Ekko POV

By the time the droplets made their way from the skies above Piltover whenever it rained, the thick layers of smog and burning street fires made by homeless people trying to keep warm, it was unpleasant on the skin. The puddles on the ground were murky and began to smell once it got into your shoe. Most ran for cover from the pelting, relentless rain, but Ekko kept his hood up and just kept walking forward.

That's probably why he was the only one who noticed a hunched figure in the alleyway. From the way the person was cradling their arm as they moved, hissing into the darkness whenever it jostled, Ekko knew they were injured. The figure eventually slumped against the metal wall with a defeated sigh, probably intending on sleeping on the ground. It wasn't a particularly narrow space, but it also wasn't a main thoroughfare. Whoever the figure was using the alley as shelter and probably assumed it was a safe spot to lay low.

Ekko eased into the alleyway, approaching the figure with caution. "Hey. Do you need help getting somewhere?"

"Leave me alone," murmured the figure.

The girl's voice gnawed at something in the back of Ekko's mind. He crouched down a good few feet away, not wanting to give the girl a reason to attack out of self-preservation. Ekko had seen enough people in the same condition - had helped those people - and knew that getting too close, too quickly could make them scared.

"I just want to help." He leaned to the left slightly, attempting to catch a glimpse of the figure's face in the darkness. "If you have no place to go, then maybe you can come with me? There's a place where -."

A glint of light on the metal barrel of a gun, the loud clicking of the safety being flicked off, the sudden realisation that he was the perfect target crouched in an alleyway. Ekko stared at the gun pointed right in his face before his eyes zeroed in on the person aiming it.

Jinx sat up a little straighter as recognition dawned on her face. She kept one arm cradled to her chest while keeping him at arm's length with the gun in her other hand. Rain smeared the dark makeup around her eyes, though Ekko assumed some of it was from her own tears. Her purple eyes were rimmed with red and there was a noticeable sadness in her expression.

"I don't want your help," she told him before lowering the gun and turning away.

Ekko rose to his full height and took a few steps backwards. He should leave her here to the elements, let whatever injury she has grow worse in the hopes it would kill her. Maybe someone else would notice her here and finally finish her off. After all, there weren't many in Zaun who she hasn't fucked over. It's what she deserves after everything she's done as Silco's lapdog.

As his indecisiveness battled within his body, Jinx gave a soft cry of pain as she attempted to stand up. Her gun clattered onto the uneven stones, and she slumped back onto the ground. He watched as she curled into a ball, keeping her injured arm close and burying her head against her knees.

Knowing he'd regret it, Ekko moved towards her, kicking the gun away so she couldn't make a grab for it again. He bent down and yanked her good arm around his shoulders before securing her knees under his arm. He wrapped his other arm around her back and lifted her off of the cold ground.

Jinx kicked her legs while exclaiming, "What are you doing?"

"Probably something I'll regret," he grunted in response.

He immediately noticed how light she was in his arms; how thin and small she seemed. Though he'd heard of all the things she'd done and seen the aftermath of some of her homemade gadgets, it had been some years since he'd actually seen her with his own eyes. Ekko had expected her to be taller; a frightening force to be reckoned with, someone you would avoid walking past at night.

Eventually accepting her fate, knowing she was weaponless and injured, Jinx stopped moving around. Her large eyes bore into the side of his head, but Ekko refused to take his eyes off of the street ahead.

"It's been some time, huh? How'd you find me?"

"I wasn't looking for you, if that's what you're thinking." He paused before crossing the street into another alleyway, wanting the safety of the narrow walkways and darkness to hide Jinx from anyone who'd recognise her.

"No, of course not. Do you usually approach any street rat?"

"What happened to you?" He caught a glimpse of her pained expression before she turned away from him. Ekko sighed and tried to keep the conversation going. "I didn't mean… I just meant with your arm."

"Oh." Jinx went silent for a short while, probably debating on whether she should tell him the truth or not. He doubted he would be able to believe much of what she'd say either way. "A job gone wrong. Bit off more than I could chew with this one, I guess. It's just discloca - ow!"

Her head snapped back as her braids caught on a broken pipe sticking out of the wall. Jinx would've fallen to the ground if Ekko hadn't tightened his grip, causing her to cry out again as he pressed on her dislocated arm.

