05: The Boy Who Courts Chaos

(Potentially Dark content/Warning)

Dark tresses, the scent of jasmine, light and subtle.

The feeling of being held.

The blonde with wide eyes stared at a blurred face.

Snow fell as causing the young man to look up, his eyes following a particular flake before it landed just above his left eyelid, he felt it melt and trickle down his face passing as tear before all of a sudden he felt hands around his mid-section.

As they took hold the blonde looked down and the hands were huge as they lifted off of the ground.

The twenty year old was gone and in his place was a younger Naruto who held out his arms towards the faceless woman.

Sobbing could be heard along with angry shouts before a collar clinked shut around the blonde's neck as he was yanked on a chained leash.

Naruto growled tried to fight, tried to run towards safety, but then a monster stepped out of the snowstorm surrounding him and raised a boot and punted the child in the head and the blonde only new darkness.

The snowstorm was gone, and the blonde was thrown before the feet of a hooded man with a staff.

Naruto's eyes snapped open as he looked around in a panic as he spotted several blurred and monstrous faces surrounding and screaming at him shouting obscenities of all kinds.

Voices he recognised, some he didn't but he picked out one familiar face.

"Vi?" he muttered before she disappeared in the chaos.

"Too think a beast like you could ever be my family."

Then Silco's appeared in the chaos.

"Remember my boy, no tree can grow to Heaven, unless its roots reach down into Hell."

"Pops?"

Then his own voice boomed from all around.

"I'll get stronger, stronger than she ever was you hear me, I promise, Vander I'll keep her safe, from threats below and above." Images of Zaun and Piltover clashed in the sky above.

A thunderous crack echoes throughout the realm and Naruto's eyes widened in pain. The crack came thrice more as the blonde fell from his knees to flopping forward face first on the snow-covered ground.

The hooded man raised his hand, and everything stopped.

Naruto managed to regain his wits as he slowly propped himself up and with tears pouring from his reddened eyes.

The hooded man's face ever obscure. "For what it's worth I am sorry, but the Glorious Evolution demands sacrifice…"

The blonde child with a single blonde tail stared up at the man but then the scent of burning filled his nose and then the scenery shifted to a village on fire and the screams of his clan being cut down and massacred by a faceless enemy.

His people's faces blurred in the chaos, but an ache occurred with every scream.

And Naruto could not move as some shadowed massed took hold of the chain.

As the sky began spiral with light.

The hooded man began to gather the blue power as runes flickered on and off in the sky above before the sky exploded in cerulean arcane energies the hooded man looked towards the young boy one last time.

The boy on his knees staring up, with nothing but hatred in his heart the boy let out a guttural scream that shook the hooded man through his cold exterior.

But it was too late as the sky exploded in blue arcane might.

Naruto snapped awake, huffing and breathing heavy his slit pupils darting all over the searching for threats and as he attempted to sit up he found an extra weight clung to his side and as he looked down he saw a nine-year-old Powder clinging to him like her life depended as she slept next to him.

His racing heart slowed as his eyes focused on the girl at his side. 'I don't remember there when I fell asleep.'

"You were having some night terror shaking and all sorts." A voice spoke from the darkness.

The blonde rubbed his eyes with his un-Powder trapped arm "Vander?"

"Yeah kid, that's me."

"What happened?"

Vander as he got up and walked over to the cot Naruto and Powder were laying in.

"Claggor was being chased by Enforcers, you went out to find him as soon as you heard."

Naruto's eyes widened "Claggor? Is he ok? I don't really remember any of this…"

Vander smiled softly. "You found him, but he had gotten his leg stuck, you got him loose, but the Enforcers caught up and cracked you over the noggin you were out of it for two days… You helped get Claggor out of danger." Vander explained as he tapped the side of his own head.

As the blonde mirrored Vander's actions, he realised his head was all bandaged up.

"I'm not going ask what you have been through, I didn't say this when I first patched you up because I didn't know how long you would be staying but after everything over the last couple of years." Vander paused with a smile. "Welcome to the family kid." Tall bear of a man said as he stood up and began move towards the exit.

