Work Text:
Jinx wasn’t expecting the kid to love her new hair so much. Whenever Jinx looked up from tinkering with random pieces of scrap metal, she found Isha running her small fingers over the blue strands, absently patting the braids.
Isha was invested in coloring a sheet of crumpled paper. Finding blank pages was hard, but Jinx made an effort to supply Isha with art supplies.
“Watcha drawing kid?” Jinx asked, setting down her screwdriver. She walked over to where Isha was huddled, crouching beside her.
Isha squeaked and clapped her hands over the drawing.
“Oh come on.” Jinx teased, nudging Isha’s shoulder, “Let me see.”
But Isha firmly shook her head, sliding the paper under her legs. With her hands now free, she signed, “Suprise. Not done yet.”
Jinx dramatically sighed, sprawling her limbs across the floor like a starfish, “Fine. But you better show me once it’s done.”
Isha hummed in agreement before shooing Jinx away.
Jinx returned to her chair, her boots propped up on her desk, legs crossed lazily. From there, she watched Isha carefully scribble. It was odd to have someone like Isha, who seemed to make the word look different. Not really blurry, but not clear. Just calmer than it was before. The voices had been giving her a rest, and it was surprising how quiet the world was without Mylo and Claggor constantly shoving Powder’s mistakes in her face.
Isha realized that Jinx was watching her and giggled, waving her hand.
“You almost done rugrat?” Jinx called, “I’m getting impatient. I wanna see your masterpiece.”
“Soon” Isha signed, rolling her eyes.
She reached for a blue crayon next, carefully drawing Jinx’s braids. Isha reached up to touch her own braids, frowning when she realized they barely brushed her shoulders.
She couldn’t wait to grow her braids out like Mama.
Isha drew Jinx’s braids in careful, wobbly lines. She drew her own in mess scrawls, thrilled that she didn’t have to alternate crayons.
Now her and Mama could share the blue hair.
Isha moved on to the final details, adding Jinx’s hair accessories. Mama had shown her how she made them out of bullet shells and even let Isha help polish them. She promised Isha that when her hair got long enough, they’d make her own hair accessories. Isha was already planning the designs she would draw on them.
The crayon’s tip was a little too big, smudging Isha’s intended fine lines. But she knew Mama would like it anyways, so she didn’t mind. The last thing she drew was Mama’s monkey symbol in the background with a bright pink crayon.
Her drawing was complete.
Jinx jumped when she felt a tugging at her pants, bumping Isha, who was clutching her drawing.
“Sorry Isha. Do I get to see now?”
Isha nodded firmly, shyly handing Jinx her picture.
Jinx gently took the crumpled paper, a smile tugging at her lips. Isha had drawn the two of them, standing side by side, stick hands joined at the middle. They wore matching black shirts, slanted white x’s in the middle. Isha had managed to perfectly capture the chaos of Jinx’s pants, choosing bright greens, pinks, and purples instead of just using purple. For Isha’s own pants she went with the classic purple stripes. Their hair was matching colors, Jinx’s braids down to her ankles. Isha had drawn her braids to her waist and added similar hair accessories, but added small pops of color to them. They both wore helmets similar to Isha’s. Jinx’s emblem was drawn to the side, a can of spray paint by their feet.
Isha anxiously waited for Jinx’s approval, adjusting her helmet and twisting her hands. She realized that her nails weren’t the same color as Mama’s. She’d have to bring that up later.
Jinx finally leaned forward, smiling, “This is your best one yet. But what’s wrong with my pants?”
Isha laughed before signing, “Suit you better.”
“You think?” Jinx asked, running her fingers over the thin fabric clinging to her thighs, “I suppose I could add some pizazz.”
“I will do it” Isha signed, before running off in search of markers.
Jinx didn’t protest, just leaned back and watched Isha rummage around for markers.