A/N: I mean… things HAD to go wrong eventually…
(Also, sorry about the delays. This chapter was difficult to write and well, some personal family problems came up and it was NOT well paired well with what I was writing)
Chapter Summary: Just when Jinx thought things were good, the kids want to leave. Nothing good ever stays, right?
Word Count: 11,893
—JINX—
Jinx was riding a high she'd never thought she'd ever feel again, and then some.
And that was saying a lot for a woman with a drug literally pumping in her veins!
It had been about a week since her encounter with Sevika, and the hunt had died down in over half that time. It was amazing how quickly the hag managed to call everything off and make it known, but nonetheless she announced to the Chem-Barons—and the Piltie Council—she caught the people responsible and dealt with them. Since then, Jinx had gone about her jobs leisurely but also happily. Going about with proper rest and time between jobs, she was doing great!
But… she wished she could say the same for the brats. A couple days ago, she started noticing their moods starting to fall a bit. Like pits of sadness hitting them here and there. There were instances where their spirits lifted. Like whenever they played Tag Ball, sleeping together (sharing the bed as a trio had been an ongoing thing now), or ate together, or danced to her song, or fell asleep—
Jinx grew giddy at each activity running through her head.
She grabbed a salt shaker and dabbed a few drops across her sunny side up eggs. Her grin grew at each passing second, as she hummed to herself. If they were down in the dumps, it was up to her to fix it! Like she had been doing for the past few months! She built a kitchen for them. She could figure out how to cheer them up out of this funk of theirs. With a smile, she turned over her shoulder and watched the two across the gap, where they sat in the living area.
They had their cups of coffee and were lounging on the couch together, not noticeably talking it seemed. They had their fair share of silences before, but this was more pronounced… like they had nothing to do or talk about. Or maybe, like something was bothering them.
Her smile fell a bit.
Could she cheer them up? Why were they so down anyways? They had nothing to be upset about!
LIAR!
LIAR!
tell… them…
they need… to know…
Her eyes widened as her hand froze. The sizzling of the pan faded out the voices as Jinx jerked her head violently, intensely focusing on her cooking. No, it wasn't that. They had no clue about it! She nodded to herself in affirmations, sure of her choice. As she transferred the eggs onto their three plates, a chilling trill went up her spine. The thought hit her and a wave of guilt welled up in her stomach.
She still hadn't told them about Sevika, about their confrontation.
When she got back that night she had every intention to tell them. But when she saw their faces, the way they looked at her with concern and worry… she just couldn't do it. They didn't need to be burdened with any kind of stress. They deserved to be kids a little while longer. And she could make it happen by letting them stay, by not telling them about the one thing keeping them here no longer being an obstacle. If they stayed here, they would never know about anything outside that could hurt them. They just needed to understand that.
Jinx's eyes lit up at that.
That was it! They needed to know they could stay! She needed to tell them that!
She picked up the plates, making her way over to them with a wide smile. This entire time, they've been thinking their arrangement was temporary, but she hadn't actually said it out loud! "Oh brats," she greeted in a sing-song, approaching the table. The two lifted their heads from their mugs, offering a small smile as they set their cups down on the table while Jinx placed their plates in front of them. "Chow time!" she cheered, taking her seat at the rocking chair.
Their faces lit up a bit at the smells, but the downtrodden expression as a whole still persisted. She watched as they ate their food slowly and quietly, not a word between them coming out. Even Evi, who was always known for scarfing down her meals, was going at a snail's pace. Jinx felt her heart palpitate at each bite, at each second, where silence filled the air in the moment as their stomachs were being filled with food. They weren't even looking up at her.
No, she couldn't hesitate now.
Jinx took a deep breath after swallowing her bite, then shot the two a smile. "So! Uh… you two liking it here so far?" Their heads sprang up at that, eyes wide. Was that the right thing to say? "I-I mean, in general or…" she nervously chuckled—why was this so hard—as she waved her fork around. "Would ya give me five stars?" she lightly joked.
Evi and Zel exchanged a nervous glance. Were they worried because they thought she was going to kick them out? That she was bringing this up to lead into that? Hmm, maybe she could've thought up a better conversation starter.
"Uh, w-we," Zel stammered. "It's been fun," he quietly answered, shooting a small smile toward her. "Having a bed is nice, food every day—"
"Stuff to play with, things to do," Evi chimed in, nodding. She smiled, more widely than her partner. "It's been great, Jinx."
Her heart swelled at that. They liked it here! Who needs five stars when you have smiles like those? Jinx nearly forgot all about what she was going to do because of the joy on their faces right there in that moment. But with a quick breath, she smiled back. "That's good! That's good," she rapidly nodded. She set her fork down on her plate and raised a brow at them. "What if… what if we made this permanent?"
A beat of silence, and their forks dropped on their plates, eyes wide with their mouths ajar.
"Are… are you serious?" Evi uttered.
She giggled at the blonde. "Serious as I am 'bout my bombs, Lil' Urchin!"
Zel gawked even harder. "That's pretty damn serious." He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "B-But really? You'll let us stay here?" Jinx nodded again, smiling more and more at their looks of shock but rising excitement. "An-And I can tinker with you?"
"Ugh, don't say tinker," Evi grumbled.
Jinx laughed. "Sure! I've been meaning to show ya how to properly wire and solder your undermines!" She turned to Evi, mocking a few punches. "And I'll show ya how to really take down someone twice your size."
Evi rolled her eyes, but her smile still remained. "That… that'd be fun," she gently replied.
Jinx clapped her hands. "Great! Then it's settled! You're official residents of Jinx's palace!"
"But wait," Evi spoke, her brows furrowed in concern, "what 'bout Sevika?"
"Yeah," Zel nodded. "She's still hunting for us, right?"
Jinx waved her hand casually. "Pfft, not anymore!" They blinked at her confusedly. Letting her excitement take over, she raised her hands to the sky and cheered, "I scared her off! No more hunting from her!"
"Wait… what do you mean?" Evi quietly asked.
"I mean, I ran into her at the brothel like a week ago. The ol' ogre was running a manhunt for y'all but I threatened her to back off," she proudly stated, smiling. "She's called it off now, so you guys are no longer Wanted brats!" she declared, waving her hands with flair. "You're welcome!" she tacked on, taking a minor bow in her seat.
"Hang on," Evi spoke up, shaking her head as she raised a hand, "You've talked with Sevika?"
"You saw Babette?" Zel asked, furrowing his brows. "Why were you going to the brothel?"
Jinx flinched, startled by the haste and aggression in their inquiries. Why did they… seem upset? "Uhhh, yeah?" she looked to Evi, answering her question, "I've spoken to her plenty of times." She shrugged then looked to Zel. "And yup, I saw Babs too! Couple times, actually. I mean, where do ya think I get my recipes from? That chicken we had was… her recipe…" she trailed off, noticing their looks of disbelief and… and…
Why were they still upset?
They got to stay!
"Why didn't you tell us," came the blonde's soft reply.
Never before had such a gentle tone wounded Jinx's heart so severely. Why… why did she look so hurt? Why did Zel look like he couldn't fathom what was happening? Why couldn't Evi look her in the eye? Jinx gulped, squeezing her hands."I…" she startled a bit, surprised by how small her voice sounded, "I was going to—"
"'Going to'?" Evi echoed, eyes wide. "So how long have you been talking to Sevika?" The tone in her voice threw an implication.
Jinx's eyes widened as she understood what the young girl was misinterpreting. She thought she was in cahoots with Sevika! "W-Wait, I'm not like, buddies with the ogre!" She closed her eyes and released a frustrated groan. "Hang on, hang on! Lemme backtrack!" she hastily added, shaking her hands about. This was getting out of hand. Taking a breath, Jinx set down her plate on the table and crossed her arms, resting them on the head of the rocking chair horse. "Me talking with Babs is a given thing: any Zaunite with a brain knows she's the best place to get the word on the street." She shot a knowing look at them. "And me chatting with Sevika's got nothin' to do with being… friends," she explained, shivering disgustedly. "I've known her since I was a kid!"
