Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fire.
A cold blue burning against your skin. No ordinary flame.
For a moment, less than a second… it's beautiful… this explosion of yours. Just once once, you feel whole. Like you're perfect... Like this is all perfect.
You reach your hand out, and it doesn't hurt… What you created, what you did… It flutters around you, cradles you in a warm world unlike anything you ever knew…
The fall hurts.
It burns your back as the blue sizzles away into the night sky, leaving hot orange flames and crying clouds in its wake. Funny how you still managed to destroy it.
You…
Then there's You. At the centre of it all… alone… crying out,
"Vi! Please come back, Vi! Please come back! I'm sorry… I need you…"
It hurts, doesn't it?
The guilt. Carving away at a young soul.
It takes a moment… You know what you did. It's all your fault. You did this. You hurt her.
So she left, and now, you're alone. No one is to blame but you.
Not for the burning building, not for the corpse.
It was all you, and you know it.
The cry of blame is loud… too much for a fragile body to handle. All it leaves is a mess of tears and sobs.
Yet you still hear the footsteps…
First two, light with a click following behind. Then more, a whole group. Have you hurt them? Or were they just witnesses.
The leader lowers himself to your level, holding out a seemingly gentle hand. "Where's your sister?" he asks.
You look up, and a dark red dread fills your world. You recognize that eye, staring at you unblinking.
Do you still believe in Vander's ghost stories, of monster-men climbing out of the river to eat kids who stay up past their bedtime? Are you still afraid?
Or are you running away just because you can?
You can feel the gravel digging into the bottom of your shoes, hear the cries of fire, and the monster calling to hunt you down.
How far do you run for the lights of the undercity to fade away? Did you even notice Piltover's shine basking you instead?
And did you notice her before you two came crashing together?
"Hey… are you alright?" the voice of an angel asks, holding out a hand to help you up. There's no monster chasing you, not anymore. You're safe… she's safe.
Sniffling away tears, Jinx holds out a hand that's tightly gripped by the mysterious girl. She pulls the younger kid up, smiling and brushing off dirt.
'Hey… Look at me… It's gonna be okay…"

Chapter Text

A lage airship wirls through the clouds, drunken and excited laughter following, the sing-song cheer of a “Happy Progress Day" rains down from the flying citizens, along with splashes of their champagne, falling onto the tents which line town-square.
Inside each is an inventor; showing off their latest mashines and ideas.
They are the people being celebrated on this Autumn day of October 3rd 998 AN.
Jinx lets out a yawn, her eyes drawn lazily over her own sea-green display shared by her partners, Jayce and Viktor, under the guise of their Patrons and Jinx's maybe-parents, the Kirammans.
Jinx would be lying if she said she isn't excited.
The day is shaping up to be one that'll be remembered above it's predecessors, if the rumours of Jayce and Viktor's latest projects being revealed today are to be believed.
So for now, she polishes a silver hex-wrench that can help a human turn a screw with with twice the force that is in their body, and sends mechanical butterflies over the heads of laughing kids who are curious about what's happening.

Her gaze lands to the entrance, where Caitlyn Kiramman is standing proud, gazing over the streets. Her eyes are much more keen, trained through her passion to be an Enforcer.
Jinx stands up, stretching until her body pops.
"Cait!" she calls, drawing the other woman. "Enjoying the view?"
Caitlyn chuckles, leaning onto a pole. "I'm working, Jay."
"Mm-hmm... seems important you stay here."

They both turn to the stage at the centre of the tent, where past the murmuring crowd Cassandra can be heard. "Our most famous protégé," she says, "Jayce Talis. The visionary behind the Hexgates, a beacon of trade and prosperity for our great City of Progress."

Jinx sighs. "We can't avoid her forever."
Caitlyn huffs, before a smirk creeps up her face. "And you can't avoid Jayce forever if you want to keep your job."
"He doesn't need my help to look pretty. I don't think my designs are part of this year's show."
"Ahh... still salty about that?"

