single piece of cereal, and popped it into her mouth. "Happy now, you tiny pain in the ass?"

Isha furrowed and shook her head. Without a word, she reached in, grabbed a handful, and shoved it toward Jinx’s face, her expression serious. Jinx raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. When she made no move to accept it, Isha wiggled the handful of cereal insistently, her lips pressing into a firm pout.

Jinx sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, fine," she grumbled, leaning forward and parted her lips slightly, expecting Isha to drop a few pieces into her palm.

Instead, it was a handful of cereals plus Isha's small fist.

Jinx gagged, nearly choking as she jerked back, coughing violently. “W-What the hell, Isha?!” she sputtered between wheezes, her voice hoarse as she forced herself to swallow. “That is not how feeding people works, you little menace!”

Isha just grinned, completely unbothered, and went right back to munching on her cereal like nothing had happened.

Jinx scowled, chewing the remnants still stuck in her mouth. “Brat,” she muttered, shaking her head.

Then, after a pause, her voice dropped lower, more serious. “Anyway, moral of the story? Don’t let some creepy old guy with syringes near you, got it?” She flicked a stray cereal piece off her lap. “Or you’ll end up like me—living like a ghost.”

She laughed, but it was humorless. Forced. It was as if saying it like a joke could erase the ghost of the past that was embedded in her brain forever.

She didn’t know why she was telling the kid all this. Maybe because Isha couldn’t talk, which meant she wouldn’t go around blabbing her secrets to anyone, or worse, to her enemies. Or maybe because it was easier to say things out loud when you didn’t expect an answer.

But Jinx did get a response. Instead, Isha reached out and lightly poked Jinx’s arm.

The touch was light and hesitant, like the kid was testing something. Her big, golden, curious eyes studied Jinx’s face, then flickered down to her arm where her fingers barely pressed against her exposed skin. And then, just as quickly, Isha yanked her hand back, looking away as if she’d just done something forbidden.

Jinx narrowed her eyes. "The hell was that?"

Isha refused to meet her gaze.

Jinx snorted. “Wait a second…” A slow smirk crept across her lips. “You thought I was a ghost, didn’t you?” She leaned in, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Isha pouted and nodded.

Jinx rolled her eyes but smirked anyway. "Pfft. Kid, if I were a ghost, I’d be way cooler than this." She spun the small bolt in her hand one last time before tossing it onto the table.

Done with the conversation, Jinx walked to her cluttered table. She grabbed a scrap of paper covered in rough sketches of a gun and some bizarre bomb contraption. The second her hands touched the designs, it was like the rest of the world faded away. Whatever interest she’d shown in their conversation was gone, her focus shifting entirely to her work.

Isha hesitated before stepping closer, peeking at the paper and then at the strange, scattered gadgets. Half of them looked like broken toys; the other half looked like they could blow up a whole street block.

Jinx must’ve caught her staring out of the corner of her eye because, without warning, she reached out and tapped Isha’s helmet. It slid forward, completely blocking her vision.

“Eat your food, I'm working here,” Jinx said with a chuckle, turning back to her work.

Isha huffed, pushing the helmet back into place. Still, she listened. She took another careful bite of her food, watching Jinx tinker. The steady clinks of metal and the soft hum of machinery were oddly soothing. It's almost like a lullaby.

Then, without warning, the door slammed open with enough force to rattle the entire hideout. Isha nearly jumped out of her skin, her grip tightening on her food as her eyes flew to the entrance.

Standing in the doorway was a towering, muscular woman, and she was looking straight at Isha before her grey eyes traveled to Jinx, who didn't even bother to look up. Jinx didn’t need to look up to know it was her. She could recognize that pissed-off energy anywhere.

Her focus remained on the task in her hands as she twisted a screwdriver into the metal, tightening a bolt. “Yeppp?” she answered lazily, dragging out the word like Sevika was interrupting something very important—which, to be fair, she was.  “To what do I owe the pleasure, Sevika?"

"Cut the crap, Jinx," Sevika snapped, her voice a razor-edged growl. "I can’t believe you brought that stray in here. Are you thinking crazy?”

Jinx finally lifted her eyes, glancing briefly at Isha, who had shrunk into the her side like a terrified little mouse. The kid clutched her helmet, wide-eyed and stiff, looking about two seconds away from bolting under the table.

"Sevikaaa,” she drawled, stretching out her name like a lazy cat waking from a nap. She slumped back, draping one leg over the other. “Where’s my good morning, huh? Where’s the love?”

Sevika’s scowl deepened. She could practically see the vein twitching in the older woman’s forehead. Her sharp gaze flicked between Jinx and Isha like she couldn’t decide which of them pissed her off more. Jinx flicked a glance at her, too. The poor thing looked like she was expecting to be thrown off the balcony.

Sevika, however, wasn’t done. “Answer my damn question.”

Jinx let the silence stretch, savoring the way Sevika’s patience thinned with every passing second. Then, finally, she grinned wide and chirped, “Nope!” popping the “p” obnoxiously as she spun back around in her chair.

She knew it would piss Sevika off. That was the fun part.

She heard Sevika inhale sharply, probably counting to ten in her head to keep from strangling her on the spot. Jinx snickered, resting her elbow on the table and propping her chin in her palm.

“You’re so uptight, big guy. Loosen up a little.”

Sevika ignored the jab, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel. “You don’t just bring in random street rats, Jinx,” she said, voice low, controlled—but brimming with frustration. “You have any idea how many little brats would sell us out for half a meal?”

Jinx’s grin didn’t waver, but her fingers tightened slightly around the screwdriver.

“Oh, puh-lease,” she scoffed, twirling the tool between her fingers like a baton. “You really think this one—" she gestured lazily toward Isha without looking, "—is some kinda undercover mole? Look at her, Sev. She’s, like, what?— two feet apples tall and has the survival instincts of a soggy sock.”

Sevika crossed her arms, unimpressed. “That’s not the damn point, Jinx.”

Jinx rolled her eyes dramatically. “Okay, fine. Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say she’s some big scary secret agent here to—what? Take down The Mighty Jinx from the inside?” She let out a mocking laugh, hands raised in exaggerated fear. “Oooooh, so terrifying.”

Sevika’s patience was wearing dangerously thin. “If Silco's here—"

“Oh, bite me,” Jinx cut in, shoving back from the table with a loud screech of metal against metal. “Silco’s not here. See?” She threw her arms out, gesturing to the empty space around her.

Sevika’s jaw clenched. “And whose fault is that, huh?”

Jinx’s smirk faltered. Just for a second. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, she tilted her head back. “Look, I get it. Big, bad world. Everyone’s out to get us. Boo-hoo.” She waved a dismissive hand. “But come on, Sev, she’s just a kid.”

Something flickered in Sevika’s expression. Doubt? Annoyance? Jinx didn’t care.

“She’s not my problem,” Sevika said firmly. “And she’s definitely not yours. Toss her out before she becomes one.”

Jinx’s grin vanished, her neon-pink eyes locking onto Sevika’s like a blade pressed to her throat.

“Make me.” Her grin returned, wider this time, challenging Sevika. Sevika, on the other hand, looked two seconds away from launching Jinx through the nearest wall.

“What made you think bringing a child to this hideout was a good idea?” Sevika demanded, her voice tight with barely restrained frustration. 

"Oh, that's easy. The voices in my head told me to!”

Sevika froze, her expression momentarily caught between disbelief and exasperation. Her mouth opened as if to say something, then shut again.

Jinx cackled, clearly reveling in Sevika’s frustration. “C’mon, did you really expect a different answer? Look. I didn’t exactly ask for her to be here, alright? She followed me. Big difference.” She gestured toward Isha, who sat stiffly in the corner, clutching what was left of her food. “But now she’s here, and what am I supposed to do? Toss her back onto the streets?”

She tilted her head, shooting Sevika a crooked grin. “And yeah, okay, it sounds a little crazy—”

“It’s not a little crazy, Jinx,” Sevika snapped, stepping closer, fists clenched. “It’s fucking crazy!”

Isha flinched at the sharpness of her tone, her hands tightening around the half-eaten snack in her grip. Her wide eyes darted between the two women, her small frame practically sinking into itself.

Jinx, however, didn’t even blink. Instead, she turned to Isha and gave her a small nod for an unspoken reassurance: It’s fine, just keep eating. Isha hesitated but slowly followed the silent order. Food to mouth. Chew. Swallow. Repeat.

Jinx suddenly shot up a hand, wagging a finger toward Sevika. “Keep your damn voice down, tin-can!” she snapped, pointing at the older woman like she wasn’t remotely intimidated. “My ears still work, y’know!”

Sevika’s glare darkened, but Jinx just laughed, kicking her feet back onto the ground. This was going to be fun.

"You don’t have a damn clue what you’re doing, Jinx,” she said, her tone edged with something dangerously close to frustration. “Taking care of a child? That’s not your thing.” She crossed her arms, muscles flexing beneath the metal plating of her prosthetic. "I already told you to throw it away before it became our problem, and guess what? You did not listen!"

Jinx rolled her eyes, lazily twirling a strand of blue hair around her finger. “Overdramatic as ever, Sevika. Look at her!” She pointed both hands toward the kid like she was showing off a prize. “Look at her! She’s fine! She’s got food and a top-tier luxury tent—hell, I even let her keep the bunny! If that ain’t that me doing good in taking care of a child, I don’t know what is.” She threw Sevika a smug look, daring her to argue.

She took a slow step forward, voice lowering into something almost venomous. "You always say you’ve got it under control," she whispered, leaning just close enough for Jinx to feel her breath near her ear. "But what happens when you don’t, Jinx? What happens when one of your little psychotic, shitty episodes hits, and she’s standing too close?"

The air between them grew thick, suffocating Jinx. For once, she didn’t have a quick remark, a joke, or some smartass answer. And Sevika noticed.

She pressed on. “You screw this up, and it’s her life on the line. Not yours. Hers. And you know damn well how that story ends.”

Sevika’s eyes flicked toward the kid, her sharp gaze sweeping over her like she was assessing a weak spot. Jinx didn’t like that look, not one bit.

“This isn’t a game, Jinx,” Sevika said after a moment. “You’re putting that kid at risk. You’re putting all of us at risk.”

Jinx scoffed, waving her hand like she was batting away a pesky fly. “Pfft. Risk is my middle name. Thought you knew that by now.” She spun back toward her worktable, already twisting a bundle of wires together. “Now, unless you’ve got something useful to say, take your scary-ass face elsewhere. I’ve got important shit to build.”

Sevika groaned loud enough to rattle the junk on Jinx’s desk, dragging a hand down her face like she was physically restraining herself from throwing Jinx below.

“Is this really about helping the kid?” Sevika asked, her tone shifting. Slower. Sharper. “Or do you just see in her the life you lost years ago?”

Jinx’s hands froze mid-twist. The playful glint in her eyes vanished, her grip tightening around the half-assembled gadget in her hands.

Sevika smirked. “Yeah… thought so.”

The air in the room changed. Jinx turned slowly, her face blank. Too blank. Dangerously blank.

“You don’t talk about my dead daughter, Sevika,” she said, voice deathly quiet.

Sevika didn’t back down. She tilted her head, smirk widening. “Yeah… dead, Jinx. So stop playing house with someone else’s kid. It doesn’t suit you.”

For a moment, there was nothing. No reaction. No movement. The silence was so thick it felt like the walls were holding their breath.

Then, in the blink of an eye, BANG!

A bullet lodged itself into the wall inches from Sevika’s head. Jinx didn’t even look like she’d moved. One second, her gun was on the table. The next, it was in her hand, smoking.

Sevika’s smirk didn’t waver, but her eye did twitch.

Jinx spun the gun once on her finger before slamming it back onto the desk. She smiled, all teeth and no humor.  Her eyes burned, her pupils blown wide, and her chest rose and fell with heavy and unstable breaths. She could feel her blood humming beneath her skin and hear her own pulse pounding in her skull, drowning out every other sound. Her urge to lash out, coiling tight in her muscles, was almost on the verge. She wanted to end this ogre.

Sevika didn’t move. Neither did Jinx. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them blinked.

The air between them crackled like a live wire, both of them locked in a silent, deadly stare. A challenge. A test of wills. Jinx’s fingers twitched, itching to reach for her gun again, while Sevika’s arms flexed, both the good and bad ones.

For all her boldness, Sevika held her ground; her expression was blank and her jaw tight. “Go on then,” her voice was low, daring. “Do it.”

Jinx’s grip on the desk tightened. The room felt smaller. Hotter.

The seconds stretched. Then, suddenly, a small tug at her pants made everything inside her vanish. Like a match snuffed out in the wind.

Jinx stiffened and blinked, her breath hitching as the world around her settled back into place. The ringing in her ears faded, replaced by the soft, steady pull of reality.

Her head snapped to the side, and Isha was standing right next to them, her small fingers clutching the fabric of Jinx’s pants. Her golden eyes were wide, darting to her and Sevika.

Shit.

Isha saw that. Jinx swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. Her shoulders slumped, and eventually, her grip on the table loosened.

Sevika exhaled sharply, using the moment to turn to her heels. “Like I said,” she muttered, straightening her clothes, “not fitting.” She shot one last glance at Isha before turning on her heel and walking out, booth echoing on the metal floor.

But Jinx didn’t watch her go or give her a bit of attention. She was too busy staring at Isha. Fear starts clawing at her chest the more she looks at her. I had scared her, hadn’t I? That same horrible fear she used to remember in her eyes before Vi punched and left her.

And maybe… maybe Isha would run, too.

Jinx’s fingers twitched. She should say something. Crack a joke. Play it off like nothing happened. But when she opened her mouth, nothing came out.

She looked down, preparing herself for the worst possible outcome of her sudden outburst. It's always been like this. Then, suddenly, small and warm hands were gently pressed against her cheeks.

Jinx's pink eyes widened, and she looked up to see Isha's big, soft golden eyes staring back at her. Her brows knitted together in concern with no fear or judgment... just pure concern. It was as if she was asking without words: Are you okay?

Jinx let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Her lips twitched into a small, wobbly grin. “Sorry for bursting in front of you,” she mumbled, rubbing the back of Isha's hand. “Guess I’m kinda bad at the whole ‘keeping it together’ thing, huh?”

Isha tilted her head, fingers still cupping Jinx’s face, before slowly nodding.

Jinx blinked. “…you're not afraid of me?" she muttered, forcing some normality back into her voice. "You heard what that big-buffed ogre tells about me? Every word of it was true. Not even the tiniest lie in there." She leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with the kid. "Do you still want to be here with me?"

Isha didn’t hesitate. She nodded vigorously with her small smile. I would, her eyes seemed to say.

Jinx stared at her for a moment longer before exhaling through her nose, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Kid, you really are weird.”

Isha just grinned, her little hands squishing Jinx’s cheeks slightly before dropping away.

Jinx huffed dramatically, poking the kid’s forehead. “You must have some screws loose if you’re still sticking around after that.” She reached out, pinching Isha’s nose between her fingers, making the kid scrunch up her face in surprise. Jinx chuckled, giving a playful squeeze before letting go. "Then, that settles it. You're stuck with me forever."

Isha rolled her eyes but didn’t let go of Jinx’s hand. Instead, she tugged it lightly, silently urging her closer. Jinx hesitated for a second, blinking down at the kid, her usual instinct to pull away warring with something else before finally giving in.

“Alright, alright, ya little leech,” Jinx muttered, ruffling Isha’s hair before finally wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. “You’re getting real clingy, y’know that?”

Isha only buried her face into Jinx’s shoulder, her tiny arms looping around Jinx’s chest. Jinx stiffened at first, body tensing at the unfamiliar warmth, but as seconds passed, she let herself relax. Slowly, she rested her chin on Isha’s head, closing her eyes for just a moment.

For the first time in a long, long while since she killed Silco, Jinx felt… secure and at peace.

Isha hummed against her, her grip tightening just slightly. Jinx let out a breath, barely noticing the way her own arms had wrapped a little more securely around the kid.

Damn it. She was getting fully attached to this one.

⨲⨲⨲

More days passed since that incident, and Sevika never once returned to the hideout. Jinx wasn’t worried at first, but as time dragged on, an inch of doubt crept up her spine. Had she backed out of their plan? That would be a pain in the ass.

But one day, while Jinx was out gathering supplies for her and Isha, which was good for at least a week, considering how fast food and resources were drying up, Jinx ran into her. Sevika barely spared her a glance, muttering under her breath, “The plan’s almost ready.” Then she disappeared into the streets like a ghost.

By the time she made it back to the hideout, the sky had gone completely dark. Pushing open the heavy metal door, she barely had time to step inside before a small figure came bounding toward her.

"I'm back!" she greeted, tossing the bag of supplies onto the table. She was about to ruffle the kid’s hair when she finally noticed what Isha was holding.

Her smile instantly dropped. “The hell is that?” Jinx blurted, pointing at the small, scraggly mess of fur dangling from Isha’s arms.

Isha grinned even wider, proudly lifting the creature up as if presenting a grand prize. It let out a weak, pitiful meow. Its fur was white that turned gray because of the dirt; one ear was bent at a weird angle, and it was cut haftway. Poor thing. It also had the most unimpressed look Jinx had ever seen on an animal.

Jinx wrinkled her nose. “I know it’s a cat, you brat. I’m asking why the hell you’re holding that dirty, ugly, probably disease-ridden stray?” She squinted at Isha, now noticing the state of her clothes, smudged with dirt, tiny pawprints of filth streaking the fabric. Her helmet was slightly tilted, and her little hands were just as filthy.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, I just gave you a bath yesterday!” She took a step closer and immediately recoiled, gagging. “Oh, god. Isha, you reek!”

Isha just giggled, spinning in a circle with the cat held high like some kind of superhero about to take flight. The cat let out a distressed meow, its tail twitching in protest. 

Jinx groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Come on, Isha. Throw that thing back where you found it. We’ve already got enough mouths to feed.”

Isha stopped spinning, turning to face Jinx with a wide, pleading expression. She hugged the cat to her cheek, golden eyes big and round, practically dripping with the most shameless cute puppy-dog look Jinx had ever seen.

Jinx flinched. “Oh, no, no, no, no, NO!” She pointed accusingly. “You put that face away right now, little missy!”

Isha blinked, tilting her head slightly. Then, with deliberate slowness, her bottom lip jutted out into a tiny pout.

Jinx swore under her breath. She narrowed her eyes, stepping forward with purpose. “Alright, that’s it. If you won’t do it, then I will.”

Isha’s eyes widened in sheer horror. Without warning, she collapsed onto the metal floor, clutching the cat to her chest. Limbs flailing dramatically, she let out a silent but exaggerated wail, rolling back and forth as if the world had just ended. Clearly throwing a fake tantrum.

Jinx crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Oh, come on. You’re not even crying.”

Isha peeked up at her, still sprawled out, then squeezed her eyes shut and kicked her legs harder, this time adding a few pathetic sniffles for effect. Now tangled in her grip, the cat meowed loudly, clearly just as overdramatic as its new owner.

JJinx let out a long, suffering groan, rubbing her temples. “For fuck’s sake… Fine!”

Isha instantly stopped her fake wailing, popping up to her feet so fast it was like she’d never thrown a tantrum in the first place. She spun in circles and did her little happy dance while still holding the poor cat up.

"Yeeeyyyy!!"

Jinx rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, the celebration’s over, Isha. You and that thing are getting a bath.”

Isha’s entire body stiffened. She clutched the cat tighter, her golden eyes going wide with pure betrayal. Before Jinx could react, she ran!  But Jinx had been expecting it. The second Isha bolted, she lunged forward, catching her by the back of her shirt. “Oh, no, you don’t!”

Isha flailed wildly, kicking her legs as Jinx hoisted her up. The cat let out a startled mreeeooow! as it dangled from her grasp.

“You little sleek!” Jinx cackled, effortlessly carrying her squirming form. “If you didn’t wanna take a bath, maybe you shouldn’t have rolled around in filth, huh? Now you and your little ugly cat are getting scrubbed down whether you like it or not!”

Jinx started with the cat first because hell no, was she letting that thing sit around smelling like a sewer rat? The little furball was trembling like a leaf as she held it over the sink, its tiny claws clinging onto her gloves for dear life.

“Relax, ya little goblin,” Jinx muttered, setting it down in the sink with a lukewarm water on it.

The cat let out a pitiful mrrp but didn’t fight back, probably too weak from whatever miserable life it had before Isha decided to adopt it. She scrubbed it down quickly, washing away the grime until its fur wasn’t a matted mess and completely white.

"Oh, it's a male! Should we call him Balls?"

Jinx grinned at her own joke, but when she glanced at Isha, she was met with that look—brows furrowed, lips pressed in disapproval, eyes burning with judgment. It would absolutely remind Jinx of Ekko whenever she said something particularly stupid.. That unimpressed, deadpan glare? Classic Ekko.

Jinx snickered at the resemblance, nudging her. “C’mon, it’s funny.”

Isha just sighed, shaking her head before turning her attention back to the cat, clearly pretending Jinx didn’t exist.

By the time she was done, it looked less like a walking disease and more like an actual cat. She wrapped it up in an old rag and plopped it on a small table, where it immediately curled up into a shivering ball.

“Alright, your turn, Isha,” Jinx said, cracking her knuckles as she turned to Isha.

Isha, who had been suspiciously quiet throughout the whole cat ordeal, took a hesitant step back, her golden eyes darting to the other side of the hideout.

Jinx narrowed her eyes. “Don’t even think about it.”

She lunged before Isha could make a break for it, scooping the kid up and tossing her into the tub. Water splashed over the sides as Isha let out a loud squeak, her tiny hands grabbing the edges as if she might climb out.

Hot water was rare in Zaun, and they had to be careful with how much they used, but Jinx had gotten pretty damn good at rationing. She twisted the faucet for the hot one just enough to get the tub filled to a decent level before grabbing the old bottle of soap.

Isha was still eyeing the water warily, until Jinx pulled out the bubbles. Instantly, the hesitation was gone. Isha’s face lit up like a kid seeing a toy for the first time. She gripped the side of the tub, bouncing on her knees as she watched the bubbles grow, her grin wide and cheesy.

Jinx smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

Of course, what should’ve been a quick bath turned into a marathon. Isha decided that the tub was now a battleship arena, splashing and dunking invisible enemies while Jinx desperately tried to actually get her clean.

“Isha, chill out for a bit, kid, so I can wash your hair properly.”

Isha, naturally, did not listen. This kid never did. And by the time Jinx was almost done scrubbing the last of the dirt from her hair, the water was getting cold, the floor was soaked, and Jinx herself was dripping wet from Isha’s relentless splashing.

She stared down at herself, water trailing down her arms, her top and pants completely stuck to her skin. Then she looked at Isha, who was giggling way too hard for someone who had just committed a crime.

“Look what you did to me!” Jinx accused, pointing at her drenched clothes.

Isha, still grinning, reached up and boop a tiny glob of soap right onto Jinx’s nose. Jinx blinked, nose scrunching as the bubbles slid off. Then, with a slow, devilish smirk, she cracked her knuckles.

“Oh, you’re dead, kid.”

Since she was already wet anyway, she figured—screw it. She stripped down to her tank top and pants and climbed into the tub. There was no awkwardness in it; most families in Zaun bathed together out of necessity, and besides, this wasn’t the first time she’d done this with Isha.

With a wild cackle, she splashed water right back at Isha, who shrieked and retaliated. And just like that, the bath really turned into a warzone. Isha’s giggles filled the tiny bathroom, echoing against the damp walls. Somewhere between their playtime, her tiny fingers started tracing the inky lines on Jinx’s arms.

Jinx felt the small, curious fingers trace along the cloud of blue patterns, skimming over jagged edges where ink met scar, the marks left behind from that brutal fight of her with Ekko. Rest in peace to that missing man.

She arched a brow, smirking. “What? You want something like this?”

Isha’s golden eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly, practically bouncing in place.

Jinx tapped her chin, pretending to think it over. “Hmmm, let’s seeeee…”

Isha, impatient as ever, grabbed her arm and shook it, her eyes narrowing in silent demand.

Jinx burst out laughing. “Alright, alright! I’ll ink ya up, but—” She held up a finger, her grin turning mischievous. “Only if you’re good for a whole week.”

Isha squinted her golden eyes at her, clearly considering the deal. Then, after a long, dramatic pause, she gave a firm nod and stuck out her tiny hand for a handshake.

Jinx chuckled, grasping it and giving it a good shake. “Then, deas is it!.”

After an hour of showering/playing, Jinx got dressed first, throwing on a loose crop-top tank top and shorts while Isha sat cross-legged on her now better bed (Jinx spent days fixing her old one, and she added decorations like lights), still wrapped in a warm, fuzzy towel. Her damp brown hair clung to her cheeks as she swung her legs back and forth, waiting as Jinx dug through an old crate for something she could wear. 

Jinx paused in the middle of searching when she felt a small poke against her stomach. She blinked and looked down to find Isha. Her little brows furrowed in curiosity as she traced the faint stretch marks on Jinx’s belly.

"Oh! What are you doing?" Jinx asked, raising an eyebrow.

Isha tilted her head, her golden eyes flicking between Jinx’s face and the mark as she pointed at them, silently asking what happened here?

Jinx followed her gaze, then let out a short chuckle. "Oh, that? Someone used to live there before. But now she's gone." Her voice was light, almost playful, but sadness flickered in her expression. She tapped her stomach once. "Hmm, if you think about it… she’d be about your age now... probably." She shrugged and continued looking for Isha's clothes.

“Alright, let’s see…” Jinx muttered, tossing aside random clothes. Triumphantly, she yanked out an old, oversized band tee. The faded logo was barely legible, and the fabric was soft from years of wear. She turned, holding it up with a smirk. “Here. Try this on.”

Isha tilted her head further, narrowing her eyes slightly as if urging Jinx to continue, still not moving on from their previous conversation.

Jinx snorted and said, "Nope, no more questions!" She grabbed the towel that was still wrapped around the kid and roughly ruffled it against her hair to dry it off. "It’s getting late, and you need to sleep. If you don’t, you might end up as short as a Yordle. You wouldn’t want that, would you?"

When she finally pulled the towel away, Isha was frowning. Her hair was an absolute mess, sticking out in every direction like a lion’s mane. Jinx burst out laughing.

"Pfft—oh no! You look like you stuck your finger in a socket!"

While Isha huffed, swatting at her hands before frantically patting her hair down, her little face scrunched in annoyance.

Jinx grinned, tossing the towel over her shoulder. "I'm joking, geez! You moody little woman!"

Isha eagerly grabbed the shirt and pulled it over her head. The thing swallowed her whole on how big is it. The hem almost touched her knees, and the sleeves flopped past her hands like she was wearing a giant pajama cloak.

Jinx snorted. “Holy shit, kid, you disappeared in there.”

Isha giggled, stretching her arms out and spinning in place, making the oversized fabric billow around her like a cape. Clearly, she loved it.

Jinx rolled her eyes but grinned. “Guess it’s yours now. Lucky you.”

As Jinx sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing a towel through her very long hair, Isha scooted behind her, grabbing sections of her damp blue strands and attempting to braid them. She managed a few twists before getting bored, then started making Jinx’s braids dance like tiny puppets.

The cat, who had somehow followed them back to the bed, watched, ears twitching. When Isha dangled one of the braids in front of it, the tiny furball lunged, batting at it with a paw. Isha just giggled, continuing to entertain the cat with Jinx’s hair. She just let Isha do it. If it made her laugh, then so be it.

After a while, they all settled onto the bed, now in their pajamas, munching on some crackers Jinx had bought earlier. The cat had curled up beside Isha, its tiny paws tucked under its body, looking way too comfortable for something that had been a filthy street rat just hours ago.

Jinx, meanwhile, was on a very serious mission of trying to toss nuts into the air and catch them in her mouth.

She missed. A LOT. One bounced off her forehead. Another hit her cheek. One went soaring across the room.

Isha, watching all of this, tilted her head, then grabbed a nut and tried, too. Her first attempt landed right on her nose, making her close her eyes in surprise. Jinx burst out laughing. Isha pouted, determined now, and grabbed another nut and tossed it again.

Eventually, as the night deepened, Isha’s blinks got slower, her tiny hands fumbling as she grabbed another nut. She tossed it, but it barely made it an inch before bouncing off her chest. Jinx chuckled as the little girl yawned.

Jinx yawned, too, stretching her arms behind her head. The exhaustion was creeping in now, her body finally registering how damn tired she was. Before Jinx could suggest they crash for the night, Isha had already made the decision for both of them.

Without a word, she crawled under the covers, hugging the cat close to her chest. The little furball let out a sleepy mrrp but didn’t protest. Isha yawned once more, closing her eyes as she wiggled her fingers in the shape of the floppy ears of a bunny.

"Mhm, night, night, bunny." She stared for a moment, then let out a quiet chuckle. “Well, guess that’s that.” Nonetheless, Jinx did the bunny ears, too.

Within seconds, Isha was out cold, her soft breathing filling the quiet room. She shook her head, tossed the last nut into her mouth, and missed it. Then, she flopped onto the bed beside Isha, pulling the blankets over both of them. The warmth settled in fast, and as she let her eyes slip shut, she figured—yeah. This wasn’t so bad.

Chapter Text

Jinx woke up to muffled noises coming from outside Isha's tent. Her brows furrowed, her groggy mind struggling to register what was happening. She reached out instinctively, expecting to feel Isha’s small frame curled up beside her, or at the very least, the furball of a cat, Ball, purring in its usual spot. But her hand landed on empty blankets.

Jinx sat up so fast she nearly toppled over, her heart already racing. The empty space beside her made her stomach twist. Where the hell was Isha? And the damn cat? Her mind immediately jumped to the worst. Had she run off? Had someone taken her? With how many enemies she had, it was not impossible for them to finally locate her secret hideout.

Jinx swung her legs over the bed, grabbing her gun instinctively as she stormed out of the tent. She peeled the curtain over that acted as the tent's door and peeked outside,  ready to tear the entire world apart if she had to.  

Surprisingly, she saw someone she hadn't expected to be here.

There, sitting on the ground like she didn’t have a single care in the world, was Sevika playing with Isha.

Jinx blinked.

Once.

Twice.

A third time for good measure.

No, shit, this is real.

Isha was actually dangling from Sevika’s massive mechanical arm, her tiny fingers gripping the metal as Sevika effortlessly lifted her into the air. The kid squealed in delight, her golden eyes wide with excitement as she kicked her legs up in the air. And every time the buff woman lowered her hand, the kid would squeal as if complaining. Clearly, the little gremlin was having the time of her life, swinging her legs wildly as if she were some kind of acrobat.

Sevika scoffed but, to Jinx’s absolute horror, actually obliged, lowering Isha a little more before raising her abruptly, making the kid squeal even louder. “Hold on tight, brat,” she muttered.

Not just that, Ball, the ugly little stray, sat at Sevika’s feet, lazily flicking its tail as if this whole scene wasn’t the most bizarre shit Jinx had ever seen.

And Sevika? Sevika, the gruff, always-scowling, the I-have-no-time-for-your-bullshit Sevika—was really smirking, not in her usual smug way, but in a way that looked dangerously close to amusement.

Jinx’s grip on her gun slackened. “What in the actual hell am I looking at?” Jinx muttered to herself, utterly and completely dumbfounded.

She stepped out of the tent, her presence immediately catching their attention. Still dangling from Sevika’s arm, Isha turned her head and gasped. Without hesitation, she let her hand go from the massive metal limb and practically launched herself at Jinx.

Jinx barely had time to react before the little gremlin crashed into her, wrapping her arms around Jinx’s waist in an eager hug, her smiling face buried in Jinx's stomach. Jinx exhaled as she looked down at the kid before hugging her back, one arm resting lazily over Isha's small frame before her fingers found their way to Isha's messy brown hair, messing it playfully.

"Good morning to you, too," she chirped with a small smile.

It was only after she looked up again that she noticed Sevika was watching her. No, not watching her, but watching them.

Jinx narrowed her eyes.

“You must’ve hit your empty head on something,” she muttered, tilting her head in suspicion. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Sevika rolled her eyes, exhaling through her nose like Jinx was the dumbest person she’d ever met. Which, to be fair, was probably how she felt most days. She stood up with now Ball in her hand, towering over them both, and took a few steps closer, forcing Jinx to tilt her chin up just to meet her gaze.

“The plan’s in place,” Sevika stated, cutting straight to the point. “... it's ready. Just needs your part.”

Jinx made a face, lips pressing into a thin line before she finally sighed. “Great,” she muttered. “Thanks.”

Sevika arched a brow, then gestured toward Isha, who was still clinging to Jinx but now looking up, eyes darting between them.

“And the kid?” Sevika asked flatly. “You leaving her here?”

Jinx barely even hesitated. “She’s coming with us.”

And that was enough to make Sevika’s expression twitch. Sevika never looked surprised. Not even when someone put a knife to her throat. But the way her brows drew together and her eyes flickered doubtfully for half a second. Yeah, Jinx had managed to catch her off guard.

“You’re bringing the kid,” Sevika repeated slowly as if making sure she had just misheard Jinx. “On a fight with your now-cop sister, who’s probably bringing along her cop-dictator girlfriend?”

Jinx, completely unfazed, glanced down at Isha and pinched her nose, making the kid giggle.

“The sooner she’s exposed to things like this, the better,” Jinx said breezily. “If she wants to stay with me, she better get used to it.”

Sevika’s expression darkened. “She’ll be in danger, Jinx.”

At that, Jinx finally looked up, eyes locking onto Sevika’s. Her usual wild, manic glint was gone, replaced by something far colder.

“Danger is always following me, Sevika.” Her voice was calm but sharp. “You, of all people, should know that. Considering how you managed to outlive all my family,” she joked and grinned, but the older woman must not have gotten her humor.

Jinx clapped her hands together. “Anywayyy, the sooner we kill those Piltie enforcers, the sooner we get to come home. Leezzgoo!” With that, she unclasped Isha’s arms from around her and started marching toward the hideout's exit exaggeratedly, arms swinging, feet stomping like an enforcer, mocking them.

She had barely reached the entrance when Sevika’s voice stopped her.

“Wouldn’t you at least let this brat have something to eat first?”

Jinx froze mid-step. Oh, shit! Breakfast!

She spun on her heel and marched back with the same ridiculous, exaggerated walk, stopping only when she passed Isha. “Aight, Isha! Another box of stale-ass cereal for today!” she announced cheerfully before making a beeline for the kitchen.

Isha let out a long, suffering sigh, her shoulders slumping dramatically as she followed Jinx with her gaze. She tilted her head back, golden eyes staring at the ceiling, clearly exhausted from eating that stale-ass cereal for daysss. Clearly, she knew she was lucky enough to have something to eat every day after having nothing to eat before, but she was tired. She needs Jinx to wrap it up!

"Are you two eating enough?" Sevika asked, brows furrowed.

Isha groaned,  but trailing after Jinx,  shook her head as if expressing how she really deserved a better guardian, and that was enough answer for Sevika.

"Join us, Sev! I have another box here!" yelled Jinx in her mini-kitchen

Sevika sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before following the two.

⨲⨲⨲

For as long as Jinx could remember, everyone she had ever loved had been ripped away from her.

First, her parents, dead in the mess of war against topsided, gone before she even understood what death really meant. Then Vander, the man who took her in, who raised her, who swore to keep her safe. Gone. Claggor, Mylo, her family, her home, all reduced to smoke and rubble. Violet, who promised never to leave her, but she did for a girl Jinx hated.

Her daughter, a child who never even had the chance to know her. She never got to see the world or know what it felt like to be held by her own mother. Jinx had lost her before she could even get a glimpse of her face, before she could memorize her tiny hands or hear the sound of her laughter. She had died before she even had a name.

And then there was Silco. Her father in all the ways that mattered. The only one who stayed, who saw her for who she was and still chose her. And in the end…

She had lost him, too.

Everyone Jinx ever cared for was ripped away from her. And every time, every single time, it was because of her. Because she was a Jinx.

She ruined everything. She killed everything she touched. She had spent so many years convincing herself that this was just the way things were, that she was meant to be alone.

And then Isha happened.

A little gremlin with big, golden eyes and a face that reminded her of someone she couldn’t quite place. A kid who wormed her way into Jinx’s life with that stubborn, but peaceful presence, who clung to her like Jinx was worth clinging to. A kid who didn’t flinch at her madness, who didn’t run from her nightmares.

She was different from everyone else. She didn’t look at Jinx with fear, and she didn’t shrink away when she laughed too loudly or when her hands twitched from the ghosts clawing at her mind. She never winced when Jinx’s temper snapped like a live wire, and she never treated her like she was a monster.

Most of all, she stayed with her.

Isha had sat beside Jinx in the dead of night when the voices got too loud, wordlessly pressing an ugly little cat into Jinx’s arms like that alone would chase the monsters away. She had tugged at Jinx’s sleeve when she was spiraling, calming her with nothing more than a look. She had filled Jinx’s hideout with scribbled drawings, messy and disorganized, covering the walls with color... with life.

Jinx didn't know when it started... didn't know when she acknowledged the kid that belonged to her. When Isha stopped being just another lost street rat and started being something more to her life. When Jinx finds herself saving the last food for her, fixing up a better bed, washing the dirt from her face like some kind of guardian she is. 

And for the first time in years, Jinx wasn’t alone. She had someone.

Isha trusted her... loved her. Looked at her like she was more than a walking disaster, more than just destruction... a tickling bomb waiting to happen. Like she was something good.

Jinx had spent years believing she was meant to be alone. That everyone she touched would turn to dust, that she was nothing but a Jinx, a curse, a black hole swallowing everything she loved.

Then Isha came along and refused to be swallowed.

And Jinx swear she would burn the whole fucking world before she let anything happen to her.

"I'm glad its you," she said almost a whisper. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, and she opened them again, her gaze soft towards Violet, her sister. "Had to be you." If she will be killed by someone, it's a good feeling that it was from her sister. Her family.

Jinx could barely register what was happening. One second, she was on the ground, her body aching, her vision swimming from Vi’s last hit, and waiting for her useless life to end by the hand of her sister. The next, there was a sharp click of a sound she knew better than her own heartbeat.

A gun.

Her gun being held by a child.

Isha is holding her gun.

Jinx’s breath caught in her throat as her wide eyes locked onto the sight in front of her. She blinked, still surprised by the sudden interruption.

"Isha, no!" she wanted to shout, but her lips wouldn't open to speak for some reason.

Isha's little hands were shaking so badly that the gun wobbled in her grip, but she kept her aim steady. Jinx could see her chest rising and falling too fast, hear her sharp, shallow breaths. She knew exactly what was going through Isha's mind right now, because she had been there, too.

pulse pounded in her ears. "Kid, drop it." Finally, she found her voice, which was different from what she couldn't bear to recognize. It was urgent, full of fear. "Isha, put the gun down, please." 

But Isha still didn’t move, her fingers hovering over the rigger, trembling. Her golden eyes, usually so bright and playful, were different now. Wide, wet from unshed tears, and full of terror—but underneath that? Resolution to save someone important to her... save someone she loves.

Jinx saw herself.

She saw Powder, years ago, standing in the wreckage, clutching a weapon that killed her family in her small hands, desperate to save the people she loved.

Jinx’s throat tightened. "Please, don’t do this, I-Isha," she pleaded, her voice cracked.

Violet didn’t move either. She just stared and still raised her hand with the metal fist, breath heavy, eyes darting between Jinx and the kid holding the gun.

Jinx

had to stop this before it's too late.

"Isha, listen to me—"

Jinx flinched as the shot rang out from Caitlyn's gun.  Isha yelped as the force knocked the gun from her hands. Sparks flew, and Zapper skidded across the floor, out of reach. The kid was frozen. Her small hands, once clutching the gun so tightly, now trembled and empty. One thing that Jinx felt right now was a true fear that she hadn't felt long ago. The pain from her lost finger was now forgotten.

Please, no! Jinx’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes quickly darted over Isha’s small frame, searching frantically for any sign of blood. Her hands, her arms, her chest, everywhere, but found nothing. She’s okay. Jinx was not a religious fanatic, but in the moment, she thanked to all the gods, old and new, that Isha was safe.

She barely had time to react to what just fucking happened to her when small, warm, trembling Isha crashed into her body. Arms wrapped around her neck, squeezing so tightly it almost choked her. A small face buried itself against her shoulder, muffling shaky little sounds. Jinx blinked, her breath hitching. The kid was hugging her. No, not hugging, but shielding her against the enemies.

Isha?

“What the—?!” Jinx tried to pry her off, but Isha only latched on tighter, making a muffled groan against her skin. "Isha, what are you doing?!" Her voice grew sharper as she shuffled once more, rough and full of panic, but the kid didn't even budge. “Hey! Get off me!” Jinx squirmed, trying to push her back, but Isha wouldn’t budge. Her tiny arms were like a damn vines, clinging with everything she had. And then she felt wetness, something damp against her shoulder.

Tears.... The kid was crying. Jinx’s stomach twisted violently, something inside her rattling in a way she didn’t like.

“Get away from her!” The sharp voice cut through the room, freezing the air like ice. Jinx’s eyes snapped up, and she saw Caitlyn Kiramman, standing stiff as a statue, her gun raised. Jinx tensed. She wouldn't worry about her safety, but with a child clinging to her body right now, she clearly is.

"Cait," Vi’s voice, lower but still urgent, rang out, clearly afraid that her piltie situationship might kill a literal child just because of her pure hatred against her evil sister, Jinx.

Jinx felt Isha flinch. Shit.  She took Caitlyn's destruction from her sweet sister to peel off Isha away from her. "Scam, kild!" she growled, almost breaking Isha's grip from her, but the little grimlin just curled herself more and wrapped her finger tightly around her neck like a monkey.

"Move!" Caitlyn barked, louder this time, her hands tightening around her gun. 

From the corner of her eyes, Jinx saw her sister move from pinning her down to standing in front of them, putting herself in between her and Caitlyn. 

“Cait, she’s a child.” She raised her big, meaty hands.

“I said move! She’s not getting away again!” Cait’s voice snapped like a whip, pointing her gun at Jinx and Isha and pulled the tigger, creating a loud sound that echoed throughout Janna's temple.

Jinx jerked, her whole body instinctively curling over Isha, arms wrapping protectively around her. She felt Isha tremble, a muffled whimper pressing against her neck as Jinx’s fingers curled into the kid’s back.

"Hmmm!"

“Shhh. It’s fine, kid. I got you,” Jinx mumbled, soothing her with her hands on her back. No impact. Jinx cracked one eye open. Sparks flickered across the room. violet, staggering back, the fresh bullet lodged in her robotic arm. She took the bullet for them.

“Cait—” Vi started, stepping forward.

“Move!”

 Another shot fired, but this time, Vi moved. She lunged forward, grabbing Caitlyn’s gun and jerking it downward. The shot cracked against the floor, leaving nothing but a scorched mark on the ground.

“That’s enough!” Vi snapped, her voice sharp and breathless.

Everything went still. The only thing Jinx could hear was the sound of Isha’s shaky breathing, muffled against her shoulder. 

She clenched her jaw, staring at the scene before her with cold, narrowed eyes. Jinx should’ve laughed at the irony. The enforcer, the traitor, the same woman who abandoned her, who left her alone, who joined the very people who slaughtered their parents, who oppressed their home, who massacred their people—had just protected her.

Jinx hated her for it. Hated her for standing on the side of the ones they despised growing up. Hated her for choosing Piltover over her own flesh and blood. Hated her for wearing their colors, for enforcing their laws, for upholding the very system that had crushed them both under its heel.

Vi may have been born in Zaun, but her heart belonged to the ones who abused them, who hunted them like some rats.

And yet…

Jinx tightened her grip around Isha, staring at Vi’s pained expression. For the first time in years, she didn’t see the enforcer. The traitor.

She saw Vi.

Not the Piltover lapdog. Not the council’s pet. But her sister. The one who used to hold her after nightmares. The one who chased all her monsters. The one who always told her she was enough. The one who had promised, sworn, that she would never leave.

Jinx swallowed, her fingers twitching against Isha’s back. She hated this. Hated that some stupid part of her still wanted to believe Vi was back. That she hadn’t completely lost her loving sister.

Her attention shifted away from the situationship couple, which clearly was having a lover's quarrel, when Jinz saw a movement from the corner of her eyes. Sevika, who had been knocked out cold just a minute ago, was now standing, staggering towards the wall. Jinx barely had time to react as she watched Sevika reach out and press the button hidden between the cracks.

Her stomach dropped when she realized what it was.

“No, no! This isn’t how it’s supposed to—” she shouted in panic, but before she could continue, the explosion she planted roared through Janna's old temple.

The walls trembled, cracks splitting across the stone like jagged veins. A loud groan filled the air, followed by a deafening crash as the wall beside them burst apart. Wind howled through the gaping hole, an invisible force tearing through the room like a hurricane, strong enough to lift the metal and stones of the ground, spiraling violently before crashing against the walls.

Jinx took over and instantly grabbed Isha, wrapping her arms around the kid's small frame and yanking her off the stone table. Her grip was so firm, desperate to keep Isha safe as she jumped back, stumbling toward the cover.

Jinx could barely hear past the ringing in her ears, the howling gusts making her stumble. Isha trembled against her, small fingers digging into her back as she buried her face into Jinx’s neck.

Behind them, metal screeched. Jinx turned just in time to see Sevika. The woman had latched her metal arm onto the heavy stone table, using her weight to anchor herself against the force of the wind. Dust and debris swirled around her massive form, but she held firm.

Jinx pressed her back against the table, shielding Isha with her body as the mess raged on. She squeezed her eyes shut, her chest rising and falling too fast, her breathing uneven.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, though her voice shook. “We’re okay. I got you.”

Isha didn’t respond. The kid only clung tighter.

Jinx swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe, forcing herself to believe the words she just said. The dust in the air stung her eyes, making them water, but she refused to let go. And through the thick dust, she could barely see Sevika’s silhouette, her metal arm still locked onto the table, protecting them. Ironic. For someone who swore she had nothing for this kid, she sure as hell wasn’t letting her get blown away.

⨲⨲⨲

She sat slumped in the chair, her good hand gripping the armrest so tightly her knuckles had gone white. Her other hand, well, what was left of it, rested on the table, held firmly in Sevika’s grip as she worked.

The pain was dull now, numbed by whatever booze Sevika had poured over it, but the sight of it… that was another story. Her middle finger was gone. Just a jagged mess of flesh and dried blood where it had once been. Its fucked up that she could no longer fliff off someone with this hand.

Jinx let out a slow, controlled exhale, forcing herself not to look at it. Instead, she kept her eyes locked on the ceiling, pretending she wasn’t here, pretending she wasn’t feeling the uncomfortable pull of stitches being threaded through her skin.

Sevika worked silently, her jaw clenched as she secured the last of the sutures. Her expression was blank, though Jinx caught the way her eyes flicked toward her face every now and then, like she was waiting for her to break.

She wouldn’t. Not now. Not when Isha was sitting a few feet away on Silco’s swivel chair, hugging Ball close to her chest, her wide golden eyes darting between Jinx’s hand and her face. 

No one spoke. The only sounds in the room were the soft shift of Sevika's clothes as she worked and the muffled hum of Undercity beyond the glass walls.

"Done," Sevika muttered after a while, standing up with the kit and went to another room.

Jinx paid her no attention, her eyes were only focused on Isha. Her head was bowed, her lips pressed together, but it was her eyes that made Jinx pause. It was full of gut-wrenching guilt.

“Isha.”

The girl didn’t respond. She frowned.

Jinx pushed herself up from the chair, ignoring the dull ache in her freshly stitched hand. She crossed the room in a few steps, crouching down in front of the kid, resting her elbows on her knees.

“Hey, kid,” she tried again, tilting her head. “What’s with the face?”

Isha flinched slightly, gripping Ball tighter.

Jinx sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Shit. She knew that look. She had worn that look before when she was still Powder.

“Listen,” she started, voice softer than before. “What happened… that ain’t on you, okay? You did what you had to do. What you thought you had to do.”

Isha’s lip wobbled, her golden eyes glassy with unshed tears. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to hold them back, but her small hands trembled where they clutched Ball’s fur. After a while, she lowered and shook her head stubbornly, keeping herself silent.

Jinx watched as the kid’s breath hitched, her shoulders drawing inward, curling in on herself like she wanted to disappear. She sighed, knowing the feeling. That crushing weight. That voice in the back of your head that whispered it was all your fault for hurting the person you care about. And she couldn’t let Isha drown in it.

Jinx clicked her tongue, rocking back slightly on her heels. “Look, I know what guilt feels like, alright? It sticks. It makes you think you should’ve done something different. Makes you wanna take it all back.”

She reached forward, tapping a finger against Isha’s forehead, just enough to make the kid blink up at her in confusion.

“But trust me, you keep letting it eat at you like that, and it’ll chew you up from the inside out.” Jinx grinned, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “And that? That ain’t fun, kid."

Isha stared at her, searching her face, as if trying to see if she really meant it. Finally, hesitantly, she nodded.

Jinx let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Good. ‘Cause I don’t need another sad sack moping around.”

She reached out and ruffled Isha’s already-messy hair, earning a tiny huff of protest.

After a moment, Isha sighed, I’m sorry about your hand… does it hurt?

Jinx glanced down at her now-bandaged hand, her missing middle finger wrapped tightly, as if to make up for the fact that it was no longer there. She wiggled her remaining fingers before shrugging. “Nah, it’s fine. Wasn’t all that useful anyway, y’know? ‘Cept for flipping people off when they pissed me off.” She smirked.

Jinx breathed a sigh of relief and smiled when Isha gave a soft chuckle. There was another pause before Isha signed, Thank you for saving me again.

Jinx tilted her head, smiling as she poked Isha’s nose lightly. “Haven’t I told you already? You stay with me forever, yeah? That means you and me... we’re one now. And I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

Isha’s golden eyes softened, and without hesitation, she nodded. Me too.

Jinx grinned. “Good!”

Both of them laughed with their little joke. After a while, Isha yawned, her small frame swaying slightly from exhaustion. Without a second thought, Jinx scooped her up, holding her close as she plopped herself down onto Silco’s chair. Ball, the cat, barely had time to leap off Isha’s lap, but managed to.

Sleepy golden eyes blinked at her, heavy with exhaustion. Then, slowly, Isha raised her finger and made the small, familiar motion—her bunny ears.

Jinx’s smile softened, and rested her chin on top of the kid’s head. “Yeah, yeah. Night night, bunny.”

Isha’s eyes fluttered shut, and within seconds, her breathing evened out, safe and sound in Jinx’s arms. 

Out of a sudden, she hummed softly, the familiar lullaby slipping past her lips as she rocked back and forth, the melody one she hadn't sung in a long, long time. She glanced down at Isha’s peaceful face, watching the slow rise and fall of her small chest. Once she was sure the kid was in deep sleep, Jinx carefully stood, moving carefully not to wake her up. She placed Isha gently onto the couch, tucking a worn-out blanket around her. The same blanket Jinx used to use when she’d sleep in here, back when Silco worked late into the night.

Ball stretched lazily over the floor before walking over to Isha’s side, curling up beside her like a tiny, furry guardian.

Jinx grabbed a single wooden chair from the side of the room and dragged it beside the couch, positioning it so that if Isha rolled over, she wouldn’t fall. She gave everything one last glance, making sure the kid was safe and comfortable before turning on her heel and quietly slipping out of the office.

Walking down the stairs of The Last Drop, she saw Sevika, who was where Jinx had expected her to be. On the bar counter with a half-empty glass of alcohol and her flesh fingers rubbing her temple in circles, clearly exhausted with the shit that happened, too. She barely glanced up as Jinx approached, taking the seat beside her. Of course, the ogre was drinking as usual.

"You good?" 

"No," Jinx answered, resting her elbows on the counter and slumping her body forward.

"Wanna drink?" she raised the glass to her.

Jinx eyed the amber liquid for a second before shaking her head. “Nah. The last time I drank, I made a mistake I’ll never forget," she joked, pertaining to when she knocked up.

Sevika scoffed, rolling her eyes before downing the rest of her drink in one go. She poured herself another without batting an eyelid.

"Where’s the kid?"

"Asleep," Jinx muttered. Her fingers tapped absently against the counter. "She was afraid."

Sevika paused mid-drink, glancing at her from the corner of her eye. “And you?”

Jinx hesitated, her fingers stilling before answering, "...I am." Her hands curled into fists on top of the counter.

"You can tell me... well if you want." She drink the remaining liquid on her glass before talking again. "I'm not the good parental figure for you... you know after Vander and Silco. But I've been with you since you were like what? A fetus..." She shook her head, grinning. "I have two ears for a reason."

Jinx glanced up at her, considering her suggestion. When she saw how Sevika’s face was serious, her breath coming in sharp, erratic bursts.

"I though I loose her today." She paused, looking down to her shaking hands, remembering the things that happened earlier that day.

“She shouldn’t act like she’s invincible,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. “She thinks she can just—just throw herself in front of bullets like it’s nothing. Like it won’t—like it won’t cost her anything.”

She groaned loudly, hands flying into her hair, tugging at the blue strands like she was trying to pull the frustration out of her skull. "She... she could’ve been killed! Do you get that?! Dead! Gone!"

"Jinx—"

"She can't just do that!" Jinx snapped, her voice cracking. "She can't just—just throw herself in the middle of things like some goddamn hero! She's not a hero, Sevika! She's a kid!"

"Jinx."

She whipped her head towards Sevika. “What?! She—she—” Her breath hitched as she turned away, her fingers clawing at her nail beds, peeling at the edges. “She just grabbed me! She wouldn’t let go despite how many attempts I tried! What if—what if that unhinged enforcer had shot her? What if she missed and—” She choked on the words, clenching her fists so tight her knuckles turned white. 

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "What if she dies because of me again, Sevika?"

Sevika exhaled heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “She’s a kid, Jinx. Kids do dumb shit.”

Jinx spun her attention on her, eyes wild. “Yeah? Well, I was a kid too, Sevika. And look how that turned out for me.” Her voice cracked at the end, her sharp nails digging into her palms so hard she thought they might draw blood.

Sevika met her gaze evenly before rolling her eyes. “You were worse.”

She scoffed, but it lacked her usual bite. “Gee, thanks.”

Sevika crossed her arms. “You think I didn’t see you back then? Running headfirst into fights you don't belong to, blowing shit up without thinking? The only difference is, you didn’t have anyone to stop you.”

Jinx flinched.

Sevika dragged her stool closer to her, voice lowering. “You’re scared because you know exactly what path she’s heading down.”

Jinx’s throat tightened. “She doesn’t deserve that,” she whispered, barely audible. “She doesn’t deserve to end up like me.”

Sevika watched her for a moment, then let out a slow exhale. “No, she doesn’t,” she agreed. “But you’re the one raising her now, Jinx. And you’re not just letting it happen, are you?”

Jinx clenched her jaw. "I don't let anything happen to her."

"Then prove it.. make sure that she doesn't ended up like you," Sevika said simply. "Keep her from going down that road. Show her what you never had.” Sevika sighed, shifting her weight.

That shut Jinx up. A moment later she lowered her gaze, trying to push away the tight, suffocating feeling creeping up her throat.

"She won't be like you," Sevika paused, looking intently at her. “Not as long as you’re here.”

Jinx looked up at her then, her pink eyes clouded tenderly. Sevika held her unwavering gaze before reaching out and placing her good hand atop Jinx’s head, fingers threading lightly through her messy blue strands.

"I'll take what I said before... this," she gestured vaguely at Jinx."... actually suits you. You could be a great mother." She rubbed slow, firm circles into her scalp, the way one might comfort a restless child.

Jinx blinked rapidly, caught between the instinct to pull away and the unfamiliar warmth curling in her chest. She huffed, tilting her head slightly into the touch before muttering, “Ugh. Now you’re getting sappy, Sevika.”

Sevika just rolled her eyes, but she didn’t pull her hand away. “Shut up and take the damn comfort, brat.”

⨲⨲⨲

Jinx sat perched on the rooftop of The Last Drop, one leg dangling over the edge of the building, and the other tucked beneath her. The air was still thick with pollution, but up there, it felt a little cleared and less suffocating. She sipped lazily from her favorite cup, the bright-colored straw sticking out at an odd angle as she absentmindedly swirled the juice inside.

She actually badly wanted to blow something up. Something big, and loud that could drown out the thoughts that are clawing at the edges of her mind. But with her hideout just sitting right under the club, and with Isha's presence, she had a second thought. So, she just settled for this.

Humming her favorite lullaby as she sways her body back and forth, out of the corner of her pink eyes, something had caught her attention.

A few feet away from here was the huge wall. Jinx frowned around her straw, shifting her gaze toward it. The surface of the wall was layered with dirt, stacked with forgotten crates and years of dust, clearly neglected, like most things in Zaun. But underneath the filth, barely visible through the dirt, was a splash of faded paint of a drawing.

Jinx’s stomach twisted. She knew that painting. She had painted this so long ago. After it happened. After she happened. She could still remember how the brush felt in her hands, how the paint dripped onto the floor, how the colors blurred together through her tears.

Since that day, she had rarely come here and hadn't touched the drawing in years, letting the dirt and time swallow it whole. It was intentional, of course, all she wanted was to forget the people she lost because of her.

Jinx sucked in a sharp breath and stood up, grabbing her things and standing up from the rooftop. She hesitated for only a second before placing her drink on one of the crates. Since she had nothing better to do, she might as well clean it.

It took some time in removing the piles of crates, wiping away the layers of dirt, and clearing away the dust that hadn't touched in years. And by the time she was done, the sun was already up in the sky. Jinx was exhausted by the end, but it was all worth it.

