Chapter Text
Hearing her sister’s agonizing scream was something Jinx would never forget.
For the first time in her life, she’d done something good. She saved her sister.
From their dad—no, that wasn’t Vander anymore.
As she fell along with the beast, she still felt that desperate need to reach for him. To hold his face in her hands. To remember the good times—the man who had raised her and Vi, who protected them, who was always there. The man she and her stupid, childish invention had destroyed.
This moment was her redemption.
She was breaking the cycle—ending the chaos, the pain, the misery.
Maybe she could finally find peace.
"Jinx… the cycle only ends when you find the will to walk away."
Silco’s voice whispered in her mind—sweet, tender.
He never told her to kill herself. That’s what she reminded herself.
And after spending time with the one person she loved with all her heart, surrounded by people who no longer feared her—even Sevika, who had called her stupid for considering such an end—Jinx finally understood.
Maybe she just needed to leave.
Zaun. Piltover. Everything that haunted her.
When she and Warwick were seconds from being swallowed by the void, she threw a grenade and, activating the shimmer in her veins, blasted herself clear of the explosion.
---
She woke up slowly, eyes fluttering open to unfamiliar surroundings.
A tunnel—one of Piltover’s old ventilation shafts.
Pain lanced through her side as she tried to sit up, forcing a hiss through her teeth.
“Well, that was a harsh way out,” she muttered under her breath, dragging herself upright.
Far ahead, a faint light shimmered at the end of the tunnel. Probably a way out.
She started walking towards it, each step heavy and shaky.
More than once, she fell to her knees, or stumbled into the narrow metal walls that surrounded her.
After what felt like forever, she reached the exit.
The moment she stepped into the open, she inhaled deeply.
Fresh air—well, as fresh as Piltover could manage during a war. The sky was gray, choked with smoke.
For a second, her thoughts drifted to Ekko.
Had he made it out alive? Was he okay? Did he find Vi?
She shook her head violently, as if she could scatter the thoughts away.
She needed to move. To find shelter. To disappear.
---
Hours passed as she crept through alleyways and shadows. Eventually, she reached the docks, where a few airships were still being loaded.
Stealing supplies wasn’t hard. Old habits died hard, after all.
Before long, she was airborne, the rising sun painting the world below in shades of gold and red.
From up here, the world looked so small.
Almost peaceful.
For the first time in a long time, she felt calm.
She could start over.
She could heal.
Zaun and Piltover were behind her now—ghosts of her past.
She didn’t know where she was going, but she knew it had to be far.
Unfolding a map she’d stolen, her gaze landed on one name.
Her lips curled into a small grin.
“Bilgewater,” she murmured. “Guess it’s finally time we meet.”
---
The return to base was slow and agonizing.
Many Firelights were dead. The rest—injured, bleeding, broken. Sevika’s people were among them, all needing help, all in pain.
Ekko looked around him.
Chaos.
The noise blurred together—the cries, the shouting, the explosions. His mind was foggy, his body trembling from exhaustion.
Scar placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Go. You need to rest. We’ve got this.”
“Are you insane?” Ekko snapped. “People need me. I can’t rest while they’re out here suffering!”
“You can barely stand,” Scar shot back. “You’re no help to anyone like this!”
Ekko looked away, jaw tight. He hated that Scar was right.
Without another word, he stumbled towards his quarters inside the tree.
When he closed the door behind him, the silence hit like a punch.
The room was cold. Empty.
The last time he’d been here… she was with him.
And now she was gone.
Forever.
He dropped his bat and slid down the wall, his head falling into his hands.
His eyes drifted to the bed—they’d shared that bed the night before. When she’d trusted him, opened up to him, let him see the part of her no one else ever could.
Then the mirror caught his eye—the same mirror where they’d laughed about clothes, teasing each other like idiots.
A tear rolled down his cheek. Then another. Until they all came crashing down.
He sobbed, cursed, punched the floor. For fuck’s sake—he could rewind time, but only for a few seconds.
Not enough to save her.
His anger surged. Standing up he grabbed the nearest thing—a chair, tools, anything—and sent them crashing to the floor.
When he finally stopped, breathing ragged, he saw something on the ground. A piece of paper.
He picked it up, confused. It was her handwriting.
He sat on the bed, unfolded it, and began to read.
---
Dear Ekko,
Wow, that sounded gross already. Anyway—if you’re reading this, I’m probably dead.
I know. Real mature of me, picking the easy way out again.
I just… wanted to say what I could never say out loud.
I love you. And I love Vi.
That’s why I’m ending things. You both deserve to be happy.
She’s got her Piltie girlfriend, and you—well, I hope you find someone better.
Someone normal.
I could never give you that.
I’m broken, Ekko.
You’re a good man. A good leader. A good partner.
And as much as it breaks my heart, maybe we just weren’t meant for each other—not after everything I’ve done.
You’ll move on. You’re strong. You always were.
Okay, that’s enough sappy crap.
Take care of yourself, little man.
Yours truly (and shit like that),
Jinx (Pow-Pow?)
---
Ekko’s hands trembled. The paper crumpled between his fingers before he threw it across the room.
He buried his face in his palms and broke. Violently.
On the bed, strands of blue hair clung to the pillow. He grabbed it, holding it tight against his chest, inhaling what was left of her scent.
She was really gone.
He’d lost her—again.
And this time…
there was no rewinding.