The Most Undoing Thing

by BlehBluhBlah

Several years after the Split, Piltover and Zaun's symbiotic societies are on the cusp of prospering. With a bright future on the way for many Pilties—and even some Zaunites—Jinx is left with nothing but wonder for what her future entails. But what's she to do when her path leads down to the pair of orphaned Zaunites: bombardier Zel and pickpocketer Evi? Simple: do better.

6. Chapter 6

A/N: And thus begins a… montage of passing time? It's a real long chapter in store!

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Chapter Summary: Hijinks start to ensue as Zel and Evi long for things to do, leaving Jinx to come up with ways for the two to entertain themselves—all while trying to build, learn how to cook, and keep her current living situation on the down low.

Word Count: 14,122

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—JINX—

Coming back from Amy's, the kids were still asleep. Jinx threw herself into a quick inventory, going toward the fourth wing where she kept her boxes and containers of scraps and junk. She did have a good amount of the parts for things like microwaves, fridges, and stoves. She stayed up reading the manuals of all the books she got from Amy, trying to understand how the appliances worked and what she could make herself. It was hard. It was a bit confusing. But it was all so informative.

Weird.

Needless to say, Jinx's eyelids decide sealing shut would be nice (much to her denial). She accepted her bodily functions eventually and nodded off in her chair. Or was she in her bed? She honestly was too tired to even consider where she was sleeping. It could've been off the damn ledge for all she cared…

"Oi!"

Jinx blinked awake, startling in her chair and falling off it. She winced in pain as she fell on her rear with her legs caught on her desk and her arms splayed at her sides.

A series of giggles surrounded her but… they weren't the voices? They were—

She looked up and scowled at the two brats standing a couple feet away from her. "You two think you're funny?" she icily asked, effectively silencing their giggling in an instant. She chuckled, tucking her legs off her desk as she turned herself up in her feet. Propping herself up with her desk, she fixed the two with a frown. "Whattya want?"

Zel visibly shrunk as he stepped back, leaving Evi to take the lead. She internally sighed at that, kid really needed to work on that spine of his. Thankfully, Evi spoke up—with a bit of hesitance, but still, "We were wonderin'… if uh, if we could have breakfast?"

Jinx's eyes widened at that as she sat herself back down in her chair. Shit. "Uhhh, no." The two's eyes widened, clearly surprised by the response. She fixed them with a tired frown. "Shit's expensive kiddies. I ain't spending all my coins in one week!" She sighed, then scooted herself closer to her table and began to gather up the manuals.

She could see from the corner of her eye, the two exchanging wordless stares and hand gestures. And then Evi spoke again. "Th-Then, what if we give you our coins!"

Jinx straightened up at that, shooting a surprised expression at the blonde. She merely held fast with her serious stare.

"Ya say we can't leave," she explained as she crossed her arms over her chest, "So what if we give ya the money to buy us breakfast?"

The look of urgency across their faces made Jinx frown once more. That was a dangerous slope. Jinx shook her head. "That's a bad habit, kiddies. Don't go wasting your hard earned loot—you should know that from being on the streets."

"But, you spent money on Jericho's these past two days," Zel pointed out.

She closed her eyes, holding in her frustration. That was different. Ugh, why were they so complicated? Jinx sighed. "I just said I'm not getting ya more because it's a waste. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be having this conversation and I'd already be out the door!" she shot back, propping her feet up on her desk. She tucked her hands behind her head and smiled at them. "It's a waste to keep spending so much so soon. That's another lesson from ol' Jinx."

The two exchanged another look, this time riddled with sadness.

For some reason, her insides kinda felt queasy at their somber faces.

It didn't feel… nice.

She sighed. "I'll get ya lunch later," she muttered.

The two turned and gaped at her in awe.

"R-Really?" Zel asked.

She nodded.

"W-We'll pay!" Evi made a break for their loot bag on their futon but Jinx clicked her tongue disapprovingly, shaking her head. The girl stopped and stared at her.

"Don't," she sternly advised, "You should be saving up as much as ya can. A little Poro bank, tucked under a pillow—whatever ya do, save." Jinx looked toward her collection of manuals stacked away. "It'll do good for ya in the longer run."

The two exchanged a look, but she was too busy putting the stack back into its box to care what to make of their faces. Her gaze flew over to her coffee machine sitting next to her gramophone. Her instincts told her it was around afternoon, so if she wanted to get anything productive done she'd need some caffeine. She stood up and stretched, eliciting a loud yawn that prompted some quieter yawns from her audience.

"What time is it anyways?" Evi asked.

"Who knows?" Jinx shrugged.

"You don't have a clock?"

She sighed. "Guess that's another to-build item…"

"What?"

"Nothin'," she said, making her way over to her coffee machine. She stretched her back, straightening it with another yawn as she covered her mouth with her hand. She turned on the machine and smacked her lips, blinking the tiredness from her eyes. "Hmm, must be noon. 'Round that at least," she informed them, leaning up against the table.

"How can you tell?" Zel asked.

"Eh, just an.. educated guess," she smirked.

Evi scoffed, crossing her arms as she leaned up against the railing. "Meaning you have no clue."

Jinx frowned. "It's called experience, ya Urchin. But hey, if it's all that important to you I'll work on a clock." She turned back and watched as her brew nearly finished, sighing at the thought. How was she supposed to wind it up if she didn't know the time? Would she need to bring a clock in here and sync them up? But at that point she'd already have a clock!

She merely frowned as her brew finished up, prompting her to pour it into her big monkey mug.

"What's that smell?"

She turned around and caught their stares and curious sniffing noses. "The coffee?" she asked, lifting her mug. As she took a sip and revelled in the bitter, strong taste, she noticed their confused exchange of looks. Jinx supposed people would be surprised she liked her coffee black, but it was the best way to wake herself up honestly.

"Is that what that is?" Evi asked with a sense of wonder, eyes glued toward her machine.

"I've always heard of it. But it always looked different each time I see someone drinking it," Zel chimed in, earning a nod from his partner. "What… what is it?"

She blinked at that. "You've never had any?" They shyly shook their heads. She bit her upper lip thoughtfully as she tilted her head. After taking another quick sip, she explained, "It takes these beans and roasts them with water," she picked up a can of coffee beans and shook them before placing them back down, "making this kinda bitter but also jittery drink. But people usually spice it up, they mix in sugar, milk, or whatever the Hell they want. Personally, I like my coffee black—quick and simple, and a niiice kicker!"

Their eyes seemed to widen even more as she explained, making her chuckle a bit. "It's a great way to wake your ass up at the start of a shitty day!" She lifted her mug cheerfully. "Caffeine does wonders for staying awake! It gets ya all pumped and alert! And dependin' on the types of flavouring ya do—it can be reaaal soothin!" She giggled, satisfied with her explanation as she set her drink down. Though she noticed their curiosity and confusion remain, Jinx decided to capitalize on it.

Reaching for an overhead cabinet, she pulled out two more monkey mugs: styled with similar green and pink crayon designs. She brandished the two mugs toward the kids and shook them. "Wanna, have some?"

The two exchanged another look.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm literally drinkin' it in front of ya—it won't hurt."

At their hesitant nods, she poured the remainder of the brew into their mugs. Luckily it was about enough for one cup, but she sensed portioning between two was good for a couple of first timers. She turned back and handed it to them, smiling at how their small hands held their massive mugs. They both leaned forward, taking a sniff. As their faces lit up from the strong smell, she giggled again.

"Don't take a big gulp," she advised, making her way back to her seat, "Try to sip. And if ya don't like it, the cabinet's got sugar. So feel free to go nuts. Just stir it up a bit first before you do." Jinx slumped back in her seat and watched their apprehensive movements. Sugar and coffee beans was about as good as it got for "ingredients."

Evi's eyes lit up the second her lips touched her drink. "Holy fuck that's good!"

Jinx grinned, raising her cup in agreement. "Right?"

The blonde eagerly nodded before taking another sip.

Zel, on the other hand, smacked his lips with a squint as he shook his head. Wordlessly, Jinx gestured toward the cabinet. She sighed at his hesitance. She turned around to grab one of her closed boxes of parts and slid it all the way just before the cabinet, giving the boy a boost. He awkwardly stepped up on the box, setting his drink down near the coffee machine as he opened the cabinet and pulled out the jar of sugar.

"Why keep sugar if ya like yours…" Evi trailed off, trying to find the word.

"Black?" Jinx finished, receiving a nod. "I also like to have sugar on hand." She shrugged, watching as Zel put three scoops into his cup. "Whatever snacks I usually got my hands on lacked…. pow. So I'd sprinkle a couple sugars here and there." After stirring his drink, the two watched Zel tentatively sip his new drink's flavour.

As his eyes widened with a big smile, the two chuckled.

"Nice, eh?" Jinx raised a brow.

He nodded, turning to Evi. "This is awesome. You gotta try it with sugar."

