Jinx's eyes fluttered open, her mind waking up along with her body. The room was dimly lit by a candle, displaying a faint silhouette against the wall. Ekko was writing things down, pinning them to the board on the wall and placing a hand to his chin while he got lost in thought.
Her eyes traveled to the ground where he had made a makeshift bed. Blankets and pillows were wrinkled and piled, a clear sign that they had been slept in. Jinx's hand smoothed over covers that she had somehow ended up underneath.
Her body felt good and well rested. Not a feeling she usually experienced. Her gaze shifted back to Ekko, still deep in thought. Her hand reached for the pillow behind her head, chucking it at Ekko.
It collided with his head. The boy jolted, turning quickly and fists clenching. His serious expression turned annoyed when he saw Jinx sitting up in bed, giggling like a child.
"Easy there," she said sarcastically.
Ekko turned back to the new writings and drawings on the board. "I was starting to think you might never wake up."
Jinx slid out of the blankets, feet hitting the ground. "I wish!"
Ekko snorted a small laugh. "Forgot you're not stable up there." He pointed to his head.
"I'd say me being here is proof enough of that," Jinx said as she twisted to crack her back.
"I'm assuming you got good sleep?"
"It's been weeks since I've slept in a bed, let alone at all in the last couple days."
Jinx was able to maintain her playful tone and manners, but Ekko couldn't help but feel bad for how poorly she'd been living. He simply nodded at her words.
"I wouldn't think you slept at all last night if it weren't for this," she kicked at the blankets on the ground.
"You're partially right."
Ekko sidestepped, giving Jinx a clear view of the cork board while turning on the light. Her eyes took a minute to adjust. It was completely different from what she'd seen the day before. Multiple papers covered the board, some drawings, others bullet points. Her eyes scanned the pages. Courses of action, drawings of attack points, bomb configurations and more.
"I spent most of the night with other Firelights, planning for our attack today. Noxus knows that Piltover is preparing for battle, but we don't think they'll anticipate an attack from the Undercity, too."
"It is unlikely that we'd ever help them out."
"Exactly," Ekko pinned another page front and center. "That's why we think our beginning attack strategy is going to be most important."
The page he pinned connected the drawings all around. It was Jinx's airship lair. All around were points that different groups would ambush, the weapons they were going to use, and the leaders of each squad. She and Ekko were neatly drawn on the airship, their names being the only ones attached to it. She side eyed Ekko with a faint smile.
"Can't get enough of me, can you?" She asked.
"I couldn't get the Firelights to agree on you being anywhere else. Besides, it's your lair."
Jinx shrugged. "Good point. So when are we setting sail?"
"In a few hours. We're still rallying people and sorting out the squadrons."
"All that time prepping and they're still not ready?"
Ekko smirked. "Well, it wasn't the only thing I stayed up doing."
Jinx's eyebrows raised in curiosity. He strode across the room, picking up the pants that had been lying on top of one of his open dresser drawers. He tossed them at Jinx in the same fashion that she had thrown the shirt he now sported at him.
She held up the well crafted pair of pants. Her fingers glided over the surprisingly nice material. They were paired with a spiky belt, and she knew the perfect accessories to add to it. Her eyes landed on the cut out triangles that would rest on her hips.
She gave Ekko a look.
"You dress me I dress you, huh?" he said with a chuckle.
"Now I know you have a thing for me. Should I change right here like you did?"
"I'd rather no—"
"I'm kidding," she said, rather obviously. "You got some gauze wraps I can use?"
"Yeah, I'll just—let me grab them," Ekko stuttered out before quickly exiting the room.
Jinx smiled at herself. It was fun to see Ekko squirm. Whether he had a thing for her or not, Jinx wasn't sure. But she was certain that he had a soft spot for her. He did when they were kids and he did now. She swapped her pants, admiring the cut of the hip windows on them in the mirror.
Ekko returned moments later, the gauze wraps in hand. He'd managed to regain composure in his minute of absence. Jinx took the wraps from his hand. She tilted her head as she looked in the mirror. What did she have lying around her hideout to add to her outfit if she chose to wrap the gauze around herself?
Ideas filled her mind and instantly she became set in her ways. She tossed one of the wraps to Ekko, who caught it with quick reflexes.
"What's this for?"
"You dress me I dress you, right?" Jinx repeated his earlier statement.
Her hands moved to her top. Ekko instantly turned around. Despite his complexion, the red on his face was very evident.
"I don't think I should help you with this one—"
"—Would you relax? I'll start it, I just need you to make sure it's smooth and finish it off."
He could hear the sound of her removing her top and beginning to wrap the gauze around her body. His hands fumbled with the roll in his own hands as the seconds felt like an eternity. After what was realistically two minutes, Jinx had Ekko turn back around.
Her chest may have been covered but she was still showing a lot of skin. Ekko had to admit that the pants looked good on her, though. A little loose, but she was tightening the belt now. She latched it, then looked at Ekko expectantly.
"You gonna help me or are we waiting til it's time for the battle with Noxus?"
Ekko silently moved towards her. He didn't trust his words right now, and he really didn't want to embarrass himself further by stuttering or turning even redder than he had been.
Starting on her back, he attached the sticky gauze to the layers she'd already placed. Ekko gave her more coverage than she had given herself. He made sure to go another layer above and below the ones she made.
He still found it a touch revealing, but that was likely just because of his unresolved feelings for the Powder from his world. Once they were completely used, he took Jinx's empty roll from her and tossed them into the trash.
Ekko knew they needed to get back to the airship. He had a little something in mind himself. And that meant walking through the Lanes with Jinx looking the way she did. He watched as she grinned at herself in the mirror. Her vision was coming to life. Just a few more finishing touches and it would be complete.
The boy coughed to straighten out his voice. "Here."
He handed off his jacket from his wardrobe. Jinx held it in her hands, surprised at the thickness and weight of it. She gave him a questionable look, one eyebrow raised while he explained.
"You could get cold?" He tried.
Her lips ever so slightly turned upwards.
"Just put it on while we walk through the Lanes."
He was surprised when she didn't protest. The jacket was a nice touch, and had it not been Ekko's entire sense of style, Jinx might have considered stealing it. Instead, she wore it while her hands naturally glided inside the pockets. She could faintly smell his scent on the fabric.
Ekko on the other hand had fought to maintain a calm and collected persona. Trying to forget the last few minutes, he focused on the task at hand.
"We should get back to your airship. We can grab some food on the way."
"We're going there already? But I thought you said we had a few hours," Jinx groaned dramatically.
"And we're gonna need that time to add the finishing touches." Ekko smiled smugly.
"Finishing touches?" Jinx repeated.
Ekko pulled open the bottom drawer to his dressed. He pulled out a box containing a multitude of liquid paints, spray paints, and brushes. He smiled.
"You're not the only one who likes to make an entrance."
Hello!
Finally, the next chapter is THE chapter of all chapters. I made this one a bit shorter because the next one will likely be the longest chapter of this story.
Your feedback is appreciated and will help me to update as soon as possible! Please let me know what your thoughts are on this chapter and I will post the next one shortly :)
-`❤︎´-