"You didn't mention that!" Evi pointed out.
Jinx blinked. "I didn't think it was worth mentioning?" She cocked her head. "I mean, I told ya she knew where my hideout was. Heck, she was Silco's right hand long before she took over The Last Drop herself!"
"You didn't mention that when you talked about him," Zel softly pointed out.
Jinx bewilderedly glanced between the two. "I didn't think that was important? Hang on—" she held out her hands placatingly. "Why're you two so upset? I-I swear! I have the best intentions!" she sincerely stated. She made them breakfast! Why were they looking at her like she issued the manhunt?
Evi blinked back, as if shocked. "'Cause this entire time you knew Sevika, ya could've called her off sooner!"
"I just said," Jinx gritted out. "We're not friends. I hardly like the hag! And I can guarantee ya she hates me!" She crossed her arms, tutting her chin out. "If I could go 'bout my days avoiding her, I would. And have, actually!"
"So why did you threaten her?" Zel asked.
Jinx stared at him. Confusion seemed to be the underlying theme here. She just… didn't get why this was an issue. She thought they'd be happily finishing their eggs, laughing and smiling after hearing the news. Why did it feel like she ignited the fuse for a bomb? But this wasn't one she wanted to go off…
Just tell them.
Tell them.
She took a breath. "'Cause I want you guys to stay," she quietly answered. She unfolded her arms and clenched her fists, feeling the urge to fiddle or do something with her hands to ease the nervousness. "I… I like having ya 'round." She shrugged, feeling lame about how poorly she was wording all this. "It's more fun, it's never quiet, it's… normal." She rested her fists on her lap. "I… you guys deserve normal," she softly said. "Ya deserve better than what I got."
She could feel the sting of tears threatening to release, but she fought them back. The looks they were giving her, she couldn't understand what to make of them. She didn't know if it was pity or anger. She didn't know if what she was saying was right at all. But she had to keep going.
"I-I… I want you guys to stay here," she choked out, lowering her head. This was easier—talk to the floor, ignore their pained expression, and just keep talking. "I need you two to stay. You guys… ya make everything so much better," she quietly admitted, "and… and I could use that." Her eyes flew down from her feet to her plate resting on the corner of the table. The eggs she cooked had likely gone cold and all she could think about was that night she first spilled everything. Well… nearly everything.
And that had to change.
Her fingers interlaced with each other as she bounced her right leg up and down anxiously. "I-I told ya how Silco and his crew found me, th-that it was after I… jinxed up." She swallowed, shaking her head. "That family I blew up… it was all my fault. Silco and Sevika were actually the ones who were threatening to kill 'em." The kids' faces were riddled with surprise and even more confusion. "I-I just wanted… I just wanted to prove to my sister I could help," Jinx doesn't miss the way Zel stiffened at that, but she pressed on, "that I could save 'em.
"Silco wanted Vander dead so he could take over, and us kids were just in the crossfire of it. We all had our parts to play, wanting to help. But I wasn't even supposed to be there." She scoffed. " I ended up killing my two brothers and my—" she could say what he was. She could. She could do it. Jinx clenched her eyes shut and spat out, "my dad. I ruined any chance they had at anything an-and… my sister was sooo mad." She shook her head, releasing a shuddering breath as she opened her eyes.
Vi.
Violet.
This part… this was easier.
Her voice dropped slowly as she raised her head and stared at the kids. Their faces were filled with pity? Sadness? Horror? She couldn't tell. "After that night, Vi got grabbed by the former Sheriff and I got picked up by Silco." She humourlessly chuckled. "Good ol' sis slammed in jail while I was getting raised by the man who tried to kill everyone I loved." She threw her head back, clicking her teeth. "But it wasn't long after I ran into my sister again that I ended up killing him too. Only fitting I would do it again…" she bitterly muttered.
A silence filled the air for a couple seconds.
"But…" she nearly jumped, surprised by Zel's hesitant voice chiming in. "You still loved him like a father too… right?"
At her nod, Evi spoke up, "What does this have to do with anythin'?"
Jinx sighed. "I still hear all their voices." Their eyes widened. She waved her finger around her head, motioning a crazy gesture. "My brothers, my dads… sometimes my sister. And more recently… my younger self." She ran her hand down the tattoos of clouds on her right arm. "I used to go by Powder… but I'm really just Jinx. Stands for Jinx, heh." She smiled, shrugging lightly. "My sister… she… the night I killed Silco? It was the day I bombed Topside's Council Chambers."
"That… that event basically kick started Zaun's independence," Zel uttered in shock.
"So ya kids do know your history," she teased.
"Any decent Zaunite also knows as much of a menace as you are," Evi threw in, "ya were responsible for some pivotal shite in our past. We know that much… at least."
Jinx smirked, but it was a hollow expression at best. She turned her head and locked her eyes on the hanging bunny. It was still there. There weren't a lot of things she went back for at the tea party—too much for her to take in—but that was something she could get, something from her past. She casually announced, "My sister is Vi Kiramman." Saying that last name, it wasn't as heavy as she thought it would be. There was distance now… it was unimportant to think about.
She wasn't important right now.
The two gobsmacked kids before her? They were what was important now.
"Your sister is an Enforcer?" Evi shouted.
"Not just any Enforcer but the other half of 'Piltover's Finest'?" Zel remarked, jaw dropping.
Jinx groaned, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, not too proud of those family genes," she muttered. She swung her leg over the rocking chair, now sitting on one side of it as she rested her right arm on the wooden horse head. "She's the only family I have left and… she's across the river." She looked at them with a small pout. "The voices… they kept me busy. When I was with Silco they told me what to do, when I was alone they tried to get me to do anything so I wasn't alone with my thoughts… but when I met you guys?" Jinx smiled at them, scoffing with awe."I… I dunno, you two just… make 'em all go away."
"So… you those times you're talking to nobody…" Evi trailed off.
"Yup," Jinx nodded. "It's better now! I-I swear. They hardly talk anymore and rarely it's when I'm with you two," she quickly explained. Stressing this was the most important part. "You guys just… you make me… feel better. Before, I could barely even think 'bout the past let alone talk 'bout it! But with you two? It's just… easier. And… and I want you to stay." She closed her eyes and groaned through her gritted teeth, launching up to her feet. The two startled at her movements, but Jinx held her hands up. "Sorry I just—I don't want to make it sound selfish but—"
"It is," Zel said.
Jinx blinked. Her mouth hung at the spiky haired boy's stern tone. It was… rare from him. He shot her a hurt look that made her knees weak.
"You spoke with Sevika a week ago, you just said that earlier," he pointed out, "and you didn't tell us this whole time that you knew we were free to go. It was your deal that we got forced into—"
She flinched at that. That was right, this wasn't some happy go lucky circumstance, she chased them and basically threatened them to stay with her.
"—and even after all this, the one reason why we were being holed up here for over a month was 'cause you were protecting us from Sevika." Zel shook his head and placed his half eaten eggs on the table with everyone else's meals. "You knew her from before too. And you didn't tell us."
Jinx bit her lip. "I told you, us knowing each other means jack shit. She wasn't… she wasn't anything to me…" she sadly said. Yet even those words felt like lies spilling through her lips. Why? She shook her head, trying to focus on the now. "I just wanted you guys to be—"
"Can we get a moment alone," Evi spoke up, holding Boon in her hands. The sight of her small frame and how softly she cradled the toy, it made Jinx pause. She looked up at Jinx with pleading eyes. "Please, Jinx?"
