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The cold continues to stick to Jinx's skin, like a tick it digs its icy teeth in. The fireplace roared when Caitlyn threw another log in.
Isha and Jinx managed to make it just before the snow started to pile up, Jinx still had to carry Isha here on her shoulders that was nonnegotiable.
But here they are, Isha was sent to sleep. And Jinx standing in the middle of the vastly decorated room. She could smell the fireplace before she saw it, burnt ash and old brick. In the other ear Jinx could hear the snow scratching at the window.
"I could braid your hair?"
Despite the tingle up her spine and sudden weight on her chest, Jinx sat between the soft well formed legs of Caitlyn Kirramen. The cool grooves of the chair's rim stab at Jinx's spine like thorns on a pretty rose. Which matches the deep red of the chair and matching sofa.
Caitlyn behind her poised, nimble ice touched hands ran across Jinx's neck, pulling the blue mess of her choppy hair together.
She felt the gentle pull and scrap across her scalp, Caitlyn's nails a ghost's touch as she pulled her hair down.
The soft tug of the knots were something Jinx was numb to by now, yet Caitlyn was still careful. Gentle in no way she should never be to the person sitting before her.
The sound of a clock was ticking faintly in the distance, Jinx could swear she heard her own heart.
Caitlyn pulled the light blue and short strands to new, neat braids. Something Jinx hadn't worn in years.
Her fingers skillfully pulled each apart in a practiced motion before tying it up. Gently Caitlyn guided her head back, pushing Jinx's gaze to follow upward. A painting sat above the fireplace, a shiny gold rim holding it together.
The purple and pink of Jinx's eyes followed over every swirl and mark of the painting above her, it took a moment to place the sharp eyes that stared down at her. But only for a moment.
Caitlyn's mother.
Her face was devoid of emotion, a statue would show more emotion Jinx was sure, and a gun Jinx could draw from memory was held almost smugly in her arms. All of this with the same set of piercing eyes that jinx could feel on her.
The cold of Caitlyn's hands stop, before long there's a tap on her shoulder, Jinx's heart drops to her stomach, Caitlyn reaches over and, and puts a mirror in Jinx's hand.
It hasn't taken long, with the little hair jinx has left it's almost surprising Caitlyn could get any braid going.
The small braids were hardly noticeable but it made jinx whole again, in a way it reminded her of Isha and how insistent the girl was that jinx braid her hair even with its mess of curls and short length.
Isha would be happy to match again, fighting with herself to stop the smile she pinched the skin on her hand, even then a smile cracked through. She was quick to smother that spark.
In the reflection is Caitlyn's face. Sharp and a single eye staring back, with an undeniable worry. An anxiety Jinx didn't think possible for the woman. So Jinx tilted her head back, into Caitlyn's lap.
Now surrounded by the smell of light perfume with a twist of floral fragrance, something that soothed Jinx as much as it ran through her like live wire.
There a twist of a smirk pulls on Jinxs' face.
The small handheld mirror was dropped to the floor as jinx hums, in a playful moment of thought. "This sucks."
In an instant she felt the warm thighs below her head tense, just as she watched Caitlyn's face do the same.
"Oh, real funny." Caitlyn pushed to the edge of her seat, Jinx following in the forward motion with ease.
Jinx stewed in the silence as it settled like the layers of building snow outside. Caitlyn fell back into the chair.
With that Jinx stood, hands burning as they pushed from Caitlyn's legs to stand. Even through the clothes Caitlyn could feel the furnace that Jinx was, pulsing and burning as her body consumed the never ending shimmer.
A stark contrast to the naturally cold of Caitlyn's skin, without realizing it the touch sent pleasant shivers up Caitlyn's stiff spine.
The time to process that was cut off when Jinx spoke, in the rough gravel that was her voice. She sounded lower, like she just woke up, or like she regrets being here.
"Me and Isha should head out." The small room echoed her dry voice, her limbs drooping to the floor as she looked around. Like jinx was memorizing the layout, or maybe she was avoiding the blue that stared at her back. "Don't think anyone else will be turning up."
Either way Caitlyn stood to follow in an instant. "The storm outside hasn't stopped. You'd both freeze." Caitlyn wore her tight turtleneck, and basic but equally tight pants.