Suddenly, a hand sticks out from beyond the crowd, and the people disperse. Jayce continues to wave, walking to the duo. "There you are," he chuckles. Caitlyn bumps her shoulder into Jinx's, and Jinx rolls her eyes. "C'mon, Cait..."
Caitlyn instead calls to him. "It's good to see you Jayce. Awfully boring without the company."
"Can't imagine. I mean, there's so much crime to thwart outside your family's tent, you should be exhausted by how busy you are.."
A chuckle rings between them, but Caitlyn pulls away after an awkward moment. She lets out a deep sigh. "I can only imagine the strings she pulled to have me posted here."
Jinx furrows her brows, placing a hand with a closed fist onto Caitlyn's shoulder. "She's going to worry."
"She'd do anything to keep me from seeing the real world."
An awkward beat passes. Two sets of blue eyes lock to each other, a silent worry.

"Well," Jayce starts, "at least you'll have front-row seats to the speech. Gives you some time away..."
Caitlyn blinks.
"Speech?"
"Oh, right! Heimerdinger is allowing me to give the big address tonight."
Caitlyn rolls her eyes, making Jinx giggle. "We really have descended to anarchy."
Jayce groans, shumping over himself. "Have fun herding the drunkards, Cait. You gonna join me and Viktor, Jinx?"
"No, I'll stay here a bit longer, thank you."

Jayce nods, walking away. He calls a "happy Progress Day" over his shoulder, which the girls respond in kind, each devolving into giggles. Caitlyn turns to Jinx. "Did you know anything about the speech?" The girl shrugs, smiling. "Maybe. Though I wanted to keep my mouth in case someone changed their mind. Besides, I'm not sticking around." "Oh well... There's always next year. It's more a family project than a Hex-Tech project either way..." Caitlyn's comforts fall on deaf ears as Jinx steps forward, past her, a confused expression on her face. "Hey... Cait..?" Caitlyn quirks up, following Jinx's gaze. "Is that... smoke?"

~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~

Stepping on board, several large metal barrels are scattered around, tipped over with the contents burned. Jinx brushes her finger over a puddle of pink, a glare forming on her face. "Shimmer..." Caitlyn holds up a yellow crystal, inspecting it in the light, before setting it down to take a photo. "Why would anyone be trading this high? Or need an airship?"

Caitlyn's eyes follow from the clump of crystals along a trail of blood and ash, all the way to a celler.
"Jinx?" Caitlyn calls to the other girl, looming over the cellar.
Jinx walks over to Caitlyn, wiping the liquid drug off on her pants. "Think anything's down there?" "Only one way to find out." Caitlyn jumps down, dissappearing into the dark hole.
"Cait!" Jinx whines. A few seconds of contemplation pass, before Jinx follows.

There's a screech of metal moving as Caitlyn finds another layer, then a pained groan, one that's certainly not Caitlyn's.

Jinx looks down to the second pit for Caitlyn, where the older girl is on her knees in front of a man, about three times her size, covered in ugly burnes, bruises, and cuts. A crystal is stuck in his stomach.
"You're from the Undercity?" She asks. The man looks between her and Caitlyn, a panic on his face.
"Please! I-I didn't do anything, I'm just getting paid to guard the shipment-"
"Easy," Caitlyn shushes him, unfolding a small medical kit.

Jinx looks up, scanning the creates. It's almost enough shimmer to feed the whole underground for a year, burned and tipped and frozen.

Unusable.

Suddenly, a voice drownes out from the light, making Jinx jump.
"Caitlyn Kiramman, why does that not surprise me?"
Sheriff Marcus Borne steps right pass her, no acknowledgement on his face. Instead, he's scowling down to the Enforcer. "Interfering in an investigation, again. You're supposed to be guarding your mother's tent."

"We were, Sheriff," Caitlyn tries to defend herself, standing up. "But she doesn't need it, and clearly this takes priority-" "I realise you're used to getting your way," Marcus interrupts her, "Kiramman, but we have a chain of command for a reason." Jinx jumps down alongside Caitlyn, carefully taking her partner's hand while she says, "With all due respect, sir, there's more going on here than just the smuggling. I'm from the Undercity, I could convince him to talk to you." "Again with the conspiracies." He waves them off. "I'll take it from here, Kiramman. And since you're so desperately looking for extra work, you and your mutt can take the graveyard shift tonight at the fair."