'I'm family?!' he thought in shock stunned by such acceptance from any one outside of Jinx. Naruto's eyes widened as he stared at Vander's back "Wait what do I do about this?" nodding his head down at Powder's form.

"Well Powder hasn't left your side for the last couple days so I'd say let the girl sleep., and the Doc said even if you wake up that you not allowed to move for at least twelves.. you know bedrest." Vander said with grin. "And Powder claimed it was her job to make sure you got… damn practically volunteered." The man mused as he left the room closing the door behind him silently.

Naruto glanced down at his blue haired anchor. "Guess I owe you another Pow," he whispered before he tried to relax once more and get comfortable. As he glanced at the girl once more Powder was gone, and Jinx was in his arms.

Naruto was ahis twenty-year-old self once more and the room stripped away to a white void. Jinx and Naruto, both of them were in their birthday suits tangled up in bed. The pair stared deeply into one another's both getting lost in the moment before he felt something cold touch under his chin.

'A barrel.' The blonde recognised the cool feeling.

"Why would I ever care for a pet of a pet." Jinx leaned forward with a mad glint in her before she leaned up and laid a gentle kiss on his lips.

As she pulled away Jinx's face morphed into pure malice.

Naruto just softened his gaze before offering a soft smile. "Even in my own head I can't escape huh," he muttered before he cupped the girl's cheek. "I promised remember."

Bang!

Naruto snapped awake violently, his body lurching from his bunk. The book he'd been reading flew across the room as he landed on his side with a grunt, the impact echoing through their hideout.

"Goddamn, what the hell was that?" he grumbled, a shiver running down his spine. As he pushed himself up, his eyes darted around the room, searching for his partner in crime. "Jinx!" he called out, his voice reverberating off the metal walls.

Silence greeted him.

Frowning, Naruto padded across the workshop, his bare feet cold against the steel rotor blade floor. He peered around the bend, finding Jinx's workstation empty, tools scattered haphazardly as if she'd left in a hurry.

"Must be getting spare parts," he mused, running a hand through his dishevelled blonde hair. The remnants of his nightmare clung to him like a shroud, making his skin crawl.

As he crossed the room, his eyes fell on the journal he'd been reading before sleep claimed him. The tome on Hextech gemstones lay splayed open, its pages filled with arcane diagrams and dense text. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it onto the workbench, the thud oddly satisfying.

Naruto made his way to the steam room Jinx had cobbled together, a marvel of ingenuity that tapped into the water filtration system. The thought of hot water cascading over him, washing away the lingering tendrils of his dream, was almost enough to make him smile.

"Might pay Vander's statue a visit," he muttered, the idea forming as he reached for the valve. A trip topside might clear his head, give him some perspective on the nonsense his mind had conjured.

As steam began to fill the room, Naruto found himself whistling "Get Jinxed," the familiar tune a comfort in the emptiness of their lair. The melody echoed off the walls, a reminder of the chaos and excitement that usually filled their days.

With each note, the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. Whatever his subconscious had dredged up, whatever fears or memories it had twisted into that nightmare, they couldn't touch him here. This was his sanctuary, his home with Jinx, where they ruled as the undisputed champions of mayhem in the Lanes.

As he stepped into the hot spray, Naruto resolved to shake off the lingering unease. There were schemes to plan, explosions to orchestrate, and chaos to court. "I made a promise you know, to you Jinx." The blonde pondered and sighed.

The Bale of Aces, a gambling den of low renown stood eerily quiet in the early hours, a stark contrast to its usual busy times but with shit with topside everyone is trying keep as much coin as they can, While Silco's number two took advantage of that while she Sevika lounged at a table, surrounded by wide-eyed Lane newbies eager to make a quick coin. 'Ha, suckers,' she mused, Naruto's voice echoing in her mind as she watched the tourists gamble away their meagre savings.