Jinx wiped the sweat from her brow, stepping back to take in the mural. The colors were dull, faded with time, the once-bright shades now muted under years of dirt. Cracks ran through the paint, splitting across the wall, but even so, the image remained.

She took a few steps back for a better view of a very small girl smiling from ear to ear with her very chubby cheeks and one front tooth missing. Her messy brown hair was sticking out in all directions like it had never been combed down for months. Her little hands were outstretched, fingers splayed as if she were reaching for something. Her golden eyes, big and round, full of happiness.

It's been a while since she last saw Little Kicker, to the point where she almost forgot about her features. Looking at her right now, Jinx could also see the resemblance of her daughter to her, and nothing for Ekko. Poor little man. Had he contributed anything in the process?

Jinx's fingers hovered just over the mural, brushing the rough surface, as if she could somehow reach through time and touch the tiny, grinning girl staring back at her.

Golden eyes...

Brown hair...

Jinx went completely still when she realized something. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, and suddenly, her lungs refused to work as her mind was screaming at her to think, to rationalize, to find some other explanation. But there wasn’t one.

She swayed on her feet, gripping the nearest crate for support. No. It can’t be.

The same wild mess of brown hair. The same toothy grin. The same damn eyes— it all the same thing with her.

Jinx’s heart pounded against her ribs. Her stomach twisted so hard she thought she might be sick. This wasn’t just some coincidence. This wasn’t some cruel trick of the mind. Because the face staring back at her from the wall was the same face she tucked into bed every night.

Her Little Kicker was Isha.

Her legs gave out beneath her, and she dropped onto her knees, a trembling hand flying to cover her mouth. Her breath hitched, her chest tightening as she stared at the mural—at the child she had once believed was gone forever.

Her Isha.

Jinx had spent years believing she had lost her, grieving a daughter she never got to know. But she had been here all along, right beside her. And Jinx, blind and stupid as ever, hadn’t even seen it.

But how was it possible? The question clawed at her mind.

"....It’s dead."

Jinx remembers those two words, but she has no idea who said them that time. Other than sounding like an echo and distant, it did not make sense to her. She had been too numb, too tired, and in so much pain to truly hear it.

But now? Now the memory was different. The distortion faded. The static cleared. And the voice… the voice wasn’t some nameless person from the past. It was Silco’s.

Of course.

Of course, it was him.

Her nails dug into her palms, trembling hands curling into fists. She should’ve known. He had always told her what she needed to hear, always twisted the truth just for him to have her. To have her as his dog who keeps following his orders.

And she had believed him.

Her daughter. Her baby. The only thing she had left that time.

Silco took that from her.

A broken, breathless laugh slipped past her fingers. Whether it was from joy, anger, shock, or sheer disbelief, Jinx couldn’t tell.

Sevika stood by the stove, flipping the last piece of egg onto the plate, filling he small space of the kitchen with mouth-watering scent. She wasn’t much of a cook—hell, she’d never needed to be, but making something simple was second nature.

Through the silence, she heard the sound of the small footsteps padding down the stairs. A moment later, Isha appeared in the kitchen doorway, dragging that same familiar blanket behind her, looking like she had just stumbled straight out of a dream. The kid’s eyes, still squinted from sleep, darted around the room, searching for Jinx.

“She went somewhere.” Sevika didn’t even turn around as she stacked food onto plates. “She’ll be here in a while, don’t worry. Now come sit and eat your food.”

Isha hesitated for only a second before shuffling over to the table, leaving the blanket on the floor. Sevika set the plates down, pushing one toward the kid.

The moment Isha’s eyes landed on the food, they widened in pure delight. “Wahhh!”

Sevika smirked, grabbing a glass of milk and placing it in front of her. “Dig in,” she said, nodding toward the plate.

Isha didn’t need to be told twice. She happily dug into her meal, humming softly in satisfaction.

Sevika sat across from her, deciding to eat as well. Jinx would take her time, she always did. She had a habit of vanishing for hours, even back then. It was just how she was.

By the time they finished, Isha wiped her mouth with her sleeve before looking up at Sevika. She moved her hands in a series of signs, and Sevika have not a single fucking idea what it was.

Sevika raised an eyebrow. “The hell are you saying?”

Isha huffed, signing again, this time pointing toward the door. Sevika didn’t understand much of the kid’s signing, but it wasn’t hard to guess. She wanted to go to Jinx’s hideout.

She sighed, standing up and crossing her arms. “Fine, go.”

Isha grinned before hopping off the chair, dragging her blanket along as she hurried out of the kitchen. Sevika leaned back, shaking her head. That kid was attached to Jinx like glue. Not that she could blame her.

After collecting the used plated, Sevika turned her back from the doorway to wash them on the sink. She was on her last dishes when she felt a familiar, dark presence looming presence behind her.

The air thickened. The fine hairs on the back of her neck rose. A dark, electric energy filled the room, crawling up her spine like a warning. Sevika didn’t turn around immediately. Instead, she let out a slow exhale, placing the plate down carefully before shutting the faucet off.

She didn’t need to look to know Jinx’s eyes were boring into her back.

“So, you figured it out.”

A moment of silence, before a sharp gust of air passed through the room. Sevika barely had time to brace herself before Jinx’s fist collided with her jaw. The impact snapped her head to the side, a sharp sting blooming across her skin. Through the silence, the sound of the impact of punch echoed.

Sevika turned her head slowly, rolling her jaw as she finally met Jinx’s gaze. Pink eyes burned like fire, dark with anger and danger. Her chest rose and fell sharply, her entire frame trembling with so much anger.

“You bitch,” Jinx hissed, sounding like a venom. “How long were you gonna keep it from me?”

Sevika wiped the corner of her mouth, tasting iron. “I wasn’t planning on telling you.”

Jinx let out a broken, humorless laugh before lunging again.

This time, Sevika was ready. She caught Jinx’s wrist mid-swing, twisting it sharply before shoving her back. Jinx stumbled, but before she could recover, Sevika was on her. She grabbed Jinx by the front of her top, slamming her against the wall with her mechanical arm while the good one pinned her in place. Jinx gritted her teeth, struggling, but Sevika didn’t budge.

“You done throwing your tantrum?” Sevika growled, her face inches from Jinx’s.

Jinx snarled. “Not even close.”

She kicked out, her knee driving toward Sevika’s ribs. Sevika barely dodged the sharp jab of Jinx’s knee, shifting just in time to take the brunt of it against her side rather than her ribs. But damn, the girl hit hard.

With a growl, Sevika shoved her back against the wall, trying to keep her pinned, but Jinx was fast. Too fast. She twisted, slipping out of Sevika’s grip like a damn snake, dropping low before springing back up, and this time with her elbow aimed for Sevika’s jaw.

A crack was heard, and Sevika stumbled back a step, a sharp sting exploding across her chin. She tasted blood.

Jinx grinned, feral and wild. “Awww, did that hurt?”

Sevika wiped her mouth, shaking out her wrist before lunging again. This time, she grabbed Jinx by the shoulder, dragging her forward and slamming her down onto the table. The wood groaned under the force. Jinx let out a sharp gasp but didn’t stay down long. She reached blindly, grabbing the nearest thing within reach, which is a plate, and smashed it against Sevika’s shoulder.

“Shit—” Sevika barely flinched, but the distraction was enough for Jinx to slip out of her hold again.

Jinx rolled onto the floor, panting, before kicking Sevika’s legs out from under her. The larger woman crashed down, her metal arm slamming against the floor with a dull thud.

Jinx scrambled up, grabbing a knife from the counter. She lunged, but Sevika caught her wrist mid-swing. They grappled, the blade shaking between them as Jinx tried to press forward, and Sevika tried to push her back. Their arms trembled, muscles straining.

“I did what I had to do, Jinx. Silco did what he had to do. You were not ready.” Sevika’s jaw was clenched tight, keeping the knife away from her face.

Jinx’s breath was ragged “Bullshit!” she thrashed.

Sevika gritted her teeth, tightening her grip on Jinx’s wrist as the blade inched closer. “You were fourteen, Jinx! A kid! You couldn’t even take care of yourself, let alone a baby!”

Jinx let out a ragged growl, her arms shaking as she fought against Sevika’s strength. “That wasn’t your choice to make! That wasn’t his choice!” Her pink eyes were wild, her breath coming in sharp gasps. "Mine!"

Sevika snarled, forcing the knife back. “You were losing it! You still lose it! You freeze up, you hear voices, you shoot at nothing! And you think you could’ve handled her?”

Jinx’s grip faltered for just a second, her pupils dilating, but then she bared her teeth, pushing forward again. “I would’ve figured it out! She was mine!”

Sevika’s face twisted, sweat trickling down her temple. “Yeah? Like you figured out how to keep yourself alive without Silco picking up the pieces? You think a baby could survive with you running off with those voices in your head every other night?"

Jinx let out an angry snarl, wrenching her wrist, but Sevika didn’t let go.

“You would’ve killed her!” Sevika spat. “Not on purpose, but it would’ve happened! And then what? Then what, Jinx? You think you’re messed up now? Imagine what that would’ve done to you.”

Jinx’s breath hitched, but she hated that something in her stomach twisted at Sevika’s words.

Sevika exhaled sharply, voice rough but steady. “Silco knew you wouldn’t survive that loss, so he saved you from it. He saved that kid from a life of hell. And you know what? Maybe it was wrong, maybe you deserved to know, but don’t you dare act like we did it just to hurt you.”

Jinx’s arms were trembling, her grip on the knife slick with sweat. Her breath shuddered, grip starting to loosened, and eventually, the knife clattered to the ground.

Sevika sighed. “You found her anyway, didn’t you?” Her expression softened slightly. “She’s here... That’s all that matters now.”

Jinx gave her a cold glare before disappearing in a blink of an eye.

Chapter Text

Ekko groaned as he tried to move, but every muscle in his body screamed in protest. His vision swam, the edges of his world blurring as pain pulsed through his skull. The bridge above him felt like it was tilting, swaying like it was ready to crumble over him. Or maybe that was just him.

Ekko clenched his jaw, trying to push himself up, but his left ankle screamed in agony the second he moved it. Shit, its probably broken. His ribs didn’t feel much better. Every breath felt like dragging knives through his chest.

He had managed to get away, but just barely. His wrecked hoverboard had carried him a few desperate meters before spiraling out of control, sending him crashing hard onto the uneven metal and concrete. Now, every inch of his body throbbed, the sharp sting of fresh wounds mixing with the deep ache of old ones.

His fist smashed against the wall beside him from the pain and frustration that's threatening to swallow him whole. He almost had Jinx.

She had been right there. After all these years, after all the bloodshed, he had finally cornered her. He could have ended it. He could have avenged everyone she took from him.

So why? Why had he hesitated?

His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palm. He had been ready to kill her. Had been ready to end this madness once and for all. But then, she looked at him, and suddenly, he wasn’t staring at Jinx anymore, but Powder, and just like that, his resolve had crumbled.

He squeezed his eyes shut, and Ekko could still remember the soft, almost peaceful smile she gave him right before she blew themself up like she had been waiting for him to do it, to end this, to end her. And when he hesitated, she took the choice away from him.

As he opened his eyes, his vision blurred instantly. He had to move and get away in this place this instant.  He couldn’t stay here. If Silco’s men found him like this, he’d be as good as dead. He needed to move.

But before he could gather the strength to force himself forward, a shadow fell over him. A pair of small, furry hands reached towards his hoverboard, turning it over to give an inspection. Ekko couldn't distinguish who it was since the thing was wearing a cloak to hide its identity.

"Ingenious!" a voice marveled. "Though these blades seem improperly pitched."

"You're wrong," Ekko interrupted through gritted teeth.

The figure paused before turning to face him, revealing a small Yordle hidden beneath a cloak. His eyes widened, surprised by Ekko's presence.

"It's designed for the fissures where the air is more dense." He continued, clutching his pained ribs.

The Yordle blinked, then nodded in understanding before his expression softened. "Oh, are you all right, lad?"

"Yeah, I’m fine," Ekko exhaled sharply, forcing a smirk despite the pain. "Just a busted ankle… and, you know, everything else."

Ekko took a better look at the Yordle and suddenly recognized who it was. "Are you... Coucilor Heimerdinger?"

The Yordle shook his head before lowering his gaze down. "It's just Heimerdinger now," he corrected sadly.

"What are you doing on this side of the river?"

"I want to offer my assistance to the citizens of the Undercity... but it seems I'm unwelcome."

Ekko let out a dry chuckle, wincing at the effort.

Heimerdinger frowned. "What’s so amusing?"

Ekko shook his head, leaning his weight back against the wall with a tired smirk. "We’re having the exact same day."

Heimerdinger’s ears twitched, but his gaze soon drifted to Ekko’s injuries, concern crossing his features. "That looks like more than a sprain," he noted, nodding toward Ekko’s mangled ankle. "You need medical attention."

"I need to get home," Ekko corrected, his smirk slipping as he glanced down at his leg. "It’s not safe for me up here." He sighed, dragging a hand down his face before shooting Heimerdinger a pointed look. "But I don’t exactly see a way down with my leg busted."

His eyes flicked toward the Yordle’s hands. "Well... you're holding my ride."

⨲⨲⨲

Ekko's brown eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the blurry shapes before shifting into focus. A dim lamp flickered from the corner of the familiar wooden wall, and he recognized it immediately. He was in his own quarters in the Firelight hideout.

He sighed, feeling the relief of knowing that he's finally home.. that he is home. He tried to move, and regretted immediately when a sharp pain shot through his side. A groan tore from his throat as he instinctively tensed.

“Don’t.” A firm hand pressed against his chest, keeping him from pushing himself up. 

Ekko’s head snapped to the side, his vision finally clearing enough to recognize the figure beside him.

"S-Scar," he acknowledged, his voice rasped. 

The Firelight was perched on a stool, arms crossed, a deep frown etched into his always serious face. His sharp eyes scanned over Ekko, assessing, before he let out a sigh.

“You’re an idiot,” he muttered.

Ekko huffed, attempting another push, but Scar didn’t budge, pushing him back into his bed.

"Seriously, don’t. You're damn lucky Heimerdinger found you when he did, or we’d be pulling your body out of the water right now."

Ekko let out a short, dry laugh, his head dropping back against the pillow. "That bad, huh?"

Scar scoffed. "You tell me. Broken ankle, bruised ribs, concussion—oh, and let’s not forget nearly blowing yourself up along with her."

Ekko flinched at that last part. Scar must’ve noticed because his voice turned more serious. 

"Look, man. If you’re gonna throw yourself into the fire, at least make sure you don’t get burned too."

He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to push past the lump forming in his throat. "How long was I out?" The last thng he remembers passing out was the people celebrating his arrival when Heimerdinger took him into the Firelight's hideout. After that, nothing more, just a weightless darkness where time didn't exist.

Scar uncrossed his arms. "Two days."

Ekko’s head snapped up, eyes widening. "Two—?"

"Yeah," Scar cut him off. "Two days. We thought you were dead, Ekko. You weren’t waking up, barely breathing—hell, even Heimerdinger wasn’t sure you’d pull through."

Ekko let out a slow breath, his fingers flexing against the blanket. "Any news about her?... is Jinx dead?"

Scar exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before leveling Ekko with a hard stare. "You're seriously asking me that after what she did to you?" When Ekko didn’t answer, he sighed, finally backing down. "Jinx alive... and she just bombed the council."

Ekko’s body reacted before his mind could catch up. He pushed himself up, only for a sharp, searing pain to shoot through his ribs and ankle, forcing him to collapse back onto the bed with a hiss.

Scar tsked. "Yeah. Sit your ass back down before you break yourself even more."

But Ekko barely heard him. His mind was spinning from the sudden news. "She did what?!"

"She bombed the council last night. Three councilors are dead. The rest? No one knows yet. The whole damn city’s in chaos. Piltover’s scrambling, Zaun’s in an uproar, and guess what? No one can find her. Either she’s lying low, or Sevika's got her tucked away somewhere real tight."

"Sevika? Why what happened to Silco?" His mind barely had time to process the first bombshell before Scar dropped another.

"Silco's dead... and no one knows who killed him."

Ekko’s stomach twisted. His vision swam for a second, and his brain was already exhausted and struggling to keep up. "What—?" His voice came out hoarse. "What the hell happened while I was out?!"

His thoughts raced, and pieces of information slamming together in his mind to form a big picture: Jinx just bombed the council and killed three councilors, Silco was dead, and Zaun and Piltover were on the brink of an all-out war. And he had missed all of it.

Scar let out another sigh with his reaction before reaching for a glass in the nearby table. He poured a small amount of water from a worn metal pitcher and shoved it toward Ekko. "Enough with the chitcat. Drink," he ordered.

Ekko blinked at him, then at the glass, before hesitantly reaching out. His fingers trembled slightly as he gripped the cup. Scar must’ve noticed because he rolled his eyes.

Ekko scoffed weakly, bringing the glass to his lips and taking a slow sip. The cool water eased the dryness in his throat. 

Scar watched him for a moment, his expression blank. Then, as if deciding something, he leaned back against the chair, exhaling through his nose. “You know,” he muttered, voice lower now, “I don’t get it.”

Ekko lowered the glass slightly, glancing at him. “Don’t get what?”

Scar’s jaw tightened. “Why you still give a damn about her.”

Ekko didn’t answer right away. He looked down at the water in his hands, watching the way it rippled slightly from his wobbly grip.

Scar scoffed, shaking his head as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You know what pisses me off the most?" He gestured vaguely at Ekko. "Despite everything she's done to you, to all of us, you'd still follow her like some stupid, lost pup."

His grip on the glass tightened, but he didn't respond.

Scar let out a bitter chuckle, running a hand down his face. "She blew up Anna. She nearly killed you. She put a bullet in one of our own, Ekko. And yet, here you are, worrying about her like none of that ever happened."

Ekko's breath at the mention of her name. His mind pulled him back to their memories, which he had buried deep and treasured, of the person who treated him like her own son. She had believed in him. Trusted him. And then, in a single explosion, she was gone.

But just as quickly, another memory surfaced. One that hit just as hard.

Powder...Jinx, smiling. Not the manic grin she has now, but the real one. The one from when they were kids, when her eyes were bright and full of happiness over some new gadget she had built. When she was still her.

The memory twisted in his gut, the way it always did, because he knew how that story ended, too. That same smile, just before she pulled the trigger. Just before the explosion that nearly took them both out.

Two people, standing on opposite sides of a war, but equal weights in his heart. One who had shaped him into the leader he had become. The other who had shaped him into the boy he had once been.

And he had lost them both.

Ekko exhaled slowly, his body heavy with exhaustion but his mind still fighting against it. "It's not that simple."

Scar scoffed. "Yeah? Seems real simple to me." He shot him a hard glare. "She made her choice. Over and over again. And it wasn't you."

Ekko closed his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply before setting the glass back down. "I don’t expect you to get it"

Scar studied him for a moment before shaking his head. “You’re damn right I don’t.” He leaned back against his chair, exhaling sharply. “One of these days, she’s gonna put a bullet in your skull, and you won’t be fast enough to dodge it.”

Ekko hummed noncommittally, setting himself comfortably back on the bed. His limbs were growing heavier, sleep already starting to drag him down. He fought against it, but his body was done arguing.

Scar must’ve noticed because he stood up, muttering under his breath. “Go to sleep, dumbass. You need more rest."

Ekko barely had time to glare at him before the exhaustion won. His head hit the pillow, and within seconds, everything faded to black.

⨲⨲⨲

A week had passed, and Ekko had finally had enough of being confined to bed. His ribs still ached like hell, and his ankle protested every time he moved, but he wasn’t about to sit around while the city burned. The Firelights were out there, helping people, and he wasn’t about to stay behind.

He had waited for Scar to leave for patrol before sneaking out. Slipping through the shadows came easy, muscle memory guiding him as he moved through the Firelight hideout. And by the time he made it to the surface, the air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of chemicals.

Ekko instantly knew what was happening.  He remembers Scar reporting what was happening on the surface, where the enforcers had used gray, a noxious gas, by pumping it through the ventilation system. The plan had been to force the ChemBarons out without direct combat, but the gas didn’t discriminate. It seeped into every crack, every home, poisoning the air. Now, people who had nothing to do with the ChemBarons, families, workers, even children, were left gasping as their lungs burned.

Piltover had done a number on this part of Zaun. Caitlyn Kiramanns might have intended to flush out the Chem-Barons, but as always, the innocent suffered most. They had claimed to be better than Zaun, more civilized. But all he saw was another form of war, another way to crush them from the inside out.

Walking through the streets, Ekko took the scene before him. Coughing filled the streets as people sat on the ground, leaning against broken walls, struggling to breathe. Some had their faces buried in damp cloths, trying to block out the poison in the air. The Firelights were already there, handing out masks and medicine, helping where they could.

Ekko’s hands curled into fists at his sides, feeling the anger twisted in his stomach. They did this. The same people who sat on their golden thrones, talking about progress, about peace. The same people who looked at Zaun and saw nothing but dirt under their boots. They talked about law and order while dropping poison into people’s homes like it was nothing.

Ekko spotted Finn, one of the younger recruits, struggling to lift a crate of supplies. He made his way over, ignoring the way his ribs protested, and grabbed the other side.

Finn startled, eyes wide. “Ekko? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Helping,” Ekko grunted, nodding toward the crate. “Same as you.”

Finn frowned. “Scar’s gonna kill you.”

Ekko smirked. “Yeah, well. He’ll have to catch me first.”

Together, they carried the supplies to a group of coughing children. Ekko crouched down, handing a small girl a respirator mask and adjusting it over her face. “Breathe slowly,” he instructed gently. “It’ll help.”

The girl nodded, gripping the mask tightly. Ekko ruffled her hair before standing, his eyes scanning the affected people.

He slung his hoverboard off his back and rode it through the street. Further ahead, he spotted Scar standing near a collapsed building, barking orders at a group of Firelights. They moved quickly, lifting those people who could barely walk themselves.

Ekko rolled up beside him and hopped off his board. “Need a hand, brother?”

Scar didn’t even look at him. “Turn your ass around and go back to the hideout.”

He crossed his arms. “Not happening.”

Scar finally turned, glaring. “You just got back on your feet, and you sneak out again? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Ekko shrugged as he started to walk away. Scar trailed him behind. “People need help. I can help.” He gestured toward the civilians. “So, unless you plan on stopping me, I’m gonna get to work.”

Scar let out a slow breath, clearly debating whether it was worth arguing. Eventually, he clicked his tongue. “Fine. Do whatever you want, you're the leader.

As they continue their little stroll, scanning the read for anyone who needed help, Scar spoke up. “By the way, are you and the old yordle still planning on fixing our home?"

Ekko exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. A few days ago, he had discovered something troubling. The tree, their home, was dying.

The massive tree that had stood as their sanctuary, their hope, was showing signs of deterioration. Leaves, once vibrant and full of life, were falling with an unnatural pattern. At first, he thought it was some kind of seasonal change, trees shed, after all, but this time it was different.

He’d already discussed it with Heimerdinger, and they planned to investigate it tomorrow. The Yordle said that he knew someone who could help them with the problem.

“Yeah,” he finally answered, keeping his voice even. “We’ll head out tomorrow. See what’s causing it.”

Scar nodded but didn’t look convinced. “Better make it quick. That thing goes down, and we’re screwed.”

From the corner of his eyes, Ekko saw Scar acting weirdly. His fingers twitched at his sides, and his jaw tightened like he was holding something back.

He narrowed his eyes. “What is it Scar?”

Scar let out a frustrated sigh, finally looking at him. “Look, I was gonna report this later, but since you’re already here…” He trailed off, glancing around before lowering his voice. 

“What about it?” he asked, bracing himself. He doesn't want any problems after what is happening right now.

Scar’s lips pressed into a thin line before turning fully to him and crossing his arm.

“Your ex-girlfriend just blew up the main ducts of air vebt, redirected the whole damn thing. So instead of spreading through the Lanes like Piltover planned…” He tilted his head upward.

Ekko followed his gaze, and his stomach dropped.

“…that toxic shit went straight to the Topside.”

He stopped in his tracks, his brows knitting together as he faced Scar back. "Jinx did what?"

Scar nodded. "Word is, Piltover’s in panic mode right at this moment, trying to figure out what the hell happened. Some are blaming the Kirammans, some think it’s some accident." He snorted. "Ain’t no accident, though. That was all her."

Ekko exhaled slowly. Honestly, he didn't know how to feel about it. A part of him, a small, bitter part, felt something close to satisfaction. At least now, the Pilties knew what it was like to choke on their own cruelty. To suffer the way the Zaunites had suffered for decades. Even if it was just for a moment, even if they’d find a way to fix it soon, they had felt it. 

As they continue their patrol in the streets, Ekko heard the hurried steps of small feet against the cracked pavement. A group of kids, not older than seven, was running towards them. Before he could react, one kid crashed right into him, nearly knocking him off balance and sending the kid to the ground.

“Oh, careful there!” he said, helping the kid stand with both hands.

The kid wobbled slightly, their small hands gripping onto Ekko’s sleeves for balance. When she finally steadied, she looked up at him with wide, golden eyes.

Ekko’s whole body tensed, a strange, nagging feeling creeping up his spine.  A Déjà vu, but not the kind that made sense, more like a whisper he couldn’t quite catch, a memory just out of reach. He had seen this face before, but he coudn't point out where.

Seeing a ghost of the past reflected in a stranger’s face, it messed with your head, made you question things you had no reason to question.

Ekko told himself it was nothing. Just a trick of the mind, a fleeting resemblance. A coincidence, nothing more.

And yet… he just couldn’t shake the feeling.

"Are you two alright?" Scar, now standing beside them, asks, bringing back to the reality.

Right, what am I thinking? Maybe Scar's right, I need more time to rest.

Golden eyes blinked up at him, round and bright. A small nose dusted with freckles scrunched slightly as the kid huffed, brushing messy brown hair out of her face. Her expression was blank at first, before she tilted her head slightly to his direction.

Ekko gave a quick nod. “Yeah.”

The kid didn’t answer. She just blinked up at them. 

Ekko’s eyes flickered down, catching the red scrape across her palm. It wasn’t deep, but it stretched across the small hand, clearly from the fall.

He frowned. “Hey, you’re bleeding.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a clean cloth. Gently taking the kid’s tiny hand, he wrapped the cloth around the wound.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, glancing up at those strange, golden eyes.

The kid tilted her head again, considering, before finally shrugging. “Hmm.” A small, simple noise came out from her, as if the injury didn’t even register. She didn’t flinch or wince when he applied slight pressure to the injury.

Ekko smirked. Tough little thing.

A few people and firelights walking down on their side caught his attention, and his smile quickly faded. The place wasn’t safe, not for anyone, let alone a kid running around on her own. And now, with Jinx having just turned Piltover into her personal hellscape, he knew the Enforcers would be more hostile than ever. Zaunites were already seen as pests, now, they’d be seen as threats.

He looked back down at her. “You from around here?” he asked, though the answer was obvious. The patched-up clothes, the wrist cuff, and the oversized helmet sitting crooked on her head. They all screamed Zaunite.

The girl nodded, still staring up at him with those big golden eyes. Her helmet was worn, chipped in some places, and covered in scribbled little drawings of color pink and blue. The other half was carefully drawn with effort, while the other half was different and messier with the lines and drawing overlapping from one another. It was also like it had only just begun, and looks like a kid had got mid-doodle and never quite finished it.

Something about the way the drawings were drawn tugged at something in Ekko’s memory, but he brushed it off. Kids liked drawing on anything they could.

Ekko sighed. “You got someone to go home to?”

The kid didn’t answer, and that made him frown. If she shook her head, he wouldn’t think twice about bringing her to the Firelight hideout. A kid this young, wandering the streets alone? It was a death sentence.

He softened his voice. “A mom. You got a mom?”

For the first time, her eyes lit up and nodded quickly. Ekko let out a breath of relief. At least she’s got someone.

“Where is she?”

The girl hesitated. She chewed on her bottom lip, clearly thinking. For a second, he thought she wouldn’t answer, but then, she lifted her free hand and pointed toward a direction down the street. She sighed, then moved her fingers in a motion that made Ekko pause.

Ekko blinked, confused, until realization clicked. Oh. She couldn’t speak. That’s why she hadn’t answered his questions before. It took him a second to recognize and understand it.

Home.

He knew how to read and sign language, though it wasn't nearly perfect and a little clumsy, but he understood enough. His signing wasn’t great either, but he’d picked up bits and pieces over the years, meeting all kinds of people in Zaun.

The girl tilted her head again, as if waiting for him to react.

Ekko smiled, finishing up the knot on the cloth wrapped around her hand. “Alright. That should stop the bleeding.” He gave her chubby cheek a light pinch, smirking. “Now, I want you to go home and stay with your mom. I bet she’d be real worried if she knew you were out here running around, yeah?”

The kid pouted a little before finally nodding.

“Good girl.” He tapped her helmet lightly. “Now, go on.”

The girl beamed, her tiny hands moving in a quick thank you before she turned on her heel and bolted down the street.

Ekko cupped his hands around his mouth. “And don’t forget to wash your hands when you get home!!”

The kid didn’t stop running, but she lifted a tiny hand and gave him a thumbs-up before disappearing around the corner.

Smiling, Ekko rose from his feet as he watched the empty space she left behind. A strange sadness seeped into his chest, slow and heavy, like a feeling he couldn’t quite name.

Scar nudged his shoulder. "You good, brother?"

Ekko forced a chuckle, shaking off the weight settling in his gut. “Yeah… yeah. Just thought I recognized her for a sec.”

His gaze lingered on the spot where she had disappeared, his mind chasing a ghost of familiarity. Then, with a sigh, he turned back to his friends, rubbing a hand over his face.

“I should head home. I'm not feeling too great.”

Scar gave him a look but didn’t push. He just watch him go as he started walking again, this time, back to their hideout. But even as he walked, Ekko ouldn’t shake the feeling that he had seen that face before. Somewhere or someone he knows very well.

Jinx sat slouched on his desk, absently flicking open the metal pocket lighter in her palm. A tiny flame sparked to life, casting flickering shadows against the dim room, before she snapped it shut again. Open. Shut. Over and over.

The Last drop was quiter these days since he was done, which is quite nice. Jinx hated people after all. Inside his office, the room was dim, the only light coming from the dying neon glow outside the window.

The air inside still thick with the scene of him, half-burnt cigars resting in the ashtray, a half-full glass of whiskey left to gather dust. Used ink stained old letters, maps, and scattered documents that no one had dared to move. Everything was exactly where he had left it. As if he’d just walked out and would return any moment.

It felt like nothing happened at all, except everything had changed since he was gone.

Burn it. Burn it all. A voice clawed at the back of her mind, whispering and urging her. Jinx sighed, rolling her head back to swat it away.

“So,” she muttered into the empty room. "Still ain't getting from you?" She tapped the metal pocket lighter against the desk, breaking the silence with its clink, clink, clink. 

Mylo and the others, her family that she killed, were always taunting her, hunting her when she least wanted them. She's seen them all. Even ones she thought she’d buried deep, like that pink-haired bitch she used to call her sister. 

But not him. Never Silco.

Jinx let out a humorless chuckle, flipping the lighter open again. The flame flickered, giving long shadows across her blank face as she stared at the empty chair behind the desk.  "Why do you make people around so damn hard to love you, Silco?"

She flicked the lighter shut again, tightening her grip around it as she gritted her teeth. “You gave her away, Silco. My kid.” Her voice cracked at the last word, but she forced herself to keep going. “Did you even hesitate? Did you think about telling me? Or did you just decide I wasn’t good enough, huh?”

She paused, hoping that she might hear his voice, answering her, but what is left is pure silence. Jinx swallowed, gripping the lighter tighter, the metal warm in her palm.

Her chest ached, but she ignored it. Instead, she let out a sharp, bitter laugh, running a hand through her hair, gripping it tight at the roots. "You know, I get it now," she said, voice hollow. "I was never your daughter, was I? Just another one of your little tools, all dressed up in blue, wrapped in all that sweet talk about how I was perfect."

Her hands curled into fists, nails biting into her palms. "But I wasn’t, was I?" she muttered, her breath shaky. "Because if I were, you would’ve trusted me. You would’ve let me have her." Her voice cracked, throat raw, but she pushed through it, her words sharp as glass. "But you didn’t. Because I wasn’t good enough for you, just like I wasn’t good enough for Vi—just like I wasn’t good enough for anyone."

Her vision blurred, but she refused to let the tears fall.

Jinx sniffed, swallowing down the lump in her throat. "You put those chains on me, tying me down to you, and the second I wasn't convenient anymore to your life, you—" She cut herself off with a frustrated growl.

"Maybe they're right about you. Vi, Ekko, Vander, they're right about you. You're a monster."

A broken sound that tore from her throat as she grabbed the lamp from his desk and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, glass raining down in glittering shards. But it wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough.

Jinx spun back to the desk, breath ragged, eyes wild, hands itching for more destruction. Her gaze landed on his things, all the remnants of him. The last pieces of the man who had shaped her into what she was.

She should burn them. Her fingers hovered over the lighter. Flick it. Burn it. Watch it all turn to ash.

"The topsiders offered me everything... independence, a seat at the table, all in return for you. But they can all burn! Everyone betrays us, Jinx... Vander— her!... They will never understand. It's only us... You're my daughter, I'll never forsake you."

Jinx’s breath hitched. Her grip on the lighter tightened as her heart ached unbearably. A part of her wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that in the end, despite everything, she had mattered. That she wasn’t just a weapon, or a pawn to be traded away, but someone he cared for.

But if that was true, then why? Why did he lie to her? Why did he take her away?

"Don't cry... You're perfect."

Jinx’s shoulders shook, her breath coming out in broken, uneven gasps. Because despite everything, despite all the hate she wanted to feel, all she could hear was his voice in her head.

She slammed her eyes shut, her body curling in on itself, sucking in a sharp before slamming the lighter down onto the desk. Papers scattered from the impact, but she didn’t care.

Jinx couldn't do it. Not when a part of her still wished he’d walk through that door and tell her that none of this was real.

⨲⨲⨲

Jinx pushed open the door to her hideout, stepping inside with a sigh. The place was quiet, too quiet. Her eyes flicked around, looking for any signs of Isha or Sevika, but she found nothing.

Her brows furrowed. That little gremlin had a habit of cramming herself into places way too small for her, hiding in the most ridiculous spots. As for Sevika... well who cares about that ogre. Even if she's killing herself right at this moment, Jinx wouldn't give a fuck.

Frowning, she moved deeper inside, kicking aside a pile of scrap metal. “Isha?” she called, glancing under the workbench. Nothing.  Jinx started checking under old blankets, behind crates, and even inside one of the larger metal drums, but still, there was no Isha.

Jinx's fingers twitched, her throat tightening. She hated this feeling of sudden panic that creeps on her system. “Hey, kid! You better not be playing hide and seek right now, ‘cause I ain’t in the mood!”

A small shuffle. Then, finally, from behind a stack of wooden planks, Isha appeared. Jinx’s brows pulled together the moment she saw her. The kid was covered in dirt, her clothes stained, her face smudged like she’d been rolling around in a damn scrapyard.

She folded her arms, tapping her foot. “And where have you been, little missy?” she asked, arching a brow.

Isha sighed, looking up at her with wide, worried eyes. She hesitated for a second before finally signing: Couldn't find Ball anywhere, so I went OUT to look for him. I already went outside, but he's not there.

Jinx's brows shot up, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Oh, you went out, huh?" she repeated, her tone sharp. "Just decided to wander around Zaun all on your own, looking for that ugly furball?"

Isha flinched, her small hands tightening into fists. She nodded hesitantly, glancing down at her dirt-covered shoes.

Jinx exhaled through her nose, running a hand down her face. Great. Just great. She already had enough shit running through her head, and now she had to deal with this?

"Isha, what the hell were you thinking?" she snapped, pacing a little before spinning back around. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there? You can’t just run off whenever you feel like it! What if someone grabbed you, huh? What if—"

She stopped herself. What if I lost you again?

"I'm sorry," she apologised when she saw how Isha was about to cry. "I was just worried about you."

Jinx swallowed hard, shaking off the thought before it could settle. She forced a breath, trying to steady the sudden tightness in her chest.

Isha fidgeted, signing quickly: I was careful.

Jinx narrowed her eyes. "Oh, yeah?"

Her gaze flicked downward, catching the green cloth, streaked with a hint of red, wrapped around her girl's small hand. Jinx’s stomach dropped. Her fingers twitched at her sides, itching to snatch up Isha’s hand and check for herself, but she knew it would just make the kid fear her more.

Instead, she reached for her injured hand. “Then what’s this, huh? Real careful, coming back looking like you wrestled a pack of Shimmered-up sewer rats."

Isha huffed, rubbing some of the filth off her cheek with the back of her other hand, looking so guilty.

She let out a long, slow exhale, running a hand through her hair before finally crouching down to her level. She reached out, her thumb brushing the remaining dirt from Isha’s cheek.

"Listen to me." Her voice was calmer now, more collected. “You don’t go running off like that again, you hear me? You tell me first.”

Isha hesitated before nodding.

Jinx smirked, tapping her helmet down to her eyes. “Good. ‘Cause if you keep pulling stunts like that, I might just have to put you on a leash.”

Isha wrinkled her nose, sticking her tongue out.

Jinx chuckled. “We’ll find your stupid cat, alright? Together. No more solo missions, capisce?”

This time, Isha grinned and nodded more eagerly.

“Attagirl,” Jinx muttered, booping her on her nose before standing up. “Now, let’s go track down that sticky cat of yours before its get dark."

⨲⨲⨲

Jinx and Isha had scoured nearly every corner of the streets of Undercity, checking behind crates, under rusted-out carts, even climbing onto ledges to peek inside broken windows. They had been at it for what felt like hours or so, but the ugly little furball was still nowhere to be found.

“Ball! You dumbass cat, get out here!” Jinx called, cupping her hands around her mouth.

Isha signed beside her, Maybe he’s stuck somewhere?

Jinx groaned. “If he’s stuck, that’s his own damn fault. Shouldn’t be wandering off like some kind of fearless adventurer.” She turned to Isha, pointing a finger at her. “Kinda like you.”

Isha had the audacity to roll her eyes before continuing to search.

They moved through the winding streets, and the deeper they went, the more Jinx started to feel the city's dirt stick to her skin. Puddles of murky water reflected the sun above, the occasional scurry of rats the only sign of life. All of these, just for a cat!

“This furball better be worth it,” Jinx muttered, kicking aside a loose can. “What if he already found his way back?”

Isha shook her head stubbornly. Jinnx exhaled loudly but didn’t argue, she knew that determined look in the kid’s golden eyes. The cat wasn’t just a pet to Isha; it was the first real thing she had claimed as her own. Just like how Jinx had once held on to certain things a little too tightly… afraid of losing them.

Fine. They’d keep looking. Eventually, they came across a fork in the road of two narrow alleys, both leading to dead ends.

Jinx clicked her tongue. “Alright, you take that one. I’ll take this one.”

Isha hesitated, shifting on her feet.

She rolled her eyes. “Relax, I can still see you from here. Just holler if you find that furball.”

The kid nodded, then darted off into her alley, eyes scanning every shadow. Jinx did the same, moving toward her own alley, hands resting on her hips. Alright, Ball, where the hell are you?

She crouched down, peering behind an old pile of wooden crates. Nothing. She kicked a discarded piece of metal, watching it skitter across the ground before sighing.

She was busy and minding her own business, when out of the sudden, she heard this agitating grating voice brhind her back.

“Jinx… this place is out of your territory. Go back.”

Jinx paused, then slowly turned her head, and from the corner of her eye, she spotted the person she hadn't expected the most. The bat Firelight stood at the entrance of the alley, his mask tilted slightly as he glared at her. Behind him were a few more, dressed in their stupid clothes with usual neon marks, and their stupid, ugly mask, and even stupider weapons. 

She scanned the group quickly and subtly, searching for someone with an owl mask. But he wasn't there. Her lips curled slightly in disappointment. Guess, he's really gone. After her quick survey, cold, pink eyes landed on him, standing among the Firelights like a leader. The way the others looked to him, the way they moved in sync around him, told her everything she needed to know.

Jinx scoffed under her breath. Good. I just killed their last two leaders.

She sighed dramatically. “Sup, Scar,” she greeted flatly, not even bothering to look at him fully. She crouched, peering behind an overturned box. Where the fuck is that cat?

"Second warning, Jinx—"

"You know what?" She cut him off, standing up and dusting off her hands. “Please don’t bother me right now. I gotta find a cat, and if I don’t, that kid—” she tilted her head toward Isha, who was still rummaging through the other alley, unaware of the scene happening. "— will not let me sleep. So, if you don’t mind, you and your group of glowstick weirdos can fuck off.”

She turned back to her search as if they weren’t even worth her time, which clearly they are.

The Firelight standing behind Scar shifted on his feet before speaking up. “I actually saw a cat near the Pilt River. A cat with a white fur,” he muttered. “It looked sick, tho. Could be the one you’re looking for.”

Jinx’s pink eyes snapped to the Firelight, who had spoken. The poor guy stiffened instantly, clearly regretting opening his mouth. He took a step back, but it was too late. Her gaze was locked onto him like a predator sizing up prey.

For a long, tense second, she just stared, unblinking at the poor guy. Then, without warning, her face split into a wide grin.

“Well, thank you, kind sir! Aren't you just the most helpful little Firelight?” she chirped, her tone sickeningly sweet. She turned to Scar, tilting her head mockingly. “See? This guy’s got some actual use. You should try it sometime.”

Scar didn’t respond, his grip on his bat tightening.

Jinx spun on her heel, waving a dismissive hand over her shoulder. “Welp! Gotta go save an ugly cat from drowning or something. Later, losers.”

She walked away, cupping her hands around her mouth before calling out, “Isha! C’mon, squirt, we got a lead!”

Isha turned at the sound of Jinx’s voice, her golden eyes lighting up with hope as she hurried to her side.

⨲⨲⨲

The river stretched before them with its murky water, dampening the already polluted air with its awful smell. Jinx walked a few steps ahead, hands shoved deep in her hips, while Isha trailed behind her, eyes scanning every shadow, every corner.

After a while, Isha froze on her feet, her breath catching in her throat. A few feet away was a small, limp form curled up by the river’s edge, nestled between the jagged rocks. Its fur, once scruffy but full of life, was now dull and matted. Its body lay still, completely unmoving. The tail, which used to flick at her playfully, hung limp.

Jinx followed her gaze, her walk came to a stop as her eyes landed on the same sight.

“…Oh.” Shit.

Isha didn’t move. She just stood there, staring, as if she had waited long enough. Ball might suddenly blink those sleepy yellow eyes open and meow in irritation at waking him up. But he didn’t.

Eventually, Isha walked and crouched down next to her cat, nudging it lightly with her finger, as if hoping it would move, but no.  Rigor had already started to set in.

“Guess that explains why we couldn’t find him,” Jinx muttered, already behind Isha as she leaned down with her arms supporting her body through her knees.  She tilted her head, thinking. “Y’know, cats do this. When they know they’re about to kick it, they, uh… wander off somewhere alone.”

When Isha did not answer, Jinx's expression softened. "Hey, kid—"

Before she could finish, Isha suddenly dropped to her knees beside Ball, carefully reaching out with trembling fingers. She hesitated for just a second before gently stroking his dirty fur.

Jinx stayed quiet, watching Isha mourn. She expected her to cry, but she did not. She just sat there, her shoulders hunched, staring down at the second real companion she’d had after Jinx found her.

She sighed. “…We can bury him.” Her voice was softer this time. “Or set up some kinda, I dunno… funeral. You want that?”

Isha nodded slowly, but she didn’t look up. Jinx didn’t know why, but that made her chest ache even more.

Slowly, she sat down beside her, the cool ground pressing against her knees. “Y’know,” she started, voice unusually peaceful, “I used to have a pet, too. Sorta. A bugs... a big and a small one.”

Isha’s fingers stilled, golden eyes finally flicking up to her.

Jinx picked at the hem of her pants, avoiding the kid’s gaze. “Had him when I was little. Named him Mylo—uh, after someone I knew.” Her lips twitched, but the chuckle that escaped was dry, almost hollow. “He never stayed in one place. Kept flyin’ around my room, bumpin’ into walls and annoyin’ the shit out of me. Stubborn little guy. Always had somethin’ to prove.”

She paused, the memory tugging at something deeper. “…And then there was Claggor,” she added after a while. “Big, slow beetle. He didn’t buzz around like Mylo—just kinda stuck close. Sat on my windowsill most of the time, watchin’ me work.” She exhaled, shaking her head. “He was the nice one. The kinda bug you don’t swat away.”

Her fingers stilled, gripping the fabric tighter. “And then one night… I laid ‘em both down next to me, real careful. Thought they’d still be there when I woke up.” Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. “But come morning… they were gone.”

Isha sniffled, her golden eyes glassy, but she stayed quiet. Jinx exhaled through her nose, forcing a lopsided smile as she reached out, ruffling Isha’s already messy hair, and smudging a bit of dirt over her cheek in the process.

“Guess that’s just how it is, huh? Some things don’t stick around forever…"

Isha’s lip wobbled, and Jinx could see the way her throat bobbed, like she was trying to swallow back everything threatening to spill over. For a second, Jinx thought she might break down again. But instead, the kid sniffed, wiped her face with her sleeve, and nodded.

Jinx gave her a forced soft smile. "And you know what? Ball was a smart little guy. If he went off on his own… maybe he just wanted you to remember him happy."

Isha's little hands clenched into fists against her lap, shaking slightly, but she refused to let them loosen. Her jaw tightened, lips pressing into a thin line as if willing herself to stay strong, to hold it together. Even as her shoulders trembled, even as her breath hitched, she kept her chin up, forcing herself not to break.

 “It’s okay to cry, Isha,” she murmured. “You don’t gotta be tough all the time.”

Jinx sighed, leaning forward until their foreheads gently touched. “Listen,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I know what it’s like. Holdin’ it all in. Pretendin’ like you’re fine when you’re not.” She swallowed thickly, voice softer now. “But it doesn’t make you weak to let it out.”

For a moment, Isha didn’t move. Then, slowly, Jinx felt small, trembling arms wrap around her body. The kid buried her face into Jinx’s chest, and finally, finally, the first hushed sob slipped out.

Jinx tightened her hold around her, muttering, "It's okay. I got you, bunny. I got you,” as she rocked them gently.

Chapter Text

The dull sound of fists against leather echoed through the empty space of Janna's temple. Sevika’s muscles burned with effort, sweat dripping down her brow and neck as she boxed against the hanging bag she decided to put momentarily for a short practice. Yet her mind was far from the fight.

It drifted back... back to years ago, when Silco had made a decision that should have put an end to a problem before it even started.

"This child needs to go," he had said firmly, leaving no room for argument. "She'll ruin everything what I planned."

And just like that, the problem was gone. Passed off to someone. No name. No details. Just… gone. 

She had never questioned it. Why would she? Silco always made the hard calls. And in the end, it was for Jinx’s own good. The girl was barely holding herself together back then. A child on top of all that madness? A fourteen-year-old mentally unstable girl being a mother?! It would’ve been the final crack that would have shattered Jinx completely.

But now...

Sevika threw one last punch, harder than necessary, sending the bag swinging violently. She exhaled through her nose, rolling out her shoulders, but her gaze was already drifting elsewhere.

A few feet away, Jinx sat sprawled out on the floor, grinning as she lazily watched Isha work. The little gremlin was completely focused, her small hands gripping a crayon as she carefully colored inside the thick, messy lines of a sketch Jinx had drawn. A strange, peaceful sort of domesticity in the middle of a place like Zaun.

“Make sure you don’t go past the lines, bunny. Gotta make it perfect." Jinx leaned over slightly, tapping the crayon in Isha’s hand. 

"Hmmm!" Isha hummed in acknowledgment, her tongue poking out slightly in concentration.

Her gaze lingered, her mind piecing together details she hadn’t allowed herself to notice before. Golden eyes. Brown hair. If Silco had really given the kid away… then who the hell was this child sitting in front of her, looking like she had crawled straight out of Jinx’s bloodline?

Sevika had a theory... A damn dangerous one.

For weeks now, it had been festering at the back of her mind, clawing for attention every time she saw them together—Jinx and Isha. She had tried to ignore it, to reason it away as coincidence, as her mind playing tricks on her. But the more she watched, the harder it became to deny.

She knew better than anyone that Jinx had a habit of picking up unwanted or useless things to make them more useful. But a child? This wasn’t just some lost shit Jinx had decided to keep around for fun. No, this was different.

Her fingers twitched at her side. Sure, the kid didn’t have Jinx’s wild blue hair or those eerie, neon-pink shimmered eyes, or her blue eyes she used to have, but that face. That damn face and along with that sassy attitude

It was like someone had taken Jinx and copy-pasted her right into a smaller body. The sharpness of her jaw, the slight upturn of her nose, and the way her lips pursed in concentration were all there. The only difference was the coloring. Brown hair instead of blue. Hazel eyes instead of bright pink. But even that wasn’t unexplainable.

Cannol. Jinx’s father, the man who died along with her wife all those years ago, had brown hair and hazel eyes too.

And if Sevika was right… if Isha was exactly who she thought she was—

Everything would go to hell.

That’s why Sevika had tried subtly, without outright saying it, to nudge Jinx away from the kid. She threw in offhand comments about how dangerous it was to keep a child so close, how Jinx wasn’t exactly the mothering type, how it would be easier if she just let go. But Jinx never took the bait.

And now, watching the two of them side by side, laughing, covered in dust and paint, Sevika knew there was no tearing them apart. And the way the kid laughed was almost musical. The sound was so light and familiar that it made something uncomfortable twist inside her.

Why the hell did this feel like looking into the past? Like staring at Powder before the world had torn her apart?

A slow, cold realization curled in her gut. Damn you, Silco. Even in the simplest, most basic thing, you still failed.

Sevika exhaled sharply through her nose, forcing her focus back on the punching bag before her. She drove her fist into the worn-out leather. Another punch. Then another. Her mechanical arm whirred slightly as she hit harder, trying to beat down the thoughts clawing their way to the surface.

Silco had promised. He had sworn that the baby would be given away, sent somewhere safe, far from Zaun, far from the mess Jinx would inevitably bring. And yet—

Sevika stepped back, shaking out her flesh hand before running it down her face, her fingers pressing against her temples. You’re overthinking it. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe the kid just reminded her of Powder, and that was all.

"Yow, Sevika! A little help in lifting this thing?!"

Jinx’s voice snapped her out of her daze. Sevika turned, her gaze landing on the duo struggling with a broken wall slab. Jinx had one foot braced against the ground, both hands gripping the heavy chunk of debris, while Isha, much smaller but just as determined, pushed with all her might. The damn thing barely budged.

Sevika exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. Of course.

Marching over, she grabbed the slab with one hand, her mechanical arm whirring as she effortlessly lifted it into place.

Isha huffed, dusting off her hands with a look of pride, and signed at Jinx. We almost had it!  Sevika had no clue what this kid was talking about.

Jinx laughed, nudging the kid’s side with her elbow. “Yeah, yeah, sure. We softened it up for her.”

Sevika rolled her eyes but didn’t bother arguing. Instead, she let her gaze sweep over the ruins of Janna’s temple, now covered in Jinx’s bright colors, wild patterns, and graffiti symbols. The once-sacred space had been completely claimed.

Her eyes caught something on the ground as she took it all in. A small, peculiar rock nestled between the rubble. It stood out but wasn't much, just a smooth little thing with a faint shimmer under the dim lights—nothing special.

Without thinking, she bent down, picked it up, and turned it over in her palm. It was nothing special, just a damn rock… but for some reason, she hesitated before tossing it away.

Instead, she held it out to Isha. The kid blinked at her, then grinned widely before eagerly taking it from her hand. She turned it over in her tiny hands, inspecting it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

Sevika watched for a second before dragging her attention back to Jinx. “You two done messing around?”

Jinx twirled a stray strand of blue hair between her fingers, pretending to think. Then, with a lazy grin, she nodded. "Yeah, yeah. We’re done." Isha, still engrossed in the object in her hands, didn’t even look up; she just hummed in agreement.

⨲⨲⨲

Basically her theory was right along...

Isha was indeed Jinx's dead daughter.

Sevika exhaled sharply, the tension still thick in the air even after Jinx vanished like a damn ghost. The only thing left behind was the mess; the shattered plate, the overturned chair, the knife gleaming on the floor between her boots.

She ran a hand down her face, wincing slightly when her fingers brushed over her jaw. Damn brat actually got a good hit in. She rolled her shoulder, feeling the dull ache where Jinx had landed her kicks. Not the worst beating she’d taken, but still enough to piss her off.

Her eyes flickered to the door Jinx had stormed through. Gone. Just like that. Sevika sighed, leaning back against the table.

Jinx wasn’t wrong. None of them had given her a choice back then. They had decided for her, taken the choice from her hands, because they thought she wouldn’t survive the weight of it. And maybe they’d been right, or they’d been wrong.

Still, what happened happened. She couldn't change that or changed the fact that Jinx had already found out... in the worst possible way.

Her gaze drifted down to the knife still lying on the floor. Jinx’s hand had been shaking when she let it go. Sevika had felt it. The way her strength had faltered for just a second, the way the rage had started to crumble under something deeper.

Anger? Disappointment? Hell if Sevika knew.

She bent down, picking up the knife, twirling it between her fingers. She should’ve seen this coming. The second Jinx figured it out, the second those dots connected in that crazy head of hers, there was no way she would let this shit slide.

Knowing she had no real purpose here anymore, Sevika grabbed her things and walked out of The Last Drop. For days, she kept her distance from the two brats. She wasn’t about to get tangled up in Jinx’s mess, not when the girl was one wrong move away from losing it completely. Instead, she focused on something she could actually do—digging for answers.

She hit up old connections, roughed up a few people who might’ve known something, and scoured every corner of Zaun where Silco had kept his secrets. The kid wasn’t supposed to be here. Silco had made damn sure of that. Sevika had seen it herself and heard the words straight from his mouth.

So how the hell had she ended up on the streets of Zaun?

The answer didn’t come easy. Silco had covered his tracks well, and most people were either too scared or too clueless to be of any use. But eventually, after pressing the right people in the right places, she got her answer.

The child had been placed with a childless couple, desperate for a family of their own. They had raised her far from Zaun, away from everything that could ever lead back to Jinx. But life wasn't on their side. The couple didn’t last. Whether it was illness, debt, or just bad luck, they died, and from there, the kid’s life had spiraled.

That was where the trail ended. Anything beyond that was lost along with Silco's rotting corpse. He had made damn sure that some things would stay buried.

A sharp knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Sevika blinked, the words on the page in front of her clearing as she refocused her gaze. Glancing at the door, she frowned, shutting the book and tossing it onto the coffee table. 

Who would dare to visit me this late at night? Pushing off her sofa, she cracked her knuckles on her good hand, preparing herself for whatever idiot decided to bother her at this hour. That might be one of her enemies, who knows?

Her fingers flexed as she reached for the door handle. The second she swung it open, her muscles tensed, already prepared to throw a punch, only to pause mid-motion when she saw who was standing there.

“Sup.”

The tiny, crazy little woman with two blue braids swinging slightly as she tilted her head on hers. Hands on her hips, chest puffed out, like she was about to sell her something illegal, or ask for a favor she knew damn well Sevika wouldn’t want to do.

In front of her, Isha stood with her blanket half-draped over her shoulders, blinking up at Sevika with wide, expectant golden eyes.

Sevika stared at them, then slowly lowered her fist. “…The hell do you two want?”

"Isha wants to eat," Jinx said.

Sevika raised an eyebrow. “And? Do I looked like I packed the whole damn casserole with me?"

The girl just rolled her pink eyes. "She wants to eat the one you cooked last time."

Sevika deadpanned. “It’s just a fried egg, Jinx. You could cook it yourself.”

Jinx huffed, arms crossing. “You wouldn't see me here if I hadn’t tried that yet?” She tilted her head, giving Sevika a pointed look.

Sevika narrowed her eyes. “It’s a fried egg, Jinx, not some fancy topsider meal. How the hell can you screw that up?”

Jinx threw her hands in the air. “I dunno, okay?! I tried my best, and that ended up well.... Moving on!! Cook her that before I blow your small shitty apartment sky-high with all three of us in it.”

Sevika pinched the bridge of her nose. How can this kid act like she owns anyone she saw? Her eyes fluttered back to Isha, who looked at her with her puppy-dog eyes, as if asking her: Pleaseee.  Damn kid knew how to play dirty.

Sevika ran a hand down her face, exhaling through her nose. “I don’t have the stuff for it. Haven’t bought supplies yet.”

“Hence—” Jinx suddenly raised a bag in front of her face with a shit-eating grin. “We brought our own.”

Sevika stared at the bag. Then at Jinx. Then at Isha, who was nodding in agreement. She side-eyed them both before stepping aside.

“Get in before I change my damn mind,” she said flatly with no choice.

Jinx marched past her like she owned the damn place, tossing the bag onto the counter with a triumphant smirk. Isha followed closely behind, her blanket dragging along the floor as she scrambled toward the table.

Late dinner came and went, and Isha happily munching on her favorite eggs while Jinx lounged back beside her, twirling her food on the fork between her food.

"You'll be washing the dishes," Sevika muttered, putting the last dishes she used in cooking. "Make sure to clean it thoroughly so it doesn't smell oily.

From her food, Jinx's eyes traveled to her and gave her the most disgusting face she could have. "Not it!" she declared, shoving her chair back dramatically.

Sevika raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Not what?"

Jinx smirked, pointing at the sink with her eyes. "Not washing the dishes. I just injured my finger. Remember?!" she shouted sarcastically while wiggling her missing digit.