She swallowed any more rising arguments she possibly could've had, taking the unfinished plates and stacking them along with their empty mugs of coffee. It pained her, each step she took away from the two. But she just had to hope…
It'd all work out.
—EVI—
Evi immediately removed herself from the couch, moving behind it and over to the edge of the fan, facing the cavern wall. She hung her feet off the edge, letting her legs sway as she thumbed Boon. Zel took a moment to himself on the couch, holding his undermine and no doubt examining it. Hearing Zel talk like that, it made Evi realize how confusing this all was. This entire time… Jinx knew they were safe, and she didn't tell them. Evi wasn't sure why that stung so much.
Hearing Jinx's confession, all that about her past, about how she felt?
It was what they wanted.
They could stay.
So why did she feel uncomfortable?
A set of footsteps approached—Zel had made himself known. "Talk to me," he said, sitting himself beside her on the edge of the fan.
As their legs dangled off, swaying in unison, she shrugged. "It's… I dunno."
"Wow." He scoffed. "How articulate."
She flipped him off.
"It's not that simple, you know that." she muttered. In her hands, she held Boon. Her stuffed toy. Something that was hers. It was so weird to think about still. She thumbed its snout, feeling its soft face as she sighed. Jinx gave her this, and yet she also lied to their faces for about a week. In that time, they shared a bed, ate together, and laughed—and she was hiding it from them.
Zel silently nodded. "That was… a lot to take in," he said in a faint whisper.
"Yeah… it was," she agreed, matching his tone. She closed her eyes and thought hard on her feelings. She said the first thing that came to mind. "I'm not… I'm not mad at her. I don't think." She felt her heart twist at those words, it wasn't entirely true. "I mean… I don't know."
"I know what you mean," he nodded. "I… I called her selfish, but I was also excited when she said we could work on my undermines together." He scoffed, clenching hard on the fan blade flooring. "She said we could stay. And then she dropped a bomb on us." He shook his head, rolling his tongue around in his cheek.
"I don't know why it makes me so upset, but it does," Evi admitted. She internally cursed. She wanted to scream and shout. She wanted to punch things and stab someone. She wanted… she wanted to take a break.
And after a moment, Zel suggested the best idea he could've for them,
"Hey, if we need space, why can't we just ask her if we can leave?"
"Wh-What?" she blinked, caught off guard by his nonchalance.
"Yeah!" Zel eagerly nodded, now smiling. "We both agree we don't like… hate her or anything, but after a month of being here we could probably use a bit of distance." He shrugged. "I mean, if Sevika's not looking for us, then we're free to go! We can get some time out of here, stretch our legs more, think, and maybe even get Jinx something for a change!"
Evi's smile widened at each word Zel added, liking his idea more and more. "Yeah… yeah! I like the sound of that!" This was perfect! It had been far too long since they had left the cavern to begin with. And despite its spacious nature, the fan blades were starting to feel cramped. Evi looked down at Boon and smiled. Zel was right. She didn't hate Jinx. She was just upset. "C'mon," she said as she scooted back and stood up, "let's go tell her."
She tossed Boon onto the couch as they passed by and made their way over to Jinx's workshop. The gramophone had been going off, although quieter than usual, but it was likely for their sake so they could have some privacy. Jinx herself was actually in the middle of tinkering; a half finished Chomper with exposed wiring and no shell. Her goggles were slipped on, but she didn't have her typical upbeat mood the way she usually did when she listened to her song and worked. She seemed slouched, small, and even slow.
Deciding to take the initiative, Evi loudly cleared her throat.
In an instant, Jinx turned around, goggles slipped up as her eyes darted between the two cautiously. That as well: the entire time during breakfast, her face was so easy to read. It was ironic how before she and even Sevika made fun of her and Zel for being so expressional, and today they watched Jinx's eyes fill with regret and pain. It was one of the main reasons Evi couldn't bring herself to hate the woman… her eyes sold the whole story.
And right now, they were looking at Evi's very expectantly. She quickly rolled herself over to the gramophone, shutting it off before rolling back, eyes still locked. "Yeah?" she prompted them.
Evi took a breath then shot the woman a small smile. "We're gonna head out for a bit," she softly informed her, "if that's okay with you."
The way the woman's face drained off all hope was honestly terrifying. Seeing Jinx's lips frown as her eyes widened in very noticeable fear, it made Evi cry inside a bit. Janna, she really wanted them to stay, huh? It felt like an hour passed as the two stood there, with the blue haired woman sitting and staring at them silently. And then she spoke, in a brief and low voice,
"Why?"
Evi gulped. This was not how she thought this conversation would go and a sparing glance to Zel revealed a nervous look that told her the feeling was mutual. "We've been here for practically over a month now, Jinx," she lightly stressed.
"Yeah, and what?" she barked back, cocking her head. "I ain't got enough for you two now? What's out there that I can't give you in here!"
"Sunlight?" Zel suggested.
"It's Zaun."
"Breathable air?" he tried again.
"It's Zaun!"
"Yeah but we don't wanna be cooped up here forever!" Evi shouted, frustration from their rapport tipping her over. The second the words left her lips, she knew what she had started.
Jinx's eyes widened ever so slightly as her mouth hung ajar. She shut her eyes, frantically shaking her head and muttering, "No, no, no." Evi and Zel both extended a hand out, but jumped back as Jinx straightened herself up, arms wrapped around herself as she looked off to the side. "She's not saying that," she gritted out to the empty space—no, the voices that were plaguing her.
Shit.
Evi bit her lip. What were they saying now? What were they telling Jinx about them? She opened her mouth and called out, "Ji—"
She erratically turned toward them, startling the two once again. "It's me, isn't it?" Jinx softly uttered, eyes wide with shock. Evi furrowed her brows in confusion, but the woman simply scoffed, almost as if at herself. "You're scared of me."
Wow. That was a loaded statement. She wasThe Loose Cannon, it was an earned title of fearful respect. Evi and Zel thought that much about it long before they met her. She was terrifying. But even after getting to know her, that terrifying attitude hadn't dwindled but actually been enhanced. Because now they understood her.
"N-No," she shook her head. "I mean a little," Evi joked, chuckling. But the way Jinx flinched, she understood it wasn't something she should joke about. She immediately backtracked, deciding the topic that started this was the best thing to hash out first. "W-We just want some space," she clumsily added.
"From me," Jinx stated, pointing to herself. Both she and Zel sighed at that. No matter how they sliced it, at the end of the day that was what they were saying. So, Evi nodded, feeling shameful under the woman's blank stare. "For how long?" she hoarsely asked.
Evi lifted her head, baffled by the woman's emotion. "What, you don't think we'll come back?" she asked, nearly offended.
Jinx scoffed, shrugging. "Probably waited 'til I spent half my savings on your asses 'til ya had nothin' left to milk from me." She pushed herself back, letting her chair bump against her desk as she rested her arms back on the table.
Evi balked at that as Zel blinked, taken aback. After everything they had been through this past month, she really thought that? The blonde scowled, feeling the anger from before rise within. "Fuck off," she spat out, "you think we'd stoop that low?"
"It's Zaun, brat," Jinx countered, levelling a monotonous expression.
"But it was your idea in the first place!" she shouted back.
The woman shrugged again, shaking her head. "Ya make it sound like you're not one to capitalize on opportunities—it's how Zaun is," she casually shot back. "Wasn't it the same thing with Sevika? She forced ya into doing that job for her but she didn't make you steal all those coins."
Zel stepped in. "So now you're comparing yourself to Sevika?"
Jinx gasped. "Oh wow! Nice try, Rookie," she giggled before scowling at him. "Twisting it back at me ain't gonna hide your own moral high ground here." She crossed her arms. "I've exhausted my usefulness to you is all—I kept ya fed and entertained, but now that I took care of Sevika, ya get to have your cake and eat it too."
