Sucker

Jinx pulled Ekko's jacket closer, clenching it in her hands and snuggling it around her neck. She closed her eyes and breathed in, grazing her lips on the fabric. The memory of their first kiss invaded her mind, and it felt like a hand had wrapped tightly around her heart, squeezing it with uncomfortable pressure.

His scent reminded her of home. Not here—but the place where she had been truly loved. In a universe where everything was different, at least this remained a constant. She lingered in the moment, savoring the fleeting stillness it brought to her chaotic mind.

She heard Ekko moving on the bed and quickly pretended to be just waking up, too.

"Good morning." His voice was soft, his eyes still hazy but already observing her. "Did you sleep better? After… after the—"

"Yes." She cut him off abruptly. "You?"

"Yeah, me too." Even though his expression didn't waver, his tone betrayed him.

Ekko stood, and Jinx immediately avoided him again.

"So," she said sharply, her eyes flicking to the ceiling. "Am I staying locked up in here again, or can I go out for breakfast today?"

"What?" Ekko's brows knitted together as he tilted his head in confusion. "You're not locked up! Where's this coming from?" His voice held a note of outrage.

"I don't know." She replied, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Maybe because I haven't left this room since we got here?" She pinched her lips. "Pretty obvious."

"What's pretty obvious?!" He snapped back.

"That you're hiding me." She shot back, her response ready on the tip of her tongue.

Ekko reeled, caught by surprise. "I… I'm not… It's just—"

"Obvious." She interrupted again, throwing off the covers and getting out of bed.

"It's not!" Frustration tinged Ekko's voice, his irritation growing.

"Well, then." She said coolly, raising an eyebrow as her lips curved downward. "Let's go then." Her voice was flat as she bent down to tie her boots, not sparing him a glance.

"Jeez! Can I at least use the bathroom first?"

"Yeah." She muttered, already at the door. "I'll be waiting out here." She simply couldn't wait anymore. That room felt smaller with each passing minute. She stepped out without even waiting for his reply, leaving him standing there.

The fresh air that greeted her seemed to help. For a few seconds, at least. Until she saw everybody down below and realized that leaving the room meant facing people. People who thought she was a monster.

A freak.

Jinx shook her head sharply, trying to shove the voices away. She'd always had this side of her that would falter like a table with uneven legs—even as Powder. But as Jinx, the voices were relentless, clawing at her with every breath.

She thought of Vander, of the help she'd found back home. She'd learned to manage the volatile mood swings then, the sudden waves of irritability that forced her to withdraw until they passed. But now, it seemed everything overwhelmed her—and there was nowhere to hide.

Placing her hands on the railing, she rested her body against the cold metal, grounding herself. The smell of grass mingled with the enticing scent of food wafting through the air. Her stomach growled loudly, breaking through the chaos in her mind. She tilted her head, trying to find the source of the heavenly aroma, when a shimmering leaf drifted down from above.

It seemed to gleam with the same defects as the one in Ekko's notebook. She leaned over the railing, stretching her fingers toward it as it floated just out of reach.

"Jinx!" Ekko's voice cracked with panic as he grabbed the back of her shirt, yanking her upright.

"Sheesh! Relax, Ekko." He'd startled her, but she tried to present calm. "I'm not going to off myself."

"That's not funny." He snapped, his tone sharp with distress. "I thought you were about to fall."

She shrugged. "Was just looking at something."

"Okay…" She couldn't quite understand what his tone meant, but he looked somewhat annoyed.

Ekko took a steady, deep breath before taking a step further and reaching for her hand. "Let's go grab breakfast."

Instinctively, she yanked her hand back as if he had leprosy.

Confused and staring at her, Ekko took a moment before he gathered the courage to speak. "I think we need to talk."

"Why?" Her tone was casual, evasive.

"You're acting weird."

"Am not." She said lightly, feigning innocence.

"Jinx!"

"Ekko!"

He rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Now you're just being childish."

His words annoyed her so much that she had to bite her lip to avoid punching him.