Sevika took a long drag from her roll-up, savouring the earthy smoke as she eyed her cards. A smirk played across her scarred face, knowing her hand was unbeatable. "Read 'em and weep, boys," she drawled, tossing down her cards with a flourish.

The triumphant moment shattered as a knee crashed into the side of her jaw. Cards, coins, and Sevika herself went flying. The tourists scattered like rats their fear palpable in the musty air.

"Ah, what hit me?" Sevika groaned, shaking her head to clear the fog. As she looked up at her assailant, recognition dawned, along with a surge of bitter anger. "Vi?"

The pink-haired woman said nothing, her silence more menacing than any threat. She came in swinging, a controlled haymaker that spun Sevika like a top. Before the older woman could recover, she felt her hair yanked back, her face slamming against the grimy wall.

"Traitor," Vi hissed, her breath hot against Sevika's ear as she pinned the older woman's right arm.

Sevika's lips curled into a sneer. "Vander had his chance." As she spoke, her poncho began to glow an eerie pink, her eyes dilating as something beneath the fabric whirred to life.

Vi's grip faltered as Sevika's arm twisted unnaturally, extending with inhuman speed to deliver a vicious uppercut. The impact sent Vi stumbling back, her eyes wide with shock.

Sevika spun, following up with a side kick that created some much-needed distance. "You should've stayed dead," she spat, discarding her poncho to reveal a gleaming metal prosthetic, pulsing with the tell-tale glow of Shimmer.

'Not going to lie, that thing is fucking metal,' Vi thought, a grudging admiration mixing with her rage as she shrugged off her jacket and smirked her hound like grin.

Sevika's mind flashed to Naruto's toothy whiskered grin, so similar to Vi's, before she extended her hand in the universal gesture of challenge.

Baiting in the younger girl she came up against Sevika's guard before both of her arms got caught.

Sevika smirked as Vi struggled against her grip. "I see you still haven't learnt patience," she said before headbutting Vi once. "Did Vander even teach you how to box?" she taunted before smashing her forehead into the Vi's nose once more letting her go from her grasp and stumble backwards.

Vi tried to through a right cross through blurry eyes but ate a gut shout for her trouble sending her scrambling against the wall for support.

Vi charged in, all controlled fury and pent-up vengeance. Sevika braced herself, her Shimmer-enhanced arm humming with power. Both women, hardened by years of street brawls and personal demons, threw themselves into the fray. The day's drinking and Sevika's drug use might have dulled her edges, but it also fuelled her pain tolerance as the slugfest raged on, each blow echoing through the empty bar like a war drum.

Until Sevika took hold of Vi's throat and with her robotic arms slammed her through a table. "I don't think so." She snapped as she maintained her grip and slammed the younger girl into the nearest wall while the shimmer glowed hotly as Vi tried to fight back.

Vi was running out air and options so she decided to fight like she was in prison and knee Sevika in the crotch getting the older woman to stumble backwards allowing Vi some breathing room before the two leapt back in to tear each other apart.

Outside the Bale of Aces Sevika was thrown out of the double doors and skidded on her back. 'This little bitch hit me with a dropkick?' she thought as she looked as a few passers-by scrammed. 'Cowards.'

Vi chased Sevika out and mounted the woman pinning her metal limb to the ground. Leaning forward she shouted. "Where is my sister?" where is he keeping her?" she demanded as her free hand wrapped around Sevika's throat.

"Keeping her?" Sevika paused before she smirked even as Vi squeezed harder "You mean Jinx?"

Vi recoiled slightly at the name.

"She works for him… her and her boyfriend."

"She wha-" Vi said as she released Sevika's throat.

"You've missed on a lot since you fucked off." Older woman sneered before took full advantage as her metal claw pierced the gut of Vi. Sevika lean up and whispered. "She's like his daughter."

Vi fell to the side as Sevika stood up and flexed her automail limb. "If it makes you feel better I'll give em you're regards.

Vi spat out blood as she eyed Sevika gearing up for the final blow before a ping signalling a bullet ricocheting off the golden arm shattering the shimmer vial it contained.