Sevika scoffed. "The hell you mean 'not washing the dishes'? You used the plates too, and fuck your missing finger. I lost one of my whole arms, do you hear me complain?!" she shouted back.

Jinx placed a hand over her chest, gasping. "But I just barely ate!"

Sevika crossed her arms. "Yeah? Well, your spawn did." She jerked her thumb at Isha, who was watching their bickering like it was the best entertainment she’d ever seen.

"Not fair!"

Sevika pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling slowly. "Technically, you and that kid waltzed into my place, demanded I cook, and now you're telling me I gotta clean up after you, too?"

"Obviously!"

Sevika’s eye twitched, but before she could properly murder this crazy woman, a movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Isha had slid off her chair and was now on the chair and reaching out with her oily tiny fingers just inches away from the one thing Sevika actually cared about in this dump.

Sevika shoved Jinx aside, knocking her over.

"Ah, ah, ah!" She pointed a warning finger at Isha, voice sharp. "You don't touch that!" She gently lifted Isha off the sofa by her armpits and set her back down on the floor. The kid pouted, golden eyes wide with guilt, but Sevika wasn’t having it. 

“You wash your filthy hands first before touching my things,” she scolded, giving Isha a pointed look.

Isha sighed dramatically, shoulders slumping, but she nodded and marched off toward the sink. While Jinx, still recovering from being manhandled a second time, crossed her arms and huffed.

"It's just a book, Sevika," she said.

"Don't career! Now, you! Wash your hands, too!"

By end of her and Jinx fight, it was Sevika who ended up washing the damn dishes. Typical thing that always happens.

The room was silent, for once, oh thank Janna, broken only by the calming sound of the running water and the occasional clink of plates. Sevika exhaled slowly, enjoying the moment of peace before anything would inevitably ruin it.

She glanced over her shoulder, expecting the two brats to be sleeping, only to pause at the sight before her.

Jinx was sitting on the floor, her back against the couch, with Isha curled up beside her with her blanket draped over her, small fingers tracing over the words in an old, battered book on her lap.

The kid was surprisingly sharp, by her reaction, she could read well enough, but every so often, she’d pause, brows furrowing, before tugging at Jinx’s arms.

Jinx, for once, was patient and also reading her own book. She tilted her head, reading over Isha’s shoulder before murmuring the word out loud, explaining its meaning. Isha nodded thoughtfully before repeating it in her mind, her little face scrunched in concentration.

Sevika turned back to the dishes, rolling her eyes. She never thought she’d see the day when Jinx of all people would be sitting quietly, teaching a kid how to read instead of blowing something up. Maybe miracles did happen.

The second time Sevika glanced over, now finally done with the dishes, the scene had changed.

Isha was curled up in Jinx’s lap, fast asleep, her tiny fingers still loosely clutching at the blanket draped on them. The book they’d been reading lay forgotten at their feet, pages slightly crumpled from small, fidgety hands.

Jinx absentmindedly twirled a strand of Isha’s hair between her fingers, her other hand resting protectively on the kid’s back as she softly hummed the familiar lullaby. Sevika hadn't heard that song in years, but she remembered little Jinx used to mumble that song to herself when she thought no one was listening.

Sevika wiped her hands on the rag before walking their way and dropping into the single sofa across Jinx. With a tired sigh, she reached over, grabbing a half-empty bottle of alcohol from the table.

"You two should stay here for the night," she muttered. "It’s dangerous walking around at night… especially with a kid." She twisted off the cap, taking a long swig, feeling the familiar and comforting burn in her throat. It wasn’t about getting drunk. Just enough to make sleep come easier.

Jinx didn’t look up, still occupied playing with Isha’s hair. "Yeah, obviously."

Silence stretched between them before Sevika broke it, shifting in her seat. "So, yeah? Tell me why you really came here?"

Jinx let out a dramatic sigh, finally lifting her gaze to her with a bored expression. "Didn’t I already tell you? Isha wanted the food you cooked."

"Bullshit." Sevika leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees before taking another drink. "Tell me the truth."

Jinx let out a slow, heavy breath, staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers she didn’t have. Her fingers kept playing with Isha’s hair, twirling and untwirling the strands, a restless habit she acquired recently.

"I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing," she muttered, voice quieter than usual. "Like… I get it now. The shit you were saying before. About me not being ready back then."

Sevika didn’t say anything; she just waited for her to tell her more. After all, it's what Jinx needed the most, someone who listens to her.

Jinx’s grip on Isha tightened slightly. "I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re still an asshole for keeping it from me, but…" She sighed, shaking her head. "This? Being a mom? It’s fucking hard."

She let out a humorless chuckle, but there was no real amusement behind it. "Like, I still wanna blow shit up, y’know? Still wanna watch this whole city burn half the time. And the other half? I’m just standing there, wondering if I’m gonna fuck up so bad that she—" Jinx cut herself off, biting her lip.

Sevika exhaled through her nose. "That she what?"

Jinx hesitated, her fingers stilling in Isha’s hair. Then, barely above a whisper, she admitted, "That she’ll leave me, too."

Silence settled between them. Jinx’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. "I don’t even know if I’m doing this right. Half the time, I’m just guessing. And when I’m not guessing, I’m wondering if I’m gonna screw her up worse than I already am."

Sevika leaned back in her chair, watching Jinx carefully. "So what? You thinking about running?"

Jinx flinched, but her expression twisted into something defensive. "Fuck no." She pulled Isha closer instinctively. "I’m not letting her go. Not again."

Sevika nodded slightly. "Then that’s your answer."

Jinx scowled. "What kind of cryptic old-lady bullshit is that?"

Sevika huffed, shaking her head. "Means you give a shit, Jinx. Means you’re trying. You’re worried about screwing up? That’s what makes you different from your father. Silco never doubted himself, or never stopped to think maybe he wasn’t doing the right thing. But you do."

Jinx blinked, looking down at Isha’s sleeping face. Her lips pressed into a thin line.

Sevika sighed. "Look. You’re fucked in the head, no question about that. But that kid?" She tilted her chin toward Isha, who was curled up peacefully against Jinx. “She doesn’t need you to be perfect. She just needs you to be her mom.”

She watched as Jinx let out a chuckle, shaking her head, which made her frown. There was a pause. Then, after a moment, she spoke again, her voice lower this time. “You gonna tell her, right?” Her eyes narrowed.

Jinx blinked slowly before turning her head towards Sevika. Her expression was blank. "Tell her what exactly?

She gave her a flat look. "Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I mean."

Jinx frowned, then looked away. "...No."

Sevika didn’t push. She just hummed, knocking back another swig of her drink. She knew Jinx wasn’t done. The brat always had more to say, even when she acted like she didn’t. So, she waited. Let the silence stretch between them, letting Jinx wrestle with whatever shit was making in that head of hers.

"She doesn't need to know."

Sevika glanced at her, watching the way her shoulders tensed and her fingers curled slightly.

"Isha's your kid," she whispered after the long silence. "One way or another, she's gonna find out."

"I know..."

She saw how her grip tightened on her daughter, her jaw clenching. Sevika sighed and shook her head, for once, she didn't argue. They just sat there in silence, just two souls drinking (or not drinking) their way through this shitty life they have.

“Just thinking,” she said after the silence. Jinx smirked but didn’t look up. “You ever notice how every time someone tells the truth in this shithole, it only fucks things up worse?”

Sevika raised an eyebrow, but did not answer.

Jinx exhaled, rolling her head back against the couch. “I mean, look at me. Silco kept shits from me, thinking he was protecting me. Then I found out the truth, and boom—everything went to hellhole. And now you’re asking if I told Isha?” She scoffed. “And what? Give her an identity crisis like Silco did to me? No, thanks.”

"So, you're  just gonna keep lying to her?”

Jinx shook her head. “Nah. She’s still a kid. Barely seven. You think all that shit’s gonna make sense to her?” She waved a hand vaguely. “When she gets older, I’ll tell her everything. But right now? She doesn’t need to know she was dumped, lost, and left to fend for herself before I found her.”

Sevika grunted. “And until then?”

Jinx finally looked at her, eyes sharp. “Until then, I keep her safe.”

Sevika exhaled sharply, already getting a feeling where this was going. “And how do you plan on doing that?”

Jinx tilted her head slightly. “By leaving everything behind.”

Sevika’s expression didn’t change, but she felt something settle uncomfortably in her gut. “You’re serious.”

Jinx nodded, gaze drifting back down to Isha. Her fingers ran absently through the kid’s hair. “For once, I’m gonna do the smart thing. Gonna keep her away from all this shit.” Her voice lowered. “I keep thinking about that night… when she threw herself over me. Protected me. I can’t let that happen again. She shouldn’t have to do that.” She swallowed hard, shaking her head. “I just… I wanna spend time with her. Make up for all the years we lost. If that means getting as far away from all this mess as possible, then so be it.”

Sevika let out a slow breath, leaning back. “And what’s my role in this, then?” She thought after everything, after what happened in Janna's ruined temple, after all the shit that went down, this connection between them would’ve been severed for good. In the first place, they just worked together to end Violet.

Jinx hummed, considering. “You’re shit person, but you spent years keeping me alive. Figured you could teach me a thing or two.”

Sevika scoffed before giving her a flat look. “So, what? You want me to babysit your and your spawn's ass?”

Jinx grinned, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “More like make sure I don’t fuck this up worse than I already have.”

Sevika rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled through her nose. “You’re really serious about this, huh?”

Jinx shrugged. “Yeah, I think I am... Not used to that, huh?”

Sevika huffed before pushing herself up from the chair. “No, I’m not.” She walked toward the door, pulling it open, but before stepping out, she paused and muttered without looking back. “I kinda like what you’re up to now, kid.” Then, with a quiet click, she shut the door behind her.

Finally alone, Sevika let out a long breath, rolling her shoulders before reaching up to detach her mechanical arm. The weight lifted off her body, and she sighed in relief, setting the heavy metal down with a dull thud on the bedside table.

She collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling, exhaustion creeping into her bones. The cold air of Zaun settled around her, the kind that always felt heavier at night.  Seconds become minutes, and minutes become hours, and yet she still lay on her bed with her mind refusing to shut off.

She exhaled sharply through her nose, turning onto her side, then onto her back again. Her fingers twitched at her side, restless. Sleep wasn’t coming. Frustrated, Sevika let out a groan and sat up, rubbing the back of her neck.

Damn it. With a huff, she stood up and grabbed an extra blanket from the foot of her bed. When she stepped out into the main room, she found Jinx and Isha now curled up on the long sofa. Jinx’s arm was wrapped protectively around the kid, holding her close, while Isha’s tiny hands were curled into her mother’s body. A small, thin blanket was draped over them, but it wasn’t enough against the night’s chill.

She clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “Idiots,” she muttered under her breath.

Still, she found herself stepping forward, careful not to wake them up. She hesitated only for a second before carefully draping the thicker blanket over them.

Jinx stirred slightly, brows furrowing in her sleep, but didn’t wake. Isha simply snuggled deeper into her mother’s embrace, a small sigh escaping her lips.

Sevika exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. Soft. You’re getting soft. With one last glance, she turned away, heading back to her own room. The door shut behind her with a quiet click.

⨲⨲⨲

Morning came peacefully and Sevika stepped out of the room while rolling the stiffness out of her shoulder. I really need a new bed. Her gaze landed on the sofa first, where Jinx was still sprawled out, dead asleep, mouth slightly open as she let out the occasional soft snore.

Her eyes then flickered downward when she heard a faint sound of rustling pages and soft breathing, where Isha sat cross-legged on the floor, wrapped snugly in the thick blanket Sevika had thrown over them last night. The kid was reading again, her little fingers tracing the words on the page.

The second she noticed Sevika, she looked up, eyes bright, and signed: Good morning!

Sevika exhaled through her nose, rubbing the back of her neck. “Hmm. Morning,” she muttered. Her stomach grumbled faintly, and she figured the kid probably hadn’t eaten yet either. “You hungry?”

Isha nodded eagerly.

“Aight.”

Sevika made her way to the kitchen, grabbing the things she needed. She cracked a couple of eggs of what was left from the batch Jinx had brought over last night, watching them sizzle as she pushed them around the hot pan with the spatula. Tossed some bread on the side. Simple, easy, nothing fancy, just something to fill their stomachs.

As the eggs cooked, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette. She tapped it against the counter before slipping it between her lips. She lit it, inhaling deeply, feeling the familiar burn as she leaned back against the counter, letting the smoke curl lazily in the air.

Then, a movement caught her eye. She turned her head and found Isha sitting much closer now, her golden eyes watching her silently from the chair beside the kitchen counter.

Sevika exhaled, blowing smoke away from the kid’s direction. “Go away, I’m smoking,” she muttered.

The kid did not move an inch, she just stared at her and continued blinking, then, very deliberately, shook her head.

Sevika stared at her for a moment before glancing between the kid and her cigarette, then sighed heavily. “Tch. Hardheaded little brat,” she grumbled. With a scowl, she plucked the cigarette from her lips, snuffed it out, and tossed it into the bin.

She grumbled under her breath, shaking her head as she turned back to the stove. I can't even smoke in my own damn house!

Isha just grinned, clearly pleased with herself, before turning her attention to the sizzling eggs. She hummed softly, swinging her legs beneath the chair as she watched.

Sevika flipped the eggs onto plates, tossing the crispy bread on the side before setting them down on the table. “Alright, dig in,” she said.

The kid hurriedly hopped off the chair and hurried over, climbing onto one of the seats. Sevika placed a fork in front of her, watching as the kid happily tore into the food like she hadn’t eaten in days. Sevika sat across from her with her coffee and ate her own plate at a slower pace. The only sound was the occasional clink of forks against plates

Midway through the meal, Isha suddenly paused, fork halfway to her mouth, before placing it down and signing something.

Sevika narrowed her eyes. “…What?”

Isha huffed and tried again, her hands moving slower. Still, Sevika just stared blankly.

The kid groaned, then switched her strategy by pointing at the food, then at Sevika, then giving a thumbs-up.

Ah. Sevika rolled her eyes, but she smirked slightly. “Yeah, yeah. I know I’m a damn good cook. Not my fault Jinx can’t even fry a simple egg.”

Isha giggled, covering her mouth with both hands as if trying to hold it in.

Sevika glanced at Jinx, still half-buried in the couch, and an idea struck her. Without hesitation, she grabbed the rag from the table, weighed it in her hand for a second, and then tossed it straight at Jinx’s face with pinpoint accuracy.

SMACK!

Jinx let out a muffled groan as the rag hit its target, flopping onto her like a dead fish. For a second, she didn’t move, just lay there, suffering. Sevika leaned back, fully satisfied, smirking as Isha covered her mouth again, this time to stifle a full-blown giggle.

Slowly and dramatically, Jinx peeled the rag off her face. Then her pink eyes narrowed, shifting toward Sevika.

“You bitch,” she grumbled. “The fuck was that for?!”

Sevika shrugged, completely unfazed. “If you’re awake enough to complain, you’re awake enough to eat.”

Isha, still giggling, gave Sevika an approving thumbs-up. Sevika just nods her head and smirks.

Jinx scowled, tossing the rug onto the floor. “You’re lucky I don’t have my gun on me, or else you'll be dead by now.”

"I know. Now come here before the food gets cold."

Jinx groaned louder, shoving her face into the pillow. “Lemme sleep, you assholes…”

Sevika snorted but didn’t argue. She let her be, returning her attention to her food. Isha, however, wasn’t done. With mischievous eyes, she grabbed a piece of bread, stood from her chair, and marched toward the sofa.

Before Sevika could stop her, Isha carefully climbed onto the edge of the couch and gently placed the toast on Jinx’s lips.

Jinx cracked one eye open, blinking sluggishly before going cross-eyed at the bread now resting on her face. “…What the fuck.”

Isha didn’t budge. She just stood there, perched on the edge of the couch, holding the food against Jinx’s lips with all the determination. But Jinx just groaned dramatically before closing her eyes again.

Isha huffed, her little brows furrowing, and pressed the bread firmer against Jinx’s lips. Eat. She signed it one-handed, her free fingers flicking the motion insistently.

Jinx peeked an eye open again, lips twitching, watching the little gremlin stare her down like she actually had the upper hand here. “…Oh, you’re real serious about this, huh?”

Isha nodded, her golden eyes determined. 

With a long, exaggerated sigh, Jinx finally opened her mouth, letting Isha shove the toast in. She took a slow bite, chewed dramatically, then gave the kid a thumbs-up. “Mmm. Happy now?”

Isha beamed, her entire face lighting up as she plopped down next to Jinx, clearly satisfied with her victory. Jinx chuckled, watching as Isha swung her legs back and forth, snuggling up against her side. She giggled, leaning into the touch, scrunching her little nose that made Jinx's brain snap. 

“Ugh, you little gremlin!” Jinx suddenly groaned, wrapping both arms around Isha and pulling her into a tight squeeze. “Why are you so damn cute?! It’s illegal to be this cute!”

Before Isha could react, Jinx buried her face into the kid’s neck, blowing loud, exaggerated raspberries against her skin.

Isha squealed, kicking her legs wildly, clearly trying to get help away from her mom. "Mmm!"  Her giggles turned into uncontrollable laughter as she squirmed, but Jinx only tightened her grip.

“You thought you could just boss me around, huh? Huh?!” Jinx cackled, digging her fingers into Isha’s sides, tickling her mercilessly. “Take this! And this! And this! Raaghhhh!!”

Isha shrieked, kicking her legs wildly as laughter poured out of her like a broken faucet. She squirmed, flailing like a fish out of water, but Jinx had her trapped in a death grip, refusing to let up.

From the table, Sevika exhaled loudly, lifting her mug for another slow sip of coffee. “You didn’t finish your food, Isha.”

Jinx grinned up at her while still attacking Isha’s sides. “Jealous?”

She rolled her eyes. “Not even a little.”

Isha, finally catching a break from the tickle as Jinx slowed down, flopped against her mother’s chest, panting from laughter, her tiny hands gripping Jinx’s top.

Jinx huffed, brushing a few strands of brown hair from Isha’s face. “Alright, alright. You win this time, little bunny. Go eat your food before Granny Grump over there scolds us both.” She pressed a quick, affectionate kiss to Isha’s temple before leaning back.

The kid just pouted at her before climbing off the couch and dragging herself back to the table. She plopped into her chair, looking ridiculously small as she picked at her food.

Sevika eyed her. “Eat properly."

Sevika leaned against the doorway, arms crossed as she watched Jinx stuff the last of their things into the bag she bought last night. Isha stood beside her, gripping her blanket in one hand while rubbing her tired eyes with the other.

“You sure you’re good?” Sevika asked gruffly.  Jinx slung the bag over her shoulder and nodded, the same as Isha. 

Sevika smirked, ruffling Isha’s hair before nodding toward the door. “C’mon. I’ll walk you two out.”

The three of them stepped outside, the cold Zaun air nipping at their skin. The streets were quiet, most people already holed up for the night. Jinx adjusted the strap of the bag, glancing down at Isha, who was still clutching her blanket like a lifeline.

“You gonna carry that thing forever?” Jinx teased.

Isha stuck her tongue out at her before tightening her grip to her blanket.

Adjusting the strap of her bag, Jinx glanced at Sevika. “Y’know,” she started, rocking on her heels, “since you’re supposed to be helping me with Isha and all, maybe you should just move back to your old room at the Last Drop. Would save you from making that long-ass walk from your shitty apartment every time I need something.”

Sevika scoffed, crossing her arms. “Well, sorry this is the only apartment I can afford these days.”

Jinx grinned, tilting her head. “Right, because since Silco’s gone, you ain’t exactly rolling in shimmer money anymore, huh?”

Sevika’s jaw tightened. She didn’t need the reminder. With Silco gone, everything had fallen apart; their shimmer business was dead, the Chembarons were at war for the highest seat in the organization, and every lowlife with half a brain was scrambling to snatch up whatever scraps of power they could. 

Jinx snickered. “Maybe you’d be a top dog too if you didn’t spend all your money on your boys.”

Sevika’s expression twisted into an offended scowl. “Ladies,” she corrected, stressing the word. “Please. I’m a proud woman who is into women, and a misandrist. The idea that I’d be into men at all disgusts me.”

Jinx wiggled her brows. “What about Silco, then?”

Sevika pulled a face. “He disgusted me too.”

Jinx let out a loud cackle, shaking her head. “Fair enough.” With that, she took Isha’s hand and started walking, waving over her shoulder. “See ya around, Sev. Don’t miss me too much!”

Beside her, Isha smiled and waved too, her small fingers wiggling in the air. Her golden eyes sparkled with amusement as she smiled up at Sevika, completely oblivious to the sheer mess that came with her and her mother’s existence.

Sevika sighed, watching as the two disappeared down the street. For a moment, she just stood there, staring after them, before she turned back toward her apartment.

…Maybe going back to The Last Drop wasn’t a bad idea after all.

⨲⨲⨲

"If my hair looks shitty, I’m gonna smash your heads together, and I'm dead serious," Sevika grumbled, eyes shut as Jinx snipped the scissors dangerously close to her face, tongue sticking out in concentration. Sevika, for her part, sat stiffly in the chair, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else.

Isha, perched beside them with a crayon in one hand and a piece of paper in front of her, was happily doodling away, and occasionally pausing to snip a tiny, uneven strand of Sevika’s hair with her safety scissors with so much effort. Jinx had spent hours hunting down those scissors just to stop Isha from throwing a tantrum, and now the kid was using them like a toy. Still, she let her be, shaking her head in amusement as she worked on Sevika’s poor bangs.

Sevika cracked an eye open, unimpressed. "I swear to Janna, if you two screw this up—"

"Shhh!" Jinx hushed her like she was a child, pressing her finger to Sevika's lips. "You're distracting me."

Giving her no choice, Sevika kept her lips sealed forcefully.

When Isha was finally done with whatever she had been drawing, she held up the paper eagerly toward Jinx. It was a simple but heartfelt sketch of the two of them, her and Jinx smiling together.

Jinx, too focused on cutting Sevika’s hair, barely glanced at it. “Looks great, kid,” she muttered absentmindedly.

Isha frowned, puffing her cheeks before nudging the drawing closer to Jinx’s face, demanding more attention.

Jinx let out a small chuckle, setting down the scissors. "Alright, alright, let me see." She took the paper properly this time, scanning the details. "Damn, Isha, this is good! Look at those details! They really looked like us!"

Isha beamed at the praise, nodding proudly. Jinx grinned before pressing a quick kiss to the drawing and handing it back. Its a good thing she's not wearing her usual lipstick for today.

"This one’s a masterpiece. You better hang it somewhere good."

Isha, absolutely delighted, wasted no time. She climbed over to Jinx’s work table and carefully pressed the drawing onto the wall, right next to her many old drawings and a few wall paintings. With a satisfied smile, she patted it once, admiring her work for a moment before hopping down the table, eager to help Jinx again.

A moment later, with a few snips, Sevika heard a thing being placed on the table.

"Done!"

Sevika slowly cracked one eye open, then the other, staring straight into the cracked mirror. Her dark hair, which had once been long and tied, was now cut into a sharp and angled bob, with slightly longer in the front,  framing her face with a few strands that fell naturally over her forehead. Her new haircut was giving her a more intimidating look.

Sevika tilted her head slightly, testing how the hair fell over her face. “Huh.”

Jinx, standing behind her with a massive grin, looked at her proudly. “Oh-ho-ho, would you look at that!” She threw an arm around Sevika’s shoulders, leaning in close to admire their handiwork. “Damn, I should be a barber! You look like you could break necks and steal hearts.”

Isha, sitting cross-legged beside them, clapped her hands excitedly before signing something.

Jinx squinted for a second before nodding. “Yep! She'll finally get a girlfriend with her new haircuttttt," she teased, poking Sevika's side with a wicked grin on her face. "Bet you’ll have girls lining up at your door now, huh?"

Sevika flinched at the unexpected touch, scowling as she immediately swatted Jinx’s hand away. “Cut that out, you little shit,” she grumbled, turning her back at Jinx as if that would shield her from any further attacks.

Isha, still grinning with their petty argument, turned to Jinx and signed something else that made her eyes narrow in suspicion.

“What’d you just say?”

Isha beamed up at her, smug as ever, and signed again, this time slower so Jinx wouldn’t miss it.

Jinx gasped before attacking the poor kid. “OH, YOU’RE ASKING FOR IT NOW!” she cackled. “Huh?! Say it again! I DARE YOU!”

Sevika leaned back in her chair, deadpanned as she watched the absolute mess unfold before her. Jinx had Isha pinned to the floor, fingers digging into the kid’s sides as she cackled like a lunatic. Isha, face red from laughing too hard, thrashed and squirmed, but there was no escape from her mother’s relentless attack.

Isha shrieked, laughing uncontrollably as Jinx’s fingers dug into her sides, mercilessly tickling every weak spot she had. She kicked her little legs, flailing as Jinx kept up her attack.

“Admit your defeat!” Jinx demanded, her laughter mixing with Isha’s. “Take it back, or suffer the consequences!”

Isha frantically shook her head while gasping for air, refusing to give in before she managed to wiggle free from Jinx’s grasp, her tiny body slipping through her mother's arms like a slippery little eel. With a triumphant grin, she scrambled to her feet and bolted, giggling uncontrollably as she dashed across the hideout.

Jinx, still lying on her back, lifted her head just enough to watch the little gremlin make her daring escape. “Oh, you think you’re fast, huh?!” she called out, eyes twinkling mischievously.

Isha glanced over her shoulder, sticking out her tongue before running even faster.

Jinx cackled as she pushed herself up. “You’re only making this worse for yourself!” And with that, she took off after her, feet pounding against the floor as she chased Isha around the hideout.

Jinx was right behind her, purposely slowing down just enough to let Isha think she had a chance. “Nowhere to run, bunny!” she teased, nearly catching her before Isha squealed and swerved out of reach.

Sevika, still seated, watched the whole thing unfold with a blank expression. She took a long sigh before rubbing her temples. “I'm going out. I'll live you two here, make sure not to burn the building,” she muttered, standing up to her feet.

Jinx and Isha ignored her, too caught up in their ridiculous chase. This is their new life now...

Months had passed and Sevika never said it out loud, but in the back of her mind, she expected Jinx to fail.

Not because she wanted her to—hell, she actually hoped she’d prove her wrong, but because Jinx had spent years drowning in madness, chaos wrapped around her like a second skin. Motherhood? Stability? Leaving destruction behind? That wasn’t Jinx. That wasn’t the girl Sevika had spent years watching spiral deeper into insanity.

So yeah, she supported the brat and tried to help when she could, but doubt had always crept in like an unwelcome guest.

But Jinx… Jinx didn’t disappoint her.

She wasn’t perfect, very far from it. But gradually, slowly and surely, she changed. She clawed her way out of the abyss she had buried herself in, inch by inch, for Isha.

Her hideout, which once looked like a damn graveyard; dark, cluttered with weapons, bombs, and remnants of the ghosts she carried, was different now. Instead, it was brighter, warmer, with the strings of colorful lights strung messily everywhere. 

The walls, once covered in crude sketches of bombs and death, now bore colorful childish doodles of flowers, bunnies, exaggerated monkeys with smiling faces (because of course Jinx had to put those).

Her old, rusted workbench? Now half-covered in storybooks and half-built toys, scattered between her usual weapon blueprints. Even her weapons, the ones she refused to part with, were shoved into a locked cabinet, out of Isha’s reach.

The space wasn’t just Jinx’s hideout anymore. It was a home. And it was Isha who gave her that light. It was Isha who pulled her out of the wreckage of her past and gave her something to hold onto. Something worth living for.

And Sevika couldn't imagine what it would be like if these two were separated again.

Chapter Text

The Firelight's hideout was quieter than usual since most of them had turned in for the night, especially the kids, whose laughter and giggles had long since faded into sleep.

Ekko sat perched on an old crate, turning a small cup in his hands, watching the liquid inside swirl with his movements. The air carried a bite of cold, slipping through his thick coat, making his body tremble in protest.

Across from him, Scar leaned against the moral wall, where the faces of the people they loved and lost were painted. The man exhaled sharply, catching Ekko's attention.

"Penny for your thoughts?'

Scar looked at him momentarily, contemplating before rubbing a calloused hand down his face. “That damn Yordle is making a mess again. You should’ve seen what he did to the workshop today.” He gestured vaguely, his tone heavy with frustration.

“Tried making some ‘brilliant’ gadget, and ended up nearly blowing a hole in the wall. I swear, if he sets one more thing on fire, I’m throwing him out myself.”

Ekko let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “C’mon, man. He’s just trying to help. You saw the kids, right? They were watching him like he was some kind of magician.” He leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting to the flickering lanterns overhead. “He made that bubble machine for them last week. Had ‘em all laughing and chasing bubbles like they didn’t have a single care in the world.”

Scar grumbled under his breath, arms crossed. “Still a pain in my ass.”

Ekko smirked. “Yeah, well… a little mess ain’t so bad if it means the kids get to forget, even for a moment.” He swirled the liquid in his cup again. “They deserve that. A second where they’re not running, not afraid, not worrying about what’s gonna come next.”

A heavy silence settled between them, stretching long enough to be filled by the night itself. Above them, firelight insects floated gently around the great tree, their faint greenish light illuminating the bark’s rough surface, making the tree almost look alive instead of dying.

Scar exhaled slowly, rolling his cup between his palms before finally breaking the quiet. “Can’t believe you’re actually gonna do this,” he muttered, shaking his head.

Ekko exhaled a short laugh. “Yeah, well… someone’s gotta figure out what the hell is happening.” He took a sip of the alcohol, letting the burn settle in his throat.

Scar huffed, narrowing his eyes at him. “Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be you. It's not your fault that our tree is dying.”

Ekko smirked. “Who else? You?” He huffed out a laugh, but there was no real humor behind it. “Because I’m the only one crazy enough to pull it off.”

Scar shot him a dry look. He just clicked his tongue and reached for his drink, taking a slow sip before setting it back down with a little too much force. “Dumbass,” he muttered.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Just two warriors, two brothers, not by blood, but by bond, sharing a rare quiet moment.

Then, Ekko’s expression turned more serious. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Listen… if I don’t come back—”

“Don’t.” Scar cut him off, his voice sharp. He set his cup down on his side with a little too much force. “You always come back. Always! So don’t start talking like you won’t this time.”

Ekko held his gaze for a moment before sighing. He looked down at his cup, watching the liquid ripple slightly from his steady grip. “You know we can’t always win every fight. Just so you know, last week, I almost died.”

Scar scoffed, shaking his head. “Bullshit. You’ve survived every damn thing thrown at you, haven’t you?” He jabbed a finger toward Ekko. “You survived Jinx. You survived Silco’s war. You survived every goddamn trap the Pilties and Jinx laid out for us. So don’t start acting like this is the one thing you can’t come back from.”

Ekko exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. Then, he met Scar’s gaze again. “I’m just saying, 'IF'. If something goes wrong, if I don’t make it back… I need to know the Firelights will be in good hands.”

Scar clenched his jaw. He knew what Ekko was trying to do, and he hated it.

“If I don’t make it back,” Ekko continued, voice steady but firm, “you’re next in line.”

Scar’s lips pressed into a thin line. He looked away, staring at the old, beat-up floorboards beneath them. He was about to argue, to tell Ekko to shut the hell up with this "if I don't make it" talk, but Ekko pushed forward, eyes locked onto his.

“I’d do anything to keep this place safe, Scar. Anything.” His voice was calm, but there was a pain and desperation behind it. “Even if it means putting my life on the line. Even if it means I don’t get to see what comes next. This place, our people, they come first.”

Scar’s grip tightened around his drink. He hated hearing this. Hated how Ekko talked like he had already made peace with it.

"Firelights aren't just a gang formed to fight the oppressor.  It's a home. A place for people who have nowhere else to go, a place for people who feel lost, a future for kids like us who had nothing. We built this from the ground up, and I don’t care what happens to me, as long as it survives.”

Ekko let out a slow breath, eyes softer now but still holding that same confidence. “This can’t fall apart just ‘cause I’m gone. The Firelights gotta stand for something bigger than one guy. That’s where you come in.”

Scar exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Damn it, Ekko…”

Ekko smirked faintly, but his eyes remained serious. “I need to know you’ll carry this on. That you’ll keep this place alive, keep these people safe. Even if I’m not here.” From the cup, his eyes traveled to Scar with a glint.

"Stop whatever you're trying to say—"

Ekko grinned. “I’m saying you better make a good leader, brother.”

Scar studied him, the weight of those words sinking in.

“Even if I’m not here, I want this place to mean something. And you… you’re gonna make sure it does. Promise me with this one, brother.”

⨲⨲⨲

The vent hatch popped open, and Heimerdinger went out first with a small oof, landing on the lab floor. Ekko was halfway through pulling himself out when a sudden whoomph filled the air, followed by the blinding glow of blue light.

Heimerdinger let out a startled yelp, scrambling back as the blinding light fixed directly on him. His fur bristled, eyes squinting against the glow. Ekko’s instincts kicked in immediately, his hand darting toward his weapon only to hear a voice through the dark,

"Professor?"

The light dimmed just enough for Ekko’s vision to adjust. His grip on his weapon loosened slightly as he blinked away the spots in his vision and finally got a look at the guy holding it.

A tall man with a broad body, dressed in a well-tailored suit, pressed so perfectly that even dust was afraid to touch it. A far cry from the rough, oil-stained look of most people down the Undercity. Ekko could already tell that the suit alone had to be worth a small fortune.

"Yes, of course!" The Yordle huffed, shaking out his fur as he shot the newcomer a sharp glare. "What the devil’s gotten into you?!"

The man lowered his massive hammer slightly, though his expression remained one of pure confusion and surprise. "I-I thought—wait, why are you breaking into my lab?" His eyes flicked upward, locking onto Ekko. "And who’s he?"

Ekko dusted himself off and crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly, studying the man before him. Sure the guy might be a lot taller than him, but that didn’t mean Ekko was intimidated. If things went sideways, well… he’d handled worse.

"This is my new pupil, Ekko," Heimerdinger answered with a huff, his small hands straightening his coat. Then, he turned toward Jayce with a pointed look. "Ekko, my former pupil, Jayce."

Ekko raised a brow. So, this is the guy he wouldn’t shut up about?

His frown deepened as he took a longer look at the man. Something about him scratched at the edges of Ekko’s memory, something distant but oddly familiar. Then, all at once, it clicked.

Years ago, back when he was still running errands for Benzo, a random wide-eyed weirdo had walked into the shop. He bought a bunch of junk Benzo, only kept around for display, stuff nobody in their right mind would actually need.

And the best part? The guy had paid in gold, no haggling. Seeing an opportunity, young Ekko doubled the price on the spot just to see if he could get away with it. And the guy? He hadn’t even hesitated. Just handed over the money without a second thought.

Ekko’s lips twitched slightly at the memory. "Hmm," he grunted.

Jayce squinted at him. "Hmm."

The Yordle brushed dust off his cloak as he wandered further into the lab, peering at the various places. "I apologize for the intrusion, but we were attempting to sneak in," he admitted.

Ekko barely heard their conversation, his attention had already drifted to the lab itself.

Wow. Compared to his own workshop in the Firelight hideout, this place was on a whole different level. The walls weren’t patched together with scrap metal, and the floor wasn’t covered in scattered tools, loose wires, and half-finished gadgets waiting to be salvaged. Everything here looked new, like it had barely been touched by time. The workbenches weren’t cluttered with broken parts but neatly arranged with finely crafted tools, ones that actually matched instead of being cobbled together from whatever he could scavenge.

The machines looked sleek and polished, their designs seamless in a way that made his own inventions feel rough and improvised in comparison. No rust. No jury-rigged circuits barely holding together with scrap wire and luck.

Ekko could only imagine what he could build with resources like this. A whole workshop where he wouldn’t have to waste time fixing his tools before he could even start? Where he could experiment without worrying about running out of materials?

Damn. It’d be awesome to work on new gadgets here.

"Do you drink tea, Ekko?"

His thoughts snapped back into place at the sound of his name. He blinked, turning to see Jayce watching him expectantly.

Tsk, what now?

Jayce tea wasn't good after all. It's just pure disgusting!

Ekko was used to tea— a good tea to be specific. The kind brewed by the people they rescued in the hideout, the kind made with care, steeped just right, and rich with herbs scavenged from deep in the Undercity. Some of them could make top-tier blends that could warm a person from the inside out, even in the coldest tunnels.

But this? This was not it.

The overwhelming bitterness hit first, followed by a weird metallic aftertaste, like he was drinking straight from an old pipe. It was almost impressive how bad it was.

Ekko forced himself to swallow and glanced to the side, watching as Heimerdinger casually sipped his tea, looking perfectly content. Must be a topsider thing, he thought, grimacing as he set his cup down before Jayce could ask if he wanted more. Ekko would die immediately if he did.

"You're right."

Ekko’s attention snapped to Jayce, who was hunched over a microscope, eyes locked onto the sample ekko brought beneath the lens. His brow was furrowed in deep concentration.

"It matches the corruption we saw on the plants we tested with the Hexcore, but... where did you say you got this?"

Ekko hesitated for only a second before answering, his voice casual. "Deep in the underground."

That was all he would say. No way was he telling Jayce where his home was. The man might be good, but he was still a topsider, and topsiders were dangerous.

Just like this Yordle here.

"Ekko's home is a marvelous place!" Heimerdinger suddenly cut in, his voice bright and enthusiastic. "Truly a wonder!"

Ekko’s eyes widened slightly, and he shot the professor a sharp look with a message of 'shut the fuck up' behind it. He hoped this yordle was smart enough to get it.

But to his dismay, Heimerdinger just kept yapping. "You should see—"

"Hey!" Ekko interrupted quickly, leaning forward.

The Yordle paused mid-sentence, blinking in confusion before realization dawned on his face. "Uh, right! Uh, when I said 'home,' I was, of course, referring to his… cognitive center, which is certainly not a physical location hidden in the—"

"Heimer, what are you doing?!" Ekko fully cut in, gripping the professor’s small shoulder before turning back to Jayce. He had to change the subject fast. "Did any of the plants survive?" he asked in a very serious voice.

Thankfully, Jayce seemed too lost in his own thoughts to fully register Heimerdinger’s rambling.

"They weren’t what we were trying to save," he admitted, lowering his head slightly. "...But this pattern. How could it be there and here?"

Ekko's breath caught in his throat. His fingers curled slightly at his sides. He already knew it. Had seen it with his own eyes on the way, this weird disease had gradually spread in just a week when he discovered it. It creeps from the bark like veins, turning the once strong branches brittle and the leaves fall. But hearing it confirmed, made his chest tighten.

The tree has been their home for many years, and if it died… he couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen. Where would they go? What would they do? They had nothing else. No safe place to run to. No shelter waiting for them anywhere else.

The tree was all they had left.

Ekko forced himself to keep his expression neutral, but his jaw clenched. No, he can't just give up yet. There must be another solution.

A movement shifted his attention. Beside him, Heimerdinger hopped off his tall chair, his small frame moving toward a huge strange-looking box a few meters before them. Curious, Ekko followed a few steps behind, holding himself back from asking about it. He badly wanted to, but considering he had just met Jayce today, demanding answers would probably be a little much.

Heimerdinger’s ears twitched as he stared at the device, his fur standing slightly on end. His expression tightened, and his eyes burned with fear.

"Oh no," the Yordle whispered, his voice barely audible. His fingers trembled slightly as they hovered near the strange machine.

Then, with a furrowed brow, he asked, "...Where’s Viktor?"

Ekko frowned.

Who the hell is Viktor?

⨲⨲⨲

Jinx sat on the edge of a rusted beam, legs swinging lazily as she locked eyes with the white owl perched on the wooden planks across from her.

Hmm, what a rare sight.

Natural life didn’t tend to stick around in the Undercity. Most creatures that wandered too deep into Zaun either got sick, eaten, or disappeared altogether. But this one? It was still here. Watching her. Ha! How dare he?

Jinx narrowed her pink eyes, but the owl didn’t even flinch.

Suddenly, in the middle of their one-on-one staring contest, she felt a small tug on the bottom of her pants. She ignored it at first, keeping her gaze locked on the bird, only then did the tug come again, where she finally acknowledged the tiny presence below her.

"What do you think of chicken for dinner, Isha?" she mused, but her attention never flickered away from the owl. "I'll ask Sevika to cook for us."

Slowly, she reached for her gun, fingers brushing against the cool metal. The owl tilted its head, feathers ruffling slightly as if sensing what was coming. And just as Jinx was about to pull her weapon free, the bird suddenly took off, wings spreading wide as it disappeared into the sky above.

She clicked her tongue in irritation. Tsk. Wasted food.

Disappointed, Jinx huffed and hopped down beside Isha, landing lightly on her feet. She reached over and gave the kid’s helmet a firm tuck, making it shift awkwardly to the front.

Isha grumbled, scrunching her nose as she adjusted it back into place. Jinx leaned back slightly, taking in the kid’s outfit with an amused smirk.

Her helmet was fully colored now, unlike before, when it was halfway done. She wore a black, sleeveless vest with a faded white X emblem on the front, one that looked suspiciously like Jinx’s own.  Her arms were wrapped in makeshift bandages, fingers poking out from fingerless gloves that had seen better days. The purple leggings she wore were torn in places, but the rips were patched up with bandages and some were not.

Jinx had taken her scavenging through every shop in the Undercity just to find something the kid actually liked. If Isha wanted it, Jinx made sure she got it. No arguments, no second-guessing.

And on her right arm, just barely visible under her bandages and fingerless gloves, was a blue cloud tattoo. 

Jinx wouldn't let her have it at first, considering that Jinx had her first tattoo when she was thirteen, and Isha was just seven. She's too young to have one. However, Isha had begged her relentlessly for MONTHSSS, the kid had been obsessed, always staring at Jinx’s own tattoos with wide, curious eyes, until Jinx finally surrendered and drew it on herself.

It wasn’t real, of course. The ink would fade after a few months. She improvised with her pain, and made a temporary ink just to make this little grimlin happy.

Every last piece of clothes and style she's having had been Isha's choice. And judging by the way the kid clung to her new look, she did not seem to regret it.

"Yeah? What do you want?"

Jinx’s gaze landed on the small pocket in front of Isha’s vest. Tucked inside, barely visible, was the little puppet the kid had stitched together over months, one side looking like Jinx, the other like herself.

Isha didn’t answer, not right away. Instead, she just shuffled a little closer, pressing against Jinx’s side, her small fingers absently playing with the hem of Jinx’s top.

She sighed dramatically, placing her arms behind the kid's back before drawing comforting circles. "Ugh, clingy," she teased, but she didn’t shove her off. She tilted her head down, giving Isha a once-over before humming. "Aren't you getting taller?"

She lifted her chin, motioning for Isha to straighten up, then gently pinched her cheek. "And your cheeks are getting slimmer… what the hell?"

Jinx frowned, feeling a sudden pang of unpleasant emotion twisting in her chest.

Isha's growing up.

The thought hit her harder than expected. It felt like just yesterday Isha had been this tiny thing, barely three inches tall in Jinx’s arms, all chubby cheeks with her big, golden eyes, and now...

"Aughhh!! Where’s my little girl?!" Jinx groaned dramatically, throwing her head back like she was mourning a great tragedy.

Isha just giggled silently, the sound no more than a breathy exhale as she buried her face against Jinx’s side.

Jinx huffed, resting her chin on the top of Isha’s head. Damn kid. Growing up too fast.

It had only been a year—just a year since this little gremlin had stumbled into her life. A year since Jinx had decided, against all odds and all better judgment, to keep her. To let someone stay. To let herself be a mother to her.

And yet, that year had passed too damn fast. It felt like a blink, like time had cheated her somehow. One second, she was hauling a tiny, malnourished kid out of the gutter, grumbling about how she didn’t have time for babysitting, and the next… the next, Isha was here. 

It wasn’t fair.

Jinx didn’t do time. She didn’t count days. She lived moment to moment, explosion to explosion, chaos to chaos. But with Isha… with Isha, it was different. The days felt numbered in a way that made her stomach twist.

Was this what it was like?

Was this what Vander felt, watching her and Vi scramble across rooftops, getting taller, faster, sharper with each passing day? What Silco felt when he realized she no longer needed a steadying hand on her shoulder when she was killing someone? What did Vi feel after all those years when she finally saw her again? Was she different, changed, and no longer the girl she left behind?

Jinx had never given much thought to what it was like on the other side of growing up. To be the one left behind instead of the one racing ahead.

She exhaled sharply, running a gloved hand through Isha’s hair over her forehead, messing it up just to hear the kid’s silent giggle.

"Guess I’ll just have to shrink you back down, huh?" she muttered, playfully squishing Isha’s cheeks again. "Yep. I’ll just shove you in the dryer, spin you around a few times, and—bam! Tiny Isha’s back."

Isha shook her head, grinning as she swatted Jinx’s hands away.

A moment of silence settled before them before Jinx spoke. "So, are we still up for the beach day, hmm?"

Instantly Isha's eyes lit up with amusement before nodding for how many times as she jumped on her heels. Jinx chuckled, patting her shoulders to calm her down.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Gently, she unclasped Isha’s hold and leapt forward, effortlessly jumping from one rooftop to the next. The rush of wind hit her face, the familiar thrill of fighting gravity settling deep in her bones. Her eyes widened at the city stretching beneath her. Being a bird must be fun.

She and Isha had spent most of their time holed up in their hideout, hiding from both Piltie enforcers and their own kind, Zaunites, who would sell her out in a heartbeat for that fat reward on her head. 

Days blurred into nights, their world reduced to dimly lit walls of their hideout. They’d done everything they could to keep from going crazy, like tinkering (she taught Isha knew how to make and dispose of a bomb), painting, playing, dressing up, and setting off tiny explosions just for fun. Jinx was very serious with her leaving things behind just to keep the kid safe.

But then, one day, Isha had asked— begged her to step outside. Telling her that she was tired of the same four dark walls surrounding them, tired of staring at the same view. She wanted to see something real. A river, she had said. She wanted to see a river.

Jinx had laughed because what river? The sludgy, toxin-filled excuse for water that ran through Zaun?  "Yeah, great idea, kid. If you want to kill yourself, just tell me." She remembered herself telling Isha.

Starting that day, Isha had stopped talking to her entirely. No grumbles, no small hands tugging her arm, no comforting kiss on the cheek or hug, just pure unbearable silence.

Jinx was used to the silence— no, scratched that. Jinx was used to the silence, other than the stupid voice in her head she kept hearing every day. But when Isha arrived, everything changed from what it was usual.

So here they are, finally outside their hideout for a goddam river. Thankfully, she remembered a place somewhere where the water wasn’t completely poisoned, where the sky wasn’t always choked with smoke. Problem was, it was a little too close to Piltover for comfort. Which meant the chances of her getting caught weren’t exactly zero.

Well, if that will keep Isha happy, then so be it.

Jinx landed smoothly on the next rooftop, turning back to shoot Isha a cocky smirk—only to find the kid still standing at the edge of the building, clutching her hand tightly, staring down. It wasn’t that far. Five or six floors, tops.

She’s just a kid.

And for the briefest moment, Jinx didn’t see Isha. She saw herself, Powder, frozen at the edge of a rooftop, heart pounding, afraid to take the leap. She saw the past, saw wide blue eyes searching for reassurance, for safety, for someone to catch her if she fell. She saw Vi, confident, fearless, and waiting on the other side, always looking back with an outstretched hand.

Jinx clenched her jaw at that specific memory. Yes, Sevika had given her a few pointers about looking after a kid, a real little human being. But truth be told, she took most of Vi's. Remembering how exactly her sister had taken care of her when they were still together.

After their mother died, her sister was the only one who was by her side. Vi, who had carried her on her back when her legs were too short to keep up. Vi, who had told her to be brave, who had wiped her tears away and whispered promises that turned to lies. Vi, who had left her.

Jinx frowned, shaking the thought away.

Damn that woman for making her miss her, even now. Even after everything. Even after the betrayal. Because despite how traitorous that bitch was… Violet had been Jinx’s whole world once.

“Come on, it’s not far!” she called out, forcing a grin. Isha’s golden eyes lifted to hers, full of fear. “I’m right here. You don’t have to worry.”

She crouched slightly, holding out a hand, waiting for her.

Isha hesitated for a second longer, she closed her eyes, then exhaled sharply. The moment she opened her eyes, determination glinted in her golden eyes. Jinx smiled, clearly proud for Isha.

She took a few steps back, then ran forward, launching herself off the ledge. Isha remained on the air for a few seconds before Jinx caught her easily,  steady hands gripping small shoulders, stabilizing her before she could stumble.

"There you go," Jinx murmured, a grin tugging at her lips. "See? Easy."

Isha huffed, rolling her eyes, but she clung to Jinx's arm a little longer before finally letting go.

"Let's go?"

With that they kept moving, rooftop to rooftop, the city sprawling beneath them. At first, Isha hesitated after every jump, waiting for Jinx to catch her, to give her that nod of reassurance. But the more they jumped, the more her confidence grew. Hesitation melted into instinct, and soon, she was landing steady, her steps quicker, her leaps bolder.

Not long after, the final rooftop loomed ahead, perched right next to the river. The water below shimmered in the sunlight. Just like what Jinx last remembered, the water was less murky and more alive as it leaped the wave to the riverbank gently.

Side by side, they stood at the edge, hands clasped together.

Jinx turned to Isha, her pink eyes alight with excitement, a grin spreading wide across her face. "Ready, Isha?"

Golden eyes met hers, gleaming with the same excitement as her. With no hesitation, she nodded, bracing herself.

Jinx counted down. "One… two… THREE!"

Together, they leaped. For a moment, they were weightless, suspended between sky and sea, hearts hammering, laughter bubbling up in their throats. Then—

CRASH!

They hit the water with a splash that echoed through the empty space, sending ripples through the surface.

"YOOOOHOOOOOO!"

Jinx came up first, shaking water from her hair, breathless and grinning. A second later, Isha burst up beside her, gasping, blinking against the droplets clinging to her lashes—before breaking into pure, unfiltered laughter.

⨲⨲⨲

Isha ended up getting sick.

Jinx didn’t think it was that big of a deal at first. So what if the kid had a little cough? Maybe a slight fever? She was fine. She’d bounce back.

Sevika, however, had other thoughts.

"You absolute dumbass," Sevika growled, thumbing her boot on the floor as she glared at Jinx from across the room. "You let her jump into that nasty-ass river, and now she’s burning up like a damn furnace."

Jinx, perched on her old couch, ground loudly. "Ohhh my god, Sev, relax. It was one little swim—"

"—in Zaun’s water. Where shit goes to mutate and die."

Jinx rolled her eyes. "Oh please, we went to the less polluted one."

"Less polluted?! LESS POLLUTED?!" Sevika’s voice nearly shook the walls. "That's like saying less poisonous! She’s been coughing her damn lungs out all day!"

Jinx, left with no choice but to drop the argument, just grumbled under her breath. She slumped back into the couch, eyes drifting down to Isha, who was curled up in her lap, buried under layers of blankets.

The kid was warmer than usual. Too warm. Jinx felt a pang of guilt settle deep in her chest, realizing her mistake. 

I did it again.

All she wanted was for Isha to be happy, to see her smile, to give her something other than the same four walls of their hideout, something other than running and hiding. And yet, somehow, it always turned to shit.

I did it again.

She swallowed hard, fingers absently picking at her nailbeds until the skin split, tiny beads of blood welling at the edges, but Jinx barely felt the pain.

She had promised herself she wouldn’t screw up with this one. That she wouldn’t lose her the way she lost—

She sucked in a breath, shaking the thought away before it could finish.

Sevika, still standing nearby with her arms crossed, eyed her for a long moment before muttering, "I already gave her the herb for the fever and cough. Once it kicks in, she’ll be fine. Running around before you even realize it." She sighed, rolling her shoulders. "Just let her rest."

Jinx didn’t answer. She just sat there, fingers absently picking at her torn nailbeds, watching Isha’s small, steady breaths with guilt gnawing at her chest.

Sevika shifted, glancing between them, and something in her posture eased. Her gaze lingered on Jinx’s hunched form, on the way her fingers wouldn’t stay still, the way her jaw stayed clenched too tight.

She sighed again, rubbing the back of her neck. "Look… I—" She hesitated, then huffed. "I shouldn’t have yelled."

Jinx blinked but didn’t look up, still looking at Isha with sad eyes.

"I get it. You were just trying to make her happy," Sevika grunted, as if the words tasted wrong in her mouth. There was a brief but heavy pause before she exhaled sharply and muttered, "I’m sorry."

With that, she turned and left, her boots thudding quietly against the floor as she walked out of the hideout, leaving Jinx alone with Isha.

Jinx let out a deep sigh, the weight in her chest pressing heavier now that the room was quiet. She glanced down at the kid in her lap. Carefully, she shifted, sliding her arms beneath Isha’s small frame and lifting her up against her chest. Isha barely stirred, only nuzzling deeper into Jinx’s warmth.

Jinx cradled her close, feeling the heat radiating off her skin, pressing her cheek lightly against Isha’s forehead. Holding her close, she pressed her lips against the top of her head, her arms protectively wrapping around her warm body. This way, it would be easier for her to notice the change of her temperature.

With a slow breath, Jinx shifted, rocking them both gently. The silence in the hideout felt too heavy, too still, and without thinking, she did the only thing that felt right. She started to hum.

"Dear friend, across the river. My hands are cold and bare.

Dear friend, across the river, I'll take what you can spare.

I ask if you have a penny…"

Soft, slow, the same lullaby she used to sing when Isha was still in her belly, when she was nothing more than a stirring warmth beneath her ribs. A tune that belonged to just the two of them, one no one else had ever heard.

Every time she sang it back then, Isha would move, with tiny flutters at first and then stronger kicks, as if she could hear Jinx even from the other side of the world. Like she knew it was her... her mom.

Jinx used to hum it absentmindedly while tinkering with her gadgets, her free hand resting against her stomach whenever she felt those little shifts beneath her skin. A silent reassurance. A reminder that she wasn’t alone.

Now, even here, with Isha burning up in her arms, Jinx hummed the same melody. And like always, Isha stirred. Her fingers curled weakly into her top, and her breath felt warm against Jinx's collarbone.

Jinx barely made it to the second part when she heard it, soft and murmured against her skin.

"...Mama."

Chapter Text

“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re in the wrong place!” Jinx’s voice rang out, naughtiness dripping from every syllable. She stood center stage—well, as much of a stage as an old huge fan could provide while her back pressed against Isha’s as she held up a hairbrush like a microphone.

“Scumbags and scalawags, put your hooks and paws together for the meanest… the ugliest…” she turned toward her imaginary audience, narrowing her pink eyes. “…the goriest spectacle of your miserable little lives!”

Right on cue, a metallic gate rattled open, and a hulking creature walked into the arena, its chitinous legs clicking against the grime-covered floor. The beast was a nightmare in bug form; its massive, serrated mandibles were glistening with some unknown goo. Beady black eyes darted wildly as they let out a shriek that sent a few smaller creatures scurrying for cover.

Jinx grinned. “In the gray corner, our undefeated champion! With claws like daggers and teeth like—sharper daggers! The devilish, the wretched… Stink Maw!” She threw out her arms before stepping aside to give the monster room.

The second gate creaked open, and the new horror walked in. This one was smaller but no less hideous. Its armor-plated body glistened under the dim, flickering lights, and its antennae twitched like it was already tasting victory.

Jinx flopped onto her belly, chin in her palms as she smirked. “And in the other gray corner… the challenger! A rising star with hideous mandibles and a face that’d make a brood mother squirm! The creepy, the dastardly… Scuttle Butt!”

The second bug let out a guttural, alien screech.

In the corner, Isha was practically vibrating with excitement. Her small arms were raised as she swayed, her body bouncing in place, eyes wide and sparkling like she’d just struck gold.

“Two will enter!” Jinx declared with a wicked grin, “And after that… who knows???”

Isha gasped, hands dramatically placed on her cheeks.

“Handlers, release your beasts!”

The rusty bell dinged and the two creatures lunged at each other, claws clashing in a blur. Screeches echoed as Stink Maw latched onto Scuttle Butt’s leg, but the smaller creature thrashed wildly, slamming its opponent into the ground. Dust and dirt flew as the fight raged on, each creature desperately tearing at the other in a frenzied battle for dominance. 

Then, with a final, guttural shriek, Stink Maw was launched across the arena, its body tumbling through the air before landing with a sickening sound a few feet away.

“No! No! What are you doing?!” Jinx groaned, throwing her hands up in frustration. Her eyes trailed after the defeated bug, watching it twitch pitifully in the distance.

Meanwhile, Isha plopped onto the floor, throwing both fists into the air. “Haha!” she cheered, utterly delighted with the outcome.

Jinxed rolled her eyes as she groaned before pushing herself up. “Ugh. Fine," she mumbled, marching toward the defeated bug, scooping it up in one hand. Isha, still riding her victory high, jumped to her feet and bolted toward her little tent.

Jinx followed her, holding the limp bug like a fallen warrior. “Congratulations on your victory,” she muttered, stepping toward the edge of a rusted fan. She extended her hand, dangling the poor thing over the abyss below.

“Well, champ, you had a good run. But now there’s only one thing left to do—” But before she could drop it, a tug on her arm stopped her.

Jinx turned, brow raised, only to find Isha staring up at her with a deep frown, her small fingers curled tightly around the piece of paper. She tilted her head, pink brows quirking higher as if to ask, What?

Still frowning, Isha made a quick sign with her hands by pressing her fist together. Jinx quickly understood what she meant.

Jinx blinked. “Hmmm… a rematch?”