Zel gaped at her, and the look of hurt on his face made Evi's blood boil.
She grimaced as she stepped forward, fists clenched. "We just wanted some space was all, but the way you're acting?" She scoffed. "You're kinda making me want to leave permanently!"
"Honestly, same here!" her partner chimed in.
Jinx blinked at them, for the first time since their fight began her expression had shifted into something. Hurt was clearly across her face but Evi couldn't care. She didn't want to. She just wanted to leave.
"Fine. Leave then," Jinx said, rising up from her seat. She marched past the two and made her way over to the couch. Evi's eyes widened as she watched Jinx grab their bags—her satchel, Zel's backpack, and their sack of loot. The woman walked back, moving around the two and over to the first wing. They watched as she tossed their bags on the floor and dusted her hands off. "Don't die out there," she coldly muttered, stomping back to her desk.
Evi and Zel exchanged one last look before watching the woman sit down and turn the gramophone back on, letting the cavern fill with her song once more. As both her song and Jinx picked up where they left off, the duo themselves scoffed. Gathering their things, they made their way over to the vault door and spun it open. A hiss, and echoing creak later, the path toward their freedom was revealed.
Evi ignored the heavy feeling in her heart as she took the first step out the cavern, nodding for Zel to come follow. As her partner grabbed the door to shut behind them, she spared one last glimpse at the cavern that had been her home for over a month.
Home, huh?
And as the door closed shut, the echo of the last lyric spilled through.
But not for long 'cause it'll get jinxed
There was no such thing as luck.
—ZEL—
"Zaun air!" Evi exclaimed, hanging off the cave wall.
"It's as fresh as it gets, eh E?" Zel mused, leaning up against the opposite wall.
The two laughed.
Stepping out of the tunnels, seeing the mid morning sky light up the pits of Zaun's below, it was honestly a missed view. The air, the smog and gas, emanating about, was a surprisingly missed scent. It had been just over a month since they last saw the outside, and Zel was amazed to find himself missing it. The two hopped off the tunnel ledge and landed onto a nearby roof. Even the feel of walking on old muddied rooftops and rusted metal was familiar to him. It was like an old friend that had reentered their life. A welcomed sense of nostalgia that made him smile as he basked in the Zaun atmosphere.
It was almost like they didn't just walk out of Jinx's place.
His smile fell. He turned back and noticed Evi stood near the rooftop edge, looking down at the streets below. Her eyes seemed to carry a sense of excitement from how they darted around, but her smile had been all but gone. She had the sack of loot slung around her shoulder, resting on her back, as she hunched over and looked beneath them. Despite the semblance of sadness he could see, he knew those eyes were also eager for action. Or at the very least, something to do.
"So," he spoke up, clapping his hands together, "what now?"
Evi stepped away from the ledge, taking a big dramatic breath of air before sighing contently. "Now? We clear our heads." Her scowl had returned as she spared a brief glance up at the tunnel they emerged from. "If that bitch wants to be a mole then let her!"
Zel chuckled, awkwardly rubbing his neck as he nodded. "Y-Yeah." He shrugged. "But let's just forget about Jinx." He waved his hand dismissively. "She's not worth the effort right now."
His partner snorted. "You said it." She slapped her stomach. "I could use some grub?"
Zel's stomach swirled in a state of emptiness. It wasn't from hunger, but from a sense of guilt. That was right… they hadn't eaten much of a breakfast because of well, everything that just happened. He awkwardly laughed. "Y-Yeah, guess we forgot to eat huh?"
And here he was…
Bringing her up almost immediately.
Smooth Zel.
Evi quietly nodded, turning her body away. "Let's just head to the marketplace," she mumbled before taking off.
He barely heard her, but gathered as much that that would be their next course of action. He trailed after her, just barely a couple metres behind in their parkouring. Running along the roofs, jumping across alleyway gaps, it was a sensation of freedom Zel really missed. Messing with his undermines and everything else he'd be doing—it was fun. But this was something you could only do out in the open Undercity. He laughed to himself, letting the joy rise up in him as he leaped and ran. His eyes flew to Evi, and awe had taken over as he watched her clear a large run down ventilation shaft in one bound,
Instinct carried his gaze over to her left leg in worry, but relief calmed him as he realized Evi was performing fine. She was actually doing a lot better than he even recalled! She was a bit faster than the last time they did this, and she seemed nowhere near out of breath like him. It was like she built up stamina! Everything about her seemed in peak physical shape. Including her leg.
Which Jinx fixed… and made better.
"Fucking Hell," he grumbled to himself.
"What was that?" Evi shouted.
"Nothing!" he shouted back, shaking his head. He couldn't keep doing this. His pace began to slow—they were nearing the market area anyways. He panted heavily as he slowed down, keeping head low. This was tiring. Not the running, but the pretending.
He stopped and began to breathe slowly, taking a more controlled breath each time. They just left Jinx's place.
"Zel?" Evi called out from ahead, now turning back.
"Just…. catching… my breath," he wheezed out.
He couldn't just act like he didn't have fun. But he also couldn't just act like Jinx didn't say some hurtful things.
"Yeeesh," came Evi's approaching voice, "you'd think you were out of shape in all… that time…."
Zel wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead, turning his head to see why the blonde had suddenly trailed off. She had just arrived before him, but her eyes were off looking at rooftops across the street from them. There, atop a huge billboard for some sort of Zaunite restaurant, was the graffiti of purple and blue neon paint, forming the image of a monkey. In other words, a billboard that had been thoroughly Jinxed.
"We can't just pretend like she doesn't exist," he muttered, voicing his thoughts.
Evi clenched her fists. "I can't even enjoy parkour because all I can think 'bout is how I wouldn't be as endurance capable as I am now if Jinx hadn't let me used the dummy. Or that I would've be able to run as I can now if Jinx hadn't patched my leg." She kicked at the roof, cursing under her breath. "But all I can think about is how she just said all those things."
Zel closed his eyes, trying to block out the recent memory. "Same," he simply replied.
They all were shouting at each other. But Jinx pushed first. They just wanted to approach with a peaceful option but she just snapped at them. He shook his head, opening his eyes and letting them fall on the graffiti. It was a very funny and well drawn monkey, however. Hearing her story, about how she was before, this "Powder" she talked about, it hit too close to Zel's heart.
Had… had she seen the same kind of things in her family with them?
Did that mean… something?
Yet still, the discomfort of knowing what she hid for her own sake made his skin crawl, not letting him sit on those feelings further.
"Did she really think so little of us that we'd just use her like that?" Evi gently spoke. He looked to her, watching as she kept her head low.
He considered her question for a moment, but honesty took over. "I mean… we did with her," Zel muttered. Evi turned around, confusion across her face. "I-I just—we thought she would only keep us around if we could be useful to her. But it turns out she never cared—"
"But we were useful to her," Evi remarked, crossing her arms. "She needs us so she doesn't go crazy."
Selfish.
That was what he had called her.
"It's Zaun, brat."
Wasn't that what they all were? "The voices aren't an excuse," she muttered.
"But are they also a reason to hate her?" Zel asked, looking up at her with curiosity.
"I don't hate her," Evi hastily replied, emotion purely poured into her response. They both seemed startled by her response. But really, if Zel stepped back as well? He couldn't bring himself to admit he hated her. "Let's just get somethin' to eat," she curtly said, turning away from the graffiti and over to the market area.
Zel nodded, silently following after her.
Soon enough, the two found themselves deep in the crowd of the marketplace. They both decided their regular routine of one of them staying back was not necessary. Though Zel could tell it was mutually because neither of them wanted to be by themselves at all at the moment. And it wasn't long until they found a stand to eat at. The second they merged with the crowd, their eyes locked onto the giant fisherman behind the counter. The very same individual who's food they've been enjoying for days.