"Okay, here," he said as he settled her onto the ground. Ekko carefully unwrapped one of her long braids from the pipe. The bottom of them were both wet and covered in mud, having been dragged along the ground as he carried her. "This won't work with me carrying you the entire way."

"I don't even know what you're trying to achieve."

"You're injured, Pow - Jinx." He quickly cursed himself for almost slipping up.

Jinx stared up at him with open vulnerability before she shook her head, eyes returning to their usual calculated trickery. "You got some kind of God complex?"

"Something like that," he chuckled.

They sat in silence for a long time, neither of them willing to be the first to speak. Rain drenched the both of them and drowned out the sound of drunkards on the street. It felt oddly right sitting beside Jinx despite who she was now - what she's become. Ekko saw that murderous, crazed glint in her eyes and the way she kept her mask in place against the world, but hidden beneath all that he was positive Powder was still there.

"What?" Jinx asked out of the blue, breaking Ekko from his thoughts.

He shook his head and turned away. "Nothing."

"Well, if you're not gonna carry me for this kidnapping, at least help set my arm."

"Kidnap?" Ekko shot back in surprise.

She gave a soft laugh, though it sounded too forced to be natural. Propping her bad shoulder against the wall, Jinx glanced over to him with one raised eyebrow. There was a slight tremble to her body, but it could've been from the pain or the slight chill in the air due to the rain.

He stood up and approached her. "Are you sure?"

"Nope!" Jinx grinned up at him before turning away to hide whatever emotion was stirring in her eyes.

Ekko gripped her good shoulder and the nape of her neck, and she angled her dislocated shoulder against the hard wall, making sure it was in the perfect position to pop back into place. Her skin was cool to the touch and he immediately knew her trembling was due to the cold.

"On the count of three?"

Jinx nodded, softly replying, "Sure."

"One -."

With a loud crack, the ball of Jinx's shoulder shifted back into its socket. She let out a small scream as she leaned forward, placing her forehead on the ground, holding her arm to her chest.

"Fuck," she exhaled.

"Are you -." Ekko stopped speaking when she started laughing, her entire body shaking with the effort. "Uh… Jinx?"

Lightening quick, her leg snaked out to swipe Ekko's out from underneath himself. He hit the hard ground with a grunt and barely sat up before she was on him. The two of them struggled with one another until Jinx managed to pin one of his arms under her boot, gripping his other arm in a vice-like grasp, hovering above him. She favoured her injured arm, but it was clear in that moment just how strong she truly was.

Glowing purple eyes smiled down at him as her expression twisted into something sinister. "What did you think was going to happen? That I'd go with you? Long lost friends, rejoined at last!"

"I only wanted to help!"

"Then where the hell have you been for the last few years? I know you've heard about me." She grinded her boot into his arm and seemed to relish in the pain it caused him. "I know you've heard of the things I've done."

"Powder, stop," he grunted between his teeth as a sharp pain shot down his arm.

She blinked rapidly as the glow in her eyes dimmed, easing back slightly. That was all the opening Ekko needed to spring up and grab her around the waist, flinging her onto her back. Jinx shouted in anger as she struggled against his chest, but he kept her pressed against the wet ground, pinned by her wrists.

"Let me go!" She screamed up at him, fresh tears in her eyes.

"There's no way I'm underestimating you again," he told her with venom in his voice. "And there is no fucking way I'm letting you crawl back to Silco."

Jinx went still underneath him, true panic crossing her features. "Wait, what're you going -."

Ekko slammed his fist against her cheek with enough force to knock her out. The last thing he wanted to do was pummel her until she fell unconscious. Jinx was already bruised and beaten enough without him adding to her injuries.

The strength in her body disappeared as it went limp, her head lolling to the side. Jinx's features softened and Ekko's heart gave a squeeze at just how similar she looked to Powder - to the friend from his memories - when her face wasn't scrunched up in anger or fear. Was she still in there somewhere? How hard would it be to get her back? How much had Jinx been able to take over?

All of these questions circled his thoughts, more or less making up his mind for him. Ekko shrugged off his coat and laid it over Jinx's torso. He made sure to gather her long braids this time before picking her up, letting her head rest against his shoulder.

Even if only a small slither of Powder remained, Ekko was determined to free her from Jinx's clutches.