"What the hell?" Sevika cried as she ducked on instinct before another ping before she scattered into the darkness leaving Violet, the girl who lived to hopefully bleed out.

Naruto emerged from the steam room, a towel wrapped around his waist, the warmth still clinging to his skin. As he stepped back into the main area of their base, he noticed Jinx, engrossed in tinkering with a peculiar contraption. The dim candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows across the workshop.

"Ah, you're back! Did you get everything you needed?" Naruto asked without looking up from her work.

"Yeah, but I've got a question for you,"Jinx replied, without looking up from her work.

"Shoot."

"Have you noticed anything... strange going on in the Lanes? People seem off."

"Explain 'off'?" Naruto prompted.

"I dunno, just a vibe," she shrugged, her focus still on the device.

Naruto glanced over to see that she had picked up the science journal he had left on the workbench. "You having fun with that?" he called out as he dropped his towel by his bunk and began to get dressed.

"Oh, it's a bit boring," Jinx admitted. "But I want to pick your brain about something."

"Cool, give me a second." After a few moments, Naruto settled down beside her, eyeing the contraption she had crafted with one of their Hextech gemstones slotted in the centre.

With a pencil in hand, Jinx flipped through the pages until she landed on a diagram of runic circles. "So, these runes form some kind of mathy magicy gateway."

"Yeah, but there's something off about the calculations," Naruto replied thoughtfully. While not as mechanically gifted as Jinx, Silco had instilled in him a wealth of knowledge that made aiding her feel worthwhile.

"What do you mean?"

"It's like Hextech is designed to slipstream across the continent; it's like the key that allows entry into this slip-space dimension or realm," he explained, fumbling for clarity.

"Interesting theory, but we don't have time to prove that right now; we'll save it for later…" Jinx said dismissively.

Naruto nodded in agreement but couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he glanced at her contraption. His eyes widened slightly when he recognized a sketch from the journal that mirrored what she was working on. "Ah, so you've figured out that a certain level of power is needed to stabilize the gem," he noted with a grunt.

"Yup…"

"I read that journal back to front—there's no voltage listed. Stupid golden boy…" Naruto muttered as he leaned back, glancing at the sofa behind him. The terrifying tributes to Mylo and Claggor hung ominously from the archway. 'I've got a bad feeling about this,' he thought.

"Well, I guess trial and error it is," Jinx declared with an air of confidence.

"Excuse me? What?" Naruto snapped back to attention just as she reached for the power supply.

With a simple click, power surged through the device. "To the realm of heebie-jeebies and beyond!" she exclaimed gleefully.

The shockwave knocked Powder onto her backside. As she looked up, she saw Naruto being flung past the sofa and crashing into the wall behind him. To Powder's horror, Mylo and Claggor's tributes transformed into their real forms—crushed and impaled corpses screaming three maddening words. Even Vi's favourite toy tumbled from its perch with a signal flair.

"Your fault, Jinx!" they screeched in unison.

Then, just as abruptly as it began, the power surge ceased. The light from the glowing gem dispersed into tiny blue lights trickling through the air.

Jinx's eyes widened in fear. "Not my fault! I swear it was an accident!" she cried before leaping to her feet and dashing toward the other side of the workshop. But then she heard a groan that froze her in place. 'Naruto,' she remembered, her concern snapping her out of her panic.

She rushed over, ignoring all mementos of her late family scattered around her path, skidding on her knees beside where Naruto lay crumpled on the floor.

"Oh hey, dummy," Naruto shouted weakly.

"You're shouting," Jinx giggled nervously.

"What?" he shouted again.

"Nothing," she replied as she attempted to stand up; however, voices began urging her to confront what she had done to face them.

"Okay, let's just stay here for a minute or twenty," Naruto suggested as he sensed Jinx's frayed nerves from their chaotic experiment.

"Yeah, let's," she agreed as she slid next to him on the floor. They held each other gently while he waited for his hearing to return, and she waited for the haunting voices to fade away once more.