Isha nodded eagerly. Jinx smirked, spinning on her heel. “Return of the titans,” she announced dramatically. The bug in her hand suddenly buzzed, wings sputtering to life, and it nearly got away, but she had managed to snatch it mid-air.

“Vengeance! Redemption! The inexplicable release of bodily gases!” she exclaimed, fully hyped for round two, but was suddenly interrupted when she heard Isha clear her throat behind her.

Jinx froze. Slowly, she turned to see Isha standing there, arms crossed, golden eyes narrowed, and a piece of paper in her small hands. Her brows twitched, she hadn't realized she's been holding that paper a while ago.

Isha unfolded it purposefully, revealing a very defaced version of Jinx’s wanted poster. Doodles covered the entire thing; most notably, her signature blue hair was colored with blue crayons. It was Isha, of course.

Pouting, Ish lifted her finger and pointer at Jinx's blue hair and raised her brows up and down. Jinx sighed, shoulders slumping. She knew where this was going.

Isha had been asking her, or like begging her to dye her hair for weeks. But Jinx? Oh no, she wasn’t about to entertain that idea. For one, her brown hair was already perfect. No touch-ups are needed. Second, the Jinxters, her little fanatics, already ran around dyeing their hair blue as a tribute to her. And what did that get them? Enforcers breathing down their necks, hunting them down like pests.

And no way in hell she would allow them to do that to Isha, too. No way was she letting Isha put a target on her back for something so stupid.

But, to her dismay, Jinx had made a bet and lost. And a bet's a bet. She couldn’t just shrug it off, no matter how much she wanted to. That’d be setting a terrible example, wouldn’t it? What kind of lesson would that teach Isha? That promises were just words? That deals could be tossed aside when they stopped being fun?

Nope. That wasn’t how this worked. Jinx might’ve been a lot of things—reckless, unpredictable, a terrorist (if you asked the Pilties)—but a welcher? Never. If she was gonna be anything to this kid, it had to be someone who kept her word. That’s what a good mom should do, right?

Jinx huffed, nodding to herself, arms crossed as if she had just made some grand, wise decision.

She groaned loudly, her face scrunching. “All right, all right. I still think it’s a dumb idea,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes dramatically. Isha just stared at her, unfazed, already used to Jinx’s antics. “Buuut… I guess you won,” Jinx muttered. “And a deal’s a deal.”

Jins sighed dramatically, flickering her prosthetic finger on the side before it could get stained blue. This was already a mess waiting to happen, so there was no need to make it worse.

Isha sat cross-legged in the bathtub, hands obediently clamped over her eyes, her small frame vibrating excitedly. Jinx perched on the edge of the tub, dipping her fingers into the dye, streaking the porcelain tub and creating a messy trail. Jinx couldn't help but chuckle as she ran her hands through Isha’s hair, precisely working the color—well, as precise as she could be when the kid kept squirming.

“Do not moooove, Isha! Stop squirming like an eel,” she scolded playfully, trying and failing to hold back her laughter. “You want me to mess this up?”

Isha shook her head and giggled.

“Ah, ah, ah!” Jinx caught Isha’s hand just as it started creeping up to her face. “No peekinggg!!!” she scolded in a singing way, wagging a dye-stained finger. “It’s gotta be a surprise.”

Isha huffed but obeyed, her fingers pressing even tighter over her eyes.

Over an hour had passed, and Isha's newly dyed hair had finally dried. Jinx grabbed a rubber band from the pile of junk beside her. She smirked, stretching it between her fingers as she eyed Isha’s freshly colored tiny braids.

“Alright, kid,” she muttered under her breath, mischief glinting in her pink eyes. “Time for the reveal.”

Isha shrieked with excitement. Jinx snickered, shaking her head as she reached out, gently covering the girl’s eyes with her hands. Isha, unable to contain herself, eagerly placed her own hands over Jinx’s and held them there, her tiny fingers twitching with anticipation.

“Alright, alright, settle down, short stack,” Jinx teased, guiding her forward with careful steps. The two moved across the cluttered room, weaving past scattered tools and Jinx's half-finished gadgets until they reached the worktable where a cracked mirror rested on it, held together by bits of glue and wishful thinking.

She leaned closer to Isha and whispered near her ear, "Ready?"

Isha giggled before nodding, adjusting Jinx's hand into her eyes. 

Jinx grinned, drawing out the moment with a dramatic pause. “Three… two… one—Ta-da!!!” She dropped her hands, revealing Isha’s reflection in the mirror.

The girl gasped, her mouth falling open in pure awe. Her fingers flew to her newly dyed hair, running through the vibrant blue strands, tracing the tiny braids Jinx had weaved in. Isha turned her head slightly, inspecting herself from different angles, mesmerized. Her eyes shimmered, wondering how many days it would take for her braids to grow long enough to be just like Jinx's.

Jinx watched her reaction through the mirror, her hands on the table and smirking. "You like it?"

Isha nodded eagerly, still transfixed by her new look. With a final tug of her braid, she propped herself up on the stool and did her best Jinx impression, aiming her hands like twin pistols and mimicking the kickback of a gunshot.

Jinx chuckled, her pink eyes following the kid’s stunts. She leaned back against the table, crossing her legs and placing a hand on her waist. "You’re lucky," she mused. "I didn’t get to do much with my older sis. She was more into, uh... hitting things."

For a moment, her mind drifted back to the past, in a different time, a different life.

She and Ekko used to sit on the side, watching Vi train the other kids, teaching them how to throw punches that totally hurt, block, and win every fight. Among them all, Vi had been the talented one when it becomes to throwing punches.

And when the sun had finally retired to her home, they were the only two who stayed behind. Powder and Ekko would practice, taking turns correcting each other’s form. She would mess up, and he would mess up, and they’d laugh, bruised and breathless, promising they’d get better tomorrow.

It had been a nice memory. A rare one.

Isha, still in her own little world, reached for the small bomb she’d built herself, absently spinning it as she listened to Jinx. And just like that, the smile on her face vanished.

Her gaze drifted to the mirror, expecting to see herself, but instead, it was Powder who stared back at her with wide and sad eyes. Lips pressed together into a small, trembling pout.

"I had a different name back then, you know…" Jinx said quietly. "Powder."

She turned to Isha, waiting for a reaction, but the girl just blinked, looking at her innocently and still absentmindedly fiddling with her bomb as if Jinx had told her something as mundane as what she had for breakfast.

Right... Isha doesn't know anything about her past. 

Jinx let out a dry chuckle. “Stupid, right?”

Before Isha could respond, a soft click broke the air before the tickling sound of the bomb started running.

Isha's eyes snapped down to the bomb in her hands. The faint pink glow of an armed fuse flickered to life, and Jinx saw fear flash across the kid’s face. She swallowed hard, hands tightening around the device as she tried to remember the right way to disarm it.

Jinx sighed before reaching out. “I thought I was rid of her for good, but, uh…” With a few movements, she diffused the bomb without a sweat, the glow flickering out as quickly as it had appeared. She tossed it lightly between her hands before setting it back on the table. “You… kinda remind me of her," she whispered.

That thought had been running through her mind for a while. Isha is Powder to her. The way Isha looked at things, like every little piece of the world was a puzzle waiting to be figured out. The way she jumped into things without any single thought, always eager to prove herself.

Not just that. Now that Isha’s hair was dyed blue, the resemblance was impossible to ignore. Jinx could see clearly now how much more of her features Isha had taken than Ekko’s. The shape of her face, the sharpness of her eyes, and even the way her nose crinkled when she was deep in thought. She could almost hear Sevika's voice in the back of her head calling Isha as her carbon copy. She used to roll her eyes at that. But looking at Isha now? Maybe Sevika wasn’t wrong.

Still, despite having Jinx’s face, it was clear that Isha had taken more after Ekko in other ways. She had a unique personality. She had Ekko’s sharp instincts and his patience when working through something complicated. And, of course, they both hated sleeping with their socks on. No matter how cold it got, the socks always ended up kicked off by morning.

Not to mention, they were both absolute sneezers. It didn’t matter how small the dust particle was. If it were in the air, they'd sniff it out and sneeze up. Jinx had lost count of how many times she’d heard Isha’s tiny, rapid-fire sneezes echo through the hideout, only to realize she was just sitting in a perfectly clean place. It was like a weird, built-in radar they both had. Jinx snickered at the thought. Some things just ran in the family, she guessed.

She smiled, leaning back against the table, watching as Isha stared at the bomb, lips pursed, already dissecting what she had done wrong. Yup. That was definitely Ekko in her.

She playfully nudges Isha’s arm. The kid shook off her stunned expression and grinned back, lifting her fingers for the usual hand gestures they planned (it was actually Isha's idea; she just forced Jinx to participate).

“Pew,” she shot first.

“Pew,” Jinx echoed, a little softer this time.

She ruffled Isha’s newly dyed hair before nodding toward the door. “Go on, show ’em to Sevika.”

Before Jinx could react, Isha threw her arms around her in a tight hug, which made Jinx freeze for half a second. Then, just as fast as she came, Isha pulled away and bolted for the door, eager to show off her new look. Jinx watched her go, shaking her head with a chuckle.

Sevika stormed into the hideout, her heavy boots striking the floor with frustration. She let out a sharp exhale and scanned the room. 

The two brats were at their usual spots, quietly working with music humming in the background. Isha barely spared her a glance, offering a quick nod before returning to tinkering with her latest creation. Jinx, on the other hand, leaned against her worktable, a screwdriver working between her fingers.

“You could’ve warned me,” Sevika growled.

“Fat chance,” Jinx shot back without batting an eye. She turned her stool lazily, slouching, and narrowed her eyes at Sevika. “About what?”

“Your stunt at the checkpoint.”

The morning had been a mess. Enforcers, already on edge, had gone feral the second they spotted someone with blue hair. They started hauling people off, arresting anyone who so much as looked suspicious. The tension snapped when a plume of blue smoke rose from a nearby building by an unknown person, signaling a call to arms. That was all the Zaunites needed, and the whole district ignited in resistance.

Jinx snorted. “No idea what you’re babbling about.”

Sevika faltered for a second, genuinely caught off guard. “That wasn’t you?”

Jinx frowned, her brows knitting together in suspicion. Slowly, she turned to the one person who’d been silent this whole time.

Sevika followed her gaze and saw Isha standing on her feet, staring up at Jinx with an impish smirk. Then, with the subtlest tilt of her head, she silently confirmed it—yep, that was me.

Sevika exhaled sharply and turned back to Jinx. “Well, however it happened, the whole Undercity’s buzzing. People think you’re back. So, I’m thinking—”

“Nooott your strong suit,” Jinx cut in, flashing a mocking grin.

Sevika ignored the jab, shaking her head. “Would make a world of difference if you showed up.”

Jinx let out a long sigh, flicking her gaze toward Isha as if to say, your fault here, kid.

After the bombing at the Council Hall, after the three dead councilors, after the thick, gray gas seeped into Piltover’s pristine streets—Jinx had become something more than a person. She was a symbol. A rallying cry. A new beginning. The key to Zaun’s freedom. However, the one problem is this key or symbol was not ready for her role yet. Because, according to Jinx, she never asked for any of it.

“Ha! You want a symbol?” She lifted her hand, about to flip Sevika off, only to realize mid-motion that the finger she meant to raise had been blown off by Vi’s girlfriend a year ago.

Jinx groaned, flexing her hand before giving up and turning her back to Sevika, returning to her work. At least that made more sense than talking to an ogre.

Sevika scoffed. “Silco spent his whole life trying to unite the Undercity. Stupid joke that it is, but you—” she jabbed a finger in Jinx’s direction “—have the chance to actually pull it off.”

Jinx didn’t even turn and kept working, giving her the same dismissive silence as always. She gave her a look over her shoulder, muttering, “I told you I’m not interested.”

Sevika’s jaw tightened. That was her final straw.  After years of fighting, bleeding, and scraping for a better Zaun, this kid was about to toss it aside like it meant nothing. Like Silco’s vision, his sacrifices and their struggle meant nothing.

Before she could stop herself, her fist slammed onto Jinx’s desk, rattling the scattered tools. “Do you even know how much he sacrificed to protect you?” Sevika’s voice rose, sharp with barely restrained anger. “He believed in you. In what you could become.”

She should’ve stopped there. Should’ve realized that Isha was still standing in the room, watching them intently. But it was already too late; Sevika let her temper control her.

“Well, then he shouldn’t have died!”

Jinx’s voice cracked as she hurled the tool in her hand. It clattered violently against the metal wall before bouncing straight toward Sevika’s face. Her reflexes kicked in just in time, dodging the tool by an inch before it embedded itself into her forehead.

Silence. For once, Sevika didn't have anything to say. She cast a glance at Isha and found her staring at Jinx with wide eyes, lips parted slightly, and fear flickering in her gaze.

She groaned in her mind, deciding not to push this any further. Not now. Not when one wrong word could drive an even bigger wedge between them. If Isha started fearing her mother… then what more would if she saw the worst of Jinx?

Sevika exhaled slowly, admitting defeat. “We’re having a rally tonight. Vander’s statue. Firelights…” Her voice was now calm.

She noticed Jinx’s reaction by the faintest twitch of her fingers at the mention of them. She, too, was shocked at first. The firelight and Scar had decided to join after their leader, Ekko, went missing, to Sevika's surprise. Jinx had mentioned to her that she had killed him during the explosion on the bridge.

Sevika studied her for a second before continuing. “…Your fans. Anyone I can bring to the table. Stick your head in the dirt if you want, but this fantasy you’ve been living out here?” She tilted her chin toward the hideout. “It’s not gonna last forever.”

Because as much as Jinx wanted to keep her daughter safe, to hide away and pretend the world outside didn’t exist, Sevika knew better. The Enforcers weren’t stopping. Noxians wasn’t stopping. None of them were going to stop until every last rebel was buried six feet under. They had a month or two before they would find this secret place. And when it was, they wouldn’t be given a chance to run. They’d both be dead.

Realizing she couldn't do anything to pursue her, she turned on her heel, heading for the exit.

“Don’t trip on the way out,” Jinx called after her.

Sevika glanced back over her shoulder. Isha had moved to Jinx’s side, standing close, offering a silent comfort.

She scoffed, shaking her head as she continued walking away. “I don’t know how you do it, kid.”

"I gotta go bother someone."

Sevika heard Jinx’s voice echo behind her just as she stepped out of the hideout. She shook her head with a frown, lighting a cigar as the door clanged shut behind her.

Sevika stood in front of Vander’s statue, which was built from scraps, bits of metal, and rusted steel of whatever people could find to honor the man who had once been the heart of the Undercity.

She let her gaze sweep over the crowd as they gathered. There were all kinds of people here: Jinxers with their obnoxious blue-dyed hair, Firelights in their signature masks, former Chembarons looking for a new cause, and even everyday civilians just trying to survive another day.

Sevika took a slow breath. No turning back now.

"It’s no secret we got history," she began, her voice carrying over the restless crowd.

Some faces hardened, while the others looked wary, but it didn’t matter. She kept going.

"Blood spilled on all sides. But we grew up on the same streets! Ate the same scraps!" Her eyes burned into the crowd. "Like it or not, we’re in this mess together!"

Murmurs rippled through the gathering. People shifted, listening.

"Enforcers raiding our homes! Noxians down our throats! Innocents getting carted off to Stillwater!"

In the distance, she caught sight of a group of kids laughing as they sprayed blue paint over a poster of Caitlyn Kiramman, distorting the enforcer’s face into some type of monster.

Sevika smirked before continuing.

"We gotta choose—right now. Whether we throw in the towel or make a stand." She took a slow step forward, sweeping her determined eyes to her people. 

"Not as Firelights. Not as Jinxers. Not as washed-up goons." Her voice rose. "But as Zaunites!"

She lifted both hands, expecting a roar of agreement, a cheer for freedom. Instead, all she received was complaints from them.

Sevika’s smile faltered.

"WHERE’S JINX?!"

More voices joined in.

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

"WE WANNA SEE HER!!"

Sevika’s gut twisted as the crowd started chanting Jinx’s name, their energy shifting from doubtful to demanding. No matter what she said, no matter what she did, it would never be enough for these people. No wonder Silco was tired of dealing with them. 

She clenched her jaw, about to speak again, only to notice they stopped their complaints. The crowd fell silent, their eyes widening as they looked past her toward the sky.

Sevika frowned in confusion before turning slowly, following their gazes.

Instantly, her disappointment quickly disappeared as she saw the trail of blue smoke curled upward, staining the sky like an unspoken promise. Perched on the edge of a high rooftop, small against the towering structures around her, stood Isha. The blue smoke billowed from her hand, carried by the wind.

A symbol.

A message to the crowd, clear as day: With or without Jinx, the fight wasn’t over.

It had never been about one person, never about one name, one legend. Because Zaun belonged to all of them. The choice was theirs: to stay chained and continue being their slave or rise for freedom.

Jinx had ignited the fire. Now, it was up to them to decide if they would keep it burning.

Sevika exhaled, her chest feeling impossibly tight as she met those sharp, golden eyes. Thank you.

Isha smirked and gave her a single, firm nod before looking at the crowd with a determined face. Who would have thought that the smallest one among them, without uttering a single word, could have the loudest voice in Zaun?

Behind Sevika, the crowd began to stir. A moment of murmuring before someone lifted their fist into the air. There was a brief silence as the crowd looked at her and then at another and another. Eventually, the murmur of voices became a wave of cheers, chants, and voices rising together as one.

Sevika turned back toward them, watching as the movement spread like wildfire. With a determined gaze once again, she slowly lifted her mechanical arm into the air. It was heavy like usual, just like the weight of the responsibility being placed on her shoulders by Silco and even Vander's dream.

A Zaun that stood as one.

However, before she could fully raise it and scream the name of freedom, Sevika saw something glint from the distance and fly in her direction. Before she could process what it was, something whistled through the air, and a weapon was slammed into her mechanical arm, ringing near her ear like a gunshot, knocking and embedding her into the wall.

The crowd erupted into a mess with their screams and shouts. Sevika barely had time to register the pain before her eyes snapped to the entrance.

Noxian enforcers.

They flooded in, their heavy armor gleaming under the light, shields raised, weapons at the ready for a strike. Moving in perfect formation, they sealed off the entrance, closing in like a steel trap, ready to crush their prey.

"You're all under arrest!" one of them barked.

The enforcers surged forward, pushing into the mass of Zaunites, trying to corral them like wild animals. But they wouldn’t just stand there and let themselves be caged. The Firelight was the first to retaliate; Jinxters followed, and soon, the entire crowd was rioting against them, pushing, fighting, and surviving.

But the enforcers had the upper hand. They had numbers, training, and firepower. For everyone that fell, two more took their place.

Sevika gritted her teeth. Fine. Let’s even the odds.

She reached up, detaching her mechanical arm with a sharp hiss of pressurized steam. It clattered to the ground, heavy and useless in its damaged state. She flexed her remaining hand, stepped forward, and eventually ran to the enforcer, who caught her attention first to give a full-blown punch in the face.

She had always been stronger than most, but now, she relied on her precision, on sheer brutality. She slammed her forehead into a soldier’s nose, sending him staggering back. She grabbed another by the wrist and twisted until she heard the crack of bone. A shield came swinging her way, but she dodged easily, using the full weight of her leg to sweep her attacker off his feet.

She could do this. They could win this.

Sveika was winning against the three enforcers when she heard a small, distant, familiar voice. Her stomach dropped, eyes widening before giving the final punch on the remaining enforced.

"ISHA?!"

Not wasting any more seconds, she swept her gaze all over the mess, looking for any signs of Isha, but only failed. A familiar grunt caught her ears. She turned her head to the side and spotted an enforcer pushing through the crowd, carrying a small, unmoving child in their arms.

"ISHA!!" she screamed once more in desperation, louder this time, hoping to wake the unconscious Isha, but still to no avail.

No, this cannot happen. Jinx will...

Without a second thought, Sevika lunged, ready to tear through every soldier between her and the kid. She didn’t care if she was outnumbered, didn’t care if it was suicide. She’d fight tooth and nail and rip them apart if she had to just to have Isha back. 

But before she could move, strong arms yanked her back.

"LET ME GO!!" she shouted to the person, not removing her eyes from Isha's departing form. "I NEED TO GET HER. LET ME FUCKING GO!!"

Sevika thrashed, but the grip was firm. A fellow Zaunite, eyes wild with panic, shouted in her ear. “They got her! We have to go before it’s too late!”

Sevika was not having it. She has to get Isha back. She fought against the person holding her, her eyes locked on Isha’s small figure disappearing into the sea of enforcers.

"ISHA!"

However, her scream was lost as the retreating crowd pulled her into the hidden passageway under the stinky canal connecting to another passageway all over Zaun.

No matter how much she despised her old man, Jinx always crawled back to him when things got too much. It didn’t matter that he was long gone. It didn’t matter that she had been the one to put a bullet in his body. Because Silco, her shitty, scheming, stubborn father, had been the only one who could ever make sense of the mess in her head. And when that mess got too loud, when the weight of it all threatened to crush her, she’d always come back here to his office. Because even in death, he was the only one she trusted to have an answer for everything.

Jinx spun the Hexcore in her hands, absentmindedly rolling it across her fingers as she kicked and sent his old chair rocking side to side.

"Still giving me the silent treatment, huh?"

She spoke into the silence, hoping, even for a second, that her long-gone hallucination would come back and see him or talk to her. It was an insane idea after suffering for years of hearing unwanted voices in her head, but Jinx just wanted to see her father. He’d lean forward with that ever-calm look on his face, steeple his fingers, and spew some cryptic wisdom about her “potential” or “purpose.”

But the chair remained empty. Jinx scowled at it as if glaring hard enough would make him appear.

"Between you and Isha, I’m losing my snappy comebacks..." She sighed, tossing the Hexcore into the air and catching it back. Her eyes drifted toward the dim ceiling lights, thoughts wandering back to what Sevika had spat at her earlier.

"Me? A hero?" She scoffed. The very idea was laughable. "How screwed up is this place?!"

The only answer was the faint creak of the chair and the hum of the city beyond these walls.

"I know Sevika’s right," she admitted, voice quieter now. "And I probably owe it to you... on account of the murdering and all..."

She hesitated and for a moment, saw Isha's smiling face as it flashed her mind.

"...But I got something good going now."

Her grip tightened on the Hexcore. "A... A friend." Her voice faltered, contemplating calling Isha her daughter, but for some reason, she couldn't get that word out of her mouth.

Jinx knew that the moment she stepped into the fight and became the symbol, the face of Zaun’s rebellion, the icon of resistance against Piltover’s rule of what everybody wants, then all eyes would be on her. And if that happened? Then Isha’s life would be in danger.

And between choosing Zaun’s freedom or Isha’s safety? There wasn’t a choice. Jinx would always choose her. She would have her daughter over anyone else because Isha's the one that matters the most.

"...Maybe that’s what I was like for you," she muttered, glancing at the empty chair.

She remembered once overhearing Sevika talk behind her back to Silco, telling him that she made him weak. Jinx had laughed at it at the time. She never believed it. Silco didn’t do weakness. He raised her to be a weapon, not something soft, not someone to protect.

But then Isha had come into her life. And suddenly, every decision she made had to be weighed; was it safe for Isha? Would it put a target on her back?

The silence in the room remained the same. Her hands trembled. The longer the silence stretched, the more her frustration burned beneath her ribs, turning into something ugly.

Her breathing hitched. "If you care so much about me playing your stupid revolution game—speak up now!"

Still nothing.

Jinx clenched her jaw, grabbing at her bangs and pulling, feeling the sharp sting against her scalp, feeling the pain. "...Or I guess… I guess you really are gone." Her voice cracked. "And there’s no reason to stay here anymore…"

Still. Nothing.

Her fingers slackened. Her chest felt hollow. Jinx let out a shaky breath, then pushed the chair away with her foot before curling in on herself, tucking her feet against her chest as she buried her face in her crossed arms... letting her sobs break the silence.

⨲⨲⨲

"Time to find out who’s the new pebble weight—"

Jinx stepped into her hideout, expecting Isha to hear her voice and come barreling into her, arms wrapped tight around her waist like a leech that refused to let go. Maybe even knocking her flat on her ass.

But instead of that, she was only welcomed by a pure silence other than the faint crackle of the gramophone playing in the distance. The hideout was eerily still.

Jinx frowned, her eyes flicking around the room. Alright, where’s the little gremlin hiding? She smirked, getting an idea of what the kid was up to.

"Hmm? Isha?" she called out, but no answer. She scoffed. Ohhh, playing hard to get, huh?

The kid had done this before. Whenever she thought Jinx was mad at her, she’d hide and curl up in her tent and wait for Jinx to find her, to smother her in kisses and cuddles until she believed everything was okay again.

"Ahh… I get it," Jinx nodded to herself, her smirk growing as her eyes darted toward the small tent in the corner. "We’re playing that game, are we?"

She moved toward it slowly, dramatically, crouching low to scare that little gremlin. With a quick swipe, she threw the flap open, only to find that no one was inside.

Her smirk vanished. Something in her chest tightened as her heart gave a strange, hard beat. Jinx stood up straight, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides. She turned, eyes darting around the room. Alright. No big deal. Maybe she got creative. Isha had a habit of squeezing herself into tight spaces like big crates, barrels, or anywhere with a lid.

Jinx spotted a metal storage bin near the wall. Without thinking, she rushed toward it and yanked it open.

"I-Isha?" Her voice cracked.

But it was also empty. Jinx took a step back, her breath coming in shallow, pulse pounding through her ears.

No, this was normal! Just another one of Isha’s little games. The kid had a habit of slipping in and out of the hideout like a damn eel, always turning up when Jinx least expected it. However, deep inside of her, Jinx felt that something was off this time. It didn’t feel like all the other times.

Maybe she’s with Sevika. The thought barely had time to settle before heavy boots stomped into the room.

"They got her," Sevika’s voice came rough and strained.

"What?!"

Jinx whipped around so fast her vision blurred. Sevika, on her knees, barely holding herself up with her mechanical arm missing, leaving only torn wires and neon-green liquid leaking from the damaged port in her shoulder.

"She came to the rally," Sevika groaned, breathing heavily. "Topside raided the place...Took everyone!"

Jinx barely registered any of it. All she heard was, 'They got her,' and everything else just faded. It was like she’d gone deaf. The world around her dulled into a distant buzz, her heartbeat the only thing she could hear, pounding like war drums in her skull. Her fingers twitched, her body stiffening as something hot spread through her veins, curling into her every muscle, her every bone.

A rage that she had kept locked up for too long, now roaring to life, burning so hot it made her body tremble from the effort of holding it in. And suddenly, the world around her flickered with different colors, swirling around her before blending together, making her nauseous. 

A high-pitched giggle echoed in her skull. "You know what you are," a voice whispered, slithering through her mind. It was herself, Jinx.

"No, no, no—shut up. SHUT UP." Jinx clamped her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Damn it, Powder!" It was Vi’s voice now, harsh and disappointed.

"Shut up, shut up, shut UP!" she hissed, rocking slightly as her pulse pounded in her skull. But the voices wouldn’t stop. They just kept pushing and kept digging in.

"You have to be someone else."

"Stop calling me that!"

Desperate to make it stop, Jinx’s hands snapped to her gun before she even realized it. In one defeating shot of the gun, the gramophone exploded in a burst of sparks, the music cutting off with a broken screech. But the silence didn’t come, and the visions didn’t stop. Instead, it just made it worse.

Everything around her spun as the ghost of her past filled her room, circling her. 

"JINX!"

She saw Vander, burning, reaching for her as the flames swallowed him whole.

"JINX!"

She saw Claggor and Mylo buried beneath the rubble, their eyes glassy and lifeless, forever frozen in the moment she destroyed them.

"JINX!"

She saw Silco, blood bubbling at his lips, reaching out one last time before the light left his eye.

"JINX!"

While Jinx fought for her sanity, Sevika, on the other hand, looked at her concern but still prepared herself to fight if things turned sideways. Jinx will always be unpredictable. 

Sevika had seen Jinx spiral before. She had seen her being reckless, manic, and violent. However, she always assumed Jinx’s episodes were just her sudden sprouts of impulsivity and homicidal actions because that was all she ever saw whenever they worked together during shimmer shipments.

But this? This is different at all. Sevika watched, for the first time, as Jinx struggled. As she fought against whatever war was raging inside her head. The way she clutched her skull, her breath ragged, her body trembling. And Sevika, who had never pitied Jinx before, felt something close to it as she realized just how deep the damage went.

"Jinx..."

Jinx saw Ekko vanishing into the explosion she had caused, his body thrown into the river, and just another casualty of her destruction. She clutched her head, fingers tangling in her hair as the voices screamed at her from all sides, crawling into her skull like poison.

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up... Please.."

The moment those words slipped out through her lips, Jinx heard a soft and sweet giggle from the distance, and instantly, the madness that was tormenting her suddenly vanished into the thin air.

Jinx’s breath hitched, realizing how familiar those giggles were. Slowly and hesitantly, she pried her eyes open and saw Isha standing in the distance. The sunlight poured in from behind her, casting a golden glow around her small frame, making her seem almost unreal. Her golden eyes shimmered in the light, warm, and her smile was as bright as the sun itself.

She lifted a hand and waved, and Jinx could only stare and watch, frozen in place.

And that snapped her. Isha needed her right now. If she hesitated, if she let herself fall apart again, then she’d lose her too. No! That would never happen.

It had always been this way. Since the day Isha had come crashing into her life, everything had changed. The ghosts had quieted. The hallucinations that used to haunt her, torment her, and punish her had stopped for no reason.

Isha had become her anchor... her lifeline and Jinx wasn’t going to fail her. Not like she failed the others.

She sucked in a sharp breath, her lungs burning as rage flooded her veins. Then, with a deadly glare, she snapped her eyes open.

Time to bring her kid home.

Chapter Text

All Ekko remembers are the weird, swirling colors and shapes that bend in ways they shouldn't. Twisting the world like a wet paint smeared across a canvas. His body stretched, then shrank, then twisted, bones warping like they didn’t belong to him anymore. His gut felt like it had been yanked out of his stomach, pulled through an invisible thread, and flung into oblivion. Ekko wanted to scream, but even his voice felt distorted, as if it were being dragged across time itself.

And then... silence. Just as suddenly as it began, it was over. And the moment he opened his eyes, Ekko saw himself standing. Feet planted on solid ground. His head spun, his breath shallow as he stared at his shaking hands. Something felt very wrong. He lifted his head, and in front of him was a mirror with his reflection staring back at him... but it wasn’t his face.

It was Ekko, but… not the same Ekko.

His body was taller and leaner in a way that felt unfamiliar, and his wiry muscles from years of battle and running were stripped away. His clothes weren’t his, too neat, too clean, nothing like the scrappy, reinforced gear he was used to. The boy had his own face, yet foreign.

His breath hitched. His fingers trembled as he reached for the mirror, his pulse thundering in his ears. He traced the reflection’s cheek as if trying to confirm whether the person staring back was real. What the hell...?

“You’re beyond help.”

Ekko’s body jerked at the sound of the voice. His reflection was no longer alone. Beside him, standing so casually it made his skin crawl, was ...Jinx???

With wide eyes, he turned his head to look at her directly, expecting the worst—a trick, a hallucination, something wrong. But when he looked, she was still there, but this time, it was... Powder? 

The breath in his throat turned to stone. This was her. The girl he once knew. Bright blue eyes and hair tied in a little pigtails, a confused frown tugging at her lips as she looked at him like he was the one acting strange. Not the Jinx he knew. The Jinx with wild eyes and mercilessly killing people in her sight.

Ekko yelped as he staggered back. His legs hit the table behind him, knocking over a few scattered objects, but he barely registered the sound. His mind was reeling. No. No, this wasn’t real.

His breath came out shaky. His hands instinctively scrambled for anything, a weapon for defense. Eventually, his fingers closed around the nearest thing: a small lamp. Before he could stop himself, he threw it with sheer panic.

Jin—Powder yelped, ducking as the lamp flew past her head and smacked against the wall. "Whoa!" she shouted. “Relax, jumpy!”

Ekko barely heard her voice. His hand shot to the table again, grabbing something sharper this time, a small knife. His fingers wrapped around the hilt with a grip so tight his knuckles turned white.

Her expression twisted into something between amusement and confusion, staring at him like he had grown a second head. “Uhhh… did you just throw that?” Jin—Powder blinked. Then, slowly, her eyes drifted to the knife.

Ekko didn't answer as his breath was coming too fast, his chest rising and falling in sharp, uneven movements. He took a shaky step back, knife still pointed at her.

"S-Stay b-back!" he stammered. “I-I —don’t come closer!”

Still facing Jin—Powder, he jerked at the sensation of something behind his back along with the creak of the door being opened. Startled, Ekko turned around to see who it was, ready to defend himself, only to freeze when he saw who it was.

A familiar figure stood in the doorway, carrying a few small parcels in his arms. His expression was casual, like nothing was out of place.

"One of those days huh?" the man asked, raising a brow.

There, standing in the doorway, was Benzo.

Standing...

Breathing...

...and alive.

Not killed by a monster. Not bleeding out on the cold, filthy floor of a shop that had become his grave. Not dead.

But alive!

A sharp ringing filled Ekko’s ears. His vision blurred as his breath hitched, chest tightening, fingers twitching like they couldn’t decide whether to reach out or clench into fists. His mind flooded, no, drowned, with the memory of that night.

He remembered. The warm blood pooling beneath him. The way his body had felt so heavy in Ekko’s arms like all the life had already slipped away before he could even say goodbye. He remembered the empty look of his eyes as the warmth drained from his body. He remembers everything! The sickening realization that nothing, nothing, could bring him back. 

And now he was here.

The room, the world, everything blurred and turned into suffocating silence. He didn't even feel when Jin—Powder draped herself lazily over his shoulder, laughing as she reached up to make a bunny-ear sign over his head with her fingers, just like she used to when they were kids.

“Y’know, those ugly twins—genius and madness?” She chuckled.

Ekko couldn't think straight. Everything drowned in white noise, his mind reeling. He couldn’t stop himself. He no longer cared if this was a dream, a lie, or some cruel joke the universe was playing on him.

His body moved on instinct. Before his mind could catch up, he lurched forward, crashing into Benzo in a desperate grasp. His fingers curled into the fabric of Benzo’s coat, gripping so tight it hurt. Like if he had let go, Benzo would have vanished, like this was nothing more than smoke and memory.

He was warm. His heartbeat thudded against Ekko’s ear, real and alive and so different from the cold, lifeless body Ekko had once held in his arms.

His breath hitched, once, twice, before breaking into something sharp and painful. His knees nearly buckled as the first sob tore through him.

"I—" his voice broke. "I missed you, old man… so m-much."

Benzo stiffened at first, surprised by the sudden weight of the boy clinging to him. Then, slowly, his large, steady hands came up, one resting against Ekko’s back, the other ruffling his locs like he used to when Ekko was just a kid with big dreams and bigger ideas.

"Hey, hey, now," Benzo murmured, his voice softer, as if he didn’t understand what had gotten into him. "What’s all this about, huh? Don't tell me you two fought? Ha!"

"We did not, old man," Jin—Powder answered.

Ekko squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head against Benzo’s chest as another sob escaped him. He couldn’t answer. Because if he opened his mouth, he might break apart completely. And he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to put himself back together again.

⨲⨲⨲

Walking through the streets, Ekko felt like a ghost haunting a place that was never meant for him.

This place... this Zaun, if he could even call it that, wasn't the one he knew. Well, given the strange encounters he'd already had, he shouldn't have been surprised, but every step through this world only confirmed it further.

This Zaun smelled very different. It lacked the acrid burn of chemicals and the thick pollution air settled into your lungs like poison. Even the stench of oil, rust, and old blood scents in the surroundings so familiar they were practically stitched into his memories were gone. 

Ekko looked at his way. The cobblestone roads beneath his feet were smooth, untouched by the usual dirt that stained and painted the streets he grew up in. No pools of murky water collecting in potholes. 

And the buildings... Shops lined the streets, not run-down scavenger dens packed with desperate vendors trying to make ends meet, but actual shops, filled with food, medicine, real supplies. And no one was selling stolen goods, no chem dealers lurking in the alleyways, no starving children digging through trash for their next meal.

For the first time in his life, Ekko couldn’t hear suffering.

No distant screams. No coughs from sick workers inhaling fumes that would kill them before they hit thirty. No enforcers kicking in doors, dragging people out of their homes in the dead of night for crimes they never committed.

Instead, there was laughter. The sound of kids playing freely in the streets, not lurking in the shadows, afraid of being snatched up by gang lords or enforcers looking for an easy target. The people were happily talking and openly with nothing to hide. 

Ekko swallowed hard, his throat dry. This is a perfect version of Zaun.

This was a Zaun without oppression. Without Piltover’s boot crushing its throat. A city that stood on its own, not as a shadow of the topside but as an equal.

A Zaun without hextech. Without shimmer poisoning its streets, without children coughing up blood in the gutters, without chem-addicts wasting away in alleyways.

A Zaun where people could live freely.

A Zaun with peace.

With equality and freedom.

The Zaun Ekko yearned for years.

The Zaun he had fought for.

The Zaun he had bled for.

The Zaun he thought could never exist.

And yet, here it was, right in front of him. So why did it feel so wrong?

Ekko shook his head, trying to push down the unease crawling up his spine. He needed answers. Because if he remained here for too long, he was afraid he might start wanting to stay here forever.

With his head floating everywhere and feet moving along as Jin—Powder pulled him as they followed Benzo, Ekko barely noticed when they stepped inside the familiar-but-not-so-familiar building. Ekko swears that he was here before but couldn't remember exactly.

He was busy remembering things when he heard a deep and very familiar laugh. Ekko froze for the tenth time. His breath caught in his throat as his head snapped toward the sound.

Sitting beyond the counter bar was Vander, laughing and talking along with Benzo. 

Everything in him locked up, yet at the same time, his legs nearly gave out beneath him. His stomach dropped. His head spun. His chest tightened so much it hurt. The ground felt woozy like the whole world had just tilted, and he almost stumbled.

But before he could hit the floor, a pair of small but steady hands grabbed him. “Woah, hey!” Powder grunted, barely managing to keep him upright. She shot him a confused look, brows furrowed. “What the hell? You okay?”

Ekko barely heard her. His ears were ringing, drowning out everything else. His eyes were locked on the source of that impossible voice.

H-How? This isn’t real. This isn’t real. This can’t be real.

This wasn’t possible. The last time he had seen Vander, he had been choking on his own blood and shimmer surging in his system, dying for an old friend who had betrayed him. 

Vander turned his head, spotting him instantly, and his familiar, weathered face split into a grin. “Hey, kid. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Ekko couldn’t answer him. He just stood there, staring.

Benzo chuckled, shaking his head. “He’s been actin’ weird since earlier,” he muttered, nudging Vander’s arm. “Maybe it’s late puberty or somethin’.”

JIN—Powder snickered beside him. But Ekko wasn’t listening. His feet were planted firmly on the solid ground, but his mind had been ripped away, dragged backward through time, pulled into the nightmare that had never really left him.

He had been soaked that night, the rain beating down on his back, mixing with the filth and blood that clung to his skin. It poured over the wreckage, turning the dirt beneath him into thick mud, making the blood smeared on his hands feel heavier.

He had done it himself. Dragged them out. Piece by piece, limb by limb, with trembling hands and a stomach that threatened to turn inside out, he had pulled Mylo and Claggor free from what remained of the crumbling walls and laid them next to their father, Vander.

He had knelt there, panting, staring down at them, waiting for them to move. Waiting for Mylo to roll his eyes and snap at him. Waiting for Claggor to nudge him and say, "You did good, little man."   Waiting for Vander to sit up, rub his head, and call them all kids like this was just another rough night.

But they didn’t move. They would never move again.

His breath had hitched. Once. Twice. Then, it collapsed into itself. A strangled and broken noise tore from his throat like something inside of him had cracked open and spilled out. His chest seized, his vision blurred, and before he could stop it, before he could swallow it back down, it all came out.

A sob, ugly and loud, ripped from his lungs, followed by another, then another, until he was choking on them, drowning in them. His hands grasped at nothing, fingers curling into the wet ground like he could anchor himself to something. But there was nothing left to hold onto.

His body shook, his shoulders heaving with every gasping, shattered breath. Tears poured down his face, mixing with the rain, dripping from his chin as he sat there, surrounded by the people who had once been his family but were now just... cold bodies with no life.

He wailed. A sound so deep, so agonizing, that it barely even sounded like him. His forehead pressed against his knees, his fingers clawing at his own shirt like he could somehow pull himself together if he just held on tight enough.

But he was already falling apart.

If he could rewind time, he would. Gods, he would. He would offer everything just to undo this, to stop it before it even started. A fresh sob racked his frame, his throat sore from screaming and crying, his nails biting into his palms so hard they might draw blood.

Isha was born into the warmth of a small house nestled between the hills, where the air smelled like earth after the rain, and the wind carried the scent of wildflowers. Her mother's laughter would fill every corner of their home, a melody that turned even the dullest days into something bright. Her father’s strong arms were always ready to lift her high into the sky, making her feel weightless and free as a bird. She would run barefoot through the fields, the golden sun painting her skin, her giggles echoing as her parents chased after her.

She had a good life. A safe one. Until it all fell apart.

Her mother had suffered from an unknown illness. At first, it was just feeling exhausted out of a sudden, a never-ending cough, but then the light in her eyes dimmed, her laughter grew fainter, and her body grew weaker.

Isha watched helplessly as her father tried everything—herbs, medicine, whispered pleas among the gods in the dead of night. But nothing worked. Nothing could stop the inevitable.

And then, one day, the day has come that they feared the most. Her mother was gone.

Her father changed after that. He stopped smiling and stopped speaking. He moved through the house like a ghost, barely acknowledging her presence. Isha tried to reach him to remind him that she was still there, his daughter, and that they still had each other. But his grief had swallowed him whole.

Days had turned into months like a blur, and one night, she woke up to the crackling of flames. Thick smoke filled her lungs, choking her as she coughed and gasped for air. The heat was unbearable, licking at the walls, turning their home into hell. Panic rushed through her system as she stumbled through the suffocating fog, searching for her father.

And the moment she reached his quarter, she finally saw his father standing amidst the flame, unmoving. On his hand, clutching something small for her to see.

"Papa!" she screamed, reaching for him, but he didn’t turn or move.

Her golden eyes darted to the floor, where she saw something glistening under the firelight. Isha doesn't know what it is other than the foul smell that is burning her nose. 

"Papa!" Tears streamed down her soot-streaked face, her hands shaking as she reached out. "We have to go!"

Finally, he turned. However, he just looked at her blankly, and in his eyes, he saw nothing but a man who had lost everything and no will to go on.

Realization struck Isha like a blow to the chest as she weaved through the things she saw. He had done this. The fire wasn't an accident.

Without thinking, her body moved on its own. She ran even as her legs burned and her lungs screamed for air, even as the home she had once loved collapsed behind her in a rain of embers. She ran until she could no longer hear the roar of the flames, and then the only thing left was silence.

Isha thought her life was over. She had no one left other than herself and the teddy bear she hadn't noticed she had brought along. However, a few days after the accident in the care of the enforcer, one unfamiliar face came in to have her. 

A well-dressed man with sad eyes knelt before her, speaking in hushed tones about him and his wife taking her for custody, of how he and his wife would take her in until she reached the legal age. By the end of the conversation, Isha learned he was her father’s distant relative. An uncle she had never known.

"Family takes care of family," he said.

Given no choice, she followed him to his house and met his wife. 

The woman barely looked at her, offering only a tight-lipped nod before turning away as if Isha were no more than an unwanted guest overstaying her welcome. There was no embrace, no gentle words, just an unspoken understanding that she was not their child. She never would be.

It was nothing like the home she had once known. The warmth of her parents’ laughter had been replaced by cold, unfamiliar walls. The air smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume, but there was no comfort in it, no love.

At first, Isha tried to be good. She spoke quietly, stayed out of the way, and did everything she could to make herself small. But it was never enough.

Then, one night, when the weight of her grief became unbearable, Isha curled beneath the thin sheets and let herself sob. "M-Mama..." she whimpered, her voice barely more than a breath. "P-Papa..."

The words felt foreign, broken, like shattered glass scraping against her throat. She hadn’t spoken in days, maybe weeks, but tonight, the emptiness swallowed her whole, pressing down on her chest until it hurt.

However, in the middle of her weeping, her bedroom door creaked open and was followed by heavy footsteps. Before Isha could react, a tough hand grabbed her wrist.

“I'm so done with your wailing! Why can't you be quiet?!” her uncle hissed, his fingers digging into her skin so hard that pain shot up her skin.

Isha gasped, recoiling, but his grip was like an iron. She thrashed weakly, her tiny limbs no match for his strength.

"N-no—!" she choked out, but the word barely escaped before she was yanked from the bed. 

Her bare feet stumbled over the cold floor as he dragged her across the room. The shadows of the dimly lit hall stretched long and twisted, but before she could even process what was happening, the door to a massive closet from the other room was thrown open, and she was shoved inside.

Isha barely caught herself before hitting the ground, her hands scraping against the rough wooden floor. Heart hammering, she twisted around just in time to see her uncle standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the faint glow of the room. 

"That will serve you a lesson." That's the only thing Isha heard from her uncle before the sound of his retreating footsteps.

Isha staggered back, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Overwhelmed by the air smelled of dust and old fabric and the silence ringing in her ears.

"N-no—no, no, p-please!" Her voice cracked as she hurled herself at the door, pounding her fists against the wood. "Let me out!" She clawed at the door, her tiny nails scraping against the surface. "P-please, I’ll—I’ll be good! I promise!"

But no one answered.

"M-mama…" Her lips trembled, struggling to form the words. It felt wrong and unnatural. She hadn't said it out loud in so long. "M-mama, p-please…" Her fingers curled into fists again, slamming against the door once more with desperation. 

But no one came. Only the silence and darkness remained, answering her cries before swallowing her whole, wrapping her body like cruel hands, squeezing the breath out of her lungs. She just curled in the corner, hiccuping between painful sobs, waiting for someone to open the door. 

Hours had passed when Isha saw a light flooding the cramped space, blinding her for a moment before the silhouette of her aunt appeared. But there was no concern on her face. No sympathy. Just an impatient scowl as she loomed over Isha’s trembling form.

Her lips curled in disgust. "If you just kept your mouth shut every night, he wouldn’t have to do this."

Isha hiccupped, shrinking back.

"You bring this on yourself." The woman crossed her arms, gaze sharp with something cold. "Maybe next time, you’ll learn to be quiet."

Then, without another word, she turned and left, leaving Isha alone, shaking in the doorway.

⨲⨲⨲

Dinner had come as usual. Plates clinked in the dining room, the muted sound of conversation drifting through the house, though none of it was meant for her. She didn't even realize that she had been inside the closet for almost a day and she was very hungry.  Isha sat stiffly at the table, her hands folded in her lap, eyes lowered to her untouched plate. The clinking of silverware was the only sound until her aunt spoke.

"Are you just going to sit there and sulk, or should we give your share to the dogs?"

Her breath hitched. She scrambled for her spoon without a word, forcing herself to eat the food in front of her. It was bland and tasteless, but she swallowed it quickly, afraid that they would take it away if she didn’t.

Her aunt hummed in approval, her lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

"See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

Isha didn't answer. She kept her head down, chewing silently, forcing each bite down past the tightness in her throat. But her silence only seemed to invite something worse. The clinking of silverware filled the silence, but she could feel the weight of her uncle’s gaze drowning her.

Her uncle let out a heavy sigh, setting his fork down with an audible sound against his plate. "Look at me."

Isha flinched but didn't move. She knew better than to disobey, yet every part of her resisted meeting his eyes.

"I said, look at me, child!"

Isha jumped on her seat before she slowly and hesitantly lifted her gaze. Her uncle sat back in his chair, arms crossed, watching her with a look that sent ice crawling down her spine. 

"Tell me, child. What exactly is the problem? Yesterday, your personal tutor says you don’t answer her questions. That you don’t even try to be better on your lessons. Is that true?"

She opened her mouth, to tell him that it was not true, but no words came out. She only managed to swallow hard, her hands tightening in her utensils.

"Nothing to say? How convenient." Her uncle hummed, tilting his head.

Her aunt scoffed. "She never has anything to say. Useless girl, tsk tsk tsk. A waste of money, if you ask me."

Her uncle let out a long sigh, shaking his head as if she were the one exhausting him. Then, he leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table, his sharp eyes locking onto hers.

"Fix yourself. I do not condune having a family as stupid as you!"

Tears burned in her eyes, but she forced them down, blinking rapidly as she took another bite of food. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction they yearned from her. 

Her aunt and uncle soon lost interest in her silence before turning back to their meal as they chuckled between themselves about how tragic it all was.

⨲⨲⨲

Isha being jailed inside the locked huge closet never happened just once. Every time she made a mistake, like spilling a drink, failing her studies, or looking at them the wrong way, she ended up inside the closet.

The second time it happened, she screamed and pounded her fists against the door as usual until they throbbed in pain. She had begged for them to let her out and cried until she couldn't no longer breathe.

Just stop crying, Isha. Just stop crying, and they’ll let you out. That’s what she told herself. Over and over. Good girls don’t cry.

But still, no one came or even listened.

Her punishment usually happened at least thrice a week until Isha became used to it. She no longer screamed and begged for help as she pounded the door, because what was the point? No one listened. No one came. She just sat in the dark, hugging her knees to her chest, forehead pressed against them, rocking ever so slightly to soothe the fear and hollow ache inside her.

The small and suffocating closet becomes her world... A place where time didn’t exist. She would count her breath, listen to the distant creaking of the house, and trace invisible patterns on the rough wooden floor with trembling fingers just to make the house pass father. Anything to distract herself from the aching loneliness clawing at her ribs.

Isha becomes numb to everything. She stopped making noise altogether. Silence became her shield. If she didn’t cry, if she hadn't made mistakes, maybe they wouldn’t be so angry. Maybe they wouldn’t shove her, strike her, throw her into the dark. She learned to hold her breath when footsteps passed outside the door. To flinch when a hand reached toward her. To disappear into herself, shrinking until she was nothing more than a shadow in the corner.

"YOU LOST IT ALL?!" 

Isha almost dropped the glass in her hands as the sheer force of her uncle’s voice echoed through the mansion, shaking the very walls. It was in the middle of the night, and Isha was on her way to her bedroom from the kitchen after getting a glass of water after suddenly feeling thirsty.

Curious with the notice, she padded forward to the hallway towards their bedroom. The door was slightly open, and the sliver of light cut through the dark hallway, illuminating the rich wooden floor beneath her bare feet.

Despite the danger that awaited her if she got caught, she crept closer, heart hammering against her ribs. She slipped behind the massive porcelain vase in the corridor, pressing herself into its shadow, to hear their conversation better.

A sharp scoff followed. "Keep your voice down!" his wife snapped. "Also don't act so surprised. You knew I was trying to win it back. Just one more hand, one more round, and I would have! But those bastards—"

"You gambled away every last cent of it!" His voice rose, anger bleeding through the walls. "That money wasn’t yours to begin with! It was for my niece! My brother and his wife save it for her future!"

Isha's breath caught in her throat at the mention of her parents. Her fingers curled tightly around the glass in her hands, her knuckles white. She had spent so long believing her parents had left her with nothing, that they had abandoned her and forgotten her. That maybe, in the end, they hadn’t loved her enough to stay. But she was wrong. They had thought of her, saved for her, and planned for her, even when they were gone. Her parents do love her.

A tense silence stretched before his wife let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, please. It’s not like she needed it. The girl’s practically useless."

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" He let out a hollow, humorless chuckle. "That useless girl is the only reason we weren’t starving in the streets!"

Isha stiffened as the weight of their words sank in. Her parents hadn’t been rich, but they had worked hard enough to live comfortably and build a life for themselves that she deserved. And now, their hard work went for nothing.

"Don’t you dare blame me for this!" his wife snapped. "Unlike you, I was trying to fix things—

Before her aunt could finish what she was about to say, a sharp crack of a slap cut through the air. Isha flinched. Even from meters away, she felt the impact of it, her own cheek stinging in phantom pain.

"Don't you dare raised your voice in me, woman!"

Silence came thereafter before shaky gasps and her aunt’s broken sobs muffled behind trembling hands were heard.

Her uncle tsked in disgust. "Pathetic," he muttered before marching out of their bedroom.

Isha barely had a second to react before she heard the creaking door being opened. Panic seized her chest as she bolted down the hallway, her small feet barely making a sound against the cold floor. The moment she reached her room just in time, she slipped inside and pressed her back against the door, forcing herself to breathe as silently as possible.

She held her breath still, if possible, kept her heart beating loudly inside her ribs just to keep herself silent. She only allowed herself to breathe freely when her uncle's heavy footsteps passed her room and faded. Isha exhaled shakily in relief, sliding down to the floor.

⨲⨲⨲

Morning came, and Isha braced herself, expecting the house to be shrouded in an eerie, suffocating silence and her uncle’s presence to be dark and heavy, the kind that made her stomach twist into knots in fear after the night's events.

However, as she stepped out to her room early in the morning to help prepare breakfast, still rubbing her sleepy eyes, she saw her uncle just passing through her room with a steaming coffee in his hand.

The moment he noticed her, he stopped mid-step, turning toward her, and then... smiled. It was so casual as if he never lifted his hand to hurt her or locked her inside the closet as a form of punishment. It was so casual as if the thing that happened last night was nothing but just an imagination she had.

That left Isha feeling like someone was playing her. She just stood rigid as she looked up at her uncle, gripping the edge of her nightgown so tightly that her hand shook. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her mind struggling to make sense of what she was seeing. Was she still dreaming? Or was this some kind of trick?

Her uncle tilted his head slightly, still smiling, before lifting his hand to ruffle her messy hair. Isha quickly flinched with the gesture.

“Morning, kiddo.” His voice was warm and light, like a father greeting his beloved child. 

Isha stared up at him, unsure if she should run, nod, or do nothing at all.

Then, with a sigh, he took a sip of his coffee and crouched slightly to meet her gaze. “You know,” he began, his tone dipping into something softer, something almost… kind. “I realized I’ve been hard on you since you came here, and I deeply regret it.”

She stiffened.

“Last night,” he continued, her gaze focusing on the distance as if contemplating what he would say to her. “I realized that I want to be better. I want to act like a father to you, to give you the father you deserve.”

Isha’s hands curled into fists at her sides.

“So,” he said, tilting his head, that ever-present smile still stretched across his face, “how about we go out today? Buy you something nice. A toy, a dress—whatever you want. How about that?”

Isha didn’t respond, feeling afraid of the unfamiliar and foreign gesture her uncle was giving her.

"What a nice offer right?!"

Golden eyes widening, Isha's head snapped to the direction where the voice came from and saw her aunt from the distance, still in her nightgown and smiling from ear to ear.

"It’ll be fun, dear. You can pick whatever you like."

She swallowed hard, feeling something was definitely wasn't right. She was used to her aunt's usual sharp tongue and dismissive comments, whether she was in front or behind her. But now... it was all sweet and loving.

She couldn't understand. For months, they had barely acknowledged her, save for scolding or punishment. And now they were acting so sweet, kind, warm, and loving to her, out of sudden? Has the slap from her uncle last night woken her aunt up from her cruelty? Has the guilt her uncle had after hurting his wife made him realize that he was being an asshole to her?

However, despite the voices screaming in the back of Isha's mind, telling her that it was all fake, she just shoved it away. She didn’t question their weird behavior because she wanted to believe that maybe... maybe they had changed. Maybe they finally saw her as family... as their child. 

So, she went with them. For the first time in what felt like forever, a small smile tugged at her lips as she swung her legs on the chair of the ship, humming under her breath. It was an old lullaby, one her mother used to sing to her before bedtime. The melody felt delicate on her tongue, like something sacred she had almost forgotten.

For a moment, she let herself believe that she finally had someone who loved her. But the moment they arrived at the docks, the air shifted.

The salty breeze burned her nose and whipped her shoulder-length hair. From a distance, she saw shadows looming taller as they walked closer in their direction. Isha squinted her eyes to see them clearer and gasped as soon as she saw countless men dressed in long and black clothes, standing so tall with their faces hidden beneath the shadow of their hats.

A shiver crawled down her spine. She gripped the hem of her dress with trembling fingers. Her uncle stepped forward, exchanging hushed, urgent words with the men. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the tension in his shoulders, the way his wife clutched his sleeve, made her stomach twist, telling her that whatever it was, it was not good.

Isha froze when one of the men locked his gaze on her, cold and assessing her as if she were nothing more than an object. Instinctively, she took a step back, preparing herself to flee.

“This the kid you were talking about last night?” one of the men asked, flickering his eyes from her to her uncle and aunt. “She looks smaller than you said.”

Her uncle exhaled sharply. "Y-Yeah... she's the one."

The man hummed, stepping closer. “Quiet little thing, huh?” He crouched slightly, peering at her with dark eyes. “She even knows what’s happening?”

Isha flinched when the man raised his hand to touch her. The man just laughed and retrieved his hand, and tucked it inside his pocket.

Her aunt scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. “She never talks. She’s useless like that.”

“Good. Makes things easier.”

The man smirked, and before Isha could process what was happening, the man's rough hands seized her by her arm.

Her breath hitched as panic surged through her tiny body as she twisted, writhed, and fought for the man to let go, but it didn't even budge. From the corner of her eyes. she saw her uncle, who didn't even bother to look at her, stuffing a small pouch of a few golds into his pocket before turning away with his wife on his side.

Isha staggered, her legs trembling beneath her as she reached out, "Please, no, don’t leave me, don’t leave me!" but the words wouldn’t come. Her throat worked, but all that escaped was a choked, strangled moan.