His partner cringed. "I'm fine with it plain," she shook her head. Nonetheless, she walked over and clinked her mug with his, smiling with him. "To coffee!"

"To coffee!" he cheered.

Jinx snorted, raising her mug as well. "To coffee… ya weirdos."

—EVI—

This was embarrassing.

Okay, maybe not totally embarrassing, but her anxiety was certainly playing it up like it was. Whatever was the deal with the coffee, it only reminded Evi that she hadn't gone to the bathroom in a long while. Zel had gone shortly before their Plaza operation, but she wondered if he had bladder or bowel issues too. Point was: Evi needed to shit and piss, and she wasn't sure how to ask Jinx about it.

On the one hand, part of her believed the woman would disregard the dumb question and say something like, "The ledge is there, go do your business and try not to make too much noise." But on the other, she didn't want to be caught trying to show her own initiative by just… going off the edge of the fan, only to hear the woman call her out for being disgusting and say there was a place to take care of that privately.

Yeah, it was dumb.

She could just ask.

But she wasn't sure how.

The streets were different. Anywhere and everywhere had to be an option. But this was Jinx's place. Anything gross like this could set her off and end up with the two of them on the street at the very best. Evi scrunched her face at that thought. Okay… maybe she was being a bit ridiculous. She looked up from her view of the seemingly bottomless pit beneath her, currently sat on the edge of the wing with her feet dangling. Her eyes flew over to Zel, who had been sitting near Jinx once again watching her tinker.

He had resigned himself to constantly watching over Jinx's work, though the woman made one passing comment about him being a creep, it seemed there wasn't much issue with her being observed. After taking a deep breath, Evi scooted back from the ledge and pushed herself up on her feet, making her way over to the two. She cleared her throat, making her presence known.

"Oooh, that a capacitor?"

"It is."

No response.

Evi tried again, grumbling out an, "Ahem."

"What's it for?"

"To store energy? Duh? How do you know what a capacitor looks like but now what its purpose is?"

"I know its purpose, but I meant what're you using it for?"

"For now?" Jinx spared a glance at him. "To store your heavy breathing—seriously, back up brat!"

"S-Sorry, I just—"

Evi launched into a coughing fit, much like her beggar act for the Pilties, effectively silencing the conversation in seconds. After composing herself, she straightened up and smiled at the two.

Jinx blankly stared as she raised her goggles. "Yes, Urchin?"

"Do ya got a bathroom?" she flatly asked, dropping any tract (not that she had any to begin with).

The blue haired woman blinked at her. "Uhh, yeah?"

"Well, ya mind showin' it to me?" she tacked on, "'Less you'd like me to go here?"

Jinx cringed. "Ew, no need for that image, Blondie." She stood up. "Grab your finished coffee mugs by the way," she turned and squinted at Zel, making him flinch, "And no touchy." She waved for Evi to follow, making her way over to the other side of the platform.

Evi exchanged a confused look with Zel, but obliged the woman's requests, grabbing their empty cups from one of the boxes they rested it on. She circled around the turbine and found Jinx opening one of its panels. Evi's eyes widened as she realized the panel was actually shaped like a door. Jinx grinned as she stepped inside and flicked presumably a light switch, thus emitting a yellow fluorescent colour from within the turbine. Evi poked her head in and watched as Jinx ascended a ladder, looking down at Evi with an expectant face.

"Ya comin' or what?"

She gestured her hands at her, shaking the mugs.

"Don't tell me in all your time on the streets you never climbed something with your hands full?"

Evi scowled, blowing a quiet breath as she stepped inside. It was an obvious blow to her ego and meant to gauge out her pride, but because she was aware of it meant that it didn't have the effect Jinx wanted. Because that was how that worked, obviously. Climbing the ladder with mug handles in her palms wasn't actually too difficult, and it also wasn't much of a climb. As she looked up, she noticed the trail of lights followed all the way up to the top of the turbine, where Jinx had just climbed into.

She poked head up as she slammed her right mug on the platform floor, then grunted while she climbed in. Taking a scan of her surroundings, Evi found herself amazed at the amount of space there was. The radius of the floor was no doubt the same as the platform below where Jinx's workshop was, but it also expanded outward more and was still enclosed. She looked around and noticed the entire shape of the room was like a circle, meaning no flat walls. So while there was a large sink with a mirror, the mirror was concave, and also just a couple metres away from it was a bathtub. The object of interest—the toilet—was just the opposite direction of the sink, with a metal cabinet-counter table separating them.

The look of the sink, tub, and toilet, had an actual cleanliness look about them, at least by Zaun standards. They were bronze coloured, with splotches of discolouring here and there in certain areas. It certainly looked cleaner than the restrooms in Babette's brothel. "Wow," Evi whistled, "didn't think you'd be one to even have a bathtub."

Jinx scoffed. "Be grateful, brat, you're lucky I had the decency to even set up plumbing in here!"

Evi turned around and blinked at her. "You built this?

She laughed, walking over to her and yanking the mugs out of her hands. "You think they also built this thing with a bathroom in it for shits and giggles?"

The girl flushed at the question. "Why'd ya ask me to bring the cups up here anyways?" she asked, redirecting the topic.

Jinx snorted as she placed said cups on the counter. With her attention pulled there, Evi noticed an assortment of bottles and a mug with a sponge in it near the sink on the counter. "Toilet's all yours, but I want ya to wash the mugs." She sighed, leaning on the counter. "I don't exactly got a sink anywhere else to wash 'em so I do it here too."

Evi stepped toward the sink and realized the bottles were kinds of dishwashing soap. A wave of embarrassment swelled within her as she admitted, "I… I don't know how to wash 'em though."

Jinx rolled her eyes, plucking the sponge from the mug. "Just rinse it, add some dishwash soap, then scrub it 'til ya don't see anymore coffee goop. And give it one last rinse. After that? Bring it back down and put it in that cabinet 'bove the coffee machine." She picked each item up as she listed them off, then dropped them all back on the counter with a smile. "Simple shit! Now speaking of…" she trailed off, making her way to the ladder. As she descended, she smirked at Evi, "Good luck with yours!"

The blonde scoffed at the remark.

In all honesty, relieving herself from all that food the past couple days was a nice feeling. But it was strange to be in a bathroom for once. She heard from Zel the difference (where he learned things like this this, she never knew) between restrooms and bathrooms was that the former was for commercial, public use, while the latter was for personal residential use. He talked about how he remembered his bathroom in his old home, but Evi couldn't recall hers. She was too young to even remember such a concept.

Living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens—none of that really… made sense to her. But aside from this, Jinx didn't have "rooms". She had fans, open platforms, and railings. Evi felt like that was a Zaunification of this… domestic lifestyle. But as she finished and washed up, Evi couldn't help but think about how this was the first time she had ever even used a bathroom. Following Jinx's instructions, she began to scrub the mugs and rinse them, feeling very awkward as she did so.

"This feels… weird," she muttered, squeezing the sponge.

Her eyes flew to the bathtub, causing her to scrunch her face. Would a bath be allowed? Did it really matter if there wasn't a way for her to clean her clothes? Did Jinx have a washing machine too? Or was that hand washed, like how most Zaunites did it? She and Zel had been on the streets enough to see people do that. And see them air dry it out on the streets—free clothes for them! Evi sighed, holding a content smile as she placed the mugs back on the counter and looked at her reflection.

"And now I'm cleanin' cups."

Eight year old Evi would flip her shit hearing that.

There wasn't any way to dry the mugs, so Evi accepted taking the dripping dishes down the ladder. It was a bit harder to do, with a near slip from the water on the ladder, but she managed. She flicked the switch on her way out and shut the panel door. Looping back toward the workshop, Evi awkwardly stood on her toes to reach the upper cabinet above the coffee machine and placed the cups back. She wagered Jinx tasked her with this to get a laugh out of her height, but found no remarks.

Instead, she glanced at the two: Zel was now noticeably closer over Jinx's shoulder while the woman tinkered away at some big rectangle box. Though he was transfixed with whatever Jinx was doing, he was also sparing a look back at the cavern walls for some reason. It was only then she tuned into their conversation.

"—ow'd you set it up?"

"It wasn't too hard. I ran the piping from the turbine diagonally down to the cavern walls, waste goes in and out toward the bottom." Jinx casually shrugged. "Wasn't too hard since most parts were dug out. Piping was a bitch to set up however." She turned and raised a brow at Zel. "Gotta say, despite being street raised, I'm impressed ya got handle enough to understand plumbing requires piping like that—least enough to ask 'bout it."

He flushed at that, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

Evi scoffed. "With how much we slide in sewers, you'd think it's his way of life!"

Zel frowned, looking away from her.

She furrowed her brow. That was a joke, did he not realize that? Was he still upset at himself for the sewer sliding they'd been doing? Unsure of what else to say, Evi leaned on the table where the coffee machine rested, quirking a brow at Jinx. "Is making gadgets all you do all day?" She tried to go for a casual mood, darting her eyes away from the woman, but evidently finding herself looking at the hanging stuffed red toy once again.

