"I've told you I love you, but I don't recall saying I trust you," Ekko quipped as he blindly followed Jinx by holding onto her arm.

Sighing, Jinx stopped and Ekko bumped into her. "First, you have told me that. Many times. Second, what nefarious schemes do you think I have planned? Lead you off a cliff? Take you somewhere and force myself upon you?"

Ekko chortled. "You were the one to talk about blindfold kinks in the past."

"Ah, but that's why I used a bag instead. Now, shut up and let me show you how much I adore you, bozo." She resumed walking and he followed in silence.

They soon stopped again. "There's a theme with these three. Here's the first."

She walked behind him and slid her hands up his forearms and triceps before pulling off the bag. He blinked in the light before his pupils adjusted enough to make out the vehicle in front him.

"You remade the monocycle!" he exclaimed. Though remade is an understatement. The vehicle was well over twice as long and about four times wider. It had four seats. The exterior was a familiar neon green color while the interior was white, gray, and black..

"A lot of the little ones helped, especially Witloof, Tapir, and Isha. They volunteered and since hextech training is restricted and they're not ready for your timey-wimey stuff, I looked back at what we did as kids. I made a modified version of Heimerdinger's shield device to protect the vehicle. And it can go through the Armadillo and the hextech shield automatically. Since it can move on land, water, and air, I call it the Duck."

Ekko had walked to the Duck and started looking over its controls and feeling its materials. What a project? It's sleek but still distinctively Zaun. "This is a lot. It will be useful–Jinx, wow!" He interrupted himself when he turned and saw her.

Since the start of the war, she had gradually expanded her wardrobe to conventional Firelight clothes and a techno pirate ensemble that some younger Zaunites were emulating, but Ekko didn't get.

Now, Jinx wore a headband with a big feather in the center, a large beaded necklace, and a dress that matched her light blue eyes. Coordinating violet gloves, stockings, and shoes completed the look. "You look like the cat's pajamas."

Blushing a bit, Jinx checked her absent shoelaces. "I'm a bad influence on you. You wouldn't have said that a year ago."

"I wish I had dressed sharper, especially if we're going somewhere…" he added, turning his attention momentarily back to the new monocycle. Maybe this would be a good time to ask her?

Her finger waved. "Tssk. Tssk. No guessing. It's yours and you can take it for a spin later, but part two is smaller and nearby. So…" she picked up the bag and twirled it a little.

Ekko sighed. "And I'm the sex fiend."

She put on him and patted his back. "Glad you've finally admitted it. Take my hand."

He did and they made the short trip to the workshop. "And, viola!" She yanked the bag off. Ekko saw what was on the table and tilted his head in confusion.

"A gun? Original."

Jinx rolled her eyes. "I thought you'd say that. It's not just a gun. I've created a projectile version of the tasers that you made for the watchers. I modeled after my pistol, but this one only sends shock bolts that will stun its targets. I was thinking "the Eel." She was losing enthusiasm. "You still don't like it?"

Ekko had been studying it, but he must have looked blasé. "It's interesting, but… I'd feel better if you had this zapper."

Looking aside and then down, Jinx sucked air through her teeth. "You don't have to spare my feelings, Little Man. I can handle you hating a gift from me."

He set down the Eel and placed his fingers on her face as gently as he would a baby bird and titled it up so their eyes met. "Freckles, I'm being sincere. It's an advance and it'd be useful, but I want you to have it so you'll be safe. Because having a less lethal weapon available would be better for you."

Her eyes were still watery, but she nodded and nuzzled her forehead against his again. "Would you take my regular pistol then?"

"Yes, but that one is hardly regular either. You'll have to teach me to shoot better."

That brought a grin to Jinx's face. "You're a pretty lousy shot. I'd beat you in dodge paintball with you as the shooter easily." She traded her pistol for the Eel. "Sorry for making you be the comforter yet again. I meant for this to be a gift for you instead of more work."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "You shouldn't see yourself or let Mylo convince you that you're just a taker. You've given so much to Zaun, friends, family, and to me. Besides," he said and put on that smirk that he knew she relished wiping off, "I knew the job was dangerous when I took it."

"Oh?" she asked, opting to play. "Well, it's not too late for you to find someone more your type."

Ekko tilted his head. Is she talking about the women before her? Not the funniest of stories there. "Which is what?"

"Tall. More curves than a conch shell. Minimal maintenance," she claimed.

"Dusky. Calm. Dimmer than the sumps," he added as he figured out the new game.

"Obedient. Sexually experienced."