She tried again, clawing at the hands that held her, her nails scraping uselessly against thick fabric. A broken and desperate cry tore her throat, her body jerking in protest as she was dragged forward. But her supposed to be family that would protect her didn't stop or look back. Her uncle and aunt walked away as if she had never existed. As if she were just a burden they had finally rid themselves of.

"No, no, no. Don't leave me, please!" her mind screamed, fighting harder against the steel grip of her captors, her tiny feet scraping against the dock. Her muffled cries and screams were just barely rising above the crashing wave as she continued fighting, kicking, and finally ended up biting down on a gloved hand.

The man who was holding her yelp in surprise instantly landed a sharp slap across her face, sending Isha reeling. Her head spun, and her world tilted from the impact.

She barely registered the low chuckle above her. "Feisty little thing," the man muttered, tightening his grip. "They always put up a fight at first."

The others laughed along with him.

Isha’s vision blurred as she was dragged across the wooden planks, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

A minute passed by before she heard a door creak open before the blinding darkness swallowed her whole.

Wherever they were, the air was damp, thick with something disgusting she couldn't longer take. Isha barely had time to take it in before she was thrown forward, her knees scraping against the cold, hard floor before a loud sound echoed as the door slammed shut behind her.

There was silence, deafening her for a moment with the ringing in his ears before a quiet whisper and shuffling from the distance. Isha's body shook from fear, scrambling through the corner of the room, afraid that whatever the notice came from, it would hurt her.

She blinked, her vision finally adjusting to the dim light filtering through a barred window high above, and that was when she saw them.

Other children, looking as young as her, were huddled together in fear. Their tiny bodies were frail, thin as paper, their ribs visible beneath ragged, dirt-streaked clothing. Some sat curled against the walls, their arms wrapped around their knees, faces hollow and lifeless.

Flies buzzed lazily around them, landing on their arms, their cheeks, even their cracked lips, and they didn’t move to swat them away. They just sat there, staring at nothing, as if they had long since given up fighting.

A girl, barely older than her, lifted her head. Her eyes were dull, sunken, too tired for someone so young. She studied Isha for a long moment before speaking.

"You shouldn’t have fought." Her voice was hoarse. "It only makes them hurt you more."

Isha felt her knees buckle. Her stomach twisted, nausea clawing up her throat.

She wasn’t going home.

In fact, no one was.

⨲⨲⨲

Days blurred into an endless, merciless cycle of labor and pain.

The mornings were no different from the nights but just the same suffocating darkness, the same stale air thick with dust, burning her lungs with every breath. They were herded like animals into the mines, their bare feet scraping against jagged stones. The tunnels stretched endlessly, swallowing all light, all hope.

The older children worked without pause, their thin arms swinging rusted pickaxes slowly with exhaustion. However, there was no room for weakness here. The moment you slowed, the moment you hesitated, you were noticed. And when you were noticed, you disappeared.

Isha didn't know what happened to the missing kid, but one thing she was certain, those children were no longer given a chance to take another breathe.

They were killed mercilessly. 

Since Isha was still too small for the heavier tools and tasks, so they made her carry sacks of jagged stones. The rough, splintered fabric bit into her tiny hands, opening wounds that never had the chance to heal. Blood crusted over blisters, mixing with the filth caking her skin. She tried to adjust, to find a way to ease the weight on her back, but the load was always too much, pressing her down, making her legs shake beneath her.

Once, she stumbled. The sack slipped from her grasp, the rocks spilling onto the floor. She was not given a chance to pick them up when a sharp pain exploded across her back, sending her rolling on the floor in so much pain.

She barely had time to suck in a breath before another blow came, and another, before another, and another. She was left catching her own breath when a boot pressed down onto her fingers, grinding them against the dirt. She wanted to scream, but no sound left her lips. She thought she had forgotten how.

She wasn’t the only one punished that day. A boy, barely older than her, dropped his pickaxe when his hands gave out. They dragged him away and never came back since. In comparison to that boy, Isha was lucky enough to be given another day to live... if that would have been considered lucky.

Time had passed quickly, and Isha learned fast. Don’t cry. Don’t fall behind. Don’t show weakness. Weakness got you killed.

The food was barely enough to be called food—moldy bread that crumbled in her hands, murky water that left a bitter aftertaste. But it kept them alive. Just barely enough to keep them moving and continue working.

Nights were no different. Cold stone floors became their beds, the damp air clinging to their skin. The other children curled into themselves, seeking whatever warmth they could find. No one spoke. What was there to say? They were ghosts, bodies running on nothing but fear and exhaustion.

And in that silence, Isha stopped dreaming.

She stopped dreaming of blue skies and warm sunlight. She stopped dreaming of the mother who once sang lullabies to her, of the father who lifted her high into the air. She stopped dreaming that someone would come for her, that she would ever escape. Because in this place, there was no escape.

There was only the darkness, pain, and endless suffering.

However, that day had finally arrived. Who would have thought? Isha fully believed that she would die in that place and nothing more.

Six of them, all young, all desperate to escape. They had spent weeks whispering in the shadows, mapping out the guards' movements, the weakest spots in the mine, the paths that led to the open world beyond the tunnels. They hoarded whatever scraps of food they could steal and tucked away small tools like treasures, knowing they would either pave their way to freedom or dig their graves.

"We will leave this hell."

They knew the risks. If they were caught, death would be the least of their worries.

Isha had hesitated at first. She wasn’t the oldest nor the strongest. But they looked at her as if she was. Maybe it was because she could still meet their eyes when others couldn’t. Or maybe it was the way she clenched her jaw and forced herself to keep moving, even when her hands bled, and her body screamed for relief.

Sooner, with their constant persuasion, she agreed to go along.

The plan began smoothly. They moved like ghosts through the tunnels, silent, watching, waiting. Isha’s heart pounded so hard she was sure it would give them away. When they reached the outer tunnels, the faint scent of air filled her lungs for the first time in months. It made her dizzy, like a drug. She had forgotten what real air smelled like.

But freedom came with a price.

A guard spotted them just before they reached the exit. Shouts erupted, boots pounding against stone as more of them came after them.

They began to run as fast as their little legs could. Isha’s legs burned as she ran, her bare feet slapping against the cold, uneven ground. The shouts grew louder and closer, and the flicker of torchlight chased their shadows along the walls.

The others were ahead of her, their silhouettes barely visible in the suffocating dark. She wanted to scream at them to wait, but she knew better. At this moment, every soul was for themselves. She had no one left other than herself.

Her chest tightened as she pushed herself harder, her breath coming in ragged gasps. They reached a split in the tunnel, and panic gripped her. Left or right? The others had gone right, but the voices of the guards were closer from that direction.

Left!

She darted left without thinking, her body screaming for her to stop, her mind screaming that she was alone now. But she never stops. She couldn't stop. She was almost there! The freedom was almost there!

The tunnel narrowed, and the air grew colder. She could barely see, her only guide the faint glimmer of moonlight seeping through cracks in the rock. One had her stumbled over and made her fall hard. Her knees scared against the jagged ground, and the pain instantly shot through her legs. Yet despite that, Isha dragged herself up, her bloodied hands pressing against the walls for support.

The tunnel curved upward, and the glimmer of light grew brighter. She felt a spark of hope ignited within her, small but enough to push her forward.

“There! She’s over here!”

Isha’s heart dropped, and she forced her aching body to move faster. The light ahead grew brighter still, and she realized it wasn’t moonlight but an opening, small but just big enough for a child. She reached it, her fingers clawing at the edges, pulling herself up with the last of her strength.

However, as she squeezed through, a hand grabbed her ankle, yanking her back.

“Mhmmm! Mhmmm!” she screamed, kicking the person holding her with all her might until the grip loosened. 

Isha took this opportunity, and with every ounce of strength left in her trembling body, she scrambled forward. The rough stone scraped against her skin as she pulled herself up, clawing, dragging, gasping.

Until...

Until the cold air wrapped around like a comforting embrace, welcoming her with the freedom she dreamed of. She sucked in a breath, and for the first time in months, it wasn’t tainted by dust and sweat and death. And above her, the sky stretched wide and endless, littered with stars that burned too brightly. 

Yet, no matter how breathtaking the night was, its beauty couldn’t shield her from the terror that awaited her. Her life was still in danger.

So she ran...

Ran from the nightmare that still clung to her skin.

Ran from the hell that had destroyed her whole.

Ran from the ghosts of those who didn’t make it... the ones who would never see the stars again

Her legs screamed with every step, her lungs burned like they were tearing apart, but she didn’t stop. She ran until the world blurred until her feet no longer felt like they belonged to her. When she finally collapsed, it was beside a stream. 

The bad smell of oil mixed with rot stung her nostrils, but her parched throat left her no choice. With trembling hands, she cupped the murky water, drinking just enough to stave off the agony of thirst. It burned her tongue and left an odd metallic taste, but she swallowed it anyway.

Out of all six children, it was only her who survived.

⨲⨲⨲

Isha woke up with a soft nudge on her boot. Her body jerked, lungs heaving as if she had just been pulled from deep water. For a moment, she thought she was still there in the mines running, running, and running, only to collapse by the poisoned river, her ribs heaving, her throat burning. She could still taste the metal, feel the ghost of iron fingers clawing at her ankle, dragging her back down.

She tried to steady her breathing, but it hitched, stuttering in her chest like a broken machine.

"Just making sure you're alive, kid." A rough voice pulled her from her tormenting thought.

Slowly, Isha lifted her head, and through the small light coming from the hallway, she made out the form of a man standing over her. His face was covered, and only his eyes were left. Before she could say anything, he retreated, slumping back against the opposite wall.

Her mind swam, trying to place reality back into focus. Then she finally remembered. The riot! She had been in the riot where she had raised a blue smoke for a symbol of Jinx... for a symbol of freedom.

And now she was here... in a prion they called Stillwater.

Isha sucked in a breath, but it caught in her throat. The walls were too close, the place was too dark, and the air was too thin, making her hard to breathe properly. Her hands trembled as she pushed herself up.

Let me out. Please, someone let me out!

Her vision blurred as her feet moved on their own. She stumbled toward the rusted metal barrel in the corner, her fingers gripping its edges, and with all the strength she had, she shook it. Again, and again, and again. 

She couldn't be trapped again. She doesn't like that.

"Arghh!!"

She shook the barrel harder, her breath ragged, her pulse hammering in her ears as the memories she wanted to forget clawed out at her skull.

The mines.

The darkness.

The locked closet where they had thrown her.

She gasped, her fingers slipping from the barrel as her body shook. Isha felt the thin become thinner, and the walls became closer, crushing her and suffocating her.  The cell blurred at the edges, her knees buckling as she pressed herself against the cold metal. She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip until she tasted copper. She needed to breathe. She needed to get out.

She shook the barrel once more with a loud grunt, mixing with the sound of the metal rattling violently with the force she gave. She was desperate to get out. Desperate to see Jinx.

She was about to give up entirely and be swallowed by the darkness once more, and maybe die and root in this very jail without seeing another light or Jinx when she felt a sudden presence looming in front of her, just outside her cell.

She froze, her fingers still gripping the rusted edge of the barrel, her chest rising and falling to catch her own breath. Slowly, she creaked her eyes open and saw a silhouette standing before her, the dim light behind them making it impossible to see their face.

The person raised their hand and grappled the barrel. The iron door groaned as it slid open, the sound roaring through the small, suffocating space before the person stepped in. And that moment was when Isha saw blue strands of hair as they caught in the light.

No way...

“You’re late for Stink Maw’s great comeuppance,” she said, hands settling on her hips. A smirk tugged on Jin'x lips as she cocked her head to the side, looking down at her.

Isha was left with nothing to say except to stare at her. Inside her, something broke. Like magic, the crushing weight on her chest has lifted and gone. Her ears stopped ringing, the walls no longer pressing her in, and the air no longer felt so thin. The suffocating darkness of the cell faded as if Jinx herself had dragged in all the light in the word in here.

Isha sucked in a breath, the first real breath she had taken since she was jailed up here. A broken, disbelieving chuckle came out of her lips as her vision blurred with unshed tears. Her legs finally obeyed her, and before she could stop herself, she threw herself forward, crashing into Jinx's body. She held her so tightly as if letting go would separate them again.

Jinx stiffened for a second, caught off guard. But then, her arms wrapped around Isha, one hand threading through her hair, the other pulling her impossibly closer.

I thought I'd never see you again, she thought, her lips trembling as she buried her face into Jinx's.

Jinx crouched down in front of her, still holding her close, needing to see her face, to make sure she was real. Isha looked up straight into those pink eyes, the eyes that could send terror into the hearts of men but never her. Because every time Jinx looked at her, those eyes only held warmth and love.

Isha’s breath shook as she tried to hold it back, trying to keep herself from falling apart, but the moment Jinx’s thumbs brushed against her cheeks, the dam broke. Tears spilled freely, racing down her face like they had been waiting for this moment.

Jinx’s lips quivered, her fingers tightening around Isha’s small face as if making sure she wouldn’t vanish. And then, before she could even process it, Isha hugged her again, tighter this time.

She had prepared for the worst. She had told herself not to hope. That maybe, this time, she had lost Isha for good. But she was here. She was in her arms. Alive. And just like that, every fear, every worry had disappeared completely.

Before she realized it, her own tears were slipping down her cheeks, disappearing into Isha’s tangled blue hair. She pulled her closer, her arms tightening around the only thing in this world that mattered.

“It’s okay… it’s okay, bunny… I'm here. Mama’s here," she whispered, no longer thinking if Isha heard it. Her lips trembled as she pressed them against the top of Isha’s head. "We will never be separated again... I promise."

A sob wracked through Isha's small body as she curled deeper into Jinx’s arms, pressing herself into the warmth, the safety, the only place she had ever felt truly home. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Jinx’s embrace chase away the darkness.

Sevika, quietly watching the two hugging with their hearts out, sighed as she stepped forward and ruffled Isha's tangled hair. 

“Good to have you back, kid,” Sevika murmured with a smile tugging at her lips. Isha just blinked up at her with her wide, smiling golden eyes.

However, their brief moment of peace shattered instantly the second the elevator groaned to life. Its doors slid open with a loud hiss, revealing a flood of enforcers in riot gear with their weapons raised and shields locked together in a strong wall. One thing that is certain, they would never let these Zaunites let out this prison... alive.

Isha stiffened, pulling away from the hug in fear, but Jinx's didn't let her hold go. Her arms stayed firm, fingers wrapped around Isha’s small body, a promise of never again they would have their hand snatched Isha away from her.

Sevika straightened, flexing the fingers of her remaining hand. She might’ve been down an arm, but she wasn’t down for the count.

The enforcers marched forward, boots striking the cold floor. However, a sound, not from them, but from the elevator, stopped them. 

Something heavy hit the floor, the impact sending a deep and loud sound reverberating through the entire place. After a brief silence, a slow, menacing growl slithered through as the smoke pooled at the elevator’s threshold before the pounding against the metal door from the other side followed.

The enforcers froze. Their formation broke slightly as they turned, weapons shifting toward the unknown threat.

Jinx gently pushed Isha on her back, reaching for Zapper on her side. Her fingers curled around the weapon’s grip as she pulled it free.

“The hell is that?” Sevika whispered, raising her arm for a fight.

Another roar, low and guttural, sent everyone in panic and fear. The pounding grew more violent and louder until eventually, the elevator door exploded.

The impact sent razor-sharp debris flying, slicing through the flesh of the enforcers in front despite having their armors. Blood painted the walls, limbs that were being shredded with the sharp debris scattered across the floor. The enforcers closest to the blast were reduced to chunks of ruined bodies, their screams cut short by the sheer force of the impact.

Then, through the smoke and carnage, it emerged. A metal claw, grotesquely large, rusted, and jagged at the edges, clamped onto the frame of the ruined elevator. The steel groaned beneath its weight as a hulking shape stepped forward, dragging itself out of the darkness.

Its eyes were the first thing Isha saw: Two blazing, inhuman-red orbs burning like fire through the mist.

The remaining enforcers scrambled back, weapons raised in desperation to save themselves, but it was nothing. The monster lunged at the first enforcer, and its sharp claw ripped through him straight to his chest and out of his back. His body crumpled in two separate pieces, intestines spilling onto the floor like overripe fruit.

Another tried to fire his rifle, but the beast was faster. It swiped, sending him flying across the room. His body hit the far wall with a sickening crunch, his head splitting open like a melon.

Screams filled the air. Gunfire erupted, bullets ricocheting off the beast’s thick, plated body. It roared, unfazed by the attack, swinging again. Another enforcer was cut in haft; his torso flung one way, his legs another.

Blood soaked the floor.

Jinx gritted her teeth, adjusting Zapper in her grip. “Alright, big guy,” she muttered, aiming straight at its head and pulling the trigger.

A strong surge of blue energy crackled through the air, slamming into the monster’s chest. The blast should’ve vaporized it. Should’ve at least done something. But as the smoke cleared, the beast merely shook itself off, barely stumbling before it turned its eyes toward her.

Oh, fuck.  Jinx swallowed hard; her gaze darted at Sevika. The older woman had already come to the same conclusion. They weren’t winning this fight. But someone had to make it out alive.

Isha, on the other hand, was still staring at the approaching monster with her entire body trembling, eyes wide, lips parted in terror after witnessing its bloody murder among the enforcer. Her gaze was just darted away from it when she felt the familiar gaze looking at her. She looked up and saw Jinx's eyes, looking at her with fear and desperation.

W-What is she planning this time?

She tore her gaze away from Isha and looked at Sevika. Her throat suddenly tightened. If they weren't gonna make her out alive... at least Isha will be.

She looked at Sevika with a knowing eyes.

“Get her out!” she barked, already turning back toward the monster.

Sevika exhaled sharply before scooping Isha into her arm.

“You really are—”

“Big fat hero,” Jinx cut her off, putting the Hexcore into her gun.

And then the beast roared again.

Isha barely felt Sevika’s arms wrap around her, barely hearing the monster approaching their direction and the disgusting crush of bones and sickening squelch of flesh as the monster dragged itself forward.

All Isha could see was Jinx, standing with her back facing her and weapon raised. She will take the monster alone.

Isha's chest tightened. No, no, NO! Isha thrashed wildly, but Sevika just grunted, tightening her grip. Let me go! Let me go! Don't let her do this!

Her nails dug into Sevika's arm, she even tried to bite it, but her iron grip remained. Her throat burned as she opened her mouth to scream. She needed to tell Jinx and beg her not to do this. Isha needed her to stay.

Isha gritted her teeth, her silent cries tearing through her chest as she kicked, shoved, and twisted on Sevika's arm, very desperate to break free, but her hold was very firm. Isha shook her head violently, tears slipping down her cheeks. Jinx hadn’t turned around once. Not since, even when Isha was silently screaming her name.

The monster let out a low, guttural growl as the monster attacked her.

Isha couldn’t breathe, her hand reaching for her as her vision tunneled to watch Jinx raise her gun to fire another shot. But just like what happened earlier, the monster just roared in pain and barely took it before launching another attack on Jinx.

A long time had passed since the silence never left her. In all those times, silence had become her shield to protect herself from getting hurt. Even after she was free, part of her had never escaped. Part of her was still there, trapped in the dark, waiting and waiting, and waiting to be saved by someone...

Jinx shifted her stance, gripping her weapon tighter, but the monster was almost on her.

Isha’s lungs burned at the sight. Her hands curled into fists, shaking. Watching the only person that mattered to her the most, the person who would offer anything for her, the person who would do anything just to make her smile and laugh when she thought she'd forgotten how... the person who had given her warmth in the world.

Something inside her was snapped. The shield she had built, the silence she had cocooned herself in for so long, cracked like fragile glass. The pieces trembled, splitting apart, light seeping through the fractures.

A sharp, aching pressure desperately clawed its way up her throat, and eventually, her shield shattered completely.

"MAMA!!!" she screamed as loud as she could.

The word tore from her like a dying star collapsing into itself.  It burned through the air, a force stronger than the fear that had kept her silent for so long. It was the scream of chains snapping, of a child who had spent too long in the dark finally reaching for the light.

Chapter Text

Jinx barely registered the pain in her ribs, feeling the sting of exhaustion dragging at her limbs. Her world had narrowed to the monster in front of her; the weight of her weapon in her hands felt heavier than usual, the beat of her heart hammering against her ribs like a war drum.

Jinx had fought countless battles. She had stared death in the face and laughed it. But this was different. This time, she wasn’t fighting to kill herself. Now, Jinx was fighting for her... fighting so hard to be with her again.

She had spent her whole life running headfirst into a fight, laughing in the face of death. But for the first time, she didn’t want to die.

Because someone was waiting for her. 

Because she still had a home to return to, a warm, tiny, sweet girl that she refused to let go.

Isha was waiting for her.

Her grip on her gun tightened, her jaw clenched, and the haze of exhaustion lifted. Her pink eyes burned, not with madness or recklessness, but with something even more dangerous. She wasn’t going to die here. Not today. Not when her daughter was still waiting for her.

"MAMA!!!"

Her pink eyes widened in shock as the sound ripped through the fight like a bullet and hit Jinx straight to her heart. A voice she had never expected to hear, never dared to hope for.

Everything inside her froze, her body locked in place as if the entire world had just stopped spinning. She had imagined this moment in her dreams, the voice she had longed to hear, the word she had convinced herself she would never deserve.

For a second, she thought she was hallucinating again, like the time Isha had mumbled it when she was sick, half-conscious, and feverish. Jinx had clung to it then, only to rip the hope from her own chest, convincing herself it wasn’t real.

She thought that maybe her mind was playing tricks on her again. Maybe this was just another cruel illusion, another piece of her brokenness rearing its ugly head.

But now...

Isha had called her mama again, and this time, it was clearer and louder.

Her chest ached with something she couldn’t name, something too big, too much for her heart to contain. Her grip on her weapon tightened, and her arms trembled, but not from fear. No one, not this monster, not even death itself, was going to take her life away.

Jinx exhaled as he locked eyes with the creature, her pink irises burning with purpose, rage, and something far more powerful than either: love.

"Alright, ugly," she muttered, bracing herself. "Let’s get over this so I can be with my daughter." 

Only for everything to go horribly, terribly wrong. The creature moved faster and stronger than she anticipated, and before she could react, a massive clawed hand struck her like a battering ram, sending her flying across the room.

Pain detonated in her ribs as she slammed into the wall, the impact rattling her bones. The breath was ripped from her lungs, and for a moment, all she could do was lie there, dazed, staring up at the ceiling as her vision pulsed with agony.

Move, Jinx. Move. Isha's waiting for your ass to come home.

She tried to push herself up, but her limbs felt extremely heavy, her body a collection of bruises and broken parts barely stitched together by sheer will.

A sharp, whistling sound cut through the air, catching her attention. Jinx barely had time to register what was happening before the monster's claws came down in her direction. She rolled to her side. The monstrous claws ripped through the space where she had been just seconds before, tearing deep gouges into the floor. If she had been even a second later, she would have been shredded to ribbons.

Jinx gritted her teeth, trying to push herself further back until her back hit the cold wall. Her every movement sent a fresh wave of agony through her shoulder as if the joint was slowly being pulled apart. She let out a sharp gasp, her fingers gripping at her broken shoulder.

Shit. No more room to go. She was trapped.

The monster loomed over her now, its glowing red eyes burning through the darkness with its stinky breath filling her nose.

Jinx let out a wheezing laugh, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. "Youuuu got me, Hairball," she muttered, voice hoarse with pain. She coughed, groaning through clenched teeth.

The monster just growled, its saliva dripping on the floor as it continued walking closer to Jinx.

"Just remember..." She raised her head, meeting the monster’s gaze.  Struggling, her lips twisted into a smile. "Y-You're not Stink Maw... SMILE!"

With the last of her strength, she yanked Pow-Pow up from where she had managed to grab earlier. Her fingers wrapped around the trigger, ready to pull it. If she was going down, she was taking this ugly bastard with her.

Jinx’s finger had just found the pin of the bomb when the monster lunged forward with terrifying speed. Before she could pull it, a massive claw clamped down on her wrist. She screamed through her teeth as the monster's sharp claws pierced her flesh. arm blood spilled down her arm, slicking her fingers and Pow-Pow’s handle.

The monster made a deafening and guttural sound that reverberated through her chest, rattling her bones. It lifted her effortlessly off the ground, her feet dangling uselessly in the air like a broken doll.

Jinx thrashed in its grasp, her legs kicking, boots scraping against air, trying to hook onto anything that could give her leverage. She twisted, groaned, and gritted her teeth as fresh pain tore through her arm. Her every nerve screamed in pain.

The monster opened its mouth once more for a loud roar. Her eyes widened in disgust and fear as rows of jagged teeth, each crooked and razor-sharp, parted just inches from her face. The breath that poured out was unbearable, like rotting flesh left in stagnant water. It curled around her, sticking to her skin and crawling into her nose and mouth like a living thing.

Jinx mentally gagged to the smell. Holy shit… if I survive this, I’m showering for a month… with acid…she thought deliriously, blinking back the sting in her eyes.

The monster raised its other hand, claws catching the flickering light. Five curve bone-white blades gleaming with the blood of enforcers already dead. Jinx’s heart skipped as her eyes went wide. Then she did the one thing she hadn’t done in years: she shut them tight in pure, instinctive fear.

Her chest rose and fell in short, shallow gasps. But she wasn’t afraid of dying. Not for herself.

Jins was afraid of leaving her daughter behind. If she died here, Isha would be alone again. And Sevika… she’d try, sure, but it wouldn’t be the same. 

One year. Just one year.

Tiny arms clumsily wrapped around her waist in a hug. The rare sound of Isha’s laughter when she tried (and failed) to cook breakfast. The look on her face when she gave her that tiny, handmade blue bracelet. The nights they slept curled up together in her small tent.

One year of that, and it still wasn’t enough.

Not even close. 

She hadn’t braided Isha’s hair enough times, hadn’t stolen enough sweets for them to share, and hadn’t heard enough of her rare, precious laughter. She hadn’t taught her how to shoot properly yet, hadn’t taken her to see the stars from the rooftops, hadn’t been there to chase away every nightmare and promise that she’d never be alone again.

No, no, no… she begged silently, her heart shattering in slow, painful motion. Please, not yet. I still want to be with my daughter.

But then, it seemed a minute had passed, but still... nothing. 

Jinx didn't feel the pain or the sharp claws all over her body, even her blood spilling (not that she wished to)... just nothing other than the occasional low growl of the monster as it still held her in the air.

Weird.

Confused, Jinx slowly and cautiously cracked her eyes open as she saw the monster looking straight at her, but... something was wrong.

Its body trembled, shoulders heaving as though it were struggling with itself, claws twitching midair. Its look… had changed. She blinked. What…?

The once-pure crimson that had blazed in its eyes had shifted into a flicker of blue and a faint ring of gold. The once murderous and animalistic look was gone, replaced with something else. Something… almost human.

Then, all of a sudden, the monster slowly opened its huge mouth and uttered a single word that she didn't understand at first. It sound so broken and strained, like it had't used in a long, long time.

“P…Pow…d-der…”

Jinx’s eyes widened, every nerve in her body turning to ice.

What… did it just call me? The name. That very name.

“Pow...der.”

A name long buried, long hated, long mourned.

A name only one person ever said with softness and love other than her sister and that specific missing firelight.

And suddenly, Jinx wasn’t sure if she was staring at a monster anymore.

Sevika sat at the base of the brand-new pole light, the ocean breeze stirring her unkempt hair while waves gently washed against the concrete of Southside Harbor. The night sky hung heavy above them, bruised with smoke coming from the Stillwater from the distance, making it harder to see the stars above.

"You're not coming with us?"

Sevika looked up to find Scar standing over her, voice was calm but tired. He had a bandage hastily wrapped around his bleeding shoulder and dirt smeared across his face.

She didn’t answer right away. Her eyes drifted past him, scanning the scene around them to see the other Firelight tending the injured and wounded. And in the distance, she saw Isha sitting alone by the edge of the seawall, hugging her knees. Her small frame shook from crying as she stared out at the water, waiting for someone to arrive.

Sevika sighed and looked away; she couldn’t keep herself looking at Isha in that state. “We’ll wait for Jinx.”

Scar followed her gaze to Isha, then glanced back at her. “Are you sure she’s coming back?” he asked softly.

"She will..." she murmured, almost to herself.

She knew Jinx well enough. Jinx would tear the world apart, burn cities, and fight monsters if it meant getting back to her daughter. She would crawl through hell itself before letting Isha be alone again. She had to. 

Because if she didn’t, Isha would be left with nothing but heartbreak. And Sevika had seen enough broken kids to know that kind of damage doesn’t go away.

"She will come back," she said again; this time, her voice was firmer.

Scar remained silent for a while, not sure what to tell her. Instead, he pulled a small knife from his belt and handed it to her. “In case you need it,” he said. “Be safe.”

Sevika nodded, accepting the blade. “You too.”

Scar gave a small, understanding nod before walking off to join the others, fading into the darkness.

Sevika turned toward Isha. Scar was right; they needed to go, too. The longer they stay here, the more dangerous it becomes. She stood up to her feet and walked over in her direction, her boots crunching softly against the gravel. 

"Can I sit here?" she asked, sitting down a feet away from her. The girl just looked at her with her red eyes, puffy from crying.

They didn’t speak. They just sat there in silence, side by side, gazing out at the distant light of the Stillwater while the sea wind stung their face.

Somewhere out there... Jinx was still fighting for her life.

"Do you wanna go?" Sevika asked quietly, nudging Isha on her shoulder.

Isha turned to look at her, tears still streaking down her cheeks. Then, slowly, she shook her head. Her small hand raised, trembling, and she pointed out toward the small island of Stillwater.

Sevika followed her gesture, exhaling through her nose. Of course. They really are mother and daughter, both stubborn as hell.

She dug into her pocket and pulled out an old, slightly wrinkled handkerchief. Gently, she dabbed at Isha’s cheeks and wiped her nose, her calloused hand surprisingly careful.

“I get it, kid. Believe me, I do. I want her to show up too. More than anything.” Her voice softened. “But this place—it’s not safe anymore. Not for people like us, Zaunites. And you know it. If Jinx is here, she wouldn’t want you here if danger was comin’. She’d scream at me if I let you stay.”

Isha’s lip trembled. Her throat bobbed, and then more tears slipped down her face. The kind that didn’t make a sound, just fell like everything inside her was breaking all over again.

Sevika saw it and felt her heart pull tight. She may have stressed with this brat everyday along with her mom, but she has grown to love Isha for a while.

She leaned closer. "Belive me, Isha, I know Jinx is alive. With everything in me. She must be finishing killing that monster at this very moment."

Sevika fully believed what she had said. You cannot just kill a mother who is trying to protect her child. You just can't.

"But we can’t wait here. We have to move. And when she comes back, she sure she knows where to find us. Yeah?”

Isha looked between Sevika and Stillwater, clearly torn. Every fiber of her wanted to stay and wait for Jinx to come back just to make sure that she will really be back. But Sevika was right, they need to move or else their life will be in danger, and Jinx does not like to have her life in danger.

Isha looked at the older woman and reluctantly nodded.

Sevika forced a smile. It didn’t reach her eyes, but it was all she could give. She opened her arm. “Come here. I’ll carry you home. I know you’re already tired to walk.”

Without hesitation, Isha launched herself into Sevika’s embrace, arms wrapped tight around her neck as her sobs returned in full force. Sevika held her close, one strong arm around her back. She stayed like that for a moment, rubbing small circles across Isha’s spine, her jaw clenched against the knot in her own throat. Then, after a quite, with a faint grunt, she stood up to her feet, lifting the girl with her as if she weighed nothing at all.

"She will be back,” Sevika whispered, more to herself than Isha. “One way or another… Jinx will come home.” And with that, she turned her back to the sea and began to walk, steps so slow and heavy with everything left behind.

But just as she took her second step, a faint, broken voice caught her ear.

“…opp… sto…”

Sevika froze mid-step, brows pulling together. She looked down at Isha, who stared back at her in confusion. “Did you… hear that?”

The girl tilted her head, silent, blinking at her like Sevika might’ve hit her head harder than she thought. Maybe she had earlier when she had bunked those enforcers' empty heads.

“Great. Now I’m hearing ghosts.” She muttered under her breath. If Jinx really have died in that fight, must it be too early for her to become a ghost?

She shook that thought away, walking again, then stopped once more when she heared the voice more louder and clearer.

"Sevika!! Stop walkin’ your ass down!!”

Sevika’s eyes widened. She knew that fucking annoying voice. She has been hearing that voice for twenty years!

She whipped around, nearly losing balance, and her gaze locked on the approaching cable car gliding across the line. And there, perched right on top of it, clutching the rail with one hand and waving wildly with the other, was a grinning, wild-haired blue blur of craziness.

Jinx!

“Ta-daaa!” Jinx shouted with a wide smile on her face, her voice echoing across the harbor. “Guess who just punched her way outta hell?! Bet y’all didn’t expect this package with no receipt!”

She laughed, that unhinged, familiar maniacal laugh as she posed with her hands on her hips like some deranged person. Her clothes were torn, her body bruised, and she was clearly bleeding from more than one place, but she was alive.

Jinx was alive!

Sevika didn’t even have time to react before Isha squirmed in her arms like a fish on a line.

“Whoa—hey, hey—okay, kid, okay!” Sevika quickly set her down.

The moment Isha’s boots hit the ground, she bolted toward her mother. 

Jinx was already jumping down from the slowing cable car, landing with a wince but somehow still on her feet. She barely had time to open her arms when Isha crashed into her body, burying herself into Jinx with a force that nearly knocked her back down.

The manic grin on Jinx’s face vanished in an instant as her arms wrapped around Isha like a lifeline, her laughter gone, replaced with a tremble in her breath. “Hey, hey… bunny, I’m here…" she whispered, lowering herself down so she could see her face better.

She cradled her face as tears started to gather around her eyes. “I told you, didn’t I?” Jinx whispered, voice thick with emotion now. “Told you I’d come back." Her thumb brushed beneath the girl’s golden eyes, trying to keep her own tears from falling miserably.

Isha’s lips trembled, but she nodded, golden eyes filled with tears that wouldn’t stop falling. She wrapped her arms tighter around Jinx, burying her face in her neck and inhaling the scent that Jinx uniquely had. It smells like home.

Jinx let the silence settle around them, only broken by the girl’s hiccupping sobs. She held her close, rubbing her back in gentle circles, calming both of them in the moment neither thought they’d have again.

“Didn’t expect you to be here, honestly,” Sevika muttered, though her tone was too soft, too relieved to be believable. Not that she’d admit she had been waiting, too. 

Jinx pulled back slightly and gave a cheeky smirk. “Pfft. I ain’t Jinx for no reason at all.”

Sevika raised a brow. “So… how’d you manage to kill that—whatever that thing was?”

That smile slipped. Jinx hesitated as her gaze flickered, shoulders tensing.

Sevika narrowed her eyes. “You did kill it… right?”

“Uhm, well… the thing is…” Jinx rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

No way. No fucking way! Sevika growled, jaw tightening, already reaching for the knife Scar had given her.

Before Jinx could answer, a loud metallic bang echoed behind them like the cable car being punched from the inside. Sevika’s eyes widened, and she quickly turned her attention to the vehicle with her weapon prepared. Her grip tightened as she waited for its next move.

"THE FUCK IT IS, JINX?" she yelled, glancing over her shoulder to glare at the blue-haired brat.

Isha, on the other hand, flinched at the loud noise, clutching tighter to Jinx before slowly pulling back. Her eyes were fixed on the cable car, wide with fear. She took a step back, but Jinx held her shoulder, telling her it was fine.

Sevika’s face turned pale. “Don’t tell me…” Her voice faltered, eyes locked on the rattling cable car.

Jinx chuckled awkwardly, raising a hand. “Okay, okay—so the thing is—”

Before she could finish, the cable car doors burst open with a screech, metal crumpling outward like paper. And there, in the center of the wreckage, stood the monster. The same one that had torn through everything, everyone. Its claws still glistened with blood. Its eyes scanned the harbor like a predator who hadn’t finished hunting.

Sevika’s body moved on instinct, with her knife, a scream rising in her throat to attack. If Jinx could not kill this thing, then she would.

"Sevika, stop! Don’t do anything so stupid!” Jinx yelled in panic.

Before Sevika could strike the monster, Jinx grabbed her wrist and yanked the weapon down to the ground with unnatural force. She obviously used her shimmer power. What a fucking cheater.

The sudden motion and shouting startled the creature. Its body jerked back defensively before it growled low in its throat. Then, almost like a spooked animal, it turned and bounded out of the cable car. Its claws scraped against the ground as it dashed toward the shadows, disappearing into the underground.

“You brought it here?!” she snapped, voice tight with fear as she pointed at the beast. “Are you insane?! That thing slaughtered everyone, Jinx!”

"I wasn’t—! It’s not—! Ugh, just—long story!” Jinx stammered. Behind her, Isha was clinging to her pants, golden eyes fixed on the dark tunnel the creature had vanished into.

Sevika shook her head, beyond angry now. "Have you lost your fucking mind, kid?!" 

"I knooowwww!! It’s-It’s… complicated,” she muttered. “Just—let’s get out of here. I’ll explain everything later. I swear.”

⨲⨲⨲

The inside of Jinx's hideout was quiet as the night deepened, save only for the occasional click of the screwdriver and the low hum of conversation muffled inside the tent. Sevika sat at the edge of Jinx’s old swivel stool with her haft-repaired mechanical arm resting across the cluttered table while her real hand nursed a bottle of alcohol she had grabbed earlier on the way. 

Her eyes drifted, now and then, toward the pair lying on the cot a few meters away from her. Jinx and the kid were tangled up in a blanket, nestled like two pieces of something that had been broken and finally snapped back into place. Isha refused to sleep unless Jinx was beside her. Nothing could calm her except for that blue-haired menace wrapped around her now like a human security blanket.

"You comfy, Isha?" Jinx whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

Isha gave a small nod, her hand clinging to the hem of Jinx’s top, still scared she'd vanish again once she let go.

“You better be,” Jinx said with a tiny grin. “Took me half a war to get back here. I should charge rent for cuddles.”

Sevika looked away, pretending she didn’t hear. She’d been pretending a lot lately. She placed the bottle on the table before picking up the screwdriver to continue fixing it.

“Did you just call me Mama earlier?”

Sevika doesn't hear a reply. She looked back and saw the kid burying her face deeper in Jinx's neck before signing something Sevike didn't understand.

“Noooo! I’m not mad,” Jinx rushed out, hugging Isha's small body. “You can call me whatever you want. I mean, maybe not ‘gremlin’—that one’s taken, but 'Mama'?  Yeah. That one’s... perfect.”

A brief silence before Jinx speaks again.

“Hey, it’s fine if you can’t talk. Really. You don’t have to, not ‘til you’re ready.” She leaned back slightly, eyes searching Isha’s face with a crooked smile. “And if you do wanna try? I’ll be here to hear every word. Even if you just make fart sounds with your mouth.” The joke made Isha chuckled.

"Dead?"She held out her pinky and Isha quickly accepted it with her own, nodding. “But no pressure, Tiny Tank. You do you.”

Sevika exhaled, long and silent. She took a swig from the bottle, feeling the burn in her throat. It had been a while since she had drunk something like this, and she kind of missed it.

“I’ll never leave you again,” Jinx whispered. “I promise.”

The kid nodded, and something in Sevika’s chest tugged, tight and uncomfortable. It was too much softness for her tastes. But even she couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel it. After everything they'd been through, the two of them being here, alive, was a damn miracle.

The tent went quiet again for a while. Jinx had started rubbing circles on the kid’s back, and Isha, and finally, the kid had fallen asleep. Her breathing had slowed, and her fingers unclenched to Jinx. Her wide, golden eyes were closed now. 

Jinx whispered something else, too low for Sevika to catch, but she didn’t need to hear it. She already knew what it meant. Sevika reached for the bottle beside her, ready for one more swig, but its neck vanished before it touched her lips. She blinked up. Jinx stood next to her now, barefoot and smug, holding the bottle she'd just snatched. 

"Isha doesn’t want you drinking this." She gave the bottle a dramatic sniff and cringed. “She hates the smell. Reminds her of… you.”

Sevika grunted. “Just this time,” she muttered but didn’t argue when Jinx turned and placed it out of her reach.

She went back to fiddling with her mechanical arm, but it wasn’t going well. Jinx’s creation was very different from her own. Inside was an internal maze of color-coded wires and patched circuitry she didn’t recognize. Sevika twisted something, hoping it was the right cable, and immediately dropped the screwdriver to the floor with a loud clatter when it electrocuted her a little. 

“Damn it,” she hissed, reaching for it, but a flash of blue and pink colored nails had managed to grab it first. She looked to her side and saw Jinx crunching down, twirling the screwdriver once between her fingers before pointing it at Sevika with a grin.

“Stand up, old lady. I’ll fix it for you.”

Sevika raised a brow. “Go back to your kid, Jinx. She'll cry again if she'll wake up without you by her side.

“She’s asleep. I’ve got a solid fifteen minutes before she senses I’m more than three feet away and has a meltdown.”

Seconds had passed, and Sevika still didn't move.

"C’mon, Lefty,” Jinx said, patting the table with the screwdriver. "You’ll mess it up worse if you keep poking around in there blind.”

Sevika sighed through her nose and finally stood, extending the arm toward her. Jinx quickly took it and started unscrewing the outer plate without a sweat, her fingers moving fast and sure.

Sevika leaned back against the edge of the table, watching her work in silence. Jinx had that usual face when focusing, eyebrows scrunched, teeth biting her lower lip. For a minute, everything was weirdly… peaceful.

Then Sevika ruined it as usual.

“So,” she muttered, “why didn’t you kill that thing?”

Jinx didn’t answer right away. She paused, hands hovering above a tangle of wires, then muttered, “The thing called me.”

“…The what now?”

“The monster,” Jinx said, a little sharper. “It talked. It called me.”

Sevika blinked at her. “No way. That thing? That… thing can't talk. It tore through twelve people like paper mache, and you're telling me it chatted with you? Ha!” She shook her head.

Jinx’s head shot up with a doubtful look. “Are you saying I’m losing my damn mind?!”

“I mean… yes? Obviously,” Sevika deadpan. She smirked until Jinx narrowed her eyes and stared her down. “Okay, okay, maybe not. Go on.”

“It called me Powder, Sevika.”

Sevika’s brow scrunched. “...And?”

“Oh my God you smoothbrain!” Jinx groaned, dragging both hands down her face before slapping the table. “Who else calls me that? Powder! Nobody alive does! Only people from the past. And they’re all dead, except Vi! Now tell me how that’s normal!”

“Look, kid, I don’t know what’s rattling around in that head of yours. Just tell me what you’re getting at so I can go the hell to sleep. Peacefully!”

Jinx clicked her tongue, eyes twitching like Sevika just wasn’t getting it. “I think that thing… I think it’s... Vander.”

Sevika’s brow shot up. “Vander? You mean Vander, Vander?”

“Yes! Vander my other dad! Big guy, used to smell like smoke and really, really had a bad life choices? Yeah, that Vander!”

“He’s dead, Jinx. Years ago.”

“I know he’s dead! But that thing—it looked at me. It looked at me the same way he used to. Like I was his kid. Like he’d do anything not to hurt me. And then it said Powder. Not Jinx. Powder.”

Sevika stared at her, mouth half-open. “That’s… actually terrifying.” She could feel the hair behind her neck standing. How could a dead person be alive into something... not human at all?

“Right?!” Jinx snapped her fingers at her. “Thank you! And I know it sounds insane—and maybe it is insane, but you didn’t see its eyes. At first they were red, like kill-you-dead red, but then they changed. They turned blue and yellow. And it hesitated, Sev. Like something inside was fighting. And that? That wasn’t just some rage-beast. That was someone.”

Sevika rubbed her temples, trying to squeeze logic from this madness. “So let me get this straight. You’re saying Vander came back from the dead, turned into a mutated hellspawn demon, wrecked half of the Stillwater.... and then chose not to kill you because deep down, he remembered you?”

Jinx didn’t even blink. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“…Gods, I need that drink back.”

Sevika stared at her for a moment before leaning forward and snatching the bottle off the table. She tipped it back and took a long, burning swig. The taste bit into her throat, but she didn't care. With a sigh, she let her head thunk softly against the glass, groaning into it.

This day was never going to stop getting worse.

When she looked at Jinx again, she was now back to fiddling with the exposed wiring in her mechanical arm like nothing had happened. Like she hadn’t just dumped a bomb of undead, mutated paternal trauma onto the table between them.

This girl is... something.

“So,” Sevika muttered, voice rough, “what’s your next step then? "

Jinx’s hands slowed, looking into it with her pink eyes full of sadness and grief. “Find him. Wherever he is down there… wherever he’s hiding. I’m gonna bring him back.” She glanced up, eyes a little wet around the edges. “And maybe—maybe I can make things right again. Like they were before.”

Sevika was taken aback by the sudden shift of mood, but she understood the kid damn well. She was there, watching it all. The way his death had shattered Jinx's life. She stood by and watched it happen.

It had taken her years to bury that guilt. But it hadn’t gone away. And now here it was, clawing its way back up through Jinx’s broken hope. And if this brat wanted to go chasing ghosts for one last piece of peace, Sevika wouldn’t stop her. Hell, maybe even helping her was the only damn apology Sevika had left in her.

She straightened, setting the bottle down harder than she meant to. It thudded against the table with a sharp shot, making her wince. Her eyes quickly darted to the tent, where Isha was still curled up, sleeping like a stone. Thank the stars.

Clearing her throat, Sevika asked, “How?”

Jinx froze for half a second. Then she grinned, one of those guilty, crooked ones that always meant something stupid was coming.

“You’re gonna want to punch me if I say how.”

It had been a year... if Violet could remember it correctly.

A whole damn year since everything turned to shit and left Violet bleeding at the center of it. A whole year since the day she almost killed her sister, her own sister, with her fist raised and blinded by anger and guilt. A whole year since she almost gets killed by a kid after stepping between them and looking at her, begging her not to kill Jinx.

It's also been a whole year since Caitlyn had walked away without looking back.

Everything that followed was a blur. Fights, more fights. Pain, more pain. Day after day, night after night.  She threw herself into the arena, trying to be swallowed whole. Like maybe if she let someone hit her hard enough, she’d feel something again, or better yet, feel nothing at all. Violet knew that she was alive and breathing, but inside, she felt dead. Like a ghost.

And when her knuckles split open, and her ribs cracked, and the world went red from blood, she drank herself out. One glass turned into three, three into a bottle, and then another after that. She drank until she forgot, then fought again until she remembered, then drank to forget once more. A vicious cycle she didn’t even bother escaping anymore.

The pain didn’t register the way it used to. Her body and her muscles should’ve been screaming. Instead, they just ached in the background like old furniture: creaking, tired, forgotten.

Violet was numbed in everything.

She used to be someone. A protector. A fighter with a cause. Someone who stood for the little guys. Vander’s kid. Powder’s sister. Caitlyn's special person.

Now, when she caught herself in the mirror, she didn’t see any of that. Just a broken thing. Hollow-eyed and bruised, smudged in oil and blood and dirt. A Vi who wasn’t Vi anymore. Just a shadow of who she used to be. Who she should have been.

Violet let out a broken laugh as she let herself fall into her bed.

Sometimes, she saw Caitlyn in her dreams. The way she used to smile when she was trying not to smile. That sharp wit, that soft voice that had once made Vi feel safe for the first time in forever. God, she still loved her. That was the worst part.

But Caitlyn was her, the council's daughter and Vi was this, Jinx's failed sister. A sister of the person who killed her mother. How could she love someone like that? It was oil and water, guilt and grief, tangled in a knot that couldn't ever come undone.

And then there was Powder— no, she's Jinx now. That Jinx was gone, and some other monster had taken her place. She tried to make herself believe that every day, at least on the surface. But deep down, Vi knew. She knew the truth: she didn’t have the guts to speak aloud; she was still in there somewhere. The child she raised, who used to laugh, cry, and clutched her hand at night.

It was her fault. Everything was all her fault. She failed Powder. Not just once but over and over again. The night the bridge, the night their family fell apart, the night Powder became Jinx. It was her. She was the one who walked away. She was the one who let the world swallow her little sister whole and didn’t fight hard enough to pull her back.

She should have held her. She should’ve seen the fear in her eyes.  She should’ve been her shelter. But instead, she treated her like a threat. She looked her in the eyes and saw a monster.

And that… that broke her.

Vi gave Powder the trauma she never deserved. Left her in a world that only chewed her up and spat her back out, broken. 

Then Caitlyn...

Sweet, stubborn Caitlyn, who saw the good in her when no one else did. Who stood beside her even when it cost her everything. And Vi? Vi repaid that loyalty by killing her mother. No matter the reasons, no matter how justified it might’ve been in the moment, it didn’t erase the blood. It didn’t bring back what was lost.

She destroyed the woman she loved from the inside out.

Just like she did to Powder.

So yeah. It was her fault.

It's always her fault...

The bed beneath her creaked as Violet shifted, groaning at the sharp stab of pain running through her ribs that she got from another fight. And now, another night, waking up not knowing where she was or who she was.

A faint puff of air brushed past her ear. She flinched, wincing as her body protested, and cracked one bloodshot eye open and saw a flicker of blue as it passed the corner of her vision like a ghost.

Blue?

She blinked hard, once, twice. Maybe she was dreaming again. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Groaning, she rubbed her face with a calloused hand and forced herself upright. Every bone screamed at her. The world tilted, blurred at the edges. Her fingers pressed into her temple as she squeezed her eyes shut, obliging the room to stop spinning.

And the moment she barely opened them again, her heart instantly stopped beating in shock.

There, standing in front of the shattered mirror, was a figure with long blue hair. The woman tilted her head, applying something to her face.

"Looking good," the girl muttered with a sideways glance at the glass, smirking. Then she turned. "...Sis?"

Violet’s body moved before her thoughts caught up. She launched herself forward, slamming the intruder against the wall. Her hand pinned her by the throat while her other fist hovered mid-air, trembling with anger.

"W-Wait—!" Jinx's voice cracked as Violet’s grip tightened.

"I don't wanna hear another word out of your mouth!" Violet snarled through gritted teeth, her voice was dangerously low.

Jinx gasped, struggling, one hand clawing at the arm choking her. “I-it's… V-Vander.”

Violet’s vision turned red; that was her last straw. Her fist crashed into the wall beside Jinx’s head, cracking the plaster. The impact echoed like thunder through the room.

"I'm not falling for another one of your tricks!"

Coughing, her voice breaking, Jinx forced the words past her crushed windpipe. “H-he's… a-alive.”

Violet stared at her, wide-eyed. Alive?

No. No, she saw him die. Saw his blood soak into the dirt. Saw Silco standing over his corpse—because of her. Because of Jinx!

Vander was gone. Had been for years. The idea of him still walking… still existing... it felt like someone ripping open a wound that never truly healed.

"You don’t get to say his name! We both know that's bullshit!" she hissed, rage twisting her face. Her hand tightened around Jinx’s neck, harder this time. Jinx’s face drained of color. Sweat trickled down her forehead, shimmer-stained tears welling and falling like pink crystal drops down her even paler face.

She was willing to end her at this moment. To end this suffering. To end it all.

However, everything of that disappeared the moment her pink eyes landed on her. For a second, a blink of Powder's memory clutched back to her brain. 

Powder... her sweet sister.

Crying in the dark.

Holding a broken toy.

Calling her name.

Violet’s jaw clenched. Her fist trembled. Then, with a growl of frustration, she let go.

Jinx dropped to the floor like a ragdoll, gasping and coughing, her hand clutching her bruised neck.

“H-he… n-needs… o-our help…” she choked out between breaths, eyes wide and pleading as she looked up at her. “I can prove it.”

Violet stood frozen as her eyes stared back at her in the mirror. Her brain screamed, 'Don’t trust her.' Not again after what she had done, not again after what she had taken. 

But her heart… It whispered something else. What if? What if this was real? What if there was still something left to save?

⨲⨲⨲

The moment Vi unlocked and pushed open the door of her cramped apartment, she was greeted not just by silence but also by the cold barrel of a gun pressed to her forehead.

Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at the small person standing in front of her, feet planted firmly on top of the cask, arms shaking ever so slightly, was a familiar girl. Her golden eyes burned with anger that didn’t belong in someone so young as her now blue hair danced like firelight in the dim room.

“Isha—put that down!” Jinx’s voice rang out, sharp and urgent, from across the room.

Before Violet could move, Jinx was already there, rushing over and grabbing the gun from the kid’s trembling hands, prying her fingers loose with more force. he tossed the weapon onto the nearby table with a clatter and wrapped her arms tightly around the girl’s small frame.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, her voice soft as she lifted the child into her arms. “It’s okay, bunny. Nothing to worry about. I’m here.”

But Isha’s eyes didn’t budge. Still locked on Violet. Still burning. She saw a threat standing at her front door, not someone Jinx once called sister. Isha will never forget how she had tried to kill Jinx before. Never!

Violet stood frozen, unsure of what to say. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The guilt sat heavily on her tongue, as always. She met Jinx's eyes instead and gave the faintest nod she could manage.

"Lead the way."

Jinx held Isha for a moment longer, then gently placed her on the ground. Without another word, she turned toward the hallway and started walking, holding Isha in her hand. Violet followed, the door clicking shut behind her.

The sound of their footsteps echoed softly ahead. Jinx and the kid had gone a few paces in front, just far enough to speak in hushed tones Violet couldn’t make out. She trailed behind, boots heavy on the rusted metal stairs as she descended into the underbelly of Zaun.

Halfway down, something caught her eye.

A cracked wall stood defiant against the deterioration around it. And there, painted across it in bold, vivid color, was her sister, Jinx.

Her arm raised like a victorious rebel with an expression halfway between a smile and a cry for freedom.  She was surrounded by color, clouds of orange, violet, and teal, a smoke and spirit of resistance. Doves flew behind her, white as hope. And above her, in a halo of flowers and memory, was Vander.

Violet’s chest caved in on itself. There were no words painted on the wall, but she could hear them anyway, like whispers on the back of her skull: A symbol.

She'd heard it from others more than once. drunken gossip in dark alleys muttered conversations between terrified Enforcers who refused to patrol the deep zones anymore. About how the girl, Jinx, had become the voice of the Undercity, the fire that lit their rebellion. The girl who bombed the Council and tore down the walls with her bare hands. The girl they looked to for something better.

Jinx, the sister Violet once held in her arms, is now the beacon of hope.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. It didn’t surprise her, actually, but it chut her deeper.

Before, her siblings used to look up at her like that, like she was the one who would change the world. Like Vi was unbreakable. Like she could be something good.

And now? She just became an enforcer. The same enforcer they hated before. The one who kicked down doors and threw kids in cells just to appease a system that never cared for them, to begin with.

What a fucked up change of life.

She dragged her eyes from the wall and looked ahead again. Jinx crouched at the threshold of the underpass; beside her was the kid who was also looking at her.

Their eyes met. Jinx tilted her head slightly, the corner of her mouth quirking, but not with a smile, as she lifted off her brow. You coming, or not?

Violet didn’t answer. She just clenched her jaw, gave a stiff nod, and stepped forward past the mural of her sister.

⨲⨲⨲

"When are you gonna admit this is just another one of your damn fantasies?" Vi groaned, dragging her feet through the dirt-coated tunnel floor. They’d been walking for what felt like forever of thirty minutes of silence, dripping pipes, and Jinx’s annoying, out of tone humming.

She was tired. Her body ached, her thoughts louder than her footsteps. Physically wrecked. Mentally fried. And her patience? Nonexistent.

"or do you want not the kid to know how delusional you are?" She side-eyed Isha, who was a few steps ahead, casually clapping her hands every few feet to trigger the light all over the tunnel walls.

Jinx, of course, didn’t even throw her a glance. She leaned down toward Isha, whispering loud enough for Vi to hear. “She wasn’t always like this, y’know. She used to be pretty cool... before I kicked her butt!" She looked at Vi with an annoying grin Vi wished she could punch.

Vi rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. “See what I mean? Delusional.”

That stopped Jinx in her tracks. Her mouth twitched into a half-smile, half-snarl before she turned on her heel and glared at her sister. “Wish I was just seeing things when you decided to throw in with the Piltie goons who murdered mom and dad.”

That hit the nerve. Violet’s jaw clenched like stone. “At least they never had to see what a psycho their daughter turned into,” she snapped forward, fists curling.

Jinx scoffed, smirking like she’d been waiting for that exact line. “Which one?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow. “Because between the unhinged terrorist and the drunk ex-cop punching walls at 3 a.m because her girlfriend only broke up with her, I think we’ve got a tie.”

Vi opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Damn it. That was actually good counter.

"Wake up, sis. I’m a hero,” Jinx continued, flipping a piece of her blue hair dramatically.  "I busted half of Zaun out of Stillwater while you were passed out in the bottom of a mug. Now can it and keep walking, before I kick your ass again." She gave her a bored, lazy smug.

“You wouldn’t last one second without all your ugly gadgets and chickenshit toys,” Vi shot back.

“Ha! And what about those overdesigned bitch-mittens you didn’t even build yourself?” Jinx sing-songed, glancing down to her clutched hands.

Vi saw red.

Without a word, she let the Atlas gauntlets clatter to the tunnel floor. The metal slammed against the stone with a thunderous echo, lighting up the walls with a glow burst.

“You think I need these to—"

Jinx moved like buller, barely a flash of her pink shimmer eyes, and suddenly, she was in front of Vi, palm already colliding with her cheek in a loud, echoing slap. The sound alone lit up the whole tunnel."