Jericho.
They had seen him plenty of times throughout their years. Like they told Jinx, they could never afford or steal his food, the guy just knew how to look after himself. It was frustrating whenever they passed his stand, because that meant smelling his delicious food but never being able to have it. And now that they had? Well, hunger carried them over and left them right before his counter.
"AFTERNOON KIDS!" he greeted, slamming his giant knife into the cutting board strapped to his shoulder. "SEE ANYTHING YOU LIKE?"
His eyes lit up at the menu time listed Cutpurse Combo. "E," he lightly elbowed her, pointing to said item, "the Cutpurse Combo!"
Her eyes lit up. "Ah Hell yeah! That's the one we ate all the time, right?"
He nodded.
"Sick, we'll take two!" And though it looked kinda pricey, they still had plenty of coins left from their loot bag.
He raised a confused brow at them before turning away, getting their order ready. It wasn't until he had some of his food cooking on the fryer, that he looked over his shoulder and said, "YOU SAY YOU'VE HAD MY FOOD BEFORE?"
Zel happily nodded. "Plenty of times actually," he answered. He felt a glare come from Evi, but couldn't place why.
"REALLY? BECAUSE I DON'T RECALL EVER SERVING YOU TWO BEFORE!" he pointed out, still eyeing them suspiciously.
So that was why he was asking. Zel shrugged, seeing no problem with what he was about to say. "We were staying with someone who brought us your takeout." A fond smile fell on his lips as he looked up at the menu. "Cutpurse Combo was what she usually got us."
Jericho hummed his affirmation, turning back to his cooking. And then, suddenly said, "IT'S JINX, ISN'T?"
His body stiffened at the way the giant fish man just casually said it.
He looked to Evi, who facepalmed and muttered, "Dammit Zel."
He seethed. "Sorry," he mumbled out.
She waved her hand, assuring him it wasn't a big deal. "Yeah… yeah it was," Evi answered, pouring heavy emphasis at the end.
Jericho simply shrugged. He kept silent after that, focusing on his frying and cooking. Zel felt unnerved with just having the sounds of sizzling meat fill the awkward silence, but he didn't want to leave. Being this close to the food was agonizing. Eventually, Jericho turned around and placed two giant bowls before them. He smiled as he slid two bottles pop alongside their meals.
"Uh, we didn't ask for drinks," Evi pointed out as she started to rifle through their sack of loot for the payment.
He waved his huge hand. "ON THE HOUSE!" He happily accepted Evi's correct payment and tucked it away, still smiling at them. But their confusion must've been clearly expressed as he chuckled. Then followed up with, "FOR JINX."
They flinched at her name—the way he spoke about her, it was the way they felt about her… before.
"You, uh, you knew?" Zel asked before digging into his meal. The second it hit his tongue all composure had been lost and he began eating like a maniac. He didn't feel too embarrassed to do so, Evi had already started wolfing hers all down.
Jericho fondly laughed, bellowing as if out of pride as he nodded. "I FIGURED SOMETHING WAS UP WHEN SHE ASKED ME ABOUT WHAT HER SISTER USED TO GET HER WHEN SHE WAS A KID!" He leaned on the counter, smiling down at them. "THEN SHE STARTED SPLURGING ON CUTPURSE COMBOS AND OUT OF NOWHERE ASKED IF COOKING WAS HARD."
The two ceased their endless eating and exchanged a small frown.
"HEH, SHE TRIED TO GET MY RECIPES TOO BUT I HELD OUT! CAN'T JUST GIVE THOSE AWAY FOR FREE!" The thought of Jinx cooking Jericho level food would've made Zel's mouth water had he not already had said food in it. "I JUST GAVE HER SOME ADVICE INSTEAD."
"So… we have you to thank for making our meals taste somewhat better?" Evi lightly joked.
The chef's eye widened at that before he laughed, slamming his hand on the table good naturedly but also shaking their food and drink. Zel occupied himself with a quick sip of the sofa bottle and immediately found himself savouring the fizzy flavour. Yeah, this place was dangerous. If they kept this up they'd be high and dry on funds before the end of next week!
"I MAY HAVE HELPED THERE, BUT YOU HAVE HER TO THANK FOR EVEN CONSIDERING THE IDEA." He smiled down at his food. "LEARNING TO COOK FOR OTHERS, IT'S A FORM OF LOVE I SAY!"
Zel really wished he hadn't. For as his stomach began to fill from the food, it was also accompanied with a side of guilt with each bite. Looking over at Evi, who already finished her food, he could tell she felt the same judging by her sad stare.
"ALSO, DON'T TELL ANYONE I GAVE YOU THE DRINKS FOR FREE! IT'S A RARE THING TO DO BUT I HAD TO SHOW MY THANKS IN SOME WAY!"
He wanted to argue he could've given the meal for free instead, but actually said, "Why do it at all?"
Jericho chuckled. "I'M JUST GLAD SHE FINALLY FOUND PEOPLE IS ALL." Well, that was a verbal gut punch if Zel ever heard one. "IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE KNOWN HER, SEEING HER THIS HAPPY WAS A WELCOMED CHANGE!"
Zel swallowed as he looked up at him. "You've, uh, known her a long time?"
"I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE SHE WAS YOUR AGE—EVEN YOUNGER!" He smiled, leaning back on the counter, resting the side of his cheek onto his palm. It was like a sense of nostalgia passed through him. "SHE'S CHANGED SO MUCH SINCE. HECK, SHE CHANGED A LOT FROM BEING A LITTLE KID TO A LITTLE TEEN! BUT THIS CHANGE? IT'S ONE I THINK SHE DESERVES THE MOST!" He backed up from the counter and pointed at their drinks, winking despite his eyepatch. "SO THANKS!"
Evi shrugged, wiping her mouth with her glove. "Wouldn't thank us," she mumbled, "We didn't do much."
Jericho laughed once again, slapping his belly as he shook his head. "BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY I COULDN'T IMAGINE JINX SEVERAL YEARS AGO DOING WHAT SHE'S DOING NOW. IF ALL YOU'VE DONE IS BE IN HER LIFE? THEN THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Zel looked to Evi, who looked down at her meal, trying to hide her face. He could see for a second, she had a regretful scowl, but he chose to ignore it for her sake.
"She's difficult, isn't she?" Zel spoke up, mustering a bit of a small smile to make his inquiry seem more lighthearted.
Jericho snorted, nodding in agreement. "BUT DIFFICULT CAN BE GOOD AND BAD SOMETIMES." He shrugged, turning away. "ANYWAYS, YOU KIDS TAKE CARE!" He waved over his shoulder. "AND SAY HI TO JINX FOR ME!"
Zel frowned at that. "Sure, will do," he said as he pushed his empty bowl toward the other side of the counter. He turned to Evi, motioning his head to ask if she wanted to leave.
She nodded, keeping her head low.
And in spite of them enjoying some of the best food they had, they had a bitter taste in their mouths as they left the stand.
—JINX—
SEE? YOU OPENED UP THEM AND THEY LEFT!
THEY'RE SCARED OF YOU!
Jinx tossed her Chomper off the edge of the fan. Five. Four. Three. Two. One…
A big boom echoed out.
"Shuttup," she muttered, lying her back against the floor. She plucked another Chomper off her belt and thumbed around with the pin, letting the bomb roll around in her palm.
YOU SCARE EVERYONE!
OF COURSE THEY'D LEAVE!
She pulled off its pin, holding it for a bit before chucking it. Three. Two. One…
Another boom.
"Stop," she said more firmly. She could do this alone. Just because they're not here doesn't mean the voices suddenly are.