Jinx shrugged, but was all too aware of the snow that gnawed and clawed at the windows. Her heart froze just thinking of it. Not to mention thinking of how sick Isha would be after, it had to be fate they got here before the storm.
"Stuff to do." It's a shit veil for the fact that Jinx didn't want to stay and wait. Caitlyn and Jinx could get along occasionally, but without Vi it felt weird. Especially after Caitlyn broke up with Vi.
Despite this Jinx's boots filled with lead as she steps to the door, slinking across the room with her arm suddenly frail as she lifts it towards the door knob.
A hand holds the door knob, and Jinx stops to look up who it belongs to.
"Jinx, it's freezing you can't." The moment the words left Caitlyn bites them back, her voice pleading. "Please, I don't mind you staying."
The tall walls of the room were small, and the room between them grew closer than it should have.
"Look, it's been great. Thanks for the braids and all, but," The soft carpet under Jinx's wet boots became a gnawing pit, much like the growing knot in her stomach. "Isha and I don't wanna wait around till the snow stops."
They've only been alone together for maybe an hour.
“Wait!”
Jinx took another step towards the door, and Caitlyn let her. Caitlyn's hand dropping from the doorknob with a slump. But it's never that easy with either of them.
"I've been waiting for you, and Isha," Isha added like an afterthought. "hoping you'd get to see, to see.." There was a short struggle for words, it left Jinx thinking of one specifically, Me.
"Piltover, during the holidays."
The fire in her was quickly doused once more, chilled by words of lies. Her hand fell from its reach towards the door. She doesn't know why.
"Yeah, it's really nice." Neither of them had to say it to know how bad it is that neither Jinx, Isha, or Vi had ever seen a Christmas tree. A real one, much as Vander, and even Silco, tried.
"Festive." Her tone was soothing, Jinx was just saying this to make Caitlyn happy.
That's what she told herself, something to get out of here faster, yet even after the words left her mouth and hung in the chill of the side of the room, she felt the wildfire in her spark back to life. Growing to gnaw at her ribs.
But for a split moment there was a smile, the softest smile she's ever seen on Cait.
And Caitlyn felt it, warm and bright blossoming in her gut, it was enough.
To dampen the warmth, the wind and snow shutter and snap against the glass windows are futile in its attempt to get in. It sent chills through the room.
The once warmth and genuine smile was tugged from Caitlyn's lip, a soft outline of a frown now in its place.
"You can't go out in that, Isha can't go out in that." Caitlyn took the only step left between them, her figure imposing on Jinxs' smaller frame as she gently took the girl's hands. And despite Caitlyn's cold nature, even she could feel the spike of warmth in Jinx, as if touching a burning log.
Jinx didn't move, her eyes instead flick from the tall woman above her, to the pink and blue of her own pale nails in the almost equally pale hand of one Caitlyn Kiramman.
"Sevika won't be happy."
The breakthrough Caitlyn had been waiting for. And it brought the blossoming flower of life right back.
She laughs, a sound Jinx wouldn't mind hearing again. "Well what's the hurry then?"
Jinx couldn't help the growing grin of her own, a moment they shared that only they would know. Something they could keep for themselves.
Her eyes wander to the window, the storm. It continues to snow, piling layers onto one after another, and the cold continues as it nips through the walls.
Caitlyn of course saw this, the fight for warmth or solitude. Jinx wouldn't put Isha in that, this Caitlyn knew, but Jinx herself wouldn't hesitate to walk right out.
And just like that, once again, the feeling was gone. Caitlyn cleared the words from her throat, taking careful steps to the small bar in the room.
As if any misstep would scare Jinx away more than she had already.
The walls breathed a sigh with Jinx. The cold of the doorknob felt heavy. But her hand pulls down, she follows in Caitlyn's steps her head hangs low and her hands stuffed deep in her pockets.
"Vander expects us back soon. He might start scrounging through the undercity for us." Yet Jinx sat down on the luxuriously velvet couch.
"Never had a problem making people find you before."
Jinx half shrugs, Caitlyn turns to face Jinx with two glasses in hand.
It took no moment of hesitation from Caitlyn to hand Jinx the drink, the glass is cold and there's messy scratches of patterns, patterns of flowers of violets.
And she thought her heart couldn't go any lower.