"Well," she blinked, turning back to Jinx who was now looking at her, "now, I'm trying to build a microwave."

Evi raised a brow. "What?"

"That's what all this is for?" Zel asked.

Jinx nodded. "Correcto mundo, Rookie," she muttered, turning back as she continued to fiddle. "I realized, if you're gonna be eating leftovers from Jericho's or just leftovers in general, you're gonna want 'em warm!" she brightly said, smiling to herself like it was a good idea.

And… it was?

Evi was… unsure how to feel about that.

She didn't have a microwave before this and now she was building one for them. She glanced to gauge at Zel's reaction, but his face of wonder told her he was more inspired by the device itself than the significance surrounding it. Evi awkwardly coughed, unsure what to say. "Heh," she smirked, "that mean we can expect a full on kitchen too?"

"Yuuup."

Evi blinked.

What.

"Huh?" she prompted.

Jinx kept her tongue stuck out as she took a weird bulb (Zel chimed in, claiming it was an antenna?) and began to adjust it inside the rectangle. "I'm making a kitchen."

Evi glanced around their surroundings, still noticing both the hanging toy and Zel's lack of realization. "Where?"

"The empty wing where I kept my practice dummies and all that. It's also a bit shorter than the fanblades, but that's fine," Jinx explained, again, casually brushing it off. "I'm collecting parts to build a fridge and stove. Think I'll build the fridge first, but I guess it depends on what Ames gets me first."

"You're building it?" Zel said in awe.

"Ames?" Evi echoed.

Jinx sighed. "Yes, I am," she said, nodding to Zel's direction. She then nodded to Evi's direction, "Funsmith Amy, the people call her!"

She crossed her arms. "By people, you mean you?"

"Naah, that's her brand too," Jinx shook her head. "But she's my supplier for most of my scrap and gear. She even loads me up with Shimmer!" She released an eager giggle. "That woman just gets business!"

Evi awkwardly rubbed her forearms. "But, you're, uh, buildin' all this? From scrap?" She left out the "for us" in that inquiry, letting it die in her throat.

Because that would be a stupid thing to say regardless.

Jinx nodded with a hum.

"That's really cool," Zel uttered in more awe. "You think you could show me how they all work when you get them finished?"

Jinx shrugged with a hum.

Zel seemed to accept that as a yes, beaming at Evi with a pair of thumbs up before dropping his hands behind his back to continue observing Jinx.

Evi wasn't sure what else she could really say here, but any more conversational prompting died as Jinx strangely sat up straight and looked off to the right, as if she heard something.

"Oh, I guess I should get your guys' meals for the day," Jinx said, but in a tone as if she was conceding or… agreeing? She stood up, stretching with a grunt as she kept her arms high. Suddenly, the woman stomped and looked off into the empty space beside Zel, muttering, "I did not forget, shuttup."

Zel gulped, holding his hands up. "I-I didn't say any—"

"Not you, brat," Jinx said under her breath, stepping around him to grab her gear. She slung on and holstered everything she needed and sighed. She then turned back around and stood tall, as if trying to embody a general but with an obvious mockery to it. "Y'all know the rules?" she asked with a semi deep voice, quirking a brow at them.

"No touchin' anythin'," Evi recited.

"Good job, Urchin!" Jinx grinned. "I'll be back in a bit!" she said with a wave of her hand as she darted around the turbine.

Once the vault door closed, Evi fixed Zel with a smirk. "Wanna listen to that song again?" she asked, jerking her thumb at the musical device.

Zel released a defeated sigh. "Yeah… I do…"

—ZEL—

Another day into their stay at Jinx's and Zel could tell Evi was aching for something to do. After Jinx returned with lunch yesterday, Evi ate half of her food and lounged for about an hour. She played with a silver cog, flipping it up and down in her hand, stared up at the ceiling again for some reason, before evidently turning in early. Zel, meanwhile, resigned himself to watching Jinx work. Though he quickly gathered she wished he'd gone to bed with Evi, he couldn't sleep with her tinkering away!

Jinx had wrapped the night up by showing him the bathroom as well, knowing it would prompt another stream of questions as he was now seeing everything first hand. She hurriedly brushed off his answers and ordered him to bed, stating she needed to use the bathroom too. He didn't think he was all that tired, considering he did nothing but watch all day, but the second he hit the futon he couldn't recall a thing.

Next thing he knew he and Evi were waking up to the smell of coffee.

Jinx had their cups resting on the table with the musical device—that they definitely didn't play and head bang to while Jinx got their food last night.

Evi resigned to finish her mug on the couch while Zel drank his watching Jinx.

The microwave was looking more complete than yesterday, and upon a glance at the second fan blade that was now cleared out—aside from a big box that sat in the middle—he inferred Jinx stayed up a bit to get some more work in. He wondered how she got an earlier start than them, despite no doubt sleeping later than them, though he knew Evi would likely chalk it up to experience or something. Still, he was marvelled by how well made the device looked despite being just scraped together

Jinx's return last night also came with tons of boxes of scrap supplies that he and Evi had to help her bring in. His eyes flew toward the fourth fan blade, where they loaded the boxes, and he barely managed to get his fidgeting leg under control. There was sooo much more now, and it was all going to be used for Jinx's fridge and stove! He had half a mind to talk to Evi about how exciting this all was, but that was when he caught her sitting on the edge on the third wing with boredom stricken across her face.

He merely hoped she wouldn't say anything too brash any—

"Hey, can I eat my leftovers?" she monotonously asked, flipping a silver cog up and down in her hand.

—time soon.

He spared a look at Jinx, who rose up and cheered. "Perfect timing, Urchin!"

He gasped. "Is it finished?"

Jinx simply shot him a smug smirk as she dropped her goggles down to her neck and carried the microwave over to the second wing. "Gather round, and Evi, bring that leftover box of yours over too!" she shouted, placing the microwave on the box. She hurriedly dashed back to the turbine centre and came back in time with a long pole with a hook at the end.

"What's that for?" he asked as Evi arrived.

Jinx showed him, facing upward as she used the hook to yank off a cord from one of her many bulbs. It effectively dimmed the bulb (and also sent it into the abyss, but he gathered Jinx hardly cared) and brought the cord powering it down to the wing and into Jinx's palm. She grinned as she handed the pole off to Evi. "Take care of that, shortstack, you'll need it 'round here."

Evi balked, gripping at the pole fiercely as Zel laughed. Under other circumstances, he'd be afraid to but he didn't even register his partner's glare at him. He watched as Jinx hooked up the cord to the microwave.

"First things first," she announced, "Test run!" She stuck her hand out to Evi. "Evi, your leftovers, if you would!"

The blonde scowled. "How do we know this won't blow up?"

"I tested it already." Jinx groaned. "It works fine and won't blow up. Voltage is same running throughout this whole thing," she explained, gesturing around them, "I haven't tested it with food yet. Sooo, gimme." She eagerly unclenched and clenched her hand like a child.

Evi shot Zel a look, as if to ask, Should I?

He chuckled and shrugged. "You want to eat it, don't ya?"

She sighed, accepting her food's fate as she handed it over to Jinx.

The woman opened the microwave and tossed the cardboard box in, slamming the door shut. She crouched over and inspecting the array of numbers on the right. "How hot do you want it, hmm?"

"As hot as it was when it arrived?" Evi non-committedly answered.

Jinx popped off a thumbs up and entered in a minute. Zel's breath held in anticipation, Jinx backed away and covered her eyes with her goggles as she stood in front of the two, acting as a barrier, and Evi… yawned. But surely enough, a minute later, a beep chimed, startling Evi while Zel gasped in awe. Jinx whooped as she launched forward and yanked the meal out from the microwave. She proceeded to yelp about how hot it was as she tossed it to Evi, who also complained about its heat and brought it quickly back over to the living area to rest on the table.

The two watched in anticipation as the girl ate.

"Well?" Jinx prompted her.

"Is it hot?" Zel chimed in.

Evi lifted her head from her steaming box of leftovers and chewed on her tentacle, blankly staring at them. "I just fuckin' screamed 'bout how hot the damn box was and it's steaming," she said with her mouthful, each chew noticeably wide as though to let the air cool the food, "What do ya think?

Jinx rolled her eyes. "Fine, smartass, does it taste alright?"

Evi continued to scarf down her food as she offered a thumbs up.

"Yes!" Jinx cheered, pumping her fist in excitement. She turned to Zel and raised her hand. "Up top!"

His eyes widened as he eagerly accepted the high five, chuckling at the excited Jinx who laughed and ran down the wing, pumping her hands into the air. He couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. He felt the same way the first time he made a working undermine.

"I diiiiiiid it!" she shouted. "Another Jinx-made device, down good!" She turned and breathed a sigh, sobering up with a straightened back. She shot him a finger fun. "Now go and heat yours up, Zel." His eyes widened. "Enjoy your breakfast while I get cracking on a fridge!"