Vi stumbled slightly, blinking. What the hell just—

Jinx shrugged, eyes bored and smile was smug as her hands flew to her hips. “There. One second.” 

Violet’s hand flew to her stinging cheek. “You little—”

Jinx raised a brow, mouth twitching like she was holding back another smart remark. She turned to walk off, but didn’t make it one step before Vi grabbed her braid, and with one tug, she yanked Jinx back like a ragdall.

Jinx stumbled, but dodged just in time as Vi’s fist came swinging toward her face, and launched, sending them both in the ground with a grunt. Punches flew, elbows jabbed, and hair definitely got pulled again.

“Last chance to surrender!” Vi growled from where she’d pinned Jinx to the floor.

“Go right ahead, fat hands!” Jinx yelled, flailing a knee upward and shoving at her sister’s face.

From the side, Isha stared, eyes wide as she watched Jinx being pinned by the same person, just like before. Her small fist clenched, and without hesitation, she sprinted toward them and jump onto Vi’s back, giving the back of her head a punch. A small, unimpressive thump. Vi didn’t even flinch.

Only time she reacted when she felt a sudden sharp pain from her arm. Vi yelped, and reacting

on instinct and pain, Vi shook her arm and shoved the tiny attacker off. Isha flew back a few feet, landing hard with a thud and a whimper.

That changed everything.

Jinx’s angry face disappeared instantly, replaced with concern. Her eyes went wide, pink shimmer flaring faintly around the edges. She shoved Vi off and scrambled toward Isha without a word.

“Isha—” her voice shifted into something soft, almost unrecognizable.

Vi sat up, the guilt hitting like a freight train as her eyes landed on the kid with a thin stream of blood trickling from her nose.

By the time Jinx reached her, Isha was already trying to sit up. Tough little thing. Jinx crouched down and helped her gently.

“Hey, kid. Still got your insides?"

Isha gave a tiny shrug, wiping the blood from her nose with the back of her arm like it was nothing. “Hmm.”

Jinx gave Isha a crooked smile and grabbed her helmet, plopping it back onto her head. It fell slightly over her eyes. 

Vi blinked. For a second, she forgot to breathe. That… wasn’t the Jinx she knew. She really wasn't used to her sister being this... caring. It feels so weird, yet comforting at the same time. Knowing that a person like Jinx managed to be caring and loving despite her nature.

Isha grinned and grabbed Jinx’s wrist, tugging her down a narrow split in the tunnel path. She stopped at the fork and looked up.

Jinx nodded. “Left.”

Isha nodded, and began walking. But still not too far away, Jinx called out.

"But don’t ditch us!" she yelled, her voice echoing.

Isha flashed her a tiny thumbs-up and disappeared down the tunnel.

Silence returned between sister, bust just for a breath. 

“You don’t actually need my help,” Vi muttered without looking, already standing on her side. “Haven’t for a long time.”

“Last time Vander needed us, we tried to save him alone,” she said quietly, watching the shadow shift around the corner where Isha had gone. “Nothing was ever the same after that.”

“So maybe this is our do-over. Besides…” She finally turned her head, catching Vi’s eyes with hers. Her lips quirked, half-bitter, half-sincere. “He’s your dad too.”

Chapter Text

The underground tunnel stretched ahead, its damp walls echoing the soft shuffle of their footsteps. Jinx had led the way with her pusture tense in every step. Beside her was the little girl who bit like a mad man, holding Jinx's hand and would ocasionally glanced up at her with a worried expression.

Vi trailed behind, sighing as she followed them. They had just left Vander's old office, a place frozen in time and covered with dust. They had found a letter from him that was supposed to be addressed to Silco, and that somehow shattered Jinx.

She didn't get it. That man, Silco, didn't deserve any of that from her little sister. But they must have a special connection for her to feel that.

She shook her head and quickened her pace and caught up to the two. "Hey," she said, nudging Jinx's shoulder playfully.

Jinx looked at her, bored. "What?"

"You good?" Vi asked awkwardly. After what they'd been through with her trying to kill Jinx as an enforcer, and Jinx trying to kill her, their relationship had become a little shaky.

"Wow, sis. You're really asking me that," Jinx said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

This shithead?! I was trying to make amends here!!

Vi was about to clap back, but Isha caught her attention. The kid squealed in happiness and looked up at Jinx while pointing somewhere. She and Jinx followed her gaze and saw a couple of huge bugs walking down the tunnel wall.

Jinx chuckled and shook her head. "Yes, you can have them."

The little girl jumped in happiness and let go of Jinx's hand, running as fast as she could toward the bugs. Jinx looked at her with a genuine and sweet smile on her face. How come little things could always make this kid smile like nothing shitty had happened between them in a span of two days?

While Jinx was looking at Isha, Vi was looking at Jinx, still not believing how her sister, once full of pain and suffering, looked so peaceful and happy. And a small part of Vi wished she was the one who brought it to her sister.

She quickly shook that thought away and looked away, because how can she get to wish something like that after what she have done? Not after what she became to her.

A squeal cut through the silence. Isha had trapped one of the bugs in her hands and was holding it up like treasure, beaming as she looked at Jinx.

“Gross,” Vi muttered, forcing a grin.

Jinx chuckled, eyes still locked on the kid. “Let her. She thinks they’re cute."

Vi raised a brow. “Where the hell did you even get her? She bit my arm like a damn hyena.”

Jinx turned to her, grinning. “Very deserved, honestly.”

Vi gave her a look. Jinx groaned and startts walking, trailing Isha who were holding the bugs she cuptured. They still need to find Vander.

Jinx groaned, stuppig her feet. "No, seriously! She literally just fell on me, Like BAM! Out of nowhere! I was minding my own business, probably committing a felony, and then this tiny rage goblin drops out of a busted pipe!"

Vi blinked. “So... you adopted her?”

“I tolerated her,” Jinx corrected with a smug. Eventually, her smirk softened. “...at first. But, I dunno. She just… stuck on me. Like gum on a boot. She’s got this way of looking at me like I’m not… broken. Like I’m just me.”

She trailed off, eyes drifting back to Isha as the kid giggled and tried to chase a second bug who tried to fly away.

“She didn’t even flinch or looked scared when I shot someone in front of her. If anything, she just looked at me with admiration I never I thought I would receive,” Jinx added with a grin, then shrugged. “Guess we just… clicked.”

Vi stared at her. “That’s… vaguely concerning.”

Jinx laughed. “Right? But it’s kinda nice. I didn’t think I’d ever—” Her voice stumbled for half a second. “—I mean, not after losing her when she was still a baby. I didn’t think I’d ever see—” She stopped, realizing what she had said.

Her breath hitched, eyes widening just slightly. Then she blinked hard like she could reset the world, roll the moment back, and erase it. Shit. Shit. No way in hell she just said her greatest secret.

Vi’s head tilted, brow furrowing. “Losing who?”

Silence. Jinx blinked like she’d just snapped out of a trance, then squinted at Vi like she was the carzy one. She shifted her expression fast into something blank.  “What?”

“You said ‘losing her when she was a baby.’ Who—what are you—?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You did.”

“Nope. Nope-nope-nope.” Jinx turned to her heel and started power-walking after Isha. “You’re hearing things, go see a doctor.”

Vi stood frozen for a second, jaw slack, then stormed forward. “Jinx—what the hell did you mean?”

She recieved no answer from her as Jinx keep walking fast. So Vi reached out and gently tugged a lock of Jinx’s long, braided hair.

Jinx yelped and spun around, swatting Vi’s hand. “Why do you keep pulling my hair?!”

“Because you keep running off when I’m trying to talk to you!”

“Maybe take the hint!” Jinx snapped, backing up a step, eyes darting.

Vi didn’t move. “Then just say it. Say what you meant. I’m not trying to trap you, Jinx. I’m trying to understand.”

For once, Jinx didn’t have a quick retort. She looked at Vi, mouth half-open, then shut it again. Her fingers twitched at her sides. She glanced toward Isha, then back at Vi, and for a split second, her face looked like it might crack wide open.

Vi looked at her softly, holding her hand with a gentle touch. "You can tell me anything."

Jinx closed her eyes, contemplating. After a long silence, four words slipped out her mouth fast.

"Isha is my daughter," she said in a quiet voice, and opened her eyes, locking to her sister, waiting for her reaction.

Vi felt like her brain had just lagged. Like someone had yanked the rug out from under her, leaving her mind scrambling to process the words that just came out of Jinx’s mouth.

“W-What?”

Jinx huffed, rolling her eyes. “Isha. Is. My. Daughter.” She repeated it slowly like she was talking to an idiot. Vi was an idiot, apparently, because—

“W-What?!”

...she's just an idiot. No explanation was needed.

"Isha is my daughter."

“I—what?”

Jinx threw her head back with a dramatic groan and spun in a circle like she was about to combust. “Isha. Is. My. DAUGHTER.” She said it slower this time, spaced out like Vi had the IQ of a brick. “As in, I made a person. Grew her for nine months, Birthed her. That whole miracle-of-life bullshit.”

Vi’s jaw dropped. “You—what?!”

“OH MY GOD.” Jinx’s grin snapped into a full-blown scowl. “How many times do I have to say it?! Do you need me to draw it in crayon for your Piltie brain to understand?! Should I do a puppet show?! ‘Hi, I’m Jinx, and I’m a MOMMY now, whee!’” She started miming with her hands like sock puppets, because of course she did.

Vi sputtered, still caught somewhere between shock and disbelief. She quickly changed her face into an angry one. “Well, maybe because you keep repeating the same damn thing with no explanation at all?”

Jinx threw her hands up again, exasperated. “That’s because you keep asking 'what' like a fucking broken parrot, you moron!” She jabbed a finger toward her. “You could’ve asked literally anything else!”

Vi’s brain was still buffering. Her sister. Her baby sister... had a kid.

What. The. Absolute. Fuck.

Vi just stared, utterly broken by the mental image. “You’re not kidding,” she muttered.

Jinx dropped the puppet show. “No, Vi. This isn’t one of my classic hilarious bits where I pretend to have a child." She pointed toward Isha, who was now stuffing something suspicious into her mouth.

Vi followed her gaze in a daze. “I—when? How?”

Jinx groaned again. “God, do you really want the mental image of me getting railed as a teenager?

Vi’s eye twitched. “You know that’s not what I meant—”

Jinx smirked, completely ignoring her. "Okayyyy, first, we kissed HARD... with tongue as he—"

“STOP!!” Vi yelled, clamping her hands over her ears. Her entire back shivered at the mental image. “Absolutely not. Never mind. Forget I asked.”

Jinx pursed her lips, tilting her head like she was actually considering it. Then she shrugged. “Well, you should’ve paraphrased your question better.”

Vi groaned, dragging her hands down her face. “Oh my God.” This bitch will be the end of her.

Before them, tiny footsteps slowed, catching Jinx's attention.

Isha had turned around, wide-eyed, glancing between the two with that silent, scrunched-up face she made when she was trying to figure out if someone was about to fight or explode—or both. She looked directly at Jinx, one brow lifted like, what the hell was that noise about?

Jinx met her stare and casually waved a hand like she was brushing off smoke. “Nothing, bug. Adults being weird. Keep walking.”

Isha didn't look convinced. Jinx reached out and swatted her lightly on the shoulder, pushing her forward. “Shoo. March. Find another bug to make friends with... or kill. Whatever.”

Isha gave her one last squint, then turned and kept walking. 

Jinx turned back to Vi with a sigh, arms crossed. “Anyway. Congratulations. You’ve survived the big reveal. Can we not make it weirder than it already is?”

Vi, still pale, just nodded slowly, still reeling, like someone had hit her with a frying pan made of reality.

“Cool,” Jinx said flatly.

“So, you were like…” Vi quickly counted the years in her head. Her eyes widened as the realization hit. She was fourteen when she had Isha??!!

“That young?!”

“Yep!” she chirped, shutting her eyes with a satisfied nod.

Vi stared at her, completely horrified. “Why the hell were you screwing around at that age?! You should’ve been— I don’t know—causing trouble, maybe? And not getting pregnant by some rando off the streets!”

Jinx huffed, crossing her arms. “I was drunk and curious, okay?! I didn’t know it was gonna end up like that! And for the record, Isha’s father wasn’t some random guy! I knew him!”

Vi barely processed the last part, too caught up in the sheer insanity of the conversation. She groaned, rubbing her temples. “You’re smart, Jinx! You know how this works! When an egg cell meets a sperm cell, it—”

“Oh, shut up, Vi!” Jinx snapped, her grin dropping. “I don’t need a damn science lesson from you, Vi. Not when you should’ve been on my side back then telling me that instead of punching me in the face and leaving me alone like I wasn't hurting, too!"

The words hit harder than any blow Jinx had ever thrown. Her breath caught, and for a second, all she could do was stand there, staring at her little sister; the one she’d spent half her life trying to protect, and the other half trying to bring back, and somehow kept failing at both.

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her throat burned.

"I-I... I’m... I’m sorry," she finally croaked, voice breaking around the words.

But Jinx was already backpedaling, hands up like she was physically shoving the conversation off a cliff. “Nope. Don’t look at me like that,” she barked, her voice higher now, and a little wild. “I see that face, Vi. That’s your ‘we need to talk about this’ face. We’re not doing any of that bullshits. Free me.”

“Jinx, please—”

“Nope!” she snapped, spinning sharply on her heel, arms flailing. “This is not turning into some sad and  heart-to-heart sister therapy session! We’re not unpacking trauma. There will be no bonding. Delete the idea from your head. Shove it down where it belongs with all the other crap we don’t deal with!”

Vi stepped toward her, cautious.

“Jinx, I’m not judging you. I just—”

“Cool,” Jinx cut her off, eyes suddenly sharp. “Keep not judging me from five feet away.”

Vi took a step forward, reaching out to hold her, but Jinx was already gone, jogging after Isha, talking loudly about their another bug fight. And Vi was left standing there, fists clenched, chocking down everything she wanted to say.

She let out a shaky breath and finally started walking. Jinx will tell her if she’s ready. For now, they need to find Vander first.

The silence that followed their small bickering was deafeninf, not until a deep, thunderous sound echoed from behind. Then anotherm=, and another.

The footsteps was too heavy and off. No way in hell they came from a human. Whatever it was, it wasn’t.

Vi’s body tensed instantly. She turned, fast, eyes scanning the shadowy tunnel behind them. “W–What was that?” she asked, voice low, stepping back toward Jinx, her hands instinctively prepare her gaunlet.

Jinx stopped mid-sentence, her posture shifting, spine straightening like a pulled wire. She didn’t look confused or scared, it’s more looked like she’d been waiting for it, and that scared Vi more.

Her eyes flicked to Vi, dead serious now. “It’s him,” she said.

Vi’s stomach dropped. “Who

“Vander.”

The warm, hazy glow of Babette’s brothel spilled out onto the broken streets of Zaun as the flicker of neon lights dancing off puddles. The place reeked of perfume, old whiskey, and something vaguely sweet, dangerous, and trouble. Ekko stepped through the door hesitantly with the few Firelights his age. Music pulsed faintly through the walls, laughter echoing down the velvet-draped hallways.

He stopped just inside, jaw tense, arms crossed. “Why the hell did you bring me here?” he snapped at the one closest to him. “You know Anna would hate it if she saw me walkin’ into a place like this. I’m going home." He turned, already halfway back toward the door, but a hand caught the collar of his shirt and tugged him back.

"Hey, hey, hey! Slow down, man!" The guy grinned wildly, clearly a bit buzzed on adrenaline and maybe more. Lust, maybe. “C’mon, Ekko! We passed the Firelight test. That’s not nothing. You know what that means?”

Ekko gave him a deadpan stare. “Yeah. It means we’re about to start getting shot at.”

“Exactly!” the guy barked a laugh, thumping Ekko on the back. “So we could die next week or even tomorrow! You really gonna go out without even tasting heaven first?” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively, motioning toward the lavish red corridor ahead, where silhouettes moved like ghosts through silk curtains. 

"I would laugh if you die being a virgin hero." He laughed at his own joke, while Ekko grimaced.

Before Ekko could utter a protest, he was pulled inside the brothel against his will. He didn't want to be in there! He’d barely made it two steps past the velvet-draped entrance of Babette’s brothel when the scent of rosewater, stale alcohol, and something artificial trying to pass for affection hit him. Flirtatious laughter echoed through the hallway, making his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

He was shoved forward playfully by one of the other Firelights as they laughed loudly. “You’ll thank us later, Ekko!” one of them hollered.

As they entered the brothel further, masked women with barely a scrap of silk covering themselves greeted the group with painted smiles. Perfumed skin brushed too close, and Ekko’s muscles tensed.

“Ohhh, this night’s gonna be fun,” he heard someone murmur as they eagerly followed a woman toward one of the private rooms.

Ekko stood frozen for a second as a woman elegantly approached him with her nearly bare body. Her hand traced his chest lightly, and she laughed flirtily.

 “Come with me, pretty boy. I'm gonna wreck your mind.”

Something in Ekko recoiled instantly. He stepped back, politely shaking his head. "I'm sorry... but I'm not interested," he said, looking down at his shoes. He may have looked calm on the outside, but inside, his heart was beating fast. This is the first time having someone being flirty with, and he does not like it.

The woman didn’t press. She only smiled, bemused, and moved on to someone else. Thank the heavens! Ekko quickly turned and made his way toward the bar instead, sitting stiffly among other people nursing drinks and sins. His fingers tapped absently against the wooden counter as his gaze dropped to his own reflection in the dirty glass of a half-finished bottle.

He could never bring himself to want anyone else. Not really. Not when his heart still belonged only to her.

To Powder.

Maybe she hated him now. Maybe she didn’t even remember the boy who once promised to keep her safe. But it wasn’t her fault. It never was. Silco is. He was the problem that stole her smile and made her into something she was not. And one day, when he was strong enough to fight and protect her, he would come back for her. Ekko doesn't give a fuck if she hates it. Because no matter how much time passed…

He’d always be her boy savior.

"Yo—look at that blue-haired chick over there,” one man chuckled beside him, elbowing his friend. “Ain’t that Silco’s little psycho?”

A burst of laughter and slurred conversation broke him from his thoughts. Ekko quickly shook his head and was about to go home, but stopped when something caught his attention.

Ekko’s entire body went still. Blue-haired. There was only one girl in Zaun with hair that shade and living under Silco's care. His gaze followed theirs and landed on a girl sprawled carelessly across the velvet couch, barely clinging to consciousness. A handful of empty bottles littered the table in front of her, their contents long gone. Her head lolled back against the cushions, mouth slightly parted, cheeks flushed.

Her boots had been kicked off and lay forgotten on the floor, and her usual twin braids were undone. Her hair now fell loose and wild, a shimmering cascade that spilled over her shoulders and down her waist like ink in water. Without the braids, she looked sooo different.

Wrecked... and beautiful.

“She’s totally out,” one of the men beside him snickered. “Think I could get her upstairs before she notices?”

“Oh, hell no,” his friend chuckled darkly. “That’s Silco’s little girl, man. You touch her, you better be ready to die."

"Oh, come on. Don’t be a pussy. She would not remember after we take turns—”

His vision darkened. Ekko didn’t remember standing. He also didn't remember how his fist collided with the man’s jaw so hard that he felt it crack.

All he wanted was to end their lives with his hand.

The man hit the ground with a dull sound, motionless. Whether it was the force or just how drunk he was, Ekko didn’t care. The sound of impact didn’t satisfy him. It just made his blood boil hotter.

“What the fuck did you just say?” he snarled over the unconscious body, veins popping out from his temples.

The second man lunged, clumsy and slow. Ekko shifted sideways, grabbed his arm mid-swing, and drove his knee into the bastard’s gut. Air fled the man’s lungs with a sharp wheeze before he collapsed beside his friend, coughing and groaning, eventually going still.

“You disgusting, perverted bastards,” he spat. "You two deserved to die!" His breath came fast, knuckles still clenched from the blows he landed as his heart rumbled with so much anger. 

The brothel had gone silent as all eyes turned to him, some in confusion and some in fear. But Ekko doesn't give a single fuck. He would never just sit there and listen to those types of men talk about his old friend like she was property and nothing!

He exhaled sharply, brushing his dreads from his face, his pulse still racing in his throat, feeling the sour taste of anger lingering in his mouth, but he forced it down. He need to calm himself and think of her first.

He turned toward the couch. Toward her.

Each step was heavy as he crossed the room, ignoring the stares and cautious glances that burned into his back. The only thing he could see was her. Every inch closer, his heart beat louder. She hadn’t stirred through the commotion. She remained lying there in the haze, lost in a drunken sleep.

When he reached her, Ekko lowered himself beside the couch quietly, not wanting to startle her. He's not even sure why he felt like crying. He just... did.

His eyes traced her face, soft and delicate under the red lights, with the familiar curve of her face and messy stand of blue hair falling across her cheek. Her lashes fluttered, lips parted slightly as she took her breath.

Gently, as if afraid she’d vanish, he reached out and brushed the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear like he’d done a thousand times when they were kids. His fingers lingered just a second longer, brushing the curve of her cheek.

“Powder…” he whispered, barely audible.

The word tasted like memory. Like a home long since burned down.

Gods, he’d missed her.

He’d missed her laugh, her stubbornness, the way she used to lean against him without thinking like she always knew he’d catch her if she fell. He missed the girl who once trusted him with everything. The one who used to believe in their silly plans to fix the world with nothing but junk and dreams.

He never stopped seeing her, even when the rest of the world started calling her Jinx. He never stopped loving her.

“Powde—”

“M'not… Powder!!” she slurred suddenly, jerking her head up. She didn't open her eyes, but her voice was sharp and broken at once. She reached for the empty bottle, acting like she was about take a drink again, but Ekko grasp her hand. Their fingers interwined.

Ekko stilled by her reaction. “That’s enough,” he murmured softly. “Let’s get you outta here.”

But the moment his hand touched her, she flinched as he burned her, swatting his arm away with surprising force. She opened her eyes to glare at him as she tried to sit up but failed miserably, falling back into the cushions.

“Erm not comin’, Little Man!!” she snapped, her words tumbling out in a drunken mess and fire in her blue eyes.  “D'you hear me? Leave me ‘lone!! Just l-leave me the hell ‘l-lone!!”

Her voice cracked on the last word, and for a second, it wasn’t anger that Ekko saw in her face, but pain. So much pain. Wounded.

“I’m Jinx now!” she yelled, slamming her hand down onto the couch arm for emphasis. “Not… not Puh… Powder. She’s gone, ‘kay? Gone. Buried. Dead.”

Her body slumped back into the couch again, barely upright, breathing ragged as her chin dropped to her chest.

"So leave! Leave before I'll shoot you dead..." she croaked, not even lifting her head.

Ekko didn’t flinch at her threat and just watched her with that look he always had when it came to her. If the world could burn, he'd still try to put the pieces back together if she was one of them.

"I’m not leaving you here,” Ekko whispered, slower this time, eyes soft and voice gentler than before. 

Carefully, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small handkerchief he'd been carrying. He leaned in, cautious not to spook her, and with slow, stable hands, he began to wipe the sweat clinging to her face.

Her skin was flushed and warm, her cheeks sticky with tears and liquor, and yet he touched her like she was something fragile… like a porcelain memory he was scared to break.

“You’re burning up,” he murmured, brushing another damp of blue hair behind her ear. “Been drinking yourself to death, huh?”

Powder didn't respond, but her eyes were opened, sluggishly looking at his and holding him captive. Even drunk, even disoriented, there was something in her gaze that hit him like a punch to the gut. Those eyes... those beautiful eyes still held that same dangerous magic they always had.

Still, Ekko held her gaze as his hands kept wiping her brow slowly, almost reverently. Fingers brushed away the sweat clinging to her flushed skin. knuckles tracing the line of her jaw in a touch so familiar it hurt. His thumb lingered against her cheek, and at that moment, a thousand memories flashed of the times he'd done this before.

"Stop looking at me like that, Ekko." She rolled her eyes and yanked her gaze away from his, blinking hard as if to force the emotion back down. “Makes me wanna regret slappin’ you that time.”

"Would you come again with me this time?" he asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.

She let out a sound, a haft laughing, and a haft sobbing. It got caught in her throat, trembling like something breaking free and shattering inside her.

“Y’don’t get it,” she slurred. She withdraw from his touch, body curling inward as she hugged her knees, shoulders hunching like a shield. “No one gets it. I break things. I ruin everything. S’just what I do.” She dragged a hand across her face, smearing whatever remained of her makeup or tears. “I’m Jinx, 'member? Not some lil' kid you can save anymore.”

She turned to look at him again, eyes glassy and rimmed red. "You’re too good, Ekko," she said, and the way she said his name sounded like a plea and a goodbye all at once. “Too whole. Too kind. I’d break you too, if I kept you. S’what I do. I break everythin’ I care about.”

Her lips trembled, her hands fisting in the fabric of her pants like she needed to hold herself together. “So don’t be stupid and go far away from me. Don’t let me hurt you too.”

Ekko didn’t say anything right away. He didn’t argue or didn’t offer more words to try and convince her—maybe because he knew they wouldn’t work, or maybe because the lump in his throat made it impossible to speak. Instead, he moved quietly, hands reaching out as he picked up one of her boots from the floor she maybe had kicked earlier.

With a gentleness she hadn’t felt in a long time, he slipped it onto her foot, fingers brushing her ankle with the kind of care that made her stomach ache. His hands were calloused now, older and stronger, but they still held her like she was something worth protecting.

"You shouldn't kick your shoes everywhere," he said softly, eyes still focused on her laces. "What if you'll hurt yourself?"

By the time Ekko was done with trying her boot, he looked up at her, gaze steady and soft even though his heart was breaking all over again.

“I’ll order a room for you upstairs,” he said gently. “You can’t go back like this. It’s too dangerous.” He stood up, brushing his hands off on his pants, and glanced at the waiter passing by, who gave him a small, understanding nod.

"Just for a night," Ekko added. “I’ll make sure you’re okay… and then I’ll go.”

Jinx blinked, eyes unfocused, but she didn’t argue.

“Can you stand?”

Jinx didn’t answer; she just gave a lazy nod as if her brain was not functioning well. She shifted forward and tried to push herself up from the couch, legs wobbling underneath her like they were made of jelly. Her knees buckled almost instantly. But before she could fall, Ekko was already there, steady hands catching her around the waist, pulling her in.

Her breath hitched as her body slumped into his chest, forehead resting just over his collarbone. He smelled like trees and rain and something warm beneath it all—something familiar. Something safe.

“I'll carry you,” he murmured, tightening his hold.

“I’m fineee, Ekko,” she slurred, laughing weakly against him, but it melted into a groggy sigh. “I can walk. M’legs work just—”

“I’ll carry you,” he said again, firmer this time, leaving no room for argument, but he did not sound cruel.

She went quiet. Her hands slowly clutched the fabric of his coat, not to push him away but to anchor herself.

Ekko bent slightly, and with a skillful motion, he lifted her into his arms. Her limbs curled against him automatically, like her body remembered this safety even if her mind tried to forget. Her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"Always the Boy Savior," she mumbled sleepily.

Ekko nudged the door open with his foot, careful not to jerk the girl in his arms. Jinx was completely still now, knocked down probably, as her breath was soft against his collarbone. The hallway light spilled into the small, dimly lit room as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

He moved slowly, trying not to wake her. Gently, he crossed to the bed and leaned forward, easing her down as delicately as if she might shatter. The mattress creaked softly as he lowered her onto it. Her blue hair fanned out across the pillow like paint spilled in water, and her lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she mumbled something unintelligible under her breath.

He paused for a moment, watching the face of the girl he used to know. He caught himself tracing every detail like it was sacred. Every tiny movement of her face felt magnified under the quiet lamplight—how her brows twitched as if fending off a bad dream, how her lips parted slightly with each unsteady breath.

I wish I could see you this close everyday.

Realizing that he needed to go, Ekko started to pull away from her hold, but before he could stand, her hand shot up and caught the back of his neck.

"Don’t go..." she murmured, eyes now open and looking right into his with those mesmerizing blue eyes. "Not yet, Ekko."

"W-What?"

Ekko froze, swallowing hard as he stared down at her, feeling every movement of her fingers at the back of his neck. Her breath was warm against his skin, matching the unsteady and tense rise and fall of her chest of his own.

"Ekko..." she whispered,  his name spilling from her lips like a prayer. Her one hand slid from the nape of his neck to his cheek. Her thumb brushed along his jaw in the softest, slowest motion.

He closed his eyes for a second. Just one. Just long enough to feel her touch and let it burn into him... let it burn into his brain so that he could not forget what it felt like forever.

The pad of her thumb lingered at the corner of his mouth, her breath hitching like she was holding back something—words, tears, maybe both. And when he opened his eyes again, she was watching him like he was the last safe place she knew in a world full of ruin.

Ekko didn’t move. He couldn’t. Her hand was a brand on his face, searing him with memories and feelings he thought he’d buried long ago. Her touch was like a spark in a dry forest, threatening to burn everything in its wake.

Ekko didn’t want to move. He liked the heat. Of possinbe, he would stay in this moment until lifetime.

His heart was a war drum in his chest, loud and unrelenting, drowning out every rational thought hw had. He wasn’t sure if it was the way her thumb traced the corner of his mouth, the way her breathing grew shallower, the way she watched him with those big, blue eyes that held an ocean of pain and a glimmer of hope.

He wanted to kiss her. God, he wanted to kiss her badly,

Without a word, he leaned down, his breath fanning her cheek as their faces grew closer. The room was filled with the sound of their hearts beating, echoing off the walls like a silent symphony of yearning and regret.

"C-Can I kiss you?" he stammered, feeling like every meal he'd ever seated was rising up in rebellion.

Her eyes searched his, and for a moment, it felt like the entire world had stopped spinning. Her hand slipped from his cheek, and she reached up, her own hand shaking as she cradled the back of his head.

"I wouldn't mind," she whispered, voice so faint he could've missed it if he'd been breathing too loud. "Kiss me, Ekko."

Ekko’s eyes searched hers, looking for any sign that this was a mistake, that she didn’t mean it. But all he saw was a desperate longing, a silent plea for comfort in a world that had been anything but kind to her.

So, with trembling hands, he cupped her face, his thumbs brushing the tears that had begun to spill from the corners of her eyes. He leaned in, closing the space between them, and kissed her with a softness that belied the storm raging inside him. Her lips were as warm as he imagined, and she tasted faintly of whiskey and regret.

The kiss grew deeper and more urgent as if they were trying to make up for lost time, for all the moments they could never get back. But it remained gentle, a promise of care and protection in a world that had taken so much from them. Her arms slipped around his neck, and she clung to him, her body fitting against his like she'd been made for it.

Ekko pulled away just enough to whisper against her mouth, "I lo—"

But Jinx kissed him again, harder this time. Cutting him off with a shuddered breath, like she couldn’t bear to have her lips separated from his.

⨲⨲⨲

Ekko woke up to a soft nudge against the sole of his boot. He stirred sluggishly, the world still hazy with sleep. His back ached from the uncomfortable position he'd curled in a sitting position ion the floor just outside the back entrance of The Last Drop. The cold had seeped into his bones, and his spine protested every movement, but he had no right to complain. He chose this situation.

He rubbed at his eyes, trying to chase the lingering heat from his cheeks. Why did I dream about that night?

He had been trying not to think about that night too often for the past seven years. Trying to forget that the next day that night, Ekko woke up with no trace of her other than the cold spot of the bed beside him and the lingering feeling of her kiss still on his.

When they met again on the rooftop of The Last Drop, he thought she’d say something or even a tease. He would've taken that. Ekko was desperate. But she never did. She talked like nothing had happened. 

For her, it must’ve been just that. A night soaked in too much liquor lost to the haze of whatever she was trying to outrun. But for Ekko? It was the most vivid memory he had. It was the closest he ever got to having her.

Maybe she forgot about it, thinking as one of her weird dreams.

Or worse, she remembered, and it simply didn’t mean enough.

His head lolled forward, still feeling sleepy, until a sudden shift in the light forced his eyelids open.  The golden spill of the morning had broken over the trees and hallowed the figure now standing in front of him. 

Ekko squinted her eyes until his vision cleared.

“No way you slept here,” Powder said flatly as she stood over him with her arms closed and expression between disbelief and annoyance. 

Ekko blinked rapidly, straightening up in panic. “N-No! I didn’t—I was just…” he fumbled, trying to brush the dust off his clothes. “I got here early. Just... hoping to catch you.”

Powder scoffed, rolling her eyes like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Don’t care,” she snapped, cutting him off before he could finish explaining. "Great, you just ruined my entire day. Hoorah!"

Giving him one lsdt difr-eye, she turned and pushed the door open. Stepping inside like he wasn't even there. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Ekko sitting there, staring at the wooden door.

Damn. Still cold.

He sighed, rubbing his face with both hands. He’d been stuck in this alternate version of Zaun for a week now. A week since Ekko was losing his mind. Seven days of trying to make sense of a world that looked the same but wasn't. A world where making sense and not making sense at the same time. A week where Powder is here and better than the person he knew.

And in just one conversation, he’d already managed to fuck everything up.

He hadn’t meant to bring up Violet's death, not like that. But the words had spilled out his dirty mouth, bitter and fast. He hadn’t meant to say it. He was just confused and in disbelief, that's all. But it had been too late.

Ekko could still see the way her face crumbled before she masked it behind. He could still feel the anger in her voice as she shouted at him.

"You should leave. Go, before I do something I could regret"

For a split second, Ekko swear that he glimpsed Jinx behind Powder's sweet, angelic face. Perhaps, he mused, every Powder carries a shadow of Jinx, and every Jinx harbors a fragment of Powder. They are two sides of the same coin, innocence and chaos intertwined. In this universe, Powder might seem touched by trauma, but with the support she needed from her loving family. But Ekko knew better that Jinx still lingered beneath her, waiting for the right moment to emerge.

And his smart-ass just triggered it.

Since that incident, she’d been avoiding him like the plague. She hadn’t answered a single word from him. Not one look. Not one note. Not even a stray glance when they passed in the corridors of The Last Drop.

Yet here he was. Again. Another morning. Another quiet hope that maybe today would be different. But, as always, it's not.

He closed his eyes and leaned back against the cold brick wall, letting his head rest against it as he exhaled slowly. Then, a voice snapped him back to the present.

“No way you fought with my daughter. That’s a first.”

Ekko’s eyes flew open, body tensing like a wire pulled too tight. His heart kicked into fight-or-flight mode instantly, adrenaline flooding his system as muscle memory screamed danger.

Silco...

Back in his world, Silco was the last man you'd want to run into in a back alley. Or anywhere. A tyrant who fed Zaun shimmer until it choked, a drug lord with a god complex, a man who’d slit throats and drown cities if it meant keeping control.

But in this world, Silco was nowhere near that man. 

In this world, Silco looks like a good father to his children as he cradles two huge paper bags in his arms. His face was at peace, and no flicker of violence behind his mismatched eyes. In here, Silco was just a tired, old man, watching a boy who clearly hadn't slept well for days.

Ekko let himself relax, letting the tension in his shoulders fall back slightly. He was still getting used to this version of Silco.

“Y-Yeah,” he muttered, rubbing the heel of his hand against his temple. “We... argued a l-litte.”

Silco raised an eyebrow. “Must’ve been a big mistake, then. My girl’s been cursing your name for days," he said with a chuckle.

Before Ekko could respond, a familiar rumble of laughter rolled from the side.

“What do we do with this one, Silco?” Vander appeared, hefting a burlap sack over his shoulder, grinning like a bear. “Should we kill him for hurting our daughter?” He put his free hand on Silco's shoulder and pulled him closer.

“Don’t be a foolish, Vander. He may look stupid all the time, but our girl clearly loves him,” Silco said flatly, looking at him in annoyance, tired of hearing the same joke for the hundredth time and loving it anyway.

Uhm, excuse me??? I’m still here?

Vander just laughed harder and gave Silco’s shoulder a casual nudge before heading inside The Last Drop.

Ekko just fell into silence as he looked at the scene happening, feeling a twist in his stomach. This could have happened in his real world. 

Silco turned back to him, his gaze softer now, though his face barely shifted. “Coffee?” he asked, not even waiting for his answer as he starts walking inside.

Ekko hesitated before pushing off the wall to follow. He stepped through the doorway of The Last Drop, the familiar scent of roasted beans and old wood wrapping around him like a memory in the past.

It was quiet this early, other than the soft conversation between Gert as she arranged down tables with a rag slung over her shoulder and Powder scrubbing them down.

Ekko tried not to stare, but his eyes lingered anyway. She wore the same old blue jumper, sleeves rolled up, and hair pulled into messy twin buns. From here, she looked like she wasn’t mad at all. But he knew better.

“You planning to stand there all day, or are you going to sit?” Silco asked without looking back.

Ekko blinked and followed, awkwardly taking the seat across from him at a small table tucked near the wall. Silco placed the paper bags down and pulled out a small thermos. Vander joined them a moment later, dropping into his chair with a grunt, the burlap sack now gone.

The silence that followed was… tense.

For Ekko, anyway.

Silco poured coffee into mismatched mugs while Vander reached across and casually adjusted Silco’s collar, smoothing it down. Then the other man just let him and passed Vander a mug without a word.

Ekko tried to keep his eyes on his own mug. Tried not to feel like he was third-wheeling a married couple who could kill him with a look.

“You look like someone walked over your grave,” Vander said after a long sip.

Ekko cleared his throat. “I just… wanted to say sorry... again to her. But she’s not really giving me the chance.”

“Gee, wonder why,” Silco said dryly, sipping from his mug. His tone wasn’t cruel. Just honest. There was a pause before Silco leaned forward, expression dangerously calm. “So. What exactly did you say to upset her this badly?”

Ekko hesitated and regretted it immediately as both men leaned in, almost in sync.

“I, uh…" His eyes darter from both of them. "... asked her about Vi.”

Both Silco and Vander winced and settled back to their seat in perfect harmony, setting their mugs down at the exact same time. Vander even muttered a quiet, “Damn, kid.”

Silco rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You really went there?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Ekko said quickly, panicked. “I was just... suprised and I— I fucked up."

"Good thing you knew," vander murmured once more.

Silco sighed. "Violet had beed dead for the past nine years, why are you suprise all of the sudden?"

Ekko froze. How was he supposed to explain that? That in this world, Vi was gone, and Powder had mourned and buried her. But in his world, Vi was perfectly alive.

He couldn’t just say that "Well, where I’m from, in the alternate universe, your daughter’s still alive and kicking people through their asses!"  So, instead, he just sat there, shoulders tightening with the weight of silence.

He deflated into his seat, grimacing. "I-I don't mean that way. I... didn’t realize how much it still hurt her,” Ekko mumbled at last. He looked down at his hands, curling them around the warmth of his mug. Whatever world he was in now, one thing was the same: he’d hurt Powder. And now he had to find a way to fix it.

"Then fix it. Do something that would make her forgive you!"

⨲⨲⨲

Sunlight filtered through the tree's lush canopy, dappling the forest floor with golden flecks. Birds fluttered between the branches, chirping softly with their little ones learning to fly.

Ekko walked slowly, almost reverently, toward the base of the massive trunk. His hand brushed over the bark, rough and warm beneath his fingers. Here, in this universe, the tree had no sign of someone living in there. There were no platforms, no hoverboards racing across the branched, no Firelights singing in a perfect melody.

In this world, his home had never become how it used to be in his world. Dying.

A small, bittersweet smile curved his lips. "Guess something got to grow after all..."

But that joy was short-lived. The quiet peace only made him more aware of his people's current situation in his real universe. And without him back home… who knew what was happening? What if they needed him? He was their leader. He had to go back.

“What must Zaun’s little prince be doing in a place like this?”

A very familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. Ekko turned too fast, and his eyes locked on someone he missed so much at the edge of the clearing with his arms closed. The breath caught in his throat. He knew that face. Broad shoulders, slate-gray skin, and sharp features with that cocky stance.

"Scar?" Ekko said, breathless. “You’re here?”

The boy’s brow furrowed. The smirk faltered just slightly. His head tilted, eyes narrowing with sudden caution. “Uhm…how do you know my... name?”

Ekko blinked. Shit. He failed to realize that in this universe, they must not know each other. He tried to laugh it off, scratching the back of his neck. “Lucky guess?”

Scar narrowed his eyes further, watching him like he was trying to solve a puzzle with pieces that didn’t quite fit. “That so…”

Without another word, he walked forward, his boots crunching lightly over the grass until he stopped beside Ekko, both of them now facing the tree. For a brief moment, silence settled between them. 

“D-Do you know me?” Ekko asked, the question escaping before he could stop it.

In his own universe, Scar wasn’t just a comrade but a brother in everything but blood. His best friend. His right hand when the Firelights took flight. They’d patched each other up more times than he could count and fought side by side. So part of Ekko hoped, deep down, that the bond they had there might somehow stretch across universes. The version of Ekko and Scar in this universe might have that bond, too.

Scar blinked, then turned to him as Ekko had just grown another head. Ekko felt something twist in his chest. Guess they didn't.

“Who wouldn’t know someone like you?” He huffed a laugh like the answer was obvious. “Everyone in Zaun knows your name. Hell, even the kids in Piltover do. You and that girlfriend of yours—you two don’t get called Zaun’s royalty for nothin’.”

A flush crept up Ekko’s neck, the tips of his ears burning. The idea that everyone saw them that way, him and Powder, together, strong, admired, sent a strange warmth through his chest. In his own world, their relationship was complicated. Here, it seemed... ideal.

“​Though, lately, everyone’s noticed she’s been keeping her distance. Avoiding you, even. Word travels fast in Zaun.”​ 

Instantly, the joy he had been feeling quickly faded. Scar may have be looking at him in a serious face, but Ekko knews better, he was enjoying his missery.

Ekko’s heart sank and look away, remembering the very reason wht he was here: to earn her forgiveness. Janna gave him more strenght. He badly needs that.

“Oh...” Ekko managed to say, gaze dropping to the dirt between his boots.

“The real question is,” Scar went on, “how did you manage to find this secret place of me and my friends?”

Ekko blinked. “Secret?”

Scar raised an eyebrow. “Yes! This place is far beneath Zaun, hidden from the eyes of the greedy. So how come an inventor boy like you just happens to stumble across it?”

Ekko let out a awkward, nervous laugh, trying to find some excuse. When Scar did not let his sharp eyes away from him, he stopped and swallowed hard.

"Uh, well… I was following the, uh… the airflow patterns. You know, like how certain vents lead down deeper when the pressure’s right?” He gestured vaguely at the ceiling. “I mapped the tunnels for a project once. Just… connected the dots. Got curious.”

He prayed that his scientific explanation would somehow back him up. But when his eyes lingered on Ekko for a while, hishope vanished.

"Okay, look man, I swear, I’m not here to mess with anything or steal some top-secret Zaunite herbs you planted. I just..." He ran a hand through his locs, pacing a few steps before turning back to Scar.

"I just want to make something for my girlfriend. She's been giving me the cold shoulder, and it's driving me crazy. I can't take it anymore. So please, believe me."​

Scar raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. Ekko threw up his hands, exasperated.

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm desperate here."

Scar studied him for a moment, then sighed and nodded. "Fair enough. Just don't mess up the place."

Chapter Text

Jinx had actually been telling the truth... for once.

That monstrous thing in that stinky tunnel was actually Vander, or what was left of humanity behind him. Their father.

Violet didn't want to believe at first, thinking that it was just another one of her twisted fantasies, another mess built out of grief and wishful thinking. But she quickly proved herself wrong. Well, after obtaining multiple cuts and bruises, it's all worth it. The more important thing was that they are together now...  as a family.

After a short, strange reunion, they managed to get him out of the tunnel. Warwick (that's what Isha had called him now) doesn't speak like Jinx said. Still, he listened. That was the important part. He understood enough to follow simple instructions, and for now, that was enough to keep them moving forward.

Jinx said she knew a place. Some odd little community tucked away beneath the city of Zaun, where a so-called healer could fix anything. Might it be sickness, poison, madness, or even… this.

Vi was skeptical at first. Who wouldn't be? The whole thing sounds insane and dangerous. But the moment she looked at her sister's eyes, desperate and begging for her to say yes. 

Eventually, she agreed. She swallowed all the doubt screaming in her head and said, "Alright. Lead the way.”

And now... here they are.

The small community Jinx had been talking about was actually nothing she expected. 

The place was tucked away beneath the city, hidden from the fumes that couldn't choke the life out of it, making the place thrive with life. A beautiful place sprawl of life under the ruined one.

Tents and houses stitched from metal scraps, cloth, and living plants sprawled all around. Lanterns burned warm in every window. Children racing through the crowds, chasing each other with laughter. Families gather around as they eat, a smell of sweet bread filling the fresh air. While others called out on the street, offering strange food to passersby. Even the sick and the elderly sat comfortably outside, talking, smiling... living.

Seeing all of these, it made Vi realize that living here, among them, was actually not a bad thing. She had even told Jinx that once, during one of their talks. 

Who would have thought that a place like this would exist in real life, not like some twisted utopia? 

Violet's mind continued to wander as her eye pressed to the battered telescope she'd managed to snag from one of the market stalls on the way to their shelter, when an annoying voice chirped behind her.

"Who are we spying on, sis?"

She jumped, nearly smacking her forehead on the lens. "Shit, Jinx!" she hissed, pulling back and whipping around. "Don’t sneak up on me, damn it!"

Jinx just grinned like the menace she was, leaning way too close to her sister while both hands were on her hips. "You’re terrible at stealth, by the way. Could see your giant head a mile away."

Vi shoved her back half-heartedly. "I’m watching Isha, idiot. She’s with Viktor."

"Ahhh, The Herald," Jinx said dramatically, throwing her arms out like she was praising some invisible god. "Praise be his shiny metal ass."

Vi rolled her eyes and looked back through the scope again. "I just wanna make sure she’s okay. She’s a kid. You can’t just—"

"You think Viktor’s gonna corrupt her?" Jinx snorted, draping herself over Vi’s back like a lazy cat. "What’s he gonna do, teach her how to build a prosthetic metal body and have a tragic backstory? Ha!"

Vi elbowed her off. "Get off, you psycho."

Jinx cackled and flopped onto the ground beside her, somehow already twirling the telescope she’d easily snatched from Vi’s hands.

"Hey, give me that back!" Vi barked, grabbing for it, but Jinx had already pressed it to her eye.

Through the lens, Jinx spotted Viktor first, kneeling down with something in his hand. He offered it to her daughter, and without hesitation, the kid grabbed it with both hands, biting into it without a second thought.

"He's just giving her a fruit," Jinx said, shrugging as she tossed the telescope lazily back to Vi. "Calm your overthinking-grandma ass for a minute."

"He's brainwashing her!" Vi snapped, fumbling to catch the scope.

"Overthinking!!" Jinx sang, flopping onto her back.

Vi glared down at her. "You’re one to talk. You were ready to murder a guy yesterday just for bumping into her."

"Yeah," Jinx said proudly, not even blinking. "I did."

Vi sighed, raking a hand through her hair. "This place still makes me nervous."

"Not listening at all!!!" She shouted, clapping her hands over her ears and kicking her feet in the air like a bratty kid.

Vi just stared at her, deadpan. "Mature."

"Nyenye!" 

Watching her sister roll around like a gremlin made Vi pause, because damn her niece act exactly the same thing. Isha didn't just get all her facial featured, but her behavior too. 

Vi still hadn’t forgotten the frog incident.

A few days ago, that little demon had stuffed an enormous, slimy frog into Vi’s pillow. Vi hated frogs. Always had. She was halfway to getting her sleep when she felt something squirming under her head. In an instant, she bolted upright, grabbed the pillow, and hurled the whole thing outside in full panic without even looking.

When she returned to their shelter, her heart still hammering loudly, she turned to find Isha standing in the doorway, barely holding her laughter. Jinx had definitely put her up to it. No doubt about it.

Vi glared at her, breathing hard. Isha must have sensed the threat because she immediately shrieked and ran away from her, laughing like a maniac.

Vi gave chase without thinking, sprinting after her. "Oh, you’re dead, kid!" she shouted, trying not to laugh herself.

They continue to run around their small shelter, even knocking over a crate and sending some of their laundry flying into the air. Isha ducked and dodged like a greased rat, squealing the entire time.

And just when Vi thought she had her cornered, Isha made a sharp turn and bolted straight toward the door, right into Jinx, who had just stepped inside, arms full of scraps of parts of whatever it is.

"Whoa!" Jinx yelped, dropping everything as Isha crashed into her legs. She looked down, blinking, as Isha wrapped her arms around her waist. She raised an eyebrow at Vi, who came sliding to a stop a few feet away, hair wild, chest heaving.

"You bullying my kid again?" Jinx asked, pretending to sound scandalized.

"That devil started it!" She pointed at Isha accusingly.

Vi shook the memory away and turned her attention back to her sister. "I’m just saying," Vi muttered, crossing her arms, "I'm just worried about my niece. Can you blame me?"

Jinx snorted but didn’t look at her. "Stop calling her that."

Vi blinked. "Calling her what?"

She sat up and started picking up the frying edge of her pants. "... niece."

Vi frowned, confused. "Why?"

Jinx didn’t answer right away. She just kept tugging at the fabric like it might unravel the whole conversation if she pulled hard enough. And then it hit Vi like a punch to the gut.

"You didn’t tell her. Did you?" Vi said quietly. "She doesn’t know you’re her mom."

Jinx shrugged, trying to play it off, but her hands were trembling just slightly. "Not planning to... I mean for now, probably."

Vi stared at her, heart twisting. "Jinx... she's gonna find out eventually."

Jinx just shook her head, refusing to meet her eyes. "Maybe," she whispered. Her voice was too light to be anything but forced. "Or maybe not." Her shoulder hunched, and the annoying energy she had earlier drained out of her. Slowly, she scooted closer to Vi, dropping down beside her, close enough that their arms brushed.

"We've got bigger problems right now. Real ones! And... stupid shit like this—" she waved vaguely in the air, "—it’s not the priority."

Violet remained silent, letting her let out all her emotions burying inside.

Jinx picked at the dirt between her boots, her voice dropping even lower. "When everything’s fixed... when things are normal again... I'll tell her. I'll tell her the truth. That I’m not just some crazy stranger who let her follow her... but her mom."

They sat like that for a moment, the silence stretching between them. For a moment, Vi just watched her. Watched the way Jinx's shoulders hunched inward, how small she looked when she wasn’t putting on a show in front of her. How much she was still that same scared kid Vi had left behind. 

Without thinking, Vi reached over and pulled her into a light, awkward hug. Jinx stiffened at first, not knowing what to do with it. Eventually, she let her body relax in her sister's arms and closed her eyes. 

"Whatever your plans are, I want you to know that I support you."

She stayed there, letting her sister hold her, just for a second. It was her sister's arms that Jinx felt safe the most.

And then, just as quickly, the moment shattered. A sudden loud noise of running feet pounded towards them. Both of them turned in the direction from which the sound came and saw Isha come tearing across the grass, grinning ear to ear.

Vi barely had time to let go before Isha launched herself into Jinx's lap with all the force her small body could manage, tiny arms flung wide around Jinx's shoulder, demanding her mother's attention.

Jinx laughed, catching her easily. "What brings you here, Ish? Weren’t you and Metal Man having a grand ol’ time?"

Isha pulled back just enough to pout up at her, brows furrowed in a little scowl, then immediately curled up against her chest without a sound.

Jinx snorted and circled her arms protectively tight around her, tugging her close.  "Aww, I missed you too, bun-bun!" she cooed, pressing her cheek against Isha’s wild brown, blue hair.

Isha snuggled closer, her small hands fisting the fabric of Jinx’s top. Jinx just kept holding her, whispering something too low for Vi to catch, some little nonsense words that made Isha’s shoulders shake with silent giggles.

Jinx leaned back slightly and started poking Isha’s sides. Isha squirmed, hiding her face in her hands, her body trembling with muffled laughter. Jinx grinned wide, eyes brighter than Vi had seen in a long, long time.

"You got bigger since this morning, huh?" Jinx teased, pretending to lift Isha like she weighed a ton. "What’ve you been eating? Rocks?"

Isha shook her head violently and signed something quick at her, something cheeky.

Jinx gasped dramatically. "Did you just call me old?!"

Vi couldn't help but chuckle softly, arms resting loosely over her knees as she looked at how calm and happy her sister was with her daughter close. And suddenly, her chest ached in a way she hadn’t been ready for. She looked at Jinx, her only sister, and for a moment, she swore she could still see Powder there.

Maybe Powder had never disappeared at all.

Maybe Vi had just given up too quickly.

Before she could lose herself in her thought, Jinx shifted, lifting Isha easily into her arms and standing with a playful grunt, pretending the kid weighed a ton.

Vi squinted up at her, shielding her eyes against the blinding sunlight. "Where are you two going?"

"To Sevika’s," Jinx said casually, hitching Isha higher against her hip. "Metal hand still needs to know we're still breathing."

Vi stiffened a little, her jaw tightening on instinct. Just hearing the name made Vi’s fists itch. She couldn’t even count how many times they’d fought, Loyal dog to Silco, killer, and a bitch. Sevika was part of the reason things had fallen apart in the first place.

Vi couldn't believe that her sister was actually having a close relationship with that woman.

"Do you actually have to?" Vi muttered, the bitterness slipping into her voice before she could choke it back.

Jinx threw her a glance over her shoulder, reading her tone instantly. "That ogre was the one stuck babysitting me when the world went to shit," she said, shrugging. "So... yeah. I guess I owe her that much."

She turned on her heels and started walking away, Isha happily tangled in her arms like a second skin.

"You can come too, you know," Jinx called out, flashing a grin. "If you're done sulking."

Vi stayed where she was for a second, watching them go. Just the thought of sitting in the same room without throwing a punch made her fists itch. Eventually, she sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat. She stood up from her feet and jogged to catch up anyway.

⨲⨲⨲

After a long walk through winding alleys and forgotten streets, they finally reached one of the old veins of Zaun where most of the people gather.

Such as this!

Ahead, gathered in a loose circle, Sevika was deep in conversation with a few Zaunites, including the Firelights, Jinxers, and even a handful of ex-Chembarons thugs, who had no business standing in the same room together without violence. Yet there they were, murmuring in low voices for their alliance against their bigger enemy... their oppressor.

Vi slowed, her eyes narrowing. Beside her, Jinx clicked her tongue, muttering under her breath, "Tsk. She’s in her political era again."

Vi glanced sideways at her sister but didn’t answer. She just kept her focus locked on Sevika’s back. She still didn’t trust that woman. And after everything, she would probably never do.

Time passed as the quiet meeting started to break up, and people drifted away into the alleys. Then something small and fast darted past Vi’s legs. She looked down to see who it was, but it was already too late.

The little gremlin was already sprinting across the open space, heading straight for Sevika, sliding under the older woman’s thick poncho, disappearing completely except for the giggles Vi could hear if she strained.

Sevika jolted, startled by the sudden movement against her side. Her mechanical arm lifted automatically, pulling back the fabric with a gruff, suspicious grunt, ready for a fight.

What she found instead was Isha, grinning up at her like she’d just pulled off the world's greatest sneak attack.

"Isha?" Sevika barked, stunned. "W-What are you— Where’s Jinx?"

That was Jinx’s cue. With no shame whatsoever, she threw her arms out wide and walked forward.

"Eyyy, Lefty! Long time no see!"

Vi sighed and followed, already regretting this entire reunion she clearly didn't want.

Sevika blinked at Jinx for half a second, still thrown off. But when her sharp grey eyes found Vi, they immediately narrowed into thin slits. Vi met her stare without flinching, her own gaze like a drawn knife. There's no way she's backing out in this staring contest.

"Now I wanna punch you," Sevika growled at her sister, still not looking away from Vi.

"Ha! What do you expect from me?!" Jinx barked out a loud, delighted laugh, throwing her head back. "Anyway, no fighting in front of the kid."

Sevika grunted, flexing her fingers like she was seriously considering it.

Vi smirked, crossing her arms. "Still swinging first, huh? Some things never change."

"Neither do loudmouth Piltover rats," Sevika muttered, finally tearing her eyes away from Vi to scoop Isha out from under her poncho. Isha clung to her like a happy barnacle, tapping Sevika’s mechanical shoulder with a silent giggle.

Vi's eyes burned more, her jaw tightened. "Stop calling me that."

Sevika huffed, adjusting Isha against her hip. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes narrowed to Jinx.

Jinx shrugged like it was obvious. “Just letting you know we’re still breathing. Thought you’d be thrilled.”

“Now that I know,” Sevika deadpanned, “you can leave.”

“Wha—seriously? Didn’t you miss us, Sev?”

Sevika didn’t blink. “Honestly? …No.” Jinx clutched her chest with a gasp. Dramatic much.

"C’mon," she grunted, jerking her chin toward the street before starting to walk. "This place ain't safe for people like us... especially you!"

She didn't need to say Jinx’s name. Everyone knew who she meant. Jinx just rolled her eyes and yanked her half-slipping cloak tighter around her head, somehow making herself less recognizable. 

Vi rolled her eyes but followed anyway, sticking close to Jinx as they trailed after Sevika. 

It wasn’t far. Just a few twists and turns, and then they were standing in front of what was left of The Last Drop. Vi froze for half a second, memories slamming into her chest. She hadn't expected Sevika to live here.

The sign still swung overhead, rusted and half-broken, creaking in the light breeze. The old doors, scarred and patched up, looked like they’d been kicked in more times than she could count. It wasn’t the lively bar it had been under Vander's. Now it looked haunted to people who used to live here. This place has become a haven for ghosts.

Sevika shoved the door open with her metal arm and slipped inside. Violet let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and followed the two.