"Listen," she waited a moment for Caitlyn to continue, almost asking her about it, then the fire pops, the logs shift, while the soft roar of flames continues through it all. And if she focused hard enough she could catch the faint sound of Isha snoring in the room over.
Jinx can still hear the storm outside, but the warmth here was a more welcome feeling.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
Wind scratched at the walls beside them, Caitlyn took this chance to sit next to Jinx on the plush couch. In that moment Jinx swirls her glass watching the liquid inside as it sucks her deeper.
Jinx almost doesn't realize she's nodding, but the silence isn't unwelcome.
Condensation forms on the rim dusting the small scratches in grey. Jinx could still feel the ghost of a chill reaching for her.
"I guess I could stay for a drink."
In a second Jinx has downed the sour liquid, hoping to avoid as much of the taste as possible. Instead of tasting like stomach bile, it was a pleasant honey nectar that coated her throat.
That couldn't have been right. It was a fluke, or maybe Caitlyn had given her something non-alcoholic.
Beside her Caitlyn watched with a glowing smile showing the slight gap in her teeth. Adding to the rosy tint on her face, it makes Jinx do a double take, causing the remnants of smooth honey to choke her.
"You're supposed to savor it." To demonstrate she took a long sip of the smooth alcohol, Jinx followed as it went down her throat.
She didn't notice when Caitlyn set the glass down, the darker blue of Caitltn's hair fell just enough in her face to be an annoyance. Yet she smiles at Jinx, even holding out her hand.
"I'm not one to take it slow." The cold glass leaves her hand as passed it to Caitlyn. "I could stay for another drink, though."
Caitlyn obliges, standing once more. Before she turns though Jinx watches her down the drink, and sets the glasses on the bar with a clank.
Jinx could see the side eye Caitlyn gave her, as well as the glint of light when she said it. "I'll put on some music."
Caitlyn's hand danced down the table. A small push and pop then a record player is on the table. With a record already in it, Caitlyn simply resets it. When the record spins, a familiar song starts at a low volume.
"Won't your dad start to get suspicious? Shacked up with a Zuanite, not the best look." The remaining drops swirled in Caitlyn's hands, music now providing a soft lull to accompany the room's ambience.
Not enough to disturb Isha though, the kid could sleep through the world ending.
Caitlyn fills each glass equally with far more than she had before. "Mm, he'll understand."
Jinx follows the outline of Caitlyn's body.
Jinx took in the tall glass that was Caitlyn Kiramman for the few seconds she had.
From her head of dark blue hair, to broad shoulders, Jinx stops to admire the defined muscles that were easily outlined by the snug black fabric.
Despite the turtle neck making Jinx's skin crawl she wanted to feel the skin underneath, kiss it, even kiss her. It made her whole brain pause when it caught up with itself just before the deep end.
A monster starts banging on her ribs. A warmth spread through her that wasn't just from the fireplace, as it tried to consume her from the inside out.
"Especially with how bad it is." It's then that the wind outside becomes a focus. Pink eyes darted to follow to the window where somehow the storm got worse, heavier.
The stark contrast makes her sink deeper into the couch imagining the cold on her skin.
And Caitlyn slid to the seat beside her, holding the glass of shimmering honey. Jinx reaches for it, her bones feel heavy. And the monster kept fighting her.
“Another round on me? ”
She manages to wrap her fingers around it, frozen under the observing eye, Jinx can't do much else.
This all hit her like a bat to the head, fast and leaving a loud ringing in her ears.
It's then that Jinx snatches the glass from Caitlyn's hand. Gulping down as much as possible, until it bubbled in her throat and she had to fight to keep it down.
If Caitlyn was shocked, or disgusted she didn't show it. Jinx felt the drops she missed falling down her cheek, and some dripping from the glass. The drink swayed in the pink reflection of Jinx's eyes, it was taunting her with how much was left.
There wasn't even a real burn to it, if anything it helps douse the inflamed insides of Jinx's knotted stomach. With the slight of a grimace, she stares at the drink.
"What's in this?" Jinx makes a show of wiping her face, "Doesn't taste like alcohol."
She hears a soft hum from Caitlyn, but truly her entire body felt it. She watches Caitlyn's lips move but the ringing is all she hears.
"Fancy stuff as you'd call it." Caitlyn swirls her own drink, her other arm resting on the back of the couch and entangling with her hair.