Zel grabbed his box from the table and followed after Jinx, who made her way back to her desk. "I-I still can't believe it. You built it from nothing but just using those manuals as references?" he asked, completely amazed.

"Yuppers!" She shrugged. "Not really hard when ya know how stuff works. It's just slapping it all together, where the real test starts!" she said as she sat down in her chair.

He nervously gripped at his takeout box. After a dep breath, he asked, "Ca… Can you show me how it works?" Jinx spun around and squinted at him skeptically, making Zel feel small. It was a stupid question. "N-Nevermind, you—"

"Sure, why not?"

His eyes widened. "Really?"

She shrugged. "Why not? But heat and eat first—heh, that rhymed." She giggled. She stood up from her seat and motioned for him to follow her to the second wing. "You can eat while I talk," she compromised as they walk.

"Wait!" The two turned their heads over to the blonde. She let out a burp and wiped her hands and mouth, dropping her napkins into her empty box. She finished already? And Zel thought he was quick. "What 'bout me?" Evi whined, throwing her hands up. "I'm not just gonna sit and watch you two nerd out!"

Zel shrunk at that comment. So he wasn't crazy in his observations… Evi was getting bored. It was fair though, this wasn't exactly her kind of fun. Before he could say anything, he heard the woman next to him scoff.

Jinx rolled her eyes as she jerked her thumb over to the fourth wing. "There's a testing dummy for ya to play with that I moved over to the storage area. Feel free to take it near the living area and have at it."

"Wait… really?" Evi blinked, surprised.

Zel looked back at Jinx, who already swiped his box and was stuffing it in the microwave. She waved over her shoulder, ignoring the two. "Have fun, stab, kick, whatever." She then tacked on, "Just make sure ya don't fall off and die!

"Fat chance!" Evi shouted, bolting down the fan blades in excitement.

He smiled at the girl's eagerness as she dragged the dummy out from the pile and over to the living area, her eyes riveting with passion.

"You and Evi sure need your distractions, huh?" Jinx mused, heating his food.

He opened his mouth, about to comment on that, but stopped as he observed the woman. She was transfixed with her own creation, in awe of it actually working. But something about what just transpired in the past few minutes jumped at his brain. Zel chuckled, his realization setting in.

This was one of the first times she called him and Evi by their names since they met!

—JINX—

Building the microwave was easy.

Building the fridge was easy.

Building the stove?

Was not.

Amy managed to get her parts for a stove, mostly intact enough that Jinx just needed to assemble it herself! The issue was that the parts were three different designs making her pick and choose from several different manuals about how she was going to make this thing. After two days of efficient progress, Jinx found herself stonewalled by this shitty revelation. Yesterday's success with the fridge resulted in Jinx even getting some milk to store as well as some extra leftovers from Jericho's. She arranged the fridge to be right beside the microwave, with plans of the stove just being a bit adjacent from the two with enough space for its own table.

All this planning was hard to even get down with her resident inquiry intern badgering her non stop.

She was thankful Zel eventually screwed off and got entertained by Evi's practice on the dummy. She seemed to really enjoy practicing her punches and kicks, as well as her stabs and slices of the course of the past couple days. By the time Zel got intrigued, Evi also seemed inclined on "finally teachin'" him more hand-to-hand. The boy sounded reluctant but Jinx was thankful her distraction was finally getting his own distraction. Upon her creative blocks or coffee refills, she would spare a look at the two and watch their performance.

Each time, Evi seemed really apt to show off and impress her, which made Jinx laugh. But in the end, she commended the girl's skill as well as her partner's—to a certain extent. In any case, she was glad they were finally finding something to do aside from bothering her.

Until that distraction lasted for about two hours, and then Evi was left thumping the dummy's head rhythmically to express her boredom as Zel returned to harass Jinx with questions once again.

"Have you thought about choosing one design and just making the missing parts from scrap?"

"Yes," she dryly replied, closing another manual, "and it's not worth it. Too much resources."

Evi thumped the dummy's head with her fist.

"What about just combining two?"

"Not enough then either." She sighed. "Again, the components are good, I just gotta figure out how to merge 'em efficiently."

Another thump for the dummy head.

"Are you sure there's nothing from the other manuals you can't use?"

"As sure as I was after the fifth time ya asked me that," Jinx gritted out.

Another thump.

"What about—"

"Knock it off!" she shouted, slamming her fist on the desk. She spun her chair around and glared at the two kids. She ignored their fearful faces as she scoffed. "You want distractions?" She stomped off toward the fourth wing, rifling through her piles. Sure enough, as her memory served, she found a big brown ball. Pulling it out, she turned and tossed it across the gap and toward Evi, who caught it with a yelp. "Take that, take whatever's here, and go and entertain yourselves!" she gestured around the boxes.

The two exchanged a look.

"Wh-What?" Evi asked.

"I said, go play!" she shouted. Under her breath, she muttered, "Ya brats."

"But you're letting us touch your scrap pile?" Zel asked.

"To make literally anythin' to keep yourselves entertained?" Jinx replied, "Yes. Yes I am, Rookie! Now have at it and leave me alone!" She stomped back to her seat and dropped herself back down. She ignored the building excitement behind her as the two raced toward the storage wing and began sifting through it. She trusted that they wouldn't do anything stupid. And not to mock the boy, but she knew with his limited experience he wouldn't be able to craft anything dangerous with what was there.

At least, not in a way Jinx would.

She breathed a relieved sigh as the two laughed about, bouncing the ball and running about. This was much better. She couldn't exactly play her gramophone, as though she wanted the background noise she wasn't keen on the kids listening to her song. A bit of queasiness welled up inside her as she recalled that song's origins. She made it because Silco wanted her to, because he liked hearing her sing.

But that didn't mean she wanted others to listen.

Or at least… not anymore.

She would never live it down if those two brats heard her song.

Another burst of laughter made her sit up right, breaking her thoughts. The way they laughed… it was another good background noise too. She… she didn't mind it. Jinx smiled as she sunk herself into the manuals, jotting down in her notebook the blueprints she planned on making for her custom hybrid stove. Because at this point, that was what it was. Trying to map out the best use of all three parts was difficult. But Jinx felt challenged by the opportunity of actually combining all three components seamlessly, so she wasn't going to give up.

The sound of the ball ricocheting off someone's body echoed throughout the cavern, as well as a set of rapid footsteps that sped behind her.

"Two points!" Evi shouted.

"Lucky shot!" Zel shouted back.

Jinx chuckled. Of course the first thing they do with a ball is throw it at each other. Though it wasn't like she could come up with anything more clever. In fact, it wasn't like she was coming up with much of anything at the moment!

Another echo of the ball bouncing followed by a grunt.

"Hah!" Zel teased. "Three for me!"

"Fuckin' Hell, you almost knocked me out!"

Maybe this wasn't a better option than before. Jinx frowned as the running and throwing grew more incessant and louder. It was a ball for Janna's sake. How could it possibly be any louder than Zel's endless questions or Evi's whining? Honestly, it was like—

The ball bonked off her head, cocking her head at an angle and landing on her desk, scattering her manuals.

"That's it!" Jinx barked, launching to her feet as she slammed her hands on her desk.

The two stiffened, fear stricken into their entire bodies. Zel, who stood on the second wing held his hands up in innocence while Evi, who stood on the third, slowly backed away. Their eyes were wide with panic.

With a big grin, Jinx plucked the ball off her desk and slammed it into her palm. "C'mere brats! Lemme show you how to throw a ball proper!" She chased after the two, whipping the ball at the closest kid, which unfortunately, was Zel. She threw it at him—with not a lot of force—but enough to knock him on his rear. "Gotcha, Rookie!"

"Only one point though!" Zel stuck his tongue out as he stood up. "Body shots are two and headshots are three!" he quickly explained, picking the ball up and whipping it toward Evi.

She caught it. "And catching it removes a point from the person who throws it!" She laughed at the boy. "Suck it, Zel!"

Jinx giggled, cracking her knuckles. "Oh ho ho ho! Toss it here and I'll show ya a headshot!" The blonde obliged her request, launching the ball at her face, but Jinx caught it with ease. The kids' eyes widened with fear as Jinx glanced between the two. "So who wants to catch a ball to the face?" she shouted. Zel ducked behind the fridge while Evi leaped over the couch and hid. "Using my own furniture as cover? For shame!"

She eyed the cavern walls and smirked. With a big arc of her arm, Jinx whipped the ball, bouncing it off the cavern wall and sending it behind the fridge, knocking Zel from his cover.

He let out a groan as he rolled out and grabbed the ball. He rubbed his head as he said, "Nice… three points…"

She stuck her tongue out and laughed. "It's my house, brats, I own all the games!"

"It's not a house!" Evi shouted, catching the ball from Zel. She shot him a look. "Truce?"

He nodded. "Let's get her down to zero first!" His partner nodded, arching her arm back for a throw directed at the older woman.