Jinx slumps her shoulders.
Caitlyn grits her teeth. "Of course... sir."

"Good." Marcus turns his attention to another Enforcer, instructing him to arrest the man and get him on a boat to Stillwater. The Enforcer complies, pushing past Caitlyn and Jinx. Jinx pulls Caitlyn so the two can take a step back, whispering. "It's fine, Cait. We'll figure something out."

~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~

Jinx and Caitlyn seemed to be getting separated at every turn, from mild crowd control issues to Cassandra hurriedly pulling Jinx away to change from her work clothes into a slightly more formal suit before the showcase. Jinx finally has a moment to breathe, find her girl.
After she's done being backstage with Jayce and Viktor.

"Where were you?" Viktor asks, tiredly looking up to Jayce just walking in. The day took a lot out of him.
"Preparing." Jayce huffs. Then sloutches into a sigh. "You two should come up with me. We're all partners, aren't we?"

"No, no." Viktor hisses, "Not in front of all of them..."
Jayce's gaze falls to Jinx.
"I promised Caitlyn I'd keep her company. Besides, I'm sure they'd want a topsider to give their speech."

"What-" before Jayce could ask anything, Cassandra's voice rings out. "An inspiration to Piltover's future and that of all humanity. Please join me in welcoming to the stage... Jayce Talis."
"Guess it's time!" Jayce puts on a smile, straightening his jacket. Viktor waves to him. "You'll do great."

The crowd applauses as he steps onto stage. Jinx's blue eyes lock to Viktor's yellow, and the older man lowers his head.
"We won't be showcasing the crystal..."

Jinx sighs, then nods, turning on her heels to go outside.

The cold humidity bites at Jinx's skin, it should be raining within the next week. The last weeka of autumn before it turns to an early winter snow. Jinx pulls a lighter and a box of cigarettes out of her pocket. She always heads to the docks, buys them from an old Undercity man and his daughter, Sera. It smells like Vander and Sevika drinking at the bar, like Vi sneaking home after seeing a girl and pulling Powder into a hug, like Ekko and Powder working on new gadgets in Benzo's attic.
Jinx takes a long draw, feeling the smoke burning her lungs.

Away from her, she can see the Enforcers lining the stairway, with Caitlyn standing tall and attentive. Firecrackers go off overhead, and music begins to draw out. Jinx sighs. It's over.

"That it, then?" The Duty Captain huffs padt his own cigarette. "I thought that Talis boy was some kind of genius!"
Another Enforcer speaks up, "Last year, didn't he launch a blimp halfway across the continent?"

Jinx rests her arms around Caitlyn's waist, startling her. Jinx laughs, and Caitlyn flicks her forehead, making Jinx whine in faux pain. "Serves you right." "Hello to you too, ma très chère~" Caitlyn rolls her eyes, focusing instead on the other Enforcers. "It's an airship, actually."

The group looks to them, Jinx smirks, taking a quick puff, watching Caitlyn continues on. "An airship has a rigid metal hull. It's not a blimp." "It's a balloon, ain't it?" The Enforcer says again. "Sure as hell looks that way!"

The lot of them laugh. Jinx places her face into Caitlyn's neck. "It's okay, they're just jerks." Caitlyn huffs, leaning into her.
The Dury Captain takes a draw again, speaking past a mouth full of smoke. "Pardon us, if we aren't quite so refined as you and your dog, milady."
Another female Enforcer shrugs him off, sitting forward. "What are you Kirammans even doing here? Don't you have a cocktail party and a science fair to attend?"

Caitlyn rolld her eyes. "You're right, they are jerks."
"At least when we get home we can forget all about them... or, we could go off now and the worry can stop sooner," Jinx draws out with a smile.

Caitlyn hums, looking around.
"Marcus wouldn't appreciate me not working..." her eyes land on something strange. One of the tents is glowing.

A fire?

Realisation dawns on Caitlyn as she calls out to the other Enforcers. She sprints forward, not waiting for anyone but Jinx to follow along.
"What's happening?" An Enforcer calls.
"Get the fire brigade!" She responds.
Two of the Enforcers run off to find hoses, while Caitlyn, the Captain, and three others stay behind. Jinx pries the nearest fire extinguisher from a wall, and Caitlyn takes it from her hands. Jinx grabs another one, handing it to the Captain.