YOU'RE SEFISH!
A LIAR!
She yanked off the pin of the next Chomper, gripping at it fiercely as its mouth chattered. She closed her eyes and threw it. One.
The boom that erupted shook the fan, it was close. Too close. Her eyes widened. It was too close.
"You're not right!" she shouted, sitting upright. "You never have been!" She kicked the belt of Chompers away from her. She scooted herself to the edge, checking to see the damage. The plumes of a chemmed up explosion was dangerously near the fan blade, but wasn't close enough that it looked like it hit anything.
Her heart was pounding.
She stood up and hugged herself. "They've never been real, they've never been right," she repeated to herself quietly, making her way over to the living area. "So why would they be just 'cause I'm… alone again?" her lips quivered as she uttered the last two words.
Alone.
Again.
First time, she destroyed her second family. The second? She gunned down and pushed away the one other person she had left. And now? The people she brought in begged to leave. And it was her fault.
She stopped at the living room table, looking at the empty sight of the couch made her choke back a sob. "What did I do?" she whispered to herself.
The first time, she shouldn't have been there. The second? She put everyone in that situation—she shouldn't have done anything. And now? She lied.
By omission or otherwise, she lied.
What high ground did she have (aside from the mass murders) to accuse Silco of being a liar? To accuse her sister? Vander kept the secret of being in bed with the old old Sheriff and Silco kept the secret of her sister's return, why? To protect the ones they loved.
Yet when Jinx opened her eyes, she could only see emptiness. The ones she wanted to love were gone. Like always. She wanted to sit on the couch, but then she'd be reminded of the nights they shared sleeping and laughing on it. She'd be reminded of all the breakfasts, lunches, and dinners they ate together. Her eyes flew to the dummy set up near the edge and she could still hear Evi's kicks and punches.
She shook her head again, turning back to her workshop. She slowly walked, dragging each step. She tried to keep working, but the second the door closed she couldn't do anything. The music that she once loved was a memory of no longer her father, but the three of them dancing and grooving—enjoying her voice. The workshop was no longer a distraction, but a reminder of the space where they sat and listened to the Zaunite Ring Fights with excited ears or Piltie News to laugh at. It was the space where Zel watched her tinker and more recently used to craft for himself.
She wanted to go to the bathroom, but she knew that would remind her of their scent and the few times they used it to clean themselves. She wanted to go to the fourth wing, but the storage was basically their scavenge grounds for distractions and things to play with. She couldn't even look at the second wing, which she entirely repurposed for them specifically. She learned to cook. Her. The Loose Cannon.
She stopped halfway down the fan blade (she was really walking slow) and kept her head low.
Anywhere she looked, she was reminded of them.
HOW LONG BEFORE THEY'RE VOICES LIKE US?
She didn't kill them, she just hurt them emotionally. "It's not the same," she mumbled.
THEY'LL BE BACK YEARS LATER! JUST TO SHOW THEY REPLACED YOU!
But this time she pushed them away alone, they didn't do anything. "It's not the same," she repeated, violently shaking her head, her braids and bangs flowing everywhere.
LIFE WILL MOVE ON AGAIN! AND YOU'LL STILL BE ALONE!
But this was now. She was left behind the first time and she ran the second. "It's not the same," she said once again.
ONCE A JINX, ALWAYS A—
"They're not Vi!" she shouted, shooting her head up as she stomped her foot. A beat of silence, and it was like the voices had ran away. Her eyes widened as she fell to her knees, nearly landing on the belt of Chompers she kicked away earlier. "They're not Vi," she whispered this time, bringing her hands to her heart.
Just because they wanted to leave, didn't mean they wouldn't come back.
She looked at the gramophone. A song she once made for Silco, had been replaced with new memories. Memories. "How many times had I done that," she softly asked herself. The realization had begun to overwhelm her. She asked Jericho what Vi used to buy her, Sevika what she used to make her as a kid, and talked about Silco like he was a wise mentor.
When did the memories stop hurting?
Jinx didn't know the answer to that, but she did know one thing.
She grabbed her belt of Chompers and stood up, marching toward her workshop table. Evi and Zel weren't Vi, or Silco, or Vander, or Claggor, or Mylo. They were Evi and Zel. She shoved her Chompers into her small pouch and wrapped it around her waist. She couldn't treat them like Vi or Silco or Vander. She grabbed Fishbones and Pow-Pow, slinging them onto her back and shoulders. With one last look to the home she had, which felt more alive than ever in the past month, she stalked off toward the vault door.
And things weren't like they were before.
Because this time, she was going to chase after them and fix it.
—EVI—
"I already wanna take a bath," she admitted aloud.
The unsaid, Well, now we don't have a tub, was deafening.
"I want coffee," Zel replied.
The two laid on a rooftop, or some random building, and stared up at the evening sky. Ever since their brunch with Jericho, they found themselves up that very roof and laid down. The food fatigue may have been at fault, but the weight of guilt chasing them was no doubt the main cause. They just laid there: lying in separate directions but their heads next to each other with only the sack of loot between them. It was an agonizing silence, and honestly, some sniffles and sobs choked out here and there. But neither of them would comment on it.
And just recently, it was Evi who broke the silence, confessing how she missed sitting on the couch. The back and forth their whining was all that filled the silence, neither actually responding to the other's words.
"I… I don't hate Jinx," she suddenly confessed, raising her head up. Zel mirrored her, turning around and sitting cross legged, but looking at her prompting her to go on. "She's crazy, but she's also funny. She's so blunt, but she's also really smart." She shrugged, grabbing the sack and pulling it close to her chest. "She's cool."
Zel chuckled, nodding. "I don't hate her either," he replied. "I… I think we did need to clear our heads. But… but we didn't need to say all that."
Evi bit her lip, then opened her mouth, hesitating with her next words. "She… she killed all her families."
He looked at her with worried eyes. "You're afraid she'd kill us?"
She shook her head as she instantly said, "No!" She lowered her head. "No…" she whispered. "I just… she does hear voices or… did or whatever! But… but she still took care of us."
"She learned to cook for us," Zel pointed out. "Babette could barely let us stay at her place, let alone have a decent bed."
Evi scoffed. "Jericho gave us free drinks, but she made us coffee nearly every single day."
"So she cares for us," he affirmed.
"And… and we hurt her," Evi admitted. "Forgetting all her selfishness, how are we any better? We… she pushed us away, but," she grabbed the bag and lifted it, shaking it around, "she still looked out for us and gave us our stuff back."
Zel chuckled, nodding. "Knowing her, she probably packed it too," he mused.
Evi laughed. "Probably," she said as she opened it and looked in. They didn't exactly count the coins when they left, nor at all recently, but she knew how much they had. But when she paid earlier, she didn't rifle through it. Instinct told her, Just look further. Because the more she thought about it, it felt… different. As she scraped the coins aside, her fingers brushed up against something soft.
But familiar.
Her hand latched on the object and her heart stilled as she pulled it out, already knowing what it was. Evi's lips quivered as she stared at the dot eyed red toy. "Boon," she whispered.
Zel's faint gasp barely registered for her as she squeezed the stuffed toy and pressed her cheek against it. She packed it. Even in all that fury and rage, in all that hurt… Jinx took the toy she gave her and packed it in their bag. The bag Jinx repeatedly told them was theirs.
"E," Zel quietly called out. She lifted her head, and wiped the tears in her eyes. He looked like he had done the same—likely when she wasn't looking just now—but he continued, "Why does tha—Boon, mean so much to you?" He lightly smiled. "I-I've been kinda scared to ask 'cause I thought you'd kick the shit out of me." The two shared a small chuckle before silence returned.
She looked down at the toy and shrugged.