Jinx gasped. "Conspiring against me? Why that's just not fair!" She giggled as she ran and hid behind the turbine, letting the ball slam into her workshop desk.

It caused a mess no doubt, perhaps even messing up her progress with her notes.

But for some reason, Jinx didn't mind.

—EVI—

With the days passing by, Jinx's no touching rule seemed to lessen with each item she let her and Zel use. As she reached her breakthrough and began assembling her stove—a two day feat in its own rite—Evi and Zel were granted the luxuries of playing with the ball (Tag Ball, Zel eventually coined the game), the practice dummy, and the occasional scrap for Zel's case. He didn't exactly have tools to make things, but he liked collecting them and thinking about what he would make with them.

But today's event was a whole separate beast of its own as Jinx was beginning to work the stove for a test run! She had gotten ingredients the night before and began the morning cooking. A fresh brew awaited the two, like it had the past few days, while they sat at Jinx's workshop desk waiting. Normally, they wouldn't be allowed there, but Zel worked up the courage to finally ask Jinx about the musical device—gramophone, as she informed them.

Much to both their displeasure, she made no mention of the awesome song that played each time they turned it on. Instead, she talked about how it was also wired like a radio and that they were free to tune into the Zaunite Ring Fights or whatever they wished. So while they waited for breakfast, they sat and listened.

"He slings a left hook but is immediately met with a guard! Poor Avo's not getting a single lick in!" the announcer shouted, "Oh! A swift kick to the head sends Avo to the ground and out of the ring! Jaril is the winner of the match!"

"Ahh, fuck yeah!" Evi cheered, holding her hand out. "Pay up!"

Zel groaned. "Booo, Avo was such a wimp," he complained, fishing out five silver cogs and placing them in Evi's palm. Was it the coins they both earned together? Sure. But was it still fun to bet with them? Absolutely.

"Takes one to know one, Zel." She clicked her tongue and winked.

"Shuttup, E."

"Hey don't be upset, I just know a fighter when I hear one," she smugly replied, crossing her arms.

Her partner rolled his eyes.

"Hey brats!" They looked at Jinx. She had a very expressive smile as she stirred her pot, steam and bubbles rising up from the container. "I think it's 'bout to be ready soon! So unless ya wanna get blue balled in the middle of another match I'd turn it off or switch the channel!"

Evi cringed at the woman's words before nodding at Zel to oblige her suggestion. He laughed as he leaned over and spun the dial, changing the channel for literally anything. In their time here, Evi understood Jinx's way with words lacked tact but for all things considered… was pretty straight forward. She actually found herself admiring that sense of bluntness. She actually found herself amused with a lot of Jinx's… traits. From her personality to the way she worked, and even designed this whole mess of a home—it was pretty damn cool.

Her eyes flew up toward the red stuffed toy once again, smirking at its motionless body once more.

"—nouncement from Talis industries declaring a new production policy on Hextech mining equipment."

The two kids stilled, locking eyes with each other before looking back at the gramophone.

"Councilor Talis declares a new worker fee pay raise as well as a ten hour overtime compensation, just in time for the newly announced Hextech drills," the newscaster stated, "Workers have proclaimed the strenuous process involved with the new mining equipment construction, and it seems Councilor Talis has heard their remarks! More information working with the worker's demands is underway as talks have begun—"

"Wow, what a swell guy," Zel dryly remarked.

Evi snorted. "Man of Tomorrow, listens to yesterday's complaints and fixes them next week!" she teased in a snobby voice.

Her partner laughed. "Ahh yes, madame, Mister Talis will surely get on it, after extorting his wealth off Zaunites of course!" he mocked, matching her tone.

"Why, how else is he supposed to make money?" She laughed snootily, which then prompted the two to actually laugh, giggling to themselves.

"Whatcha laughin' 'bout?" The two's laughter died off as they turned and realized Jinx was standing beside them, holding the big pot of what she proclaimed was stew.

"Piltie news," Evi supplied, "Man of Tomorrow is being all good and all that."

Jinx's face scrunched up in disgust. "Ugh, why're ya turnin' on that white noise before dinner? Thought ya wanted to eat first, not go to bed."

Evi snorted while Zel chuckled. "Well," Evi mused, "on the chance your stew tastes like shit we figured emptying our stomachs beforehand might help—listening to Pilties talk happens to help with that." She sweetly smiled.

Jinx's eyes lit up before she burst into a fit of giggles. "Nice one, E," she smiled, "but no sense torturing yourself that much."

Evi's smile grew as she watched Jinx wink before turning and making her way down the second wing. Making Jinx laugh? Well, the blonde felt pretty good about herself on that one.

"Now c'mon, kiddies, time to dig in!" The two eagerly followed after her, sitting themselves on the couch while Jinx poured the stew into three big bowls. She found all the necessary utensils, dishes, and such in her various storage boxes as well as from that Funsmith Amy she talked about. Jinx assured Evi and Zel she cleaned them thoroughly. She hurriedly brought the pot back to the stove and returned with three spoons.

As they received their utensils, Evi glanced down at her bowl. The broth was thick, mixed with a colour of green and brown, and had bits of fish heads sticking out. "Uhhh what is this again?" she hesitantly asked, watching Zel poke his food with his spoon.

Jinx scooped up a spoonful and shrugged. "I shoved in a couple fish, threw in a spice—don't got a name yet!" She glanced between the two. "You wanna try together?"

Evi's eyes widened. "You haven't tried it?"

She blew a raspberry. "Trial runs are more fun as group, ain't that right, Rookie?"

Zel gulped as he nodded, raising a spoonful of his stew.

With a sigh, Evi did the same, the three lifting their spoons high.

"Chef Jinx's first masterpiece!" the woman declared. "Dig in!"

All three spoons went into their mouths.

Evi's eyes went wide as her gag reflex kicked in. Her eyes shot toward her dinner partners, all with equal looks of disgust and regret. The two looked to Jinx, silently pleading for her permission with distressed eyes. The woman nodded. And in one instant, the three pulled their spoons from their mouths and leapt toward the edge of the fan blades, spitting their contents down into the abyss. Evi continued to scrape her tongue off of… whatever it was while Zel coughed and coughed.

The girl blinked back tears and raised her head, just in time to see Jinx pouring their three bowls off into the pit. She coughed, wiping her mouth with her forearm sleeve. Sparing a look back at Zel, he was lying on the couch with his eyes dazed, as if he nearly avoided death. Evi cleared her throat as she stood up and shook her head. Sitting down at the end of the couch, she looked up and caught Jinx's chagrin. With a sheepish grin, Jinx looked between her and Zel, chuckling nervously.

"Whelp, who wants Jericho's?"

All three hands shot up.

—JINX—

So maybe Chef Jinx had yet to make her appearance.

Last night's food fail was a huge blow to her pride. Zel seemed really happy and excited about all the cool stuff she made, and Evi seemed to finally dial back her aggressive front and just… relaxed. She was actually glad the two were finding some semblance of enjoyment. That type of good mood carried her into last night's first experiment, with high hopes that her first meal would just blow their minds. But it was shit. Actually, it was worse than shit, it was like shit mixed with vomit but somehow fermented.

And the looks of disappointment across their faces didn't help either.

Her first home cooked meal and she could already tell the two would never jump at the chance to try another.

She made up for it by getting a shit ton of Cutpurse Combos from Jericho, dipping a bit into her savings, but Jinx didn't care. She needed to have some food available while she recuperated. Today's venture was meant to be informative. After assuring the two she'd be back late and that they knew how to use the microwave properly, Jinx set out in the early afternoon to get some help. She loathed to admit it, but this wasn't something she could wing on her own.

Jinx thought of it like her gadgetry at first, something she managed to work and figure out through her own trial and error. And while she could still persist… the looks on the kids' faces told her otherwise. That wasn't a luxury she could afford. They needed food, and having good food meant having to get recipes. She couldn't just make something up like last night, not until she knew more about cooking.

So she went to the best person she could.

"I'M NOT GIVING YOU MY RECIPES!"

Jinx gaped. "Why not!"

"HOW DO YOU THINK I MAKE BUSINESS?" Jericho laughed, slamming his knife into the cutting board strapped to his shoulder. "IT'S LIKE ASKING YOUR SHIMMER SUPPLIER HOW TO MAKE SHIMMER!"

She scoffed, waving her hand. "I don't need to, it's in my blood," she said with a smug smirk, making the fishman roll his eye.

"I CAN GIVE YOU TIPS, IF THAT HELPS?"

Jinx's eyes widened. She pulled out her notepad and nodded. "Hit me!"

"READ THE ENTIRE RECIPE BEFORE COOKING AND KNOW HOW TO PRESERVE YOUR FOOD!" the cook stated, nodding his head. "NOT JUST THE FOOD YOU COOK, BUT THE INGREDIENTS TOO: THE MEAT, THE VEGETABLES, ALL THAT!"