"I know I have no idea what you're going through." Ekko dropped his gaze to his feet. "But you're pulling away from me." His voice softened as he pleaded. "Don't."

It almost disarmed her. But she could still hear him in his head. She was a walking ghost for him.

"I'm not."

"Jinx…" His voice was quieter now, aching. "Talk to me."

"I don't know what you want to hear."

"Maybe the truth?!" His voice rose, edged with raw frustration.

"Oh! That's rich!" She shot back, her anger flaring.

"Huh?" He looked puzzled, his eyes narrowing.

"Nothing." She replied, turning her back to him, ready to storm off. She wanted to speak the words—so badly. But at the same time, she was afraid of what she would learn.

Ekko grabbed her arm, pulling her close. "Stop with the charades." His voice was harsh, his cheeks red with anger. "I thought we were past this."

"So did I!" It was too late now. The words were spilling. "I heard you. Get it?! I heard you." Her voice was loud, her eyes wide with emotion.

"What do you mean?" Ekko clenched his fists tightly.

"With Scar!" Jinx's voice shook, her eyes shining with hurt. "You only see the people I killed when you look at me." The words finally escaped her mouth, loosening a rope around her neck.

Ekko stood incredulous for a moment. Then, his expression softened, shame spreading across his face along with something else—something she couldn't quite decipher. He looked down before he spoke. "It's not… I didn't mean it like that…"

"Not a lot of ways to mean it." Her voice was rough with heartache. The invisible rope had left its bruises.

"You know that's not the truth." He murmured.

She clenched her jaw to stop her eyes from watering. "Look, Ekko. It's okay. It's the truth." She forced her voice steady, ignoring the lump in her throat. "That's all you see. It's fine."

"That's not—"

"You tried." She cut him off again. "That's all you promised. It's—"

"You really believe that?" This time, it was Ekko who interrupted her, his voice sharp, his brow furrowing. "After everything?"

"It's the truth." She said with a shrug, her voice hollow. She gestured at the space between them. "Maybe this was a mistake."

"What the fuck, Jinx?" His voice was hoarse. "I can't believe you." Ekko turned sideways, grasping the railing until his knuckles turned white.

Jinx didn't know what to say. Had she misunderstood the conversation?

Facts are facts.

She did hear it.

Didn't I?

Staring at his people below, his eyes shined with hurt, revealing a fresh wound. "I thought you knew..." His voice was barely a whisper. "I thought it was clear. But if it's not… then I don't know what we're doing."

Ekko paused again, collecting his thoughts. The silence felt suffocating even though a soft breeze frolicked around them.

He shifted his gaze to hers, meeting her eyes with sorrow. "I see many things when I look at you. The past doesn't just disappear." He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling heavily. "But if you really believe that's all I see…" He shifted his gaze again to the horizon. "It's best if we take a step back. Maybe we were rushing things. Maybe… you're right." The hurt in his voice was palpable. Did she just cause that wound? Seeing him like that… made her feel as if they were sharing the same injury.

She reached for his hand, but now it was his turn to pull away from her. Shame washed over her as she withdrew, clutching her own fingers tightly.

"I… I don't know what I did wrong." She mumbled.

Ekko sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. "You did nothing wrong."

"You said—"

"We both said things." He interrupted, gently yet drained. "But maybe, while we're trying to see the good… maybe we should give each other space to find it first." Ekko gave her a half-smile that didn't reach his weary eyes.

Somehow, she felt like she was the one who had wronged him.

But he's the one who only sees the bad!

"Look, we're fine. Okay?"

This doesn't feel fine.

He could see her spiraling, fears gathering around her like flies on a rotten piece of fruit.

"I'm still here." He said softly, reaching for her hand and holding it gently. "You're still welcome. I'll help you."

"I don't need your pity." She eyed him with visceral indignation.

"It's not pity." His voice was kind. "It's friendship, Pow."

Her anger faltered for a moment, replaced by an ache she knew well by now.

"Let's go." He said, grabbing his hoverboard and taking her hand again, this time leading her forward.