Jinx blinked her eyes hard, trying to fight the sudden (and excruciating)headache. It felt like someone had taken an axe to her melon, then decided to seesaw it for good measure… and not in the fun way.

But even that was secondary to the pain in her right hand, which felt like someone had just put a bullet through it… and then a second, and then a third. Still, despite herself, she was kind of impressed by the trap that Purple set up… some type of touch sensitive flash bang? Because that was some outside of the box thinking! Especially with how dangerous that was, because it took a lot of balls to keep a bomb near your chest – near all squishy organs that could get fucked up – even if it was the non-explosive kind.

Because… really? A flash grenade under his shirt? That was new… and dare she say, creative.

But also, oddly… a little too custom made for her specifically.

Especially, since it was really a one in a million chance someone would touch that strange light, just cause… but, basically a guarantee that she would, purely out of scientific curiosity and greed. Which begged the question… how'd he know she had a bad habit of putting her grubby mitts on anything that glowed? And who was providing this insider information about her? More importantly, who stood to gain from this potentially botched attack?

Sevika…

No, no that was unlikely, as much as Jinx wished it was true. That thug of a woman was irritably loyal to Silco and his cause, and would probably chew off her one remaining arm before doing something that might cause unintentional harm to either one.

But then who?

Was this… some ridiculous assassination attempt by one of the Chembarons? Maybe she offended someone... but which one? Was it because she asked Smeech if his fifth "limb" was mechanical too? When she told Finn his hair gel was dripping on the ground, and she almost slipped? One too many nose jokes at Renni's expense?

If so… jeez, sensitive much?

Maybe it was the Firelights finally stepping up their game after one too many dead friends? Jinx supposed it would have been a long time coming, you don't drop bodies like she did and not expect someone to take revenge… but nah, the Boy Savior and his goons were too chicken shit to try her even on her worst days.

Although, admittedly… this night was shaping up to be just that.

Perhaps a disgruntled Zaunite who's restaurant she once dined and dashed at? Pfft, it wasn't like she wasn't going to pay them… just not now… or in the near future, but eventually. Her credit should be good everywhere!

But no, even among all the likely candidates, the whole setup was way too elaborate for any of those chuckle-heads… because really, who pretends to be a corpse in the water, all on the off chance she'd fish them out?

And… the fact that she wasn't already dead kind of scrapped all those theories.

So maybe just a… series of unfortunate events? Heh. Possible. Likely even.

"Alright… I'll give you that one Purple, you got me." The teen managed to chuckle out to the boy beneath her, huffing into his chest a little as she tried to collect her loose thoughts, one hand already groping for her gun to get some payback. "Credit where credits due, that trap was pretty slick… but stupid. Don't you know nine-tenths of violent crimes happen because the "victim" resists?"

She felt the need to say her thoughts out loud, if only to verbalize the words and harden her resolve as she planned her revenge. Because nobody got the jump on Jinx and walked away unscathed! (Or at least, not without a little bit of mental scarring.) But, hmmm… would a beating be enough? No… no it wouldn't, that was too pedestrian. And a creative trap earned an equally creative comeback. But what could she do?

Force him to run around the city till his feet bled? No, this musclehead might take as a chance to get fit… well, even fitter.

Maybe make him eat some spoiled food till he shit himself into a coma? Ugh, hard pass, because not only was that a lot of work (where would she even get a dozen expired pies at this hour?) it was gross. More like a punishment for her, than for him.

Perhaps she could take his clothes and force him to walk the Lanes in shame? Nah, the last person she did that to enjoyed it a little too much.

Well, maybe just a light beating then? Open palm? Smack him around a bit for now, go chain him up somewhere in her lair…. and then take a quick power nap to sleep off the pain in her head and hand? Figure something out in a couple of hours?

That could work.

Plan in mind and gun in hand, she pushed off his chest to get back unsteadily into a sitting position–

And then, it hit her all at once… memories.

Memories of a crazy space alien/ Time Witch that filled her brain with ill gotten knowledge.

Magic (like the Hexgates… but it came out of your fucking hands!), aliens (turns out they weren't just small green men with big heads, who would've thunk?), time-travel (that opened so many questions, she could barely think!), and more… much, much more.

It was a lot to take in – almost too much! – and her psyche started to burn… burn …. burn! But just as she began to struggle, feeling the edges of the mind expanding till it was almost painful… it was over, in less time it would've taken to snap her fingers.

Well, that was embarrassing.

But without the foreign invasion into her mind,Jinx now… knew things. That though an accidental twist of fate and circumstances, had cheated her way into knowing the deep and mysterious secrets of the universe.

No… the multiverse.

It was crazy, it was overwhelming, and would take time – weeks, months… maybe even years – for her to parcel through every bit of information that had just been seared into her brain. But one thing she understood immediately, the centerpiece of all those memories… she was sitting on her new best friend.