"Not meant to taste bitter or be too strong."
Jinx hums in return, eyes glued to the cup like it would know the answers. Next to her she felt the lone eye looking her over. Caitlyn wasn't shy in admiring the petite bundle next to her.
Despite the many layers Jinx had brought inside, she now only wore a lengthy jacket with splotches of paint, grease, and who knows what else. She didn't need to see the map of pale skin, she already had it memorized, memorized her tattoos, could count her freckles, even tell you about her scars, but her favorite was the shine of pink.
"Your eyes, they're like a gem." Refined from years of pressure, they now shine.
Through some string of sorcery Jinx blinks, eyes fighting to look up. Jinx knows her eyes would tell on her.
How would she break this spell? Cut the string connecting them. To free her from her own wildfire of emotions. To save Caitlyn from the pain of being burned.
"Listen," Jinx started with a sigh. "I'll come pick Isha up when," A yawn cut through her words. "When.." She trailed off when she focused on the figure behind them.
A sluggish Isha rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her hat pushed to the back of her head. "Kid, what're you doing up?"
Even through the painted blue hair, Jinx watches the bright of Isha's eyes light up when she speaks.
"Hello, Isha."
Caitlyn's face lights in amusement.
"Come here." There wasn't a need to say more. Isha climbs over the couch's back, Jinx places her cup on the table when hands wrap around the whole sleeve of her hoodie.
Caitlyn took a long sip of her drink, putting her pinkie down to stop the noise as she set it down. Isha sat right between the two of them, her helmet falling to cover her face as Isha tries to look at the both of them.
"Can I take your helmet?" Caitlyn offered her hand to the colorfully painted metal. A small look towards Jinx, who did nothing but shrug.
Isha nods, handing over the cold metal. Caitlyn bows before standing.
“Might need to comb your hair, it looks like a total mess.” Jinx rustles Isha's hair around as their laughter quickly dies down.
Isha watches Jinx's head turn, and her little heart races with excitement at the two small braids of hair Jinx had. She reached to touch them.
"Oh yeah, ya Like it?" Jinx leaned in close and nudged Isha towards Caitlyn. "If not, you know who to blame."
The girl nodded so fast her hair bounced with her, it brought a warmth to Caitlyn that a fire couldn't even hold a flame to.
Comparing Jinx's braids to Isha's was like trying to measure a rat's tail, each like a snip of blue knotted yarn.
Isha's was noticeably longer though.
The music got louder at the counter, Caitlyn's hands brushed against the helmet's tooth drawn rim as it's set on the black marble.
Behind her there were soft whispers, but the howling wind was far louder than anything in the room.
On the small of the couch Isha was curled next to Jinx, not leaving much room for Caitlyn.
When she sits down the couch dips, pulling Isha down towards Caitlyn's side, Isha keeps toying with Jinx and her hair. Caitlyn felt her whole body freeze, her arm frozen on the back of the sofa.
Her eyes look to jinx with a question. Is this ok?
As if to answer for them Isha snuggles further into the couch. Pulling Jinx down with her as she curls into a ball against Caitlyn's side.
Through Isha's hair Jinx can see the smug smile the sight has her laughing. Until she finally gives in, laying her head on the couch's back with the warmth of Jinx's hand brushing Isha's hair.
The black of Caitlyn's turtle neck offsets Jinx's hair as she lays her head on Caitlyn's arm.
Each breath is an attempt to get weight off Caitlyn's chest. Jinx rolls her eyes and her head follows in the scoff, laugh? Caitlyn can't tell, but when Jinx smiles her heart melts.
It's then Caitlyn melts into the puddle of blue beside her. Slowly she leans her head against Jinx's, her heart thumps and breathing feels like inhaling pure ice.
Their heads touch, Jinx just makes it into the crook of Caitlyn's neck where she feels the scratchy fabric on her head.
Neither notice as time passes, Jinx watches Isha as she falls into a deep sleep and Caitlyn watches Jinx as she holds the girl close.
A tinge of guilt runs through her guts, rearranging them as it twists to knots and bows.
The storm calls and Caitlyn answers, staring out to watch it swirl and snap. Almost accidentally Caitlyn's hand brushes against the long bangs of light blue hair. She can't help but swirl it around her finger as she thinks.