"I dunno," she honestly answered. She thought back to when she saw it, the interest she suddenly invested. "I just thought… I guess it kinda looked cute." She shrugged again, placing Boon on her lap. "I never had toys—I mean you know this—but I just… I'd seen so many thrown out toys in my toddler years. I could never take any of them because they were so worn down and shitty. This one?" She lifted Boon. "They were just strung up, but not ruined in any way. When Jinx gave them to me I just… I thought… I'd like them." She felt her cheeks flush as she chuckled. "I-It doesn't make much sense but—"
"It made you feel safe?"
She shrugged. "In a way… maybe…"
Zel sighed. He uncrossed his legs and stood up, dusting his pants off before extending a hand out to her. She raised a brow. "C'mon."
Her eyes widened as she immediately clocked in on what he was suggesting they do. Without a word, she accepted his hand, stuffing Boon back into the sack before throwing it over her shoulder. As if through a mental connection, the two sprinted off, already making their way over to the nearest tunnel. It was like all the stamina she built up was for this—the chance to run back to where they belonged. It wasn't long before they found one and entered it. The instinct to turn on her headband flashlight was fought back as she recalled Jinx's advice.
But the second they stepped further into the darkness, she heard Zel ask.
"Wait… do you know the way back?"
Shit.
—JINX—
"Whattya mean they were here?"
Jericho shrugged. "EXACTLY THAT! THEY CAME AROUND NOON TIME, HAD A CUTPURSE COMBO EACH—I GAVE THEM SOME POPS ON THE HOUSE—THEN THEY LEFT!" He chuckled good naturedly. "NICE KIDS, BY THE WAY. YOU GOT SOME GOOD ONES!"
Jinx groaned into her palms. "Okay," she said as she removed her hands from her face, "But did they say where they were going?" At Jericho's head shake, Jinx groaned once more, this time louder. "Alright!" she pushed off the counter and pointed at him fiercely. "But the second you see those kids, you tell them I was looking for them and that they can come back!" Murmurs broke out in the crowd but Jinx ignored them, already darting off to her next location.
If Jericho had been one of their first stops, then they likely would've gone somewhere else more familiar. So, that was how she found herself marching through the brothel once again, pushing past gimp suited patrons and all sorts. She didn't care—she was on a mission. She pulled the curtain open, startling Babette mid smoke, but not even caring. "Are they here?" she asked with a stern stare.
Babette flinched. "Wh-What?"
"Evi. Zel," Jinx shouted, "are they here?"
The Yordle shook her head, eyes wide. "They're missing?"
Jinx shook her head. "I pushed them away," she honestly replied. If they're not here… no. What if… what if Sevika lied? Jinx turned back but shouted over her shoulder, "But I'm gonna get them back!"
They couldn't be dead.
They were stronger and smarter than that.
But with Sevika's numbers, maybe… just maybe. And if that was a possibility? Jinx ran straight through the streets of Zaun, shouldering past any Zaunite in her way as she made her way over to the club.
The second she kicked open the doors of The Last Drop, the club goers all gasped in shock as she stepped in, the bodyguards outside tumbling unconsciously after her. The music blasting about was the only thing filling the silence. Jinx scanned around as the standby goons desperately grabbed their guns. Jinx bellowed out, "Sevika!" She spun up Pow-Pow, and shot up the roof, scaring nearly everyone to the floor of the club.
The goons themselves had their guns ready but hid behind tables and chairs, clearly worried to peak out from them.
As she let her gun cool off, Jinx kept it trained up, ready to fire it at the nearest head or gun that looked her way. But then—
"What the fuck do you want now Jinx?" came Sevika's voice, as she descended down the steps. But it happened in a flash, she leaped across and hopped from table to table, and before the ogre could react, Jinx had her pinned against the stair steps. Hand on her throat with her pistol pushing up against the woman's temple. "J… Jinx," she wheezed out.
But Jinx used some of that Shimmer strength to give her throat a squeeze, then shouted, "Anyone tries anything—I snap her neck and blow her brains out." She giggled. "Then maybe I'll level the place with Fishbones, night's still young!"
"Stand… down!" Sevika choked out.
Jinx grinned leaning in close as she asked, "Where are they?"
The woman's eyes widened, instantly piecing together Jinx's inquiry. "They…'re not… with you?"
She growled. "I swear to Janna if you're messing with me—"
"I took… care of it," Sevika rasped out, "Told council… Zaun and Piltover's… that the… bomber was… dealt with."
Jinx's eyes widened as she released her throat. "You… you lied?" she whispered.
Sevika nodded, coughing as she crawled a step up from under Jinx. She rubbed at her throat as she said, "Gave them a, ugh, head of some lackey he screwed me over too many times. It was enough, ugh," she coughed, "to satisfy the Chem-Barons and make the Pilties turn away with disgust. Sheriff was pissed, but," another cough, "they deemed it taken care of."
Jinx scoffed. "No further investigations?"
"Not their jurisdiction," Sevika shrugged. "'Sides, not like the Topside Council would care any further the second an easier solution came up."
Jinx chuckled, stepping back. She wasn't lying. Sevika didn't do that either. "That's what I like 'bout ya Sevikki, you're blunt and real!"
Sevika blinked at her.
"So I know you'll be straight up with me," she asked as she spun her gun around on her finger, "you haven't seen the kids at all today?"
Sevika scoffed, shaking her head. "Lost 'em?"
Jinx frowned. "I will find them."
She smirked, shrugging. "Don't doubt it."
This was a lost cause. She stepped back and holstered her gun, holding her hands up as she walked away, wading through the mob of idiots (smart idiots) who were crouched on the floor in fear. "Oh," she said, stopping at the opened doors. She turned back and smiled. "If you do see those kids," she smirked, "rules still apply." She patted Pow-Pow as she darkly added, "Or else."
Sevika laughed as she stood up, massaging her throat once again. "Believe me, the message was well received, Jinx." She still flipped her off with her mechanical hand, which made Jinx chuckle a bit.
With that, she stepped out with a wave. Despite the smile she had, her face fell as she walked away. She couldn't find them. It was getting late, and though that was when more danger would string out, the two were smart and careful enough to handle themselves. They likely found somewhere to hide out for the night—she couldn't search every little nook and cranny in Zaun. And in spite of all the bravado she demonstrated, she couldn't keep it up all night.
No, she would go again tomorrow.
"I'll find them," she told herself as she leaped across roof to roof, making her way to the tunnels. She wasn't giving up. The worst case scenario? She'd actually search every nook and cranny in Zaun. If it took forever, it wouldn't matter. She'd spent the rest of her life searching if it meant apologizing for being an ass. She made her way into the tunnel, and walked back home.
It would make sense if they wanted to get away from her as far as possible.
Maybe they even ran to Piltover, thinking she'd never go there.
Or maybe they stowed away on a boat to Bilgewater.
Jinx supposed widening her search to all of Runeterra wasn't too bad.
"—I told ya, we're fuckin' lost!"
Her heart stopped. She knew that voice anywhere. Picking up into a sprint, Jinx ran down the tunnel and looked to her right. Sure enough, just down in the middle of one of the many four way intersections of the mining tunnels, was Zel and Evi, sitting in the centre. Their ears picked up on her approach, turning to her direction with alarm and caution before realizing it was her. Their eyes widened.
And before she knew it, they ran at each other.
It honestly could've been argued who reached who first, or who did what first, but Jinx couldn't care less. The next thing she knew, they were in a big embrace, hugging each other in a circle. Jinx carried them both, squeezing them with all her might as they tucked their heads on her shoulder. And, oh… sobbing. The tunnels practically echoed with cries and heaving, as they three stood in the darkness.
They were real.
They were here.