And wouldn't you know it… he was looking right at her.

"Hey… Trunks." Jinx said with a grin, liking the way his name rolled on her tongue – like she had said it a thousand times before – as she placed her palm on his chest, mesmerized by the sudden feeling of him in her head. It made her skull feel overstuffed… almost as if there were two brains in there now, fighting for room. But weirdly comforting as well, like sharing a blanket with someone on a cold night.

For a long moment the Saiyan just stared up at her – his feelings of trepidation and anxiety bleeding through their bond – before finally saying. "Hi… Jinx."

Gods, why did she love the sound of him saying her name so much?

"Well, isn't this exciting?" Jinx joked cheerfully, giving his chest a slap before leaning over slighting to get a better look at him. It was so crazy to think he was some time-traveling… warrior… alien thing! Realizing she was still sitting on him, she rolled to the side and stood up – the pain in her palm and head, a dull throb now – offering him a helping hand. "Did you see what I saw?"

"I think so…" He said cautiously, eyeing her speculatively as he slowly sat up and took the offered help.

Once he was back on his feet – standing tall and looming over her – Jinx realized… he looked surprisingly a lot healthier. He wasn't struggling to breath as much, his movements seemed more sure and deliberate, even had some color back in his cheeks. It was as if their little soul bonding episode was just the ticket he needed, it seemed to help him with deal with all that spirit magic that had been fucking up his insides. Hell, she could feel him getting better by the second! His presence in her mind felt like it was growing bigger bit by bit, practically thrumming with energy now, like a miniature sun that only she could see.

It was weirdly intoxicating… all that power.

Well… good for him, she thought, trying to not get lost in the sensation and focus back on the man before her. This was perfect actually, Jinx didn't want her new partner in crime struggling to survive like some day old kitten. And she didn't think she really had the skill, or patience, to nurse him to health.

They had so much to do!

"I never had a soulmate before, so I got some first time jitters!" The teen said excitedly, giving him her best wide-eye and innocent smile… hopefully gaslighting the warrior into forgetting she had been in the middle of mugging him only ten minutes ago. "Does this mean… like we're married now or something? Is that too simple? That sounds too simple."

"No, that's not really–"

Ignoring him, the teen started brushing the sand off her body, then walking around him as she started brushing the grains off of him too, pretending to be helpful. Jinx tried to force some color into her cheeks, putting on an act that she was blushing as she touched him, making sure to shoot him the occasional skittish glance to drive it home.

What boy didn't like the "shy maiden" character?

"I mean… how does this even work?" She started up again with a "giggle", trying to think of the silliest and most love struck thing she could say, throwing as much of the fake emotions as she could into their fake bond to trick him. "Like, who does the cooking and cleaning? Do I move in with you… or you move in with me? How do you feel about kids? You know what? What am I saying?! Don't answer that question… let's just get to know each other first!" Hooking an arm around his waist – ignoring how he stiffened uncomfortably – she tried to guide him towards her lair, before saying cheekily. "Although, I feel like I've known you my whole life!"

None of the above were the questions she really wanted to ask. But honestly, she couldn't, Not when their soul bond was so new and fragile… and more importantly, incomplete . Because what she knew, and what Trunks didn't, was that when they received Towa's memories… her side did just a bit more than just explain what had happened.

It came with an instruction manual.

Surprisingly, it was a little cheat sheet with notes the Time Witch had made for herself – because even a goddess needed a way to keep track of all the crazy things she did – it was an immaculate notebook of plans and ideas on how to finish the ritual once she caught the Saiyan.

Maybe she should feel a little more concerned that the witch had inadvertently seared a guidebook into her brain… but eh.

If she was already willing to accept the Saiyan's confusing existence, then what was a bit more craziness?

"Hey! Slow down for a moment." Trunks began, standing firmly in place, even as she tried to ineffectually tug him along with her. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in, and I'll try to answer any questions you might have… within reason. But we need to break this connection between us as soon as possible. Magic is unpredictable even in the best of times, and it affects the mind in strange ways, so there no telling what–"

"Why would we do that!?" Jinx interrupted in surprise, acting like she was horrified by the mere suggestion, taking the opportunity to layer on some guilt into their "relationship". It'd make him a lot easier to control if he felt obligated to her… after all, she was just some "innocent" girl who got caught up in his intergalactic/time-traveling shenanigans. "Trunks… this is a soul bond. You don't just get rid of it off a whim!" Stepping closer to him till they were practically touching, she grabbed the lapels of his coat and – biting the inside of her cheek until her eyes watered a bit – she said imploringly. "I mean… yeah, we had a terrible first meeting–"

"Look, just listen to me, the magic is–"

" –and I'm probably not the kind of girl you imagined spending the rest of you life with–"

"Hold up! That's not what I meant–"

" –but I believe this soul bond is proof that were meant to be together–"

"It's not a real one! It was created to–"

" –so if you just gave us a chance, I'd do everything in my power to make you happy." She finished pitifully, making sure to wrap her arms around his middle – clinging to him like she was desperate for him not to go – and burying her face into his chest, struggling to hide the smile that threatened to split her face over how ridiculous she was acting.