"Vi will get suspicious of us, you know." It's scratchy, Jinx's voice bordering depressing and that of a joke.
It's something to test the water, a question asking if Caitlyn was willing to do this. Jinx half expected that to snap Caitlyn from her little day dream. Maybe throw her out, cry to Vi about anything and everything to blame Jinx. It's what pilties do.
But caitlyn rests her own head atop Jinx's, pulling the side of her bangs to swirl around her finger. The storm was crying in her ear.
"Mmm.." between them the warm little ball of blue snores with each breath, Caitlyn's eye follows to trace Jinx's face. Always stopping to focus on the deathly pale of her lips.
Her tongue darts to lick at her own lip, picturing the taste Jinx would leave. Honey, the drink would make her taste like honey. Caitlyn savors the remaining drops from her glass, her tongue chasing the flavor.
The storm outside howls, Jinx can see just past Caitlyn where the window creaks as layers of ice and snow build. She speaks before she can stop. "I've never seen white snow."
Caitlyn shakes her head, "seriously?" The word leaves her mouth without much thought. The second after her hand stops as she sucks in a breath.
"It's always gross down there, grey, black, filled with rocks, sometimes even mold." Jinx ignores Caitlyn, and suddenly she can breathe.
She watches Jinx wiping the hair from Isha's face.
"You know, I built a snowman once. it was stupid and ugly," Caitlyn watches her laugh as memories play behind big pink eyes. "like super ugly but..." Jinx shook her head. "I was so proud, so happy. Even with the muck."
The storm outside whispers and the fire cackles, under it all Isha continues to snore. Caitlyn says nothing.
"Then it got destroyed," it was a rushed mumble, but guilt shines through. "And I was sick for weeks after."
Caitlyn watched the fight for emotion as it played out on Jinx's face, the first was sadness, then came blotches of anger, and then guilt washed it all down.
All the while the only thing Jinx heard was the thumping of her heart.
"I guess, I'm glad Isha got to see the snow. Real snow. So thanks." Jinx nudges her head against Caitlyn.
Caitlyn could feel the heat of the fire burning through her.
"I should be thanking you." The posh of Caitlyn's accent shines, and Jinx could think of a thousand words. "For staying." That wasn't one of them was that.
By now Jinx knew she would never be able to understand Caitlyn, least not like this.
"Not much choice really." They both turn to the window, careful not to move Isha.
The layers of ice on the window only grew since Jinx last looked. Snow piled on the ledges to the point of holding it closed.
"It'd definitely be up to your knees by now."
There's a shared laugh, that Jinx cuts short with a testing tone.
"Yeah well, good thing you got a warm house."
Through the lids of Jinx's eyes she stares at Caitlyn. Her hand pulled to hold Caitlyn's, no matter how warm it was cold sweat would cling to Caitlyn's hand.
Thrills run up both of their spines, live wire touching live wire. The air in the room hangs heavy with the comfortable silence, so much so neither realized when the record stopped.
"I thought you'd die of pneumonia before you even made it down the street."
There's a roll of Jinx's eyes as she toys with Caitlyn's fingers, it sparks a deep sigh from Caitlyn.
“I'm serious! Think of how bad I'd feel telling Vi.” Caitlyn clears her throat and lowers an octave. “Hey, by the way, your sister died on the sidewalk because I let her leave during the year's worst blizzard!”
By the end her voice is as posh as normal.
"Maybe, you just wanted a drinking buddy."
Caitlyn's glass was the only one empty.
"Took a lot of convincing to get you to even have one, you didn't even finish the second, some drinking buddy that is." Caitlyn scoffs out, it's a joke but Jinx raises a challenging brow, with a laugh at nothing.
It's then Caitlyn watches Jinx reach over the sleeping Isha, arm stretching painfully from the space between the couch and the table. All to just grab the cold of her glass.
Gently pulling the glass back, careful to not wake the girl between them.
In a single motion Jinx smiles. "Jinx?"
Then Caitlyn watches as Jinx downs the remaining drink. A cold contrast to the warmth around her, just like before she chugs.
And Caitlyn watches as it flows down her throat, some small droplets making it past Jinx's lips leaving it glistening in the glow of the fire.
"Done."
Jinx shrugs off chills.