The Loose Cannon rapidly nodded, jotting it all down. "Thanks Jerry, somethin's better than nothin'!" She bid him a wave before leaving.

He was a bit of a disappointment, but Jinx respected his reasoning. And he did give her helpful advice in the end. Her next choice, well…

"You're asking me for cooking recipes?" Amy blinked, before setting down her box of ammo underneath one of her display tables.

Jinx rolled her eyes, hunching her shoulders as she crossed her arms. "Uhh, durr? Why would've I built the damn stove in the first place!"

"Whoa, ease up, gal," the woman replied, brushing her messy ponytail back behind her, "I'm just surprised is all."

"C'mon though, you gotta have somethin'," Jinx pleaded, cupping her hands together as shook the notepad and pen inbetween them. For good measure, she also shot a set of doe eyes at her.

Amy sighed, clicking her teeth in thought as she swayed her head back and forth. "Ah!" She snapped her fingers, taking the pad and pen from Jinx and writing something down, "I have a stew—"

Jinx cringed. "I don't think the—I can stomach another stew after my first botch."

Amy cocked her head. "That's what cooking's all about, Jinx! Trying! Ya don't have to try this right away but you can down the road," she explained as she continued to write. "Best part its, it's a simple stew recipe and doesn't have a lot of ingredients—just spice flavourings is all. Easy to make!" She turned and handed the pen and pad back, smiling.

Jinx looked at the listed recipe the woman produced. It did seem simple. She sighed, nodding her thanks as she pocketed the items.

"I will say, I like this look on ya Jinx," her supplier said as she made her way toward the door, "It's a nice change!"

Jinx was grateful for Amy's help, but that wasn't enough. But the issue was Jinx didn't exactly have a lot of people she could go to for reliably cooking advice. Because most would definitely give her something that would just be a recipe for like… poison or whatever. Conversely, some were afraid enough of her that they wouldn't even dare to try! In fact, Jinx knew one such person who was easily the most squeamish and talkative.

So that was how she found herself in the middle of The Last Drop, in the early evening, with several guns pointed at her. All while Jinx sat at the bar counter, with her pistol spinning on her index finger. Something about this should've been too much for her. Something about this should've been wrong. But she could only think about how she just wanted those two brats to eat something nice for a change—aside from Jericho's.

"So, with all these new fancy pancy kitchen appliances I made, you could understand why I wanna try it out, right?" Jinx asked, tilting her head.

"Y-Yes, Miss Jinx," Chuck nodded, sliding her usual orange juice.

"Perfect!" Jinx beamed. She took a quick siip of her juice before producing her pad and pen, sliding it over to him. Chuck blinked in confusion while she sipped. Rolling her eyes, Jinx set down her drink. "I can't try it out without good recipes, duh Chuck!"

He looked down at the pad and pen before looking back up at her. "Y-You're asking me for recipes?" he stammered, pointing to himself.

Jinx scoffed. "Yes, I am. Now can ya give me one of your best or not?"

Chuck eagerly nodded, taking the pen and clicking it, he began to jot down a recipe on a new page. "Th-This one has a lotta fish so it'll take awhile, because you have to debone it all," he explained as he wrote.

Jinx cocked her head. "Debone?"

He lifted his head. "U-Uh, yeah." He awkwardly chuckled. "I-It's when you remove the bones from fish or meat. You typically do it before cooking, and well, this soup uses a good amount of boneless fish." He laughed. "It helps cook the meat faster too."

Jinx blinked. Whelp… that explained a bit, but she had a feeling bones were the reason why her stew tasted so bad last night. Jinx took a big long sip of her drink, biting her straw angrily. This cooking thing was hard. After Chuck finished writing he slid it back and nervously raised his hand. "C-Can I offer some advice, for a beginner?"

Her eyes widened as she rapidly nodded. "Go for it!"

"It, uh, helps if you keep tasting it while you cook."

Jinx's brows furrowed. "What? Why? That's just gross!"

"N-No, you're trying to get a sense for what's missing an-and what not."

Her mouth hung open. "Ooooh, like a trial run," she said, thinking about her own gadgets. She supposed that made sense, if you wanted to see something worked, you had to test it first. She smiled at Chuck, pulling out a couple silver cogs and tossing it onto the counter (with a couple extra golden hexes). "Thanks Chuck, 'preciate it!" she beamed.

"Jinx," a familiar voice barked out. She turned her head toward the stairs and smiled at the woman descending them. She raised a brow at Jinx, scowling with suspicion. "Wanna tell me why're you bothering Thieram?"

She furrowed a brow, glancing between Chuck and Sevika. "Ah, ah, ah! Nice try!" she waggled a finger at the ogre. "Chuck tried to get you in on this too! Eh, Chuck?"

He gulped, shaking his head. "I-I didn't."

"It's fine, it's a good joke, ol' Chucky!" She waved her hand and shrugged. "Anyways, I just came to ask him 'bout a thing, it's all good now Sevikki!" She grinned.

The woman raised a skeptical brow before scoffing. "If that's all you have to say, then scram, Jinx."

Smart, she wasn't pushing her luck. That made Jinx actually happy!

"Yeah, yeah, scramming." She nodded with a smile as she pushed off the counter. She walked away as every gun trained on her followed her movement. The faces behind those guns were scared and… familiar, but she didn't bother with the way they looked. Sevika was smart when she wanted to be. Jinx could remember that much. Like she could remember… an old stew? "Oh wait!" Jinx stopped, triggering a whole room of people to stiffen. She turned to Sevika and raised her finger. "I—"

"I said scram," she barked out, clenching her metal fist.

Or maybe she wasn't smart. Jinx smirked devilishly, bring her hand down to Pow-Pow's handle. "Good luck making me," she teased, raising her brow. "'Sides, it's a quick question!" she whined, jutting her bottom lip out.

The woman sighed, shaking her head. "Then ask."

"'Member when I was like… a wee girl? Runnin' around The Last Drop and all that jazz?" Sevika's brows furrowed in confusion. Huh, that must've meant she was listening. "Well, you made me a stew once." At that, the woman's eyes widened with a shock Jinx couldn't place, so she continued, "What was it? Do ya have a recipe or…"

"The fuck is this about?" she said with a surprising amount of bite.

"I'm just askin'! Sheesh!" Jinx replied, scoffing.

Sevika stared at her for a couple seconds.

Jinx sighed. "Fine, if ya didn't remember you could've just said—"

"It's a salmon stew," the woman finally answered, placing her metal hand on her hip. "Janna knows any self respecting Zaunite knows about it. It's a very common recipe."

Jinx frowned. "Wow, well the way you made it didn't feel like that." She shrugged, maybe she was misremembering? That happens sometimes. "Whelp, I take it that means you won't write it down for me?"

"Leave."

"Wow you're no fun. Thanks toots!" she happily skipped out of the place.

Leaving was just as easy as walking in. Something pricked at the back of her brain, as if she was missing a bigger picture, but Jinx couldn't help but think about her last stop. Talking with Sevika about a faint memory made Jinx recall a certain person in Evi and Zel's recent memory. Someone who helped bring them where they are today. And so her last stop, Jinx found herself marching through the brothel with her head high and humming tune to her song, Get Jinxed. As she skipped down the hallway, she registered the fearful patrons and workers dropping all acts and procedures as they realized who was in the building.

Jinx wasn't one to care much about a place like this, but she recognized that others did.

It certainly seemed fun in some sense.

But she was here for important matters.

Pushing the curtain open, Jinx poked her head through into the red accented office and smiled. The yordle sat across the desk lifted her head, widening her eyes in fear. Jinx simply smiled as she walked in and grabbed one of the chairs, dragging and spinning it to face the desk. She slumped in, letting her rocket and minigun clang awkwardly around the chair as she wiggled her fingers with a hello.

To her credit, Babette steeled her reaction and straightened up. She waved her cigar holder as she mustered a small smile. "What do you need, Jinx?" she asked, her voice low with caution.

"Relax, Babs, I ain't here for violence or anythin'," she assured, waving her hand casually. "I just had a… uh, bit of a problem I need your input with."

"What is it?"

"So, I'm kinda taking up cooking?" She ignored the baffled look on the yordle's face from the non sequitur. "An-And, well, I'm literally shit at it. Like, the worst." She sheepishly rubbed at her neck, laughing. "But I wanna get good at it, and I decided I'd go collectin' some good recipes so I know what to work with! So I was just wondering if you knew or had any recipes ya might be willing to share?"

"You're asking me… for cooking recipes," she slowly clarified.

"Yes! Why does everyone react like that!" Jinx pouted, crossing her arms.

"Why do you need it?"

"Why? I can't live off of takeout forever! I need a palate!" She sighed, bringing her hand to her forehead, "I never thought you'd want me to starve on… crap food." She closed her eyes and gagged, dropping her tongue for dramatic effect. When Jinx opened her eyes, she surprisingly found herself with an unamused Babette. She always was one to be taken seriously at face value. She often knew what was up and expected others to be straight with her. Many could lie in Zaun—it was the way of life—but Babette was just someone who wouldn't take it.