Everyone runs inside, she followed along. "Is there anyone in here?"
"Over here!" a small voice calls, that of a little girl.
Jinx calls for the Enforcers to follow her, twisting and turning until she reaches a small clearing where the voice is at it's loudest, coming from a distorting speaker.

Jinx huffs, looking around. The designs seem so familiar, yet so far away from her mind. She steps forward, accidentally kicking something.
One of the speakers lies on the floor, broken. She pulls at it curiously, seeing two vials fall out. One pink, one green. Explosives.

The speakers are slowly ticking away, and without thinking, Jinx runs, pocketing the empty device.
She's barely out of the tent before the bombs sound off with a loud bang, sending Jinx flying forward, landing on her right arm with a sharp snap under her wrist.

Past the fire and confusion, she sees Caitlyn, struggling under a pice of rubble that langed on her leg. Jinx trips over herself getting up, just barely managing to make it to Caitlyn and begin pulling her away. The tent falls in on itself, and a second, smaller explosion goes off.

Jinx's ears ring, the heat burning flush on her body, but Caitlyn is safe.

The world goes dark.

~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~

Jinx can't remember much after the explosion. She knows she managed to drag Caitlyn out of the blast radius, costing Caitlyn a knee and Jinx a chunk of her right eyebrow and cheek. As well as her arm, thank the gods she's left-handed. They're hurt, but it's better than the six Enforcers who didn't make it.
The funeral is in two days from what Jinx heard. Or maybe three if the rain gets to be an issue.
Viktor is speaking with Jayce. It was requested Jinx be there as one of the faces of Hextech and a survivors of the attack, but everything is going in one ear out the other. They keep ringing too much for her to concentrate.

"Jinx?" Jayce's voice cuts through her thoughts. She blinks. "Just a headache, you can continue."
Viktor nods, continuing to speak. "The Gemstone is gone. Along with some of our research papers and Jinx's model pistols. We believe someone might be planning to use our inventions against us."
"Who would've done this?" Jinx asks.
"We don't know." Jayce shrugs. "We'll be speaking with Marcus soon to collect the evidence we have, and begin a search party."
"Good." Jinx hums, resting her fist against her face with a wince. "Hopefully he'll get off his ass and do something. If this gets into the wrong hands, it could mean a civil war."

A long silence falls between the three of them. She can see a worry grow on Viktor's face.

"Well find a way to fix it, though. Right?"

Jayce sighs at Jinx's words, placing a hand on his partner's shoulder. "We will. But for now, Jinx, go home, take care of your girl. We'll update you later."

Jinx nods, pushing herself out of her chair.

~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~

Caitlyn is anxiously pacing around the map layed on her bedroom floor, as Jinx quietly sits on the bed, examining the explosive. She told Caitlyn everything, and it was enough to pull the older girl out of bed to continue her investigation.

There's a knock on the door, before it slowly opens, revealing Jayce holding a few white flowers. "Hey, how is everyone?"

Caitlyn jumps to Jayce, gripping his arm and dragging him to the map. Jinx chuckles, pushing herself off the bed to fall beside them.

"I've had a break in the case!" Caitlyn exclaims.
Jayce raises an eyebrow.
"Shouldn't you be resting?"

"While the trail is hot?" Caitlyn scoffs. "Listen, you know how Jinx and I've suspected there is a single mind behind the undercity's violence?"

"Oh yes, the great conspiracy." He rolls his eyes. "Jinx what did you tell her."
"Just gave her the facts, and she began working. Just look, though. Whoever attacked the square is definitely our suspect. The same symbols showed up at the botched smuggling operation at the Hexgates."
"The Hexgates?" Jayce questions.
"Keep up." Caitlyn interjects. "All this time, they've kept their dealings localized to the Undercity. Low priority. The attack on the square changes things. They've overstepped. We have a direct line now, we can go hunting for him."
"Him?"
Jinx grits her teeth, lenaing down and pointing to the centre of the Undercity, where the Lanes used to stand. "Silco. He's behind this, he has to be."