"Pliable. Quiet as a mouse."

"Saner than you," she finished with an ambivalent expression.

"Imperfect to me," he said and kissed her again, this time on her lips and lingering. "But what's your type, Freckles?"

She shrugged and smiled again. "Beggars blah-blah choosers b-blah-blah."

He returned her smile, "You aren't going to do your song, are you? I should get one."

"Hmm. Maybe I could get that for your birthday. Oh, the last present. And I'm not letting you Piltie Swap this one," she warned. She tossed the bag at him and he donned it. It was another short walk for them to the hall. Ekko recognized it from the destination and the door.

Jinx put her hands on the bag. "Alley-oop!" She pulled it off, but Ekko still couldn't see much.

"Is there a light out or do–"

"Tut-tut. Give me a few seconds," she pressed a button and soon firelights started appearing. First about ten, then twenty, then a small swarm. Ekko watched as some gathered around makeshift chandeliers and others to candlesticks placed around the table. He was just far back enough to deduce the candlestick ones formed the points of the Zaunite hourglass.

Looking back at her in admiration, his left hand rested on the small box in his pocket. "Pheromones? You always impress me."

Her face redden. "Like a Noxian admiral. Hungry?"

He saw the table had a wide assortment of their favorite food, most of it in small portions. Towards the end, there was a lidded platter. It lay where the two full chairs and dining ware faced each other. Small stools crowded both sides down to its end with small plates and cups.

"I'm guessing Cedar Planked Salmon from Jericho's," he said pointing to the plate. Probably another invention.

"Eh, Jericho is better with his fast service than his slower food." She approached the platter. "Besides, this should be more special." A hint of vapor escaped the lid as she twisted it a little and lifted before pulling it off the full way. "Ta da!"

Blinking, Ekko turned to her in surprise. "Elline?" It has all the hallmarks. The cake alluring aroma that could only be made by a culinary master. It was blemish free and had a honey and candied nuts glazing.

Jinx nodded enthusiastically, enjoying her significant other's surprise. "When I told her what it was for she offered a discount, but I insisted on paying the full price. So… did you riddle out the theme?"

He had been too busy preparing his plate to think about that. Monocycle, zapper, and elaborate firelight dinner. Power? Energy? Safety? He glanced at her for a subtle hint, but her lips twitched in mild disappointment. Travel? Hierarchy of needs?

Sighing, Jinx started preparing her own plate. Once she was at the fruit, she started to recite "I am fast to some, slow to others. I will take both children and their mothers. I never stop, not even for a toll, but in the end I don't have a destination at all."

Ekko tapped his forehead. "Of course, time. The monocycle was the past, the zapper the present, and the dinner the future." He looked into her eyes. "The girl who made time. Though technically, it–"

"Nope. You don't get to space-time talk at the table when you failed to guess it," she admonished.

Fair enough. "Idiot genius, like you say. It's wonderful, Jinx. A thousand thank yous." Now?

"You haven't even had the food yet. Maybe I used too little poison?"

Walking behind her, he enveloped her slowly. She cooed as his fingers caressed her stomach and his lips touched her shoulders. "I'm sure you got it right," he whispered into her ear.

She makes the dress look so gorgeous. He felt himself stiffening and used kisses on the side of neck as a pretense for backing away a little

"You know, we could put off the meal…" Jinx suggested. She turned her head and brought her lips to meet his eagerly. They kept the kiss going longer than usual, their tongues happy to travel into the other's mouth again.

Knock. Knock. The pounding came from the large door. "Jinx? Ekko?"

"Buzz off, bug!" Jinx shouted close to her paramour's ear.

"Urgent, sorry to say," the voice replied. It sounded like Eve.

Jinx broke the embrace and her eyes went to his. "I take it back. It's best that you gave me the Eel." She moved to pick up, but Ekko took her hand.

"Let's hear the news first, before knocking out friends."

With a sigh, she set it down and nodded. The couple reluctantly opened the door to Eve.

"Sorry," Eve repeated, though her expression seemed mixed. "But there's a message about Silco."

Jinx made a "come on" gesture without patience.

"There was the younger brother of someone who overdosed on shimmer. Silco was sitting by the Vander Statue when he stabbed him."

Blinking, Jinx looked more perplexed than worried. Ekko frowned, recognizing the tone and pacing of bad news delivery.

"The blade was coated with an unknown poison."

"No." Jinx was shaking her head as if rejecting the message more than responding to it. "No."

"It looks grim," Eve swallowed and let her process a moment longer. "He is dying."