If Jinx had tried this with anyone else in Zaun, they'd be running full tilt in the other direction, afraid that she was setting them up for a trap… which to be fair, they'd be absolutely right. But Trunks didn't know her like that… even better, he was one of them "hero" types that probably couldn't resist a "damsel in distress".

And the reason for her theatrics…

Turns out, mind control… not a real thing, at least not in the way one might assume.

You could persuade someone – and heavily push their decisions in your favor – but push too far, too soon, and they started to fight back.

And that was especially true, if they didn't like you.

Apparently, free will wasn't just an ideology, it was an actual force of nature. And the more antagonistic the "victim" was… the harder they resisted their bindings. A hard lesson that Towa learned when no less than three of her former servants had broken out of her control, attacking the witch at the very first opportunity.

That was the worst case scenario, but the Mad Bomber did not fancy her chances if Trunks decided he wanted to kill her – she did, after all, watch a memory of him killing about a thousand people in a space battle – which was why she was trying so hard to play off his hero-complex, even pretending to be in "love" to tug at his heart strings.

Hard to hurt someone you felt responsible for.

And obviously, Jinx needed time to comprehend the rest of the information – she embarrassingly didn't know a whole lot about magic – and come up with a more concrete plan of action. And as much as she wanted to give Trunks a slap on the ass and tell him to go kill her enemies, she couldn't order him to do anything that drastic… not yet.

Thankfully, the teen only needed to do two things in order to achieve that.

The first plan was to keep him near her, letting the bond strengthen over time naturally, the power of Towa's ritual working its magic till Trunks was so deep in the hole that every word out of her mouth was practically gospel to him.

But who knew how long that might take? And she was impatient for results now.

Which in came her second plan… she'd make him fall in love with her.

While Towa's research proved that love wasn't what caused the soul bonding to occur, the emotion did help strengthen it, allowing the individual's spirits involved to grow stronger and latch onto each other.

She figured, a week or two of pushing his buttons in just the right way… and she'd have the warrior eating out of the palm of her hands.

Although… that second one might be a lot harder than she had assumed, noting as the seconds dragged on forever, and Trunks still hadn't wrapped her up in her arms and tried to comfort her.. Now Jinx was feeling a little irritated and honestly surprised by his reluctance to… do something for her.

It's been like a minute!

She had been expecting some soothing words, maybe even an apology for his insensitivity over her "feelings"… but no! He was just standing stiffly there, like… like, some fucking golem! What was his problem?

And the bond didn't tell her anything, it still had him feeling cautious and anxious like before.

She had to do something!

Maybe another hit of "love" and "sadness" through the bond? No, she already tried that, and another dose might send him the wrong message. Like, make him think she was some push over who was going to let him walk all over her? The loyal little wife at home he could count on to always be there, ready and waiting. But what else could she try? Desperation? Fear? Anxiety? Maybe she should–

Gradually, Jinx felt him awkwardly pat her on the back.

"Look, I'm… sorry for being so brusque. So… please stop crying." Trunks said slowly, hesitantly raising his arms to hold her, before sighing and speaking into her hair. "I'm not gonna go anywhere, alright? So let's just get out of the open for now, and I'll take you home, then we can… talk." He tightened his hug, resting his chin at the top of her head, and asked softly. "Is that okay?"

Jinx let the silence drag on for a moment… then another, and another … enjoying the way his anxiety seemed to grow the longer she didn't say anything.

Eventually though, she decided to finally put him out of his misery… plus she was getting kinda cold in the late night/early morning air.

"I'd… like that." Jinx said "demurely", liking the way his body physically relaxed at her words. But even then, the two of them didn't move for a while – he was too nervous to upset her again, while she was taking a moment to silently gloat to herself – both collecting their thoughts over what just happened.

It couldn't last forever though.

And soon enough the teen was leading the warrior towards her lair – his coat now over her shoulders to fight the night's chill – dragging him by the hand as they walked past her vault door, a hidden smirk on lips.

'Got him.'

000

Not much to say, just another establishing chapter to define how the Blue/Purple relationship shape up. Trunks feeling guilty and responsible for dragging an "innocent" girl into his problems... even if she was mugging him lol. And Jinx playing the long game and gaslighting the fuck out of him haha.

And I promise, nexrt chapter, we'll get off the goddamn beach lol

Fun Fact: Jinx keeps calling Trunks a teen, but apparently he's like 30... or at least his wiki says so lol