Jayce leans down next to her. "How do you intend to prove any of this?"
"If I can just work this out. Marcus will have to listen."
"If there's one thing I've learned about the Council," Jayce stands up, "they need more than just theories."

"Since when did you concern yourself with the Council's opinion?" Caitlyn huffs.

"Since I..." Jayce hums, "became a Councilor."

The girls chuckle, but it quickly falls flat. Caitlyn forrows her brows. "You're serious."
Jinx blinks, taking a step back. "Jayce, when? Why?"
"This morning, during our talk with Marcus and the council... They felt it would be beneficial to add a new head."
"And they chose you?" Caitlyn snickers.
"Ha, ha..." he groans, rolling his shoulders. "I was actually hoping you might consider joining my staff..."

Caitlyn picks up the paper, carefully opening it."House Talis Security. That's a ceremonial position. I'd live behind a desk!"
"You almost died, Cait! I just... I just want you and Jinx to be safe. You'll be close together, keeping each other away from trouble rather than getting into it-" Caitlyn interrupts him by shoving his papers back into his chest.

"Thanks, but I already have a job."

"No," Jayce says. "You don't."
"What?"
"After the attack, your parents spoke to the Sheriff."
Caitlyn groans, squatting down in front of the map.
"Look, this is the best I could do-" Jinx stops him. "Jayce... please."

"Jinx..." he looks past her. "Cait?"
"Get out!"
"Please-"
"I said get out!"

Jayce nods, waving his last goodbye to Jinx.

Jinx sits next to Caitlyn, pressing her head onto Caitlyn's back. "You wanna talk about it?"
"How could they do that! Without me knowing."
"I know," Jinx presses a chase kiss to Caitlyn's neck. "I'm sorry..."
"How are we going to continue the investigation now?"

Jinx forrows her brows, but then an idea comes to her. She straightens her back, pulling Caitlyn's eyeline to her. "They haven't collected your badge..."
"What are you thinking."
"If your badge and uniforms are still here, and stay here before the boat to Stillwater leaves, we can still use them"
Caitlyn sighs, a smirk coming to her face. "You're right."

~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~{○}~

"I need to speak with one of the inmates." Caitlyn says, placing down her case file. She's in her uniform, with Jinx a few feet behind her.
The Warden chuckles at Caitlyn's request, waving his hands. "Oh, folks in here aren't usually very talkative," he dismisses.
"This one was caught by friendly fire. Stab wound by some kind of crystal. He was sent in yesterday. We've been meaning to interview him. He'll be willing to speak with us."

The Warden sits up, eyes going wide "Oh, Inmate 2135." He hisses, "Yeah, I'm, uh, afraid that's not possible."

Caitlyn and Jinx exchange a confused glance.
"And why not?" Caitlyn asks.
"Uh, well, there's been... an incident," the Warden explains, hovering over his words, not going into detail, "The... not so pretty kind."

"You don't understand." Caitlyn argues. "We have to talk with him!"

"Oh, and you'll be able to." The Warden reassures her with a chuckle, shaking his head. "As soon as he can move his jaw again."
Caitlyn scoffs, "And there's no way he can write to us?"
"He could," the Warden states, "as soon as he's able to use his hands again."
Jinx let's out a groan and Caitlyn huffs. They look to each other, and as if having silently come up with a plan.
Jinx asks in one last effort, "Do you know who assaulted him?"

The Warden grows stiff, simply throwing a file to them. On it it; Inmate 516. Labeled dangerous, an addict, carved out an eye once. Jinx's finger's shake as she looks over the accompanying photo.
Of a woman with red hair and grey eyes.

Vi...

Caitlyn places a hand on her shoulder, Jinx takes a deep breath. She shouldn't be thinking of the long dead girl this much.
"Well speak to her, thank you." Jinx nods at the Warden.
The doors open behind them, allowing them to step into the elevator. Down to the lowest level - solitary confinement.
When the door opens once more, they can immediately hear the walls shaking with anger.

Caitlyn looks to Jinx cautiously. Jinx nods.
They continue forward, keeping themselves focused.

When they stop by the lone cell, their inmate is punching the wall in anger, letting it crack underneath her bloodied knuckles. She stops with a huff, looking over her shoulder.
Her face softens.

"Powder?"