"Are you ok?"
Jinx nods, and Caitlyn playfully rolls her eye.
Under the soft hum of the fire Jinx can feel her heart. Beating with flames that lick up her ribs, spreading through her whole body.
"Wait here."
As slowly as possible, Jinx watches Caitlyn untangle herself from her and Isha, standing and strutting to the room behind them. To distract herself Jinx runs her hand through Isha's mess of hair.
Two minutes pass, there's rummaging in the room behind her. The storms still outside, though the fires dimming and the logs dying.
Time seems to move so slow here, like the storm wouldn't really be able to touch them in this little bubble. In this once forgotten room.
Jinx stops when someone clears their throat. Behind the couch Caitlyn stood, stiff as a board with hands behind her back. She nodded towards the bedroom.
After a few moments of careful step of separation from the sleeping girl, Jinx can finally stand.
It only takes four quick strides to make it to Caitlyn. Each step is a match of her heart.
The four steps felt like four years when staring into the abyssal blue of Caitlyn Kirramen. Behind her there was rustling, but she didn't turn back.
"Whaddya got?"
Now having to look up at Caitlyn, Jinx stopped just short of the doorway. One hand on her hip, and the other dropping towards the floor.
Caitlyn watched in real time as Jinx fought to steal her expression. But still the curiosity shines in the light of her eyes.
"As a thank you gift. For staying."
From behind her back Caitlyn pulls the shining pink and blue box topped with a yellow bow from her back. There's a small note below the ribbon.
"It was supposed to wait until tomorrow, but early gift." Caitlyn's feet shuffle back a step.
There's a pause and Jinx watches Caitlyn's eye fall to the ground.
The note read; Merry Christmas, Jinx. I hope you get good use of these. From: Caitlyn.
The box opened with the slip of yellow ribbon, inside the darkness Jinx could make out what looked to be Piltover's newest markers. Only these glow in the dark. Jinx could see the bright labeling along each color.
There were extra pink and blues, added next to the pack.
Joy and guilt mix in her chest to create a concoction of feelings. Before her ramble of words can spill out Caitlyn speaks up.
"Is that mistletoe..?"
"What?"
When Jinx looks up above Caitlyn, there was a broken and dead bunch of mistletoe, and sticks.
Jinx can't figure out why her heart skipped a beat.
"Didn't you put it there?"
"No, of course not! It.. just, it definitely wasn't here a few hours ago."
Jinx watches as Caitlyn's eye peers behind her, and Jinx follows. A head of blue and brown hair peek over the couch with wide orange eyes.
"Well then..." She looks back to Jinx, a flush of red now crawling from the back of Caitlyn's neck. "The gift is it..?"
Jinx doesn't have time to put her gift down, when she closes in on Caitlyn, and the space between them is gone. The warmth of her lips on Caitlyn's, a spark turning to a full blown fire as they meshed.
Jinx hangs her arms around Caitlyn's neck, forcing the woman to crouch. Caitlyn, no longer stunned, wraps her own arms around Jinx.
The warmth growing between them was something of comfort, for once in the night were they truly relaxed.
Caitlyn pulled closer intent to steal the taste of sweet honey from the lips of death.
And a giggle from behind Jinx stops them, Isha has completely wide eyes and toothy grin. Caitlyn watches as Jinx turns in her arms, pushing her back against the plush of Caitlyn's chest. Holding Caitlyn's arms with her own.
A shockingly quick step from sitting on the edge of a couch to avoid Caitlyn.
Caitlyn then shoots Isha a grin of her own, nodding in both admiration and thanks.
"Kid, I'm pretty sure we would've gotten there ourselves."
Isha shrugs, the smile on her face only stretching further.
When the storm howls once more, Jinx can't feel the chill. She can't imagine the prickles on her skin as the wind blows. All she feels is the comforting warmth as it wraps around her.
And for once tonight, Jinx lets herself smile. Laughing with Isha and Caitlyn as the night goes on and the storm dies out. The fire around them continues to hold them close.
The gift was put to good use, on the many pristine white walls Isha and Jinx vandalize all they can touch. Even Caitlyn was tagged appropriately with the famous symbol she spent months tracking now drawn across her palm.
And it made Caitlyn smile, watching the two laugh and argue about drawings. All over the warmth of the fire.