And the look she fixed on Jinx, it told her she wanted more.

"Jinx," she said softly, "what's this really about?"

She didn't need to know. No one did. That was the point. But for some reason, something about the way she looked at Jinx… it just panged her heart. Her eyes were half lidded, but serious and stern. If she imagined those eyes… looking down at two kids, Jinx could understand why they kept coming back here. Despite her better judgement, despite what this whole plan fixated on, Jinx trusted the female yordle's character.

With a sigh, Jinx hunched over and rested her arms on her knees. "If I tell ya… will you please gimme a recipe?"

"Sure," she nodded.

Jinx pulled out her notepad and pen and tossed it on the table. "I heard through the grapevine that you occasionally house a pair of brats for a night," she said with a low voice, raising her eyes at the yordle with a quirked brow. "Zel and Evi?"

Babette's eyes widened. "Jinx, please," she lowered her cigar holder and placed her hand on the desk, as if pleading as she said, "they're only kids."

"I know." Jeez, did she really think that low of her?

"They're good kids—"

"I know." Jinx locked her eyes with Babette's, trying to get her to understand. The female yordle's eyes that were once filled with worry and fear, slowly widened in realization as Jinx nodded. "Zel told me his mom worked here," she said with a casual tone.

"She did," Babette nodded, her voice cautious, her face baffled, "Don't think you ever came here enough to ever recognize or see her. Her name was Vima."

"Vima, huh?" Jinx leaned back and smiled. "That's, uh… that's a pretty name."

DO YOU EVEN KNOW—

your own... mother's name?

Jinx swallowed, shaking her head.

"It is. She was a nice woman," Babette spoke melancholically, "Did her best for her kid. Never knew what happened to her or Zel. Just… one day he was at my doorstep with Evi, asking if they could stay the night." She shook her head with a sad frown.

Something about that made Jinx's stomach churn. Not with queasiness, but with anger. For who Babette was, hearing her talk about Zel's mom like that, about them like that… Jinx scowled. "You never let them just… stay?" she asked, tilting her head.

"In this place?" the yordle replied, amused.

"It's fucking Zaun, Babs!" Jinx stomped her foot, shaking her head. "Don't act like you're corrupting them anymore than them just sleeping here for a night!"

Her eyes narrowed as she leaned forward. "You also know what kinda people my business attracts, Jinx." Her eyes flew past Jinx's shoulder and no doubt into the hall. With a sigh, the yordle shook her head. "Too much influence in a place like this—I didn't want to be responsible for them turning out rotten."

"So instead ya left them out to die," Jinx spat out.

Babette scoffed, leaning back as she plucked up her cigar holder and pointed it at Jinx. "You have a high horse now?"

"Never did, just standards. That's how Zaun is." She shrugged. With a dead silence between the two, Jinx stood up and nodded at the notepad, prompting the female yordle to pick up the pen and start writing. She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt like snapping on her. She was just here for a recipe. None of this had to be brought up. But once Babette slid the items back to Jinx, the woman stood up and sighed as she picked them up and read it over.

"That is a good chicken recipe," she said, pointing at the pad, "The market has a couple shops that sell chicken for cheap during the evening, so you might be able to get some soon." She sighed. "Take care, Jinx."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks for the recipe, Babs." She turned and just as she was about to step out of the curtains, Jinx shook her head. She turned around, meeting the yordle's eyes. "If it's any consolation, I don't think I seem myself dropping either of 'em." Babette's eyes widened at the comment while Jinx smirked. "Least not 'til I show 'em how to actually survive."

The yordle chuckled. "I… I'm glad to hear that." Before she moved to leave, Babette said, "I was wondering why they hadn't come back in quite some time. Are… are they staying with you?" Jinx just stared, flipping her notepad shut before pocketing it back with her pen. Babette's eyes widened as the realization sunk in for her.

She brought her hand down to her gun, thumbing the grip. "Babs, I don't need to tell ya this, but—" Jinx narrowed her eyes and stared at the yordle with a serious face. "No one knows."

Babette's fear faded as she chuckled, nodding her head. "Knows what?"

Jinx smiled and made her leave. She didn't let the thoughts of wherever those feelings of anger came from control her. She didn't let Babette's proud smile plague her mind. She just focused on that she finally had what she needed to get started. She had a notepad full of recipes and an ambition to try. Chef Jinx was sure to make her appearance soon.

Returning to her hideout, Jinx had a bag of chicken breasts in her hands as well as some nice spices, as she took Babette's advice and decided to try her recipe first. She was right about the deal in the evening, and though she narrowly missed the window for some reason when Jinx showed up the guy granted her the half off price. She was actually kind of excited to try all these recipes. It felt like a new project, like the stove or microwave. But this was a whole new hobby.

Jinx entered in her vault combination and chuckled to herself as the door began to unlock. Cooking as a hobby made her think about her singing. About that one song Jinx recorded. The one song Silco wanted her to sing and found "charming". The…

—uch pathetic neatness

But not for long 'cause it'll get jinxed

Her eyes widened. Jinx immediately leapt inside and closed the vault door behind her, sprinting down the first wing and toward the turbine. When the looped around she found the two hopping around and bobbing their heads around the living area, dancing with the dummy. Jinx turned to the gramophone and paused it, making the two stop in their tracks. The second they turned their eyes widened with fear. "I told you no touching!" she shouted, stalking forward with a grimace and raising a finger at them. "Not unless I said ya could!"

"We're sorry, it-it's just, that, it sounded really good!" Zel babbled out, holding his hands up.

Jinx blinked, her rage softening a bit. "Wait—what?"

"It's my fault," Evi admitted. When Jinx turned to her, she flinched, making Jinx lower her finger. "I… we played it our first mornin' here and I thought it sounded kinda cool…" she awkwardly kicked her foot. "W-We've been listenin' to it every time you leave, since."

"It's you, isn't it?" Zel asked.

Jinx felt her cheeks heat up a bit, causing her to scoff. "No!" she lied. "It's… it's someone else." Nice, really convincing.

"It sounds a lot like you though," Evi muttered as crossed her arms.

Jinx groaned. "Fine! It is, so what?"

The two's eyes widened as they smiled. "You sound so good!" Zel proclaimed.

"Did you come up with that yourself?" Evi asked.

She sighed and made her way around to the second wing, dropping the chicken on the counter beside the stove. She took half of the breasts and put them in the freezer, figuring half of what she bought would be good for tonight. Jinx pulled out her notepad and began reading through Babette's instructions, but when she turned around, she was met with the two kids standing and staring at her expectantly. She sighed once again. "Ya ain't dropping this 'til I talk, huh?" They shook their heads. Jinx began to sift through the instructions as she nodded. "Fine."

"So why'd you make it?" Evi asked as she and Zel sat themselves on the floor, crossing their legs.

Jinx smiled fondly as she turned the burners on. She turned back and said, "I used to stay at The Last Drop." The amount of times these kids' eyes widened was practically hilarious to Jinx. She continued, "Silco let me run around and do basically whatever the fuck I want, so I usually hung up in the rafters of his office. I liked to hum and make noise, 'cause it was fun—"

"To be annoyin'?" Evi teased.

Jinx glared at her. "But sometimes I just made up songs and shit. It was nothin' special, but I liked singing 'bout explosions, shooting things, all that." A content smile fell on her face as she turned back and began placing the chicken on the pan. After setting it on the burner, Jinx glanced through the instructions once more before continuing, "My… name, was kinda somethin' I grew into. But Silco liked my name and because I told him I wanted to embrace my name he liked this… particular song I made.

"Get Jinxed, I called it, and it was probably the most effort I put into actually coming up with lyrics!" She snickered, remembering the times she walked and thought hard about rhyming words. "He noticed how much thought I put into it and well, he told me he'd love for me to record me singing for once. Heh, he even hired a band to help me record all the instruments and shit." She shook her head, smiling at the thought of all those recording sessions. "I was so weird 'bout it."

"But when it was done, he listened and loved it. He loved it so much he even debuted it at The Last Drop." Jinx scoffed, feeling the heat of embarrassment swell up as she remembered how proud and out loud he was about letting the DJ know he wanted Jinx's song to play. "The club loved it. But I never told anyone I came up with it. Don't think anyone really put together it was me somehow. Eventually they stopped playing it, my request, but I snagged the copy and kept it here." She looked back at the gramophone and smiled. "I like working with music, with noise, but that song helps me get in the groove."

A silence stirred, all but the sizzle of the pan filling the echoes of the cavern.

She turned over her shoulder and smiled at the awestruck faces staring up at her.

"Well, I think it's a pretty nice song." Evi chuckled. "Zel and I don't really listen to much music, but that was probably the coolest song I've ever heard."

"Yeah, definitely," her partner agreed.

Jinx giggled at the praise. "Thanks, brats."