As Naruto laid on the floor with Jinx his ears ringing, but his mind was working away as he comforted the girl in his arms. His mind flashed back to his dream with the striking familiar blue light of Hextech. 'Let's not forget those explosions from back then.' He thought himself as Jinx began humming on his chest, he allowed his mind to wander.

The small crew from the lanes had made into the heart of the residential district and leapt on to the balcony safely and without further incident. It had been a few minutes and four of the five were looking for any trouble heading their way while. Mylo knelt before the doorway after trying to open them.

"Who the hell locks their balcony." Mylo complained.

"You gonna get that door open anytime soon." Vi asked as she glanced around.

"Hey, it's called finesse you ever heard of it before." Mylo responded rolling his eyes sarcastically before returning to resetting his lock picking set. "And besides since I'm the only one who knows how to-"

Vi foot booted the doors open inwards, before strolling in.

Claggor followed while clapping his brother lightly over the head. Naruto laughed at Mylo's face while Powder looked concerned but then her eyes were taken aback by the gadgets, gears and gizmos scattered around the place.

"Damned savages." He muttered before following after the group, before whistling at the size of the place. "You know what bro, your right we are definitely not supposed to be here."

The kids began loading up the bag with things they didn't recognise but looked expensive and heavy so in it went.

Naruto while searching one part of the room came across a bronze crow statue. 'Oh, shit it's got gears on the inside, I wonder if Powder can do something with that.' He thought before swiping it to.

"He must be an inventor." Vi said drawing all's attention briefly as they saw she was by a chalkboard with information they had no real business knowing.

"Huh, well that makes sense." Powder said before something small oval and shiny caught her attention. "I think this is a real valdiani?" she said with excitement in her tone before pressing it.

The oval box opened up revealing some kind of spinning orb, whilst music played from it.

"Ah so it's a music box." Naruto said as he hadn't heard of that word before.

"Basically yeah." Powder confirmed.

"Oh, yeah well what about this." Mylo as he did a flourish with his big reveal.

Naruto snickered as the cylinder-shaped object in the teens hand.

"That's a nose hair trimmer." Powder clarified.

"Keep a look out anything valuable Powder before Mylo fills the whole sack with junk." Vi instructed.

"Erm guys" Mylo called out grabbing everyone's attention and as they gathered round there a small blue stone in some kind of contraption.

"Whoa?" Naruto said as his eyes locked onto the stone. "What is it?"

"Vi, how did you say we found the place." Claggor asked.

"It was a tip from little man."

That drew looks from all of the boys in this group.

"Look just leave it and let keep it moving." Vi ordered before moving to a different room.

Claggor looked toward his brothers and Mylo shrugged and went after Vi.

"Where already here now might as well make the most of it." Naruto said before spotting Powder slipping into another room on her own.

"Your right, but still how can anyone have this much stuff?" Claggor asked anyone.

"Simple." Mylo hollered back, "Ya born lucky."

As the teens carried out their aimless raid the blonde and bluenettes found themselves in a room that bother Naruto slightly the stronger scent of cologne was messing with him, while the smell of food drew him in further. So, while stuck away a few gizmos she turned to the blonde grabbing a sandwich off the table.

"Hey I want one." She said as she walked over.

"Here take one." Naruto said as he took around three bites in quick succession while Powder manged one savouring the taste of fresh food.

'Fresh, left sandwich.' Naruto's mind connected the dots really quickly as his eyes widened he paced out of the room leaving Powder alone.

Rounding the corner Naruto hissed. "We need to leave now."

Vi turned her head. "Wait why."

"Me and Powder found food." Naruto said and at their blank expression he knew they didn't understand his meaning. "Sandwiches were just left to go hard and gross," the blonde explained again.

Vi and Mylo's faces were blank while Claggor clocked on.

"They may be back at any moment." The older boy said nerves dripping off his tone.

"Sssh" Vi said as her eyes focused on the door.

Both Vi and Naruto heard the metal clang outside the front door to this place.