Inside was actually not that bad, like the outside. It was dimly and clean, the old wood had been scrubbed down with no sign of dust. The broken glass and furniture from their last fight had been swept up and patched up.  Vi found herself looking around, amazed at how this place had changed since the last time she saw it.

Isha wriggled out of Sevika’s arms and darted inside immediately toward the back without a sound.

Vi’s eyes tracked her instinctively. "Where’s she going?" she asked, glancing sideways at Jinx.

Jinx shrugged, hopping up onto one of the barstools. "Hideout."

Vi frowned. "Hideout? You mean your hideout?"

Jinx grinned, swinging her legs lazily and tapping her boots against the metal frame. "Yeah. Right under this place."

Vi blinked, trying to process. "You’re telling me... your hideout was right under The Last Drop this whole time?"

"Yup!"

Vi stared at her, deadpan. "You mean to tell me, back when I was busting my ass all over Zaun trying to find you—"

Jinx’s grin stretched even wider.

"—and you were just living under this place like some damn sewer rat?!"

"Yes, hehe."

Before Vi could strangle her, Jinx hopped off the stool and disappeared toward the back with a flash of blue hair, leaving Vi standing awkwardly at the bar alone... with Sevika.

Fantastic!

Vi shifted uncomfortably, feeling Sevika’s heavy presence approaching even before she heard the clink of her boots against the floor. Without a word, Sevika slid onto the barstool Jinx had abandoned, the old metal creaking under her weight. She reached behind the bar, grabbed a half-full bottle, and poured herself a drink.

Sevika took a slow sip, gray eyes flickering toward her once, before settling back on her glass. "You can sit your ass down if you want," she muttered grufly.

She hesitated for a second, her old grudges still fresh in her mind. But after a moment, she sighed and dragged herself onto the stool next to the old enemy, sitting stiffly, like any moment now, Sevika might attack her.

They sat in silence, letting the distant noise of the outside filling the awkward space between them. And when Vi couldn't take it, she took her own glass and grabbed the bottle from Sevika and poured herself.

Sevika blinked, clearly dumbfounded, turning her head slowly to stare at her. Vi ignored her, tipped the glass back, and let the burn hit the back of her throat. The sharp bite of alcohol was almost comforting. After days of living in that overly "perfect" commune, where everything smelled of peace and hope, Vi needed something that tasted rough and slightly toxic.

She slammed the glass down with a little more force than necessary and let out a slow breath, savoring the way it warmed her chest.

God, it had been too long.

Sevika just shook her head slowly, muttering under her breath, "World really has gone to shit."

Vi looked sideways at her, fingers tapping restlessly against the rim of her glass. "Can we... talk?" she asked, quieter this time.

Sevika glanced down at her, unimpressed. "You’re talkin’ already."

She gritted her teeth, biting back her first dozen sarcastic replies. She wasn’t here to fight even if she wanted to. "I mean, really talk."

Sevika sighed, setting down her drink with a heavy clunk. "’Bout what?"

Vi hesitated, the words thick in her throat. She stared down at the scarred bar, tracing a crack in the wood with her fingertip.

"About Jinx," she said finally.

Sevika groaned, dragging a hand down her face like Vi had just asked her to recount every mistake she'd ever made. "That brat again? Tsk."

Vi cracked a small, humorless smile, looking down at her bandaged hands. "Yeah. That brat."

Sevika stared at her for a long moment, then shifted her weight back, exhaling through her nose like she was already regretting agreeing to this. She glared up at the ceiling, as if asking the universe for more patience.

"What d’you wanna know?" she muttered.

"Everything..." She swallowed hard, forcing herself to hold Sevika’s stare. "I wasn’t there. Almost all her life... I missed it all. But you weren’t."

Her fingers curled around her glass, feeling a little pathetic for asking something that she, as Jinx's sister, should know. The truth was, even after all these days staying with Jinx together on that commune... Vi still felt like a stranger to her. She could still feel the huge, gaping distance between them. A distance made of years lost and wounds left to rot.

So Vi thinks that maybe asking things about her, about her past, makes those feelings go away.

Sevika took another slow drink before answering. "Your sister was a wild one. Even when she was still young, I could already see it."

"Yeah? Why is that?"

"Well... first of, that brat was always getting into shit she wasn't supposed to do. Always ten steps ahead when you didn’t want her to be. Blowing things up, she shouldn't be supposed to"

Vi couldn't help but huff out a soft breath through her nose, a ghost of a smile tugging at her mouth. That sounded about right.

"She used to build these... stupid contraptions," Sevika continued, a rare glint of amusement crossing her face. "Booby traps. Prank bombs. Nearly lost my other arm 'cause of her." She shook her head, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Thought it was hilarious."

Their conversation went on. Sevika spoke mostly about Jinx's younger years, which Vi was deprived of, stolen from both of them.

She talked about the day Jinx got her first period— a supposedly life-changing moment that turned into a full-blown crisis. The kid had barged into Sevika’s room, pale and panicked, convinced she was sick and dying. Sevika, being Sevika, had looked her dead in the eye and told her flatly she’d bleed like that for the rest of her life.

Jinx had cried for hours and wouldn't talk to anyone for days.

There were endless stories like that— ridiculous, chaotic, and way too on-brand. Like the time Jinx got into a fight with a group of older kids on the street. She won, of course, not with strength, but with dirty tricks and zero shame. Half the neighborhood hated her for that, while the other half wanted to be her.

She’d skip shimmer patrols just to mess around with her gadgets, building whatever new disaster her brain came up with that week. Most of it didn’t work. The stuff that did? Worked too well, which usually ended with someone (usually Sevika) chasing her down or putting out literal fires.

According to Sevika, Jinx had driven her to an early grave at least ten times.

Vi barked out a laugh, covering her mouth quickly with the glass, pretending to have a drink.

Yet, not everything about her life was as simple as that.

She spoke about the first time Jinx had killed someone. It wasn't her choice; forced to do it. Jinx was only eleven that time, small and scared out of her mind with a man twice her size bearing down at her.  She fought like hell, clawing and kicking the man. And by the end, she grabbed the closest she could, a broken pipe, and did what she had to do.

Sevika said she found her afterward, covered in blood, clutching the pipe so hard her knuckles had gone white. Eyes wide, trembling, staring down at what she had done like she didn’t even recognize her own hands. She didn't peak for three days after that.

Sevika also mentions that Jinx would experience something going on with her head that only she knows, making her freeze for hours and stare into nothing with a look so empty and scared. One of those times, she would break, screaming, trashing, and clawing at herself like she was trying to tear the vision out by force.

Vi listened in silence, hands wrapped around her glass, heart twisting tighter with every word that entered her ears. Her sweet little sister had to experience all of that without her by her side to offer her some comfort. Vi felt like she failed again as a sister... a protector.

"Then Isha came into her life..." Sevika muttered, her gaze drifting toward nothing, lost somewhere far behind the walls of the bar, rolling her glass between her fingers. "That little devil became her light. Fighting her demons by her side. You know what I mean, right?"

She turned her eyes to Vi, and she nodded once, tightly. Yeah. She knew exactly what Sevika meant.

Hearing it all, hearing the story of the sister she barely knew, made the gap between her and Jinx feel even heavier. And sitting there with Sevika made her realize something she hated herself for feeling.

Jealousy...

It is a bitter kind of feeling that makes you want to lash out. A kind of feeling that burned cold under your ribs when you realized someone else had been there when you weren't.

It should have been her.

It should have been Vi holding Jinx’s hand through the nightmares. It should have been Vi helping her survive the bad days. It should have been Vi being the one Jinx ran to, and not Silco.

It should have been her.

Vi lowered her gaze, trying to bury the feeling deep down where it couldn’t show. But it stayed there anyway, biting at her quietly.

"And Silco... that old man just let her do whatever she wanted." Her voice shifted into a more serious now. "Believe it or not, that man loved your sister like his own... Jinx was his weakness. His blind spot. Whatever she wanted, he gave it to her. Crazy man if you ask me."

Vi stiffened with the mention of that man's name, fingers curled into fists on the bar. Hearing that devil's name spoken about like he was anything but the monster he is made something ugly and twisted inside her gut.

Silco, who killed her father.

Silco, who poisoned her sister's mind and dragged her into hell.

Silco, who ruined everything.

And the idea that he could also be the one who stayed by her sister's side, acting like a good father... it made Vi sick. It made everything inside her snarl and recoil.

Sevika noticed the way Vi's jaw clenched, but kept going, not giving a damn if she woudnit like it.

"He wasn't a good man," Sevika said, like she was reading Vi's thoughts right off her face. She knocked back another swig of her drink, grimacing. "But when it comes to your sister, he kinda was... A guy who ruled Zaun like a damn iron fist turned into a pushover the second she looked up at him with those big, stupid eyes," Sevika muttered, almost smirking at the memory. "She could’ve asked for the goddamn moon and he would've found a way to put it in her pocket."

Vi said nothing, staring hard at her glass, forcing herself not to break it in her hand. Part of her wanted to scream, to tell Sevika she was wrong, that Silco was nothing but a murderer. That he didn’t deserve to be remembered for anything but what he stole.

But another part, the part that had seen Jinx cradling Isha with a tenderness no one had taught her, knew better. Sometimes monsters were still capable of love. And that hurt worse than anything.

Sevika tilted her glass, watching the way the liquid caught the low light. "And that love," she said slowly, voice dragging low like it weighed a ton, "made him do something that broke her."

Vi frowned, straightening in her seat. "What do you mean?"

Sevika didn't answer right away. Her jaw worked, like she was biting down on the words before they came out.

Vi leaned forward, tension pulling tight across her shoulders, anger simmering hotter with every second. "What did he do to my sister, Sevika?" she asked again, her voice sharp, almost a growl.

Sevika opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say whatever it was, a pair of blue-haired devils popped out of nowhere, startling them both.

Jinx stumbled in first, laughing breathlessly with a bag slung over her back that looked way too heavy for how easily she carried it. Isha clung to her side, holding a slightly ragged bunny plush.

Vi’s head whipped around, mouth half-open from the unfinished conversation, blinking at the sudden interruption. 

Jinx was halfway to the bar, still laughing at whatever nonsense Isha had just done, when her eyes landed on the drink sitting in front of Vi. Her whole face dropped in an instant as she practically threw the bag onto the floor before stomping over to Vi.

"No way you’re drinking again, Vi." She glared at Sevika, hands on her lips. "You forced her, did you?"

"Leave me outta your family drama. I'm tired." Sevika rolled her eyes and picked up her glass again.

Before Vi could even open her mouth to defend herself, Jinx grabbed her by the arm, yanking hard enough that Vi almost toppled right off the stool.

"Alright, that's enough, sis," Jinx declared, ignoring Vi’s squawk of protest. "We still gotta haul our asses back to the commune, and I am not carrying you!"

Vi stumbled upright, glaring at her sister. "You just almost snapped my arm off my body!"

"Be grateful I didn't actually snap it off your body."

⨲⨲⨲

The walk back to the commune was pure silence as the lights of Zaun started to disappear behind their back.

Vi trailed a few steps behind, watching the two blue-haired devils up ahead, Jinx and Isha walking hand-in-hand, humming tunelessly to themselves. It would’ve been perfect, Vi thought, if it didn’t also make her feel like the third wheel to a pair of professional gremlins.

Up ahead as they continue to walk, Isha suddenly stops, raising her small arms toward Jinx in a silent demand to be carried. Jinx bent down automatically, reaching for her, but Vi, sensing her moment to her niece, picked up her pace and slid in between them.

"I got her," Vi said, flashing a grin.

Jinx raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "She’s heavy, you know."

Vi scoffed, flexing her arms dramatically. "Have you seen these muscles?" She struck a ridiculous, exaggerated pose, flexing her biceps like some cartoon hero.

The two blue-haired menaces just stared at her with flat, unimpressed expressions. Vi dropped the pose with a little pout, muttering, "Tough crowd."

Rolling her eyes, Jinx waved her off. "Fine. Break your back. See if I care."

Vi leaned down and scooped Isha up easily. The kid wasted no time and immediately snuggling into Vi’s shoulder, her tiny hands fisting into Vi’s jacket, and her head resting against Vi’s neck like she was built to fit there. Vi smiled, warmth blooming deep in her chest.

“She’ll do that to win your heart,” Jinx sneered without missing a beat, walking ahead with a lazy swing of her arms. “But the truth is she’s actually a tiny devil. Trust me”

Vi grinned over Isha’s head. “You’re both devils.”

"Yeah, whatever."

The path fell into an easy silence after that. Vi shifted Isha a little in her arms, feeling the kid’s breathing slow against her shoulder. She was out like a light, completely trusting Vi to carry her the rest of the way. And it did something to Vi, something heavy, good, and paifull all at once. The last time she carried a child was when Jinx was still a kid. She missed that time.

They walked like that for a while in silence, just the sound of their boots on the cracked ground and the occasional squeak of Jinx’s bag rubbing against her back.

Vi watched her sister’s silhouette under the pale light and felt the words rising in her chest... The words that she should've said a long time ago.

She swallowed hard, tightening her hold on Isha like the kid’s small weight could keep her grounded.

"I’m sorry," Vi said, almost a whisper, but she knew Jinx was able to hear by the sudden tense of her shoulder.

She closed her eyes for a moment and forced herself to keep going, even when her throat tightened painfully.

"I’m sorry for... for leaving you back then. For leaving you alone when you needed me most." She looked down at the dirt road beneath them, blinking fast. "I thought... I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I'd come back before it was too late. But I didn’t. I didn’t come back. Not when it mattered."

The words felt heavy and ugly in her mouth, but she didn’t stop.

"And I’m sorry for now, too," she said, voice breaking slightly. "For still not getting it. For still standing on the outside of your life like some stranger when I’m supposed to be your sister."

Ahead of her, Jinx slowed slightly, but she didn’t turn around. Vi pressed her forehead against the top of Isha’s head for a moment, gathering the strength to say the ugliest part.

"It wasn’t you," she whispered. "It’s me... I’m the monster— the real Jinx was me all along!"

She laughed bitterly under her breath, the sound dry and empty. "You think it was you after I told you— that you’re the one who broke everything." Her steps slowed, then stopped altogether as her eyes began to blur with tears she refused to let fall. "But it wasn’t.... It was me, Jinx! It was me!"

"I gave up easily. I... I looked at you and... and all I could see was the destruction. I didn’t see you trying— didn’t see you fighting to hold yourself together. I just saw a mess I didn’t know how to fix."

She lifted her head, breathing hard, her voice shaking. "I was supposed to be the one who protected you. And instead... I— I made you feel like you were the mistake."

Silence fell again, thicker and heavier than before. Vi stared at Jinx’s back, waiting for her to keep walking, to ignore it, to brush it off like she always did. But after a long moment, Jinx stopped on her track. She shifted her weight slightly, glancing sideways without fully facing Vi.

"You were just a kid, Vi," Jinx said quietly, voice rough like she hadn’t used it in years. "... same as me."

She kicked at a rock on the path, sending it skittering into the road. "You didn’t see the world for seven fucking years. You didn't grow up like normal people do. You didn’t get to make choices like adults. You were forced to grow up by your responsibility to me and our siblings... by Vander."

She finally turned her head enough that Vi could see the tired curve of her mouth and the weight of many emotions in her eyes.

"The last day you were free... was the day you saw the people you loved die because of me." Her voice cracked slightly, but she kept going. "How the hell were you supposed to handle that? How were you supposed to look at me, at what I became, and not struggle with it?"

She gave a small, bitter smile.

"You weren’t a monster, Vi. You were just fifteen." Jinx shrugged one shoulder. 

Vi bit the inside of her cheek hard, trying to swallow the wave of emotion rising up in her throat. She didn’t know when the tears had started or feel them fall. But they were there, tracing silent lines down her face.

She keeps looking down, hiding her face from her sister. Afraid and ashamed that she looked so weak at this moment. Then after the long silence, she heard a soft, scrunching sound of the boots pressing into loosed gravel getting closer.

Before she could raise her head, Vi was suddenly wrapped in a tight, warm hug, arms locking around her with a familiarity that cut straight through her defenses. Vi froze for a beat, blinking, then slowly let her free hand curl around her sister’s back, holding her close.

"I'm still sorry."

"I'm sorry too... for everything. But it's all in the past now," Jinx murmured, her voice soft against Vi’s neck, nose brushing just beneath her jaw. "We're here now... together. You, me, Isha... and even Vander."

Vi’s throat constricted at the sound of his name, but she held tighter, grounding herself in the moment.

"We still have time... plentyyyy of time." She chuckled. "Time to figure it out. To forgive, and fuck up again, and still try anyway. So let's just toss it all away, yeah?"

Vi pulled back just slightly enough to look down at her sister. And there they were, those wide, strange pink eyes staring up at her with full of hope. She is still having a hard time getting used to them. It was not the same eyes she remembered before.

Vi let out a shaky breath before giving her a faint, genuine smile, pressing her forehead gently against Jinx’s. "Yeah," she whispered, nodding. "Let’s have that."

How long had it been?

Days? Weeks? Months?

Time moved strangely in this place. It bent, stretched, and folded in on itself, making Ekko lose track. Or maybe he’d just stopped trying to keep count.

The longer he stayed here, the harder it became to remember why he should leave... why he should want to. Because here, in this weird, impossibly perfect world, everything was right. Everything made sense.

There was peace, the peace he wanted since then, where they worked together and not against each other.  Zaun thrived and was not pressed.  The air felt cleaner, the streets safer. There was progress, not desperation. Smiles, not tension. Love, not war.

Also... she existed here.

Not that she didn’t exist in his world, she did. But their relationship was... a little complicated. Messy and broken in ways he didn’t know how to fix.

In his world, they treated each other like enemies.

But in here...

Here, she loves him instead of hating him.

And that makes everything harder for Ekko. The more time he spent in this world, the more a quiet part of him whispered that maybe he didn’t need to go back. Maybe this was the reality he deserved. Or, at the very least, the one he wanted to believe in.

Because here, for once, he didn’t have to fight her.

He could just love her and be with her forever.

Yet, no matter how much this world pulled at him, how easy it was to lose himself in it… the weight of reality always found a way to press back in behind his skull, keeping him awake at night.

He remembered the Firelights... his people. They had offered their full trust in him with this mission, in saving their home. They are in his world, fighting to survive in a place choking with corruption, and now... war. 

Before he was tossed in this place, he remembered how Caitlyn had made her move with her deadly gas clouding through the streets of Zaun in return for the bomb Jinx had delivered, killing her loving mother. 

That is what justice looks like... for them.

All it took was one bomb... one loss. And suddenly, her grief was reason enough to make an entire city bleed.

Ekko understood the pain. He did. Jinx’s bomb had killed her mother. It was cruel and merciless and violent. But still… Ekko couldn’t help but think how fucking ironic it all was.

When a Councilor dies, when a Piltover's oh great mother is taken, the city rises in fury. Their pain becomes policy. Their grief is justified by fire and death.

But when Zaunite children are orphaned by enforcers? It's all silence??! Nothing??

Zaunited are called criminals for asking why. They are called dangerous for demanding to stop. They kill one of theirs, and it’s a tragedy. They lose hundreds, and it’s order being restored.

And Ekko knew now, as much as he wanted to stay in this world of love and light, his people didn’t need peace handed down from on high. They needed someone to fight for them.

A sharp snapped of a finger in front of his face cut through the silence of the place, dragging him back to the present like a slap across the face. Ekko blinked and refocused his gaze. Powder stood in front of him, arms crossed, blue hair a mess, one eyebrow raised with maximum judgment.

"No way in hell you’re letting me talk to myself here, Space Boy! What are you thinking about? Was it another woman?!" she said, lips twisted in mock outrage. This woman was clearly toying with him, and he hated that.

His eyes widened instantly, his mind scrambling to catch up. "W–Wha—? Of course not!!" He laughed, but it came out a little too forced, a little too quick.

Because he was indeed lying, but not the thinking of another woman part! He would never do that to her! Its just that for that past few days, his mind was always occupied on ways just to get back home, and here was no way in hell he could tell her the truth, not about the other world, the other her, the version of this life where everything was beyond fucked up.

They are in her hideout now, trying to figure out how to at least replicate the arcane with the help of the hexcrystals he managed to obtain. He was hoping that he could make something just to have a way back to his world.

Ekko knew time was slipping. If he didn’t leave soon... he might not get to leave at all.

"Hmmm, I can smell a liar here." She rolled her eyes playfully and slumped her body on the sofa behind him, still staring at him like she could read his thoughts, and thank Janna, she couldn't.

Things had finally settled between them, somehow. Powder had managed to accept his apology, and from that day forward, Ekko tried. Really, really tried. With him getting annoyed easily, he started counting to five when he felt his temper flare and breath slower to compose himself. They shouldn't fight again.

It would be bad, really bad for other Ekko if he came back with a broken relationship after being gone for god-knows-how- long. So this version of him? He had to keep his head on straight if he wanted this relationship to work. Ekko had to play right.

Ekko sighed and turned to her with a very serious face. Then he did something wildly uncharacteristic for him. He reached out and clasped both of her hands in his, holding them tightly. Powder’s face froze, her eyes widening like he’d just proposed.

There was a long, painful pause before he found the courage to say the words.

"...Please believe me, Pow-Pow," he said, trying to sound soft and sincere. "I’m not thinking about any other woman but you."

There it was. The worst sentence that had ever left his mouth.

Powder stared at him, not with affection, but with pure horror. Her face scrunched like she'd just bitten into something rotten. He can't blame her, even Ekko looked disgusted with himself. His soul was actively trying to crawl out of his body. He is not the type of man, and he couldn't believe that those words just slipped out of his mouth.

"Ugh, let me go!" Powder yelped, wrenching her hands away and wiping them on her pants like his sincerity was contagious. "I need bleach. For my ears." She mimed fake gagging noises and turned away.

Ekko glared at her. He did his best to be sweet, and all she could do was at least pretend that she was touched. Ungrateful brat! 

"I swear that sounded way better in my head."

Powder whirled her head back on him. "What's happening to you lately, man?! You don’t talk like that. You never talk like that. That was rom-com level trash."

Really? Thanks to the gods.

"I'm just trying to be sweet—"

"I don't want the sweet you," she shot back, jabbing a finger into his chest. "I want you. The real, natural you. The sarcastic, short-tempered, mildly tolerable you."

"...Oh," Ekko said after a beat, blinking. "... okay."

That speech of hers left him speechless. Who would have thought that Powder could pull something like that? He wonders if Jinx, too, would be l— Ekko quickly shook his head mentally, erasing that thought.

"Geez," she groaned, dragging a hand through her hair. "You're stressing me out."

The silence settled between them comfortably as the music in the background continued to play, filling the air.  Ekko watched her get up from the sofa and turn her back to him to the mess of scrap on the table, back to her tinkering again. He sighed, letting the silence linger for a moment longer before she finally asked the question that had been bothering him.

"What would you do if I... left again, Pow?"

Her hands pause, and her whole body stilled. He wasn't planning on telling her about the alternate universe. It would be too dangerous, and she doesn't need that kind of spiral. But Ekko knew what was waiting for him... that once his project was done, he might never come back to her again.

After the silence, Powder let go of her tools and faced him, frowning like the question didn’t make sense.

"Why would you say that? You’ve never left me."

Oh... my bad then.

"You’ve been stuck to my side like a barnacle since we were kids. If anyone believes what people say, we’re clearly meant for each other. Bound by fate, or magic,  or whatever dumb thing keeps throwing us together."

Ekko managed a tired smile. "Just imagine."

Powder didn't answer right away for a moment, letting his words linger in her mind. Thinking what he meant... was the hidden message behind his simple question. Was he planning on breaking up with her and leaving her? Does he not love her anymore to ask something like this? 

Then softly, with all honestly, she answered, "I wouldn’t take it." A simple sentence coming from her hit Ekko straight to his gut, knocking out the remaining oxygen from his lungs. He couldn't breathe properly.

"I already lost Vi. And losing you, too?" She shook her head. "I’d lose it. I’d actually lose my mind." Ekko stepped closer, hands twitching at his sides.

"You’ve been part of my life since forever, Ekko. You’re just... there. Always have been. If someone took you away from me, too, I wouldn’t know how to survive that." Her eyes were glassy now, though she hadn’t noticed.

"Promise me," she said, suddenly, fiercely. "Promise you won’t leave me."

He swallowed hard. And the moment he reached her, he raised his hand and gently cupped her cheek with one hand, wiping away a tear she hadn’t even realized had slipped down. Her skin was warm beneath his touch, and shaking.

"I promise... to never leave you," he said, voice steady even as his heart cracked. Her hand found his wrist, holding it there.

Powder sniffled, trying and failing to pretend she wasn’t moved by it. "You should promise," she mumbled. "We already planned our lives after we got married."

"We what?"

Powder blinked at him like he was the crazy one. How could this woman change her emotions in just a few seconds??

"Yeah. Duh. We talked about it like... forever ago." She started ticking off points on her fingers. "First, we stay just us for a while. No kids until we’re ready. Then we’ll have two. A girl and a boy."

"A girl and a boy, huh?"

"Yup. The girl’s name would be Isha, after my mom. Felicia."

"That’s actually sweet." Ekko smiled softly. Even his emotions changed too quickly. Maybe that thing was contagious as hell.

"And the boy," she continued, grinning proudly, "would be named Echo."

He stared, confused. "Echo? Seriously? Echo??"

Powder rolled her eyes. "You suggested that, you idiot."

He burst out laughing, a real, deep laughter that lit up the whole room. "Why the hell would I name a kid after myself?! That’s so lame!"

"You thought it was cool!" she shouted, jabbing at him again. "You said it was like... poetic or something! ‘Echo of myself’ or whatever dumb nonsense you spit out while trying to sound deep!" Powder tried to keep scowling, but she was grinning too now.

She bit her lip, trying not to laugh, and then... her eyes wandered. Her gaze traced his face, over the familiar lines of his jaw, the curve of his lips, and lingered there a little too long.

It's been a while since they kissed. Too long, actually. And it makes her wonder why, since Ekko LOVES kissing her... and that makes her miss it. The feeling of that soft taste of his lips, making her feel everything and nothing all at once. It's the power Ekko holds over her. A simple kissed would make her lose her sanity.

Without thinking, she reached up, cupped his cheeks with both hands, and leaned in slowly. Her eyes flicked between his warm, deep brown eyes and soft, pouty lips. And when their nose were almost touching, her breath shallowed.

Ekko didn't move or blink, looking straight into her eyes like she was the gravity itself.

Their lips were almost touching, making her heart beat even more. Powder was almost tasting the best meal she had in her life.

Almost... almost... almost...

Then, out of the sudden, the door to her hideout flew open, startling them both out of their staring contest. Powder shoved him back so fast he nearly tripped over a crate. She spun toward the stairs with all the fear of someone caught mid-crime, scared that it was one of her fathers checking her down where they do occasionally.

Please not my Dads! Please not my Dads!

Thankfully, down the long metal steps waddled a very familiar figure. A short, furred, bearded, and way too loud for how small he was.

"Alright, short break is over, young ones!" Heimerdinger called out cheerfully as he made his way down, the book he was carrying slightly billowed with each bounce of his steps. "Progress does not build itself, you know!"

When he reached the final step, his bushy eyebrows raised when he saw both teens standing awkwardly apart, cheeks redder than overheating steel.

He blinked slowly, eyes darting from each of them. "Uhh... did I interrupt something?"

"NOTHING!" they both shouted in perfect, panicked unison.

Powder nearly tripped trying to grab a wrench. Ekko spun around and started fiddling with wires that were very much already connected. Both of them are suddenly very busy.

Chapter Text

The rain had stopped after the long storm, yet the wet sound of it tapping the window still echoed through his ears. A sharp and painful sensation pulse across his face that Powder slap made, splinting something inside him. Pride, maybe, or the last thread of hope he’d been stupid enough to hold onto.

He’d told himself he’d walk away for good after that. Ekko convinced himself that Powder was someone he no longer knew, but only the ghost of the past. That whatever bond they'd once had was buried under too much ash to matter.

Yet he failed even on that simple task.

Not even a full week later, Ekko found himself slipping out of the Firelight base in the early hours, ducking past patrol routes. No one saw him leave. Especially not Anna. He made sure of that.

He told himself it would be the last time, just one final glimpse to prove to himself that she really was gone. That Powder wasn’t in there anymore.

After his shift with the patrol among the new Firelights, Ekko would make up another excuse to their leader to slip through their place, just to find and see her.

Ekko trailed her from the shadows like a ghost she’d long forgotten. Every morning, without fail, Powder would perch on the ledge of the tallest building in Zaun, bare feet dangling in the void, eyes glazed over like she was watching a world that no longer included her. And when she's not in there, Silco is always nearby with a hand on her shoulder like a leash in silk. He’d murmur things to her, but Powder never replied. Not once. She just sat there, like a shell too hollow to echo.

Sometimes, she’d toy with the shattered remains of her wind-up monkey, twisting its head off and on, over and over. Other times, she'd dig her nails into her palms until her fingers trembled red, carving loops into her own skin like she was trying to remind herself she could still feel.

Ekko hated Silco. But what he hated more was that he couldn’t hate the man more. Not when she looked so utterly lost under his care, where she was only breathing because someone told her to. He wanted to end him, to end Powder's suffering. But he was not that stupid to do that. He was far more powerful than him. One snapped, and Ekko would die,

So he told himself that it would be the last. The last time watching her from a distance, in the shadow. It was all pointless and cruel move on his part. That Powder was beyond saving. She's Jinx now.

But every time he said it, he broke that promise.

Watching her became a ritual. A silent compulsion. A loop he couldn’t crawl out of. And deep down, Ekko knew it wasn’t just about nostalgia or regret. It was fear.

Ekko was scared.  A fear gnawed deep in his gut that one day, Silco might snap and hurt his friend. He couldn't trust that man. So he kept his distance, but was still watching her over. Night after night. Day after day.

“You going out again?”

Ekko flinched, nearly dropping his pack. It was in the middle of the night, and he decided to sneak out again to see Powder. At this hour, she would be perched on top of the rooftop and watch the city.

Spinning around, he found Eve standing a few feet away from him, arms crossed, brows raised. She didn’t look angry, just tired. Like she’d been waiting for this conversation to happen.

"If Anna's knows, she would beat your ass," she added flatly, her lips twisting into a smirk.

Ekko swallowed hard; no point in defending himself now. He was caught in the act. What was he supposed to say? That he was watching someone who’d tried to kill them? Someone they’d sworn to stop? How can he admit he still saw a friend when everyone else saw an enemy?

"She won't know if you would keep your mouth shut." He rolled his eyes and began walking again, tugging his hood up to hide himself. He almost lost his footing when, in an instant, Eve was already trailing beside him.

"Holy shit! Don't scare me like that, Eve!" Ekko shot her a sideways glare. "Go back to your quarter and mind your own business."

She just blinked up at him. "No. Can I come?"

"Absolutely not."

“Great. So I’m coming.”

“Eve—”

“Yes, Ekko?”

Ekko gritted his teeth. He didn’t have time for her games. The last thing he needed was her tagging along when he was already knee-deep in secrets. And if she found out who he’d been watching— Nope. No way. Not happening.

He sighed, dug into his pocket, and pulled out a small fold of crumpled bills that he kept for emergencies. He shoved it into her hand without looking.

“This is my weekly money, and it's yours now. Now turn around and go back.”

Eve looked down at the money, then up at him. “...Wow. Selling your dignity for ten bucks?”

“It’s twelve,” he hissed.

She pocketed it without shame. “Alright. You’re lucky I’m broke.”

“Unbelievably lucky,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Now, shoo and keep your lips sealed."

Eve gave him a dramatic look, then mimed zipping her lips, locking them, and throwing an invisible key over her shoulder with a smug look. Then, without another word, she spun on her heel and jogged back down the corridor toward her quarters, calling over her shoulder in a singing way.

"Good luck with your date, Ekko!"

Ekko muttered something very unkind under his breath and turned back toward the exit, finally alone.

⨲⨲⨲

Time slipped by, and the streets of Lanes that bled into neon light came into view the moment Ekko finally emerged their secret way. 

He moved through the streets, slipping between alleys and rooftops without making any sound. His eyes were only fixed on the blue-haired woman ahead of him, weaving through the crowd. Ekko kept his distance, his body half-shielded in shadow as he trailed her.

She walked like she owned the streets as her braided hair swung behind her like a pendulum. Left to right, left to right. It was kinda hypnotic.

Her presence alone made the people turn their heads. Mostly men around their age, looking too long with their eyes that slid over her like they had a right to. Some leaned in as she passed, their mouths twisted into grins that Ekko wanted to erase.

Powder didn’t react, of course. She just looked at them as if to say, Try me. I dare you.

Then she turned a corner, and for the briefest second, Ekko swore their eyes met. He stumbled, almost slipping off the ledge as his heart clenched and breath caught. He froze, blinking fast, but she was already gone. Maybe it was nothing. A trick of the light.

Ekko let a minute passed before he decided to jump down to continue following her. He landed to the ground with no sound and immediately sprinted toward the alley she disappeared into. His pulse hammered as he neared the corner, feet slidding slightly as he leaned into the turn—

Then something slammed into his ribs.

He hit the ground hard, air punched from his lungs as he rolled across the dirty pavement. Groaning, Ekko tried to push himself up, adrenaline still catching up to confusion, only to feel a boot press down on his chest, pinning him flat.

"Uh uh uh," a voice sang above him, low and teasing. "Not so fast, little man."

His eyes snapped open wide. He knew that voice very well.

His chest rose sharply under her foot as he stared up and met the sharp, dangerous glint of her blue eyes. Powder was standing above him like a queen of chaos she ruled, her side bangs slightly swaying, and a gun casually drawn and aimed at the space between his eyes. She was grinning, but her eyes weren't.

"You're not very good at hiding, I must say," she murmured.

Ekko's heart stopped as her foot pressed further into his chest, not hard enough to crush his ribs, but enough to remind him that she was the one in control. Eventually, she leaned over him, weight shifting subtly, making him groan. Her braid fell over her shoulder as her silhouette blotted out the moonlight above.

"Gee. If you wanted me underneath you, all you had to do was ask." His lips parted, breath shallow, not from fear but for the suffocating heat between them, with all the years they spent apart that had condensed into a singular moment.

Powder raised an eyebrow and looked at him, confused. Ekko took this opportunity to grab her ankle and twist just enough to throw her off balance. She didn't fall like what he expected, but it gave him just enough time to pivot, roll, and flip their position.

In a blink of an eye, Ekko was now above her, knees braced on each side, and wrist pinned with his huge hand just above her head.

They were both breathing fast now. Powder was staring up at him, teeth baring between challenge and trill. Her gun had clattered to the side, forgotten. And Ekko...

He was too close to her.

His face hovered just inches above hers, close enough to see the flecks of pink swimming in her blue irises. Her cheeks were freckled faintly now, like the stars had tried to settle on her skin and got stuck there. There was a small grease smudge on her temple, and the scars and a fading bruise near her jaw.

Ekko was close enough to feel the heat of her breath on his mouth. One wrong move and their lips would brush. One wrong twitched of a muscle and it would change the trajectory of their life.

His own heartbeat hammered so loudly in his ears. So loud that he could barely hear the city noise anymore.

"Stop breathing hard on my face, Ekko. It's infuriating." With a hint of pink on her cheeks, she sharply turned her head sideways to have some space between their face.

"Will that be enough in exchange for kicking me in my ribs? That hurts like hell! You could've just approached me like a normal person would do!"

"You were stalking me, dipshit,” she shot back, still not looking at him. “Creepy boys get kicked. Now, let me go!”

Ekko huffed a breath through his nose, almost a laugh, almost not. “Fair. Okay, I’ll let go of you... If you promise not to shoot me in the face.”

Jinx didn’t answer immediately. Her fingers twitched under his grip, as if debating whether to claw or clasp. Eventually, she turned her head just enough to glance at him from the corner of her eye. 

“Fine,” she muttered, begrudgingly, lips twitching.

Reluctantly, Ekko slowly loosened his hold on both of her wrists, still not fully trusting their ceasefire. When she didn't move to tuck him in, he groaned and finally pushed himself off, standing upright and brushing off his knees.

“How long,” he asked, tone dry, “have you known I was following you?"

Jinx blinked, surprised. “Just now, obviously—wait.” Her expression twisted in recognition. "Don't tell me you’ve been following me for quite a while?”

Ekko’s eyes darted to the alley beside them, the pipes above, anywhere but her face. His hand went to the back of his neck, rubbing it.

"W-What? How can you conclude something like that?”

Powder's smile faded and gave him a sharp look that almost made him cower.

“Don’t lie to me, Ekko,” she said flatly. “I know you way too well.”

His jaw tightened. "...Yeah,” he said, finally. And that one word hung heavy between them. 

"Why?"

That one hit harder. Harder than the kick she gave him earlier. God knows how much he wanted to say the things he had been holding inside. He wanted to say, Because I was scared he’d hurt you. Because I missed you even after everything. 

But if he said that… He wasn’t sure what it would break. So he didn’t say anything.

Powder let out a slow, tired breath, breaking the silence that settled between them. She brushed off her side bangs in an annoyed manner as she kicked the stone on the ground.

"Was my slap before not strong enough?” she asked quietly. “Did it not get through that thick skull of yours?”

Ekko flinched, but was unable to retort back.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, Ekko,” she went on, softer now, but the sharp look in her face was still there. “Following me like that... watching me like I’m gonna wake up one day and magically go back to being her.”

"Because I will not... I will never be like her again."

Her gaze flicked up to meet his, looking at him with her tired, blue eyes, he used to love... no, always love.

“The Powder you knew is gone. She’s dead, Ekko. You don’t get to chase her like she’s still somewhere in here.” She tapped her temple lightly. “I’m Jinx now. This is me. All of it. And you... you don’t get to change that.”

"I’ve been calling you for how many times, Ekko, but it seems like you're off in your own reality again.”

His heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Ekko jolted upright from where he’d been slouched over the table, nearly knocking over the cup beside him. He spun around, wide-eyed, only to find Powder.

Silenced had passed, and when Ekko didn't utter a word, she raised an eyebrow and held up the pen he’d dropped, placing it gently on top of the book in front of him.

“You dropped this.”

She leaned over, peeking at the sketch he hadn’t realized he’d been working on until that moment. His breath caught in his throat.

Powder tilted her head curiously. Ekko’s brows pinched as he followed her gaze, and his heart twisted when he saw Jinx's face, drawn in with meticulous detail; her angular face, the small scars all over her face, and the signature side-bangs.

His hand moved to snatch the paper away, but Powder grabbed it first, holding it up and inspecting it.

“Uhm,” she said slowly, placing the sketch beside her face. “Was it just me, or do I look... different here?” She didn’t sound offended. Just genuinely confused. And yeah... she did look different because that's not her.

This Powder still had the softness in her face. eyes, while still the same bright blue, didn’t burn with grief or rage. Her hair was shorter, neater, without the heavy braids weighed down by memory, no dark bags under her eyes. No visible scars trailed along her face, and her smile was sweet and soft, not hiding anything beneath it.

Jinx and Powder might have shared the same bones, the same eyes, the same identity. But Jinx had become something forged from what she's been through, compared to Powder, who still has the support system she needed.

Ekko scrambled for a response, heat rushing up his neck as his mind raced for something to say that didn’t sound like I’ve been accidentally drawing the version of you from another universe who thinks I’m her enemy and once had feelings for her.

"Uh—yeah. I was just, y'know... sketching." He rubbed the back of his neck and forced a shaky laugh. “Kinda zoned out, and I guess I started imagining you with a different look. Like uh... edgier vibes? hehe."

She squinted at the drawing again, then raised a brow. “Edgy Powder, huh?”

“Just experimenting with style,” he added quickly. “Y'know. Alternate versions.”

She chuckled, leaning back in the table, still looking at the sketch. “She’s pretty,” she said softly. “But honestly? She kinda looks like she hasn’t slept for days.”

Ekko smile faltered as the memory of the past crept in, uninvited. Powder’s voice faded into the background, her gentle laugh echoing distantly in his ears.

It had been months after she kicked him in the ribs and held a gun to his head, and they started meeting again at their secret place from time to time, where no eyes could follow, and where they could both pretend the world outside didn’t exist.

Jinx still didn’t know the truth that Ekko was one of the Firelights now. That he was one of them. He wasn’t planning to tell her. Because if he did… she’d vanish and push him away again, and he couldn't take that for the second time.

"Have you been waiting for me?”

Ekko flinched at the sound of her voice, turning slightly where he sat on the rusted railing. His eyes found Jinx standing a few feet away. His heart tightened when he realized that she looked thinner and paler than the last time they saw each other. The bags under her eyes weren't helping either. It looked like she hadn't slept for quite a while.

“Po-Jinx?!" He quickly recovered from the shock. "N-No. I just got here, actually,” he lied, forcing a smile.

She gave him a small, tired smile, one that barely reached her eyes, and dropped beside him, leaving only a sliver of space between their bodies. The metal groaned under her weight, but she didn’t seem to notice.

“It’s been a while,” she murmured, voice softer than usual. “And I thought I’d never see you again.”

Ekko looked at her out of the corner of his eye, studying every curve of her face.  "I'm always here... waiting for you."

For a moment, she didn't respond. Then, slowly, she leaned against him. Her shoulder brushed his, then rested there fully, her head tipping to his side like it was the only place left that didn’t hurt. Ekko felt like her gesture just knocked the air from his lungs.

“Let me just take a nap for a while,” she muttered. “It’s been days since the last time I had.”

Ekko's hand twitched, wanting to hold her, but he stopped himself immediately. That would totally weirded her out. “Why?” he asked, his voice trembling even as he tried to keep it composed.

“Annoying voices in my head,” she said without hesitation, eyes stayed closed. “Always screaming… laughing… pulling me apart.”

Ekko didn’t reply, swallowing the lump in his throat. He didn’t know how to reply to that. But the only thing he felt in every part of him was pulling those voices out of her one by one and burying them himself.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, she added something that made his heart rumble inside. Her voice was faint, almost as if she wasn't sure she wanted him to hear.

“But when I’m with you, Ekko… it’s quiet.” Her breath caught a little at the end as she nestled closer against him. “When I’m with you… I’m at peace.”

Ekko's chest tightened, her words hitting him harder. His lips parted, but nothing came out. Because what was he supposed to say to that? He wanted to tell her she had no idea what she was doing to him. That she didn’t realize how much those words meant. That he hadn’t known peace in years, either, after everything, not until he was with her.

He looked down at her, at the way her lashes trembled slightly before settling, the lines in her face easing with every slow breath. She had shown herself so much in his arms, and somehow, that made him feel whole.

So, instead of saying anything, Ekko lifted a hand, careful, and gently brushed a loose strand of blue hair from her cheek, letting his fingers linger just a second too long.

“Then if you ever feel like your world’s slowly falling apart… come here.” His voice came out low, softer than he meant it. "And I'll be your peace." He let his thumb rest against her jaw, his heart pounding as the words tumbled out.

Eventually, as time passed, her breathing softened, slowed. Her body slackened against him completely, trusting him with all the weight she didn’t let the world see. Ekko held her closer, feeling her warmth, as he turned his gaze toward the flickering lights of Zaun.

"Your brain’s not here again." Powder’s voice sliced through the memory in his mind, followed by her fingers snapping just inches from his face. “Seriously, Ekko. I know you’ve been stressing about the upcoming competition, but your research works! Lighten up, little man.”

Ekko blinked, startled back into the present like he’d been dropped from a great height. He stared at her for a second too long, feeling a sudden guilt about how he acted towards her over the following weeks. It kinda scared him too that he might have destroyed whatever was going on between her and his other self by the things he acted.

"Y-Yeah... I apologized." His eyes dropped briefly to the floor before flickering back up.

Powder blinked at him, clearly caught off guard by how sincere his voice was. Her smiled softened slightly as she leaned forward, thumb swiping lightly across his cheek to wipe a streak of ink from his skin.

“You know what I think?” she said with a small, mischievous smile returning to her lips. “I think you seriously need to relax. Come to the party later, dance a little, maybe even pretend you’re not brooding over schematics and doom for five minutes. What do you say?”

"U-Uhm..." His gaze drifted past her, toward the far edge of the lab where Heimerdinger stood on a ladder to get some boost on their latest version of the hexgate prototype. The old yordle was muttering to himself as he noting and checking notes.

Then out of nowhere, a tiny firelight entered his field of vision. It floated in from the small gap of the hideout and drifted lazily through the place with its small, soft glow. Ekko’s breath hitched as his eyes followed the little one fluttering gently down and landed on his notebook... to where he'd drawn Jinx. The tiny insect’s glow spilled across the page, illuminating the delicate lines of her face in the sketch.

"Pleaseee, Ekko. Just this time."

I really need to go home.

Jinx was elbow-deep in a pile of salvaged junk, stuffing her things into her duffel bag with absolutely zero system or plan. If her eyes landed on it and it sparked any kind of idea in her brain, in the bag it went. After all, this is for her own sanity. The commune was too peaceful for the world she was used to, and if she had to spend another day watching people weave baskets or ferment beetroot tea while discussing “inner balance,” she was going to lose the last three screws In her brain. 

“Holy shit, this place is cool,” Vi muttered behind her, almost to herself, as she stepped further inside her sister's place. “And really dangerous one,” she added, glancing over the edge of the huge metal fan with no railings on it. "What if you or Isha fall?”

She dug out a wiring and turned it over in her fingers, squinting at it. It wasn’t much, but she kept it anyway. If Vander’s mechanical bits ever started glitching one day, she might actually have a use for this stuff since some of the configurations on his body were weirdly familiar. 

Slowly, she turned to her sister, face blank, stuffing the last tool into her bag. "Uhmm... die, obviously?"

Vi snorted, rubbing her temple like she regretted even asking. She wandered over to the workbench and picked up another one of Isha’s doodles, smiling as her hand lingered longer than it needed to. Her niece clearly got her artistic talent from her sister, Jinx... and her face, well, maybe a little. Vi suddenly thought about what Isha got from her father. But most importantly, who exactly was Isha's dad?

From her sister, Jinx's attention was later shifted down when she felt a soft tug on her pants. She looked down and saw Isha standing there with that determined look on her face, gripping the straps of her tiny overstuffed bag with her hand, half a dozen toys she and Jinx had made. 

“And what did you bring this time?” Jinx raised a brow. “Reminder: I’m not carrying that heavy shit.”

Isha pouted instantly, shoulders sagging. She turned to drag her bag back toward her tent, already preparing to unpack and negotiate which toys got left behind. However, before she could get far, Vi suddenly spoke up.

“I’ll carry it. Let the kid bring the toys she wanted.”

Jinx’s eyes snapped toward her, glaring. “You’re not helping, sis.”

She was about to warn Isha again, but it was too late. The kid had already turned around and fled straight back, wrapping her arms tight around Vi’s leg. She stiffened a bit, still not used to her niece being this nice. Vi knew she was a little menace, much like her mother, but eventually, she rested a hand on Isha’s back, rubbing it once with her thumb.

"You're welcome." She let out a short laugh as she playfully punched Isha's little arms. The little kid took that as a green light, and with a gleam in her eyes, she threw a tiny fist into Vi’s thigh.

Vi blinked. “Oh. We’re doing that now?”

The little kid laughed and threw another punch, then another, making Vi groan dramatically, staggering back a step. 

“Is that all you got? You can do better than that! Come on, I’m made of steel!”

Isha puffed her cheeks, and with a determined look, she launched a full-on barrage of tiny punches to her leg. Vi laughed, letting herself flinch and overreact to each one of them.

"Ohhh! Ahhh! Someone, help me!! Anyone!"

Then, before Isha could land another jab, Vi snatched both her little hands in one quick, playful move, still laughing. “Aight, that’s enough, tough girl! You’re gonna give me bruises. Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?”

Isha grinned like she’d just won a championship in pitfight, then swiftly signed with her fingers: Sevika.

Vi’s entire face crumbled in slow motion with the mention of that woman (she knew how to interpret signs now... well, a little). That should be her, honestly!

Jinx, sitting nearby with her bag half-zipped, looked up at her with zero sympathy. “You both still bitter with each other?”

She shot her a look. “She almost killed me. You don’t just forget that.”

Jinx shrugged, brushing imaginary dust from her pants before standing up. “Didn’t you two share a drink last time?”

“Yeah. Having a drink doesn’t mean I forgive her for breaking half my ribs, thanks.”

“True.” Jinx, already standing by the doorway, shook her head and slung her bag over her shoulder with a grunt. “Anywayyy,” she drawled, “that kid needs a shower before she starts growing things, so we gotta move our ass if we wanna make it back to the commune before sunset.”

Vi gave her a sideways look. “Uhm, to where exactly are we going?”

Jinx turned, flashing her one of those mischievous grins that always meant trouble or fun, buts usually both. “I know a place.” She gave her a wink and started walking. Isha broke into a silent run after her, her bag bouncing behind her.

⨲⨲⨲

Vi blinked at the sight of the polished tile, glowing lanterns, and actual clean towels stacked neatly on the side. This wasn’t just any bathhouse she used to visit. This was Babthe’s. The brothel's private sanctuary was usually reserved for customers who dripped gold in their pockets.

She leaned toward Jinx, arms crossed. “Okay, I gotta ask, how exactly did you convince Babethe to let us in here? Last I checked, she turns people away if their boots scuff the wrong way.”

Jinx didn’t even look up as she began removing her clothes. Vi did the same thing, a little excited with the comfort this bath would offer.

“She’s just fond of me. Y'know that old hag.”

Vi narrowed her eyes at her, not buying a word of it.

When Jinx was finally peeled, every piece of her clothing, she looked across the room where Isha stood near the huge pool. Her boots had already been kicked off, her tiny feet making soft slaps on the floor as she inched toward it.

“Come here, bun-bun! Let me undo your braids!” Jinx called, settling down with her legs dangling into the water, slapping the space beside her.

Isha’s head perked up, golden eyes lit up at her. With a giggly gasp, she ran straight for her mother and flung herself into Jinx’s lap.

Jinx laughed through her nose, her chin resting gently on Isha’s head. “You're getting bigger. I swear, one more inch and you'll break my bones if you crash me again,” she joked as she began undoing her braids. 

Vi, now dressed in a towel and sitting just beside them with her feet in the pool, leaned back on her hands and watched in silence for a while. Then, with a raised brow, she finally spoke up.

“Hey… was her hair always this blue?” she asked, eyes narrowing as she reached over to pick up one of the loose strands. “I swear it wasn’t the last time I saw her.”

Jinx glanced up at her, then smirked. “Nope. It wasn’t.”

Vi blinked. “You dyed her hair?” Her sister’s widening grin answered everything. That specific brand of smug that screamed guilty but proud. Jinx, of course, had dyed her kid’s hair.

“I lost a bet,” she added with a shrug, not sounding the least bit regretful. “I was clearly forced into it.”

Jinx leaned back as she finished unbraiding the last twist in Isha’s hair, fluffing it out with her fingers until it looked like a soft, tangled blue halo. She gave it a quick shake, smiling at how it bounced back.

Now that Isha’s braids were undone, the full length of her hair spilled out in loose, messy waves. It wasn't short anymore without the braids. In fact, it surprised Jinx how long it had grown since the last time she really noticed.

She tilted her head, brushing a few strands back with her fingers and giving a small smile. “Wow, Isha. Your hair’s gotten long.” She gave the strands a gentle tug. “Give it a little more time, and it’ll be as long as your mine. Maybe even longer.”

The little girl giggled silently, her eyes shining as she reached up and grabbed a handful of her own hair, proudly stretching it out to see. 

“Alright, time for the bath,” she said, tapping Isha lightly on the side. “Up, up!”

Isha obediently raised both arms over her head, and Jinx instantly grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head in one smooth motion. She made quick work of the rest of her clothes. Then, without a second thought, a splashing sound was heard when Isha dove straight into the water with no hesitation, disappearing beneath the surface.

Vi jerked upright, eyes wide. “Jinx—?!”

“She’s fine,” Jinx said casually, handing her one of her long braids. "Now help me undo this thing."

Vi didn’t budge at first, eyes scanning the water for any sign of movement. Then she heard a bloop sound as Isha's head popped her head up, gasping in a breath with a wide, toothy grin, her wet hair plastered to her cheeks as she blinked the water from her lashes. Vi let out a silent breath, finally reaching for the braid Jinx had shoved into her hand.

“See?” Jinx said with a smirk, watching her daughter paddle toward the edge. “Isha might look like an angel, but she’d kick your ass if you weren’t watching your back.”

Vi rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, settling beside her sister and starting to work the knots out of the impossibly long braid. “This hair... damn. You really let it get this long? It’s like a rope you could rappel down a building with.”

Jinx started working on the other braid, tugging gently at a knot. “I let it grow out for the vibe." She gave her a wink, earning a light smack on her shoulder from Vi. Before Jinx could retaliate, a sudden splash of water hit them both, but mostly Vi. Her towel was instantly soaked.

“Isha!” Vi yelled, glaring at the little gremlin floating a few feet away. 

“You should probably take that off,” Jinx said, pointing at the soaked towel with a jerk of her chin. “You’re the only one not naked in here.”

“I’m fine. Thank you,” Vi muttered, clutching the wet towel a little tighter.

“Wait... you’re self-conscious.”

“I am not.”

“Liar.”

“I am not!” Vi’s voice cracked a bit as her ears went faintly pink.

Jinx leaned back on her hands, grinning. “Come on, sis. I’ve seen everything already. Don’t be a pussy.”

“D-Don’t be a w-what?! That was eight years ago!” Exactly the opening Jinx needed. In a flash, she lunged and yanked the towel off her sister's body in one swift motion.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Vi shrieked, scrambling to cover herself with her arms.

Jinx, completely unfazed, leaned in curiously to her sister's form, fingers on her chin. “Huh. It’s all the same. Just… beefier. You’ve been lifting?”

Vi shot her a glare, cheeks burning as she twisted to grab the closest towel and wrap it around herself again. “You’re deranged,” she muttered, still glaring.

Jinx just laughed, tossing her head back dramatically, then leaned forward to tug another knot loose in her braid. “What, I’m just saying! Time hasn’t been mean to you.”

Vi rolled her eyes and dipped her feet further into the water, watching Isha glide from one end of the pool to the other. Once she was sure the kid was well out of earshot, far enough to hear nothing but the sound of her own splashing.

“Hey… can I ask something?”

Jinx hummed, not looking up. “I mean, you're basically asking me right now. But go on."

Vi nudged her lightly with her elbow. “I’m serious.”

Jinx side-eyed her. “Shoot.”

She glanced at Isha once more, then lowered her voice further. “Who’s Isha's father?”

The question hung in the air between them, making Jinx’s fingers pause mid-twist, eyes flicking just once to Vi before returning to the braid in her hands. Her smirk faded, but not into anger, but into grief and sadness that Vi didn't expect her to show.

"She doesn't have one." Her jaw shifted slightly, and VI could tell by the way Jinx’s hands moved a little slower, by the slight twitch in her cheek, that it wasn’t something she wanted to unpack right here.

"Why? Did Silco kill the guy when he found out?" Vi asked, half-joking, but her eyes watched Jinx closely for the reaction.

She let out a breath that was almost a laugh and reached forward to skim her fingers across the water’s surface, tracing invisible shapes. “Being killed would've been merciful if Silco had known,” she said, voice low, almost to herself. “But no. He never did. I didn’t tell him.”

Vi raised a brow. “Why not?”

Jinx didn’t answer right away. Her eyes were distant, fixed on Isha floating peacefully in the middle of the pool. The silence stretched just long enough to feel heavy.

“Because it would’ve changed everything,” she said finally. “He was already watching me too closely after knowing that I'm expecting. And if I tell him that? He’d cage me.”

"That man... was it someone you cared about?"

Jinx paused again, then gave the barest nod. Her lips parted like she wanted to say his name, but it never came.

Ekko.

Even now and then, Jinx still hated how easily his name stirred something in her chest. She hated to admit, even to herself, but Jinx still saw his face when she closed her eyes, still heard the way his ragged breathing sounded as they fought each other to kill, and still dreamed in her sleep the way his brown eyes looked at her. And even though she told herself a hundred times that he was gone, that she’d killed him with her own hands, some broken part of her never really believed it.

She could still see him too clearly in her mind for that. And that made it worse. Because if he were dead, she killed the only person who had ever made her feel safe in a world where safety didn’t exist.

She regretted why she did that. She had been full of too much emotion that night with all the anger, grief, and fear, and couldn't bear the idea that someone would still look at her in that way. Jinx thought that she didn't deserve any of that. She is the Jinx, the misfortune who killed her family.

There's nothing left for him to love her. And if Ekko ever had... she destroyed it.

She tore her gaze away from the water and looked at Isha as she drifted from one side to the other side of the pool, lips parting to breath. For a moment, she saw Ekko on her. The shape of her eyes, the line of her jaw, even the same crooked grin with a little tooth gap, right in front.  The same one Ekko used to when he was still little.

She had always told herself Isha looked like her. But the more time that had passed, the kid clearly yelled that she was his daughter. Jinx even wonders how her sister did not catch that.

Fuck that man, she thought bitterly, still watching Isha. She carried her for nine months. She bled for her, almost died, and gave everything she could, and still, somehow, he got to have her wear his face. And that makes her miss him even more.

Eventually, she let her eyes drift back to Vi, silently watching her as all the emotions flickered through her eyes.

"Yes. He was." Jinx let out her breath she didn't realize she was holding.

⨲⨲⨲

Vi swore up and down that there was no way in hell she was getting in that pool. She wasn't afraid of the water, but the truth, of course, was far more embarrassing: Vi, the ever-intimidating brawler of Zaun, had never actually learned how to swim. And there was no way she was about to admit that in front of the two devils currently plotting her demise.

