A year and a half later and here I am, staring at this fic when I remember how much I love this pairing. Spanking the plot bunnies into action, I have decided to go back into gear on this fic. More to come soon, keep your fingers crossed!

Jinx easily scaled the wall in front of her, leaping from the top to the roof of the small building behind it. Then, at the most crucial part of her plan, her concentration wavered. Images of the cute girl she had met last night flitted about her thoughts uncontested.

Until the sirens went off. She had been spotted.

Stomping her foot, she jumped and slid back down the wall, turning to storm off down the ally when a yellow-red blur stopped in front of her, smiling. "That's three times you've been spotted today. Something on your mind?" Kid Flash asked, his voice laced with concern, but more so with amusement.

Jinx sighed, sliding to sit with her back to the ally wall. "You could say that. It's been a funny couple of days, you know?" She peeked one eye up at him to gauge his reaction, and she didn't like what she saw. The cocky, self-confident grin plastered on his face told her exactly what was on his mind, that he thought he was the distraction that was messing with her day.

A brick that had been coming loose from its mortar over the past year just happened to choose that particular moment to fall… right onto Kid Flash's head.

When Jinx was confident he was really unconscious she set out again, deciding to give up on the criminal thing… at least for today. It's not like she was having any luck with it anyway. Making her way back to the empty apartment she had been using, she mentally ran through her funds. No longer having access to H.I.V.E. resources meant she would have to rely on the cash she had stashed in hide-aways around the city. Which really hadn't been much to begin with, mostly just cases with a couple hundred dollars each. Unfortunately, she would need to buy new clothes, a place to live, and food for herself.

With the realization of how expensive living really was, Jinx began to question her motives for leaving everything behind. "One step at a time, girl…" she muttered to herself, deciding to go relax at her favourite coffee shop for a bit, maybe grab a bite to eat before she tried to make any more permanent decisions.

When the school bell rang that day at 3:30, Tara was more than a little disappointed. She had no real parents in Jump, and the owner of the apartment she had been using would figure out sooner or later that someone was using it to wash up each night.

Depressed, she declined Sam's offer to hit the library. Wandering down downtown Jump, she wondered if maybe it was time to move on again. This sedimentary life wasn't for her, she needed to get away… even if only for awhile.

It was along this line of thought she immersed in when Tara walked right into someone. Someone with long bubble-gum pink hair. The blonde immediately ran her mouth through a slew of apologies, blushing furiously for not paying attention to where she had been going.

Jinx couldn't help but laugh, taking the stammering blonde's hand and guiding her into the coffee-shop she had been about to enter. Tara didn't realize what was going on at first, until after the older girl had placed her own order and turned to ask her if she wanted something. Blue eyes met pink, and memories from last night clicked into place. She couldn't believe how different Jinx looked out of costume, she was gorgeous.

Wait, gorgeous? Did I really just think that?

"Miss, are you going to get something or not?" the cashier asked impatiently, and only then did Tara remember where she was. Everyone in line behind her was staring, as was the woman behind the counter. Jinx could barely hold her giggles in check.

"I, uhh… I'll have… just some juice please." She finally managed to stammer out. Jinx put some money on the counter and grabbed her coffee and the muffin she had ordered, and went to sit down at one of the comfy leather chairs tucked away in the back by the bookcases. Tara grabbed the bottle she had been handed and quickly moved to follow, still quite red in the face. Why was she even here? She was simply minding her own business and then out of the blue…

"Sorry if I embarrassed you, but the look on your face was adorable." Jinx said with an almost predatory grin. The pink-haired teen had her hair loose, spilling down her shoulders beautifully. Along with the black belly-shirt and jeans, she looked almost like a completely different person.

"It's no big deal, I guess. Thanks for the juice." There we go, act normal, don't think about how cute she is in that shirt, or how she… dammit.

"Like what you see?" Jinx asked playfully when she noticed the girl was still staring at her. Despite her playful attitude, however, Jinx was battling fiercely within her own head about why the answer to that question was suddenly so important to her. About why her heart had soared when she had seen Tara walking down the street toward her with her head in the clouds. About why she had 'accidentally' bumped into the girl just to feel some contact with her.

At nearly the exact same moment, both of the teens noted that it was more than a little strange how fast this strange attraction was pulling them together.

Jinx was the first to break the suddenly very awkward silence. "So, uh… how's school?" she said, gesturing lamely toward Tara's backpack. The blonde, more than happy to oblidge the sudden topic change, nodded softly.

"It's good, umm… boring, but I guess school is supposed to be, right?" Tara murmured, still a little nervous even though she couldn't understand why. She had always believed herself the pillar of self-confidence… aside from matters concerning her powers, anyway.

"I suppose so. Mine got blown up a couple times, so I haven't been there in a while. Might have to go back, though. Not sure I can afford to live out here on my own." Jinx said, smiling softly. Maybe if she could bounce some ideas off her new friend, she'd get an answer she hadn't thought of on her own.

Tara snorted. "Tell me about it. I've been here a couple months and I can tell you trying to find a decently priced apartment is ridiculous." She laughed softly, relaxing a little easier the more she spoke. Like they were old friends catching up.

"Jinx tilted her head curiously, an idea springing into her head unbidden. "So… you're between homes?" she asked, trying to keep her mischievous grin off her face for fear of scaring the girl in front of her.

Tara hesitated for a moment, but nodded. "My parents are… well, not here." She confided.

Jinx rubbed her hands together, smiling. "Well, we could maybe manage a place if we pooled our resources. Whadda'ya say?" She tried not to get her hopes up to high, but it just seemed like the perfect idea. Tara, on the other hand, was a little perturbed.

"…We just met yesterday. We barely know anything about each other. In fact, all I know is your name, and the fact that you're a rather well known criminal… and you want to move in together?"

Jinx grinned her Cheshire grin and rather sarcastically replied. "I also cook."

On a quiet rooftop across the street, the cloaked figure smiled beneath their mask. To close, they had almost pushed the girls to fast. The friendship had to come naturally or they would suspect.

It was a small matter.

Tenebrae was patient.