Chapter Text
Jinx was tired. Exhausted, actually. She just wanted everything to stop. She wanted to stop hurting those around her. And the only way to be able to do so is to remove herself from the equation entirely.
Sad, but true. Jinx. Was. Tired.
Unfortunately for her, the Boy Savior himself would always be there for her, for better or for worse. So, with a great sigh, she sat down on the propeller next to Ekko, and gestured for him to speak.
Ekko breathes a sigh of relief as he plops down next to her. Where do I even start? He makes his choice eventually.
“How long have I been gone?”
If Jinx is surprised by this question, she doesn’t show it. “Six, almost seven months now. A lot has changed since then.”
Ekko takes in Jinx’s appearance; the shimmer pink eyes, skin paler than he’s ever seen, the choppy cut she had clearly given herself, the scars marring her cloud tattoos, the mechanical finger on her left hand, the tear stains on her face. “Yeah, no kidding. What happened while I was gone?”
“Vi turned blue belly after I attacked the Council, Sevika and I teamed up, I made a friend, busted some folks outta Stillwater and accidentally started a cult of personality, kinda sorta made up with Vi, found Vander again, lost him again, lost my friend, got locked up and the rest is history”, Jinx says casually.
Part of her wishes she had a camera so she could capture the expression on Ekko’s face. His eyes are practically bulging out of his head.
“Vi became an enforcer? How could she do that?”
“Oh that’s not all she did!” Jinx held up her hand, showing off her new finger. “How do you think I lost this? It was courtesy of Commander Kiramman, after we fought in the tunnels. Vi and her goons used The Grey to try to smoke me out”, Jinx continues, her voice low.
All the color drained from Ekko’s face. His big sister, the person who he had looked up to, using The Grey on her own sister? Just for killing some corrupt Piltie politicians? Is he hearing this right?
Ekko decides he wants to talk about that later and shoves that incredibly disturbing information aside.
“You said something about a prison break at Stillwater, right? How did you manage that? And what did you say about Vander?”
“Sevika was trying to rally the Undercity to fight back against Piltover and protest martial law when-"
“I’m sorry, martial law? Who the hell decided that? How long has this been going on?” Ekko interjects, still not quite believing what he’s hearing.
“Wow, first time we’ve been able to talk in almost a decade and you’re interrupting me? Jeez Ekko, whatever you’ve been through made you lose your manners in less than a year?” Jinx has a shit eating grin as she says this.
Ekko is incredibly offended by this, but he knows she has a point. He gestures for her to continue.
“Anyways, as I was saying, there was a protest. I wasn’t there, Sevika came back to the hideout after the fact. She says I-my friend, stuck it to the Noxians and fought like hell before the enforcers showed up and rounded everyone up.”
“Obviously I wasn’t gonna sit back and let that happen. So Sev and I hatched a plan. We snuck on a boat, I pretended to turn myself in while Sev snuck behind the enforcer and knocked her out so I could take her uniform. I acted like I was taking her in when we knocked out all the other enforcers on guard and opened up the cells. My cult, I hear they call themselves the Jinxers? Corny, right? Some of them were in there.”
“Scar and some other Firelights were there too, actually. My Jinxers touched my shoulder as they walked out in thanks. Scar nodded at me. It made me feel…a lot. Sev and I had to walk a little further into the prison before we found my friend. She was really scared, but okay. Then Vander showed up, and yeah!”
They sit in silence for a bit, Ekko struggling to digest all the information she’s told him so far.
“Do I even wanna know how Vander came back?”
Jinx hums. “Probably not!”
Ekko laughs at that. “Well I’m glad our friends are okay. I should get back to the hideout. Do you wanna come with me?”
The conversation hits a lull, as Jinx suddenly goes quiet, struggling with what to say next. It takes quite some time before she’s ready to speak again.
“Was”, Jinx whispers.
“Hm?”
“My friend, Isha, was okay. Now she’s gone too, and it’s my fault.” Jinx pulls her knees up to her chest and holds herself tight, as if she’s trying not to fall apart again.
“I don’t believe that for a second, Jinx”, Ekko says gently.
Jinx shrugs and shakes her head at that. “I’m tired, Ekko.”
He nods and lightly touches her shoulder, prompting her to look at him. “I know, Jinx, I know. Why don’t we try to get some sleep, and talk some more in the morning?”
Jinx manages a weak smile. “Oh, you’re gonna stay here with little old me? The Firelights need you and your savior complex! I have no idea how they’ve been managing without you for so long.”
Ekko playfully nudges her before forcing himself to stand and offering her his hand. She stares at it for a second, before taking it and letting him help her up. Her legs wobble, but she doesn’t fall.
“If I had known you’d be coming I would’ve cleaned up!” Jinx is loud, flamboyant, desperately trying to distract from the many elephants in the room.
“Something tells me that’s not true, J”, Ekko says playfully.
Jinx flips him off with her metal finger as she makes her way to the couch. Ekko’s right behind her, taking it all in; the drawings and half finished inventions strewn over her desk, the tub of dried out blue hair dye, the tent on the opposite side. It looks homey. Ekko is glad Jinx had a friend. Really, he is. But the knowledge that she couldn’t have been there for him like Isha was for her stings even still.
“So, I guess you can have the couch while I take the tent?” Jinx tries to play it cool, but her voice cracks, betraying how awkward she feels about this whole thing.
Well we could stay together if you want, like old times? Ekko thinks but does not say.
Instead, he nods. “Yeah, sounds great, thanks. Good night, Jinx.” Ekko puts the Z drive on her desk before sitting down on the couch and giving her a look that’s full of gratitude.
“Night, boy savior! Don’t let the bedbugs bite! And don’t forget to tell me where the hell you’ve been all this time in the morning, yeah? I can’t do all the talking you know!” Jinx struts away before Ekko can dignify her response with anything more than a snort and a shake of his head.
Jinx opens the tent, and feels a pang in her chest. It smells like Isha. It’ll be cold in there without her, she knows. But Jinx had cried herself out for the night, and she wasn’t kidding about being tired earlier. She lied down, curled into a ball, and let the darkness of sleep envelop her.