“Don't you dare,” Vi warned, pointing a finger at them, where Jinx circled Isha like a hungry monster, grinning ear to ear. 

“No! No! No! Don’t you two dare grab my foot or I’ll smack you, Jinx, right in the face!”

"I didn't even touch you, it was Isha?! Why in the hell be the one getting smack at?"

"But that's exactly your plan!"

After some nonstop bullying from Jinx and splashes from Isha, Vi finally gave in. The towel was tossed aside, and before long, the three of them were in the pool together, laughter echoing off the bathhouse walls as they played like kids, chasing each other through the water. Jinx kept splashing just enough to annoy, Isha kept squealing and attacking, and Vi… Vi forgot for a little while that she had ever been someone else.

Hours passed, and when Isha finally wore herself out, clinging to Jinx like a koala and blinking slow, they called it a day. The walk back to the commune was quiet. A kind of silence that comes after joy. The kind you don’t want to end.

“Are you happy with this life, Vi?”

Vi looked up, looking at her sister across her on the floor, brushing Isha’s damp hair. The kid had knocked out almost immediately after dinner, curled up like a contented cat. She hadn’t even waited for her hair to dry.

She closed her book slowly, settling it on her lap. She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she let the question hang between them, glancing at the scene before her. She thought about the years she'd lost. All those years of her in the shadows of her cell, haunted by the taunting memories of her sister. The blood from every fight she’d thrown herself into, hoping it would drown the guilt.  And now, having her sister back, safe within reach, was all enough to pay for the suffering she endured.

“I am,” Vi finally said after the long silence.

They were all settled in the greenhouse garden at Vander's temporary place in the commune. Viktor had told them earlier that night it was safe now for them to be close to him without being held since his condition was improving. That their presence and love might help him further than any magic he could ever give. Henceforth, they decided to spread out a huge blanket on the floor and stay with him. 

Vi let her gaze linger on the scene in front of her, on Isha's tiny, sleeping body nestling between them, and the lumbering form of their father in the corner, half-covered in a pink blanket the little kid put him into. A low, guttural snore rattled from his chest as he shifted in his sleep, and a second later, he unconsciously leaned toward Isha and blew his nose directly into her side with a wet huff.

Vi smiled as the warm feeling settled in her heart. “When I’m with you… with this strange little family we’ve patched together... Yeah, I am happy, Jinx."

“What about Caitlyn?”

The question cut Vi straight to her heart. She blinked, not expecting her little sister to utter her name. “What about her?”

“Don’t you still love her?” Jinx asked, finally looking up. “Didn’t she make you happy?”

Vi hesitated. Her fingers clenched lightly at the edge of the book she realized she's been holding for quite a while. The answer didn’t come easily, not because she didn’t know it, but because it hurt to say it aloud.

“Well… we belong in different places," she began after gathering herself.  “She’s always been the one everyone looks up to. The loving princess of Piltover." She gave a dry laugh and gestured at herself. “And I’m just... me.”

Jinx’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't tell me she said that to you?"

"What?! No!" Vi smiled, but there wasn’t much joy in it. “What I mean was she was right, you know. Caitlyn, I mean. The blood in me… was the same as yours. And it doesn’t wash off just because you fall for someone from across the bridge.”

Jinx was quiet, watching her carefully. Vi swallowed hard. “You killed her mom,” she said, but not in an accusing way. "I don't think she could love someone who was related to her mother's murderer."

"Righfully so," Jinx whispered, rolling her eyes as she went back to drying Isha's hair. "A council member, Vi."

"I know." Vi leaned back on her hands, eyes drifting toward the cracked ceiling glass above them. She understood what her sister clearly meant.

“Maybe Caitlyn and I were really never meant to end up together. Maybe we were just supposed to learn from each other. Some people… they show you a version of yourself you never thought you could be. But they’re not always the ones who stay.”

There was a moment of silence before Jinx chimed in with a flat, unimpressed mutter: “Gee, being in love must be terrifying.”

Vi laughed, reaching for the nearest soft object, which happened to be a crumpled towel, and lobbed it straight at her sister’s head. “You say that like you didn’t catch feelings for the guy who knocked you up.”

“I said I cared for him, not loved him,” Jinx snapped back, swatting the towel away and giving her a look. “Know your basics, sis. Geez.”

She only laughed harder. “You’re dancing around this too much. Just tell me, what was the name of the guy?”

Jinx rolled her eyes dramatically and flopped back onto her elbows. “How many times do I have to tell you? Isha doesn’t have a father. She doesn’t need one.”

“And how many times do I have to tell you I wasn’t around that time?” Vi shot back, pointing an accusatory finger at her. “I missed years and came back to find you with a whole child. I deserve at least a name!”

Jinx grinned, teeth bared. “It’s for me to know, and for you to lose your tiny brain over.”

Vi groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Gods above, just say anything. Was he Zaunite? Another place? Tall? Short? Dead?”

Vi saw how her sister's face quickly changed with her last word, but she instantly hid it behind.

“Tall-ish maybe.” Jinx scratched her chin, playfully thinking. "Or maybe,” she added, tone shifting in a unserious way. "He was just a very convincing hallucination of my own. You know how I get.”

Vi sat up straight, ready to swing. “Don’t you dare start with that.”

“I’m just saying,” Jinx shrugged, pretending to be naive, “maybe I hallucinated the whole night and woke up with a baby.”

“We both know that’s not how biology works.”

“Oh, now you believe in science?” She smirked.

“Jin—”

She threw her hand to her face, making her stop. “Look. Isha’s here. She’s loved and mine alone. That’s what matters. Case closed.”

Vi stared at her, mouth opening to argue again, but then she caught sight of Isha, and all that fight drained from her. "...fine."

“Pfft. Knew you’d drop it. You never last long in a losing game.” Jinx shot her a smug little smile. 

"Oh really?” Vi’s brow twitched. “That right?”

“Uh-huh,” Jinx said, lying on her back with a proud smile on her lips. "Not easy being this brilliant.”

Vi narrowed her eyes, and without a word, reached over and grabbed a generous pinch of her sister’s pale cheek. “Mmm, this is what brilliance feels like?” she mocked, twisting it just a little.

“OW—! You psycho!” Jinx flailed, swatting at her. “Hands off me! You're squishing my daughter!"

Vi finally let go, satisfied as she watched Jinx rub her cheek while grumbling something under her breath.

“And you?”

Jinx blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift of the surroundings. “What now, Vi?!”

Vi gestured vaguely to themselves. “You. Are you happy?”

Jinx blinked again, and for a second, she looked like she might brush it off or make a joke like she always did. But instead, she just looked down at Isha, a smile tugging at her lips.

“…Yeah,” she said finally. “Weird, right? But yeah.” She brushed the one last strand from Isha’s face. Then she looked up at Vi, eyes soft and gentle. “I’m happy that you’re here with me, sis.”

Vi smiled with that, reaching across her and placing a hand over her sister’s. "We were always together."

Later that night, as the silence of the commune deepened, the two sisters lay curled around each other with Isha nestled between them. Vi’s arm rested over her sister, and Jinx’s hand draped across her daughter's back.

⨲⨲⨲

A telescope in her hands and a lumpy bag of half-eaten, alien-looking fruits slumped beside her, Jinx was hunched on the balcony of their temporary shelter. The fruit bag had already spilled some of its contents across the floor. Eat half, toss it like a queen bored at a feast.

They've been in Viktor's commune now for at least over a couple of weeks. So instead of losing her mind with the weird shits going on in this place, she spend her time observing them.

She squinted through the scope, sweeping over the sleepy little commune they’d been calling home for the past few days and watching their little activity below. Her lip curled.

“Look at this guy,” she muttered to herself, looking at the man with a whole white blanket drape over him and sandals. Fashion crime, she needs someone to arrest him immediately.  

She panned the scope left and saw the same woman from earlier she called Ms. Sunshine, dutifully watering the plants, expecting one of them to bloom.

Another shift of the scope. A couple stood by a handcart, unloading baskets full of vegetables and the same weird-looking fruits. Jinx tilted her head, wondering where they got that from. Well! At least they have food to eat, Jinx shrugged. 

Then she panned the scope one last time and saw the person she's been looking for. At the top of the hill was a little figure, helmet on her small head, crunching low. Jinx leaned in closer, the smirk already pulling at her lips.

“Slippery as an eel,” she whispered proudly, watching as Isha slid effortlessly down the slope, weaving past the other tents and people like a shadow. She took another bite of the fruit, feeling its sweetness spread through her tongue, and threw it away without finishing.

Jinx followed her through the lens all the way until she popped up at the base and climbed into their shelter. The wooden floor creaked as Isha walked in her direction.

“I knew you could get it,” she said, looking at her and grinning wide as Isha appeared, the prize zapper gripped in her hands before handing it to her.

Isha gave a satisfied “Hmm!” and proudly plopped down beside her, grabbing the telescope without hesitation and adjusting it. Her little brows furrowed in concentration as she began her own people-watching session, just like what Jinx did earlier.

Jinx let out a breathy chuckle as she watched Isha more than the view. A soft look crossed her face, something peaceful and happy. She remembered the first time she saw Isha, small and scared. A mouse that had learned too well what fear was. Thin arms, wide scarred, golden eyes, the kind of little child that only came from too much loss and not enough comfort.

And now...

She's far from what she used to be. Isha was growing up fast, and that kinda scared her.

Jinx tossed the thought aside with a breath and leaned in beside her, resting her chin gently on Isha’s small shoulder. The kid glanced at her, curious. Jinx offered a lazy smile. Isha answered with her own before going back to the telescope. That small exchange was everything. 

After a while, Jinx straightened her back a little, eyes wandering over the peaceful commune over them.

“I’ve had some time to think lately...” she said slowly, not really planning to say anything, just letting it fall out of her mouth.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Isha pause, pulling back from the telescope and turning to look at her, listening and waiting for her to continue.

“Since you dropped into my life,” Jinx continued, tilting her head, “it’s like... I put on glasses. Except I can't tell whether everything’s blurry or... clear."

Before Isha, there was just never-ending noise in her mind. After she killed Silco, Jinx was left empty and was acting mostly driven by her emotions: trauma and anger, and a little primal desire. But other than that, she had no focus or center; she had nothing that she was working toward. A weapon without a target.

But then Isha came out of nowhere. Dropped into her life like a second chance she didn’t ask for, and suddenly, things made sense. She had something to protect. Something that mattered more than revenge or proving anything to anyone.

That was all it took.

Then the moment Jinx realized that Isha was hers, something locked into place. A reason. A direction. A purpose she never thought she was capable of having. It scared the hell out of her. This tiny kid is somehow strong enough to shift her entire orbit, but it also saved her.

Isha was given a clear and concise reason to continue her wasted life, making the other factors around her blurry. 

Her safety was the reason she didn't want to be the symbol, afraid that it may endanger her. 

Before her, Jinx was reckless; she could decide to attack anyone, even Piltover, at any moment. No one was stopping her. Nothing ever clouded her judgment because she was just kinda aimless in her life, and she could do anything clearly.

"That kinda reminds me of Silco." She looked down at Isha, who now stared at her openly, watching every word fall out of her mouth. "You probably don't know him. But incase you wanted to, he was my not-so-perfect father," she went on. "Don't worry, I'll tell you about him next time."

She gave a dry laugh and shook her head, eyes flicking back to the world beyond the balcony. "I finally get it now on why my father chose me over Zaun, on why he was willing to throw it all away... Because sometimes, when you love someone that much… everything else just fades. What you thought you wanted, who you thought you were… it all bends around them.”

Isha didn’t say anything, but she reached out and touched Jinx’s arm gently, reassuring her in a way words could never be. She turned toward her and smiled, reaching out to brush a loose strand of hair behind Isha’s ear, her fingers lingering for just a second too long.

"Tomorrow, I'll tell you something, but promise me you'll never hate me. Okay?"

Everything had been going well, for once. Vander, against all odds, was recovering as the days passed. Having him back felt like gaining a piece of their past that had been ripped away, slowly mended, and returned. They are close enough to almost call him "Dad" again.

Vi, too, was slowly recovering from recent heartbreak from he dictator girlfriend. She was healing in her own crooked way, finding a new rhythm, a new reason to breathe. Though behind the smiles she shows, the ghost of her relationship with that dictator cop still hadn't let go. Jinx could taste the bitterness on her tongue just thinking about it. Her sister still loved Caitlyn; that much was obvious, but sooner or later, people move on. They always do. Eventually, Vi could love someone else.

Now, with things finally settling into their place, it seemed like it was the right time to say the truth to Isha.

Jinx wanted to say it aloud. To finally look her in the eye and say, You’re mine. I’m your mom. No more dancing around the truth, no more hiding behind vague stories or evasive answers. Isha deserved more than that now. She deserved honesty. She deserved to belong fully, without shadow or shame.

That thought used to terrify her. For so long, she was afraid to put that kind of name on herself. Mother. It sounded too heavy and ridiculous to hear. Her? A mom? Yeah, totally impossible.

But now? Now it felt right and... natural. Like a name she'd earned, piece by piece.

She wanted Isha to know, truly know, that she wasn’t a mistake or a burden or a temporary fix to a broken life. She was the reason Jinx kept going. The reason she didn’t burn down everything again. The reason she found a way back to herself. Jinx was ready to claim her. All the way. Out loud.

"Promise me."

Isha only managed to smile and nod once, but that didn't stop the fear that was starting to claw out from her heart. She released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding and offered her hand.

Slap, slap, and click.

“Pew,” they said together.

A giggle bubbled between them, then a full-on laugh as Jinx reached over and ruffled Isha’s hair fondly and playfully. “But first,” she said, grinning like she was about to unveil the greatest information in the world, “wanna hear a dumb joke?”

Isha blinked at her with wide, curious eyes before nodding. Jinx tugged the telescope gently from Isha’s grasp and pointed it back toward the commune below. “Okay,” Jinx whispered dramatically, “look through there, and I'll tell you.”

Sha leaned in, eyes pressed to the scope. There, down the hill on Vander's temporary shelter, just passed the small garden and tents, walked a tall and bald man, with half of his face covered by a scarf.

He looked... familiar. Too familiar. Isha’s brows drew together. If she wasn’t wrong, he was the same man she’d seen back in Stillwater, the day the enforcers dragged her away.

 “A sentimental ex-con… a giant furball…” Jinx leaned down beside her and muttered under her breath, pertaining to Violet and Vander.

Isha frowned.

“…and two of Piltover’s most wanted…” Jinx paused for effect, her smirk sharpening. She was pertaining to her and Isha. 

“…walked into a weird cult.” There was a small chuckle from Jinx at her own delivery, snatching up her gun. She popped the side open and slid in the hexcore, creating sparks of bright blue lightning that danced around the weapon.

Isha shook her head mentally and shifted her eyes to the person beside the bald man. Suddenly, her chest tensed, realizing that the tall woman dressed in a uniform was the same enforcer who'd aimed a weapon at her when she tried to protect Jinx from Vi. Isha couldn't forget that day. She thought that she and Jinx would die.

“And here comes the punchline…” Jinx whispered in a menacing way, raising her gun and looking through the front sight. Her eyes tracked Caitlyn Kiramman.

Target ... Locked.

Chapter Text

The party was blindly alive with its lights and heavy bass music that shook the place and the different colored strings that were strung across the ceiling. Colorful drinks lined up on the table across the room, some are bubbling and glowing faintly as the light touches them. Cofetti canons fire off from time to time, showering the place like it was snowing stardust.

It was overwhelming to most, but to Ekko, it was just a background, static noise. He sat alone at the edge of the bar counter, one elbow propped up. Watching everyone from the side was enough for him. He was kinda not a party person. The last time he went to one was when he saw Jinx, and they ended up where... never mind.

"There he is!!” Someone shouted over the music, catching his full attention. He turned his head just in time to see Benzo walking towards him with a big smile on his face and a huge glass of alcohol in his hand. “Hey! Nervous, kid? Big day tomorrow, eh?” he said with a wink. The older man slid into the seat beside him and placed his glass on the counter table before nudging Ekko playfully with a solid elbow.

Ekko didn’t return the grin. His expression stayed serious as his eyes were still scanning the crowd, searching for someone. “It’s all I could think about,” he said for a while with a forced chuckle.

It was a lie, of course. He wasn’t thinking about the competition. He wasn’t even thinking about winning. All he could think about was the Hexgate they successfully made, and when he could finally go home.

"Where’s the Little Lady anyway?” Benzo asked, glancing over his shoulder like Powder might suddenly leap out of the fog.

Ekko let out a small, amused breath. “Not sure. She said something about ‘making an entrance.’ ”

Benzo cackled, smacking his palm on the bar. “Ah! That sounds like her. That girl loves a spectacle, eh?”

Ekko shook his head with a crooked smile, eyes flicking toward the dance floor. Yes, she is. He remembered, even to his own word, that Jinx would never enter without a blast. Whether it's bombs, flashing lights, or just her maniacal laughter, she'd turn every small fight with the Firelight into a big one. It didn't matter how chaotic it got; she always made an entrance.

“Yeah,” he muttered, eyes dropping to the counter as a sting touched the corners of his vision. “Benzo... I-In case I don’t remember to tell you tomorrow… you’ve always been the world to me, Benzo.”

He looked at Benzo, feeling a sudden sadness in the pit of his stomach as the light, music, and laughter blended in the background. When he goes back home, he'll never see him again. Because in his world, Benzo was nothing but a memory... a scar on his heart that would never truly fade.

Ekko forced a smile, praying that Benzo wouldn't think anything weird of his sudden shift in tone.

Benzo blinked. “Oh?... Well...” He squinted at him, like he wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. “You are…” His voice faltered. He cleared his throat, then shrugged with a scoff and let out a forced laugh. “You—ach! Don’t you get all mushy on me now, boy!”

Ekko only smiled instead of answering, standing up to pull him into a tight hug. Benzo stiffened at first, surprised, but only for a second before letting out a soft chuckle and hugging him back. Rough hand cradling the back of Ekko’s head like he used to when he was still just a boy running errands through the Lanes for him. He squeezed his eyes shut. His throat tightened painfully. This night was supposed to be a party, not a funeral.

“Making the big man misty, are you?” came another low, familiar voice from behind. 

Benzo broke the hug immediately, coughing dramatically and stepping back. “Ugh, these damned allergies,” he barked, waving a hand in the air, covering the crack in his voice with a laugh.

Ekko turned just as Vander stepped into view behind the bar, mixing drinks in a shaker. He took a glance at Benzo and shook his head with a smile before finally looking at him.

"You should be proud of yourself, Ekko. Powder’s been raving about your Z-Drive,” he said, sliding a bottle across the counter. “Can’t remember the last time I saw her so alive. I’ve got a feeling you’ll be running this place soon.”

Ekko let out a breath of amusement through his nose, shaking his head. He was about to answer, yet another voice came through.

“So, there’s still a chance for us yet?”

Silco stepped forward, a drink in his hand, eyes sharp and mouth curled into that half-smile of his. He slid up beside Vander, casually placing a hand on the larger man’s shoulder.

“Silco? Didn’t expect you here," he said, surprised. He remembered Powder mentioning Silco was out of Zaun for some business trip. She doesn't mention what it is about, but Ekko hoped it was not shimmer. At least in this world, he would not dare poison the innocent life of Zaunites. 

Silco raised his glass to him lazily. “Didn’t think I’d miss your big day, did you?”

Ekko opened his mouth to reply, but he didn't get the chance when suddenly, a pop exploded from the upper level of The Last Drop and confetti rained down, drawing the crowd's attention. The lights dimmed, pulsing in time with the rising beat of a song that burst through the speakers. He didn’t understand the lyrics, probably from some other corner of the world, but the moment it played, the crowd lit up as they gathered in the middle of the dance floor.

Then, as he let his eyes wander through the crowds, they met her blue eyes, and suddenly, Ekko felt like everything blurred into nothingness except for Powder. She stepped into the crowd like a spark in the dark, and for a second, the whole dance floor seemed to make space just for her.

She moved softly in the middle of the crowd, hips swaying slightly with every step, as the black cropped leather jacket sat above her white strapless dress that hugged her body. And just like that, Ekko forgot about his drink or whatever conversation he was about to have with Silco. All he saw was her.

His hand set the glass down on the bar counter without looking, and his feet moved before he even realized he was walking. He pushed through the dancing crowd where they met in the middle.

"H-Hi?" he greeted with a shy, crooked smile. He wasn't sure if he should be nervous or awestruck. "You look... wonderful, Pow-Pow." 

Powder grinned at him, blue eyes sparkling beneath her lashes. “Hello to you too, sweet boy.” She gave a small, playful twirl, letting the skirt of her dress flare out just a little before she leaned in.  “And thank you. You’re pretty too.”

Ekko flushed and let his body move along to the music. She laughed softly, slipping her fingers into his and giving his hand a tug. “Come on. Let’s give these people a real show.”

The music picked up, and so did they. Ekko twirled her with one hand and caught her with the other as she spun into his chest, laughing. Ekko, too, couldn't help but laugh along. Their body found rhythm like it was a memory as they both laughed with their hearts out. His hands found her waist as she twirled once more.

But as she smiled up at him, head thrown back in a flash of light and color, seeing a flicker of Jinx's face, and something twisted in his chest. He wished they could've had this where they didn't have to be enemies. Maybe in the next life, they would be. At least in a different universe, they can do the thing they are deprived of.

"Some night" 

Ekko and Powder sat close together on the rooftop of The Las Drop. Legs dangling over the edge as they watched the lights below shimmering like stars. 

“It’s beautiful.”

Powder smiled faintly, eyes fixed on the lights before turning her head to him. “Where’d you learn those moves?” she asked with a chuckle.

He smirked, fidgeting with his nailbeds. “Oh, I was just following your lead.”

She laughed, a small, sleepy chuckle. “Mm. He’s got lines,” she teased.

Ekko chuckled with her, but it faded quickly. His hand brushed against the edge of the rooftop, fingers twitching like they were reaching for something they couldn’t hold. He wanted to hold her hand.

“Hey…” he said, his voice softer now. “Uh… I just want to thank you.”

Powder tilted her head a little, curious, but let him continue.

“You know… for everything,” he went on. "I used to dream the Undercity could be like this. But somewhere, I... got consumed by all the ways it wasn't." He swallowed hard, averting his gaze. "I gave up on it. Gave up on you ."

"I've... never seen you gave up on anything, Ekko," her voice was soft as she slowly leaned her head gently against his shoulder.

Ekko froze at first; the sudden touch from her made him calm and tense at the same time. But slowly, he let himself ease into it, resting his head lightly against hers.

He stared out at the lights, eyes unfocused as his mind wandered. No… I did gave up on you. On a different you. So, so many times.

The times when he left her after being slapped by her, thinking that she was finally gone. The second time, Anna finally found out that they were secretly meeting. Ekko could still feel the slap across his face that she gave him.

"Have you lost you mind, Ekko? She's an enemy! Silco's child! Having her close to you means having our life at risk!"

He staggered a step back, one hand cupping the side of his face, skin still burning. “She doesn’t know I’m a Firelight!” he defended.

“YET !” she shouted. “And believe me, child, if she finds out… she won’t think twice. She’ll kill us... she’ll kill you.” Anna paced, running both hands through her hair, tugging at them in frustration. “Or worse, Silco already knows. Maybe he’s using her. Maybe you’ve already led her straight to our base and didn’t even know it.”

“No,” Ekko growled, shaking his head hard. “No, she wouldn’t. You don’t see her like I do. She’s different when she’s with me.” His chest rose and fell in sharp, shaky breaths. “Just one more push. I can get through to her—I know I can. Please, Anna. Just believe me.”

Silence settled between them for a moment as they both caught their own breath. And with a determined look, Ekko turned toward the door, heart pounding in desperation and anger.

"Just this time, Ekko…” Anna’s voice followed after him, softer now, but still full of warning. “Just this time.”

He never looks back. Instead, he ran as fast as he could. Feet hitting the wooden boards that spiraled down the massive tree they called home. The night wind bit at his cheeks, but he didn't stop. He had told her they’d meet tonight. And no matter what, Ekko wasn’t going to break that promise.

By the time he reached their spot, he was breathless, chest heaving as he stood in front of the small hideaway. Their spot was just hidden in plain sight beneath the abandoned building near the fissure. A ragged blanket on the doorway, painted in pink, blue, and green, pinned up with only bolts that served as their door. He paused, one hand pressed against the wall, and took a moment to breathe and steady the rapid beat of his heart. Then, after a moment, he reached out and pulled the clothes aside.

The scent of grease, ink, and the faint smell of paint greeted him first before Ekko saw her sitting cross-legged on a pile of old cushions, hunching over something in her lap. The moment he stepped inside, Powder looked up, sensing him instantly like she had a sixth sense for his presence. Well... probably she does.

“Ekko!” she beamed, eyes lighting up and pupils dilating with excitement. “Come here, I wanna show you something!”

He nodded, a little out of breath, but managed a small smile as he stepped closer, watching her every move. Her hands lifted towards him, revealing two massive beetle bugs nestling in his palms. Each was colored with pink and green neon colors, like someone had splattered paint on them.

“I found these guys on my way here!” she said, looking down at them with a huge smile. "Think we could use them for something fun. Oh, maybe let them fight each other! What do you think?”

Ekko chuckled under his breath and took the bug she offered, letting it crawl slowly along his palm as he dropped down beside her. They sat there in silence for a moment, bugs in their palms, shoulders brushing each other.

Ekko glanced at her smiling face and finally asked the question he's been holding. "Do you like just... being with me, J-Jinx?"

She glanced over at him, a little confused, but quickly recovered. “Hmm… yeah, I guess? You’re my favorite person to waste time with. Why?”

He only smiled before looking down at the bug in his hand, watching its tiny legs fidget across his skin, and swallowed hard. This is it. No more running back. He needs to convince her to go with him before it's too late.

"B-Because... I was thinking," he said carefully, like each word might trigger something he couldn't fix. His thumb ran absentmindedly over the beetle's shell, feeling its softness to calm himself.  

"Uh-huh?" She hummed lazily, not looking at him.

"What if we didn't just hang out here anymore?" Ekko didn't look at her when he spoke, afraid of the expression she was about to make.

That made her pause from fidgeting with the poor bug. She turned her head slowly in his direction, eyes narrowing. “Wait. Are you asking me to stop meeting with you?” Her tone sharpened, eyes suddenly wild and wide as if she'd been stung by Ekko's words.

His head snapped up, panic flashing in his eyes. “No! No, gods, that’s not what I meant, Pow—I mean, Jinx.” The correction landed hard between them. " I'm sorry, I didn’t mean that,” he said again, rushing to fix it. “I just—what I’m trying to say is... what if you came with me? Like, with me.”

Powder blinked at him, a bug now crawling up to her arm. “Came with you? Where?”

Ekko hesitated before taking a shaky breath, tearing his eyes from her. “To my side of Zaun,” he said. “There’s a group—a place I know. A safe one. It’s not perfect, but we’re building something. Something better. I think you’d like it.”

She tilted her head, lips parting slightly in surprise. “Your group…?”

Ekko nodded. “Yeah. With me. No hiding or running. Just… us. You and me. Like this, but without the secrets.” He finally turned to look at her, searching her face for a flicker of hope. “You wouldn’t have to pretend, or be what he wants you to be. You could just be you .”

Powder's face didn’t change at first, only staring at him in silence, and that made his heart beat even faster. The bug continued crawling up her sleeve, but she didn't move to stop it.

"You want me to leave Silco?"

Ekko nodded, hesitating. “I know it’s a lot. I know you care about him, but... I’m just saying… maybe you don’t need him the way you used to. You could start something new. With me. With people who-who care about you, not what you can do for them.”

"N-No. I... I can't leave him." She looked straight into his eyes, swimming with so many emotions in her eyes, before tearing them away. "Silco is my father."

Ekko’s heart sank hard. "He’s not your father, Po-Jinx,” he said, stumbling over her name. “He killed your- our fami—”

“It was me, Ekko!” she screamed, stopping him from finishing his words. “It was never Silco but... me.”

The air left his lungs, watching her as she stood on her feet. She was breathing hard, hands clenched into trembling fists at her sides. The poor bug was now forgotten on the ground with its broken wings.

“Mylo. Claggor. Vander... I killed them. Or maybe Violet... I don't really remember.”

Ekko’s breath caught, stunned by the whole confession. All along, he thought that it was Silco who killed them all. All along, he thought that it was Silco that ruined everything, and it turns out... it was her. Unconsciously, he moved away from her in shock. Powder let out a sharp, bitter laugh when she noticed it. 

“There it is,” she muttered, dragging her hands down her face. "Took longer than I thought. But you're scared of me, didn’t you? You finally saw me... the real me.”

Ekko couldn't respond even though he wanted to. His mouth opened, but the words he wanted to say tangled somewhere deep in his throat. Powder looked away, shoulders trembling, lips curling into something halfway between a smile and a frown.

“Welcome to the real me, Ekko.”

When he finally recovered from the shock, Ekko pushed himself up from the cushion and took a cautious step forward, reaching for her. Only for Powder to throw her hand to stop him, eyes hard.

“Don’t.” Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to make him freeze. “After everything I’ve done,” she continued, looking anywhere but at him, “he was the only one who didn’t look at me like you’re looking at me right now, Ekko… like I’m a monster.”

His eyes widened. “Jinx, I—” But before he could close the distance again, she stepped back.

“After that night... he picked me up when no one else did,” she whispered. “You don’t know what it feels like to be told you’re still worth loving when everything you touch falls apart.”

Ekko’s breath hitched, feeling the pain pressed his lungs flat. It hurt him, too, when she was hurting. Powder turned her face away again, unable to look straight into his deep eyes.

“You want to build a new future with me,” she said, her back now to him. “But I’m still here trying to survive the past.” Then she reached for her bag, slung it over her shoulder without another glance, and gave him one last smile.

And just like that, she was gone, leaving Ekko standing in the middle of their sanctuary with nothing left but the painted bug crawling up his hand.

It wasn't the last time they saw each other. There was that night when they met again after months of distance, but Ekko doesn't know if she remembered it or maybe buried it in her past. Then, after that, they only met as enemies. She didn't know that it was he beneath the mask, trying to kill her and vice versa. And when she finally knew, Ekko could still remember her face. It was like watching her heart snap in half, but he was caught up in his own emotions to think about all of that.

I'm sorry... I should've fought harder for you. I shouldn't have given up on you easily.

“Do you ever wish you could just...” he whispered after the long silence, glancing down at her, “stay in one moment?”

"Sometimes taking a leap forward means... leaving a few things behind."

Ekko looked at her, committing everything to memory: her voice, her face, the way the city lights danced in her eyes. “I promise I’ll never forget this,” he said, almost crying.

“You better not,” she replied with a teasing smile before pulling her head up to look up at him. Her eyes searched for him, her lips parting slightly as she tilted her head and slowly leaned toward him. But before they could close the gap between them, Ekko turned his head away.

“I—sorry, I…” he breathed out, guilty. For a moment, he closed his eyes. He hated this. He hated himself for wanting something he couldn't have... for building something in a borrowed world with a borrowed version of her. This Powder belongs to a different Ekko, not to him. The one who belonged to him was the person he gave up to.

Powder froze for a second, her eyes faltering as she turned her face, trying to play it off. “No... it’s fine,” she muttered, quickly, forcing a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes.

"I just…” his voice faltered as he struggled. “Can we pretend like it's the first time?"

There was silence that followed after that, and Ekko thought she was angry with him. Then, gently, he felt a soft hand cradling his cheek to let his eyes meet hers.

They were looking at each other as their faces inched closer, breaths mingling between them until their lips finally met. A goodbye kiss for the love he never really got to have. Holding onto the illusion of it, just for tonight.

Their kiss lasted for a while in silence. Slowly, Ekko pulled back slightly, just enough for their foreheads to rest together for a moment. He didn't dare breathe too hard, afraid that the moment would vanish. While just Powder looked at him, blue eyes flickering down to his lips, and then gave the tiniest breath of a laugh. Ekko blinked with her reaction before laughing, too. They both looked away at the same time, and when their eyes met again, they laughed once more like idiots.

Out of sudden, Ekko remembered something. He reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a small brown paper bag, folded carefully. It was a necklace he'd been working behind her back. His hand shook just a little as he held it out to her.

Powder tilted her head, giving him a suspicious look. “What is it?” she asked, taking it gently. 

He scratched the back of his neck, feeling heat crawl up the back of it. “Uh… just a little thank you. For helping me with the project... and for making me realize things.”

Her eyes widened. “Aww,” she cooed with a playful smile, “thank you so much, little man.” She reached forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Ekko clung to her just for a second too long.

“But,” he added quickly, pulling away, “don’t open it yet. Not until I’m gone.” His voice trailed off near the end. He meant it as a double meaning.

Powder raised a brow at him but didn’t question it. “Okaayyy,” she said slowly, looking at the gift with a curious smile. “I’m excited to see what it is.”

Ekko gave a stiff nod and rose to his feet, brushing off his pants. Powder blinked up at him from where she still sat, brows knitting together. 

“Where you going?”

He tried to keep his voice normal. “Just gonna check on Heimerdinger.... y'know 'bout the project,” he lied.

Thinking for a while, Powder only smiled and nodded. “Alright. Just be back.”

Ekko hesitated. That request sat heavy on his chest. He wanted to say yes. Gods, he wanted to say always. But he knows it will never happen. Instead, he just gave her a soft, forced smile and turned away before she could see how his hands were trembling and the sadness on his face.

The moment Ekko entered Powder's lair, he was greeted by the blue glow that danced all over the place.  What the hell? He walked further inside and saw Heimerdinger bouncing from panel to panel and flipping switches.

"Ekko, my lad," Heimerdinger chirped without turning. "You're just in time."

He stepped forward slowly, his eyes wide as the machine shook the ground beneath his boots. "This is... a big upgrade."

"Just a moment," Heimerdinger said, spinning to yank a lever into place. "I only need to hook up the final power supply."

With a soft click of the button, the metal curve of the anomaly's container began to come alive with a deafening sound. The yordle handed Ekko the Z-Drive and pulled him inside the container.

"Whoa," Ekko whispered, standing now beside the old yordle. He pulled the string on it slightly to create an anomaly. His eyes flicked back to it as it pulsed as if alive.

“I do wish I could apologize to Ms. Powder for co-opting her space like this,” he said, his ears folding slightly. “It truly was the only way.”

Heimerdinger pressed a button, and the curved metal arms began to spin, slowly at first, then faster. The sound rose until it was nothing but high-pitched. As it moved, it slowly created an anomaly before it stretched and twisted the space in a dizzying pattern. It was glowing and alive.

Then the machine shuddered, and a panel ripped off a nearby console, flying through the air and disintegrating into ash before it could hit the ground.

“Never a dull moment,” Heimerdinger said, almost cheerfully for Ekko's liking. They are here inside the anomaly, not sure if it will be successful or not, but for him, it feels like it was just a casual Tuesday.

The swirling anomaly twisted higher as it continued screaming. Ekko only stood frozen, breath caught as his mind screamed with every version of this moment that could go wrong.

“I must say,” Heimerdinger added, turning toward him, “since I’ve met you, lad, I’ve truly lived.”

Ekko blinked, the words hitting him inside out. There's no way Heimerdinger would do what he was thinking.

"What?" A sound from the machine caught his attention, and he turned around to see what it was.

“Back in a wink!”

Ekko's eyes widened when he realized his mistake. He turned to the yordle, but the professor was already gone, and he was left standing in the middle.

“Wait—No! Heimerdinger, wait!” he shouted on top of his lungs, but it was only drowned out by the rising crescendo of the anomaly.

The old yordle stumbled as sparks flew from the console. He hit the floor with a grunt, scrambling on all fours toward the tangle of cables that had snapped loose. The machine hissed and spat light as it vibrated the place and distorted everything.

Unbeknownst to them both, a pair of quick footsteps echoed down the stairwell, and Powder burst into view, eyes wide as she plunged down the last steps and froze at the sight of the anomaly. 

"Wh-What is happening here?" she whispered to herself.

Heimerdinger dragged himself toward the cables, hands shaking. Ekko moved forward to stop him, but the yordle only looked at him with meaningful eyes. He sucked his own breath, realizing that the yordle would sacrifice himself for him.

“No!” Ekko shouted, reaching out, but it was already too late.

The two cables are finally connected, and the bust of light exploded outward. The cables clattered to the floor, still smoking. 

Powder rounded the corner just in time to see the other Ekko, her Ekko, collapse to the floor near the anomaly, knocked unconscious. She gasped, frozen in place as her heart pounded in her throat. When she finally recovered, she quickly ran to his side and cradled him close.

"Ekko?" she whispered, but her Ekko only grunted in reply.

Her heart seized. Powder was too focused on him that she didn't feel the heavy gaze on her until it had been there too long. Slowly, she looked up and almost fainted when she saw who was standing inside the anomaly.

It was Ekko... the other Ekko, wearing clothes that clearly don't belong in their place. Her eyes flickered down to his waist, where the Z-Drive ticked faintly. His eyes were fixed on her like she was the only thing that mattered, with longing in his face and eyes.

Thank you for everything, he thought, throat tight with everything he couldn’t speak aloud. Thank you for reminding me that... you're still in her. Goodbye, Pow-Pow.

Powder's lips parted, too shocked to breathe. Her heart felt too full and too hollow all at once. She was about to call him, but his outline flickered like a dying flame. The anomaly spun one last time and pulled inward, breaking him apart into light, and there was nothing left.

Powder was left in silence with the memory of the last smile he gave to her.

Ekko felt being pulled. The air around him was vibrating and thinning as the light around the anomaly shattered and spun in erratic spirals, and the world began to bend inward. His vision tunneled, the colors stretching and splitting apart until all he could see was white.

“NOOOO!!!”

Standing in front of the old, small mirror on their commune, wearing one of those clothes people gave them during their first stay inside their community. A plain, white robe with a golden drawstring around their waist, and sandals. Gods, the sandals. They looked like they belonged in a forgotten ancient scroll.

Jinx eyed herself with visible disgust. “We look like we’re about to preach about some new god," she muttered, tugging at the collar. "Right, man?"

She looked over her shoulder where Isha was perched on a small stool, tiny legs swinging as she sat silently. Her own robe was a little too long, the hem puddled around her feet. She looked up at Jinx in the mirror, cheeks puffed out and eyes sparkling. Whatever Jinx was wearing, it would always be the height of cool to Isha. Neither of them planned this, but boredom had struck, and the idea suddenly came in from Jinx, as most of her ideas, right in the middle of lying upside down on their bed with her legs kicking the air, along with Isha. 

“You look like a sad vegetable,” Jinx said, squinting at her and pausing. "... an annoying, sad vegetable."

Isha only grinned before reaching into the basket beside them and pulling out one of the donated hair ties with an awful shade of beige, the same as their clothes. She waved it at Jinx pointedly.

“Don’t sass me, Isha,” Jinx warned, but took it anyway. "Lemme fix you."

She walked behind Isha and began working on her hair, combing them with a hairbrush before weaving the strands into their usual twin braids. She hummed softly as she worked, glancing at their reflections in the mirror. Isha met her eyes and gave a small thumbs-up, grinning from ear to ear.

Jinx tugged gently as she hummed a song. After a while, she looked over at Isha. 

“Y’know, you should really learn how to do your own hair one of these days.”

Isha caught her eye in the mirror and signed, Why? You’re always here to fix it for me.

Jinx scoffed and twisted the braid tighter than necessary, smirking. “Becaaauussee I won’t always be here, Little Miss. You gotta learn how to take care of yourself.”

Isha pouted, thinking for a moment before signing again. I do know how. I just like it when you do it. It feels nice… being taken care of by you.

That stopped Jinx cold for a second. The brush hovered as her fingers tangled in the strands of brown and blue. After a while, a small, genuine smile spread across her face. When she recovered, she ducked her head slightly so Isha wouldn't see how much her words landed on her.

“Yeah, well…” she muttered, voice softer now. “Guess I kinda like it too.”

She didn’t say more after that and just kept braiding her hair. The silence stretched between them before Isha broke it by signing, Where's Vi? while looking around the place.

"I don't know. She's a grown ass woman, she could handle herself," Jinx muttered, stilling her head. "Don't move or I'll mess this up!"

Of course, she knew. Her very sweet sister had stormed out hours ago. Said she needed to clear her head after their small fight.. Okay, it was actually a big fight. Vi just asked her what happened after she and Caitlyn left on the bridge that day. Jinx, of course, answered truthfully. Telling her that she blew the whole thing, Ekko included, and ended up killing the poor man. After that, Vi was left stunned while staring at her in a way she'd never seen before... so much anger. She got it, though. Vi treated that Bug Boy like a family, even Jinx treated him like one, before all shits that happened to her. And she wouldn't be surprised if Vi was mad at her again and probably leave her again.

Through her staring at nowhere as her mind drifted somewhere else, her eyes caught Isha signing through the mirror, which made her entire being tense.

By the way, who was Ekko?

Her hands on her hair instantly stilled as her head slowly turned to her, eyes narrowing straight to Isha's eyes. “Don’t tell me you peeked at my private stuff .” Her head tilted slightly as her voice dropped in a low, dangerous tone. 

Jinx stared at Isha like she'd just set off a bomb in the middle of her soul. Her entire being ignited in a second. Her ears and neck are burning, and her fingers twitched in mortification. She opened her mouth to say something, then immediately closed it before slapping her hands against her face with a groan.

"Ishhhaaaa!!!"

Isha only blinked, now grinning mischievously. She signed again, slowly this time, like she wanted to make sure Jinx read it clearly. Was. He. Your. Boyfriend?

Jinx let out an audible wheeze and staggered back like she'd been physically hit. “You are grounded,” she mumbled into her hands. “You are so grounded. I don’t care that you’re adorable or that I love you more than anything on this disgusting place. You are absolutely, aggressively grounded.”

Isha’s shoulders shook with laughter before she signed again, Is that a yes? She was clearly enjoying teasing her.

Jinx dropped her hands from her face just to stare at her. “Do I look like the kind of person who has a boyfriend ?” Isha nodded immediately. Jinx pointed a warning finger at her. "Y-You..."

So yes? Ekko was your boyfriend!

“Uhm, no! ” She snapped and grabbed another clean piece of clothing nearby and smushed it against her own face, feeling embarrassed. Why the hell had she even drawn him and put his stupid name on that of it with a tiny heart like she was thirteen again and daydreaming about her crush?! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!

Isha’s eyes sparkled mischievously with her reaction as she signed, Well, he's kinda handsome... even with the unusual white hair. I can say you two fit each other hehe.

Jinx dropped the thing she was holding and looked absolutely betrayed.  Isha innocently tapped her chin, then signed, So… when will I meet your boyfrin—

“Don’t you finish that sentence! ” Jinx shouted, throwing a sock at her. “Nope. Nuh-uh. Not today, little devil. This conversation is OVER.”

How was she supposed to explain that anyway? That the one she saw was her dad, and maybe dead because she killed him? No way. No damn way she would tell her that.

The little girl only laughed at her reaction, one hand over her mouth to hide it. After she recovered, she scrambled to sign once more. You're blushing. You clearly like that Ekko man.

Jinx's finger stilled on her hair as she narrowed her eyes at her. "Excuse me? Who liked who ?"

Isha only grinned widely, flashing her white teeth, and to make it worse, she even wiggled her eyebrows. Jinx couldn't help but feel annoyed with that face. It was like watching karma manifest in real time. A living, breathing mirror of her worst habits grinning right back at her with zero remorse. Jinx felt the universe flip her a middle finger, and somehow, it had Isha’s face. When she could no longer take it, she finally let go of the half-finished braid and lunged forward with a devilish grin.

“Oh, that’s it.” 

Realizing her mistake, Isha yelped and tried to scoot away, but it was already too late. Jinx caught her by the cheeks, pinched them mercilessly, and began attacking her neck and jawline with rapid kisses.

“Say ‘Ekko’ again, I dare you! Say it!” she growled, lips smushed against Isha’s skin between each kiss. “How dare you touch my things, huh?!"

Isha only managed to thrash and kick as she laughed, hands flailing at Jinx to let her stop. Eventually, Jinx relented, pulling back with her arms loosely draped around Isha’s small shoulders, nuzzling her nose into her temple. Isha just leaned into her, grabbing a fistful of Jinx’s braid and pulling it gently.

"You wanna know 'bout him?"

They looked at each other through the mirror. Isha's eyes lit up instantly with excitement as she nodded fast. Jinx chuckled, brushing a few strands from Isha's face before pressing a final kiss to her temple. She straightened up again, gently guiding Isha to face forward as she picked up where she left off on her braids. 

"Hmmm... maybe next time?" She gave her a teasing glance as she continued working with Isha's hair. The little girl groaned through her nose and let out a soundless grumble, her legs kicking lazily at the air.

Time passed, and by the time she tied off the final braid of Isha's hair, they were both giggling as they looked at each other. Jinx caught that moment in the mirror. Her hand stilled against Isha’s hair.

"Damn, we actually look good,” Jinx muttered, blinking slowly at the pair of them. A breath of a grin tugged at her lips. “Though it makes us both look like we’re about to walk into some peace ritual and offer a goat for sacrifice to a god.”

Isha raised a brow, then began moving her hands. Can it be Viktor?

"You can say that." She shrugged with a grin. Isha only laughed further. "Anyways..." Jinx pushed herself up straighter and threw one arm around Isha’s shoulder, the other cocked at her hip in a dramatic pose. “How do I look, Isha?”

Isha’s smile widened. So beautiful, Mama! she signed before turning around to face her fully, beaming up at her with that gap-toothed smile. How do I look?

Jinx froze as her brain scrambled to keep up with what Isha just called her.

Mama.

Her throat tightened before she could help it. It was impossible. It had to be. There was no way Isha knew. She’d been so careful with her secret. So, where had that word come from? When she recovered, she shook it off with a laugh. She’s just a kid, she told herself. She probably just thinks of me like one... like a mom. Doesn’t mean that she knows who I really am.

Her smile faded a little as her gaze softened, tracing the curve of Isha’s cheek, the slope of her nose, the light in her golden eyes. She leaned down, eyes never leaving Isha’s face, and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind the girl’s ear, brushing her fingers along the braids.

"Don’t cry… you’re perfect." A voice echoed faintly in the back of her mind.

Jinx swallowed the knot in her throat and forced a breath out through her nose. “Perfect,” she whispered as she pressed her forehead gently to hers, closing her eyes. Isha smiled softly and leaned her head back into Jinx’s shoulder for a hug.

For once, things seemed to be falling into place.

Vander had finally come back when he saved her. Vi was here too, and of course with her perfect little enforcer girlfriend who was always five steps behind. And Isha… her Isha… Jinx didn’t even have words for what that kid had done to her heart.

For once, it was almost perfect.

Not until those deafening, weird screams from the people of the commune, and everything just shattered into pieces.

They all ran outside to investigate, but as soon as they did, Vander went back into a rampage again. But this time, he was different from before. He was a nightmare in flesh with his massive frame that was pulsing with lava. His eyes burned with blood, glowing like embers in the dark and filled with nothing but an intent to kill.

It all happened very quickly; the last thing Jinx could remember was that the Noxian soldiers, led by Ambessa, were attacking them and Vander. After that, it feels like everything went into a blur.

Jinx's instincts kicked in. Her eyes darted through the madness until they landed on Isha, frozen behind her with fear in her eyes. She dropped to one knee in front of her and gently grabbed her shoulders.

“You stay here, okay? Don’t move an inch,” Jinx said, forcing herself to sound calm, not to scare the kid.

Isha’s hands moved shakily as she looked around. I’m scared.

Jinx’s heart twisted. She reached up and cupped Isha’s cheek, guiding her face back to hers, forcing her to meet her eyes.

“I know,” Jinx whispered. “But you’re not alone, bun-bun. I’m right here.”

Her thumb brushed over the girl’s cheek, smearing a bit of dirt. “It’s fine. It’s gonna be fine. After this, I’ll take you to Jericho’s, alright? You’ll get that weird sweet thing you like with the sprinkles and the gooey center, and I won’t even complain about the price, cross my heart.”

Isha blinked, tears gathering.

“You’ll be safe. I swear it.

It took Isha a second to nod, now looking at her. Jinx forced a smile and tapped down her helmet. She then leaned in and bumped their foreheads together, just like they did when she needed to calm Isha, and when she needed to ground herself.

“Good girl,” she whispered before standing and sprinting back into the battlefield.

She didn't hesitate for once as her gun screamed in her hand, shooting her way through the Noxian soldiers that dared to stop her until she got near to where Vi and Caitlyn fought back to back.

Each bullet she shot was a vow; not today, not her family, and definitely not her fucking kid. Jinx chenched her teeth, and her eyes went wild. She needs to finish this early and be right back to Isha again. She had promised that little kid to tell the truth tomorrow, and she wasn't going to let her wait any longer.

They were fighting nonstop, not until she heard a loud grunt from her sister. Jinx jerked her head around, heart in her throat. She saw Vi stagger, but before she could pivot to help, Caitlyn was already moving toward her. So Jinx ran forward to Vander. Deep within her, there's still hope that she could still have him back again, just like she did before. Jinx still needed her father, and she could never lose another again for the third time.

“No, no, no—” her voice cracked, shouting as loud as she could, her arms raised slowly. “It’s me! Vander, it’s me! You know me. It’s Jinx. Your girl. Your-your Powder…”

One of the Noxian soldiers stabbed him with a spear, and a blaring cry rumbled deep in his chest before molten lava splattered from his mouth and seared the earth in front of him in anger. And before Jinx could say another word, his huge arm hit her and sent her a few feet away from him. The world spun sideways as his palm connected with her body, her breath knocked from her chest as pain bloomed on her ribs.

From a distance, with horror on her eyes, Isha watched as the scene unfolded in front of her. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Jinx struggle with each attempt to stand, but she was met with another failure. Desperately, she turned to Vi, hoping for help, but she was wounded, with her girlfriend supporting her side to retreat. There was no one else. If Jinx was to be saved, it had to be by her.

Summoning every ounce of courage, Isha reached into the small bag at her side and retrieved two blue crystals, the same kind Jinx used, and told her not to touch. She looked back at Jinx, now trying to crawl towards Vander. Isha knew what she had to do. With a deep breath, Isha tapped her helmet, mimicking Jinx's habitual gesture, before sprinting forward.

Vivid memories flooded her with two of them dancing like fools in their hideout, laughing and twirling under the lights until they collapsed on the floor, panting. She remembered the night when Jinx dozed off first in the warmth of their shared bed. Isha had let her sleep, just watching her breathe as she cradled one of her braids, wishing hers would grow long enough to match.

I wanna go back...

Isha remembered the time they painted graffiti on the backs of those poor bugs they used for fighting. Or the reckless day Jinx had brought her to the river for a swim, and it had made Isha sick for days, but it didn’t matter since Jinx had held her the entire time, whispering soft things and pressing kisses into her hair.

Just let me go back...

Isha also remembered the moment Jinx dyed her hair blue because she lost a bet and gave her twin braids just like hers. She remembered how they used to spray-paint all over the streets of Undercity, laughing as they ran away from angry owners. Isha remembers how she used to sneak behind Jinx's back to scare her, especially when she's doing something important.  But instead of being angry, Jinx would laugh and go after her for tickles.

I don’t want this anymore.

Each memory lit a fire in her chest, burned behind her ribs, and made her feet move faster. Tears continued to trail down her cheeks, but it was not from sadness. Isha was smiling because even though it had been a short time with her, even if it all ended this time, she knew that Jinx had loved her in that short time.

I’m scared. Mama… I just want to be with you.

Jinx was still on the ground with her body screaming in pain and breath ragged, but it all stopped the moment a small and too familiar shadow crossed her vision. Her mind struggled to process it, sluggish from the fight and pain. But as her eyes followed the fleeting figure, looking at her small back, her heart stilled.

She watched in horror, frozen, as the little girl sprinted toward Vander. Jinx’s eyes widened in disbelief just as Isha dove under the Noxian soldier, sliding across the dirt, her favorite helmet falling, as her fingers reached for her gun that was lying on the ground. Far too large for such tiny hands.

I-Isha?

“N-No,” Jinx whispered, fear swallowing her whole. “No... no no no!!!”

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the little girl didn't just load one crystal, but three. The sheer power in those things... Jinx had seen what they could do. She felt the destruction in her bones, and now Isha had them. The pain from earlier had vanished instantly, drowned by terror. Her legs moved, weak and stumbling, but fast. Faster than they ever had. She had to reach her. She had to stop Isha.

Please, not her. Not my daughter. Please, no. Not again.

"ISHAAA!!"

She was so close... just a few more steps to finally have her. One more heartbeat away from reaching her baby girl. The one thing in this burning, cursed world that gave her a reason to wake up in the morning. The reason she kept going. The reason she hadn’t drowned herself in hell completely.

Jinx finally began to understand the kind of love Vander must have felt for Vi, the same love Silco had shown her —a love so strong that it meant putting someone else’s safety above one's own. She was willing to offer her life to all the gods just to have Isha back in her arms, even if she was no longer breathing.

Her boots scraped the dirt, breath hitching in her chest, arms already reaching out. But then, out of nowhere, something slammed into her from the side, and strong arms wrapped around her body, locking her in place. 

“No!” she screamed, thrashing. “Let me go, Vi! I need to get to my daughter! Please, Vi, let me go! I cannot lose her again!”

"And I cannot lose you, too!"

She knew Vi meant it. Knew she was holding her tight to save her, her baby girl. But Jinx didn’t want to be saved. She wants to save her baby girl, too.

Jinx kicked, clawed, and screamed. She didn’t care if her nails broke against Vi’s arms. She didn’t care if her voice gave out. None of it mattered. She was going to get to Isha. She had to. That is her baby. Her whole stupid, perfect little world. But it was all useless against Vi's steel arms. Her strength was nothing.

“No! NO!” she sobbed, twisting violently. “She’s all I have, Vi! Don’t do this to me—not again!”

Please, Bunny... come back to Mama. Come back to me, I still need you. Please.

“Please, Vi, please—” she begged, her voice barely holding together. “I can’t—I can’t lose her again! She’s my baby! She’s all I have! Let me go—don’t do this to me—”

Vi’s grip only tightened, trembling. “I’m sorry, Pow-Pow. I’m sorry.”

Wild, her eyes darted back to Isha and saw her baby girl— her daughter smiling in peace with tears streaming down her cheeks, with her trembling hand holding the gun, while the other formed the familiar shape of their secret gun sign.

Jinx’s breath hitched. Her whole body locked up as the memories from the past stormed her. She remembered the trembling fingers holding her flipping flat stomach, back when she still thought it might be a joke that she was indeed knocked up. The weeks after that felt like walking through fog. Her hand always on her stomach as little whispers to herself echo in the empty place. 

“Hey, tiny thing... guess it’s just you and me now. Hope you would'n't get bored.”

She had no one then, even with Silco beside her. She had nothing other than the weight of loneliness and a life growing beneath her ribs. And now... who would have thought that it was the same tiny soul that fell down into her and became her spark? And that spark became her anchor, the only light in the black. The only thing that kept her from putting a bullet in her own head.

“Pew,” Isha said softly with a soft smile that never reached her eyes. She was so calm... so so brave. She doesn't want to die; she only accepted the reality that this is the only way to save Jinx.

Jinx’s scream broke into sobs. “ISHAAA!!”

The world tilted beneath her as her knees buckled under Vi’s grasp. She couldn’t breathe or think properly. All she wanted to do was to be with her daughter and save her. She had to save the little girl who had given her purpose, who had saved her, who had accepted her for who she is.

Wait! I'm coming with you! Wait for me, Isha. I'm coming with you, my love...

From where she stood beneath Vander’s towering form, she gave one last glance toward Jinx's twisted face in anguish, with Vi still holding her back to keep her safe. And that was enough for Isha, knowing that Jinx would get hurt with her.

Slowly, Isha’s shaking hands raised the sparking gun. Her eyes stayed on Jinx even as the crystals pulsed violently in the chamber. She wanted to run back. She wanted to drop everything and feel Jinx’s arms around her one last time. She was terrified. But she knew what she had to do. She looked up at Vander and, with a trembling breath and a peaceful smile, Isha closed her eyes and pulled the trigger.

They say that the human brain lives for seven minutes after death and replays the best memories of their life.

And to Isha, it was only Jinx...

The sound that followed was unlike anything, as the bright light swallowed the sky, followed by the deafening blast that cut through the air. But what was the most horrible thing that happened was the echoing silence that followed along.

Jinx didn't hear the explosion. She only felt the sudden shift of the air, not even realizing that Vi had finally let go. She didn't even feel the immense pain as her knees hit the ground. All Jinx could do was stare as her mind began to spiral.

What if...

What if she hadn’t left Isha alone that day?

If she’d just stayed in that damn hideout, maybe the enforcers wouldn’t have found her. If the enforcers hadn’t taken her, maybe Jinx wouldn’t have broken into Stillwater. If she hadn’t broken into Stillwater, she wouldn’t have found Vander. If she hadn’t brought Vander back, they wouldn’t have ended up in the commune. And if they hadn’t ended up here… maybe this whole mess wouldn’t have happened. Maybe Isha wouldn’t be out there right now.

What if... what if... what if...

What if they had just stayed in their little hideout together, safe and sound? 

Would Isha still be here?

Would she still be here with her arms, smiling, painting with their stupid bugs, sneaking her pens when Jinx wasn't looking, and laughing with all her heart?

And in that moment, Jinx finally understood.

This was why Vi had wanted her to stay back.

This was why Silco was willing to give everything up for her.

This was why Vander had fought so hard to save Vi that day.

Because loving someone that much meant losing yourself to the fear of losing them.

"ISHAAA!!"