"Uhh… Jinx," Zel softly spoke. She turned back and raised a brow. "You talked about Silco. You mean The Eye of Zaun?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"How did ya know him so well?" Evi asked.

She blinked. "You don't know?" They stared at her, confused. "Janna, I don't know if that makes me old or you two are just ignorant," she grumbled, turning the chicken breasts over. She fished over for the bottle of spices, dousing a couple times like Babette's recipe said.

"Hey! We know Silco."

"The Industrialist, he wanted Zaun's independence," Zel informed, "He's the reason the Undercity's whole Chem-Baron empire is as successful as it is today."

"Gets a lot of flack for the shit he did, but also people say he was better than the nothin' we had," Evi commented.

Jinx chuckled, the streets were nothing if not informative as usual. "But ya don't know his connection to me?"

"What connection?" they asked together.

Jinx took a deep breath.

She expected flashes, whispers to come in and assault her mind, but nothing came. Just… a feeling. Guilt. She was amazed that was all it was. Nothing had emerged? No voices. No… faces. All she could see was just the two of them, staring back at her with curiosity. When was the last time she could talk about him without seeing or hearing anyone? "Alrighty, make sure you're nice and comfy kiddos—storytime continues."

This was different.

This was history.

And that meant…

It was history she could share parts of.

"I lost my family when I was your age," Jinx said, staring at the sizzling chicken before her, "it was my fault. I… jinxed it and blew 'em all up with my first working bomb. Wasn't a Chomper then. Everything that happened that night, I locked it under a timebomb. Talking 'bout it, well, it would trigger the charge and mess me up."

"What 'bout now?" Evi asked.

"Yeah, what's different?"

Jinx looked over her shoulder and… she didn't see them. She saw Zel crying over his mother's burnt corpse. She saw an Evi standing over a lifeless body in an alley. She saw two kids, no doubt what Babette saw, before her with eyes of wonder and curiosity. Jinx smirked. "Time," she answered.

They exchanged a confused look, but Jinx ignored it, proud of that answer.

"Basically, Silco and his crew found me. Saved me from a shit life and brought me into his empire." Jinx grinned, thinking about the start up days, of how everything slowly came to be. "He showed me Zaun. He raised me and took care of me, but he showed me who I was. What Zaun was. And I…" she swallowed, shaking her head as she pulled the pan off the burner.

Maybe not all of it.

Maybe not yet.

"I've been grateful for that ever since." Jinx grabbed the three bowls and haphazardly dropped a chicken into each. Grabbing a hot sauce bottle, she added a small squirt over each one before putting everything away. She turned and smiled. "Now, how 'bout we try this?"

Their faces cringed.

Jinx frowned. "I used a recipe this time, ya brats." They made their way over to the living area, the two sitting on the couch while Jinx sat on the rocking chair horse like usual. With their forks, they all jabbed their chickens and brought it to their mouths. "Together?"

At their nods, Jinx bit in, the kids following suit.

Her eyes widened. Was it not that bad? Janna, it wasn't! Schooling her reaction she watched the two thoughtfully chew their meat, nodding at Jinx. "It's good?"

"Not bad," Zel commended.

"We've certainly had worse," Evi mused.

Jinx scoffed, rolling her eyes. "That's a win! Chef Jinx has her first win!" It wasn't the tastiest meal but it worked nonetheless. And maybe that was what mattered.

artway through their dinner, Zel spoke up. "So what did Silco share to you, about Zaun?" he asked through his mouthful.

Jinx pondered on that. Well, if today was about recollecting, there was still one history lesson they were due for. "You brats 'member when ya asked 'bout what this fan was?" They nodded. "I found it a while after Silco found me, and he always liked my 'gadgetry' as he called it." The two chuckled at Jinx's accent mockery. "So when I found this place, I told him I wanted to use it for testing bombs and stuff, of course he was cool with it, but he had to go into lecture mode.

"You two ever hear 'bout what the Undercity was like before? Back when we were 'one with Piltover'?" The two nodded. "Well, trenchers were responsible for mining for the Topsiders, and we were dealt our shitty hand I'm sure you've heard." They nodded again. "The fissures were a bitch to deal with. Mining in the air that basically took out your lungs every second you sat in it. The people complained, and like usual, the Pilties did their best to listen."

Jinx set down her bowl and stood up, going to the edge of the platform. She looked down and smiled. "At the bottom of this? Is a mining quarry. All of 'em are practically like this, and well, after mining out a cavern like this, Piltover finally came to their aid and supplied the workers with the means to set up a fan. She turned and sadly smiled. "A fan to filter out the fissures and help the workers."

The two blinked, before the realization set in. They both looked around, now taking in the turbine with a new perspective.

"So this," Evi gestured around them with her empty bowl, "helped filter out the air?"

Jinx nodded.

"But, the cavern's sealed?" Zel pointed out, nodding toward the first wing. "There's that door."

Jinx shook her head. "Nope, that lil' passageway was the way it got out. I only put a door over it—I told ya, I just found this place like this." She waited for them to realize, to clue it all together.

"But… even then, those tunnels, you said—that… that leads out to the surface…" Evi trailed off, her eyes widening with shock.

Zel stopped his chewing and dropped his jaw.

"And that's why your Pop's ol' lungs were shit, E." Jinx slowly nodded. "When ya hear us grownups whine and complain 'bout Topside being built off our ashes—we mean it literally." She scoffed, making her way down the fan blade. "They fixed one problem, but made it worse for everyone else. No one had a say on where the fans could be built, Topside simply thought this was the most efficient way to use 'em." Jinx arrived at her desk and grabbed a Chomper as well as the pole with a hook at the end of it. She let the pole drag behind her as she pulled the pin and tossed it off the edge. "Silco let me use this place because Zaun buries its past and well…"

The boom echoed from below as Zel looked down and watched the explosion in awe.

"No better place to start than a past not worth forgetting," she grinned with a wide smile. She twirled the pole and shrugged. "That's a history lesson for you.'

"I wanna make 'em burn," Evi spat out.

"I wanna blow up another plaza!" Zel scoffed.

Jinx laughed. "Love the rage, kiddies, that's good," she praised them. She took the pole and hooked off the red stuffed toy hanging above. A toy she's had since… well, before Silco. She pulled the toy off and tossed the pole back to her workshop, making her way over to the two. She tossed the stuffed toy in Evi's lap. "Here."

"Wh-What? Why?" she stammered, her cheeks red.

"I saw ya staring at it. You wanted it, right?"

"I dunno," she mumbled.

Jinx shrugged. "Well, anything you do with it is better than just hanging. Go nuts." She sat back down on her rocking chair horse. "The rage is good and all—justified even—but don't forget it doesn't hurt to enjoy Zaun for what it is."

Evi thumbed over the toy's snout as Zel asked, "And what is it?"

"A place to prosper, even in the smog of pain," Jinx quietly said, smiling at the two. "Piltover ain't the only place of Progress. And it's our job to remind them that." The two nodded, exchanging proud smiles all the while. This… this was what it was about. The next of what was to come. Jinx was starting to get that. "But," she tacked on, pointing at Zel's bag, "maybe a better name than undermine might get the ground off." She giggled, winking at the boy.

Despite his blush, Zel laughed alongside Evi, the two giggling into a fit as they poked and prodded at each other.

Hearing them laugh, it sent a surge into Jinx's heart that made her pause. A feeling she simultaneously hadn't felt in a long time but also had never felt before. It made no sense but also did. She was aware of her obsessiveness. Aware of how crazy and hyper fixed she could be. Right now, she wasn't sure if it was that urge coming into play. But she couldn't help but think…

She really wanted to hear those laughs everyday for the rest of her life.

---

A/N: Again, if you're confused about Jinx's layout with the way I "numbered" the fan blades, refer to chapter 5's end A/N at the third paragraph where I talked about the layout. Anyways…

If you can't tell, a good portion of this chapter was meant to be in the last one, but for pacing reasons, I just didn't think I could fit it and make it seem nice. Here, as different as it is, the chapter is MEANT to be fast paced and transpire in so much time, whereas the last chap was meant to set up the conceptual ideas of what's to come. Jinx is having to step into a more responsible role while the kids adjust to having comfort for once.

Is Jinx's kitchen and bathroom OHS approved? Nope. Is ANYTHING in Zaun OHS approved? Ah hah, the REAL question. But yeah, the idea of her arrangement, though complicated and VERY dangerous, is that it's very Jinx-like. So maybe it's not conventional, but neither Evi, Zel, or Jinx are complaining about it.

And yeah, I know, "Wow, all these people sure do know their recipes off the top of their heads!" Well, I'd like to think with a shitty place like Zaun, knowing how to handle yourself extends to all kinds of applications, including cooking. So knowing how to cook a quick and dirty meal helps! But let's not pretend that they ALL wrote a comprehensive and easy set of instructions.

Next chapter update: [EDIT] July 28th!

Stay safe and stay lovely y'all.

Until next time,

- Bleh