"I'm… I'm so sorry," she whispered. She could feel their heads pull back but she squeezed again. "I-I swear I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you two. I-I'll never lie or keep things from you again, an-and I'll make you guys coffee whenever you ask, or-or cook whatever you want—no, I'll buy you guys Jericho's for every meal, everyday!" She lowered her head, letting her chin bump against their shoulders. "Just… please… give me another chance."
"Jinx," Evi softly said.
She pulled back and set them down, kneeling before them as she looked right at the blonde.
Evi's eyes were… hopeful? Despite the tears that had streamed down them, she smiled as she said, "We tried to come back but—"
"We didn't know the way back," Zel finished, his eyes filled with mirth.
Her own eyes widened at the realization. They… they were gonna come back. All her possibilities in her head, and the one they chose was coming back to her. She choked back a cry as she smiled.
"You were right, it is a big trap." Evi chuckled. Jinx then realized their hands were still on her shoulders, squeezing them reassuringly. They were telling her they weren't leaving.
"We thought we'd die of starvation first before you ever found us aimlessly wandering," Zel mused.
His partner turned to him with a scowl. "So you do admit we were lost."
"Okay, okay," he rolled his eyes, "yes, we were lost."
Jinx laughed at that, the two looked at her and smiled. Her laughter died down, as she felt uncomfortable with their looks for a moment. No… this… it was a bit too easy. She wasn't done here. She had more to say. And yet, the way they stared at her, the way they held her, the way they just were there right before her eyes: she just felt like her life was better once again. Those smiles were all she needed.
She lowered her head and took a breath, then met their gazes. But she still had to ask…
"I… are you guys… scared of me?"
The beat of silence that hung as the two exchanged a quick glance made her freeze with bated breath.
"Of course we are!" the young girl remarked with a laugh.
She flinched at that, closing her eyes. Of course they—
"But that doesn't mean we don't want to stay with you," Evi finished. "Your… voices don't scare us."
She opened her eyes, and found them chuckling. She loved the sound of their laughter, for however quiet or brief it could be.
"I mean, sure, you're crazy but you're also crazy cool," Zel chimed in.
Jinx laughed at that, feeling her heart swarm with warmth.
"You are scary… but we also feel safer with you," he softly said.
"Voices can go screw themselves," Evi said with a smirk, "we'll be more annoying than them anyways."
"I mean, I gotta get my bomb advice from somebody," Zel teased.
"And I expect ya to show me how to handle someone twice my size like ya promised!" Evi tacked on.
Jinx giggled, bringing them in for one last embrace.
They weren't scared of her, but they found her scary. They still wanted to stay with her. They wanted to be with her. She pulled back and frowned at them. Still, they had their own wants. And even though she could fulfill her promises and bring them whatever they wanted, the thought of what caused this reunion pricked her brain. She smiled at them reassuringly as she placed her hands on their shoulders, glazing to their eyes with a serious face.
"You're not prisoners. I'm… I'm not forcing ya to come back. You can stay for a night, then leave, or-or just come back to just use my bed!" Jinx laughed, shrugging with a nonchalant attitude. It was easy to say this. Because it was the truth—she'd let them have anything. "You don't have to stay with me. You can come whenever you guys want an-and you guys can leave whenever ya want!" She squeezed their shoulders and smiled warmly at them. "I promise."
They shared another glance at each other before chuckling, shaking their heads.
"Thanks but… I don't think we'll be leaving as much as you think," Zel sheepishly admitted, shrugging himself.
"Yeah," Evi nodded, "I mean, some air would be great every now and then but… I think I'm happy where we are."
She cocked her head and smirked. "Whelp, in that case," she shot up on her feet and crossed her arms, "then I guess I'll keep ya guys forever!" she teaesd, punctuating her joke by sticking her tongue out at them. The two laughed, stepping aside for her—they wanted her to lead the way.
"Well?" Zel prompted her.
"We're waiting," Evi chimed in.
But together, they said, "Take us home."
The smile that grew on Jinx's lips was probably the biggest smile she's ever had. The second the last word came out, everything Jinx thought about today just melted away. What she had right before her? That was all that mattered. And she fight her damndest to maintain it—in accordance to their wishes—every single day. She chuckled, stepping forward, wrapping her arms around them as she pulled them alone. "Gladly, brats!" She tugged them close to her as she moved along, swaying them toward the correct direction at the intersection. "Though I will say, if you two are going to keep going in and out, I'll only let you go once you memorize the tunnels a bit more."
The two shrugged against her sides.
"Seems fair," Zel admitted.
"Yeah, we can start tomorrow!" Evi suggested.
Jinx grinned. "Sure! The sooner we start? The sooner you two can be free birds!" She chuckled. "And I promise, you still are free birdy brats." The three of them shared a brief laugh as they walked through the tunnel. "Consider that another promise being kept," she added, half serious and joking.
"That's a lot of promises," Zel mused.
"Eh, I'll do my best to keep 'em. Requests and all," she honestly replied.
Evi raised a finger. "Actually there is one thing I'd like to request."
Her eyes lit up at that. "Name it, Lil' Urchin!"
"Can we please get a damn clock?"
Jinx snorted, throwing her head back in laughter as she turned them to another corner. Ah, Hell. "Fine fine," she conceded, "but I still wanna make it."
As Evi pumped her fist in joy, Zel asked, "Can… can I help you?"
Jinx smiled. "Of course, Rookie, you can help."
A/N: …but in the end, communication wins true! But so does a healthy mindset! I know it was a bit cliché to write, this whole miscommunication of feelings and such, which is why I tried to keep it briefly contained in one chapter and not make it drag on any longer than it needed to. I know it seems like I hurried it along, but I swear the pacing of this chapter was what I had mapped out from when I first thought it up. I wanted to also demonstrate that the kids AND Jinx were smart enough to think on their own feelings.
Jinx confessing to the kids about her past was something I had planned since like, chapter 5? But I kept pushing it further because of pacing for two things: the sense of conflict but also the WEIGHT of that conflict. Like, this chapter's whole issue feels more personal and heavy because of the added tension with Jinx's admission of well... everything. And it was a great avenue to segue into her own POV and handle her psyche a bit, evidently realizing she has to trust them if she truly loves them.
The kids on the other hand? It's like quarantine, they spent a good while being cooped up and were definitely itching to leave, but wanting space from Jinx is an understandable thing in order to recoup. Of course, neither of them really wanted to hurt the other during the argument, but their time outside was a great way to re-expose them back to the surroundings they knew but also remind them they had it good with Jinx. The best way I could describe it, is that it's like how some kids cry and yell at their parents that they're gonna run away. But later return because they didn't actually mean to, but actually just needed space.
In all honesty, this chapter was hard to write because I didn't want to make the conflict SEEM artificial but also didn't want it to feel like I just half-assed this. I poured a lot of passion into this one, and simultaneously as I struggled with this, some personal family issues came up and this chapter hit a bit to close too home. There's nothing to psychoanalyze here because nothing that happened in this chap actually happened to me IRL, it's just the issue of family fighting because of miscommunication is all-life imitated art and it made me uncomfortable to write. So it's not an excuse for the delays but just an explanation.
Personal stuff aside, I hope you were still enjoy this chapter to some extent. From here on, the wholesomeness continues and is ensured-some conflicts will emerge, but I assure you I still want this fic to be fun. I will say for a FACT, this series is going to go to 20 chapters. After that? Maybe some spinoff oneshots here and there. In the end, I hope you all stick with me, delays and all. And thanks to those of you who've been patient and kind, I really appreciate it.
And hey, if you DID have something you didn't like, or just anything close to that, feel free to say it! Any comments are welcome, I ain't holding it against you if this chap wasn't something you liked. ( ^‿^)
Next chapter update: [EDiT] August 25th!
Stay safe and stay lovely y'all.
Until next time,
- Bleh