'Shit!" they both thought. "Mylo the door." She ordered.

Mylo moved with urgency barricading the door with the chair he was sitting on.

Naruto dashed toward the room he had left Powder in. "It's time to go baby blue. Time to bounce like right now." The blonde saw the panic in the younger girls face as she filled with her pouch.

As she ran past him Naruto saw a glowing blue rock hit the floor and sparks of energy flickered with every bounce. 'Glowing rocks don't normally do that…And that looks like it's going to blow.' He thought as he turned as the gem rolled under the bed and made a run for it hopping over the chair blocking the front door he made it to Vi and the loot while the three others were on the balcony.

"Vi we need to leave like right now."

"Go I've got the loot." She answered while zipping up the bag.

There was a discharge of energy before something detonated, knocking over the homeowner and the three kids on the balcony off their feet.

As the initial dust settled Vi and Naruto came running out onto the ledge while three others looked dazed the pair still standing looked concerned as the building decide to shake and crumble.

Naruto went to check on Powder Mylo and Claggor and as he got them to their feet he turned to see Vi's back.

As part of the building collapsed, Vi went to the edge to see the damage. And as she looked down she swore. 'There had to be enforcers right there.' She thought.

"Vi we need to go now."

Naruto's voice didn't snap her out of her stunned state.

VOOOOOOOOM!

But the bellowing alarm did.

"Can't stick to the rooftops. It's going to be a ground game now." Naruto said as they made their way off the ruined balcony and slid down the emergency escape before making a mad dash back over the bridges to the south.

"You know the only time I think I ever been jealous of someone is when got all dreamy eyes when you saw a picture of that new councillor lady." Jinx blabbed, "Was pretty tempted to kill her but to much heat especially when you're mine."

Naruto's eyes widened as he realised his hearing had just comeback.

She felt a rumble through his chest, light chuckle came from the blonde's lips. "Yours am I?" Naruto teased his tone light with mirth, "When did you claim me as such?"

Jinx froze. "How much, heh of that did you hear?"

His grin was telling.

"Oh joy your hearing is back what a miracle." Jinx said while getting up and dusting herself off. "I wanna drink, do you wanna drink?" she asked.

"Eh-"

"Of course you do, off to The Last Drop." Jinx said before marching toward were her guns hung before turning toward the exit.

Naruto rolled his eyes embarrassed state before he kipped up off the floor and followed suit grabbing his revolver and sword. 'You never know with the Lane.' Was a lesson Vander and Silco both drilled into his skull.

He moved passed the Hextech gemstone and looked towards where they stashed the other two before reaching down and pocketing the gemstone and following after Jinx quickly catch up to the girl before matching her stomping off pace whenever she gets embarrassed.

"Where are we going again." Naruto asked already leaning toward pushing his luck.

Jinx just drew her pistol and fired blankly twice.

The ricocheting bullets causing Naruto to hop, jump and duck until the bullets lost moment.

"Fine woman, i'll stop I mean it this time." Naruto said with his hands up.

Jinx snorted before holstering her gun and the two criminals made their way to their old home.

The End

A.N.

Q&A Time—

Apex Calibre – Considering who Jinx is based off I can see the comparison and I wasn't going for a Joker feel tbh

BD – Didn't miss something, I'm trying something…

Archer headass – tbf I didn't mention sweat, he could smell the paint from the monkey and gun powder well its Jinx.

Animus – Thank ya.

And that's that.

Chapter 5 completed wooh!

How did we like the fight between Vi and Sevika
the flashbacks making subtle differences due to Naruto's presence?

Also whose ready for the S1EP3 FLASHBACK.

Guess I should mention the dream/memory mixture Nightmare… part of that is what happened before his enslavement, some of it made no sense as dreams so often do and was their symbolism in it most definitely…. yeah I'm now gonna leave it at that.

Jinx and Naruto will be getting some combat next chapter can you guess whose gonna step up next?

Till Next Time…Stay Chilling Y'all.