Work Text:
Rumi knew there was something off.
She couldn't pinpoint it. When she looked out the window, the Honmoon was sealed, golden and beautiful. There was not a leak to be seen…and yet she couldn't shake the feeling that there was a crack, a crevice somewhere that was letting the monsters through.
But it wasn't in this world. No, it was somewhere else, somewhere she couldn't reach. She wished she could do something about it, but it was out of her abilities.
At least, for the moment.
<>
Viktor was up to something and Jinx just knew it.
The professor had been acting strange for days now, and as soon as he dismissed his last class of the day, he locked himself in the lab. Locking himself in the lab wasn’t an uncommon occurrence, but his odd behavior, his nervousness beforehand was. And Jinx wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Ekko was not so keen on getting involved. He was Jinx's lab partner and long time friend, and more often than not he was left to deal with her messes. “He's probably just working on some experiment. Can we please just leave it alone for once?”
“Absolutely not. Professor Viktor always tells me about his experiments except for this one. That means this is no normal experiment, Ekko, and I want to know what he's up to,” Jinx draped herself over the arms of her chair, playing with a loose lock of blue hair. “It's probably something really cool.”
“There's probably a reason he's not telling you about it. Jinx, it's probably dangerous.”
She sat up and looked at him seriously. “Danger is my middle name. Honestly, you act like you've known me a day and not years.”
Ekko sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Since I know you're not going to give this up…What's the plan?”
She grinned, skipping over to him and throwing an arm around his neck. “We start with some questioning. We either ask a way into the lab…or we break in.”
She skipped off, missing how his eyes widened. “Oh yeah, great. This will totally go well.”
<>
Jayce was incredibly stressed out and not for the normal reasons. All across Piltover was sightings of strange entities, entities being described as demonic. And apparently they were appearing in Zaun now as well.
So far the council had managed to keep the sightings from the media and the general public, but it was becoming more and more difficult. Especially since, alongside these sightings was an increase in reports of missing persons, both in Piltover and Zaun. Despite sending out the best trackers in the area, not a single person had been found.
He was mulling over another batch of missing persons reports when his office door swung open. He glanced up, expecting Mel or maybe Sevika but was instead met by– “Jinx? Ekko? What are you two doing in here?”
Ekko let out a tired sigh as Jinx dragged forward and she hopped onto the desk. “Hiya, Jayce. We just got some questions is all.”
“She has some questions,” Ekko quickly corrected.
"Of course. Anything for students,” Jayce discreetly covered the reports with his arms. “I just hope your questions are quick. I am sort of busy right about now.”
Jinx flashed her signature grin, tilting her head. “Viktor has been acting kind of strange lately and been locking himself in the lab. Know what he’s up too?”
Jayce thought a minute and then shook his head. He was usually very updated on the lab projects, but since the sightings, he hadn’t any time to talk to Viktor, let alone visit the lab. “I have no idea what he's working on. He is acting strange, you said?”
Ekko spoke next, almost tentatively. “Well he's been really…prickly. Short-fused almost and nearly paranoid.”
“I’ve known him to get like that before…” Jayce rubbed a hand over his chin. “But he usually tells you about his experiments, does he not, Jinx?”
She shot Ekko a ‘I told you so’ sort of look before nodding. Jayce frowned and stood, grabbing a set of keys. “Let's go check on him really quickly.”
The trio made their way down the hall towards the stairs, Jinx skipping ahead while Ekko kept pace with Jayce and muttered.
It didn't take long to reach the laboratory, and Jayce listened at the door before unlocking it, pausing at the sound of whirring. He gestured for the students to stay back, carefully unlocking the door and pulling it open.
The lab was beyond its usual sort of messy, papers and books scattered everywhere. In the center of the room was a large metal arch, sort of like a doorframe, and hunched over a desk was Viktor.
Jinx went up and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hellooooo?”
Viktor, of course, startled. “Goodness gracious, Powder, you scared me,” He was the only person who called her that anymore. “What are you doing in here? Who let you in?”
Jayce spoke up. “Jinx and Ekko came to me expressing some concerns about you,” He eyed the metal frame. “What are you doing?”
Viktor turned, urgency on his face. “Jayce, I figured it out. The sightings, they’re demons.”
Jinx immediately spoke up. “What sightings?”
Ekko tried to shush her, but Viktor waved him off. “There have been numerous sightings of monsters across Piltover and Zaun. They are demonic entities rising up from their hell world. There is a barrier that keeps them separated from us,” He pointed to a scroll. “It's called The Honmoon.”
Jayce frowned, leaning over and studying the page. “I’ve never heard of this before.”
"I have,” Ekko suddenly said. “Or something like it. An old, old story about a magical barrier or something. And some people who can seal it.”
“They are called demon hunters. They sealed our Honmoon and long time ago and traveled to other worlds to protect them from the demons,” Viktor leaned back in his seat. “However the demons have managed to find a crack in the Honmoon and are exploiting it to the fullest.”
Jinx pursed her lips. “Okay, so this clearly isn't good. But what does the metal doorframe from the scrap yard have to do with this?”
“It's not from the scrap yard,” Viktor stood, walking over to a set of controls. “It is a portal. One that I have just completed. I managed to locate where the demon hunters are in the universe, and I must call on their aid, or we will all die.”
Jayce was hesitant. “Are you sure about this?”
“Of course not.”
Without further explanation, he flipped the switch.
<>
The archway appeared in Zoey’s room.
She had panicked (obviously) and had ran to get the other girls. Now the trio stood in front of this strange glowing frame.
Mira poked the edge with her spear. “What even is this thing?”
“I don't know,” Zoey gestured vaguely. “I was on my bed and BOOM this thing just shows up!”
Rumi tilted her head, studying the twisted metal. Veins of blue and purple swirled through the frame and she slowly, gently reached out her hand and touched it.
The inside of the frame flared up bright blue, causing her to stumble back. Zoey yelped in alarm and Mira automatically returned to the defensive. “What is that thing?!”
It dawned on Rumi. “A portal. And I think we need to go through it.”
Zoey’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” Rumi turned to the other girls. “For days now I’ve felt like something has been wrong with the Honmoon. But our Honmoon is fine. The Honmoon in another world needs our help and this is going to get us there.”
Mira wasn't fully convinced. “That sounds insane.”
“But Rumi’s usually right!” Zoey nodded. “If you think we need to go through, then we’ll do it!”
Rumi smiled. “On the count of three?”
They linked hands, running forward at the same time. Everything was blindingly blue and then it turned to a world of metals and greens, depositing them right at the feet of a woman with vibrant pink hair. The stranger immediately backed up, her fists coming up. “What the–where did you come from?”
And Rumi knew they were where they needed to be.